What Is a Name Number in Numerology?
A name number is the single digit you get when you add up the Chaldean values of every letter in your name. Each letter has a value from 1 to 8; you add them all and reduce the total to one digit. For example, Rahul Sharma adds up to 33, and 3 + 3 = 6, so the name number is 6.
✓ Reviewed by Akanshha Joshii, numerologist
How the Chaldean system works
Chaldean numerology gives each letter a value from 1 to 8 based on its sound. The values are: A I J Q Y = 1, B K R = 2, C G L S = 3, D M T = 4, E H N X = 5, U V W = 6, O Z = 7 and F P = 8. No letter has the value 9 in this system.
How to calculate your name number
Write your name the way you use it every day. Give each letter its value and add them all to get the total, also called the compound number. Then add the digits of the total until one digit is left. Spaces and dots are ignored.
How a name number is read
A name number is never read alone. In our numerologist Akanshha's method it is checked against your Mulank (birth day number) and your Bhagyank (full birth date number) using a friendship table. In general, 1, 3, 5 and 6 are the supportive full-name numbers, while 4 and 8 are usually avoided for the full name. The first name is also checked on its own.
What a spelling change can and cannot do
Some people adjust a spelling, such as adding one letter, so that the name number becomes friendly with their birth numbers. Numerology sees this as bringing the name into tune with the birth numbers, not as a promise of any result. Your effort and choices still matter most.
Worked example: Rahul Sharma
| Letter | R | A | H | U | L | S | H | A | R | M | A |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Value | 2 | 1 | 5 | 6 | 3 | 3 | 5 | 1 | 2 | 4 | 1 |
Total: 33 · Reduces to: 6
Rahul is R 2 + A 1 + H 5 + U 6 + L 3 = 17, and Sharma is S 3 + H 5 + A 1 + R 2 + M 4 + A 1 = 16. Together that makes 33, and 3 + 3 = 6, so the full-name number is 6, the number of Venus. In Akanshha's method the first name is also checked on its own (Rahul is 17, which reduces to 8), and the full name is compared with the person's Mulank and Bhagyank before any verdict is given.
Does your name suit your birth numbers?
Check your name number against your Mulank and Bhagyank in the free Name Check.
Frequently asked questions
What is a name number?
It is the one-digit number that comes from adding the letter values of your name. In Chaldean numerology each letter is worth 1 to 8, and the total is reduced to a single digit.
Which letter values does the Chaldean system use?
A I J Q Y = 1, B K R = 2, C G L S = 3, D M T = 4, E H N X = 5, U V W = 6, O Z = 7 and F P = 8. There is no letter with the value 9.
Should I use my full name or only my first name?
Use the name you actually use every day: first name and surname, spelled the way you sign and write it on social media. In Akanshha's method the full name gives the main number, and the first word is also checked separately. A middle name counts with the surname, not with the first name.
Which name numbers are considered good?
In Akanshha's method, 1, 3, 5 and 6 are generally the supportive full-name numbers, and 4 and 8 are usually avoided for the full name. The final answer still depends on your Mulank and Bhagyank, because a number that is friendly for one person may not be for another.
Can changing my spelling change my name number?
Yes. A spelling change changes the letter total, so it can change the name number. In Akanshha's method a new spelling is suggested only after it is checked against your Mulank and your Bhagyank, along with a few other rules. You can see where your current spelling stands in the free Name Check.
What is the difference between Chaldean and Pythagorean numerology?
Pythagorean numerology gives letters the values 1 to 9 in alphabet order. Chaldean numerology goes by the sound of each letter and uses only 1 to 8. Numastroguide uses the Chaldean system.
Does your name suit your birth numbers?
Check your name number against your Mulank and Bhagyank in the free Name Check.