Uttara Ashadha is the twenty-first of the 27 nakshatras, the lunar mansions of Vedic astrology. It spans 26° 40′ Sagittarius to 10° 00′ Capricorn, is ruled by the Sun and is presided over by the Vishvedevas, the universal gods. Its symbols are the planks of a bed and an elephant’s tusk, and the name means “the later unvanquished one”.
Hindu naming tradition reads the first sound of a baby’s name from the pada, or quarter, that the Moon occupied at birth, using the Avakahada chakra. Uttara Ashadha has four padas, with the syllables Bhe, Bho, Ja and Ji. If the pada is still unknown, the free nakshatra calculator will supply it, along with the syllable, from the date, time and place of birth.
The four syllables of Uttara Ashadha
| Pada | Syllable | Devanagari | Moon sign | Span |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Bhe | भे | Dhanu (Sagittarius) | 26° 40′ to 30° 00′ Sagittarius |
| 2 | Bho | भो | Makara (Capricorn) | 0° 00′ to 3° 20′ Capricorn |
| 3 | Ja | जा | Makara (Capricorn) | 3° 20′ to 6° 40′ Capricorn |
| 4 | Ji | जी | Makara (Capricorn) | 6° 40′ to 10° 00′ Capricorn |
Note: Pada 1 is Bhe, a rare sound, so a baby born in the first pada usually receives a name from the nearest sound. Pada 2 is Bho, which also has few names. The richest lists are Ja and Ji.
Boy names
Names starting with Bhe (भे)
Bhe is a rare sound at the start of a name. No established boys’ names begin with it, so none is listed.
Names starting with Bho (भो)
| Name | Meaning |
|---|---|
| Bhola | innocent, simple, a name of Shiva |
| Bholenath | the innocent lord, a name of Shiva |
| Bhoj | a famous king of Malwa |
Names beginning with Bho are few.
Names starting with Ja (जा)
| Name | Meaning |
|---|---|
| Jai | victory |
| Jayesh | lord of victory |
| Jayant | victorious |
| Jagdish | lord of the universe |
| Jatin | ascetic |
| Janak | father, the king of Mithila |
| Jaydev | lord of victory, also a medieval poet |
| Jagannath | lord of the universe |
| Jaswant | famous, glorious |
| Jaideep | lamp of victory |
| Janardan | a name of Vishnu |
| Jalaj | lotus, born of water |
Names starting with Ji (जी)
| Name | Meaning |
|---|---|
| Jishnu | victorious, a name of Vishnu and Arjuna |
| Jitendra | conqueror of the senses |
| Jitesh | lord of victory |
| Jivan | life |
Girl names
Names starting with Bhe (भे)
No established girls’ names begin with Bhe either. Families usually choose the nearest sound, Bha, and pick a name from that list.
Names starting with Bho (भो)
No established girls’ names begin with Bho. Families usually choose the nearest sound, Bhu or Bha.
Names starting with Ja (जा)
| Name | Meaning |
|---|---|
| Jaya | victory |
| Janaki | daughter of Janak, a name of Sita |
| Jahnavi | a name of the river Ganga |
| Jagriti | awakening |
| Jayshree | goddess of victory |
| Jayanti | victorious |
| Jamuna | the river Yamuna |
| Janani | mother |
| Jayalakshmi | Lakshmi as goddess of victory |
| Jalaja | lotus |
Names starting with Ji (जी)
| Name | Meaning |
|---|---|
| Jigisha | desire to win, ambition |
| Jigyasa | curiosity, the wish to know |
| Jiya | heart, life |
| Jivika | life, livelihood |
Choosing the name
First, your family’s own tradition. Some families use the first-letter chart, some use the rashi letter (the Moon sign for pada 1 is Dhanu and for padas 2 to 4 is Makara, each with its own chart), and many choose by meaning and are comfortable with that. Each is a respectable way to name a child.
Uttara Ashadha is the nakshatra where the letter list is least even. Ja and Ji are generous and full of strong, familiar names, many of them meaning victory, which suits the star. Bho has only a few names, and Bhe has none that families regularly use. If your baby falls in pada 1 or 2, it is entirely normal to use the nearest sound, Bha or Bhu, and a priest or elder will usually be happy with that.
For families abroad, spelling matters. Ja is straightforward, but Jai, Jay and Jaya are spelt in several ways, so choose one spelling and use it everywhere on documents. Jahnavi is often written Janhavi or Jahnavi and mispronounced as Jan-havi, so teach the soft h early.
Whatever you pick, let the meaning lead.
About Uttara Ashadha
Uttara Ashadha means “the later unvanquished one”, the second of the pair with Purva Ashadha. Its symbols are the planks of a bed, a place of rest after long effort, and an elephant’s tusk. The Vishvedevas, the universal gods, preside over it, and its ruler is the Sun. People with an Uttara Ashadha Moon are traditionally described as steady, principled and patient, building lasting things with quiet persistence. These are tendencies for reflection and do not decide any child’s path. To read more, see Moon in Uttara Ashadha nakshatra.
Browse the previous star, Purva Ashadha nakshatra names, then Shravana nakshatra names, or return to all nakshatra baby names. Reading about the Moon signs shows how the Moon’s sign shapes a chart.
Frequently asked questions
↳ What are the letters for Uttara Ashadha nakshatra?
The four syllables of Uttara Ashadha are Bhe, Bho, Ja and Ji, one for each pada. The quarter of Uttara Ashadha holding the Moon at the moment of birth chooses one sound from Bhe, Bho, Ja or Ji.
↳ Which letter for Uttara Ashadha nakshatra pada 3?
Pada 3 of Uttara Ashadha gives the syllable Ja (जा), so the name begins with Ja, as in Jayesh, Jagdish or Jahnavi. The Moon is in Makara (Capricorn) from 3° 20′ to 6° 40′ for this pada.
↳ Which Moon sign is Uttara Ashadha?
Pada 1 lies in Dhanu (Sagittarius) and padas 2, 3 and 4 lie in Makara (Capricorn). So babies born under this nakshatra can have either a Sagittarius or a Capricorn Moon.
↳ 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 Bhe, Bho, Ja or Ji.