Baby names
The first letter for each star and pada, and 814 names with meanings
If you know the star
- AshwiniChu, Che, Cho, La
- BharaniLi, Lu, Le, Lo
- KarthigaiA, I, U, E
- RohiniO, Va, Vi, Vu
- MirugasirishamVe, Vo, Ka, Ki
- ThiruvathiraiKu, Gha, Nga, Chha
- PunarpoosamKe, Ko, Ha, Hi
- PoosamHu, He, Ho, Da
- AyilyamDi, Du, De, Do
- MagamMa, Mi, Mu, Me
- PooramMo, Ta, Ti, Tu
- UthiramTe, To, Pa, Pi
- HasthamPu, Sha, Na, Tha
- ChithiraiPe, Po, Ra, Ri
- SwathiRu, Re, Ro, Ta
- VisakamTi, Tu, Te, To
- AnushamNa, Ni, Nu, Ne
- KettaiNo, Ya, Yi, Yu
- MoolamYe, Yo, Bha, Bhi
- PooradamBhu, Dha, Pha, Dha
- UthiradamBhe, Bho, Ja, Ji
- ThiruvonamJu, Je, Jo, Gha
- AvittamGa, Gi, Gu, Ge
- SathayamGo, Sa, Si, Su
- PoorattathiSe, So, Da, Di
- UthirattathiDu, Tha, Jha, Jna
- RevathiDe, Do, Cha, Chi
About this method
By tradition, the star (Nakshatram) and pada of the Moon at the time of birth give the first letter of a baby's name. Each star has four padas, and each pada has one letter.
This is only a custom, not a rule. Giving the name of the family deity, of an elder, or any Tamil name you love is also our tradition. Some families keep the star name for prayers and use another name every day.
This letter table is built on Sanskrit sounds. Here a name is matched on how it begins in English letters: T and Th count as one letter, as do D and Dh, B and Bh, and G and Gh. Short and long vowels are not told apart (A and Aa, I and Ee, U and Oo); Ai is taken as E, and Au or Ou as O. Where few names begin with a pada's sound, names with a close sound are shown apart. The table differs a little from book to book, so ask your family astrologer before you decide.