Pushya is the eighth of the 27 nakshatras, the lunar mansions of the Vedic zodiac. It spans 3° 20′ to 16° 40′ Cancer, its ruling planet is Saturn, and its deity is Brihaspati. Pushya takes 13° 20′ of Cancer, divided into four padas of 3° 20′ with one syllable each.
The pada the Moon was in when the baby arrived gives the opening sound, according to the Avakahada chakra of Hindu naming tradition. A baby born with the Moon in Pushya pada 1 takes Hu, pada 2 takes He, pada 3 takes Ho and pada 4 takes Da. Without the pada to hand, the free nakshatra calculator will give it, plus the syllable, from the date, time and place of birth. Browsing the rest of the nakshatras starts from the baby names hub.
The four syllables of Pushya
| Pada | Syllable | Devanagari | Moon sign | Span |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Hu | हू | Karka (Cancer) | 3° 20′ to 6° 40′ Cancer |
| 2 | He | हे | Karka (Cancer) | 6° 40′ to 10° 00′ Cancer |
| 3 | Ho | हो | Karka (Cancer) | 10° 00′ to 13° 20′ Cancer |
| 4 | Da | डा | Karka (Cancer) | 13° 20′ to 16° 40′ Cancer |
Boy names
Names starting with Hu (हू)
Names beginning with Hu are rare, and none are listed here. Families usually choose the nearest sound, Ha or Hi.
No widely used boy names are listed for this sound.
Names starting with He (हे)
| Name | Meaning |
|---|---|
| Hemant | winter season |
| Hemang | golden-bodied |
| Hemchandra | golden moon |
| Hemraj | king of gold |
| Heramb | a name of Ganesha |
Names starting with Ho (हो)
Names beginning with Ho are rare, and none are listed here. Families usually choose the nearest sound, Ha or He.
No widely used boy names are listed for this sound.
Names starting with Da (डा)
The retroflex ड rarely starts a name, and Pushya’s pada 4 is no exception. The Da names below use the dental द, the closest sound, which many families accept.
| Name | Meaning |
|---|---|
| Daksh | skilled, capable |
| Darshan | sight, vision |
| Damodar | a name of Krishna |
| Dayanand | bliss of compassion |
| Dayal | merciful |
| Dattatreya | the sage-deity, son of Atri |
| Dasharath | Rama’s father |
Girl names
Names starting with Hu (हू)
No widely used girl names are listed for this sound.
Names starting with He (हे)
| Name | Meaning |
|---|---|
| Hema | golden |
| Hemlata | golden creeper |
| Hemangi | golden-bodied |
| Hemali | golden |
| Hemamalini | golden garland |
Names starting with Ho (हो)
No widely used girl names are listed for this sound.
Names starting with Da (डा)
| Name | Meaning |
|---|---|
| Damini | lightning |
| Daya | compassion |
| Darshana | sight, vision |
| Damayanti | the princess of the Nala story |
| Dakshayani | daughter of Daksha, a name of Sati |
Choosing the name
Pushya has a harder naming table than it first looks. Hu and Ho have almost no names, and Da is the retroflex ड, which few names use, so families with a pada 1, 3 or 4 baby often use the nearest sound. He is the clearest pada, with Hemant and Hema. The Da names listed use the dental द, and families with a pada 4 baby commonly choose names such as Darshan or Damini. Do not feel bound to the retroflex. Pushya is also considered an auspicious nakshatra in the tradition, so choose a name that feels right to you.
Begin with the way your own family does things. Some follow the pada syllable (Hu, He, Ho or Da) strictly, some use the rashi first-letter chart (our name rashi calculator shows it, and this nakshatra falls in the Cancer Moon sign), and many use no letter rule at all, and that is quite acceptable. Think about spelling abroad, and say the name aloud with the surname. Meaning counts for more than the letter, so keep a name whose meaning you would gladly explain to your child.
About Pushya
Pushya is the eighth nakshatra, symbolised by a cow’s udder, with Brihaspati, the teacher of the gods, as its deity. Saturn rules it, and the tradition regards it as one of the most nourishing and auspicious nakshatras, linked with care, discipline, learning and generosity. The whole nakshatra lies in Cancer. For the full picture read our article on Moon in Pushya nakshatra.
Browse every star on the baby names hub, or move to the previous nakshatra, Punarvasu or next nakshatra, Ashlesha.
Frequently asked questions
↳ What are the letters for Pushya nakshatra?
The four syllables for Pushya nakshatra are Hu, He, Ho and Da, one for each pada. Traditionally the name begins with the sound of the Pushya pada the Moon held at birth: Hu, He, Ho or Da.
↳ Which letter for Pushya nakshatra pada 4?
Pushya pada 4 gives the syllable Da (डा). The Moon is in Karka (Cancer) for that pada, at 13° 20′ to 16° 40′ Cancer.
↳ 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 Pushya. It shows the pada as well, and so which of Hu, He, Ho or Da is the traditional first sound. Use the most accurate birth time you have, because the Moon crosses each quarter of Pushya in roughly six hours.
↳ Can I choose a name outside these letters?
Yes. Outside the Pushya syllables, families also use the rashi letter chart, a grandparent's choice or no letter rule at all. Many parents honour the Pushya sounds and many do not; both are accepted, and the meaning counts most.