Swathi nakshatra baby names: starting letters

By tradition, a baby born in Swathi nakshatra takes a name beginning with: pada 1 "ru" (ரு), pada 2 "re" (ரே), pada 3 "ro" (ரோ), pada 4 "ta" (த).

Swathi: pada and letter

Pada	Tamil letter	Sound	Rasi
1	ரு	ru (रु)	Thulam
2	ரே	re (रे)	Thulam
3	ரோ	ro (रो)	Thulam
4	த	ta (त)	Thulam

All four padas of Swathi fall in Thulam 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 "ru" (ரு)

Rukmanigirl · Krishna's consort
Rudranboy · Shiva

Pada 2: names beginning with "re" (ரே)

Revathigirl · the Revathi star
Renukagirl · the Goddess Renuka
Rekhagirl · a line

Pada 3: names beginning with "ro" (ரோ)

Rohinigirl · the Rohini star
Rojagirl · rose
Rohithboy · red; the sun

Pada 4: names beginning with "ta" (த)

Tamilselvanboy · treasure of Tamil
Tamilselvigirl · treasure of Tamil
Dhanalakshmigirl · goddess of wealth
Dharmanboy · righteous one
Dhayalanboy · kind-hearted one
Dhamayanthigirl · Nala's consort
Thangamgirl or boy · gold

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 Swathi nakshatra baby's name?

By tradition, a baby born in Swathi 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 "ru" (ரு), pada 2 "re" (ரே), pada 3 "ro" (ரோ), pada 4 "ta" (த).

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.