How Did Delhi Got It’s Name?

The Etymology of Delhi: Tracing the Origins of India’s Capital

Delhi, the grand capital of modern India, is a city of immense antiquity and layered history. From ancient Rajput dynasties to the Delhi Sultanate, from Mughal grandeur to British colonial rule, the city has witnessed the rise and fall of empires. Yet, behind its political and cultural prominence lies a fascinating question: where does the name Delhi come from? The origin of the word has intrigued scholars and historians for centuries. Various theories—linguistic, historical, and folkloric—have emerged, with varying degrees of credibility. Among these, the most robust and historically supported theory points to the name Dhillika, while others, such as the Persian Dehleez theory, lack substantiation. This article unpacks these competing narratives and traces how Delhi came to be known by its present name.

The Foundation of Dhillika: Tomara Dynasty and Early References

The most academically credible and widely accepted origin of the name Delhi is its derivation from Dhillika (also written as Dhillipura). This name is historically associated with Anangpal Tomar II, a ruler of the Tomara dynasty, who is believed to have founded the fortified city around 1052 CE. The Tomaras were a Rajput clan that ruled parts of Haryana and Delhi in the early medieval period.

Anangpal Tomar is credited with establishing a citadel in the region and reinforcing the area as a center of political power. Inscriptions found on the Iron Pillar at Mehrauli and other archaeological sites refer to Anangpal and his efforts to establish the city. These inscriptions directly use the term Dhillika, providing strong historical evidence of the city’s original name.

Dhillika served as the seat of the Tomaras until it was overtaken by Prithviraj Chauhan, the Chauhan king of Ajmer, who further fortified and expanded the city. Thus, long before the advent of Islamic dynasties or Persian influence, the name Dhillika was firmly rooted in the region’s cultural and administrative identity.

The Evolution from Dhillika to Dilli

As centuries passed, linguistic changes—especially the influence of Prakrit, Apabhramsha, and later Hindi dialects—led to the natural phonetic simplification of Dhillika. In everyday spoken language, it evolved into Dilli, a form that remains commonly used in Hindi and Punjabi to this day.

This linguistic evolution is well-documented and is typical of how many ancient Sanskritic names gradually adapted to local speech patterns. There was no need for any foreign influence to alter the name—it changed organically within the Indic linguistic family. Over time, Dilli became the dominant vernacular name used by both locals and rulers.

The Legend of Raja Dhilu

Another theory that occasionally surfaces is the reference to a semi-legendary king named Raja Dhilu, said to have ruled the region in the 1st century BCE. Some classical texts and folk traditions suggest that the city may have been named Dhillika or Dhillipura after him. However, this theory is speculative and lacks firm archaeological corroboration.

While the legend of Raja Dhilu may reflect an older cultural memory or an earlier political entity in the region, there is little in the way of inscriptions or material evidence to confirm that the city was named after him. Nevertheless, the tale adds another layer to the city’s mythic past and highlights the ancient roots of its settlement.

The Persian-Origin Theory: “Dehleez” and the Threshold Myth

One of the more popular but weakly substantiated theories claims that the name Delhi comes from the Persian word “Dehleez” (or Dehalī), which means threshold or gateway. According to this view, the city was seen as the gateway to the Indo-Gangetic plains, particularly from the perspective of Persianized Central Asian rulers who entered India through the northwest.

While metaphorically poetic, this theory lacks historical credibility for several reasons:

  1. No Early Persian Sources Support It: None of the early Persian chronicles or administrative records of the Delhi Sultanate or Mughal Empire mention renaming the city as Delhi derived from Dehleez. They often used the existing names like Dilli or variants of it.
  2. Pre-Persian Origins of the Name: The city was already known as Dhillika long before Persian-speaking rulers arrived. The Tomaras established the city and named it, and this is documented in inscriptions from the 11th century—two centuries before the founding of the Delhi Sultanate in 1206 CE.
  3. No Official Renaming Event: Unlike other cities that were renamed by invaders or colonialists (e.g., Prayagraj becoming Allahabad, or Mumbai becoming Bombay), Delhi underwent no such official renaming. The name evolved rather than being imposed.
  4. Continuity of the Local Name “Dilli”: Even under Persian-speaking rulers, the local population continued to refer to the city as Dilli. This usage survived through the Sultanate, the Mughals, and even into the colonial and post-colonial periods.
  5. Symbolic, Not Etymological: At best, the Dehleez theory may reflect how Persian poets or chroniclers described Delhi—symbolically as the gateway to Hindustan. But it does not explain the linguistic origin of the name.

Thus, the Persian-origin theory may have cultural and literary appeal, but it does not hold up against historical scrutiny and lacks epigraphic or documentary evidence.

British Anglicization: From Dilli to Delhi

During the British colonial era, the name Dilli was standardized and transcribed as Delhi in English administrative records. This was a common practice by the British, who anglicized many Indian names based on their own phonetic interpretations and spellings. As a result, Delhi became the official name used in English, while Dilli remained in popular usage among Indians.

With the construction of New Delhi in 1911–1931 as the imperial capital of British India, the name Delhi became permanently entrenched in formal and international usage. Yet, the underlying Indian name and its ancient roots continued to be preserved in regional languages and oral traditions.

Conclusion: Dhillika Lives On

The name Delhi is not a mere label—it is a historical narrative. The strongest evidence points to Dhillika, founded by Anangpal Tomar, as the original name of the city. Over centuries, natural linguistic evolution led to the form Dilli, and eventually, through British transcription, to Delhi.

Other theories, such as the Persian Dehleez hypothesis, are interesting but largely speculative and unsupported by historical or archaeological evidence. In contrast, the Tomara-era inscriptions and linguistic continuity offer a far more grounded and credible origin.

Thus, Delhi is not just a political capital—it is a living symbol of India’s civilizational continuity. From Dhillika to Dilli to Delhi, the name itself tells the story of India’s past, layered in language, culture, and conquest.

Comments are closed.