Nāma karma (नाम कर्म / નામ કર્મ) is one of the eight main types of karmas in Jainism.

Very simple definition:

• Nāma karma = physique‑determining karma
• It decides what kind of body and form a soul will get in a particular birth.

What it determines (in brief):

• Type of gati: human, animal, hellish, celestial
• Gross or subtle body, strength, beauty/ugliness
• Sense organs, body structure, colour, smell, etc.
• Special forms like Tirthankar‑nāma‑karma (by which a soul becomes a Tirthankar), etc.

Group:

• It is an aghāti karma (non‑destructive to the soul’s true qualities).
• It does not spoil the soul’s pure knowledge and bliss, but it creates the outer form and conditions.

Both Digambar and Shvetambar traditions accept this basic meaning. Differences are only in listing detailed subtypes, not in the main definition.

You can read more about the eight types of karma and nāma karma here: and