Naming · avakahada chakra
The first letter of your baby’s name, by nakshatra
Many Indian families choose the first sound of a baby’s name from the Moon’s nakshatra and pada at birth: four syllables for each of the 27 nakshatras, 108 in all. Enter the birth details below to see the syllable with example names for it, or read the whole table. It is calculated on the Lahiri sidereal zodiac.
Find your baby’s syllable
Basis: the avakahada chakra, the table jyotishis across India use; the Moon moves one pada in about six hours, so the time matters. Lahiri sidereal.
How the first letter is chosen
Each nakshatra is divided into four padas of 3°20′, and each pada has one syllable. The table jyotishis across India use for this is the avakahada chakra. Find where the Moon stood at birth, read its nakshatra and pada, and the name begins with that syllable: for the Moon in Ashwini, pada 1, it is Chu (चु).
Why the time of birth matters
The Moon moves one pada in about six hours, so the birth time can change the syllable. If you do not know the time, the finder shows the syllables the Moon could have been in that day, and the hospital record or a family elder can often settle which.
The syllable for every nakshatra and pada
| Nakshatra | Pada 1 | Pada 2 | Pada 3 | Pada 4 |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Ashwini | चु Chu | चे Che | चो Cho | ला La |
| Bharani | ली Li | लू Lu | ले Le | लो Lo |
| Krittika | अ A | ई I | उ U | ए E |
| Rohini | ओ O | वा Va | वी Vi | वु 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 | जू / खी Ju / Khi | जे / खू Je / Khu | जो / खे Jo / Khe | घा / खो Gha / Kho |
| Dhanishtha | 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 / त्र Da / Tra |
| Revati | दे De | दो Do | चा Cha | ची Chi |
Rashi letters, the simpler custom
Some families use the Moon sign instead. Each rashi has a few letters, listed in the table below. The nakshatra syllable is the more exact guide; the rashi letters are a looser one that is easy to apply when the birth time is not known.
| Rashi | Letters (Roman) | Letters (Devanagari) |
|---|---|---|
| Mesha | A, L, E | अ, ल, ई |
| Vrishabha | B, V, U | ब, व, उ |
| Mithuna | K, Chh, Gh | क, छ, घ |
| Karka | D, H | ड, ह |
| Simha | M, T | म, ट |
| Kanya | P, Th, N | प, ठ, ण |
| Tula | R, T | र, त |
| Vrishchika | N, Y | न, य |
| Dhanu | Bh, F, Dh | भ, फ, ध |
| Makara | Kh, J | ख, ज |
| Kumbha | G, S, Sh | ग, स, श |
| Meena | D, Ch, Z, Th | द, च, झ, थ |
Browse example names by syllable
The example names are common across India and are not tied to one community or to the name of a deity, so any family can use the list. A few syllables, such as Chu or Vo, begin almost no everyday name; for those we show the nearest common sound and mark the name with ≈. A name is an example, never a rule: the family chooses, and the syllable is only a custom to begin with.
All 98 syllables with their example names
| Syllable | Boys | Girls |
|---|---|---|
| Chu | Chintan (चिंतन) ≈ Chi, Chirayu (चिरायु) ≈ Chi | Chahat (चाहत) ≈ Cha, Chandni (चाँदनी) ≈ Cha |
| Che | Chetan (चेतन), Chetak (चेतक) | Chetna (चेतना), Cheshta (चेष्टा) |
| Cho | Chirantan (चिरंतन) ≈ Chi, Champak (चंपक) ≈ Cha | Chaitali (चैताली) ≈ Chai, Chanchal (चंचल) ≈ Cha |
| La | Lakshya (लक्ष्य), Lalit (ललित) | Lavanya (लावण्या), Laya (लया) |
| Li | Likith (लिखित), Liyansh (लियांश) | Lipi (लिपि), Lisha (लिशा) |
| Lu | Lavish (लविश) ≈ La, Lakshit (लक्षित) ≈ La | Lakshita (लक्षिता) ≈ La, Lahari (लहरी) ≈ La |
| Le | Lavesh (लवेश) ≈ La, Laksh (लक्ष) ≈ La | Lekha (लेखा), Lalima (ललिमा) ≈ La |
| Lo | Lokesh (लोकेश), Lohit (लोहित) | Lochana (लोचना), Lopamudra (लोपामुद्रा) |
| A | Aman (अमन), Arnav (अर्णव) | Ananya (अनन्या), Anvi (अन्वी) |
| I | Ikshit (इक्षित), Ishant (ईशांत) | Ishita (ईशिता), Ira (इरा) |
| U | Utkarsh (उत्कर्ष), Uday (उदय) | Urvi (उर्वी), Urmi (ऊर्मि) |
| E | Ekansh (एकांश), Eklavya (एकलव्य) | Ekta (एकता), Ela (एला) |
| O | Ojas (ओजस), Omkar (ओंकार) | Ojaswini (ओजस्विनी), Oindrila (ओइंद्रिला) |
| Va | Vansh (वंश), Vatsal (वत्सल) | Vanya (वान्या), Vanshika (वंशिका) |
| Vi | Vivaan (विवान), Vihaan (विहान) | Vidhi (विधि), Vidisha (विदिशा) |
| Vu | Viraj (विराज) ≈ Vi, Vikas (विकास) ≈ Vi | Vibha (विभा) ≈ Vi, Vinita (विनीता) ≈ Vi |
| Ve | Vedant (वेदांत), Vedansh (वेदांश) | Veda (वेदा), Vedika (वेदिका) |
| Vo | Vyom (व्योम) ≈ Vyo, Vrishabh (वृषभ) ≈ Vri | Vrinda (वृंदा) ≈ Vri, Vrishti (वृष्टि) ≈ Vri |
| Ka | Kabir (कबीर), Karan (करण) | Kavya (काव्या), Kajal (काजल) |
| Ki | Kiran (किरण), Kishore (किशोर) | Kiara (कियारा), Kirti (कीर्ति) |
| Ku | Kunal (कुणाल), Kushal (कुशल) | Kuhu (कुहू), Kusum (कुसुम) |
| Gha | Gautam (गौतम) ≈ Gau, Gajendra (गजेंद्र) ≈ Ga | Garvita (गर्विता) ≈ Ga, Gargi (गार्गी) ≈ Ga |
| Nga | Nakul (नकुल) ≈ Na, Naren (नरेन) ≈ Na | Nalini (नलिनी) ≈ Na, Namrata (नम्रता) ≈ Na |
| Chha | Chandan (चंदन) ≈ Cha, Chirag (चिराग) ≈ Chi | Chhavi (छवि), Chhaya (छाया) |
| Ke | Ketan (केतन), Keyur (केयूर) | Ketaki (केतकी), Kesar (केसर) |
| Ko | Koshal (कोशल), Konark (कोणार्क) | Komal (कोमल), Koyal (कोयल) |
| Ha | Hardik (हार्दिक), Harsh (हर्ष) | Hansika (हंसिका), Harshita (हर्षिता) |
| Hi | Himanshu (हिमांशु), Hiten (हितेन) | Himani (हिमानी), Hiya (हिया) |
| Hu | Hunar (हुनर), Hitesh (हितेश) ≈ Hi | Hinal (हिनल) ≈ Hi, Hina (हिना) ≈ Hi |
| He | Hemant (हेमंत), Hemang (हेमांग) | Hetal (हेतल), Hema (हेमा) |
| Ho | Hrithik (हृतिक) ≈ Hri, Hridaan (हृदान) ≈ Hri | Hrishita (हृषिता) ≈ Hri, Hrida (हृदा) ≈ Hri |
| Da | Daksh (दक्ष), Darsh (दर्श) | Damini (दामिनी), Darshana (दर्शना) |
| Di | Divyansh (दिव्यांश), Dinesh (दिनेश) | Diya (दिया), Disha (दिशा) |
| Du | Dushyant (दुष्यंत), Dulal (दुलाल) | Durva (दूर्वा), Duhita (दुहिता) |
| De | Devansh (देवांश), Deven (देवेन) | Devika (देविका), Devanshi (देवांशी) |
| Do | Deepak (दीपक) ≈ Di, Dipesh (दिपेश) ≈ Di | Deepa (दीपा) ≈ Di, Deepika (दीपिका) ≈ Di |
| Ma | Mayank (मयंक), Manan (मनन) | Manya (मान्या), Mansi (मानसी) |
| Mi | Mihir (मिहिर), Mitesh (मितेश) | Meera (मीरा), Mitali (मिताली) |
| Mu | Mukul (मुकुल), Mudit (मुदित) | Mugdha (मुग्धा), Muskan (मुस्कान) |
| Me | Mehul (मेहुल), Megh (मेघ) | Megha (मेघा), Mekhala (मेखला) |
| Mo | Mohit (मोहित), Mohnish (मोहनीश) | Monisha (मोनिशा), Mona (मोना) |
| Ta | Tanay (तनय), Tarun (तरुण) | Tanvi (तन्वी), Tanya (तान्या) |
| Ti | Tilak (तिलक), Tirth (तीर्थ) | Tisha (तिशा), Tithi (तिथि) |
| Tu | Tushar (तुषार), Tuhin (तुहिन) | Tuhina (तुहिना), Tusha (तुषा) |
| Te | Tejas (तेजस), Tej (तेज) | Tejal (तेजल), Tejaswini (तेजस्विनी) |
| To | Toshan (तोषण), Tarun (तरुण) ≈ Ta | Toral (तोरल), Tanvi (तन्वी) ≈ Ta |
| Pa | Pankaj (पंकज), Paras (पारस) | Palak (पलक), Payal (पायल) |
| Pi | Piyush (पीयूष), Pinakin (पिनाकिन) | Pihu (पीहू), Piya (पिया) |
| Pu | Pulkit (पुलकित), Punit (पुनीत) | Purvi (पूर्वी), Pujita (पूजिता) |
| Sha | Shashank (शशांक), Shantanu (शांतनु) | Shalini (शालिनी), Shanaya (शनाया) |
| Na | Naman (नमन), Nayan (नयन) | Navya (नव्या), Nandita (नंदिता) |
| Tha | Tanmay (तन्मय) ≈ Ta, Taksh (तक्ष) ≈ Ta | Tanishka (तनिष्का) ≈ Ta, Tamanna (तमन्ना) ≈ Ta |
| Pe | Pranav (प्रणव) ≈ Pra, Pratik (प्रतीक) ≈ Pra | Prisha (प्रिशा) ≈ Pri, Preeti (प्रीति) ≈ Pri |
| Po | Prem (प्रेम) ≈ Pre, Pritam (प्रीतम) ≈ Pri | Pragya (प्रज्ञा) ≈ Pra, Pranati (प्रणति) ≈ Pra |
| Ra | Rahul (राहुल), Rajat (रजत) | Rashmi (रश्मि), Ragini (रागिनी) |
| Ri | Ritesh (रितेश), Ritik (रितिक) | Riya (रिया), Riddhi (रिद्धि) |
| Ru | Ruchir (रुचिर), Rupesh (रूपेश) | Ruchi (रुचि), Rupali (रूपाली) |
| Re | Reyansh (रेयांश), Revant (रेवंत) | Rekha (रेखा), Renu (रेणु) |
| Ro | Rohan (रोहन), Rohit (रोहित) | Roshni (रोशनी), Roma (रोमा) |
| Ni | Nikhil (निखिल), Nishant (निशांत) | Nisha (निशा), Nidhi (निधि) |
| Nu | Nutan (नूतन), Nirav (निरव) ≈ Ni | Nupur (नूपुर), Nitya (नित्या) ≈ Ni |
| Ne | Nehal (नेहल), Neelesh (नीलेश) ≈ Ni | Neha (नेहा), Netra (नेत्रा) |
| No | Naveen (नवीन) ≈ Na, Nirmal (निर्मल) ≈ Ni | Naina (नैना) ≈ Nai, Neeti (नीति) ≈ Ni |
| Ya | Yash (यश), Yatin (यतिन) | Yashvi (यश्वी), Yamini (यामिनी) |
| Yi | Yashraj (यशराज) ≈ Ya, Yatharth (यथार्थ) ≈ Ya | Yashasvi (यशस्वी) ≈ Ya, Yukti (युक्ति) ≈ Yu |
| Yu | Yuvraj (युवराज), Yug (युग) | Yuvika (युविका), Yukti (युक्ति) |
| Ye | Yeshwant (येशवंत), Yagnesh (यज्ञेश) ≈ Ya | Yashika (यशिका) ≈ Ya, Yamika (यामिका) ≈ Ya |
| Yo | Yogesh (योगेश), Yogit (योगित) | Yogita (योगिता), Yoshita (योशिता) |
| Bha | Bhavya (भव्य), Bharat (भरत) | Bhavna (भावना), Bhakti (भक्ति) |
| Bhi | Bhavik (भाविक) ≈ Bha, Bhavesh (भावेश) ≈ Bha | Bhavika (भाविका) ≈ Bha, Bhagya (भाग्या) ≈ Bha |
| Bhu | Bhuvan (भुवन), Bhushan (भूषण) | Bhumi (भूमि), Bhuvi (भुवि) |
| Dha | Dhaval (धवल), Dhanush (धनुष) | Dhara (धारा), Dhanya (धन्या) |
| Pha | Phalgun (फाल्गुन), Parth (पार्थ) ≈ Pa | Phalguni (फाल्गुनी), Pallavi (पल्लवी) ≈ Pa |
| Bhe | Bhavin (भाविन) ≈ Bha, Bhargav (भार्गव) ≈ Bha | Bhavisha (भाविषा) ≈ Bha, Bhagyashri (भाग्यश्री) ≈ Bha |
| Bho | Bhupen (भूपेन) ≈ Bhu, Bhupendra (भूपेंद्र) ≈ Bhu | Bhuvana (भुवना) ≈ Bhu, Bhanvi (भान्वी) ≈ Bha |
| Ja | Jayant (जयंत), Jatin (जतिन) | Janvi (जान्वी), Jagruti (जागृति) |
| Ji | Jitesh (जितेश), Jignesh (जिज्ञेश) | Jiya (जिया), Jigisha (जिगीषा) |
| Ju | Jubin (जुबिन), Jugal (जुगल) | Juhi (जूही), Jui (जुई) |
| Khi | Kirit (किरीट) ≈ Ki, Kinshuk (किंशुक) ≈ Ki | Kimaya (किमाया) ≈ Ki, Kinjal (किंजल) ≈ Ki |
| Je | Jenil (जेनिल), Jeet (जीत) ≈ Ji | Jenisha (जेनिशा), Jivika (जीविका) ≈ Ji |
| Khu | Khushal (खुशाल), Kuldeep (कुलदीप) ≈ Ku | Khushi (खुशी), Khushboo (खुशबू) |
| Jo | Joy (जॉय), Jayesh (जयेश) ≈ Ja | Joshita (जोशिता), Jonaki (जोनाकी) |
| Khe | Khemraj (खेमराज), Kedar (केदार) ≈ Ke | Khevna (खेवना), Keya (केया) ≈ Ke |
| Kho | Kokil (कोकिल) ≈ Ko, Karan (करण) ≈ Ka | Komal (कोमल) ≈ Ko, Kavya (काव्या) ≈ Ka |
| Ga | Gagan (गगन), Garvit (गर्वित) | Garima (गरिमा), Gargi (गार्गी) |
| Gi | Gitesh (गीतेश), Gitansh (गीतांश) | Geetika (गीतिका), Gitanjali (गीतांजलि) |
| Gu | Gunjan (गुंजन), Gulshan (गुलशन) | Gungun (गुनगुन), Gunika (गुणिका) |
| Ge | Gaurav (गौरव) ≈ Gau, Geet (गीत) ≈ Gi | Gehna (गहना) ≈ Ga, Geeta (गीता) ≈ Gi |
| Go | Gokul (गोकुल), Gagan (गगन) ≈ Ga | Gomti (गोमती), Gungun (गुनगुन) ≈ Gu |
| Sa | Sachin (सचिन), Sagar (सागर) | Sakshi (साक्षी), Sanvi (सान्वी) |
| Si | Siddhant (सिद्धांत), Siddharth (सिद्धार्थ) | Simran (सिमरन), Sitara (सितारा) |
| Su | Sumit (सुमित), Sunil (सुनील) | Suhana (सुहाना), Sukanya (सुकन्या) |
| Se | Sahil (साहिल) ≈ Sa, Samar (समर) ≈ Sa | Sejal (सेजल), Sanya (सान्या) ≈ Sa |
| So | Sohan (सोहन), Soham (सोहम) | Sonal (सोनल), Sonali (सोनाली) |
| Jha | Jay (जय) ≈ Ja, Jaideep (जयदीप) ≈ Ja | Jhalak (झलक), Jhanak (झनक) |
| Tra | Trilok (त्रिलोक) ≈ Tri, Trishan (त्रिशन) ≈ Tri | Trisha (त्रिशा) ≈ Tri, Tripti (तृप्ति) ≈ Tri |
| Cha | Chandan (चंदन), Chanakya (चाणक्य) | Charvi (चार्वी), Charu (चारु) |
| Chi | Chirag (चिराग), Chinmay (चिन्मय) | Chitra (चित्रा), Chinmayi (चिन्मयी) |
Questions people ask
Do we have to start the name with this syllable?
No. It is a custom, not a rule, and many families treat it as a first suggestion. Some keep the syllable name for ceremonies and use another name every day.
What does an entry like “Ju / Khi” mean?
In Shravana each pada has two syllables in common use, depending on the region. Either one is fine, and the finder shows example names for both.
Which gives the letter, the nakshatra or the rashi?
The nakshatra and pada give one specific syllable, and the rashi gives a wider set of letters. Families follow one or the other; use the nakshatra syllable when you know the birth time.
What if we do not know the birth time?
The finder takes the day’s noon as its reference and shows the syllables of the nearby padas, up to two either side, the Moon could have been in. The hospital’s birth record or a family elder often has the time, and that settles it.
Every position on this page is calculated sidereal with the Lahiri ayanamsa from the astronomy-engine library (MIT licence). The classical texts describe tendencies; this page is for guidance and reflection, not a verdict, and no outcome is promised. How we calculate. This is the English page and the legal reference. The same page is available in Hindi. Checked October 2026.