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Baby Names by Nakshatra: All 108 Starting Syllables

In the Vedic tradition a baby's name begins with the syllable of the nakshatra pada the Moon occupied at birth: 27 nakshatras of four padas each give 108 syllables, from Chu, Che, Cho and La for Ashwini to De, Do, Cha and Chi for Revati. Finding the pada needs the exact birth time and place. Families who follow the broader Rashi rule choose from the nine syllables of the baby's Moon sign instead.

By Published Updated 4 min read

A golden crescent moon cradling a small glowing star among marigold petals, beside a lit brass diya lamp
Key takeaways
  • The first syllable comes from the Moon's nakshatra and pada at birth.
  • A pada is 3°20' of the Moon's path, roughly six hours, so the birth time matters.
  • The Rashi rule groups the nine padas of the Moon sign, so it offers nine syllables.
  • Printed tables disagree on four cells; the alternates are shown below.
  • Namakarana is traditionally held on the 11th or 12th day after birth.

How does naming by nakshatra work?

At a namakarana, the naming ceremony, the family priest looks up the Moon's position at the moment of birth. The Moon's sidereal longitude falls in one of the 27 nakshatras, and each nakshatra divides into four padas of 3°20'. Each of the 108 padas has a syllable assigned to it by classical convention, and the child's name traditionally begins with that sound.

syllables, one for each pada
108syllables, one for each pada
padas in every nakshatra
4padas in every nakshatra
for the Moon to cross a pada
About 6 hoursfor the Moon to cross a pada

It is arithmetic, not prophecy. The same birth moment always gives the same syllable, and anyone with an ephemeris can check it. It says nothing about who the child will be.

Nakshatra syllables for baby names: the full table

  • 1. Ashwini

    1. Pada 1Chu
    2. Pada 2Che
    3. Pada 3Cho
    4. Pada 4La

  • 2. Bharani

    1. Pada 1Li
    2. Pada 2Lu
    3. Pada 3Le
    4. Pada 4Lo

  • 3. Krittika

    1. Pada 1A
    2. Pada 2I
    3. Pada 3U
    4. Pada 4E

  • 4. Rohini

    1. Pada 1O
    2. Pada 2Va
    3. Pada 3Vi
    4. Pada 4Vu

  • 5. Mrigashira

    1. Pada 1Ve
    2. Pada 2Vo
    3. Pada 3Ka
    4. Pada 4Ki

  • 6. Ardra

    1. Pada 1Ku
    2. Pada 2Kha
    3. Pada 3Nga / Na
    4. Pada 4Chha

  • 7. Punarvasu

    1. Pada 1Ke
    2. Pada 2Ko
    3. Pada 3Ha
    4. Pada 4Hi

  • 8. Pushya

    1. Pada 1Hu
    2. Pada 2He
    3. Pada 3Ho
    4. Pada 4Da

  • 9. Ashlesha

    1. Pada 1Di
    2. Pada 2Du
    3. Pada 3De
    4. Pada 4Do

  • 10. Magha

    1. Pada 1Ma
    2. Pada 2Mi
    3. Pada 3Mu
    4. Pada 4Me

  • 11. Purva Phalguni

    1. Pada 1Mo
    2. Pada 2Ta
    3. Pada 3Ti
    4. Pada 4Tu

  • 12. Uttara Phalguni

    1. Pada 1Te
    2. Pada 2To
    3. Pada 3Pa
    4. Pada 4Pi

  • 13. Hasta

    1. Pada 1Pu
    2. Pada 2Sha
    3. Pada 3Na
    4. Pada 4Tha

  • 14. Chitra

    1. Pada 1Pe
    2. Pada 2Po
    3. Pada 3Ra
    4. Pada 4Ri

  • 15. Swati

    1. Pada 1Ru
    2. Pada 2Re
    3. Pada 3Ro
    4. Pada 4Ta

  • 16. Vishakha

    1. Pada 1Ti
    2. Pada 2Tu
    3. Pada 3Te
    4. Pada 4To

  • 17. Anuradha

    1. Pada 1Na
    2. Pada 2Ni
    3. Pada 3Nu
    4. Pada 4Ne

  • 18. Jyeshtha

    1. Pada 1No
    2. Pada 2Ya
    3. Pada 3Yi
    4. Pada 4Yu

  • 19. Mula

    1. Pada 1Ye
    2. Pada 2Yo
    3. Pada 3Bha
    4. Pada 4Bhi

  • 20. Purva Ashadha

    1. Pada 1Bhu
    2. Pada 2Dha / Pha
    3. Pada 3Pha
    4. Pada 4Dha

  • 21. Uttara Ashadha

    1. Pada 1Bhe
    2. Pada 2Bho
    3. Pada 3Ja
    4. Pada 4Ji

  • 22. Shravana

    1. Pada 1Ju
    2. Pada 2Je
    3. Pada 3Jo
    4. Pada 4Gha / Kha

  • 23. Dhanishta

    1. Pada 1Ga
    2. Pada 2Gi
    3. Pada 3Gu
    4. Pada 4Ge

  • 24. Shatabhisha

    1. Pada 1Go
    2. Pada 2Sa
    3. Pada 3Si
    4. Pada 4Su

  • 25. Purva Bhadrapada

    1. Pada 1Se
    2. Pada 2So
    3. Pada 3Da
    4. Pada 4Di

  • 26. Uttara Bhadrapada

    1. Pada 1Du
    2. Pada 2Tha
    3. Pada 3Jha
    4. Pada 4Tra / Da

  • 27. Revati

    1. Pada 1De
    2. Pada 2Do
    3. Pada 3Cha
    4. Pada 4Chi
The syllables are the ones Horoskope's naming page uses, with the alternates where printed tables disagree.

Baby names by Rashi: the broader rule

Many families use the Moon sign, the Rashi, instead. A Rashi spans exactly nine padas, so its letters are simply the pada table read in blocks of nine. It is not a different tradition, only a looser grouping, and it gives a family more choice.

The nine naming syllables of each Moon sign (Rashi)
Rashi (Moon sign)Syllables
Mesha (Aries)Chu, Che, Cho, La, Li, Lu, Le, Lo, A
Vrishabha (Taurus)I, U, E, O, Va, Vi, Vu, Ve, Vo
Mithuna (Gemini)Ka, Ki, Ku, Kha, Nga, Chha, Ke, Ko, Ha
Karka (Cancer)Hi, Hu, He, Ho, Da, Di, Du, De, Do
Simha (Leo)Ma, Mi, Mu, Me, Mo, Ta, Ti, Tu, Te
Kanya (Virgo)To, Pa, Pi, Pu, Sha, Na, Tha, Pe, Po
Tula (Libra)Ra, Ri, Ru, Re, Ro, Ta, Ti, Tu, Te
Vrishchika (Scorpio)To, Na, Ni, Nu, Ne, No, Ya, Yi, Yu
Dhanu (Sagittarius)Ye, Yo, Bha, Bhi, Bhu, Dha, Pha, Dha, Bhe
Makara (Capricorn)Bho, Ja, Ji, Ju, Je, Jo, Gha, Ga, Gi
Kumbha (Aquarius)Gu, Ge, Go, Sa, Si, Su, Se, So, Da
Meena (Pisces)Di, Du, Tha, Jha, Tra, De, Do, Cha, Chi

How to find your baby's nakshatra and pada

  1. Note the birth time and place

    Note the exact birth time from the birth record, and the town of birth.

  2. Find the nakshatra and pada

    Enter them in the free Rashi calculator, which shows the Moon's sign, nakshatra and pada.

  3. Read the syllable

    Read the syllable for that pada above, and the Rashi letters if you want a wider choice.

The time matters. The Moon crosses a pada in roughly six hours, so a birth near a boundary can fall in the next pada with a small change of time. When the birth time is uncertain, both syllables are worth considering.

When is the naming ceremony?

Namakarana is traditionally held on the 11th or 12th day after birth, though families and regions vary, and many settle the day with their priest. There is no rush from the registrar: in India a birth can be registered without a name, and the name can be added free of charge within twelve months.

Choosing the name itself

  • Start with the syllable, then the meaning

    A name should mean something your family is glad to say.

  • Say it in every language the child will live in

    A name that works in Hindi and in English saves a lifetime of spelling it out.

  • Keep an everyday name if you like

    Many families give a formal Rashi name for ceremonies and choose another for daily use.

  • Check the source

    A name's meaning should come from a dictionary or a text, not from a list that cannot say where it came from.

Horoskope's naming page for a newborn

The naming page for a newborn, part of Horoskope Pro, computes the syllable from the birth star, shows the alternates where the tables disagree, and adds a shortlist, a name-check that tells you whether a name fits the syllable, and the dates for the traditional ceremonies. It makes no predictions about the child: a child's profile is held under your account, needs a guardian's consent, and is used only for the naming page. New accounts can try Pro free for 5 days.

The page that does this for you: Rashi calculator.

Honest limits

What this cannot tell you

  • Syllables follow the most widely printed table. Four cells vary between sources, and the alternates are shown.
  • A syllable is a naming convention. It says nothing about who the child will become.
  • Astrology here is for reflection and cultural interest. It describes tendencies, does not predict events, and is not medical, legal or financial advice.
Also asked

Related questions

How do I find my baby's name letter by nakshatra?

Find the Moon's nakshatra and pada at the birth minute, then read the syllable for that pada. The free Rashi calculator shows the nakshatra and pada from the birth date, time and place.

What are the letters for Rohini nakshatra?

O, Va, Vi and Vu, for padas 1 to 4.

What is the difference between nakshatra letters and Rashi letters?

Nakshatra letters come from the exact pada, one syllable per quarter of a nakshatra. Rashi letters group the nine padas of the Moon sign, so they give nine choices. The pada rule is older and stricter; the Rashi rule is broader.

Is it compulsory to name a baby by nakshatra?

No. It is a tradition, and many families use it for a ceremonial name while choosing an everyday name freely.

What if the birth time is not known?

Then the pada, and sometimes the nakshatra, cannot be certain. Use the Rashi letters, which cover a wider span, or consider the syllables of the padas either side.

When should the naming ceremony be done?

Traditionally on the 11th or 12th day after birth, though practice varies by family and region.
Your turn

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