Kodagu in Kannada and Coorg in English are derived  from the local version Kodava and the people Kodava. The name Kodava is supposed to have been derived from Kodimalenad meaning higher forest land. Puranic version says, that the land of initial settlement was called Krodadesa which  later became Kodavu. The word Kodava means the people blessed by Godmother Kaveri (‘Kod’ means give, bless and 'avva' means mother Kaveri) is supported by the puranic version.