The name 'Nohkalikai' is derived from a tragic Khasi legend. According to the story, a woman named Ka Likai remarried after her husband's death. The new husband became jealous of Likai's love for her daughter from her previous marriage. One day, while Likai was away at work, the husband killed the daughter and cooked her flesh, disposing of the head and bones. When Likai returned, she unknowingly ate the meal. Later, she found her daughter's fingers in a betel nut basket and, realizing what had happened, ran in anguish and jumped off the cliff, giving the falls its name, which translates to 'Jump of Likai'. This tragic tale adds a poignant layer to the already stunning natural beauty of the falls.