In short
- A nakshatra has four padas, and each pada has one naming syllable.
- The nakshatra comes from the exact date, time and place of birth.
- It is a custom, not a promise about the future.
In many Hindu families the first sound of a baby's name is chosen by the nakshatra, the lunar mansion the moon was in when the baby was born. It is a long-standing custom, and it is one of the most common reasons parents search for a name that "starts with Chu" or "starts with Da". This guide explains how it works, in plain language.
1What is a nakshatra?
Traditional Indian astronomy divides the moon's path across the sky into 27 equal parts called nakshatras, or lunar mansions. The moon spends about a day in each one. The nakshatra at the time of a baby's birth is called the janma nakshatra, or birth star. You can see all 27 on our nakshatra page.
2What is a pada?
Each nakshatra is split into four equal quarters called padas. That gives 27 times 4, which is 108 padas. Each pada is linked to one naming syllable, a short starting sound such as "Chu", "Che", "Cho" or "La" for the first nakshatra, Ashwini.
3How the naming syllable is chosen
The pada the moon was in at birth decides the syllable. A baby born in the first pada of Ashwini traditionally gets a name that starts with "Chu", the second pada "Che", the third "Cho" and the fourth "La". Each nakshatra page on Informay lists its four syllables and the names that start with them.
The 108 padas are also spread evenly across the 12 rashis, or moon signs, nine padas to each. That is why we show a moon sign next to each pada.
4How to find your baby's nakshatra
The nakshatra is worked out from the date, the exact time and the place of birth, so you need all three. The easiest way is to ask your family priest or astrologer, or to read it from the baby's horoscope or a panchang. Many hospitals note the birth time to the minute, which is what the calculation needs. We do not work out a nakshatra on this site, because a wrong birth time gives a wrong answer.
Tip. Ask the hospital for the birth time to the minute. Without it, even an astrologer cannot be sure of the nakshatra.
5Using the syllable to choose a name
Once you know the nakshatra and pada, you know the syllable. Open that nakshatra page, find your pada, and browse the Hindu names that start with it. Many names fit more than one nakshatra, for example any name starting with "Da", and that is normal. Our name pages show every nakshatra a name fits.
6A name for rituals and a name for every day
Some families give one name, based on the syllable, for ceremonies and the horoscope, and use a different name in daily life. Others use the syllable name for everything. Both are common, and there is no single rule.
7The limits of the custom
Naming syllables are a tradition and not a guarantee about the future. Regional traditions differ a little in the exact syllables, and families differ in how closely they follow them. Some syllables, for example "Chu" or "Cho", have few well-known names, so many families keep the syllable only as a starting point. If you want to follow the custom closely, talk to your family astrologer. Our traits for each nakshatra are the general traditional descriptions, the same for every name, and not a prediction about any child.
Common questions
Does the name have to start with the syllable?
In the custom, yes, but many families treat it as a preference. Some use the syllable only for the ritual name.
What if I cannot find a name I like for the syllable?
It is common. Try the other spelling of the syllable (for example Va or Ba), or use the syllable for a ritual name and a different everyday name.
Can I find the nakshatra without the birth time?
Not reliably. The moon moves quickly, so the nakshatra can change within a day. Ask your hospital for the exact time, or ask an astrologer.