The Smritis, on the basis of astrological works further developed the system of naming. 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, (see Panchanga) the child is born under. Each constellation has a name, and several letters of the Sanskrit alphabet are also assigned to it.
2. 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. This is a secret name, which some give during Jatakarman.
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 Namakarana 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 (see Varna) 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 name that sound ugly or have unpleasant A priest making a child's horoscopeduring the naming ceremony. Namakarana meanings in the belief that this will frighten away diseases, and evil spirits and influences (see Nazar Utarna).
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.
http://www.gurjari.net/ico /Mystica/html/namkaran.htm
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