Baby Naming

ॐ

✦ Shri Shishu Namakaran ✦

✦ — Newborn naming letters by nakshatra pada — ✦

👶

✦ Naming Letters by Nakshatra Pada ✦

In Vedic tradition, the first letter of a newborn's name is decided by the pada of their birth nakshatra. Each nakshatra has 4 padas — 108 letters in total.

✦ 27 Nakshatras — 108 Naming Letters ✦

1
⭐

Ashwini

✦ अश्विनी

📜 4 padas

✦ Pada 1 ✦

Chu

✦ Pada 2 ✦

Che

✦ Pada 3 ✦

Cho

✦ Pada 4 ✦

La
✦ Nakshatra 1/27 ✦
2
⭐

Bharani

✦ भरणी

📜 4 padas

✦ Pada 1 ✦

Li

✦ Pada 2 ✦

Lu

✦ Pada 3 ✦

Le

✦ Pada 4 ✦

Lo
✦ Nakshatra 2/27 ✦
3
⭐

Krittika

✦ कृत्तिका

📜 4 padas

✦ Pada 1 ✦

A

✦ Pada 2 ✦

I

✦ Pada 3 ✦

U

✦ Pada 4 ✦

E
✦ Nakshatra 3/27 ✦
4
⭐

Rohini

✦ रोहिणी

📜 4 padas

✦ Pada 1 ✦

O

✦ Pada 2 ✦

Va

✦ Pada 3 ✦

Vi

✦ Pada 4 ✦

Vu
✦ Nakshatra 4/27 ✦
5
⭐

Mrigashira

✦ मृगशिरा

📜 4 padas

✦ Pada 1 ✦

Ve

✦ Pada 2 ✦

Vo

✦ Pada 3 ✦

Ka

✦ Pada 4 ✦

Ki
✦ Nakshatra 5/27 ✦
6
⭐

Ardra

✦ आर्द्रा

📜 4 padas

✦ Pada 1 ✦

Ku

✦ Pada 2 ✦

Gha

✦ Pada 3 ✦

Nga

✦ Pada 4 ✦

Cha
✦ Nakshatra 6/27 ✦
7
⭐

Punarvasu

✦ पुनर्वसु

📜 4 padas

✦ Pada 1 ✦

Ke

✦ Pada 2 ✦

Ko

✦ Pada 3 ✦

Ha

✦ Pada 4 ✦

Hi
✦ Nakshatra 7/27 ✦
8
⭐

Pushya

✦ पुष्य

📜 4 padas

✦ Pada 1 ✦

Hu

✦ Pada 2 ✦

He

✦ Pada 3 ✦

Ho

✦ Pada 4 ✦

Da
✦ Nakshatra 8/27 ✦
9
⭐

Ashlesha

✦ आश्लेषा

📜 4 padas

✦ Pada 1 ✦

Di

✦ Pada 2 ✦

Du

✦ Pada 3 ✦

De

✦ Pada 4 ✦

Do
✦ Nakshatra 9/27 ✦
10
⭐

Magha

✦ मघा

📜 4 padas

✦ Pada 1 ✦

Ma

✦ Pada 2 ✦

Mi

✦ Pada 3 ✦

Mu

✦ Pada 4 ✦

Me
✦ Nakshatra 10/27 ✦
11
⭐

Purva Phalguni

✦ पूर्व फाल्गुनी

📜 4 padas

✦ Pada 1 ✦

Mo

✦ Pada 2 ✦

Ta

✦ Pada 3 ✦

Ti

✦ Pada 4 ✦

Tu
✦ Nakshatra 11/27 ✦
12
⭐

Uttara Phalguni

✦ उत्तर फाल्गुनी

📜 4 padas

✦ Pada 1 ✦

Te

✦ Pada 2 ✦

To

✦ Pada 3 ✦

Pa

✦ Pada 4 ✦

Pi
✦ Nakshatra 12/27 ✦
13
⭐

Hasta

✦ हस्त

📜 4 padas

✦ Pada 1 ✦

Pu

✦ Pada 2 ✦

Sha

✦ Pada 3 ✦

Na

✦ Pada 4 ✦

Tha
✦ Nakshatra 13/27 ✦
14
⭐

Chitra

✦ चित्रा

📜 4 padas

✦ Pada 1 ✦

Pe

✦ Pada 2 ✦

Po

✦ Pada 3 ✦

Ra

✦ Pada 4 ✦

Ri
✦ Nakshatra 14/27 ✦
15
⭐

Swati

✦ स्वाती

📜 4 padas

✦ Pada 1 ✦

Ru

✦ Pada 2 ✦

Re

✦ Pada 3 ✦

Ro

✦ Pada 4 ✦

Ta
✦ Nakshatra 15/27 ✦
16
⭐

Vishakha

✦ विशाखा

📜 4 padas

✦ Pada 1 ✦

Ti

✦ Pada 2 ✦

Tu

✦ Pada 3 ✦

Te

✦ Pada 4 ✦

To
✦ Nakshatra 16/27 ✦
17
⭐

Anuradha

✦ अनुराधा

📜 4 padas

✦ Pada 1 ✦

Na

✦ Pada 2 ✦

Ni

✦ Pada 3 ✦

Nu

✦ Pada 4 ✦

Ne
✦ Nakshatra 17/27 ✦
18
⭐

Jyeshtha

✦ ज्येष्ठा

📜 4 padas

✦ Pada 1 ✦

No

✦ Pada 2 ✦

Ya

✦ Pada 3 ✦

Yi

✦ Pada 4 ✦

Yu
✦ Nakshatra 18/27 ✦
19
⭐

Mula

✦ मूल

📜 4 padas

✦ Pada 1 ✦

Ye

✦ Pada 2 ✦

Yo

✦ Pada 3 ✦

Bha

✦ Pada 4 ✦

Bhi
✦ Nakshatra 19/27 ✦
20
⭐

Purva Ashadha

✦ पूर्वाषाढ़ा

📜 4 padas

✦ Pada 1 ✦

Bhu

✦ Pada 2 ✦

Dha

✦ Pada 3 ✦

Pha

✦ Pada 4 ✦

Dha
✦ Nakshatra 20/27 ✦
21
⭐

Uttara Ashadha

✦ उत्तराषाढ़ा

📜 4 padas

✦ Pada 1 ✦

Bhe

✦ Pada 2 ✦

Bho

✦ Pada 3 ✦

Ja

✦ Pada 4 ✦

Ji
✦ Nakshatra 21/27 ✦
22
⭐

Shravana

✦ श्रवण

📜 4 padas

✦ Pada 1 ✦

Khi

✦ Pada 2 ✦

Khu

✦ Pada 3 ✦

Khe

✦ Pada 4 ✦

Kho
✦ Nakshatra 22/27 ✦
23
⭐

Dhanishta

✦ धनिष्ठा

📜 4 padas

✦ Pada 1 ✦

Ga

✦ Pada 2 ✦

Gi

✦ Pada 3 ✦

Gu

✦ Pada 4 ✦

Ge
✦ Nakshatra 23/27 ✦
24
⭐

Shatabhisha

✦ शतभिषा

📜 4 padas

✦ Pada 1 ✦

Go

✦ Pada 2 ✦

Sa

✦ Pada 3 ✦

Si

✦ Pada 4 ✦

Su
✦ Nakshatra 24/27 ✦
25
⭐

Purva Bhadrapada

✦ पूर्व भाद्रपद

📜 4 padas

✦ Pada 1 ✦

Se

✦ Pada 2 ✦

So

✦ Pada 3 ✦

Da

✦ Pada 4 ✦

Di
✦ Nakshatra 25/27 ✦
26
⭐

Uttara Bhadrapada

✦ उत्तर भाद्रपद

📜 4 padas

✦ Pada 1 ✦

Du

✦ Pada 2 ✦

Tha

✦ Pada 3 ✦

Jha

✦ Pada 4 ✦

Tra
✦ Nakshatra 26/27 ✦
27
⭐

Revati

✦ रेवती

📜 4 padas

✦ Pada 1 ✦

De

✦ Pada 2 ✦

Do

✦ Pada 3 ✦

Cha

✦ Pada 4 ✦

Chi
✦ Nakshatra 27/27 ✦
🪔

✦ Namakarana Sanskar ✦

📅
Naming on 11th or 12th day after birth.
🪔
Some traditions perform it on the 21st day.
🔥
In shubh muhurat, after bath and yajna.
👂
Father whispers the name in the baby's ear first.
✨
Four names — monthly, nakshatric, gotric, social.
🌾
Welcome the child with jaggery, turmeric, akshat.

✦ See Also ✦

⭐
Nakshatra Details
🌙
Janma Nakshatra
📜
Janma Kundali
🌙
Moon Sign

✦ — By an auspicious name, may the child's life flourish — ✦

Namakarana Samskara — one of the important sixteen sacraments of Hinduism. It is the first Vedic ritual that gives a newborn baby its social identity. According to scriptures, a child's name affects its entire life — therefore, the name should be chosen carefully, according to nakshatra-pada, and at an auspicious muhurat.

In traditional Hindu naming, the first letter of the name is determined according to the child's janma nakshatra and its pada. 27 nakshatras × 4 padas = 108 letters — 108 is an extremely sacred number in Hinduism. In this article, we will discuss the complete naming methodology, the list of 108 letters, muhurat rules, and naming in modern context.

✦ The Ancient Tradition of Namakarana

Namakarana Samskara is a tradition coming down from the Rigvedic period. According to Vedic Samskara-shastra, naming should be done on the 11th day after birth (12th in some schools), or the 100th day, or at the end of the first year. Immediate naming happens in families where prompt registration is required.

In traditional naming, a child has 4 names: 1) Secret name (according to janma nakshatra-pada, known only to parents and astrologer), 2) Family deity name (after the family's ishta deity), 3) Month name (according to birth month), 4) Common name (by which people will call).

The secret name has special significance — it is written in the person's horoscope, used in mantra-japa, and spoken during marriage rites. Traditionally, only parents, guru, astrologer, and spouse at marriage know it.

✦ Complete Procedure of Namakarana

Day morning: Bathe in Brahma Muhurat and dress the baby in new clothes. Begin with Ganesha worship by the pandit. Navagraha Shanti, Kuldevata pujan — then the baby is placed before the pandit.

The pandit examines the birth chart and reveals the child's janma nakshatra, pada, and the resulting letter. The father whispers the name into the baby's right ear three times — "Hey child, your name is _____." Mantra: "Om Amuk Te'muk Naam Bhavasi" (meaning, hey child, your name is _____).

Sun worship — the baby is taken before the Sun deity and Arghya is offered with the mantra "Om Suryaya Namah". The Sun's grace-light is sought for the child. Then darshan of family deity and personal deity.

Finally: feeding brahmins, inviting relatives and friends for a feast, and blessing the baby. Gold-silver jewelry, money, or clothing are given as gifts. After the namakarana samskara, the baby's name is registered in government documents.

✦ 27 Nakshatras, 108 Letters — Complete List

1. Ashwini: Chu, Che, Cho, La. 2. Bharani: Li, Lu, Le, Lo. 3. Krittika: A, I, U, E. 4. Rohini: O, Va, Vi, Vu. 5. Mrigashira: Ve, Vo, Ka, Ki. 6. Ardra: Ku, Gha, Ng, Chha. 7. Punarvasu: Ke, Ko, Ha, Hi.

8. Pushya: Hu, He, Ho, Da. 9. Ashlesha: Di, Du, De, Do. 10. Magha: Ma, Mi, Mu, Me. 11. Purva Phalguni: Mo, Ta, Ti, Tu. 12. Uttara Phalguni: Te, To, Pa, Pi. 13. Hasta: Pu, Sha, Na, Tha. 14. Chitra: Pe, Po, Ra, Ri.

15. Swati: Ru, Re, Ro, Ta. 16. Vishakha: Ti, Tu, Te, To. 17. Anuradha: Na, Ni, Nu, Ne. 18. Jyeshtha: No, Ya, Yi, Yu. 19. Mula: Ye, Yo, Bha, Bhi. 20. Purvashadha: Bhu, Dha, Pha, Dhha. 21. Uttarashadha: Bhe, Bho, Ja, Ji.

22. Shravana: Ju, Je, Jo, Gha. 23. Dhanishtha: Ga, Gi, Gu, Ge. 24. Shatabhisha: Go, Sa, Si, Su. 25. Purva Bhadrapada: Se, So, Da, Di. 26. Uttara Bhadrapada: Du, Tha, Jha, Nya. 27. Revati: De, Do, Cha, Chi.

The letter of the first pada of the janma nakshatra is considered most auspicious. Example: if a baby is born in the second pada of Rohini nakshatra — name should start with "Va" (like Vasudev, Varun, Vasudha).

✦ Auspicious Muhurat for Namakarana

Auspicious tithis: Shukla Paksha's Dvitiya, Tritiya, Panchami, Saptami, Dashami, Ekadashi, Trayodashi. Chaturthi, Navami, Chaturdashi (rikta) prohibited. Ashtami and Amavasya are avoided.

Auspicious nakshatras: Ashwini, Mrigashira, Pushya, Punarvasu, Hasta, Swati, Anuradha, Shravana, Dhanishtha, Shatabhisha, Revati, Uttara Phalguni, Uttarashadha, Uttara Bhadrapada. Chitra and Rohini are also favorable.

Auspicious vaaras: Monday, Wednesday, Thursday, Friday. Tuesday and Saturday are not considered best for child's naming. Sunday is generally favorable.

Auspicious time: Morning, especially Abhijit Muhurat (about 48 minutes around midday) is best. Brahma Muhurat (1.5 hours before sunrise) is also extremely auspicious.

✦ Naming in Modern Context

Today, many families follow the traditional nakshatra-letter, but also keep meaning and pronunciation of the name in mind. A good name is one that: (1) starts with the letter of the child's janma nakshatra-pada, (2) is positive and meaningful, (3) is easy to pronounce, (4) is socially acceptable, (5) is connected to a deity, sage, or positive quality.

Traditional advice to avoid Western names is still followed by many families. Sanskrit-origin names (like Aditya, Shivansh, Satvik, Dhruva, Pranav, Ananya, Saumya, Advaita) are extremely popular at this time.

Numerology is also used in modern naming. Adjusting the name to match the child's birth-number — adding numerical values of the letters of the name to derive a number. However, this practice does not exist in Vedic tradition — numerology is Western/modern.

The practice of having two names is also common — secret name (according to nakshatra, at home) and common name (Western/modern, at school). This is a good way to combine both traditions.

📚Sources & References

Content in this article is verified against the following classical and modern authoritative sources. Readers may independently verify against the original sources.

✦ Frequently Asked Questions

Can the name be changed after namakarana?▼

Traditionally, changing names is prohibited — the name once given should remain throughout life. However, in modern context, legal name change is possible. If a very inauspicious experience is occurring, the name can be changed by performing a "naam-shuddhi" ritual on the advice of an astrologer.

How to do namakarana without knowing birth time?▼

If accurate janma nakshatra determination is not possible, the family-kuldevata's name, or the name of the child's birth month (Vaishakha, Shravana), or letters from parents' names can be used. Names of God (like Ram, Krishna, Shiva, Ganesh) are always considered auspicious.

Can multiple children be given names with the same nakshatra letter?▼

Not according to common tradition. Each child has a different janma nakshatra — therefore different letters. If two children have the same janma nakshatra, take different letters according to different padas. Names with the same letter (one starting with "A", another also) are generally avoided.

🔗Related Topics

Mundan Muhurat →Janma Nakshatra →Janma Kundali →Nakshatra Details →Janma Lagna →

Note: This content is published for educational and cultural reference. For personal religious or astrological decisions, please consult a qualified pandit or jyotishi.