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The ceremony of naming a child. Nama literally means 'name' and karana means 'to make, to effect'.

As the primary means of identification and social interaction, the naming of a child developed into a religious ritual, believed to be the root of the child's destiny.

This ceremony takes place after the 10-day 'impure' postnatal period. For the ceremony, the house is cleaned and purified. The child is given a ceremonial bath. Friends and relatives are invited to see the child and participate in the celebration. The puja involves the child and priest, the father, mother, and sometimes the paternal grandmother. 

First the mother covers the child in a new cloth. She wets the child's head with water, symbolically bathing him, and then gives the child either to the father or the paternal grandmother. Next, the priest invokes the blessings of Agni, the planetary bodies, and other gods. The Grihyasutras (see Sutra) do not specify a procedure for the actual naming of the child. The Paddhatis, however, say that the father should lean towards the child's right ear. Holding a betel leaf near the ear, he should whisper four names to the child. Then Brahmins, specially invited for the occasion, bless the child. Finally, gifts are given to the relatives and Brahmins present.

The Grihyasutras (see Sutra) say that the Namakarana should be performed on the tenth or twelfth day after the birth of the child. Other sources however, say that it could be performed any time from the tenth day after the birth until the first day of the second year.

The word nama meaning 'name' is common in early Sanskrit literature and occurs in the Rig Veda (see Veda). Although initially no Vedic mantras were recited during the naming ritual, it developed into a sanskara because of its social importance.

Many of the early texts prescribe more than one name for an individual. The system of naming was further developed by the Smritis, on the basis of astrological works. According to the Rig Veda (see Veda), a child of either sex should be given four names:

1. The nakshatra name: This is given according to the constellation, or nakshatra the child is born under. Each constellation has a name, and several letters of the Sanskrit alphabet are also assigned to it. The nakshatra name could therefore be the name of the constellation itself, or begin with any of the letters assigned to that constellation. The Baudhayana Dharmasutra (see Sutra) connects the constellation with the child's future.

2. The name of the deity of the month: Each month of the Hindu calendar is associated with a particular deity, which usually has several names. The child's second name is one of the names of the deity of the month in which it is born.

3. The name of the family deity: Every family has one deity who has been worshipped for generations. The name of this deity is given to protect the child from evil.

4. The popular name: This is the name that the child is known by. It depends on the culture and education of the family, and should be auspicious. According to the Grihyasutras (see Sutra), there are five requisites to naming a child: the name should be easy to pronounce and sound pleasant; it should contain a specified number of syllables and vowels; it should indicate the sex of the child; it should signify fame, wealth, or power; and it should be suggestive of the caste of the family. For example a Brahmin child should have an auspicious name, a Kshatriya child should have a name that suggests power, a Vaishya child should have a name that suggests wealth, and a Shudra child should have a name that indicates his service.

Some people give their children names that sound ugly or have unpleasant meanings in the belief that this will frighten away diseases, and evil spirits and influences.

Nowadays, this ceremony usually takes place on the twelfth day after birth. It is not a formal ceremony, but more of an opportunity to invite family and friends to celebrate the baby's arrival. There is usually a havan, and then the child's name is announced to the gathering. Usually only a nakshatra name and a popular name are given.

The priest makes an astrological calculation according to the time and date on which the child is born. On this basis, he prescribes a letter of the alphabet with which the child's nakshatra name should begin. If the family is agreeable, this name doubles as the popular name as well. Usually, however, the nakshatra name is not used, and the child is given another name by which he is commonly known.

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