Ardra is the sixth of the 27 nakshatras, the lunar mansions of the Vedic zodiac. It spans 6° 40′ to 20° 00′ Gemini, its ruling planet is Rahu, and its deity is Rudra. Ardra’s 13° 20′ is divided into four padas of 3° 20′, and the four syllables below belong to them in order.
By the Avakahada chakra, the pada the Moon was in when the baby was born gives the first sound of the name. A baby born with the Moon in Ardra pada 1 takes Ku, pada 2 takes Gha, pada 3 takes Nga and pada 4 takes Chha. The date, time and place of birth go into the free nakshatra calculator, which returns the pada and its syllable if you are unsure. Other stars are one click away on the baby names hub.
The four syllables of Ardra
| Pada | Syllable | Devanagari | Moon sign | Span |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Ku | कू | Mithuna (Gemini) | 6° 40′ to 10° 00′ Gemini |
| 2 | Gha | घ | Mithuna (Gemini) | 10° 00′ to 13° 20′ Gemini |
| 3 | Nga | ङ | Mithuna (Gemini) | 13° 20′ to 16° 40′ Gemini |
| 4 | Chha | छ | Mithuna (Gemini) | 16° 40′ to 20° 00′ Gemini |
Note: Nga (ङ) is a nasal that almost never begins a word, so names for this pada are very rare; many families use the nearest sound, Ga or Na, and say so openly.
Boy names
Names starting with Ku (कू)
| Name | Meaning |
|---|---|
| Kuber | god of wealth |
| Kush | kusha grass, a son of Rama |
| Kunal | lotus |
| Kumar | young prince, boy |
| Kushal | skilled, capable |
| Kuldeep | lamp of the family |
| Kunwar | prince |
| Kulbhushan | jewel of the family |
Names starting with Gha (घ)
Names beginning with Gha are rare. Only one genuine name is listed, and families often choose the nearest sound, Ga.
| Name | Meaning |
|---|---|
| Ghanshyam | dark like a rain cloud, a name of Krishna |
Names starting with Nga (ङ)
Nga is a nasal that almost never begins a word, so no names are listed for this pada. Families openly use the nearest sound, Ga or Na.
No widely used boy names are listed for this sound.
Names starting with Chha (छ)
Names beginning with Chha are rare. A small number exist for girls and none are listed for boys. Families often use the nearest sound, Cha.
No widely used boy names are listed for this sound.
Girl names
Names starting with Ku (कू)
| Name | Meaning |
|---|---|
| Kusum | flower |
| Kumudini | night lotus |
| Kunti | mother of the Pandavas |
| Kumari | young girl, princess |
| Kuhu | call of the cuckoo |
| Kumkum | vermilion |
Names starting with Gha (घ)
No widely used girl names are listed for this sound.
Names starting with Nga (ङ)
No widely used girl names are listed for this sound.
Names starting with Chha (छ)
| Name | Meaning |
|---|---|
| Chhavi | image, radiance |
| Chhaya | shade, shadow |
Choosing the name
Ardra is the hardest of these nine stars to name by syllable alone. Ku has plenty of names, but Gha has only one well-known name, Nga has none, and Chha has just a few for girls. For padas 2, 3 and 4, using the nearest sound is a long-standing and acceptable practice; Ga, Na or Cha are the usual choices. Do not feel you have to force a name onto Nga. A name whose meaning you value is a better guide than a strict letter. Ku names such as Kunal and Kusum also read easily in English.
Your family’s own custom comes first. Some families follow the pada syllable (Ku, Gha, Nga or Chha) strictly, some use the rashi first-letter chart, which our name rashi calculator shows and which for this star means the Gemini Moon sign, and many use no letter rule at all. That is a perfectly good choice. Wherever your child grows up, say the full name aloud with the surname before you settle on it. A name whose meaning you would happily explain to your child counts for more than the letter.
About Ardra
Ardra is the sixth nakshatra, symbolised by a teardrop or a diamond, and its deity is Rudra, the storm form of Shiva. Rahu rules it, and the tradition links it with intensity, feeling, intellect and a capacity for renewal after upheaval. The whole nakshatra falls in Gemini, ruled by Mercury. Our article on Moon in Ardra nakshatra goes into the padas.
Browse every star on the baby names hub, or move to the previous nakshatra, Mrigashira or next nakshatra, Punarvasu.
Frequently asked questions
↳ What are the letters for Ardra nakshatra?
The four syllables for Ardra nakshatra are Ku, Gha, Nga and Chha, one for each pada. The custom is to begin the name with the syllable of the Moon's pada in Ardra.
↳ Which letter for Ardra nakshatra pada 3?
Ardra pada 3 gives the syllable Nga (ङ). The Moon is in Mithuna (Gemini) for that pada, at 13° 20′ to 16° 40′ Gemini.
↳ How do I find the pada of my baby's Moon?
Enter the birth date, time and place into the free nakshatra calculator on this site to see whether the Moon was in Ardra. Along with the nakshatra it gives the pada, which picks one syllable out of Ku, Gha, Nga or Chha. A precise time helps, since each pada of Ardra lasts only about six hours of the Moon's journey.
↳ Can I choose a name outside these letters?
Yes. Not every family follows the Ardra sounds: the rashi letter chart and family names are common alternatives. The Ardra syllables are a custom, not a rule, so let your family's wishes and the meaning guide you.