Namkaran (nāmakaraṇa): what the Gṛhyasūtras say

When

Most often the 10th day (Śāṅkh, Pār, Āp; Manu 10th or 12th); Hir 12th; Gobh/Khād after 10 nights, 100 nights or a year; a secret name may be given at birth.

What the texts describe

• Śāṅkhāyana Gṛhyasūtra — ŚāṅkhGS 1.24.4–6

  4. pra te yacchāmi madhuman makhāya vedaṃ prasūtaṃ savitrā maghonāyuṣmān gupito devatābhiḥ śataṃ jīva śarado loke asminn ity asāv iti nāmāsya dadhāti ghoṣavadādy antarantasthaṃ dvyakṣaraṃ caturakṣaraṃ vāpi vā ṣaﾱakṣaraṃ kṛtaṃ kuryān na taddhitam | 5. tad asya pitā mātā ca vidyātām | 6. daśamyāṃ vyāvahārikaṃ brāhmaṇajuṣṭam

  4. With (the verse), 'I administer to thee honey food for the festival, the wisdom ("veda") raised by Savitar the bountiful; long-living, protected by the gods, live a hundred autumns in this world, N.N.!'(with these words) he gives him a name beginning with a sonant, with a semivowel in it, consisting of two syllables, or of four syllables, or also of six syllables; he should take a krit (suffix), not a taddhita. 5. That (name only) his father and his mother should know. 6. On the tenth day a name for common use, which is pleasing to the Brahmanas.

  Hermann Oldenberg, The Grihya-Sutras: Rules of Vedic Domestic Ceremonies, Part I, Sacred Books of the East 29 (1886), p. 50. Public domain.

• Śāṅkhāyana Gṛhyasūtra — ŚāṅkhGS 1.25.1,8–9

  1. daśarātre cotthānaṃ | 8. nāmadheyaṃ prakāśaṃ kṛtvā | 9. brāhmaṇān svasti vācya

  1. After ten days the getting up (of the mother from childbed). 8. Having pronounced aloud (the child's) name, 9. And caused the Brahmanas to say auspicious words,

  Hermann Oldenberg, The Grihya-Sutras: Rules of Vedic Domestic Ceremonies, Part I, Sacred Books of the East 29 (1886), p. 51–52. Public domain.

• Āśvalāyana Gṛhyasūtra — ĀśvGS 1.15.4–8

  6. nāma ca asmai dadyuḥ ghoṣavat ādi antar antastham abhiniṣṭāna antam dvi akṣaram catur akṣaram vā | 7. dvi akṣaram pratiṣṭhā kāmaḥ catur akṣaram brahmavarcasa kāmaḥ | 8. yugmāni tu eva puṃsām ayujāni strīṇām | 9. abhivādanīyam ca samīkṣeta | 10. tat mātā pitarau vidyātām ā upanayanāt

  4. And let them give him a name beginning with a sonant, with a semivowel in it, with the Visarga at its end, consisting of two syllables, 5. Or of four syllables; 6. Of two syllables, if he is desirous of firm position; of four syllables, if he is desirous of holy lustre; 7. But in every case with an even number (of syllables) for men, an uneven for women. 8. And let him also find out (for the child) a name to be used at respectful salutations (such as that due to the Akarya at the ceremony of the initiation); that his mother and his father (alone) should know till his initiation.

  Hermann Oldenberg, The Grihya-Sutras: Rules of Vedic Domestic Ceremonies, Part I, Sacred Books of the East 29 (1886), p. 182–183. Public domain.

• Pāraskara Gṛhyasūtra — PārGS 1.17.1–4

  1. daśamyām utthāpya brāhmaṇān bhojayitvā pitā nāma karoti | 2. dvyakṣaraṃ caturakṣaraṃ vā ghoṣavad ādyantarantasthaṃ dīrghābhiniṣṭhānaṃ kṛtaṃ kuryānna taddhitam | 3. ayujākṣaram ākārāntaṃ striyai taddhitam | 4. śarma brāhmaṇasya varma kṣatriyasya gupteti vaiśyasya

  1. On the tenth day (after the birth of the child) the father, having made (his wife) get up, and having fed the Brahmanas, gives a name (to the child), 2. Of two syllables, or of four syllables beginning with a sonant, with a semivowel in it, with a long vowel (or) the Visarga (at its end), with a Krit (suffix), not with a Taddhita; 3. With an uneven number of syllables, ending in a, with a Taddhita (suffix) to a girl. 4. (The name) of a Brahmana (should end in) sarman (for inst. Vishnusarman), that of a Kshatriya in varman (for inst. Lakshmivarman), that of a Vaisya in gupta (for inst. Kandragupta).

  Hermann Oldenberg, The Grihya-Sutras: Rules of Vedic Domestic Ceremonies, Part I, Sacred Books of the East 29 (1886), p. 297–298. Public domain.

• Gobhila Gṛhyasūtra — GobhGS 2.8.8–18

  8. jananād daśarātre vyuṣṭe śatarātre saṃvatsare vā nāmadheyakaraṇam | 9. atha yas tat kariṣyan bhavati paścād agner udagagreṣu darbheṣu prāṅ upaviśati | 10. atha mātā śucinā vasanena kumāram ācchādya dakṣiṇata udañcaṃ kartre prayacchaty udakśirasam | 11. anupṛṣṭham parikramyottarata upaviśaty udagagreṣv eva darbheṣu | 12. atha juhoti prajāpataye tithaye nakṣatrāya devatāyā iti | 13. tasya mukhyān prāṇān saṃmṛśan ko 'si katamo 'sīty etaṃ mantraṃ japati | 14. āhaspatyaṃ māsaṃ praviśāsāv ity ante ca mantrasya ghoṣavadādy antarantasthaṃ dīrghābhiniṣṭhānāntaṃ kṛtaṃ nāma dadhyāt | 15. etad ataddhitam | 16. ayug dāntaṃ strīṇām | 17. mātre caiva prathamaṃ nāmadheyam ākhyāya yathārtham | 18. gaur dakṣiṇā

  8. When ten nights have elapsed after (the child's) birth, or a hundred nights, or one year, the Namadheyakarana (or giving a name to the child, is performed). 9. He who is going to perform (that ceremony--the father or a representative of the father), sits down to the west of the fire on northward-pointed Darbha grass, facing the east. 10. Then the mother, having dressed the son in a clean garment, hands him, from south to north, with his face turned to the north, to the performer (of the ceremony). 11. She then passes behind his back and sits down to the north (of him), on northward-pointed Darbha grass. 12. He then sacrifices to Pragapati, to the Tithi (of the child's birth), to the Nakshatra (of the child's birth), and to the (presiding) deity (of that Tithi and of that Nakshatra). 13. He then murmurs the Mantra, 'Who art thou? What person art thou?' (MB. I, 5, 14. 15), touching the sense-organs at (the boy's) head. 14. In (the passage of the Mantra), 'Enter upon the month, that belongs to Ahaspati (i.e. the lord of days), N.N.!' and at the end of the Mantra he should give him a name beginning with a sonant, with a semivowel in it, with a long vowel or the Visarga at the end, (and formed with) a Krit (suffix). 15. It should not contain a Taddhita (suffix). 16. (He should give a name with) an odd (number of syllables), ending in -da, to girls. 17. And after he has told the name to the mother first, they may do what they like. 18. A cow constitutes the sacrificial fee.

  Hermann Oldenberg, The Grihya-Sutras: Rules of Vedic Domestic Ceremonies, Part II, Sacred Books of the East 30 (1892), p. 57–58. Public domain.

• Khādira Gṛhyasūtra — KhādGS 2.3.6–12

  6. jananāt ūrdhvam daśa rātrāt śata rātrāt saṃvatsarāt vā nāma kuryāt | 7. snāpya kumāram kariṣyataḥ upaviṣṭasya śucinā ācchādya mātā prayacchet udak śirasam | 8. anu pṛṣṭham gatvā uttaratas upaviśet | 9. hutvā kaḥ asi iti tasya mukhyān prāṇān abhimṛśet | 10. asau iti nāma kuryāt tat eva mantra ante | 11. mātre prathamam ākhyāya

  6. After a period of ten nights, or of a hundred nights, or of one year after (the child's birth) he should give him a name. 7. He who is going to perform (that ceremony-the father or a representative of the father), after he has had the boy bathed, should sit down, and the mother, having dressed him in a clean (garment), should hand him, with his face turned to the north, to the performer (of the ceremony). 8. She then should walk around behind (his) back and should sit down towards the north. 9. He should sacrifice and should touch the sense-organs at (the boy's) head with the (Mantra), 'Who art thou?' (MB. I, 5, 14, 15.) 10. 'N.N.!'--(at the place thus indicated in the Mantra) he should give him a name. 11. The same (he should pronounce) at the end of the Mantra. 12. He should tell it to the mother first.

  Hermann Oldenberg, The Grihya-Sutras: Rules of Vedic Domestic Ceremonies, Part I, Sacred Books of the East 29 (1886), p. 396–397. Public domain.

• Khādira Gṛhyasūtra — KhādGS 2.2.30–31

  24. asau iti nām dadhyāt | 25. tat guhyam

  30. He should give a name to the child, 'N.N.!' 31. That (is his) secret (name).

  Hermann Oldenberg, The Grihya-Sutras: Rules of Vedic Domestic Ceremonies, Part I, Sacred Books of the East 29 (1886), p. 395. Public domain.

• Hiraṇyakeśi Gṛhyasūtra — HirGS 2.4.6–15

  16. dvādaśyāṃ mātāputrau snātaḥ | 17. śucyagāraṃ kurvanti | 18. upanirharanti sūtikāgnim atiharantyaupāsanam | 19. tamagnimupasamādhāya vyāhṛtiparyantaṃ kṛtvā | 20. dhātā dadātu no rayim | 21. iti dvādaśāhutīrjuhoti | 22. trayodaśetyekeṣām | 23. imaṃ me varuṇa | 24. tattvā yāmi | 25. tvaṃ no agne | 26. sa tvaṃ no agne | 27. tvamagne ayāsi | 28. prajāpate | 29. yadasya karmaṇo 'tyarīricam | 30. iti cātraike jayābhyātānānrāṣṭrabhṛta ityupajuhvati yathā purastāt | 31. brāhmaṇānannena pariviṣya puṇyāhaṃ svastyayanamṛddhimiti vācayitvā putrasya nāma dadhyāddvyakṣaraṃ caturakṣaraṃ vā ghoṣavadādyantarantasthaṃ dīrghābhiniṣṭhānāntaṃ yatra vā svityupasargaḥ syāt | 32. taddhi pratiṣṭhitamiti vijñāyate | 33. pitā mātety agre 'bhivyāhareyātām | 34. vijñāyate ca mama nāma prathamaṃ jātaveda iti | 35. dve nāmanī kuryāt | 36. vijñāyate ca tasmāddvināmā brāhmaṇo 'rdhuka iti | 37. nakṣatranāma dvitīyaṃ syād anyatarad guhyaṃ syāt | 38. anyatareṇainam āmantrayīran | 39. somayājī tṛtīyaṃ nāma kurvīteti vijñāyate

  6. On the twelfth day the mother and the son take a bath. 7. They make the house clean. 8. They take the Sutikagni away, and they bring the Aupasana fire. 9. Having put wood on that fire, and having performed the rites down to the Vyahriti oblations, they sacrifice twelve oblations with the verses, 'May Dhatri give us wealth' (III, 3, II, 2-5); according to some (teachers they make) thirteen (oblations). 10. 'This, O Varuna' (&c.; see I, chap. 27, Sutra 2, down to): 'Hail! Good luck!' Then let him give a name to the child, of two syllables or of four syllables, beginning with a sonant, with a semi-vowel in it, with a long vowel (or) the Visarga at its end, or a name that contains the particle su, for such a name has a firm foundation; thus it is understood. 11. Let the father and the mother pronounce (that name) first. For it is understood, 'My name first, O Gatavedas.' 12. He should give him two names. For it is understood (Taitt. Samh. VI, 3, I, 3), 'Therefore a Brahmana who has two names, will have success.' 13. The second name should be a Nakshatra name. 14. The one name should be secret; by the other they should call him. 15. He should give him the name Somayagin (i.e. performer of Soma sacrifices) as his third name; thus it is understood.

  Hermann Oldenberg, The Grihya-Sutras: Rules of Vedic Domestic Ceremonies, Part II, Sacred Books of the East 30 (1892), p. 214–215. Public domain.

• Āpastamba Gṛhyasūtra — ĀpGS 15.2–3 (Paṭala 6, Khaṇḍa 15)

  2. nakṣatranāma ca nirdiśati | 3. tad rahasyaṃ bhavati

  2. And he gives him a Nakshatra name. 3. That is secret.

  Hermann Oldenberg, The Grihya-Sutras: Rules of Vedic Domestic Ceremonies, Part II, Sacred Books of the East 30 (1892), p. 281. Public domain.

• Āpastamba Gṛhyasūtra — ĀpGS 15.8–9,11 (Paṭala 6, Khaṇḍa 15)

  8. daśamyāmutthitāyāṃ snātāyāṃ putrasya nāma dadhāti pitā māteti | 9. dvyakṣaraṃ caturakṣaraṃ vā nāmapūrvam ākhyātottaraṃ dīrghābhiniṣṭhānāntaṃ ghoṣavadādyantarantastham | 10. api vā yasmin svityupasargaḥ syāt taddhi pratiṣṭhitamiti hi brāhmaṇam | 11. ayujākṣaraṃ kumāryāḥ

  8. On the tenth day, after (the mother) has risen and taken a bath, he gives a name to the son. The father and the mother (should pronounce that name first). 9. (It should be a name) of two syllables or of four syllables; the first part should be a noun; the second a verb; it should have a long vowel (or) the Visarga at the end, should begin with a sonant, and contain a semi-vowel. 10, Or it should contain the particle su, for such a name has a firm foundation; thus it is said in a Brahmana. 11. A girl's name should have an odd number of syllables.

  Hermann Oldenberg, The Grihya-Sutras: Rules of Vedic Domestic Ceremonies, Part II, Sacred Books of the East 30 (1892), p. 282–283. Public domain.

• Manusmṛti (Mānava-dharmaśāstra) — Manu 2.30 (Bühler numbering)

  nāmadheyaṃ daśamyāṃ tu dvādaśyāṃ vāsya kārayet / puṇye tithau muhūrte vā nakṣatre vā guṇānvite

  But let (the father perform or) cause to be performed the Namadheya (the rite of naming the child), on the tenth or twelfth (day after birth), or on a lucky lunar day, in a lucky muhurta, under an auspicious constellation.

  Georg Bühler, The Laws of Manu, Sacred Books of the East 25 (1886), p. 35. Public domain.

• Manusmṛti (Mānava-dharmaśāstra) — Manu 2.33 (Bühler numbering)

  strīṇāṃ sukhodyam akrūraṃ vispaṣṭārthaṃ manoharam / maṅgalyaṃ dīrghavarṇāntam āśīrvādābhidhānavat

  The names of women should be easy to pronounce, not imply anything dreadful, possess a plain meaning, be pleasing and auspicious, end in long vowels, and contain a word of benediction.

  Georg Bühler, The Laws of Manu, Sacred Books of the East 25 (1886), p. 35. Public domain.

Sanskrit: Oliver Hellwig, Digital Corpus of Sanskrit (DCS), 2010–2021, licensed CC BY 4.0. English: Hermann Oldenberg (trans.), The Grihya-Sutras, Sacred Books of the East 29/30 (1886/1892), public domain, except where marked otherwise.