Thiruvathirai nakshatra baby names: starting letters

By tradition, a baby born in Thiruvathirai nakshatra takes a name beginning with: pada 1 "ku" (கு), pada 2 "gha" (க), pada 3 "ṅa" (ங), pada 4 "chha" (ச).

Thiruvathirai: pada and letter

Pada	Tamil letter	Sound	Rasi
1	கு	ku (कु)	Mithunam
2	க	gha (घ)	Mithunam
3	ங	ṅa (ङ)	Mithunam
4	ச	chha (छ)	Mithunam

All four padas of Thiruvathirai fall in Mithunam 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 "ku" (கு)

Kumaranboy · Murugan
Kumudhagirl · water lily
Gunasekaranboy · crown of virtues
Kuzhaligirl · one with lovely hair
Guhanboy · Murugan
Kurinjigirl · the kurinji flower

Pada 2: names beginning with "gha" (க)

Kamalagirl · lotus
Kannanboy · Krishna
Kavithagirl · poem
Kathirboy · ray of light
Kalaivanigirl · Saraswati, goddess of the arts
Ganeshboy · Ganesha
Kayalvizhigirl · fish-shaped eyes
Karunakaranboy · abode of compassion

Pada 3: names beginning with "ṅa" (ங)

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

Pada 4: names beginning with "chha" (ச)

Saravananboy · Murugan, born in the Saravana pool
Chandranboy · the moon
Saraswathigirl · goddess of learning
Sankarboy · Shiva, the giver of good
Sandhyagirl · twilight
Sakthigirl or boy · strength; the Goddess
Shanmugamboy · six-faced Murugan
Chandragirl · the moon

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 Thiruvathirai nakshatra baby's name?

By tradition, a baby born in Thiruvathirai 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 "ku" (கு), pada 2 "gha" (க), pada 3 "ṅa" (ங), pada 4 "chha" (ச).

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.