Ashwini is the first of the 27 nakshatras, the lunar mansions of the Vedic zodiac. It spans 0° 00′ to 13° 20′ Aries, its ruling planet is Ketu, and its deity is the Ashwini Kumaras. Ashwini’s 13° 20′ is shared equally among four padas of 3° 20′, one for each syllable below.
Hindu tradition, through the Avakahada chakra, takes the first sound of the baby’s name from the pada the Moon occupied at birth. A baby born with the Moon in Ashwini pada 1 takes Chu, pada 2 takes Che, pada 3 takes Cho and pada 4 takes La. Should the pada be unknown, the free nakshatra calculator supplies it and the syllable once you enter the birth date, time and place. Every other nakshatra has its own page, reached from the baby names hub.
The four syllables of Ashwini
| Pada | Syllable | Devanagari | Moon sign | Span |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Chu | चू | Mesha (Aries) | 0° 00′ to 3° 20′ Aries |
| 2 | Che | चे | Mesha (Aries) | 3° 20′ to 6° 40′ Aries |
| 3 | Cho | चो | Mesha (Aries) | 6° 40′ to 10° 00′ Aries |
| 4 | La | ला | Mesha (Aries) | 10° 00′ to 13° 20′ Aries |
Boy names
Names starting with Chu (चू)
Genuine names beginning with Chu are few, and families often choose the nearest sound instead.
| Name | Meaning |
|---|---|
| Chudamani | crest jewel |
Names starting with Che (चे)
| Name | Meaning |
|---|---|
| Chetan | consciousness, awareness |
Names starting with Cho (चो)
Names beginning with Cho are rare, and none are listed here. Families usually choose the nearest sound, such as Cha or Chu.
No widely used boy names are listed for this sound.
Names starting with La (ला)
| Name | Meaning |
|---|---|
| Lakshya | aim, goal |
| Lakshman | blessed with good signs, Rama’s brother |
| Lalit | charming, graceful |
| Lav | a son of Rama and Sita |
| Laksh | aim, target |
| Lakshmikant | a name of Vishnu, lord of Lakshmi |
Girl names
Names starting with Chu (चू)
No widely used girl names are listed for this sound.
Names starting with Che (चे)
| Name | Meaning |
|---|---|
| Chetana | consciousness, awareness |
Names starting with Cho (चो)
No widely used girl names are listed for this sound.
Names starting with La (ला)
| Name | Meaning |
|---|---|
| Lavanya | grace, beauty |
| Lalita | charming, playful |
| Lata | creeper, vine |
| Lakshmi | prosperity, the goddess of wealth |
| Lasya | graceful dance |
| Lahari | wave |
Choosing the name
Ashwini is a nakshatra of short, crisp sounds. Chu and Cho have very few genuine names, so families with a pada 1 or pada 3 baby often move to the nearest sound, while pada 2 (Che) and pada 4 (La) have more to choose from. Chetan and Chetana are simple, lasting names for pada 2, and La gives a wide range from Lakshya to Lavanya. The traditional table writes La with a long vowel (ला), while names such as Lalit and Lakshman have a short a; most families treat these as the same sound.
Let your family’s custom decide first. Some families keep strictly to the pada syllable, some use the rashi first-letter chart (the name rashi calculator shows it, and Ashwini sits in the Aries Moon sign), and many use no letter rule at all, which is perfectly acceptable. Whichever of Chu, Che, Cho or La you land on, say the name aloud with the surname and think about how it will be spelled and spoken wherever your child grows up. A meaning you would be glad to explain to your child is worth more than the letter.
About Ashwini
Ashwini is the first nakshatra, symbolised by a horse’s head, and it belongs to the Ashwini Kumaras, the twin physicians of the gods in Vedic tradition. Its qualities in the tradition are speed, new beginnings, healing and a readiness to act first. The ruling planet Ketu adds a note of detachment and old memory beneath the energy. Because the whole nakshatra sits in Aries, every Ashwini Moon is a Mesha Moon, which is why the four padas share one rashi. The full reading, including the padas, is in our article on Moon in Ashwini nakshatra.
Browse every star on the baby names hub, or move to the next nakshatra, Bharani.
Frequently asked questions
↳ What are the letters for Ashwini nakshatra?
The four syllables for Ashwini nakshatra are Chu, Che, Cho and La, one for each pada. In the naming tradition, the Moon's pada in Ashwini gives the opening sound of the name.
↳ Which letter for Ashwini nakshatra pada 2?
Ashwini pada 2 gives the syllable Che (चे). The Moon is in Mesha (Aries) for that pada, at 3° 20′ to 6° 40′ Aries.
↳ How do I find the pada of my baby's Moon?
The free nakshatra calculator on this site needs only the date, time and place of birth to place the Moon in Ashwini or a neighbouring star. The result names the pada too, so you can see which of Chu, Che, Cho or La belongs to your child. The birth time matters: the Moon spends only about six hours in each pada of Ashwini, so a small error can change the syllable.
↳ Can I choose a name outside these letters?
Yes. Some families use the rashi first-letter chart instead of the Ashwini syllables, and some keep a family name whatever the star. Following Chu, Che, Cho or La is a tradition rather than an obligation; a meaning your family values matters more.