10 baby names inspired by the stars and galaxy

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On October 11, 2025

Star-lit names: a brief note

Choosing a name inspired by the stars and galaxy often draws on Sanskrit words, mythic stories and the traditional system of *nakshatra* — a lunar mansion or constellation used in Indian astrology. Different communities (Śaiva, Vaiṣṇava, Śākta, Smārta) may emphasise different stories and associations for the same name; the short entries below note common scriptural or astronomical links and offering sensible pronunciation, gender usage and cultural cautions.

1. Dhruva (DHRU-va)

Meaning: Steadfast, immovable; associated with the pole star.
Source/association: The boy Dhruva appears in Purāṇic narratives (e.g., Bhagavata Purāṇa) where his devoted penance leads to a fixed place in the heavens.
Usage: Traditionally a masculine name; short form: Dhuv. Symbolically used to convey resolve and constancy.
Cultural note: Frequently cited in devotional contexts across sects as an exemplar of single-minded tapas (ascetic effort).

2. Tara (TA-ra)

Meaning: Star, saviour; also a goddess-name in Śākta and Buddhist traditions.
Source/association: In Śākta texts Tara is a powerful goddess; in common Sanskrit usage the word also simply means a star or guide.
Usage: Generally feminine. Short forms: Taru, Tanu. Be aware that religious devotees may treat the name with devotional reverence in some communities.
Interpretive range: Because of its role as a deity-name in different traditions, families sometimes choose it for spiritual resonance or as a secular poetic name.

3. Arundhati (a-run-DHA-ti)

Meaning: The reddish one; traditionally the name of Vasiṣṭha’s wife and a fixed star used in Vedic astronomy.
Source/association: Arundhati is invoked during Hindu marriage rituals as a model of conjugal fidelity; astronomically she is identified with a companion star to Vasiṣṭha (part of the Big Dipper in popular lore).
Usage: Feminine, dignified. Nicknames: Aru, Diti.
Cultural note: The name carries strong ritual valence in many orthodox families and is often chosen to evoke marital ideals.

4. Rohini (RO-hi-ni)

Meaning: Growing, red; a prominent *nakshatra* (lunar constellation) associated with fertility and abundance.
Source/association: Rohini is one of the lunar mansions in Vedic astronomy and figures in stories such as Krishna’s association with the Rohini nakshatra in some Purāṇic accounts.
Usage: Feminine; short: Rohi. Often chosen when a child is born under the Rohini star, following traditional naming customs.
Practice note: Many families name children according to the birth nakshatra; consult your local tradition or practitioner for specifics.

5. Abhijit (ab-hi-JIT)

Meaning: Victorious, auspicious; also the name of a star considered intercalary by some classical astronomers.
Source/association: Abhijit appears in classical Indian astronomy and is sometimes treated separately from the standard 27 *nakshatras* used in horoscope charts.
Usage: Masculine common across many regions; short form: Abhi.
Interpretive range: In everyday use it’s a confident, positive name without strong sectarian ties.

6. Nakshatra (nak-SHA-tra)

Meaning: Star or lunar mansion (see *nakshatra* — lunar mansion/constellation).
Source/association: A technical term in Vedic astronomy and astrology that names the 27 (sometimes 28) sectors along the ecliptic.
Usage: Unisex, modern poetic choice. Short forms: Nakshi, Shatra.
Practical note: Using a technical astronomical term as a personal name can feel contemporary; some families prefer names that are also personal deities’ names.

7. Akasha (a-KA-sha) / Akash

Meaning: Sky, space; the cosmic ether element in classical Indian cosmology.
Source/association: *Akasha* features in Sāṃkhya and Ayurvedic lists of elements and in devotional poetry as the open sky or space of consciousness.
Usage: Akash (masculine) and Akasha (feminine) are both common; nicknames: Aki, Kashi.
Cultural sensitivity: While broadly secular, the word carries philosophical depth in some traditions; families sometimes select it for cosmological resonance.

8. Jyoti (JYO-ti)

Meaning: Light, radiance; often used to signify inner illumination.
Source/association: Widely used in devotional and poetic literature. Commentators on the Gītā and other texts use “jyoti” metaphorically for knowledge and light.
Usage: Predominantly feminine but used for any gender in modern contexts. Diminutives: Jyo, Joti.
Interpretive note: The metaphor of light is central in many schools—Śaiva, Vaiṣṇava and Vedānta writings alike—so meanings can vary subtly across traditions.

9. Chandra (CHAN-dra) / Chandrika

Meaning: Moon; Chandrika means moonlight.
Source/association: Chandra is a Vedic deity and features in many myths; moon phases and nakshatras are central to Hindu calendars and rituals.
Usage: Chandra is often masculine; Chandrika is feminine. Nicknames: Chan, Rika.
Cultural note: Because Chandra is a deity-name, some families use it devotionaly while others treat it as a poetic natural-name.

10. Antariksha (an-ta-RIK-sha)

Meaning: Space, the region between heaven and earth; literally “inter-space.”
Source/association: The term occurs in classical Sanskrit cosmological and poetic texts to denote the sky or space between realms.
Usage: Unisex and modern; short forms: Anta, Riksha.
Practical note: Feels contemporary and Sanskrit-rooted; consider rhythm with family surnames and local pronunciation.

Choosing with care

Names drawn from stars and cosmic vocabulary can carry philosophical depth and ritual associations. If you follow a naming tradition tied to a child’s birth *nakshatra*, consult your family’s practice or a trusted practitioner to align sounds and syllables. Where a name is also a deity-name (for example, Tara or Chandra), be aware that some communities treat such names with devotional reverence; others use them freely as everyday names. Across texts and traditions meanings can shift—presenting the name as both poetic and rooted in long-standing cultural frameworks is a balanced approach.

Note: If you plan ceremonies or ritual practices connected with naming (jātakarma, namakarana), follow local custom and the guidance of your family or trusted officiant.