A local legend says the city is named after Dandelappa, a local deity. He was a servant of the Mirashi landlords, who lost his life because of his loyalty. Another legend says that a king named Dandakanayaka passed through the forests and named them after himself. The city is believed to stand on the place where Dandakaranya stood when he named the area. The word "Aranya" in Kannada language means "forest".