This is a list of notable people from North Malabar, a historical and cultural area including the former French exclaves of Pondicherry. North Malabar is now administratively at the northern end of Kerala, India.

• Pazhassi Raja (1753–1805), freedom fighter and prince regent of Kottayam princely state
• Cherusseri Namboothiri (c.1375–c.1475), poet
• Aromal Chekavar, Legendary hero and warrior from the 12th century.
• Thacholi Othenan, legendary hero from the 1600s
• 00s
• Unniyarcha -12th Century warrior
• Chandu Chekavar -12th Century Warrior
• A. K. Gopalan (1904–1977), politician, communist leader, MP
• K. Kelappan (1889–1971), social reformer and journalist
• E. K. Nayanar (1919–2004), politician, communist leader and Chief Minister of Kerala
• K. P. R. Gopalan (1906–1997), politician. Naxalite communist leader and MPA
• M. V. Raghavan (1933–2014), politician, communist leader and MPA
• Sankaran Moopan 18th century an ancient chief commander of pazhassi raja
• Karayi Krishnan Gurukkal 19th Century scholar.
• Dewan E.K Krishnan (1841-1907) 19th century deputy collector.
• Janaki Ammal (1897-1984) cytogenetics and phytogeography
• Meenakshi Amma kalaripayattu guru and padmasree.
• Choorayi Kanaran (1812-1876) first deputy collector of India, 19th century.
• Rao Sahib Ayyathan Gopalan (1863-1948), social reformer
• Ayyathan Janaki Ammal (1881-1945) first female doctor in kerala
• I. K. Kumaran (1903-1999) 20th century mahe freedom fighter.
• Vagbhatananda (1885-1939) Hindu social reformer
• Keeleri Kunhikannan (1858-1939) martial art gurukkal and cercus experter
• S. K. Pottekkatt (1913-1982) an Malayalam literature
• Mithavaadi Krishnan social reformer.
• Potheri Kunjambu Vakil (1857-1919) social reformer, writer, royal family loyer
• Muliyil Krishnan (1845-1901) written.
• Narikkuni Unnirikutty Vaidyar (1849-1909) 19th century scholar
• Ponnapuramkottayil Kelu Moopan 17th century warrior
• K. Karunakaran (1918–2010), politician, congress leader and Chief Minister of Kerala
• E. Ahmed (1938-2017), politician, Muslim League leader and Central Cabinet Minister
• Moorkoth Kumaran (1874–1941), teacher and short-story writer
• Moorkoth Ramunni (1915–2009), pilot and bureaucrat
• Moorkoth Kunhappa (1905–1993), journalist, editor, novelist
• M. N. Nambiar (1919–2008), film actor and spiritual leader
• Verghese Kurien (1921–2012), social entrepreneur and founder of Amul
• Sreenivasan (born 1956), film actor, screenwriter, director, and producer
• Kannur Rajan (1949–1995), music composer
• Kuroolli Chekon, 20th century Kadathanad robinhood.
• Kaithapram Damodaran Namboothiri (born 1950), lyricist, music director, actor, singer, screenwriter, and performer of carnatic music
• Gireesh Puthenchery (1961–2010), lyricist and screenwriter
• Vineeth (born 1969), film actor and classical dancer
• K. Raghavan (1913–2013), music composer
• A. T. Ummer (1933-2001), music composer
• Vengayil Kunhiraman Nayanar (1861-1914), journalist, writer, landowner
• Vijay K. Nambiar (born 1943), diplomat
• O. M. Nambiar (1932-2021), athletics coach and winner of the Dronacharya award
• Lt. General Satish Nambiar (born 1936), general and commander of the UNPROFOR force in the former Yugoslavia 1992-93^{[citation needed]}
• Pinarayi Vijayan (born 1944), politician, communist leader, MPA, Chief Minister of Kerala
• Kalingalmadom Rarichan Moopan - Social Leader.
• Kodiyeri Balakrishnan (born 1953), politician, communist leader, MPA
• Sukumar Azhikode (1926–2012), writer philosopher
• M. Night Shyamalan (born 1970), film director, screenwriter, and producer
• M. Mukundan (born 1942), writer, social activist
• Kavya Madhavan (born 1984), film actress
• Samvrutha Sunil (born 1986), film actress
• Captain C. P. Krishnan Nair (1922–2014), businessman, hotelier