Celestial Baby Names: 90+ Names From Stars, Moon, and the Cosmos
Celestial Baby Names: 90+ Names From Stars, Moon, and the Cosmos
Written in the Stars
The night my daughter was born, we stepped outside the hospital—just for a minute, just to breathe—and the sky was impossible. New moon, clear night, and every star that had ever existed seemed visible. My husband pointed to Orion, the only constellation he could reliably identify, and said, 'She should have a name like that. Something that's been there forever.'
We didn't name her Orion. But we did name her Stella. And every time I say it, I remember that night, that sky, that feeling of holding something new under something ancient.
Celestial names carry that weight—the enormity of the universe combined with the intimate act of naming your specific, individual child. They're names that have literally been written in the sky for millennia, named by humans who looked up and saw stories.
If you're drawn to the stars, the moon, or the vast cosmos beyond, here are your naming options—from the familiar to the obscure, from myth to science, from gentle moons to explosive supernovas.
Why Celestial Names Captivate Us
There's something primal about naming children after celestial bodies. We've been doing it since humans started naming each other.
Connection to Something Eternal
Stars have been in the sky for billions of years. Naming your child after something that ancient creates a sense of timelessness—your child's name has cosmic permanence even as fashions change on Earth.
Built-In Wonder
Celestial names come with automatic wonder. Tell someone your daughter is named Luna, and they think of moonlight. Name your son Leo, and they picture a lion in the stars. These names have imagery attached—beautiful imagery that elevates the everyday.
Myth and Science Combined
Most celestial names blend mythology and astronomy. They're named after gods and heroes, then claimed by scientists cataloging the universe. This dual heritage gives them cultural depth and scientific credibility.
Unique but Recognizable
Many celestial names are unusual without being unpronounceable. People may not have met an Orion before, but they know what the name refers to. You get uniqueness without confusion.
Star Names
Stars have been named since ancient civilizations started mapping the sky. Many of these names are beautiful, and some work perfectly as human names.
Bright Star Names
- Stella - Latin for star. The generic term became an elegant name. Classic, beautiful, and increasingly popular.
- Sirius - Brightest star in the sky. Greek 'glowing.' Harry Potter made it more familiar. Strong and distinctive.
- Vega - Arabic 'swooping eagle.' One of the brightest stars. Musical (Suzanne Vega) and scientific.
- Altair - Arabic 'flying eagle.' Bright summer star. Strong and unusual.
- Rigel - Arabic 'foot.' Blue supergiant in Orion. Unusual but phonetically appealing.
- Castor - Greek mythology twin. Bright star in Gemini. Strong classical name.
- Pollux - Greek mythology twin. Castor's immortal brother. Bold classical choice.
- Bellatrix - Latin 'female warrior.' Star in Orion. Harry Potter association (the villain).
- Capella - Latin 'little she-goat.' Bright star. Unusual but pretty.
Lesser-Known Star Names
- Nashira - Arabic 'bearer of good news.' Star in Capricornus. Feminine and meaningful.
- Adhara - Arabic 'maidens.' Bright star in Canis Major. Unusual and beautiful.
- Alcyone - Greek mythology figure. Brightest star in Pleiades. Mythological depth.
- Mira - Latin 'wonderful.' Variable star. Also Slavic for 'peace.' Simple and pretty.
- Deneb - Arabic 'tail.' Bright star in Cygnus. Short and distinctive.
- Spica - Latin 'ear of grain.' Brightest star in Virgo. Harvest associations.
- Izar - Arabic 'veil.' Double star in Boötes. Unusual and short.
- Electra - Greek 'amber.' Star in Pleiades. Mythological and electric.
Abstract Star Names
- Nova - Latin 'new.' An exploding star. Currently very trendy.
- Astra - Greek 'star.' Latin-influenced. Less common than Stella.
- Estelle - French form of Stella. Elegant and classic.
- Starling - Small star + bird connection. Unusual nature hybrid.
- Sterling - Possibly from 'little star.' Also means high quality.
Moon Names
The moon has captivated humans since we first looked up. Its names—and the names of moons throughout our solar system—offer beautiful options.
Our Moon
- Luna - Latin for moon. Currently extremely popular. Romantic and celestial.
- Selene - Greek moon goddess. More unusual than Luna. Mythological elegance.
- Diana - Roman goddess associated with the moon. Classic and powerful.
- Phoebe - Greek Titan, another moon goddess. Friendly and approachable.
- Cynthia - Epithet for the Greek goddess Artemis (moon goddess). Classic mid-century name.
- Artemis - Greek goddess of the moon and hunt. Strong and mythological.
- Crescent - Moon phase. Unusual as a name but wearable.
Other Moons in Our Solar System
- Callisto - Jupiter moon. Greek nymph. Strong and unusual.
- Europa - Jupiter moon. Phoenician princess. Geographic and mythological.
- Io - Jupiter moon. Greek priestess. Extremely short and distinctive.
- Ganymede - Jupiter moon. Cupbearer to the gods. Unusual and mythological.
- Titan - Saturn moon. Giant mythological beings. Strong and powerful.
- Rhea - Saturn moon. Mother of the gods. Simple and ancient.
- Miranda - Uranus moon (named by Herschel after Shakespeare). Literary and scientific.
- Ariel - Uranus moon. Also Shakespearean. Gender-neutral and magical.
- Oberon - Uranus moon. King of fairies in Shakespeare. Regal and mythological.
- Triton - Neptune moon. Greek sea god. Strong and mythological.
- Charon - Pluto moon. Ferryman of the dead. Dark and mythological.
Planet and Space Object Names
Beyond stars and moons, the cosmos offers planets, asteroids, and other objects with nameable appeal.
Planet Names
- Mercury - Messenger god planet. Quick and clever associations.
- Venus - Goddess of love planet. Romantic and powerful.
- Mars - God of war planet. Strong and direct. Bruno Mars familiarity.
- Jupiter - King of the gods planet. Regal and substantial. Jupe as a nickname?
- Saturn - Father of Jupiter. Rings make it distinctive. Unusual as a name.
- Neptune - God of the sea planet. Ocean and space combined.
- Pluto - Dwarf planet, god of the underworld. Disney dog reduces gravitas.
Asteroid and Space Object Names
- Ceres - Largest asteroid. Goddess of agriculture. Simple and mythological.
- Juno - Asteroid and goddess. Queen of the gods. Strong and current.
- Vesta - Asteroid. Goddess of the hearth. Warm and domestic.
- Pallas - Asteroid. Greek epithet for Athena. Unusual and strong.
- Halley - Halley's Comet. English astronomer name. Familiar and scientific.
- Cosmos - The universe itself. Bold and all-encompassing.
- Galaxy - Star system. Very unusual as a name.
- Nebula - Star nursery. Unusual and beautiful meaning.
- Quasar - Distant bright object. Scientific and unusual.
Constellation Names
Constellations are patterns humans saw in the stars and named after myths. Many constellation names work beautifully as human names.
Well-Known Constellations
- Orion - The hunter. One of the most recognizable constellations. Strong, masculine, mythological.
- Leo - The lion. Classic constellation and name. Currently popular.
- Lyra - The harp. Musical constellation. Pretty and unusual.
- Draco - The dragon. Harry Potter familiarity. Bold and dramatic.
- Phoenix - The firebird. Resurrection symbolism. Gender-neutral and powerful.
- Andromeda - Chained princess. Galaxy name too. Long but beautiful.
- Cassiopeia - Vain queen. W-shaped constellation. Long and unusual.
- Perseus - Greek hero. Strong mythological name.
- Cygnus - The swan. Elegant bird constellation.
- Aquila - The eagle. Strong bird constellation.
Less Common Constellation Names
- Corvus - The crow. Dark and distinctive.
- Columba - The dove. Peaceful bird name.
- Delphinus - The dolphin. Playful and unusual.
- Lupus - The wolf. Strong and canine.
- Ara - The altar. Short and simple.
- Carina - The keel. Italian name meaning 'dear.'
- Gemini - The twins. Astrological associations.
- Virgo - The maiden. Astrological but unusual as a name.
Where Mythology Meets Astronomy
Many celestial names come from mythology—gods, heroes, and creatures placed among the stars by ancient storytellers.
Greek Mythology
- Atlas - Titan who holds up the sky. Strong and mythological.
- Aurora - Goddess of dawn. Northern lights association. Beautiful and popular.
- Helios - God of the sun. Strong and bright.
- Eos - Greek dawn goddess. Short and unusual.
- Iris - Goddess of the rainbow. Bridge between heaven and earth.
- Apollo - God of the sun. Strong and classical.
- Titan - Powerful beings before the Olympians. Strong and substantial.
Roman Mythology
- Sol - Roman sun god. Short and bright.
- Luna - Roman moon goddess. Currently very popular.
- Aurora - Roman dawn goddess. Beautiful and magical.
- Terra - Roman earth goddess. Grounded despite being celestial.
- Stella - Latin star. Classic and elegant.
Other Mythologies
- Theia - Titan goddess of sight. Mother of sun, moon, and dawn. Unusual and beautiful.
- Nyx - Greek goddess of night. Short and dark.
- Hemera - Greek goddess of day. Unusual and ancient.
- Aether - Greek god of upper air. Ethereal associations.
- Astrid - Old Norse 'divine beauty.' Combines star (astr-) associations with strength.
Making Celestial Names Grounded
Celestial names can feel lofty. Here's how to make them work in everyday life.
Pair With Grounded Middle Names
A celestial first name with an earthy middle name creates balance: Luna Rose, Orion James, Stella Grace. The grounded middle name gives the celestial first name something to land on.
Choose Established Names
Some celestial names have been used as human names for generations: Diana, Stella, Leo. These are genuinely celestial but feel familiar because they've been domesticated. Start here if you're nervous about going too cosmic.
Consider Nicknames
Does the celestial name have a normal-sounding nickname? Cassiopeia could be Cassie. Andromeda could be Andie. Having a grounded nickname option helps children fit in when they want to.
Test for Teasability
Make sure the celestial name doesn't have obvious teasing potential. Uranus is a planet but a nightmare as a baby name for obvious pronunciation reasons. Say the name out loud many times; make sure it doesn't sound like something else.
Frequently Asked Questions
Q1: Are space names too 'out there' for a real person?
Some are, some aren't. Luna and Stella are now completely mainstream—nobody thinks twice about them. Orion and Phoenix are unusual but wearable. Quasar and Nebula might be harder to pull off. The key is distinguishing between celestial names that have history as human names (or sound like they could) versus space terms that feel like vocabulary words.
Q2: What about pronunciation? Many star names are hard to say.
Stick to names with intuitive pronunciation if this concerns you. Vega, Luna, Leo, and Nova are all obvious. Names like Rigel (RYE-jel), Altair (al-TAIR), and Deneb (DEN-eb) might need explaining. If you choose a less intuitive name, be prepared to correct people occasionally.
Q3: Will celestial names become dated?
Some might. Luna is so popular right now that babies named Luna in 2020 might be as timestamped as Jennifers from the 80s. But celestial names with longer histories (Stella, Diana, Leo) have proven they transcend trends. If you're worried about dating, choose a celestial name that's been used consistently for generations.
Q4: Can I name my child after a specific star that was visible when they were born?
That's a lovely idea, but make sure the star has a name that works as a human name. You could look up what stars were prominent in the sky on your child's birthday and see if any of them have usable names. Astronomy apps can help you identify what was overhead.
Q5: Are celestial names more appropriate for girls or boys?
Historically, moon and star names have skewed feminine (Luna, Stella, Selene), while constellation names have skewed masculine (Orion, Leo, Draco). But this is changing—many celestial names are now used for all genders. Nova and Phoenix work for anyone. Choose based on the name's sound and your preference, not gendered tradition.
Names That Transcend Earth
When you give your child a celestial name, you're connecting them to something beyond the everyday. You're giving them a name that humans have used for millennia to describe the unreachable, the eternal, the awe-inspiring. That's a lot of weight for a few syllables to carry—but celestial names carry it well.
My Stella is seven now. She knows her name means star. She knows that stars are ancient light traveling across unimaginable distances to reach our eyes. She doesn't fully understand that yet—neither do I, really—but she likes knowing her name is part of something bigger than our house, our town, our planet.
That's the gift of a celestial name. It comes with built-in wonder.
Find your cosmic name on SoulSeed, where you can filter for celestial origins and find the perfect name that's been written in the stars. Because some names have been waiting for your baby since before Earth existed.
