Uttara Phalguni is the twelfth of the 27 nakshatras, the lunar mansions of Vedic astrology. It covers 26° 40′ Leo to 10° 00′ Virgo in the sidereal zodiac, is ruled by the Sun and is presided over by Aryaman, the Vedic god of friendship, hospitality and agreements. Uttara Phalguni is made of four padas of 3° 20′, and the syllables are Te, To, Pa and Pi.
According to the Avakahada chakra, the name begins with the sound of the pada in which the Moon stood at birth. Check the pada with the free nakshatra calculator by entering the birth date, time and place, and it will name the syllable. You can browse every star on the baby names by nakshatra page, or step to Purva Phalguni and Hasta.
The four syllables of Uttara Phalguni
| Pada | Syllable | Devanagari | Moon sign | Span |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Te | टे | Simha (Leo) | 26° 40′ to 30° 00′ Leo |
| 2 | To | टो | Kanya (Virgo) | 0° 00′ to 3° 20′ Virgo |
| 3 | Pa | पा | Kanya (Virgo) | 3° 20′ to 6° 40′ Virgo |
| 4 | Pi | पी | Kanya (Virgo) | 6° 40′ to 10° 00′ Virgo |
Te and To here are the retroflex ट, which very few names begin with.
Boy names
Names starting with Te (टे)
Names starting with the retroflex Te (टे) are rare, so none are listed here. Families usually take the nearest sound.
Names starting with To (टो)
Names starting with the retroflex To (टो) are rare, so none are listed here. Families usually take the nearest sound.
Names starting with Pa (पा)
| Name | Meaning |
|---|---|
| Parth | son of Pritha; a name of Arjuna |
| Pavan | wind |
| Pankaj | lotus |
| Paras | touchstone, the philosopher’s stone |
| Pallav | new leaf, sprout |
| Palash | the flame-of-the-forest tree |
| Param | supreme |
| Parag | pollen |
| Parimal | fragrance |
| Paritosh | deep satisfaction |
Names starting with Pi (पी)
| Name | Meaning |
|---|---|
| Piyush | nectar |
| Pinaki | a name of Shiva, bearer of the Pinaka bow |
| Pinak | the bow of Shiva |
| Pitambar | clothed in yellow; a name of Vishnu and Krishna |
Girl names
Names starting with Te (टे)
Names starting with the retroflex Te (टे) are rare, so none are listed here. Families usually take the nearest sound.
Names starting with To (टो)
Names starting with the retroflex To (टो) are rare, so none are listed here. Families usually take the nearest sound.
Names starting with Pa (पा)
| Name | Meaning |
|---|---|
| Padma | lotus |
| Padmini | lotus-like; a lotus pond |
| Pallavi | sprouting leaves; also the opening line of a song |
| Pavani | purifying, pure |
| Parvati | daughter of the mountain; the goddess |
| Pari | fairy |
| Payal | anklet |
| Pavitra | pure, sacred |
| Pankhuri | flower petal |
Names starting with Pi (पी)
| Name | Meaning |
|---|---|
| Pihu | beloved; the call of the peacock |
| Piya | beloved |
Choosing the name
Uttara Phalguni asks a little more thought than most stars, because its first two syllables, Te and To, are the retroflex ट sounds that very few names begin with. Padas 3 and 4 are easy: Pa and Pi open a wide choice, from Parth and Pankaj to Padma and Pallavi.
If the Moon was in pada 1 or 2, many families look to the nearest sound. Some use dental-sound names such as Tej (brilliance), which strictly begin with त, and others turn to Pa and Pi names from the same star. Uttara Phalguni also crosses a sign boundary, so pada 1 sits in Simha (Leo) and the rest in Kanya (Virgo). Families who follow the rashi chart will therefore see different letters for the first pada than for the others.
Whatever the route, your own family custom comes first, and some families use no letter rule at all. Abroad, Pavan and Piya are easy to pronounce, while Pallavi may need a little guidance with the double l. Meaning matters more than the letter.
About Uttara Phalguni
Uttara Phalguni, the later of the two Phalguni stars, spans the end of Leo and the beginning of Virgo. Its symbol is the back legs of a marital bed, a picture of support, partnership and lasting commitment. The Sun rules it and Aryaman presides over it, the Vedic god linked with friendship, hospitality and honoured agreements. Traditionally the star is associated with reliability, generosity and a wish to be of service, as tendencies to reflect on rather than outcomes.
Read our article on Moon in Uttara Phalguni nakshatra for the padas and navamsa signs in more depth.
Frequently asked questions
↳ What are the letters for Uttara Phalguni nakshatra?
The four syllables are Te, To, Pa and Pi, one for each pada. Te and To are the retroflex ट sounds.
↳ Which letter for Uttara Phalguni nakshatra pada 3?
Pada 3 gives the syllable Pa (पा), covering 3° 20′ to 6° 40′ of Virgo. Names such as Parth, Pankaj, Padma and Pallavi begin with this sound.
↳ Which rashi is Uttara Phalguni?
It spans two signs: pada 1 lies in Simha (Leo), while padas 2, 3 and 4 lie in Kanya (Virgo). A Moon in Uttara Phalguni is therefore either a Leo or a Virgo Moon, depending on the pada.
↳ Can I choose a name outside these letters?
Yes. The syllable is a tradition and not a rule. Many families follow the rashi chart or a family custom, or choose the name for its meaning.