Baby name letters by nakshatra: the first sound for every birth star and pada

In many Indian families, the first letter of a baby’s name comes from the Moon’s nakshatra at birth. Each nakshatra has four padas, and each pada has its own starting sound. Here is the full list, and a few notes on how modern parents use it.

The 27 nakshatras and their sounds

• Ashwini: Chu, Che, Cho, La.
• Bharani: Li, Lu, Le, Lo.
• Krittika: A, I, U, E.
• Rohini: O, Va, Vi, Vu.
• Mrigashira: Ve, Vo, Ka, Ki.
• Ardra: Ku, Gha, Na, Chha.
• Punarvasu: Ke, Ko, Ha, Hi.
• Pushya: Hu, He, Ho, Da.
• Ashlesha: Di, Du, De, Do.
• Magha: Ma, Mi, Mu, Me.
• Purva Phalguni: Mo, Ta, Ti, Tu.
• Uttara Phalguni: Te, To, Pa, Pi.
• Hasta: Pu, Sha, Na, Tha.
• Chitra: Pe, Po, Ra, Ri.
• Swati: Ru, Re, Ro, Ta.
• Vishakha: Ti, Tu, Te, To.
• Anuradha: Na, Ni, Nu, Ne.
• Jyeshtha: No, Ya, Yi, Yu.
• Mula: Ye, Yo, Bha, Bhi.
• Purva Ashadha: Bhu, Dha, Pha, Dha.
• Uttara Ashadha: Bhe, Bho, Ja, Ji.
• Shravana: Ju, Je, Jo, Gha. Gujarati and some Hindi traditions use Khi, Khu, Khe, Kho.
• Dhanishta: Ga, Gi, Gu, Ge.
• Shatabhisha: Go, Sa, Si, Su.
• Purva Bhadrapada: Se, So, Da, Di.
• Uttara Bhadrapada: Du, Tha, Jha, Na.
• Revati: De, Do, Cha, Chi.

How to use it

Find the nakshatra and pada from the exact birth time, then take the matching sound. Families who follow the rule closely use that exact starting syllable. Others take it as a guide and choose a name beginning with the same letter, or keep it as the secret name used in rituals while using a different everyday name.

Sounds vary slightly between regions, and spellings change when written in English. A pandit from your community can confirm the local version.

If the birth time is close to a nakshatra change, ask a pandit to check both options before the naming ceremony.