Naamkaran · naam akshar · nakshatra pada · 1,500+ names with meanings
Baby names by nakshatra
In naamkaran, many families start the baby’s name with the syllable (naam akshar) of the Moon’s nakshatra pada at birth. Each of the 27 nakshatras has four padas, each with its own syllable. Enter the birth date, time and place, or pick a nakshatra, to see the syllable and matching names with meanings.
Last updated: Reviewed by IndiaDigital editorsAnswer rules reviewed by astrologer Yogiraj Kawale
Choosing a name by nakshatra is a tradition, not a rule. Any name chosen with love is a good name.
How to find a name by nakshatra
- Enter the baby’s birth date, time and place, or pick the nakshatra and pada if your pandit has already told you.
- See the nakshatra, pada and naam akshar (starting syllable), plus the other three syllables of that nakshatra.
- Browse boy or girl names that start with that syllable, with meanings in English and Hindi.
- Chosen a name? Make a free naamkaran invite and share it on WhatsApp.
The naamkaran sanskar is traditionally held on the 11th or 12th day after birth. Before it, the family pandit looks at the Moon’s nakshatra and pada at birth and suggests the starting syllable. This page does the same calculation with the Lahiri ayanamsa used in Indian calendars.
Our list has more than 1,500 names. Each shows its syllable, gender (boy, girl or both) and meaning in English and Hindi. Use the filters to narrow down, then share your favourites with the family.
Naam akshar by nakshatra: the full table
Each nakshatra’s four padas and the starting syllable of each pada.
| Nakshatra | Pada 1 | Pada 2 | Pada 3 | Pada 4 |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Ashwini | चू (Chu) | चे (Che) | चो (Cho) | ला (La) |
| Bharani | ली (Li) | लू (Lu) | ले (Le) | लो (Lo) |
| Krittika | अ (A) | इ (I) | उ (U) | ए (E) |
| Rohini | ओ (O) | वा (Va) | वी (Vi) | वू (Vu) |
| Mrigashira | वे (Ve) | वो (Vo) | का (Ka) | की (Ki) |
| Ardra | कु (Ku) | घ (Gha) | ङ (Nga) | छ (Chha) |
| Punarvasu | के (Ke) | को (Ko) | हा (Ha) | ही (Hi) |
| Pushya | हु (Hu) | हे (He) | हो (Ho) | डा (Da) |
| Ashlesha | डी (Di) | डू (Du) | डे (De) | डो (Do) |
| Magha | मा (Ma) | मी (Mi) | मू (Mu) | मे (Me) |
| Purva Phalguni | मो (Mo) | टा (Ta) | टी (Ti) | टू (Tu) |
| Uttara Phalguni | टे (Te) | टो (To) | पा (Pa) | पी (Pi) |
| Hasta | पू (Pu) | ष (Sha) | ण (Na) | ठ (Tha) |
| Chitra | पे (Pe) | पो (Po) | रा (Ra) | री (Ri) |
| Swati | रू (Ru) | रे (Re) | रो (Ro) | ता (Ta) |
| Vishakha | ती (Ti) | तू (Tu) | ते (Te) | तो (To) |
| Anuradha | ना (Na) | नी (Ni) | नू (Nu) | ने (Ne) |
| Jyeshtha | नो (No) | या (Ya) | यी (Yi) | यू (Yu) |
| Mula | ये (Ye) | यो (Yo) | भा (Bha) | भी (Bhi) |
| Purva Ashadha | भू (Bhu) | धा (Dha) | फा (Pha) | ढा (Dha) |
| Uttara Ashadha | भे (Bhe) | भो (Bho) | जा (Ja) | जी (Ji) |
| Shravana | खी (Khi) | खू (Khu) | खे (Khe) | खो (Kho) |
| Dhanishta | गा (Ga) | गी (Gi) | गू (Gu) | गे (Ge) |
| Shatabhisha | गो (Go) | सा (Sa) | सी (Si) | सू (Su) |
| Purva Bhadrapada | से (Se) | सो (So) | दा (Da) | दी (Di) |
| Uttara Bhadrapada | दू (Du) | थ (Tha) | झ (Jha) | ञ (Na) |
| Revati | दे (De) | दो (Do) | चा (Cha) | ची (Chi) |
Baby names by nakshatra: common questions
What is naam akshar?
Naam akshar is the starting syllable for a name, taken from the nakshatra (lunar mansion) and pada (quarter) the Moon was in at birth. The table of 108 syllables, four for each of the 27 nakshatras, is part of the avakahada chakra used in kundlis.
Why does the birth time matter?
The Moon moves through one pada in about six hours, so the time of birth can change the pada and the syllable. If the time is not known, pick the nakshatra your family pandit gave, or see all four syllables of that day’s nakshatra.
How are names matched to a syllable?
By the Hindi spelling’s first sound: the consonant and its vowel. Short and long vowels share a syllable (Ki and Kee), Ba is read as Va, and Sha names follow the usual practice. A few syllables such as Ju, Je and Jo belong to Abhijit, which is outside the 27, so those names are not listed.
How were the names and meanings chosen?
We kept well-known Indian names whose meaning is settled in common use, checked each one in English and Hindi, and left out names whose meaning we could not confirm. If you know a name’s meaning differently, your family’s understanding is just as valid.
Can we choose a name from another syllable?
Yes. Many families use the nakshatra syllable for a pet name or a rashi name used in rituals, and choose the everyday name freely.
Are the birth details sent anywhere?
No. The nakshatra is worked out in your browser and the name list is part of the page. Nothing is uploaded or saved.