Quick answer
The Moon's position at birth gives a baby one of 27 nakshatras, split into four padas. Each pada has a traditional first syllable, and at the Namakaran many Hindu families choose a name that starts with it. Find the nakshatra from the birth time with the nakshatra finder, read its syllables in the table below, then open the nakshatra's name list.
How the syllable is chosen
- Cast the birth chart. A priest or an app works out where the Moon was at the date, time and place of birth. That gives the nakshatra and the pada (1–4).
- Read the pada syllable. The Avakahada chakra assigns one syllable to each of the 108 padas (27 × 4); for example Rohini pada 1 is O, pada 2 is Va, pada 3 is Vi, pada 4 is Vu.
- Shortlist names that start with it. Devanagari spelling decides the exact match (ट and त are different syllables), which is why our name pages show the Hindi spelling.
- Check the meaning and the sound. Say the name with the surname, check the meaning on its page, and keep a pet name for home if the formal name is long.
All 27 nakshatras and their pada syllables
| # | Nakshatra | Pada 1 | Pada 2 | Pada 3 | Pada 4 | Rashi | Names |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Ashwini | Chu (चू) | Che (चे) | Cho (चो) | La (ला) | Mesh | 254 |
| 2 | Bharani | Li (ली) | Lu (लू) | Le (ले) | Lo (लो) | Mesh | 112 |
| 3 | Krittika | A (अ) | I (इ) | U (उ) | E (ए) | Mesh / Vrishabh | 2974 |
| 4 | Rohini | O (ओ) | Va (वा) | Vi (वी) | Vu (वू) | Vrishabh | 967 |
| 5 | Mrigashira | Ve (वे) | Vo (वो) | Ka (का) | Ki (की) | Vrishabh / Mithun | 646 |
| 6 | Ardra | Ku (कू) | Gha (घ) | Nga (ङ) | Chha (छ) | Mithun | 103 |
| 7 | Punarvasu | Ke (के) | Ko (को) | Ha (हा) | Hi (ही) | Mithun / Kark | 531 |
| 8 | Pushya | Hu (हू) | He (हे) | Ho (हो) | Da (डा) | Kark | 187 |
| 9 | Ashlesha | Di (डी) | Du (डू) | De (डे) | Do (डो) | Kark | 4 |
| 10 | Magha | Ma (मा) | Mi (मी) | Mu (मू) | Me (मे) | Simha | 522 |
| 11 | Purva Phalguni | Mo (मो) | Ta (टा) | Ti (टी) | Tu (टू) | Simha | 34 |
| 12 | Uttara Phalguni | Te (टे) | To (टो) | Pa (पा) | Pi (पी) | Simha / Kanya | 1336 |
| 13 | Hasta | Pu (पू) | Sha (ष) | Na (ण) | Tha (ठ) | Kanya | 288 |
| 14 | Chitra | Pe (पे) | Po (पो) | Ra (रा) | Ri (री) | Kanya / Tula | 339 |
| 15 | Swati | Ru (रू) | Re (रे) | Ro (रो) | Ta (ता) | Tula | 242 |
| 16 | Vishakha | Ti (ती) | Tu (तू) | Te (ते) | To (तो) | Tula / Vrishchik | 200 |
| 17 | Anuradha | Na (ना) | Ni (नी) | Nu (नू) | Ne (ने) | Vrishchik | 898 |
| 18 | Jyeshtha | No (नो) | Ya (या) | Yi (यी) | Yu (यू) | Vrishchik | 281 |
| 19 | Mula | Ye (ये) | Yo (यो) | Bha (भा) | Bhi (भी) | Dhanu | 526 |
| 20 | Purva Ashadha | Bhu (भू) | Dha (धा) | Pha (फा) | Dha (ढा) | Dhanu | 579 |
| 21 | Uttara Ashadha | Bhe (भे) | Bho (भो) | Ja (जा) | Ji (जी) | Dhanu / Makar | 570 |
| 22 | Shravana | Khi (खी) | Khu (खू) | Khe (खे) | Kho (खो) | Makar | 179 |
| 23 | Dhanishta | Ga (गा) | Gi (गी) | Gu (गू) | Ge (गे) | Makar / Kumbh | 610 |
| 24 | Shatabhisha | Go (गो) | Sa (सा) | Si (सी) | Su (सू) | Kumbh | 2484 |
| 25 | Purva Bhadrapada | Se (से) | So (सो) | Da (दा) | Di (दी) | Kumbh / Meen | 921 |
| 26 | Uttara Bhadrapada | Du (दू) | Tha (थ) | Jha (झ) | Nya (ञ) | Meen | 89 |
| 27 | Revati | De (दे) | Do (दो) | Cha (चा) | Chi (ची) | Meen | 503 |
Syllables follow the Avakahada chakra as used across North and South India; some regional traditions vary a few padas. Ask your priest if a syllable here differs from the one you were given.
Names by rashi
Every rashi covers two and a quarter nakshatras, so a rashi page lists names for nine syllables at once.
Mesh (Aries) · 2759Vrishabh (Taurus) · 1754Mithun (Gemini) · 844Kark (Cancer) · 421Simha (Leo) · 556Kanya (Virgo) · 1791Tula (Libra) · 592Vrishchik (Scorpio) · 1201Dhanu (Sagittarius) · 1118Makar (Capricorn) · 1058Kumbh (Aquarius) · 3491Meen (Pisces) · 794
Common questions
- What is a nakshatra?
- A nakshatra is one of 27 lunar mansions — the segment of the sky the Moon was passing through at the moment of birth. Each nakshatra is divided into four padas (quarters), and every pada has a traditional starting syllable for a name.
- How do I find my baby's nakshatra?
- You need the date, exact time and place of birth. A family priest or astrologer casts the janma kundali, or you can use our free nakshatra finder, which calculates the Moon's position for the birth time.
- What is the Namakaran syllable?
- At the Namakaran (naming ceremony, usually on the 11th or 12th day), many Hindu families choose a name beginning with the syllable of the baby's nakshatra pada, for example Chu, Che, Cho or La for Ashwini. The syllable is believed to keep the name in harmony with the baby's birth star.
- Do I have to use the nakshatra syllable?
- No. Many families keep a formal nakshatra name for ceremonies and use a different everyday name, and others choose freely. The syllable is a tradition, not a rule; a loved, meaningful name matters more.
- What is the difference between rashi and nakshatra naming?
- The rashi (Moon sign) is broader: each rashi covers two and a quarter nakshatras, so it has nine starting syllables. Naming by nakshatra pada is more specific — one syllable — and is what most priests give at the Namakaran.
Last updated 2026-10-22. Naming by nakshatra is a cultural tradition; this page explains it and does not make astrological claims.