The naming ceremony, called Namakarana, is one of the most important and cherished occasions in the family. According to the rules prescribed in Gruhyasutras, the namakarana is usually done on the tenth or the twelfth day from the date of birth. Some shaastras prescribe giving two names to the child - one a secret name and the other which becomes the child's primary identifier.

Parents often ask about the rules for naming a child according to astrology. According to astrology, there are three ways of naming a child: a) According to the day on which the child was born b) According to the letters corresponding to the Janma Nakshatra of the child c) Letters corresponding to the Lagna of the child's horoscope.

The crudest way is to name the child according to the day. The second method of naming the child according to the Janma Nakshatra or Janma Rashi is considered better. The names compatible with the Lagna are considered the best. Children should not be named after rivers and the birth star itself should not be given as the name since these are considered very sacred and if one shows disrespect to the name, then doshas will accrue.

An auspicious name is said to act like a mantra since the sound will be repeated throughout the child's life. There is a story the Bhagavata about a fallen sadhaka called Ajamila who attains Moksha just by naming his child as 'Narayana' - since Ajamila was very attached to his son, he went on calling his name on his deathbed, thus unconsciously invoking the grace of Lord Narayana himself!