Chitra is the fourteenth of the 27 nakshatras, the lunar mansions of Vedic astrology. It covers 23° 20′ Virgo to 6° 40′ Libra in the sidereal zodiac, is ruled by Mars and is presided over by Tvashtar, also known as Vishvakarma, the divine craftsman. Chitra is cut into four padas of 3° 20′ each, which is why it has four syllables: Pe, Po, Ra and Ri.
Following the Avakahada chakra, the quarter of Chitra that the Moon was passing through at birth settles the first sound of the name. The birth date, time and place, entered in the free nakshatra calculator, will show your child’s pada and its syllable. You can browse every star on the baby names by nakshatra page, or step to Hasta and Swati.
The four syllables of Chitra
| Pada | Syllable | Devanagari | Moon sign | Span |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Pe | पे | Kanya (Virgo) | 23° 20′ to 26° 40′ Virgo |
| 2 | Po | पो | Kanya (Virgo) | 26° 40′ to 30° 00′ Virgo |
| 3 | Ra | रा | Tula (Libra) | 0° 00′ to 3° 20′ Libra |
| 4 | Ri | री | Tula (Libra) | 3° 20′ to 6° 40′ Libra |
Pe and Po are uncommon starting sounds for names, so most families rely on Ra and Ri or the nearest sound.
Boy names
Names starting with Pe (पे)
Genuine names starting with Pe (पे) are rare, so none are listed here. Families usually take the nearest sound.
Names starting with Po (पो)
Genuine names starting with Po (पो) are rare, so none are listed here. Families usually take the nearest sound.
Names starting with Ra (रा)
| Name | Meaning |
|---|---|
| Rahul | capable, efficient |
| Raj | king |
| Rajesh | lord of kings |
| Rakesh | lord of the night; the moon |
| Ravi | the sun |
| Rajat | silver |
| Raghav | descendant of Raghu; a name of Rama |
| Rajiv | lotus |
| Ramesh | a name of Vishnu |
| Raman | pleasing, charming |
| Rachit | created, composed |
| Rajendra | king of kings |
Names starting with Ri (री)
| Name | Meaning |
|---|---|
| Rishi | sage, seer |
| Rishabh | bull; excellent |
| Ritvik | priest who conducts rituals |
| Ritesh | lord of truth and order |
| Rishikesh | lord of the senses; a name of Vishnu |
| Rijul | simple, upright |
Girl names
Names starting with Pe (पे)
Genuine names starting with Pe (पे) are rare, so none are listed here. Families usually take the nearest sound.
Names starting with Po (पो)
| Name | Meaning |
|---|---|
| Ponni | golden (Tamil); also a name of the river Kaveri |
Names starting with Ra (रा)
| Name | Meaning |
|---|---|
| Radha | Krishna’s beloved; success |
| Radhika | Radha; one who succeeds |
| Rani | queen |
| Rajni | night |
| Rashmi | ray of light |
| Ragini | a musical mode; melody |
| Rachana | creation, composition |
| Raksha | protection |
| Rama | pleasing; a name of Lakshmi |
| Ratna | jewel |
| Rati | delight; the goddess of love |
| Rajeshwari | queen, goddess of kings |
Names starting with Ri (री)
| Name | Meaning |
|---|---|
| Riya | singer, graceful |
| Riddhi | prosperity |
| Ritu | season |
| Ritika | stream, flow |
| Rishika | female sage |
| Rimjhim | the patter of rain |
| Rijuta | simplicity, uprightness |
Choosing the name
Chitra has a clear division. The first two padas, Pe and Po, have almost no traditional names, while Ra and Ri open a large field, from Rahul, Ravi and Radha to Rishi, Ritu and Riya. If the Moon was in pada 1 or 2, most families choose from Pa names or Ra names instead, and some use the rashi chart. Chitra crosses from Kanya (Virgo) into Tula (Libra), so the first two padas follow the Virgo letters and the last two follow Libra, where Ra and Ri begin the chart.
A small note on Ri: names such as Rishi and Rishabh begin with the vowel ऋ rather than री, but they are the usual choices for this sound and families accept them freely. Matching vowel length is relaxed in everyday practice.
Your family’s own practice takes precedence, and plenty of households ignore the letter rule completely. Abroad, Rishi, Riya and Rani are easy to pronounce, while Ritvik and Rajeshwari may need a gentle introduction. Meaning matters more than the letter: Chitra is a star of beauty and craft, so a name you find beautiful is a fitting choice.
About Chitra
Chitra means bright, brilliant or wonderful. Its symbol is a shining jewel or pearl, and it is ruled by Mars with Tvashtar, the divine craftsman, as its deity. The great star Spica, in Virgo, marks the nakshatra. Traditionally Chitra is linked with design, artistry, a love of beauty and a drive to build something worth looking at, as themes to reflect on rather than predictions.
Our article on Moon in Chitra nakshatra covers the padas, mythology and navamsa signs.
Frequently asked questions
↳ What are the letters for Chitra nakshatra?
The four syllables are Pe, Po, Ra and Ri, one for each pada. Pe and Po rarely start a name, while Ra and Ri have many.
↳ Which letter for Chitra nakshatra pada 3?
Pada 3 gives the syllable Ra (रा), covering 0° 00′ to 3° 20′ of Libra. Names such as Rahul, Raghav, Radha and Rashmi begin with this sound.
↳ Which rashi is Chitra?
Chitra spans two signs: padas 1 and 2 lie in Kanya (Virgo), padas 3 and 4 in Tula (Libra). The Moon in Chitra is therefore a Virgo or a Libra Moon, depending on the pada.
↳ 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 the meaning of the name alone.