Damarla Chennapa Nayaka, also known as Damal Chennappa Nayudu was a 16th-century Nayaka chieftain and military commander (Dalavoy) who ruled the territories of Kalahasti and Vandavasi under the suzerainty of Vijayanagar emperor Venkatapati Raya (r. 1585–1614). The Kalahasti Nayaks had their origins in the Velama clans of Andhra Pradesh.
The city of Chennai (originally called "Chennapatnam") was founded by his son Damarla Ayyappa Nayaka, and named after him. It was established in order to separate the warring Europeans within the region, the Dutch based at Pulicat and the Portuguese based at Mylapore. Later the British establishment at Madras (Fort St. George) was set up to the south of Chennapatnam.