Kettai nakshatra baby names: starting letters

By tradition, a baby born in Kettai nakshatra takes a name beginning with: pada 1 "no" (நோ), pada 2 "ya" (ய), pada 3 "yi" (யி), pada 4 "yu" (யு).

Kettai: pada and letter

Pada	Tamil letter	Sound	Rasi
1	நோ	no (नो)	Viruchigam
2	ய	ya (य)	Viruchigam
3	யி	yi (यि)	Viruchigam
4	யு	yu (यु)	Viruchigam

All four padas of Kettai fall in Viruchigam rasi.

Source: Yajnavalkya Smriti with the Mitakshara, tr. Srisa Chandra Vidyarnava (Allahabad, 1918), pp. 38-39; Sat Kriya Sara Dipika of Gopala Bhatta Gosvami, the naming-ceremony section

Pada 1: names beginning with "no" (நோ)

Very few Tamil names begin with this sound. Ask your family priest whether a nearby sound will do.

Pada 2: names beginning with "ya" (ய)

Yamunagirl · the Yamuna river
Yasodhagirl · the mother who raised Krishna
Yadhunandhanboy · son of the Yadu clan, Krishna

Pada 3: names beginning with "yi" (யி)

Very few Tamil names begin with this sound. Ask your family priest whether a nearby sound will do.

Pada 4: names beginning with "yu" (யு)

Yuvarajboy · crown prince

These are only a few examples. The choice of name is your family's; follow what your family priest or elders advise.

Frequently asked

Which letters suit a Kettai nakshatra baby's name?

By tradition, a baby born in Kettai nakshatraநட்சத்திரம்: One of the 27 star groups the Moon passes through, about one a day. The one at your birth is your birth star. takes a name beginning with: pada 1 "no" (நோ), pada 2 "ya" (ய), pada 3 "yi" (யி), pada 4 "yu" (யு).

How do I know the pada?

The pada depends on the minute of birth. Give the date, time and place to this site's baby-name calculator and it gives the star, the pada and the letter. A horoscope also states the pada.

Must the name begin with the star's letter?

It is a family tradition, not a rule. Many families keep the star-letter name for ceremonies and call the child by another. The choice is the family's.