Naidu (also spelled as Nayudu, Naidoo) is a Telugu title commonly used by various Telugu castes. 'Nayudu/Naidu' is a contraction of the Telugu word 'Nayakudu' meaning leader, chief, headman. Telugu castes such as the Kapu/Balija, Kamma, Gavara, Golla, Turpu Kapu, Velama, Boya among others use the title.

In Rayalaseema and North / Western Tamil Nadu, the term Naidu primarily refers to the Kamma caste.

In Coastal Andhra, the term Naidu primarily refers to the Kapu caste.

Notable people

People bearing the title Naidu include:

• Ama Naidoo, social activist from South Africa

• Baddukonda Appala Naidu, politician, YSRCP leader

• B. Munuswamy Naidu, former Chief Minister of Madras Presidency

• Buchi Babu Naidu, Indian cricket pioneer known as the 'father of South Indian cricket'

• Chandra Nayudu, India's first female cricket commentator

• Chota K. Naidu, Telugu cinematographer

• C. K. Nayudu, first captain of the Indian cricket team and one of India's greatest cricketers

• C. S. Nayudu, Indian Test cricketer from 1934 to 1952

• D. K. Adikesavulu Naidu, former chairman of Tirumala Tirupati Devasthanams

• Dwaram Venkataswamy Naidu, Carnatic violinist

• Daggubati Ramanaidu, Telugu film producer

• Gali Muddu Krishnama Naidu, member of Telugu Desam Party

• Galla Ramachandra Naidu, Indian industrialist, the founder of Amara Raja Group of companies

• Gorle Sriramulu Naidu, former Minister, Congress Party, Andhra Pradesh

• Grandhi Venkata Reddy Naidu, first Law Minister of Andhra Pradesh

• G. D. Naidu, scientist, inventor and businessman, known as "Edison of India"

• K. Govindaswamy Naidu, entrepreneur, founder of KG Group

• Kamisetty Parasuram Naidu, Speaker of Pondicherry Assembly (19851989)

• Kodi Rammurthy Naidu, bodybuilder, strongman, and wrestler

• Kondapalli Pydithalli Naidu, former Member of Parliament; Telugu Desam Party leader

• Kondapalli Appala Naidu, Telugu Desam Party leader

• Kuppuswami Naidu, entrepreneur, founder of Lakshmi Mills

• Kurma Venkata Reddy Naidu, former Chief Minister and Governor of Madras Presidency

• K. Venkataswami Naidu, politician

• Leela Naidu, Indian actress

• M. Venkaiah Naidu, 13th Vice President of India

• Nalla Reddi Naidu, former Member of Parliament

• Naransamy Roy Naidoo, social activist in South Africa

• Nimmala Rama Naidu, politician, Telugu Desam Party

• N. Chandrababu Naidu, current Chief Minister of Andhra Pradesh, leader of Telugu Desam Party

• P. Varadarajulu Naidu, Indian physician, politician, journalist and Indian independence activist

• P. S. Govindasamy Naidu, educator, founder of PSG Group

• P. V. Rangayya Naidu, former Director General of Police, 10th Lok Sabha of India

• Padmaja Naidu, freedom fighter

• Palnati Brahmanaidu, minister of a small Andhra kingdom of Palnadu

• Pathivada Narayanaswamy Naidu, former Minister, Andhra Pradesh

• Pemmasani Ramalinga Nayudu, commander of a Vijayanagara military unit

• Prakash Nayudu, represented Madhya Pradesh cricket team

• Raghupathi Venkaiah Naidu, filmmaker widely known as the "father of Telugu cinema"

• Raghupathi Venkataratnam Naidu, Indian social reformer and educationist

• Ramesh Naidu, National Award-winning music composer

• Sarojini Naidu, independence activist and poet known as "nightingale of India"

• Sobha Naidu, classical dancer

• Srihari S. Naidu, physician

• S. R. A. S. Appala Naidu, politician, former MP and state minister

• Thapi Dharma Rao Naidu, writer, journalist, winner of Sahitya Akademi Award

• Thota Narasayya Naidu, freedom fighter

• Vasireddy Venkatadri Nayudu, Amaravathi Raja

References