These names occur primarily in astronomy. They are not commonly given to real people.
Submitted names are contributed by users of this website. The accuracy of these name definitions cannot be guaranteed.
ACAMARm & fAstronomy 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.
ACHERNARmAstronomy Derived from Arabic ākhir an-nahr, meaning "the end of the river". This is the name of the brightest star in the constellation ERIDANUS.
ACRUXm & fAstronomy Abbreviation of "Alpha Crucis", a star in the constellation CRUX.
ADHAFERAfAstronomy Derived from Arabic al-ðafīrah, meaning "braid, curl". This is the traditional name of the star Zeta Leonis in the constellation Leo.
AIGOKEROSmGreek 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.
AINm & fAstronomy, Arabic Means "eye" in Arabic. This is the traditional name of the star Epsilon Tauri in the constellation Taurus.
ALADFARfAstronomy 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.
ALDEBARANmAstronomy, 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]
ALGIEBAm & fAstronomy Derived from Arabic Al-Jabhah, meaning "the forehead". This is the traditional name of the star Gamma Leonis in the constellation LEO.
ALGOLmAstronomy (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"
ALHENAfAstronomy 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.
ALIOTHm & fAstronomy 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.
ALKAIDm & fFilipino, 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.
ALNILAMm & fAstronomy Derived from Arabic an-niżām, meaning "string of pearls". This is a star in the constellation ORION.
ALNITAKm & fAstronomy Derived from Arabic an-niṭāq, meaning "the girdle". This is the name of a star in ORION.
ALPHARDmAstronomy 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.
ALPHERATZfAstronomy, 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.
ANGETENARfAstronomy Means "bend of the river" in Arabic. This is the traditional name of the star Tau 2 Eridani in the constellation ERIDANUS.
ANTLIAfAstronomy 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.
AQUARIUSm & fAstronomy Means "water-carrier" or "cup-carrier" in Latin. This is a constellation in the zodiac, between Capricornus and Pisces.
ARCTURUSmAstronomy, Literature Arcturus is a star in the constellation Boötes, the brightest star in the northern celestial hemisphere. . ... [more]
ARDRAfHinduism, 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.
ASCELLAfAstronomy 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.
ATRIAfAstronomy A star in the constellation Triangulum Australe
AURIGAmAstronomy 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.
AUVAfAstronomy Auva is the medieval name of Delta Virginis, a star in the zodiac constellation of Virgo. ... [more]
AVIORf & mAstronomy 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.
AZHAm & fAstronomy Means "the breeding place" in Arabic. This is the traditional name of the star Eta Eridani in the constellation ERIDANUS.
BÁI-HǓm & fAstronomy 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.
BEIDm & fAstronomy Derived from Arabic al baid, meaning "the (ostrich) egg". This is the traditional name of the star Omicron 1 Eridani in the constellation ERIDANUS.
CAELUMmAstronomy 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).
CANCERmAstronomy 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.
CAPELLAfAstronomy 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.
CAPRICORNmAstronomy 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]
CARPOfGreek 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]
CHALDENEfAstronomy, 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.
CRUXmAstronomy Latin for "cross". This is the name of a constellation in the southern hemisphere, commonly known as the Southern Cross.
CURSAm & fAstronomy 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.
CYGNUSmAstronomy Cygnus is a northern constellation lying on the plane of the Milky Way, deriving its name from the Latinized Greek word for swan.
CYNOSURAfAstronomy, 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]
DATHELKARTIfAstronomy Derived from Arabic Al Dhāt al Kursiyy, meaning "the lady in the chair". Dath Elkarti is another name for SCHEDAR.
DELPHINUSmAstronomy Means "dolphin" in Latin. Delphinus is a constellation of a dolphin located on the northern sky near the celestial equator.
DILYÉHÉfNavajo (?), Astronomy Means "planting stars" in Navajo. This is the Navajo name of the star cluster known in English as the Pleiades.
DIPPERmAstronomy 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]
DORADOmAstronomy Dorado is one of the constellations created by Dutch explorers in the 16th century. It represents the dolphinfish.
DUBHEfAstronomy 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.
ELARAfGreek 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]
ELTANINf & mAstronomy 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.
EUKELADEfGreek 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.
EUPORIEfGreek 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.
HAMALmAstronomy Derived from the Arabic راس الحمل (rās al-ħamal) meaning "head of the ram". The brightest star in the Aries constellation.
HELICEfGreek 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]
HIKOBOSHImJapanese, 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'Af & mHawaiian, 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]
HYDRAfAstronomy, 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.
ISAGELfSwedish (Rare), Literature, Astronomy Isagel is a fictional character and spaceship pilot appearing in Swedish author Harry Martinson's poem of science fiction 'Aniara', published in 1956. Isagel is also the name of an exoplanet (HD 102956 b) orbiting the star Aniara (HD 102956).
KEIDmAstronomy 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]
KIOmAstronomy 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]
LACERTAfAstronomy 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]
LANIAKEAf & mHawaiian, 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]
LEONISmAstronomy The brightest star in the constellation Leo and one of the brightest stars in the night sky, lying approximately 79 light years from Earth.
LIBRAfAstronomy 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".
LLEÓmCatalan, 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".
LYNXmAstronomy 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.
MAGALONAfOccitan, 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.
MEISSAfWestern 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.
MENKARmAstronomy The name of a star in the sky. Means "left nostril".
MERAKm & fAstronomy 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.
MINTAKAfAstronomy Derived from Arabic manṭaqa, meaning "the belt". This is a star in the constellation ORION.
MIZARf & mAstronomy Name of a star in the constellation Ursa Major. Derives from Arabic mīzar, meaning "waistband; girdle".
NAOSmAstronomy, 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.
NASHIRAfAstronomy Nashira, also known as Gamma Capricorni, is a bright star in the constellation of Capricornus. ... [more]
NESOfGreek 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.
PISCESm & fAstronomy 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.
PRAXIDIKEfAncient 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]
PYXISmAstronomy 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]
QUAOARm & fNew 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]
RÁNfNorse 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]
RASTABANmAstronomy 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".
SAIPHmAstronomy Variant of SAIF. This is the traditional name of Kappa Orionis, a blue star in the constellation Orion.
SCEPTRUMm & fAstronomy Means "sceptre" in Latin. This is the traditional name of the star 53 Eridani in the constellation ERIDANUS.
SCHEDARfAstronomy 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]
SCORPIOmAstronomy 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.
SCORPIUSmAstronomy, 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.
SEXTANSm & fAstronomy 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]
SHELIAKmAstronomy 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".
TAURUSmLate 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.
THEEMINf & mAstronomy Possibly a corrupted form of Arabic al thalim, meaning "the ostrich". This is a star in the constellation ERIDANUS.
TUCANAfAstronomy 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.
VELAfAstronomy, Etruscan Vela is a southern constellion, one of four parts into which Argo Navis was split... Vela is the sail.
VINDEMIATRIXfAstronomy 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.
WEZENmAstronomy Derived from Arabic al-wazn, meaning "weight". This is the traditional name of the star Delta Canis Majoris in the constellation Canis Major.
XUÁN-WǓm & fChinese, 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]
ZANIAHfAstronomy, 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.
ZAURAKmAstronomy Means "the boat". This is the traditional name of the star Gamma Eridani in the constellation ERIDANUS.
ZHŪ-QUÈm & fChinese, 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]
ZIBALmAstronomy Means "ostrich nest" or "hatching place" in Arabic. This is the traditional name of the star Zeta Eridani in the constellation ERIDANUS.