In India, babies are generally named on Nakshatra and Charan. There are total 27 Nakshatra (constellations) and each Nakshatra contains 4 padas or charanas. This is a table from which you can select the namakshar (first character of the name). For example, the baby birth happened in 4th charan of Chitra nakshatra, so you have to select fourth character in the last column in front of Chitra row. The table suggests that the name should begin with ‘Re’ (री) alphbet of Devanagri (Hindu/ Sanskrit) Varnamala.
| No | Nakshatra | First Letter of Baby’s Name for all four charan/ pada |
| 1 | Aswini | Chu (चू) , Che (चे), Cho (चो), La (ला) |
| 2 | Bharani | Lee (ली), Lu (लू), Le (ले), Lo (लो) |
| 3 | Krithika | A (आ), E (ई), U (उ), Ea (ऐ) |
| 4 | Rohini | O (ओ), Va (वा), Vi (वी), Vu (वू) |
| 5 | Mrigashiras | We (वे), Wo (वो), Ka (का), Ki (की) |
| 6 | Aardhra / Arudra (Telugu) | Ku (कू), Gha (घ), Ing (ङ), Jha (झ) |
| 7 | Punarvasu | Ke (के), Ko (को), Ha (हा), Hi (ही) |
| 8 | Pushyami | Hu (हू), He (हे), Ho (हो), Da (डा) |
| 9 | Ashlesha | De (डी), Du (डू), De (डे), Do (डो) |
| 10 | Magha/Makha | Ma (मा), Me (मी), Mu (मू), Me (मे) |
| 11 | P.Phalguni/ Poorva Phalguni / Pubba (Telugu) | Mo (मो), Ta (टा), Ti (टी), Tu (टू) |
| 12 | U.Phalguni/ Uthraphalguni / Uttara (Telugu) | Te (टे), To (टो), Pa (पा), Pe (पी) |
| 13 | Hastha | Pu (पू), Sha (ष), Na (ण), Teha (ठ) |
| 14 | Chitra | Pe (पे), Po (पो), Ra (रा), Re (री) |
| 15 | Swaathi | Ru (रू), Re (रे), Ro (रो), Taa (ता) |
| 16 | Vishaakha | Tee (ती), Tue (तू), Teaa (ते), Too (तो) |
| 17 | Anuraadha | Na (ना), Ne (नी), Nu (नू), Ne (ने) |
| 18 | Jyeshta | No (नो), Ya (या) Yi (यी), Uu (यू) |
| 19 | Moola | Ye (ये), Yo (यो), Ba (भा), Be (भी) |
| 20 | P.Shada/Poorvashaada | Bu (भू), Dha (धा), Ea (फा) Eaa (ढा) |
| 21 | U.Shada/Uthrashaada | Be (भे), Bo (भो), Ja (जा), Ji (जी) |
| 22 | Shraavan | Ju (खी), Je (खू), Jo (खे), Sha (खो) |
| 23 | Dhanishta | Ga (गा), Gi (गी), Gu (गू), Ge (गे) |
| 24 | Shathabhisha | Go (गो), Sa (सा), Si (सी), Su (सू) |
| 25 | P.Bhadra/Poorvabhadra | Se (से), So (सो), Da (दा), Di (दी) |
| 26 | U.Bhadra/Uthrabhadra | Du (दू), Tha (थ), Jha (झ), Jna (ञ) |
| 27 | Revathi | De (दे), Do (दो), Cha (चा), Chi (ची) |
In certain section of India, especailly north India, the name is selected based on the Rashi (Moon Sign).
Here is a table for names based Rashi –
| Rasi | First Letter of Baby’s Name |
| Mesa | A, L, E (अ, ल, ई) |
| Vrishabha | Ba, Va, U (ब, व, ऊ) |
| Mithuna | Ka, Gha (क, छ, घ) |
| Karka | Da, Ha (ड, ह) |
| Simha | Ma, Ta (म, ट) |
| Kanya | Pa, Tha ( प, ठ, ण ) |
| Tula | Ra, ta (र, त) |
| Vrischika | na, ya (न, य) |
| Dhanu | bha, dha, pha, dha, (भ, ध, फ, ढ) |
| Makar | kha, ja (ख, ज) |
| Kumbha | ga, sa, sha, Sh (ग, स, श, ष) |
| Mina | da, cha, tha, jha (द, च, थ, झ) |
