Bharani is the second of the 27 nakshatras, the lunar mansions of the Vedic zodiac. It spans 13° 20′ to 26° 40′ Aries, its ruling planet is Venus, and its deity is Yama. Bharani occupies 13° 20′ of Aries, cut into four padas of 3° 20′ that each take one of the L syllables below.
The Avakahada chakra, a scheme from Hindu naming tradition, gives the baby’s first sound by the pada the Moon had reached at birth. A baby born with the Moon in Bharani pada 1 takes Li, pada 2 takes Lu, pada 3 takes Le and pada 4 takes Lo. When the pada is not yet known, the free nakshatra calculator finds it, and the syllable, from the date, time and place of birth. The remaining stars sit on the baby names hub if you want to compare.
The four syllables of Bharani
| Pada | Syllable | Devanagari | Moon sign | Span |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Li | ली | Mesha (Aries) | 13° 20′ to 16° 40′ Aries |
| 2 | Lu | लू | Mesha (Aries) | 16° 40′ to 20° 00′ Aries |
| 3 | Le | ले | Mesha (Aries) | 20° 00′ to 23° 20′ Aries |
| 4 | Lo | लो | Mesha (Aries) | 23° 20′ to 26° 40′ Aries |
Boy names
Names starting with Li (ली)
| Name | Meaning |
|---|---|
| Likhit | written, composed |
| Leeladhar | a name of Krishna, bearer of divine play |
| Lingaraj | a name of Shiva |
Names starting with Lu (लू)
Names beginning with Lu are rare, and none are listed here. Families usually choose the nearest sound, such as Li or Lo.
No widely used boy names are listed for this sound.
Names starting with Le (ले)
No widely used boy names are listed for this sound.
Names starting with Lo (लो)
| Name | Meaning |
|---|---|
| Lokesh | lord of the world |
| Lokanath | lord of the world |
| Lochan | eye |
| Lohit | red |
Girl names
Names starting with Li (ली)
| Name | Meaning |
|---|---|
| Leela | divine play, grace |
| Leelavati | full of grace and play |
| Leena | absorbed, devoted |
| Lipi | script, writing |
Names starting with Lu (लू)
No widely used girl names are listed for this sound.
Names starting with Le (ले)
| Name | Meaning |
|---|---|
| Lekha | writing, a line |
Names starting with Lo (लो)
| Name | Meaning |
|---|---|
| Lochana | one with beautiful eyes |
| Lopamudra | the wife of the sage Agastya |
Choosing the name
Bharani gives Li, Lu, Le and Lo, all L sounds. Li and Lo offer the most genuine names, from Leela and Likhit to Lokesh and Lochana. Lu is rare and Le has only one girl name, Lekha, so a family with a pada 2 or pada 3 baby may choose the nearest sound or a name that begins with L. The traditional table writes these with long vowels (ली, लू, ले, लो), but names like Likhit or Lokesh use a shorter sound, and many families see them as the same.
Your own family’s custom is the first thing to check. Some families follow the pada syllable closely, some use the rashi first-letter chart (our name rashi calculator shows it, and this nakshatra falls in the Aries Moon sign), and many use no letter rule at all, and that is fine. However the L sounds fall, think about spelling and pronunciation abroad and say the name aloud with the surname. Choose a meaning you would be glad to explain to your child, because it matters more than the letter.
About Bharani
Bharani is the second nakshatra, symbolised by the yoni, the doorway of birth, and its deity is Yama, the lord of dharma. The tradition links it with endurance, responsibility, creativity and carrying things through to completion. Its ruling planet is Venus, which brings warmth and a love of beauty. All four padas of Bharani fall in Aries. If you want the full picture, read our article on Moon in Bharani nakshatra.
Browse every star on the baby names hub, or move to the previous nakshatra, Ashwini or next nakshatra, Krittika.
Frequently asked questions
↳ What are the letters for Bharani nakshatra?
The four syllables for Bharani nakshatra are Li, Lu, Le and Lo, one for each pada. Traditionally the name begins with the sound of the Bharani pada the Moon held at birth: Li, Lu, Le or Lo.
↳ Which letter for Bharani nakshatra pada 3?
Bharani pada 3 gives the syllable Le (ले). The Moon is in Mesha (Aries) for that pada, at 20° 00′ to 23° 20′ Aries.
↳ How do I find the pada of my baby's Moon?
Put the date, time and place of birth into the site's free nakshatra calculator; it checks whether the Moon stood in Bharani. It shows the pada as well, and so which of Li, Lu, Le or Lo is the traditional first sound. Use the most accurate birth time you have, because the Moon crosses each quarter of Bharani in roughly six hours.
↳ Can I choose a name outside these letters?
Yes. Outside the Bharani syllables, families also use the rashi letter chart, a grandparent's choice or no letter rule at all. Many parents honour the Bharani sounds and many do not; both are accepted, and the meaning counts most.