BBC’s Naga Munchetty Was Named After Snakes and There’s a Deep Reason Why

For almost two decades, Naga Munchetty has been a familiar and respected face on BBC Breakfast. But behind her sharp journalism and composed screen presence is a deeply personal story, starting with her striking name that not many know the origins of.

Her full name at birth was Subha Nagalakshmi Munchetty-Chendriah. The nickname ‘Naga’ actually stems from a series of vivid dreams her mother had during pregnancy, all featuring snakes. In Sanskrit, ‘Naga’ means cobra. It’s an unusual name with a powerful backstory, but for Naga, growing up with it wasn’t always easy, according to the Daily Record .

Speaking to Saga Magazine , she shared how tough it was navigating school with such a distinctive name. “I’ve embraced it now, but when I was younger, it was all about assimilation and it wa