Ayyappa (also spelt Ayyappan) is a name primarily associated with a Hindu deity, and is also borne by several individuals and places in India. Within Hindu tradition, Ayyappan is regarded as the god of growth, and is venerated particularly in southern India.
The name "Ayyappa" appears in a number of contexts beyond the religious. It may refer to individuals known in Indian public life, or to localities that take their name from the deity or from notable persons associated with the area.
Among individuals known by this name are Ayyappa Paniker, an Indian writer; Ayyappa Masagi, an Indian activist; and Subbanna Ayyappan (1955–2025), an Indian fisheries scientist and agricultural research administrator.
Place names sharing this term include Ayyappa Nagar, a residential area in Chennai, and Ayyappa Nayakan Pettai, a village in Tamil Nadu.
Adapted from the English Wikipedia disambiguation page "Ayyappa".