Anuradha is the seventeenth of the 27 nakshatras, the lunar mansions of Vedic astrology. It covers 3° 20′ to 16° 40′ Scorpio in the sidereal zodiac, is ruled by Saturn and is presided over by Mitra, the Vedic god of friendship. Anuradha’s 13° 20′ is shared among four padas of 3° 20′, and each pada gives one of the syllables Na, Ni, Nu and Ne.
Under the Avakahada chakra, the pada holding the Moon at your baby’s birth supplies the opening sound of the name. Not sure which of Na, Ni, Nu or Ne applies? Enter the birth date, time and place into the free nakshatra calculator and it will tell you. You can browse every star on the baby names by nakshatra page, or step to Vishakha and Jyeshtha.
The four syllables of Anuradha
| Pada | Syllable | Devanagari | Moon sign | Span |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Na | ना | Vrishchika (Scorpio) | 3° 20′ to 6° 40′ Scorpio |
| 2 | Ni | नी | Vrishchika (Scorpio) | 6° 40′ to 10° 00′ Scorpio |
| 3 | Nu | नू | Vrishchika (Scorpio) | 10° 00′ to 13° 20′ Scorpio |
| 4 | Ne | ने | Vrishchika (Scorpio) | 13° 20′ to 16° 40′ Scorpio |
Boy names
Names starting with Na (ना)
| Name | Meaning |
|---|---|
| Naman | salutation, bow |
| Nakul | a Pandava prince; also mongoose |
| Naveen | new |
| Nandan | son; delight |
| Narendra | lord of men |
| Naresh | lord of men, king |
| Narayan | a name of Vishnu |
| Nachiket | the young seeker of the Katha Upanishad |
| Nagesh | lord of serpents |
| Nalin | lotus |
| Nayan | eye |
| Nandish | lord of joy; a name of Shiva |
Names starting with Ni (नी)
| Name | Meaning |
|---|---|
| Neel | blue |
| Neeraj | lotus |
| Neelesh | blue lord; a name of Krishna |
| Neelkanth | blue-throated; a name of Shiva |
| Nikhil | whole, complete |
| Nitin | leader |
| Nirmal | pure, spotless |
| Nishant | dawn; end of the night |
| Nimish | a moment |
| Niranjan | spotless; a name of Shiva and Vishnu |
| Nilay | abode, home |
| Nitish | master of good conduct |
Names starting with Nu (नू)
| Name | Meaning |
|---|---|
| Nutan | new |
Names starting with Ne (ने)
Boy names that begin with Ne are rare. Families usually choose a name beginning with the nearest sound, such as Na or Ni, from the lists above.
Girl names
Names starting with Na (ना)
| Name | Meaning |
|---|---|
| Nandini | daughter; one who delights |
| Namita | humble, bowed |
| Nalini | lotus |
| Nayana | eyes |
| Nayantara | star of the eye |
| Navya | new, praiseworthy |
| Nandita | delighted |
| Narmada | giver of delight; the river |
| Nanda | joy |
Names starting with Ni (नी)
| Name | Meaning |
|---|---|
| Nisha | night |
| Nidhi | treasure |
| Nirmala | pure |
| Niharika | mist, dew |
| Nilima | blueness |
| Nishtha | devotion, steadfastness |
| Neelam | sapphire |
| Neerja | born of water; lotus |
| Nitya | eternal |
| Niyati | destiny |
| Nivedita | offered; dedicated |
Names starting with Nu (नू)
| Name | Meaning |
|---|---|
| Nupur | anklet |
| Nutan | new |
Names starting with Ne (ने)
| Name | Meaning |
|---|---|
| Neha | affection, love |
| Netra | eye |
Choosing the name
Anuradha’s syllables Na, Ni, Nu and Ne begin with the gentle N sound, and the star is generous with names. Na and Ni offer a dozen or more each, while Nu and Ne are slimmer: Nu leans on Nutan and Nupur, and Ne on Neha, Netra and the Jain Nemi names. This page lists only names that are really given.
All four padas of Anuradha lie in Vrishchika (Scorpio), so the rashi first-letter chart for Scorpio (To, Na, Ni, Nu, Ne, No, Ya, Yi, Yu) overlaps with it closely. A family using the chart can draw on these letters freely, and many use neither rule and simply choose a name they love. A name given by a grandparent, or one that has run through the family, comes first.
Vowel length is relaxed in practice: Nikhil and Neeraj are both widely used for Ni. If you live abroad, think about spelling and pronunciation: Neel, Nisha and Neha are easy, while Nachiket and Niharika may need a quick introduction. Meaning matters more than the letter. Anuradha speaks of friendship and devotion, so names meaning joy, light or loyalty fit naturally.
About Anuradha
Anuradha is the star of friendship and devotion, ruled by Saturn with Mitra, the Vedic god of friendship, as its deity. Its symbol is the lotus, an image of beauty that grows from muddy water, and it also carries the image of a triumphal archway. Traditionally the star is linked with loyalty, cooperation, perseverance and a talent for building lasting bonds, as tendencies to reflect on, not guarantees.
Our article on Moon in Anuradha nakshatra covers the padas, mythology and navamsa signs, including how the Moon behaves in Scorpio.
Frequently asked questions
↳ What are the letters for Anuradha nakshatra?
The four syllables are Na, Ni, Nu and Ne, one for each pada. All four lie in Vrishchika (Scorpio).
↳ Which letter for Anuradha nakshatra pada 2?
Pada 2 gives the syllable Ni (नी), covering 6° 40′ to 10° 00′ of Scorpio. Names such as Neel, Neeraj, Nikhil, Nisha and Nidhi begin with this sound.
↳ Is Anuradha always a Scorpio Moon?
Yes. All four padas fall within Vrishchika (Scorpio), from 3° 20′ to 16° 40′, so a Moon in Anuradha is always a Scorpio Moon in the sidereal zodiac.
↳ Can I choose a name outside these letters?
Yes. The syllable is a tradition and not a rule. Many families follow the rashi chart, a family custom or a name chosen for its meaning.