Names
Find lucky first letters for your baby from the birth Nakshatra, save your favourite names, and pick a Muhurta for the naming ceremony (Namakaran).
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Names by star
Browse baby names grouped by birth star. Each Nakshatra has four Padas and four starting syllables; under each you will find names for boys and girls with their meaning, origin and the quality of the star they come from.
The Nakshatras run in order from Ashwini to Revati. Under each, the four syllables appear with their Pada number, and names are listed under the syllable they start with. A short note on the star explains its ruling planet, deity and nature, which many families like to reflect in the name.
Ashwini, ruled by Ketu with the Ashwini Kumaras as deities, is linked to healing and speed. Rohini, ruled by the Moon with Brahma as deity, is linked to growth and beauty. Pushya, ruled by Saturn with Brihaspati as deity, is the star of nourishment and is considered the most auspicious. Revati, ruled by Mercury with Pushan as deity, is linked to safe journeys and care.
Some syllables are written differently in Tamil, Telugu, Kannada and Malayalam, because each script has its own sounds. The list shows the syllable in your chosen script, with names that sound natural in that language.
A popular choice is a name of the star's deity. For Krittika, ruled by Agni, names such as Agnivesh or Pavaka; for Mrigashira, ruled by Soma, names such as Somnath or Chandrika; for Shravana, ruled by Vishnu, names such as Shravan, Hari or Madhav.
If you do not yet know the baby's Nakshatra and Pada, start with the naming tool, which calculates both from the time and place of birth.
You do not have to choose between tradition and a name you love. Many families give the Nakshatra name at the ceremony and use a second name every day.
Each Pada of a Nakshatra falls in one Navamsa sign, so the Pada also says something about the child's inner nature. The first Pada of Ashwini falls in the Navamsa of Mesha, the second in Rishabha, the third in Mithuna and the fourth in Kataka. Families who follow this closely sometimes pick a name whose meaning suits the Navamsa sign as well as the star, for example a name of strength for a Mesha Pada or a gentle name for a Kataka Pada.
Four, one for each Pada.
A quarter of a Nakshatra, 3 degrees 20 minutes of the zodiac.
Pushya is widely considered the most auspicious star.
The sounds are shared, but spellings and favourite names vary by language.
Yes. Search by name to see the star and syllable it fits.
No. The syllables are the same; the names listed differ.
The naming tradition uses twenty-seven stars. Abhijit is used only in some Muhurta rules.
Each Nakshatra has a presiding deity whose qualities it carries.
Yes. Each meaning comes from the Sanskrit or Tamil root of the name.
Many families use it as the everyday name.
Use the naming tool with the exact birth time.
Yes. Pairs of names with matching sounds or meanings are suggested.
The custom is Hindu, but anyone can browse names and meanings.
Yes. Some Padas begin with vowels, such as A, I, U, E and O, which gives a wide choice of names.