How Indian names work
There is no single Indian naming system. The order, and whether there is a family name at all, depends on the region and community.
The main patterns
| Pattern | Example | Formal address |
|---|---|---|
| Given, middle, family name (much of North and West India) | Rajesh Kumar Sharma | Mr. Sharma |
| Given, father's name, family name (Maharashtra, Gujarat) | Sachin Ramesh Patil | Mr. Patil |
| Sikh names: Singh for men, Kaur for women | Harpreet Singh Gill, Simran Kaur | Mr. Gill, Ms. Kaur |
| Initial for the father's name, then the given name (Tamil Nadu) | R. Karthik | Mr. Karthik |
| Given name, then father's name written out (Tamil Nadu, abroad) | Karthik Ramasamy | Mr. Karthik is safest |
| Family or house name first, often as an initial (Andhra Pradesh, Telangana, Karnataka) | K. Srinivas Rao | Mr. Rao or Mr. Srinivas |
Kumar, Devi, Kumari
Kumar is very often a middle name for men, as in Rajesh Kumar Sharma; Devi and Kumari play the same role for women. But for some people Kumar is the last name on every document. If Kumar is the last word and there is nothing after it, it is the name on their forms, and Mr. Kumar is what most colleagues will write.
South Indian names without a family name
In Tamil Nadu many people have no inherited family name. Their personal name is preceded by an initial that stands for the father's name: in R. Karthik, R is for Ramasamy and Karthik is the person. Abroad, the father's name is often written out and placed last to fill the "last name" box, which makes it look like a family name. Addressing such a person as Mr. Ramasamy means calling them by their father's name, so Mr. Karthik or Dear Karthik Ramasamy is the safe choice.
Singh and Kaur
Sikh men carry Singh and Sikh women Kaur, either as a last name or followed by a family name (Harpreet Singh Gill). Singh is also a family name in other communities. Address by the last word: Mr. Gill, Mr. Singh, Ms. Kaur.
Tone in Indian business email
Indian business English is often formal at first: Dear Sir, Dear Madam, or Dear Mr. Sharma. Many people move to first names quickly once a working relationship starts, and you will often be addressed by your own first name, sometimes with a respectful -ji in spoken Hindi. If the person signs with their first name, using it is fine.
Quick answers
Is Kumar a first name or a last name?
Most often a middle name; sometimes the last name on official documents. Rarely the name a person is called by.
How do I address R. Karthik?
Dear Mr. Karthik, or Hi Karthik. R is the father's initial.
Rajesh Kumar Sharma: which part do I use?
Dear Mr. Sharma, or Hi Rajesh on first-name terms.