One may ask, what’s in a name? And if you ask that about the Urdu language, you’ll come to know that there is, in fact, a lot of history, culture, and legacy - all hidden within the name of this wonderful language.
But why is that so? It is an interesting question, and today, we’re going to answer it for you!

The many names of a growing language

You’d be surprised to know that the name Urdu was given to the language only in the late 18th to early 19th century. However, the language itself began developing as early as the 13th century. Across these four centuries, it evolved under different names, each reflecting its historical and regional influences.

As many people know, the Urdu language originated in and around the Delhi Sultanate during the 13th century. As it gained popularity, people started calling it Hindavi or Hindi, which simply meant the language of Hind (Hindustan). 

Even poets of the time used these names in their verses. Amir Khusrau, often regarded as one of the earliest poets of the language, referred to it as Hindavi in this couplet:

turk-e hindostaanem man hindavi goyam jawaab
shakar-e misri nadaaram kaz arab goyam sukhan

Similarly, Mir Taqi Mir used the name Hindi in his poetry:

kya januun log kehte hain kis ko suroor-e-qalb
aaya nahin ye lafz to hindi zabaan ke beech

A shift to regional identities

Over time, the names Hindavi and Hindi transitioned into Dehlavi, associating the language with the Delhi region. This name gained popularity among the common people, and to this day, many poets still use Dehlavi as part of their pseudonyms.

However, Dehlavi wasn’t the only regional name. As the language spread to different parts of the subcontinent, it acquired new names:

In the Deccan, it was called Deccani (language of the Deccan).
In Gujarat, it was known as Gujri.

Interestingly, these names were not exclusive to different time periods. They coexisted for centuries. If you were to time-travel a few centuries back and ask a poet in Delhi what language they wrote in, they might say Dehlavi. A traveler in the Deccan might call it Deccani. In Gujarat, it would be called Gujri.

Rekhta: a poetic identity

Alongside these regional names, another beautiful name emerged: Rekhta. For a long time, the language was known as Rekhta, meaning scattered or mixed, signifying its unique blend of Persian, Arabic, and native Indian elements. Poets often used this name in their works.

Mir Taqi Mir, who once called it Hindavi, later referred to it as Rekhta in this couplet:

guftgoo hum se Rekhte mein na kar
ye hamaari zabaan hai pyaare

By the early 19th century, Rekhta was still a popular name for the language, but it was gradually moving toward its final and most enduring name: Urdu.

The story behind the name ‘Urdu’

In 1648, when Emperor Shah Jahan moved his capital from Agra to Delhi, he established Shahjahanabad. While the official name was Shahjahanabad, people also called it Urdu-e-Mu'alla (The Exalted Camp), as it was the royal capital.

Two languages were spoken in Urdu-e-Mu'alla: Persian and the language that we now call Urdu. By this time, the language had already been known by several names, including Hindavi, Hindi, Gujri, Daeccni, and Rekhta. However, a new name began emerging: Zaban-e-Urdu-e-Mu'alla or Zaban-e-Qila-e-Urdu-e-Mu'alla, meaning "the language of the exalted camp" or "the language of the fort of Urdu-e-Mu'alla."

Naturally, such a long name was difficult to use in everyday speech. Over time, it was shortened to Urdu-e-Mu'alla, and eventually, just Urdu.

A name rooted in history

Many languages are named after regions or cities, such as Sindhi from Sindh, Punjabi from Punjab and Bengali from Bengal. Similarly, the name Urdu originates from Shahjahanabad, which was known as Urdu-e-Mu'alla.

A journey through time

If this glimpse into Urdu’s fascinating past intrigued you, imagine what more there is to discover! Dive deeper into its language, literature, and cultural heritage with our course, Introduction to Urdu: Language, Literature, and Culture Let’s continue this journey together!