Astronomy Submitted Names

ACAMAR m & f Astronomy
Derived from Arabic Ākhir an-nahr, meaning "end of the river". This is the traditional name of the star Theta Eridani in the constellation Eridanus.

ACHERNAR m Astronomy
Derived from Arabic ākhir an-nahr, meaning "the end of the river". This is the name of the brightest star in the constellation Eridanus.

ACRUX m & f Astronomy
Abbreviation of "Alpha Crucis", a star in the constellation Crux.

ADARA f Astronomy
Variant of Adhara.

ADHAFERA f Astronomy
Derived from Arabic al-ðafīrah, meaning "braid, curl". This is the traditional name of the star Zeta Leonis in the constellation Leo.

AIGOKEROS m Greek Mythology, Astronomy
Epithet of the Greek god Pan meaning "goat-horned", derived from Greek αἴξ (aix) "goat" and κέρας (keras) "horn". This is also the Greek name for the astrological sign of Capricorn.

AIN m & f Astronomy, Arabic
Means "eye" in Arabic. This is the traditional name of the star Epsilon Tauri in the constellation Taurus.

ALADFAR f Astronomy
Derived from Arabic al-’uz̧fur, meaning "the talons of the swooping eagle". This is the traditional name of the star Eta Lyrae in the constellation Lyra.

ALDEBARAN m Astronomy, Judeo-Christian Legend
Derived from Arabic الدبران (al-Dabarān) meaning "follower" (from دبر (dábar) "to turn one's back"). This is the name of the brightest star in the constellation Taurus, presumably so named because it appears to follow the Pleiades rightward across the night sky... [more]

ALGIEBA m & f Astronomy
Derived from Arabic Al-Jabhah, meaning "the forehead". This is the traditional name of the star Gamma Leonis in the constellation Leo.

ALGJEBBAH m Astronomy
The name of a star in Orion, also called Ensis.

ALGOL m Astronomy (Rare, Archaic)
Name of a star in the constellation Perseus. Derived from Arabic, meaning "Head of the Ghoul", direct translation in English is "Demon Star"

ALHENA f Astronomy
Derived from Arabic الهنعه (al-Han'āh) "sign (on the neck of a camel)", this is the name of the third-brightest star in the constellation of Gemini.

ALIOTH m & f Astronomy
Derived from Arabic alyat, meaing "fat tail of a sheep". This is the traditional name of the star Epsilon Ursae Majoris in the constellation Ursa Major.

ALKAID m & f Filipino, Astronomy
Means "the leader", derived from Arabic قائد بنات نعش qā'id bināt naʿsh, meaning "leader of the daughters of the bier". This is the traditional name of the star Eta Ursae Majoris in the constellation Ursa Major.

ALNILAM m & f Astronomy
Derived from Arabic an-niżām, meaning "string of pearls". This is a star in the constellation Orion.

ALNITAK m & f Astronomy
Derived from Arabic an-niṭāq, meaning "the girdle". This is the name of a star in Orion.

ALPHARD m Astronomy
Derived from Arabic الفرد (al-fard) "the solitary one". Alphard is the brightest star in the constellation Hydra, with no other bright stars near it.

ALPHERATZ f Astronomy, Filipino (Rare)
Derived from Arabic surrat al-faras ("the navel of the mare"). This is a traditional name of the star Alpha Andromedae in the constellation Andromeda.

ANGETENAR f Astronomy
Means "bend of the river" in Arabic. This is the traditional name of the star Tau 2 Eridani in the constellation Eridanus.

ANTARES m Astronomy
Name of a giant red star, which happens to be the brightest in the constellation Scorpio.

ANTLIA f Astronomy
From Greek ἀντλία (antlia) meaning "hold of a ship". Antlia is one of the constellations created by the French astronomer Nicolas Louis de Lacaille in the 18th century. He originally named it Antlia Pneumatica, or Machine Pneumatique in French, in honour of French physicist Denis Papin’s invention, the air pump.

AQUARIUS m & f Astronomy
Means "water-carrier" or "cup-carrier" in Latin. This is a constellation in the zodiac, between Capricornus and Pisces.

ARCTURUS m Astronomy, Literature
Arcturus is a star in the constellation Boötes, the brightest star in the northern celestial hemisphere. . ... [more]

ARDRA f Hinduism, Astronomy
The name of the star the star Betelgeuse (α Ori) in Hinduism, meaning "green" or "the moist one". It is associated with Rudra, the god of wind, storms, the hunt, destruction and terror.

ASCELLA f Astronomy
Late Latin for "armpit", related to the Indo-European root *aks meaning "axis". This is the name of the third brightest star in the constellation Sagittarius.

ATRIA f Astronomy
A star in the constellation Triangulum Australe

AURIGA m Astronomy
Means "charioteer" in Latin. This is the name of a constellation in the northern sky, which is said to resemble a chariot and its driver.

AUVA f Astronomy
Auva is the medieval name of Delta Virginis, a star in the zodiac constellation of Virgo. ... [more]

AVIOR f & m Astronomy
This name originated in the time of the Ancient Roman Empire. Although its direct origin is unknown, a close translation of the name is avian, from the Latin aviarius. Avior is also the name for Epsilon Carinae.

AZHA m & f Astronomy
Means "the breeding place" in Arabic. This is the traditional name of the star Eta Eridani in the constellation Eridanus.

BÁI-HǓ m & f Astronomy
Bái-Hǔ is a Xiang (象) one of the Four Symbols that include all the constellation of the Chinese System. Bái-Hǔ is known as The White Tiger of the West and is a mythological spirit creature linked with the west, the left and the fall/autumn season.

BEEMIN m Astronomy
Variant of Theemin.

BEID m & f Astronomy
Derived from Arabic al baid, meaning "the (ostrich) egg". This is the traditional name of the star Omicron 1 Eridani in the constellation Eridanus.

BELLATRICE f Astronomy (Italianized)
Italian form of Bellatrix.

BESTLA f Norse Mythology, Astronomy
Bestla is a giantess in Norse Mythology. She is married to Borr and mother of Odin, Vili and Vé. One of Saturn's moons has this name.

BÉTELGEUSE m & f Astronomy
French form of Betelgeuse.

CAELUM m Astronomy
The name of a faint constellation in the southern sky, which is from Latin caelum meaning "heaven, sky" (compare Caelius) or (allegedly) "burin" (a tool for engraving on copper or other metals).

CANCER m Astronomy
Means "crab" in Latin. This is the name of a constellation in the zodiac. The disease was named this because of its crab-shaped cells.

CANOPUS m & f Ancient Greek (Latinized, Archaic), Astronomy
Of uncertain meaning. It is the name of the second-brightest star in night sky.

CAPELLA f Astronomy
This is the brightest star in the constellation Auriga. Its name is from Latin Capra "she-goat" with a diminutive suffix. In Roman mythology, the star represented the goat Amalthea.

CAPRICORN m Astronomy
From Latin Capricornus meaning "horned like a goat" (from caper, genitive capri "goat" and cornu "horn"), a loan-translation of Greek Aigokheros, the name of the constellation... [more]

CAPRICORNUS m Roman Mythology, Astronomy
Means "goat" in Latin. The name of one of the constellations of the zodiac.

CARPO f Greek Mythology (Latinized), Astronomy
Latinized form of Greek Καρπώ (Karpô), which is derived from Greek καρπόω (karpoô) "to bear fruit; to reap or enjoy fruit". In Greek mythology this was the name of one of the Horae or Seasons; Carpo was the goddess of autumn and of the harvest, that is, the fruits of summer... [more]

CHALDENE f Astronomy, Greek Mythology
One of Jupiter's moons, named for a character in Greek mythology whose name is variously given as Chaldene, Caldene, Calchedonia, or Chalcea.

CRUX m Astronomy
Latin for "cross". This is the name of a constellation in the southern hemisphere, commonly known as the Southern Cross.

CURSA m & f Astronomy
Derived from Arabic Al Kursiyy al Jauzah, meaning "the chair of the central one". This is the traditional name of the star Beta Eridani in the constellation Eridanus.

CYGNUS m Astronomy
Cygnus is a northern constellation lying on the plane of the Milky Way, deriving its name from the Latinized Greek word for swan.

CYNOSURA f Astronomy, Greek Mythology (Latinized)
Latinized form of Greek Κυνόσουρα (Kynosoura) which meant "dog's tail", a derivative of κύων (kyôn) "dog" (genitive κυνός (kynos)) and οὐρά (oura) "tail"... [more]

DATHELKARTI f Astronomy
Derived from Arabic Al Dhāt al Kursiyy, meaning "the lady in the chair". Dath Elkarti is another name for Schedar.

DELPHINUS m Astronomy
Means "dolphin" in Latin. Delphinus is a constellation of a dolphin located on the northern sky near the celestial equator.

DILYÉHÉ f Navajo (?), Astronomy
Means "planting stars" in Navajo. This is the Navajo name of the star cluster known in English as the Pleiades.

DIPPER m Astronomy
The Dipper mansion (斗) is one of the Twenty-eight mansions of the Chinese constellations. It is one of the northern mansions of the Black Tortoise. It corresponds to Sagittarius and is shaped like the Big Dipper, also refers temple in the sky or the snake-shaped basalt... [more]

DORADO m Astronomy
Dorado is one of the constellations created by Dutch explorers in the 16th century. It represents the dolphinfish.

DUBHE f Astronomy
Derived from Arabic دُبّ (dubb) meaning "bear", taken from the phrase ظهر الدب الاكبر (ẓahr ad-dubb al-ʾakbar) meaning "the back of the greater bear". This is one of the traditional names for the star Alpha Ursae Majoris, in the constellation Ursa Major.

ELARA f Greek Mythology, Astronomy
Possibly derived from Greek ἄλαρα (alara) meaning "butt of spear-shaft", or the related word ἀλαρία (alaria) "tree which furnished shafts for spears". In Greek mythology Elara was one of Zeus's mortal lovers and by him the mother of the giant Tityos... [more]

ELTANIN f & m Astronomy
Derived from Arabic Al Ras al Tinnin, meaning "the dragon's head". This is one of the traditional names of the star Gamma Draconis in the constellation Draco.

ENSIS m & f Astronomy
Means "sword" in Latin. This is the name of a star in Orion, also known as Saiph and Algjebbah.

ERIDANI f & m Spanish (Mexican, Rare), American (Hispanic, Rare), Astronomy
Epsilon Eridani is the fifth-brightest star in Eridanus, a constellation in the southern sky.

ERIDANUS m Astronomy, Greek Mythology (Latinized), Ancient Greek (Latinized)
Latinized form of Eridanos. This is the name of a constellation in the southern hemisphere named for a river god in Greek mythology.

ERRIAPUS m Celtic Mythology, Astronomy
saturn's moon

EUKELADE f Greek Mythology, Astronomy
The name of one of Jupiter's moons. It was named in 2005, allegedly after a mythological character described by some Greek writers as one of the Muses.

EUPORIE f Greek Mythology (?), Astronomy
A form of Euporia. A moon of Jupiter bears this name in honour of Euporia or Euporie, the Greek goddess of abundance and one of the third generation of Horai.

HAMAL m Astronomy
Derived from the Arabic راس الحمل (rās al-ħamal) meaning "head of the ram". The brightest star in the Aries constellation.

HELICE f Greek Mythology (Latinized), Astronomy
Latinized form of Greek Ἑλικη (Helike) which means "circling one", from Greek ἕλιξ‎ (helix) "spiral" (genitive ἕλικος (helikos)). In antiquity, Helike was a common name for the northern constellation Ursa Major... [more]

HIKOBOSHI m Japanese, Astronomy, Japanese Mythology
This is the name of the star Altair in Japan. It literally means "Boy, Male Star". He's a mythological figure where he and his wife, Orihime (the Vega star), meet once every year on the 7th day of the 7th month... [more]

HOKULE'A f & m Hawaiian, Astronomy
Hōkūleʻa is Hawaiian for “Star of Gladness” or “Clear Star”. The western name of this star is Arcturus. Hōkūleʻa is the brightest in the northern hemisphere and it is Hawaii’s zenith star... [more]

HYDRA f Astronomy, Greek Mythology
Means "water-serpent" in Greek (from hydor "water"). In Greek myth this was the name of a many-headed Lernaean water serpent slain by Hercules. It is also a northern constellation that is said to resemble a serpent, as well as a moon of Pluto.

KEID m Astronomy
The common name for Omicron2 Eridani, or 40 Eridani, a triple star system in the constellation Eridanus. In the TV series Star Trek, 40 Eridani is the location of the planet Vulcan, home of Mr Spock... [more]

KIO m Astronomy
The ancient Chinese name for Spica, the common name for Alpha Virginis, a blue giant binary star and the brightest in the constellation Virgo. From the Chinese for "horn, spike", as it is seen as "the horn of Jupiter"... [more]

LACERTA f Astronomy
Means "lizard" in Latin (the feminine form of lacertus). Lacerta is the name of a constellation created in 1687 by the astronomer Johannes Hevelius. It is located between Cygnus, Cassiopeia and Andromeda on the northern celestial sphere... [more]

LANIAKEA f & m Hawaiian, Astronomy
The name Laniakea means "immeasurable heaven" in Hawaiian, from "lani" for 'heaven' and "akea" for 'spacious' or 'immeasurable'. Laniakea is the galaxy supercluster that is home to the Milky Way, the Solar System and Earth... [more]

LEONIS m Astronomy
The brightest star in the constellation Leo and one of the brightest stars in the night sky, lying approximately 79 light years from Earth.

LIBRA f Astronomy
The name of a zodiacal constellation supposedly shaped like a set of scales. It literally means "pound, balance" in Latin, from Mediterranean base *lithra- "a scale".

LLEÓ m Catalan, Astronomy
Catalan form of Leo as well as the Catalan name for Leo, the constellation of the zodiac. The name coincides with Catalan lleó "lion".

LOGE m Norse Mythology, Astronomy
Variant of Logi. He is a fire giant from Norse mythology, son of Fornjót, sometimes confused with the god Loki. Loge is the name of one of Saturn's moons.

LYNX m Astronomy
Lynx is a constellation in the northern sky, introduced in the 17th century by Johannes Hevelius. It is named after the lynx, a genus of cats.

LYSITHEA f Greek Mythology, Astronomy
Derived from the Greek elements λύσις (lysis) "releasing, freeing, deliverance" and θεός (theos) "god". This was the name of a minor character in Greek mythology. Also, a moon of Jupiter bears this name.

MAGALONA f Occitan, Astronomy
Diminutive of Margarida via the variant Margalida. It is also one of the Occitan names for the planet Venus and the Occitan name of the city of Maguelone.

MEGACLITE f Greek Mythology (Latinized), Astronomy
Jupiter's 62nd Moon

MEISSA f Western African, Astronomy
Variant of Maïssa; from Arabic maḥīṣ meaning "shining, glittering". This is also the traditional name of Lambda Orionis, a star in the Orion constellation.

MENKAR m Astronomy
The name of a star in the sky. Means "left nostril".

MERAK m & f Astronomy
Derived from Arabic al-maraqq, meaning "the loins (of the bear)". This is the traditional name of the star Beta Ursae Majoris, in the constellation Ursa Major.

MINTAKA f Astronomy
Derived from Arabic manṭaqa, meaning "the belt". This is a star in the constellation Orion.

MIZAR f & m Astronomy
Name of a star in the constellation Ursa Major. Derives from Arabic mīzar, meaning "waistband; girdle".

NAOS m Astronomy, Ancient Greek
From Ancient Greek ναύς meaning "ship". It is a traditional name of the star Zeta Puppis. The star originally belonged to the former constellation Argo Navis, depicting the mythical ship of the Argonauts, but the ship has now been divided into three distinct constellations, with Puppis representing the stern of the ship.

NASHIRA f Astronomy
Nashira, also known as Gamma Capricorni, is a bright star in the constellation of Capricornus. ... [more]

NESO f Greek Mythology, Astronomy
Derived from Greek νῆσος (nêsos) meaning "island". In Greek mythology this name was borne by one of the Nereids. A moon of Neptune bears this name in her honour.

OTAVA m Finnish, Finnish Mythology, Astronomy
Means "salmon net" from an Ancient Finnish word sometimes used also to mean "bear" or "wheel". ... [more]

PISCES m & f Astronomy
The name of the zodiacal constellation supposedly shaped like a pair of fish, derived from the plural form of Latin piscis meaning "fish". This is the name of the twelfth sign of the zodiac.

PLÉYONE f Greek Mythology (Spanish), Astronomy (Spanish)
Spanish form of Pleione.

POLARIS f & m Astronomy, Popular Culture
Derived from the Latin stella polaris, "pole star".... [more]

PRAXIDIKE f Ancient Greek, Astronomy, Greek Mythology
Derived from Greek πραξις (praxis) "action, exercise" combined with Greek δικη (dike) meaning "justice, judgement" as well as "custom, usage". In Greek mythology, Praxidike was the goddess of lawful punishment and an exactor of vengeance... [more]

PYXIS m Astronomy
Pyxis is a small and faint constellation in the southern sky. Abbreviated from Pyxis Nautica, its name is Latin for a mariner's compass (contrasting with Circinus, which represents a draftsman's compasses)... [more]

QĪNG-LÓNG m & f Astronomy
Qīng-Lóng is a Xiang (象) one of the four Symbols that include all the constellations of Chinese System. Qīng-Lóng is known as The Azure Dragon. It is a mythological spirit creature linked with the east, the right and the spring season.

QUAOAR m & f New World Mythology, Astronomy
Also known as Chingichngish, Ouiamot, Tobet and Saor, Quaoar is the name of an important figure in the mythology of the so-called Mission Indians of coastal Southern California, a group of Takic-speaking peoples, today divided into the Payomkowishum (Luiseño), Tongva (Gabrieliño and Fernandeño), and Acjachemem (Juaneño) tribes or peoples... [more]

RÁN f Norse Mythology, Astronomy, Icelandic
Of uncertain etymology. It could be derived from Old Norse rán "robberty, theft" or rámr "hoarse". In Norse mythology, Rán is a sea goddess and ruler of the dead at the bottom of the sea... [more]

RASTABAN m Astronomy
Traditional name for Beta Draconis, the third brightest star in the Draco constellation. The name comes from Arabic ra's ath-thu'ban, which means "head of the serpent".

SAGITTARIUS m & f Astronomy
Means "archer" in Latin. From the Latin sagittarius 'archer'.... [more]

SAIPH m Astronomy
Variant of Saif. This is the traditional name of Kappa Orionis, a blue star in the constellation Orion.

SCEPTRUM m & f Astronomy
Means "sceptre" in Latin. This is the traditional name of the star 53 Eridani in the constellation Eridanus.

SCHEDAR f Astronomy
Derives from the Arabic word şadr, meaning "breast" (referring to the star's placement near the "heart" of the constellation). This is the traditional name of the star Alpha Cassiopeiae in the constellation Cassiopeia.... [more]

SCORPIO m Astronomy
The name of the zodiacal constellation supposedly shaped like a scorpion, meaning "scorpion" in Latin (see Scorpius). Scorpio is the eighth sign of the zodiac.

SCORPIUS m Astronomy, Literature, Popular Culture
Derived from Greek skorpíos "scorpion" via its latinized form scorpio. In astronomy, Scorpius is the name of a constellation near the center of the Milky Way. In both literature and popular culture, it is the name of antagonist Draco Malfoy's only son in the "Harry Potter" series written by J.K. Rowling.

SEXTANS m & f Astronomy
Sextans is one of the constellations introduced by the Polish astronomer Johannes Hevelius. It represents the astronomical sextant. Hevelius named the constellation after the sextant he used to measure star positions... [more]

SHELIAK m Astronomy
Derived from Arabic الشلياق (šiliyāq) meaning "tortoise". This is the name of the second brightest star in the constellation Lyra. A tortoise shell often formed the body of the lyre, an ancient type of harp; and according to some sources, sheliak translates from the Greek as "harp".

TARVOS m Celtic Mythology (Latinized), Astronomy
The name of a Gaulish god depicted as a bull with three cranes on his back.

TAURUS m Late Roman, Astronomy
Derived from Latin taurus "bull". Throughout history, this name was borne by four Roman senators and seven Roman consuls. In astronomy, this is the name of one of the constellations of the zodiac.

THEEMIN f & m Astronomy
Possibly a corrupted form of Arabic al thalim, meaning "the ostrich". This is a star in the constellation Eridanus.

THRYMR m Norse Mythology (Anglicized), Astronomy
Anglicized form of Old Norse Þrymr (see Trym). Thrymr is the name of one of Saturn's moons.

TUCANA f Astronomy
Tucana is one of the southern constellations created by Dutch explorers in the late 16th century. It was named after the toucan, a type of bird found in South America.

VÉINEAS f Astronomy, Roman Mythology
Irish form of Venus. It does not appear to be in use as an Irish given name.

VELA f Astronomy, Etruscan
Vela is a southern constellion, one of four parts into which Argo Navis was split... Vela is the sail.

VINDEMIATRIX f Astronomy
Means "female wine harvester". This is the name of a star on the constellation Virgo, and is named such because it rises in early autumn, the beginning of the wine harvesting season.

VIRGO f Roman Mythology, Astronomy
Means "maiden" in Latin. The name of one of the constellations in the zodiac.

WEZEN m Astronomy
Derived from Arabic al-wazn, meaning "weight". This is the traditional name of the star Delta Canis Majoris in the constellation Canis Major.

XUÁN-WǓ m & f Chinese, Astronomy
Xuán-Wǔ is a Xiang (象) one of the four Symbols that include all the constellations of Chinese System. Xuán-Wǔ is known as Black Tortoise or Black Turtle in English but Black Warrior in Chinese... [more]

ZANIAH f Astronomy, English (Rare)
Presumably derived from Arabic زاوية (zāwiyah) "corner" (though Alhazen claimed that this word meant "harlot"). This was the medieval name for Eta Virginis, a star in the constellation Virgo.

ZAURAK m Astronomy
Means "the boat". This is the traditional name of the star Gamma Eridani in the constellation Eridanus.

ZHŪ-QUÈ m & f Chinese, Astronomy
Zhū-Què is a Xiang (象) one of the four Symbols that include all the constellations of Chinese System. Zhū-Què is known as Vermillion Bird of the South and is a pheasant with a multicolour piumage covered by flames... [more]

ZIBAL m Astronomy
Means "ostrich nest" or "hatching place" in Arabic. This is the traditional name of the star Zeta Eridani in the constellation Eridanus.