DAYA RAM

Indian (northern and southern states): Hindu name from Sanskrit rāma ‘pleasing’, ‘charming’, name of an incarnation of Vishnu. In the northern states, it probably evolved into a family name from use as the final element of a compound personal names such as Atmaram (with Sanskrit ātmā‘soul’) or Sitaram (with Sita, the name of Rama's wife). In South India it is used only as a male given name, but has come to be used as a family name in the U.S. among people from South India. Among Tamil and Malayalam speakers who have migrated from their home states, it is a variant of Raman.