Mumbai's Many Names: From Bombay to Mumbai

Mumbai's name reflects its layered history—indigenous, colonial, and post-colonial.

Historical Names

• Mumbai / Mumbāī (मुंबई): Derived from Mumbā (goddess Mumbadevi) + Aī (mother). Official Marathi name since 1995.
• Bombaim / Bombaim: Portuguese name (16th c.), likely from Bom Bahia ("Good Bay").
• Bombay: Anglicized version. Official name under British Raj (1661–1995). Still widely used internationally and colloquially.

Classical & Administrative Names

• Urbs Prima in Indis: Latin, "First City of India" – colonial motto.
• Civitas Bombay: Latin legal/administrative term.
• Bombay Presidency: British administrative division (1618–1947), covering much of western India.
• Bombay State: Post-independence state (1947–1960) before bifurcation into Gujarat & Maharashtra.

Modern & Colloquial

• Bambai (बम्बई): Hindi/Urdu colloquial form.
• Mumbai Metropolitan Region (MMR): Planning area (4,355 km²) including Mumbai City, Suburban, Thane, Palghar, Raigad districts.
• Greater Mumbai: Municipal Corporation (MCGM) jurisdiction.

The 1995 rename by the Shiv Sena-led government was a deliberate decolonization move, honoring the patron goddess Mumbadevi and Marathi identity.