Jyeshtha is the eighteenth of the 27 nakshatras, the lunar mansions of Vedic astrology. It covers 16° 40′ to 30° 00′ Scorpio in the sidereal zodiac, is ruled by Mercury and is presided over by Indra, king of the gods. Jyeshtha has four padas of 3° 20′, with the syllables No, Ya, Yi and Yu in that order.
By the Avakahada chakra, the first sound of the name comes from the pada that held the Moon at the moment of birth. To learn the pada and syllable for your child, the free nakshatra calculator needs only the date, time and place of birth. You can browse every star on the baby names by nakshatra page, or step to Anuradha and Moola.
The four syllables of Jyeshtha
| Pada | Syllable | Devanagari | Moon sign | Span |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | No | नो | Vrishchika (Scorpio) | 16° 40′ to 20° 00′ Scorpio |
| 2 | Ya | या | Vrishchika (Scorpio) | 20° 00′ to 23° 20′ Scorpio |
| 3 | Yi | यी | Vrishchika (Scorpio) | 23° 20′ to 26° 40′ Scorpio |
| 4 | Yu | यू | Vrishchika (Scorpio) | 26° 40′ to 30° 00′ Scorpio |
No (नो) and Yi (यी) are uncommon starting sounds for names, so most families rely on Ya and Yu or the nearest sound.
Boy names
Names starting with No (नो)
Genuine names starting with No (नो) are rare, so none are listed here. Families usually take the nearest sound.
Names starting with Ya (या)
| Name | Meaning |
|---|---|
| Yash | fame, glory |
| Yashwant | famous |
| Yatin | ascetic, self-controlled |
| Yatharth | reality, truth |
| Yadav | descendant of Yadu |
| Yadunath | lord of the Yadus; a name of Krishna |
| Yajat | one who worships |
| Yagnesh | lord of sacrifice |
| Yashraj | king of fame |
| Yatish | lord of ascetics |
Names starting with Yi (यी)
Genuine names starting with Yi (यी) are rare, so none are listed here. Families usually take the nearest sound.
Names starting with Yu (यू)
| Name | Meaning |
|---|---|
| Yuvraj | crown prince |
| Yug | an age, an era |
| Yuvan | young |
| Yudhishthir | steadfast in battle; the eldest Pandava |
Girl names
Names starting with No (नो)
Genuine names starting with No (नो) are rare, so none are listed here. Families usually take the nearest sound.
Names starting with Ya (या)
| Name | Meaning |
|---|---|
| Yamini | night |
| Yashoda | bringer of glory; Krishna’s foster mother |
| Yashvi | successful, glorious |
| Yamuna | the sacred river |
| Yami | twin of Yama; a name of the Yamuna |
| Yashika | success |
| Yashasvini | famous, glorious |
Names starting with Yi (यी)
Genuine names starting with Yi (यी) are rare, so none are listed here. Families usually take the nearest sound.
Names starting with Yu (यू)
| Name | Meaning |
|---|---|
| Yuvika | young girl |
| Yukti | skill, ingenuity |
| Yuthika | jasmine |
Choosing the name
Jyeshtha asks for a little honesty about two of its syllables. No (नो) and Yi (यी) are uncommon openings, and this page lists none under them rather than inventing entries. The Ya and Yu sounds, on the other hand, carry a good number of genuine names, from Yash and Yatin to Yamini and Yukti.
If your child’s Moon was in pada 1, families often use the nearest sound, such as an N name from Anuradha, or a Ya name from the next pada. For pada 3, Ya or Yu names are the usual substitutes. All four padas of Jyeshtha lie in Vrishchika (Scorpio), so the rashi chart (To, Na, Ni, Nu, Ne, No, Ya, Yi, Yu) offers the same letters and a wider range of N names too.
What your family has always done matters most, and many families set the letter rule aside altogether. Abroad, Yash and Yamini are simple to read; Yudhishthir and Yagnesh may be shortened. Note that the Y in these names is sounded as in yes, which most English speakers manage easily. Meaning matters more than the letter.
About Jyeshtha
Jyeshtha means the eldest, the foremost. Its symbol is a circular amulet or earring, sometimes shown as an umbrella, an emblem of rank and protection. It is ruled by Mercury, with Indra, king of the gods, as its deity. Traditionally the star is linked with authority, responsibility, protectiveness and a sense of being the one others look to, along with the weight that can come with it. These are themes to reflect on, not outcomes.
Our article on Moon in Jyeshtha nakshatra goes into the padas, mythology and navamsa signs in more depth.
Frequently asked questions
↳ What are the letters for Jyeshtha nakshatra?
The four syllables are No, Ya, Yi and Yu, one for each pada. All four lie in Vrishchika (Scorpio).
↳ Which letter for Jyeshtha nakshatra pada 2?
Pada 2 gives the syllable Ya (या), covering 20° 00′ to 23° 20′ of Scorpio. Names such as Yash, Yatin, Yamini and Yashika begin with this sound.
↳ Why are there no names listed for No and Yi?
Names beginning with No (नो) and Yi (यी) are rare, and we only list names that are genuinely given with a clear meaning. Families usually use the nearest sound instead.
↳ 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.