Shatabhisha is the twenty-fourth of the 27 nakshatras, the lunar mansions of Vedic astrology. It spans 6° 40′ to 20° 00′ Aquarius, is ruled by Rahu and is presided over by Varuna, lord of the cosmic waters. Its symbol is an empty circle, and the name means “a hundred healers”.
Shatabhisha follows the usual rule of Hindu naming tradition: the quarter of the star in which the Moon stood at birth gives the baby’s first sound, as set out in the Avakahada chakra. Shatabhisha has four padas, with the syllables Go, Sa, Si and Su. Those who have not yet found the pada can use the free nakshatra calculator, which gives it and the syllable from the birth date, time and place.
The four syllables of Shatabhisha
| Pada | Syllable | Devanagari | Moon sign | Span |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Go | गो | Kumbha (Aquarius) | 6° 40′ to 10° 00′ Aquarius |
| 2 | Sa | सा | Kumbha (Aquarius) | 10° 00′ to 13° 20′ Aquarius |
| 3 | Si | सी | Kumbha (Aquarius) | 13° 20′ to 16° 40′ Aquarius |
| 4 | Su | सू | Kumbha (Aquarius) | 16° 40′ to 20° 00′ Aquarius |
Note: The sounds here are the dental or plain S (स), the sibilant used in Sanskrit words such as Sagar and Suresh. Names that begin with the palatal sha (श), such as Shiv or Shanti, belong to different letters and are not part of this pada.
Boy names
Names starting with Go (गो)
| Name | Meaning |
|---|---|
| Gopal | protector of cows, a name of Krishna |
| Govind | finder of cows, a name of Krishna |
| Gokul | the village of Krishna’s childhood |
| Gopinath | lord of the gopis, a name of Krishna |
| Gopesh | lord of the cowherds, a name of Krishna |
| Govardhan | the hill that Krishna lifted |
| Gopikrishna | Krishna of the gopis |
| Gopichand | moon among the gopis |
Names starting with Sa (सा)
| Name | Meaning |
|---|---|
| Sagar | ocean |
| Sanjay | victorious, the narrator of the Mahabharata |
| Sandeep | lamp, glowing |
| Sameer | breeze |
| Samarth | capable, powerful |
| Sarthak | meaningful |
| Sanket | sign, signal |
| Santosh | contentment |
| Sanjeev | reviving, life-giving |
| Samar | battle |
| Sarvesh | lord of all |
| Satya | truth |
Names starting with Si (सी)
| Name | Meaning |
|---|---|
| Siddharth | one who has achieved the goal, the name of the Buddha before awakening |
| Siddhant | principle, doctrine |
| Siddhesh | lord of the siddhas |
| Sitaram | Sita and Rama together |
| Sitanshu | the moon, white-rayed |
Names starting with Su (सू)
| Name | Meaning |
|---|---|
| Suresh | lord of the gods |
| Sunil | dark blue |
| Sumit | good friend |
| Sudhir | wise, steady |
| Sudarshan | beautiful to see, Vishnu’s discus |
| Subhash | eloquent, well spoken |
| Sukumar | tender, delicate |
| Suraj | the sun |
| Surya | the sun |
| Sundar | beautiful |
| Sujay | good victory |
| Suhas | pleasant smile |
Girl names
Names starting with Go (गो)
| Name | Meaning |
|---|---|
| Gopika | a cowherd girl, a devotee of Krishna |
| Gomti | the river Gomti |
| Godavari | the river Godavari |
| Gopi | a cowherd girl |
| Gopa | a name of the Buddha’s wife |
Names starting with Sa (सा)
| Name | Meaning |
|---|---|
| Sarita | river |
| Saanvi | a name of Lakshmi |
| Sakshi | witness |
| Samiksha | careful review, insight |
| Sandhya | twilight, evening prayer |
| Sarika | the myna bird |
| Savita | the sun, one who inspires |
| Sarla | simple, straightforward |
| Sampada | wealth |
| Samruddhi | prosperity |
| Sadhana | devoted practice |
| Sarayu | the river Sarayu |
Names starting with Si (सी)
| Name | Meaning |
|---|---|
| Sita | the wife of Rama |
| Simran | remembrance, meditation |
| Siddhi | accomplishment, attainment |
| Sindhu | river, ocean |
| Siya | a short form of Sita |
| Seema | boundary, limit |
Names starting with Su (सू)
| Name | Meaning |
|---|---|
| Sunita | of good conduct |
| Sudha | nectar |
| Sujata | well born, of good nature |
| Sumitra | good friend, the mother of Lakshmana |
| Sukanya | good maiden |
| Suhana | pleasant, delightful |
| Sushma | beauty, radiance |
| Sulochana | beautiful-eyed |
| Supriya | dearly loved |
| Sunanda | joy |
| Surbhi | fragrance |
| Suman | good heart, flower |
Choosing the name
Your family’s tradition comes first. Some households follow the first-letter chart strictly, some use the rashi letter (Shatabhisha is entirely in Kumbha, so the Moon sign letter is the same for all four padas), and many choose by meaning. All of these are accepted ways to name a child.
Shatabhisha is generous. Sa and Su in particular carry some of the most common names in India, so you have a huge field and can afford to choose slowly. Go offers many names linked to Krishna, and Si has a smaller but good list. Because so many children share these names, you may want a less common choice within the letter, or a name with a second element, such as Sarthak or Samiksha.
Be careful with the sibilants. In Devanagari, S (स) and Sh (श or ष) are different letters, and Shatabhisha uses S. If the strict letter matters in your family, avoid names such as Shreya or Shivam for this star.
For families abroad, S names are easy in almost any language. Saanvi, Sarayu and Sakshi are pronounced the same way everywhere. Sanjay can be spelt Sanjai, and Siddharth with or without the second h, so choose one spelling and keep it on every document. A name with a clear meaning will serve your child well wherever you live.
About Shatabhisha
Shatabhisha means “a hundred healers” or “a hundred physicians”. Its symbol is an empty circle, standing for open space and the void, and its deity is Varuna, the keeper of cosmic order and the waters. The ruler is Rahu. People with a Shatabhisha Moon are traditionally described as private, independent, curious and drawn to research, healing and unconventional paths. These are tendencies for reflection and not predictions for any individual baby. For a deeper reading, see Moon in Shatabhisha nakshatra.
Browse the previous star, Dhanishta nakshatra names, then Purva Bhadrapada nakshatra names, or return to all nakshatra baby names. Our page on the Moon signs explains how the Moon’s sign shapes a chart.
Frequently asked questions
↳ What are the letters for Shatabhisha nakshatra?
The four syllables of Shatabhisha are Go, Sa, Si and Su, one for each pada. The quarter of Shatabhisha holding the Moon at the moment of birth chooses one sound from Go, Sa, Si or Su.
↳ Which letter for Shatabhisha nakshatra pada 2?
Pada 2 of Shatabhisha gives the syllable Sa (सा), so the name begins with Sa, as in Sagar, Sarita or Saanvi. The Moon is in Kumbha (Aquarius) from 10° 00′ to 13° 20′ for this pada.
↳ Can a Shatabhisha name begin with Sh?
In the traditional chart the syllables are Go, Sa, Si and Su, using the plain S (स). Names beginning with Sh (श) are a different letter, so families who follow the rule strictly choose S names.
↳ Can I choose a name outside these letters?
Yes. The first-letter rule is a tradition, not a requirement. A name you love, with a meaning you can share, will serve your child better than one chosen only to fit Go, Sa, Si or Su.