The accuracy of atomic theory calculations limits the extraction of nuclear charge radii from isotope shift measurements of odd-proton nuclei. For Na isotopes, though precise spectroscopic measurements have existed for more than half a century, calculations by different methods offer a wide range of values. Here, we present accurate atomic calculations to reliably extract the Na charge radii. By combining experimental matter radii with nuclear coupled-cluster calculations based on nucleon-nucleon and three-nucleon forces, we constrain the parameters obtained from the atomic calculations. Therefore, this study guides atomic theory and highlights the importance of using accurate atomic and nuclear computations in our understanding of the size of light nuclei.

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• Electron correlation calculations for atoms & ions
• Nuclear charge distribution
• Nuclear many-body theory
• Nuclear structure & decays
• Relativistic & quantum electrodynamic effects in atoms, molecules,& ions
• 20 ≤ A ≤ 38