1. How do you pronounce your name?

Ammu Vivekananda is pronounced like this: UM-moo vih-vay-kah-NUN-thaa.

2. Is Ammu your actual name or a nickname?

Ammu is my nickname. My actual name is Paliath Ammalu Vivekananda, which is pronounced like this: PAA-lee-eth um-MAA-loo vih-vay-kah-NUN-thaa.

To pronounce the retroflex 'l' in Ammalu, you need to curl your tongue backwards to touch the roof of your mouth just behind the alveolar ridge and then release it forward smoothly while producing the sound.

3. What does Paliath mean?

Paliath means 'of Paliam' or 'of the Paliam family,' which is my mother's ancestral family. Some of my ancestors served as prime ministers of the Kingdom of Kochi in southern India, helping shape its political and administrative decisions, especially in protecting the kingdom from colonial powers like the Portuguese and the British.

Fun fact about Chendamangalam, the ancestral town of the Paliam family: It’s the only place in the world where a Hindu temple, a Christian church, a Muslim mosque, and a Jewish synagogue all stand within just a 1 km radius of each other.

4. What does Ammalu mean?

Ammalu means “mother”. It is also one of the names of Goddess Lakshmi, the Hindu goddess of prosperity. Here’s a great article about her. In Hindu culture, Goddess Lakshmi is the spouse of Lord Vishnu, the Protector of the Universe, who is believed to appear on Earth whenever evil takes over to restore balance and harmony.

I also happen to be named after my great-great-grandmother Tharavath Ammalu Amma, who was a prolific writer in the Malayalam language. We even coincidentally share the same birthday!

5. What does Vivekananda mean?

Vivekananda means “blessed with knowledge.” While it was my married name, I chose to keep it because I thought it sounded a lot cooler than my maiden name, “Kutty,” which means "little child". I also feel a connection to the great Swami Vivekananda, the visionary leader from India who inspired others to embrace selflessness, service, and unity, encouraging people to break down barriers and work toward uplifting humanity. No, we're not related.

6. Do you go by any other names?

When I was younger, some people called me Ammunition. Or Moozie. One time, I was on a customer service call with an adorable Southern woman who couldn’t pronounce Ammalu and so she called me Emma Lou instead. Feel free to call me any of those names!

7. Do you have a bar name?

Cutty. Amanda Cutty. (Jk, I don’t drink anymore ;)

8. Do you have a Starbucks name?

It used to be Amanda, but now I'm proud to say I go by Ammu—most baristas probably wouldn’t want to wrestle with the tricky "l" in Ammalu :)

9. Anything else I need to know?

Nope, that’s all! Welcome to the Happier Mom family—I am SO here for you to help ease your journey any way I can!