10 Indian baby names that mean ‘starlight’ or ‘celestial glow’

Names and meanings: starlight and celestial glow

Below are ten Indian names that carry the sense of starlight or a broader celestial glow. I introduce key Sanskrit words as they appear: tārā — star; jyoti — light; nakṣatra — lunar mansion or constellation. For each name you’ll find a simple meaning, a short pronunciation guide, typical gender usage, and a note on cultural or scriptural associations. Hindu traditions are diverse; where a name has multiple theological or regional resonances I note them briefly.

1. Tārā (तारा)

• Meaning: “star” or “that which frees” (figuratively a guiding light)
• Pronunciation: TAA-raa
• Usage: Mostly feminine; used across many Indian languages
• Notes: In Śākta and Tibetan Buddhist literature, Tārā is also a compassionate goddess. In vernacular use it is a simple and venerable name evoking a star’s guidance; some families choose it for its devotional associations while others prize its plain celestial sense.

2. Dhruva / Dhruv (ध्रुव / ध्रुव)

• Meaning: “fixed, immovable”; by association the Pole Star or an enduring celestial point
• Pronunciation: DHRUV (one syllable)
• Usage: Masculine
• Notes: The story of Dhruva appears in the Purāṇic tradition (Srimad Bhāgavata Purāṇa), where the devotee Dhruva attains an eternal, fixed place in the sky. The name suggests steadiness and a high spiritual ideal.

3. Nakṣatra (नक्षत्र)

• Meaning: “lunar mansion, star/constellation”
• Pronunciation: NUK-shuh-tra or NAK-shuh-truh
• Usage: Gender-neutral; used occasionally as a given name
• Notes: In classical Indian astronomy and astrology the 27 (or 28) nakṣatras are key reference points for birth charts. As a name it directly evokes the sky and cosmic order.

4. Jyotsnā / Jyotsna (ज्योत्स्ना)

• Meaning: “moonlight, soft celestial light”
• Pronunciation: JYOHTS-naa
• Usage: Mostly feminine
• Notes: While not “star” specifically, jyotsnā communicates the same poetic sense of gentle, celestial illumination often prized in devotional poetry and classical literature.

5. Jyoti (ज्योति)

• Meaning: “light, flame, radiance”
• Pronunciation: JYOH-tee
• Usage: Unisex (commonly feminine in modern usage)
• Notes: A very popular name across India, jyoti is versatile: it suits both devotional contexts (lamp, inner light) and secular, poetic uses (starlight, brightness).

6. Jyotirmaya / Jyotirmayi (ज्योतिर्मय / ज्योतिर्मयी)

• Meaning: “full of light,” “sunny or luminous”
• Pronunciation: JYOH-tir-MAY-uh / JYOH-tir-MYEE
• Usage: Unisex forms; the -maya/-mayi suffix marks “made of” or “abounding in”
• Notes: Sounds more classical and can feel devotional or literary. In some contexts it signals spiritual radiance rather than a purely astronomical image.

7. Rohinī (रोहिणी)

• Meaning: Name of a star/nakṣatra (classically associated with Aldebaran, α Tauri); also “the red one” or “rising one”
• Pronunciation: RO-hee-nee
• Usage: Feminine
• Notes: In Purāṇic genealogy Rohinī is a consort of Chandra (the moon). As a given name it carries both astronomical and mythic resonance and is common in many regions.

8. Sitāra / Sitara (सितारा)

• Meaning: “star” (usage influenced by Persian/Urdu sitāra but widely used in Indian languages)
• Pronunciation: si-TAH-rah
• Usage: Feminine
• Notes: Although not a classical Sanskrit word, it is fully part of modern Indian onomastics and carries the plain, charming sense of a little star.

9. Candrikā / Chandrika (चन्द्रिका)

• Meaning: “moonlight” or “lustre of the moon”
• Pronunciation: chun-DREE-kaa or chan-DRIH-kaa
• Usage: Primarily feminine
• Notes: Like jyotsnā, this implies a soft celestial glow. It appears in classical poetry and devotional songs as a beautiful, gentle image.

10. Prabhā / Prabha (प्रभा)

• Meaning: “light, radiance, splendour”
• Pronunciation: PRAH-bhaa
• Usage: Feminine
• Notes: Simple and traditional, Prabha evokes a bright, luminous presence—suitable when you want a name that suggests glow rather than a literal star.

Choosing a name: practical and cultural notes

Short suggestions when selecting one of these names:

• Family tradition: Many families follow regional naming customs (e.g., using a particular deity’s name, a family name, or the child’s nakṣatra syllable). Respecting those traditions often matters as much as the literal meaning.
• Pronunciation and script: Check how the name sounds with your surname and how it will be written in your regional script; small spelling changes can shift gender or tone.
• Religious associations: Some names are also names of deities (Tārā) or characters (Dhruva). If you prefer a purely poetic name, choose one with fewer explicit theological uses; if you seek devotional resonance, choose accordingly.
• Gender flexibility: Several of these names—Jyoti, Dhruv, Jyotirmaya—work as unisex options in many communities.
• Consult elders and community: Given India’s plural traditions (Śaiva, Vaiṣṇava, Śākta, Smārta, etc.), a quick conversation about local sensibilities can avoid unintended connotations.

Each name above carries layers—linguistic, mythic and astronomical. If you want, tell me which sounds you prefer (short vs long, Sanskrit vs modern), and I can suggest more tailored options or short compounds that keep the same celestial feeling.