The name Marayoor is said to be derived from two words, Mara and Oor.Mara means hidden and oor means land. Another argument is that the name Marayoor is derived from two words Mala nad Oor , Mala means mountain and oor means land. ie , '' The land of the mountains''.

The most probable meaning is the place name is the Uru of Maravas [ a tribe lived in this mountain during the turn of christian era, they attacked travellers for looting and hiding in the forest ].