Save Type Political Subdivision Usage English Pronounced Pron. /ˈkɛ.ɹə.lə/ [key·simplify] Meaning & History From Malayalam കേരളം (Keralam) of uncertain meaning. One theory suggests that it means "land of coconuts", derived from Malayalam കേരം (keram) meaning "coconut" and അളം (alam) meaning "place". This is the name of a state of India.