Krittika is the third of the 27 nakshatras, the lunar mansions of the Vedic zodiac. It spans 26° 40′ Aries to 10° 00′ Taurus, its ruling planet is Sun, and its deity is Agni. Krittika’s 13° 20′ breaks into four padas of 3° 20′, and the four vowel syllables below follow in order.
Under the Avakahada chakra of Hindu naming tradition, the Moon’s pada at birth determines the baby’s first sound. A baby born with the Moon in Krittika pada 1 takes A, pada 2 takes I, pada 3 takes U and pada 4 takes E. If you cannot tell which pada applies, the free nakshatra calculator returns it with the syllable once you give it the birth date, time and place. You will find the rest of the stars on the baby names hub.
The four syllables of Krittika
| Pada | Syllable | Devanagari | Moon sign | Span |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | A | अ | Mesha (Aries) | 26° 40′ to 30° 00′ Aries |
| 2 | I | ई | Vrishabha (Taurus) | 0° 00′ to 3° 20′ Taurus |
| 3 | U | उ | Vrishabha (Taurus) | 3° 20′ to 6° 40′ Taurus |
| 4 | E | ए | Vrishabha (Taurus) | 6° 40′ to 10° 00′ Taurus |
Boy names
Names starting with A (अ)
| Name | Meaning |
|---|---|
| Arjun | bright, shining |
| Aditya | the sun |
| Abhay | fearless |
| Akash | sky |
| Amit | limitless |
| Anand | bliss |
| Arun | reddish dawn |
| Ajay | unconquered |
| Arnav | ocean |
| Anirudh | unobstructed |
| Abhinav | new, fresh |
| Amar | immortal |
Names starting with I (ई)
Strictly, this sound is the long vowel ई, and few names begin with it. The names below begin with ईश (Isha, Ishan, Ishwar). Names with a short इ, such as Ishita or Indira, are treated as the same sound by many families.
| Name | Meaning |
|---|---|
| Ishwar | lord, God |
| Ishan | lord, a name of Shiva |
Names starting with U (उ)
| Name | Meaning |
|---|---|
| Uday | rising, sunrise |
| Udit | risen, shining |
| Umesh | lord of Uma, a name of Shiva |
| Upendra | a name of Vishnu |
| Utkarsh | excellence, progress |
| Uttam | best, excellent |
| Ujjwal | bright, radiant |
| Umang | joy, enthusiasm |
| Utsav | festival, celebration |
| Uddhav | Krishna’s friend and counsellor |
Names starting with E (ए)
| Name | Meaning |
|---|---|
| Eklavya | the devoted archer of the Mahabharata |
| Ekansh | one whole, unity |
| Ekagra | single-pointed focus |
| Ekam | one, unity |
Girl names
Names starting with A (अ)
| Name | Meaning |
|---|---|
| Aditi | boundless, free |
| Anjali | offering with folded hands |
| Ananya | unique, without another |
| Aparna | a name of Parvati |
| Archana | worship, offering |
| Amrita | nectar of immortality |
| Asha | hope |
| Avani | the earth |
| Akanksha | aspiration, wish |
| Arpita | offered, dedicated |
| Ambika | mother, a name of Durga |
Names starting with I (ई)
| Name | Meaning |
|---|---|
| Isha | goddess, ruler |
| Ishani | a name of Parvati |
| Ishwari | goddess |
Names starting with U (उ)
| Name | Meaning |
|---|---|
| Uma | a name of Parvati |
| Usha | dawn |
| Urvashi | a celestial nymph |
| Upasana | worship, devotion |
| Ujjwala | bright, radiant |
| Urmila | Sita’s sister |
| Utpala | blue lotus |
| Uttara | northern, Abhimanyu’s wife |
| Urja | energy |
| Udita | risen, grown |
| Unnati | progress |
Names starting with E (ए)
| Name | Meaning |
|---|---|
| Ekta | unity |
| Ekanshi | one whole |
| Ekavali | a single-strand necklace |
| Ela | cardamom |
Choosing the name
Krittika uses vowels as its syllables, which gives a wide choice for A and U and a narrower one for I and E. A strict reading of the table gives a long ई for pada 2, which few names use. If your baby is in pada 2, many families choose a name beginning with the short I, such as Ishita or Indira, and that is a common practice. For pada 1, pick the names you love, such as Arjun or Aditi, from the lists above. Since Krittika spans Aries and Taurus, pada 1 is a Mesha Moon and padas 2 to 4 are Vrishabha.
Start with what your family does. Some follow the pada syllable (A, I, U or E) strictly, some turn to the rashi first-letter chart, which our name rashi calculator shows and which here spans the Aries Moon sign and the Taurus Moon sign, and many apply no letter rule, which is perfectly fine. Vowel names are short, but say the name aloud with the surname before you decide, and check the spelling for wherever your child will live. Prefer a name whose meaning you could happily explain to your child over one that only fits the letter.
About Krittika
Krittika is the third nakshatra, symbolised by a razor or flame, and its deity is Agni, the fire. The Sun rules it, and the tradition links it with clarity, purification, determination and a sharp, honest mind. It stretches from the end of Aries into Taurus, so its padas straddle two Moon signs. Our article on Moon in Krittika nakshatra covers this in depth.
Browse every star on the baby names hub, or move to the previous nakshatra, Bharani or next nakshatra, Rohini.
Frequently asked questions
↳ What are the letters for Krittika nakshatra?
The four syllables for Krittika nakshatra are A, I, U and E, one for each pada. The custom is to begin the name with the syllable of the Moon's pada in Krittika.
↳ Which letter for Krittika nakshatra pada 2?
Krittika pada 2 gives the syllable I (ई). The Moon is in Vrishabha (Taurus) for that pada, at 0° 00′ to 3° 20′ Taurus.
↳ 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 Krittika. Along with the nakshatra it gives the pada, which picks one syllable out of A, I, U or E. A precise time helps, since each pada of Krittika lasts only about six hours of the Moon's journey.
↳ Can I choose a name outside these letters?
Yes. Not every family follows the Krittika sounds: the rashi letter chart and family names are common alternatives. The Krittika syllables are a custom, not a rule, so let your family's wishes and the meaning guide you.