Moola Nakshatra Baby Names: Ye, Yo, Bha, Bhi

Moola is the nineteenth of the 27 nakshatras, the lunar mansions of Vedic astrology. It spans 0° 00′ to 13° 20′ Sagittarius, is ruled by Ketu and is presided over by Nirriti, the goddess of dissolution. Its symbol is a bunch of roots tied together, and the name means “the root”.

Hindu naming tradition uses a chart called the Avakahada chakra, which gives the baby’s first sound by the quarter of Moola the Moon occupied at birth. Moola has four padas, with the syllables Ye, Yo, Bha and Bhi. Birth date, time and place go into the free nakshatra calculator, and it returns the pada and syllable if they are still unknown.

The four syllables of Moola

Note: The first pada begins exactly where the zodiac passes from Scorpio into Sagittarius, a junction called gandanta. Many families take extra care in choosing a name for a Moola baby, and a priest may suggest a short ritual. That is a matter of family custom, not a reason for worry.

Boy names

Names starting with Ye (ये)

Names beginning with the sound Ye are few. Yeshwant is the one in regular use for boys.

Names starting with Yo (यो)

Names starting with Bha (भा)

Names starting with Bhi (भी)

Girl names

Names starting with Ye (ये)

Girls’ names beginning with Ye are very rare, and none is listed here. Families usually choose the nearest sound, Ya.

Names starting with Yo (यो)

Names starting with Bha (भा)

Names starting with Bhi (भी)

Names for girls beginning with Bhi are rare, and none is listed here. Families usually choose the nearest sound, Bha.

Choosing the name

Start with what your own family does. Some households follow the first-letter chart strictly, some use the rashi letter instead (the Moon sign, which for Moola is always Dhanu, with its own letter chart), and many choose a name for its meaning and treat the letter as a loving suggestion. All of these are accepted choices.

For Moola the two Y sounds are the narrow ones. Ye and Yo are specific sounds, and most Y names begin with Ya, so you may find that a name you love starts with Ya. Many families use it as the nearest sound. Bha has a long list of established names, while Bhi gives a few boys’ names, so a Bha baby has the widest choice.

For families abroad, think about how the name will be spelled and said where you live. Bh is a breathy sound that English speakers often flatten to B, and Bhanu, Bhaskar and Bhargav may be shortened at school. Yogesh and Yogita are generally easy to read. Say the name aloud with friends who do not speak Hindi before you decide, and keep the meaning at the centre. A name chosen for what it means will serve your child better than one chosen only for its first letter.

About Moola

Moola means “the root”. Its symbol is a bunch of roots tied together, and its deity Nirriti is the goddess of dissolution, who loosens what is bound so that something new can grow. The ruling planet is Ketu, the node of release and inwardness. People born under a Moola Moon are often described as searching, direct and unwilling to accept a surface answer, with a pull towards getting to the origin of things. As with every nakshatra these are tendencies for reflection, not fixed outcomes, and the rest of the birth chart shapes them. For the full picture, read Moon in Mula nakshatra.

Browse the previous star, Jyeshtha nakshatra names, then Purva Ashadha nakshatra names, or return to all nakshatra baby names. How the Moon’s sign colours a chart is explained in our guide to the Moon signs.

Frequently asked questions