Swati is the fifteenth of the 27 nakshatras, the lunar mansions of Vedic astrology. It covers 6° 40′ to 20° 00′ Libra in the sidereal zodiac, is ruled by Rahu and is presided over by Vayu, the god of the wind. Swati is split into four padas of 3° 20′, giving Ru, Re, Ro and Taa.
The Avakahada chakra works from the Moon’s pada at birth, and that pada decides how the name begins. Your child’s pada and syllable come from the birth date, time and place, which the free nakshatra calculator turns into an answer. You can browse every star on the baby names by nakshatra page, or step to Chitra and Vishakha.
The four syllables of Swati
| Pada | Syllable | Devanagari | Moon sign | Span |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Ru | रू | Tula (Libra) | 6° 40′ to 10° 00′ Libra |
| 2 | Re | रे | Tula (Libra) | 10° 00′ to 13° 20′ Libra |
| 3 | Ro | रो | Tula (Libra) | 13° 20′ to 16° 40′ Libra |
| 4 | Taa | ता | Tula (Libra) | 16° 40′ to 20° 00′ Libra |
The fourth syllable is the dental ता (Taa).
Boy names
Names starting with Ru (रू)
| Name | Meaning |
|---|---|
| Rudra | a name of Shiva; the fierce one |
| Rudransh | part of Rudra |
| Rudraksh | eye of Rudra; the sacred rudraksha bead |
| Ruchir | pleasant, beautiful |
| Rupesh | lord of beauty |
| Rupam | beautiful form |
Names starting with Re (रे)
| Name | Meaning |
|---|---|
| Revant | a son of the Sun; shining |
| Reyansh | a ray of light |
Names starting with Ro (रो)
| Name | Meaning |
|---|---|
| Rohan | ascending |
| Rohit | red; rising |
| Roshan | bright, shining |
| Rochak | interesting, pleasing |
Names starting with Taa (ता)
| Name | Meaning |
|---|---|
| Tanay | son |
| Tanmay | absorbed, engrossed |
| Tarun | young |
| Tapan | the sun |
| Tarak | star |
| Tanuj | son |
| Tapas | spiritual discipline |
| Tarang | wave |
Girl names
Names starting with Ru (रू)
| Name | Meaning |
|---|---|
| Ruchi | taste, liking; radiance |
| Ruchika | pleasing, shining |
| Rupali | beautiful |
| Rukmini | adorned with gold; Krishna’s wife |
| Rupa | beauty, form |
| Rupal | silver, beautiful |
| Rudrani | Parvati, consort of Rudra |
| Ruhi | soul |
Names starting with Re (रे)
| Name | Meaning |
|---|---|
| Rekha | line, streak of light |
| Renu | particle of dust, atom |
| Renuka | mother of Parashurama; a speck of dust |
| Reva | a name of the Narmada river |
| Revati | a star; Balarama’s wife |
| Reshma | silk |
Names starting with Ro (रो)
| Name | Meaning |
|---|---|
| Rohini | the star Rohini; ascending |
| Roshni | light |
| Rochana | shining, luminous |
Names starting with Taa (ता)
| Name | Meaning |
|---|---|
| Tara | star |
| Tanvi | slender, delicate |
| Tanuja | daughter |
| Taruni | young woman |
| Tamanna | desire, wish |
| Tarini | saviour; a name of Durga |
| Tarika | star |
Choosing the name
Swati’s syllables are Ru, Re, Ro and Taa, and three of them sit in the R family, which is rich in names such as Rudra, Rohan and Ruchi. The Re sound is the narrowest: a few lovely names (Revant, Rekha, Renu, Reva) and not many more, and this page lists only the ones that are truly used. The fourth syllable, Taa, uses the dental त, so the names under it begin with the dental sound, unlike the retroflex of Purva Phalguni.
All four padas of Swati fall in Tula (Libra), so the rashi chart (Ra, Ri, Ru, Re, Ro, Ta, Ti, Tu, Te) overlaps strongly. Families who follow the chart may choose from any of these letters. Vowel length is relaxed in practice, so Ruchi, Rohan and Tapan are widely accepted for their sounds.
Family custom comes first, and many families use no letter rule. Abroad, think about how the name is read: Roshni and Tara are simple, while Rudransh may be shortened. Meaning matters more than the letter. Swati means independent, so a name that speaks of freedom or light suits it well.
About Swati
Swati means the self-going one, the independent. Its symbol is a young shoot or reed swaying in the wind, and Vayu, the wind itself, presides over it, with Rahu as its ruler. Traditionally Swati is linked with independence, flexibility, trade, diplomacy and an ability to bend without breaking. These are themes to reflect on, not predictions.
Our article on Moon in Swati nakshatra goes through the padas, mythology and navamsa signs.
Frequently asked questions
↳ What are the letters for Swati nakshatra?
The four syllables are Ru, Re, Ro and Taa, one for each pada. The fourth is the dental ता.
↳ Which letter for Swati nakshatra pada 4?
Pada 4 gives the syllable Taa (ता), covering 16° 40′ to 20° 00′ of Libra. Names such as Tanay, Tanmay, Tarun and Tara begin with this sound.
↳ Why are there few names for Re?
Re is a less common starting sound, and only a handful of genuine names begin with it, such as Revant, Rekha and Reva. Families often choose Ru or Ro names from the same star instead.
↳ Can I choose a name outside these letters?
Yes. The syllable is a tradition and not a rule. Because Swati falls entirely in Libra, many families use the rashi chart or a family custom instead.