Kamala is a Sanskrit word meaning 'lotus'.[1][2] It is used as a feminine given name in Indian culture, predominantly by Hindu families, as it is one of the names of the goddess Lakshmi, who appears from the centre of a lotus.[3]
The masculine counterpart Kamal is a given name for Indian boys.
People
First name
- Kamala Bahuguna (1923–2001), Indian politician
- Kamala Balakrishnan (1930–2018), Indian immunologist
- Kamala Bhattacharya (1945–1961), Indian martyr
- Kamala Bose (1947–2012), Indian classical vocalist
- Kamala Chakravarty (born 1928), Indian classical musician and dancer
- Kamala Chandrakirana, Indonesian women's rights activist
- Kamala Devi (actress) (1933–2010), Indian actress
- Kamala Devi (footballer) (born 1992), Indian footballer
- Kamala Hampana (1935–2024), Indian writer
- Kamala Harris (born 1964), Vice President of the United States between 2021 and 2025
- Kamala Hayman, New Zealand newspaper journalist
- Kamala Ibrahim Ishaq, Sudanese artist
- Kamala Kanta Kalita (born 1957), Indian politician
- Kamala Kamesh (born 1952), Indian actress
- Kamala Kumari Karredula, Indian politician
- Kamala Krishnaswamy, Indian nutritionist
- Kamala Kotnis, Indian actress
- Kamala Shirin Lakhdhir, American diplomat, ambassador to Malaysia
- Kamala Laxman (died 2015), Indian author of children's books
- Kamala Lopez, American filmmaker
- Kamala Markandaya (1924–2004), Indian novelist and journalist
- Kamala Nehru (1899–1936), wife of Indian Prime Minister Jawahar Lal Nehru
- Kamala Nimbkar (1900–1979), American-born occupational therapist in India
- Kamala Parks, American drummer, songwriter
- Kamala Pujari (died 2024), Indian organic agriculture promoter
- Kamala Ranathunga (born 1937), Sri Lankan politician
- Kamala Rani Balakrishnan, Singaporean criminal
- Kamala Roka, Nepali politician
- Kamala Saikhom, Indian actress
- Kamala Sankaran, Indian academic administrator
- Kamala Sankrityayan (1920–2009), Indian writer
- Kamala Selvaraj, Indian obstetrician and gynecologist
- Kamala Shankar, Indian slide guitar player
- Kamala Sinha (1932–2014), Indian politician
- Kamala Sohonie (1912–1998), Indian biochemist
- Kamala Surayya (1934–2009), Indian short story writer and autobiographer
- Kamala Todd, Canadian filmmaker
Surname
- Diodorus Kamala (1968–2024), Tanzanian politician
- Kumari Kamala (born 1934), Indian classical dancer
Fictional characters
- Kamala, in the novel Siddhartha by Hermann Hesse
- Kamala, in "The Perfect Mate", an episode of Star Trek: The Next Generation
- Kamala, a main character in the comedy-drama series Never Have I Ever
- Kamala Khan (Ms. Marvel), a Pakistani-American superhero in Marvel Comics
See also
- Kamela § People with the surname Kamela
- Komala § People with the name Komala
- Kamla (name), given name and surname
References
- ^ "Kamalam Sanskrit Dictionary".
- ^ "People have mispronounced Kamala Harris's name for years. Here's how to say it". The Washington Post. Retrieved 8 September 2024.
- ^ Venkatesan, Archana (14 August 2024). "Kamala, a common name in India, is associated with several deities and is a symbol of wisdom". The Conversation. Retrieved 8 September 2024.
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