Baby Name by Nakshatra
In the naming tradition of the namkaran samskara, a baby’s first name often begins with a syllable belonging to the nakshatra (the lunar mansion) the moon occupied at their birth. Enter the birth date to see the likely nakshatra and its starting syllables, then browse all 27 below.
Find your baby’s likely nakshatra
Enter the birth date (2025 to 2027). We’ll estimate the moon’s nakshatra at midday in India and show the traditional starting syllables, plus the neighboring stars, since the exact nakshatra depends on the time and place of birth.
What is a janma nakshatra?
The Hindu calendar divides the moon’s monthly path through the sky into 27 equal mansions called nakshatras, each spanning 13°20′ of the zodiac, from Ashwini to Revati. The moon spends roughly one day in each, so every birth falls under one star: the janma nakshatra. Each nakshatra is further divided into four padas (quarters), and each pada carries a traditional starting sound. A name that begins with the birth pada’s syllable is felt to keep the child’s name in harmony with their birth star.
Because the nakshatra changes at a particular moment each day, not at midnight, two babies born on the same date in different cities, or at different hours, can have different birth stars. That is why a date-only tool like this one can offer a strong estimate but never a final answer: the panchang for the exact time and place of birth has the last word.
The namkaran samskara: naming on day 11 to 12
Namkaran (namakarana, “the making of the name”) is one of the sixteen samskaras, the life-cycle rites that mark a Hindu life from birth onward, and among the first a child receives. Classical sources place the naming on the tenth or twelfth day after birth: Manusmriti 2.30 prescribes it for the tenth or twelfth day, and the Grihya Sutras, the ancient manuals of household ritual, describe the father formally giving the name once the birth-seclusion period ends. In living practice most families hold it on the 11th or 12th day, with plenty of regional variation: the 12th-day barsa in Maharashtra, the 21st-day barasala in many Telugu families, or simply the first convenient auspicious day.
The ceremony itself is intimate: a cleaned and decorated home, a small havan or puja, elders present, and the name spoken into the baby’s ear, traditionally by the father or a grandparent, often whispered along with a short prayer. Many families choose the formal name by the nakshatra syllable, keep a rashi name for astrological use, and let a pet name happen on its own, as pet names do.
All 27 nakshatras and their starting syllables
The traditional chart, with Devanagari aksharas. Example names are just that: examples; your family, your language, and your priest shape the real shortlist.
- 1. Ashwini अश्विनीChu चु · Che चे · Cho चो · La ला
Example names: Chetan, Chaitali, Lakshya
- 2. Bharani भरणीLi ली · Lu लू · Le ले · Lo लो
Example names: Leela, Lokesh, Lekha
- 3. Krittika कृत्तिकाA अ · I ई · U उ · E ए
Example names: Arjun, Ira, Uma
- 4. Rohini रोहिणीO ओ · Va वा · Vi वी · Vu वू
Example names: Omkar, Vani, Vivaan
- 5. Mrigashira मृगशिराVe वे · Vo वो · Ka का · Ki की
Example names: Vedika, Kavya, Kiran
- 6. Ardra आर्द्राKu कू · Gha घ · Nga ङ · Chha छ
Example names: Kunal, Kusum, Chhaya
- 7. Punarvasu पुनर्वसुKe के · Ko को · Ha हा · Hi ही
Example names: Ketan, Keshav, Himani
- 8. Pushya पुष्यHu हू · He हे · Ho हो · Da डा
Example names: Hemant, Hema, Daksh
- 9. Ashlesha आश्लेषाDi डी · Du डू · De डे · Do डो
Example names: Diya, Deepak, Divit
- 10. Magha मघाMa मा · Mi मी · Mu मू · Me मे
Example names: Manav, Meera, Mukund
- 11. Purva Phalguni पूर्व फाल्गुनीMo मो · Ta टा · Ti टी · Tu टू
Example names: Mohan, Mohini, Tara
- 12. Uttara Phalguni उत्तर फाल्गुनीTe टे · To टो · Pa पा · Pi पी
Example names: Tejas, Paras, Piya
- 13. Hasta हस्तPu पू · Sha ष · Na ण · Tha ठ
Example names: Pooja, Purab, Shanaya
- 14. Chitra चित्राPe पे · Po पो · Ra रा · Ri री
Example names: Rahul, Riya, Rachit
- 15. Swati स्वातीRu रू · Re रे · Ro रो · Ta ता
Example names: Rudra, Renuka, Rohan
- 16. Vishakha विशाखाTi ती · Tu तू · Te ते · To तो
Example names: Tisha, Tushar, Toral
- 17. Anuradha अनुराधाNa ना · Ni नी · Nu नू · Ne ने
Example names: Naveen, Nidhi, Neha
- 18. Jyeshtha ज्येष्ठाNo नो · Ya या · Yi यी · Yu यू
Example names: Yash, Yamini, Yuvan
- 19. Mula मूलYe ये · Yo यो · Bha भा · Bhi भी
Example names: Yogesh, Bhavya, Bhavin
- 20. Purva Ashadha पूर्वाषाढ़ाBhu भू · Dha धा · Pha फा · Dha ढा
Example names: Bhumi, Dhara, Falguni
- 21. Uttara Ashadha उत्तराषाढ़ाBhe भे · Bho भो · Ja जा · Ji जी
Example names: Jay, Jahnavi, Jinal
- 22. Shravana श्रवणJu जू · Je जे · Jo जो · Gha घा
Example names: Juhi, Jeevika, Jyoti
- 23. Dhanishta धनिष्ठाGa गा · Gi गी · Gu गू · Ge गे
Example names: Gauri, Girish, Gunjan
- 24. Shatabhisha शतभिषाGo गो · Sa सा · Si सी · Su सू
Example names: Gopal, Saanvi, Suhani
- 25. Purva Bhadrapada पूर्व भाद्रपदSe से · So सो · Da दा · Di दी
Example names: Sejal, Soham, Daya
- 26. Uttara Bhadrapada उत्तर भाद्रपदDu दू · Tha थ · Jha झ · Na ञ
Example names: Durva, Durgesh, Jharna
- 27. Revati रेवतीDe दे · Do दो · Cha चा · Chi ची
Example names: Dev, Devika, Chirag
Romanized spellings vary by region and language: डी and दी both come out as “Di” in English, and Sanskrit distinguishes them. When precision matters, match the Devanagari akshara and consult your priest.
Frequently asked questions
What if we don't know the exact time of birth?
A date alone narrows it to two or three candidate nakshatras, because the moon moves to a new nakshatra roughly once a day. Our tool shows the candidate stars for the date as equal possibilities. A panchang or a priest working with the exact time and place of birth can pin down the precise nakshatra and pada (quarter), which selects one specific syllable.
Do we have to start the name with the nakshatra syllable?
It is a beloved tradition, not a rule. Many families keep a nakshatra-based name as the rashi or janma name (sometimes whispered in the baby's ear at the namkaran) while choosing the everyday name freely. Others use the syllable for the legal name too. Both are common and both are fine.
When is the namkaran (naming ceremony) performed?
Classical texts place the naming on the tenth or twelfth day after birth (Manusmriti 2.30; the Grihya Sutras describe the rite similarly). In practice most families today hold it on the 11th or 12th day, and regional custom varies: some communities keep the 21st day (barasala), and many simply wait for a convenient auspicious day once mother and baby are settled.
Why do different charts show different syllables for the same nakshatra?
Two reasons. Romanization collapses Devanagari distinctions (डी and दी both become 'Di' in English), and a few nakshatras (notably Shravana) genuinely carry different syllable sets in different regional traditions. When it matters, go by the Devanagari akshara and your family's own tradition.
Is this tool a substitute for a panchang or a priest?
No. It is an educational estimate from a static table of the moon's position at noon, India Standard Time, for 2025 to 2027. The exact janma nakshatra depends on the time and place of birth. Please confirm with a published panchang (such as Drik Panchang) or your family's priest before the naming.
A blessing for the newest name in the family
When the name is chosen, welcome them with a personalized new-baby blessing: quoted from a named source, delivered as text, audio, or video. And save the birth date so the first birthdays and festivals never sneak up on you.
More dates: full festival calendar · all panchang tools