Visakam nakshatra baby names: starting letters

By tradition, a baby born in Visakam nakshatra takes a name beginning with: pada 1 "ti" (தி), pada 2 "tu" (து), pada 3 "te" (தே), pada 4 "to" (தோ).

Visakam: pada and letter

Pada	Tamil letter	Sound	Rasi
1	தி	ti (ति)	Thulam
2	து	tu (तु)	Thulam
3	தே	te (ते)	Thulam
4	தோ	to (तो)	Viruchigam

Visakam padas 1, 2, 3 fall in Thulam rasi, padas 4 in Viruchigam.

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 "ti" (தி)

Dhivyagirl · divine
Thilagagirl · the forehead mark; the finest
Dineshboy · lord of the day, the sun
Thirunavukkarasuboy · the saint Appar
Thiyagarajanboy · Shiva of Thiruvarur
Thirumagalgirl · Lakshmi

Pada 2: names beginning with "tu" (து)

Durgagirl · the Goddess Durga
Thulasigirl · holy basil
Duraiboy · chief

Pada 3: names beginning with "te" (தே)

Devigirl · goddess
Devaboy · god
Thenmozhigirl · honey-sweet words
Devarajboy · king of the gods

Pada 4: names beginning with "to" (தோ)

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

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 Visakam nakshatra baby's name?

By tradition, a baby born in Visakam 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 "ti" (தி), pada 2 "tu" (து), pada 3 "te" (தே), pada 4 "to" (தோ).

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.