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Menakaमेनका

Menakā · traditionally used for girls

The celebrated apsarā

Menakā is one of the foremost apsarās of Indra's court; sent to disrupt the tapas of Viśvāmitra, she became the mother of Śakuntalā.

Starting sound and where it falls

Menaka begins with Me — a traditional birth-star naming sound. Names beginning with Me open Magha pada 4. Which pada a birth falls in comes from the Moon’s position at the recorded birth date, time, and place.

A noted bearer: Menakā (Mahābhārata, Śakuntalā).

Cultural context

Evokes the beauty and grace of the heavenly apsarā Menakā.

Used in: Pan-Indian

A traditional cultural interpretation — not a prediction about your child.

Common questions

What does the name Menaka mean?

Menaka (Menakā) is attested as “The celebrated apsarā.” Menakā is one of the foremost apsarās of Indra's court; sent to disrupt the tapas of Viśvāmitra, she became the mother of Śakuntalā.

Which nakshatra sound does Menaka fit?

Menaka begins with the sound Me, which opens Magha pada 4. Whether a birth falls in that exact pada comes from the Moon's position at the recorded birth date, time, and place — that is what the free check on this site calculates.

Is Menaka a girl's or a boy's name?

In our reviewed collection Menaka is traditionally used for girls.

Where does this meaning come from?

Every meaning on this page is quoted from verified Sanskrit dictionaries or cited scripture, exactly as attested.

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