10 Indian baby names inspired by constellations and nakshatras

Introduction

Many Indian parents look to the sky for names that carry beauty, meaning and a sense of lineage. This list offers ten baby names drawn from constellations and *nakshatras* — *nakshatra* (lunar mansion) — commonly used in classical Hindu astronomy and astrology (jyotiṣa). The entries give a short meaning, pronunciation, gender usage, the astronomical or *nakshatra* link, and a brief cultural note. Jyotiṣa traditions vary by region and school; where associations differ, I note alternatives rather than present a single “correct” reading.

How to read this list

• Pronunciation is given in a simple phonetic form.
• Gender indicates typical usage but many names are flexible or can be adapted with suffixes.
• Some families still consult the child’s birth *nakshatra* for the opening syllable of a name; that custom is mentioned where relevant but is not prescriptive.

Ten names inspired by constellations and nakshatras

1. Rohini — Roh-nee

   • Meaning: “the red one,” “that which grows”
   • Gender: usually feminine
   • Link: Rohini is a named *nakshatra* associated in many texts with Aldebaran (in Taurus) and with growth, fertility and beauty. In Puranic lore Rohini is also the favourite consort of Chandra (the Moon).
   • Note: Often suggested for children born when the Moon is in the Rohini sector; in cultural usage it conveys warmth and abundance.

2. Krittika — Krit-tee-ka

   • Meaning: “the cutters,” historically a cluster (Pleiades)
   • Gender: feminine, though variants can be masculine
   • Link: Krittika *nakshatra* is associated with the Pleiades and with the six Krittika mothers who nurture Skanda/Kartikeya in myth. Many classical lists link Krittika to Agni (fire).
   • Note: Conveys strength, guardianship and a fiery energy. Some South Indian naming traditions give specific starting syllables for children born under Krittika.

3. Mrigank / Mriganka — Mree-gank / Mree-gun-ka

   • Meaning: “starlike mark,” or poetically “moon-marked”; modern usage often as “born under Mriga”
   • Gender: unisex (Mrigank more masculine in use; Mriganka can be feminine)
   • Link: From *Mṛgaśīrṣa* (Mrigashira) — the “deer’s head” nakshatra linked with curious, searching qualities and often associated with Orion’s head/nearby stars.
   • Note: Evokes restlessness and a love of learning; different jyotiṣa texts emphasise different deities for this *nakshatra* (e.g., Soma/Chandra or Prajapati).

4. Ashwin / Ashwini — Ash-win / Ash-wee-nee

   • Meaning: “of the Ashvins,” or “swift as a horse”; Ashvins are twin physicians in the Vedic corpus
   • Gender: Ashwin typically masculine; Ashwini feminine or unisex
   • Link: Ashwini is the first *nakshatra* (at the start of Aries) represented by twin stars; mythically linked to the Ashvini Kumaras.
   • Note: Associated with healing, quickness and new beginnings. Across traditions the Ashvins are seen positively as restorers.

5. Chitra — Chit-rah

   • Meaning: “bright,” “beautiful,” “a picture”
   • Gender: commonly feminine but also unisex
   • Link: Chitra *nakshatra* is traditionally linked with the bright star Spica (in Virgo). Deity associations vary—some texts give Tvaṣṭṛ/Vishvakarma or Indra—so interpretive traditions differ.
   • Note: Favoured for creative families; suggests clarity, craft and aesthetic sense.

6. Anuradha — Ah-noo-rah-dha

   • Meaning: “after Radha,” or more broadly “following devotion,” also “a beloved” in poetic usage
   • Gender: feminine
   • Link: Anuradha *nakshatra* is in Scorpio; classical sources connect it with Mitra (friendship, bonds) and with constellational sectors of the southern sky.
   • Note: Common in classical and modern India, often chosen to evoke friendship, loyalty and steady will.

7. Pushya / Pushyan — Poo-shya / Poo-shyan

   • Meaning: “nourisher,” “prosperous”
   • Gender: Pushya is unisex; Pushyan is more masculine
   • Link: Pushya *nakshatra* is considered auspicious and linked with nourishment and Jupiter’s benefic influence in many jyotiṣa sources.
   • Note: Used by families who value auspicious, nurturing connotations; in ritual contexts Pushya is often named among favourable lunar sectors.

8. Hasta — Hus-ta

   • Meaning: “hand,” implying skill, craft and action
   • Gender: unisex; Hastin is a masculine variant
   • Link: Hasta *nakshatra* covers a portion of the zodiac associated with skilled work and manual dexterity; symbolically rendered as a hand, broom or elephant’s trunk in different iconographies.
   • Note: Often chosen in artisan and creative households; suggests competence and practical talent.

9. Swati — Swa-tee

   • Meaning: “sword,” or “independent”; also rendered as “pure” in some usages
   • Gender: commonly feminine
   • Link: Swati *nakshatra* is associated with Vayu (wind) in many classical lists and with a bright, mobile quality in the sky.
   • Note: Popular in contemporary India; evokes independence, resilience and clarity.

10. Revati — Re-va-tee

    • Meaning: “wealthy,” “prosperous,” or “a star name”
    • Gender: feminine
    • Link: Revati is the final *nakshatra* (often linked with the stars in Pisces) and in myth is the name of a daughter of King Kakudmi. Deity associations often include Pushan or guardianship deities.
    • Note: Suggests protection and completion; a classical choice with literary resonance.

Final thoughts and practice

These names draw on a long living tradition that connects the Moon’s position, constellations and mythic images to personal identity. In Jyotiṣa practice some families still choose a name syllable from the child’s birth *nakshatra*; others prefer aesthetic, familial or regional reasons. Regional pronunciation and local customs matter: spellings and suffixes (–an, –a, –i) can change gender feel and rhythm. If you wish to consult an astrologer, note that interpretations and starting-syllable systems vary by school and region.

Choosing a name is personal and communal — consider family history, how the name sounds in everyday speech, and whether it fits with your cultural or religious practices. If a naming ritual involves fasting or strenuous rites, take usual health precautions and consult a doctor if concerned.

This list aims to be descriptive rather than prescriptive, offering options that are rooted in classical sky-lore but adapted for contemporary life across India’s diverse communities.