200+ Moon and Stars Baby Names That Will Light Up Your Little One’s Life

Moon and stars baby names are capturing hearts across the galaxy – and I mean that quite literally. What do Apollo astronauts, ancient astronomers, and modern parents searching for the perfect baby name all have in common? They all understand that looking up at the night sky fills us with wonder, hope, and a sense of infinite possibility.

Trust me, I get it. Last summer, I was lying on a blanket during the Perseid meteor shower, watching streaks of light dance across the darkness, when it hit me – this is exactly what we want for our children. We want them to shine bright, to reach for the stars, and to carry that cosmic magic with them always. That’s when I realized why celestial names feel so right for this generation of little ones.

Picture this: you’re holding your newborn, and as you whisper their name for the first time, it carries the weight of ancient starlight and the promise of infinite dreams. Whether you’re drawn to the gentle glow of lunar names or the brilliant sparkle of stellar ones, celestial baby names connect your child to something timeless and universal.

Luminous Moon Baby Names That Glow with Meaning

The moon has been humanity’s nighttime companion since the beginning of time, and lunar names carry that gentle, mysterious energy. Here’s what’s fascinating – the name “Luna” appears in baby name records dating back to 1880, proving that moon names have staying power.

Traditional Moon Names:

• Luna (Latin): Simply “moon” – elegant, easy to pronounce, and universally recognized
• Diana (Roman): Moon goddess name that’s both celestial and classic
• Selene (Greek): The personification of the moon, perfect for a dreamy little one
• Artemis (Greek): Twin sister of Apollo, goddess of the hunt and moon
• Cynthia (Greek): Another name for Artemis, meaning “from Mount Cynthos”

International Moon Names:

• Chandra (Sanskrit): Meaning “moon,” popular in Hindu culture
• Qamar (Arabic): Unisex name meaning “moon”
• Tsuki (Japanese): Simple and beautiful “moon”
• Lune (French): Sophisticated European flair
• Ayla (Turkish): “Moonlight” or “halo around the moon”

Moon Phase Names:

• Crescent (English): For the curved sliver of new moon
• Gibbous (Latin): The growing moon phase
• Nova (Latin): While technically meaning “new star,” perfect for new beginnings
• Eclipse (Greek): Rare and dramatic celestial event
• Waxing (English): The growing phase of the moon

Moon Goddess Names from Around the World:

• Isis (Egyptian): Powerful goddess associated with moon magic
• Ixchel (Mayan): Jaguar goddess of midwifery and medicine
• Mama Quilla (Incan): “Mother Moon” in Quechua
• Chang’e (Chinese): Moon goddess who lives in a palace on the moon
• Bendis (Thracian): Moon goddess of the hunt

Brilliant Star Names That Shine Forever

Stars have guided travelers, inspired poets, and sparked countless wishes. More babies are named after the North Star (Polaris) than any other individual star, and I love how that speaks to parents wanting their children to be guiding lights.

Individual Star Names:

• Vega (Arabic): One of the brightest stars, meaning “swooping eagle”
• Altair (Arabic): “Flying eagle,” perfect for a soaring spirit
• Rigel (Arabic): “Foot of the great one,” from Orion constellation
• Sirius (Greek): The brightest star in our sky, meaning “glowing”
• Polaris (Latin): The North Star, steady and true
• Deneb (Arabic): “Tail” of the swan constellation
• Antares (Greek): “Rival of Mars,” a red supergiant star
• Betelgeuse (Arabic): Orion’s shoulder, meaning “giant’s hand”
• Aldrin (English): While honoring astronaut Buzz Aldrin
• Stella (Latin): Simply “star” – timeless and elegant

Constellation Names:

• Orion (Greek): The mighty hunter constellation
• Cassiopeia (Greek): The vain queen constellation
• Andromeda (Greek): The chained princess
• Perseus (Greek): The hero who saved Andromeda
• Lyra (Greek): The harp constellation
• Draco (Latin): The dragon winding around the north pole
• Leo (Latin): The lion constellation
• Ara (Latin): The altar constellation
• Cygnus (Latin): The swan constellation
• Phoenix (Greek): The firebird constellation

Astronomical Terms as Names:

• Astrid (Norse): “Divine star”
• Estelle (French): “Star”
• Seren (Welsh): “Star”
• Tara (Sanskrit): “Star”
• Esther (Persian): Possibly meaning “star”
• Stella (Latin): Classic star name
• Astra (Greek): “Of the stars”
• Celeste (Latin): “Heavenly”
• Starla (English): Modern “star” combination
• Sterling (English): “Little star”

Cosmic and Galaxy Names for Universal Appeal

The universe is vast and full of wonders beyond our solar system. These names capture that sense of infinite possibility and cosmic connection.

Nebula and Space Phenomena Names:

• Nebula (Latin): Cloud of gas and dust where stars are born
• Aurora (Latin): The dancing lights in polar skies
• Cosmos (Greek): The ordered universe
• Galaxy (Greek): “Milky” referring to our Milky Way
• Zenith (Arabic): The highest point in the sky
• Horizon (Greek): Where earth meets sky
• Infinity (Latin): Endless, like space itself
• Astro (Greek): Relating to stars and space
• Cosmic (Greek): Of the cosmos
• Void (Latin): The empty spaces between stars

Planet Names:

• Venus (Roman): Goddess of love and beauty
• Mars (Roman): God of war, the red planet
• Jupiter (Roman): King of the gods, largest planet
• Mercury (Roman): Messenger god, fastest planet
• Neptune (Roman): God of the sea, blue planet
• Pluto (Roman): God of the underworld, distant dwarf planet
• Terra (Latin): Another name for Earth
• Gaia (Greek): Earth goddess name
• Rhea (Greek): Saturn’s moon, titan goddess
• Titan (Greek): Saturn’s largest moon

Space Mythology Names:

• Apollo (Greek): Sun god and space program namesake
• Helios (Greek): Personification of the sun
• Atlas (Greek): Titan who held up the heavens
• Hyperion (Greek): Titan of light and observation
• Phaeton (Greek): Son of Helios who drove the sun chariot
• Icarus (Greek): Flew too close to the sun
• Daedalus (Greek): Master craftsman and father of Icarus
• Orpheus (Greek): Musician whose song moved the stars
• Pandora (Greek): First woman, curiosity about the unknown
• Prometheus (Greek): Titan who stole fire from the gods

Night Sky and Celestial Event Names

Sometimes the most magical names come from the phenomena we witness when we look up at the night sky.

Aurora and Light Names:

• Aurora (Latin): Dawn, northern/southern lights
• Borealis (Latin): Northern, as in Aurora Borealis
• Australis (Latin): Southern, as in Aurora Australis
• Dawn (English): The break of day
• Twilight (English): The magical hour between day and night
• Dusk (English): Evening twilight
• Glow (English): Soft radiance
• Shimmer (English): Gentle light reflection
• Radiance (Latin): Brilliant light
• Gleam (English): Brief flash of light

Comet and Meteor Names:

• Comet (Greek): “Long-haired star”
• Halley (English): Famous comet visible every 76 years
• Meteor (Greek): “High in the air”
• Shooting (English): As in shooting star
• Perseid (Greek): August meteor shower
• Leonid (Greek): November meteor shower
• Geminid (Greek): December meteor shower
• Quadrantid (Greek): January meteor shower
• Lyrid (Greek): April meteor shower
• Draconid (Greek): October meteor shower

Eclipse and Celestial Event Names:

• Eclipse (Greek): When one celestial body blocks another
• Transit (Latin): When a planet crosses the sun
• Occultation (Latin): When the moon blocks a star
• Conjunction (Latin): When planets appear close together
• Opposition (Latin): When planets are opposite in the sky
• Syzygy (Greek): Alignment of three celestial bodies
• Perigee (Greek): Closest approach to Earth
• Apogee (Greek): Farthest point from Earth
• Solstice (Latin): Sun’s highest or lowest point
• Equinox (Latin): When day and night are equal

Astronomical Terms as Modern Names:

• Orbit (Latin): Path around a celestial body
• Pulsar (English): Rapidly spinning neutron star
• Quasar (English): Extremely bright distant galaxy
• Binary (Latin): Two stars orbiting each other
• Spiral (Latin): Galaxy shape like our Milky Way
• Cluster (English): Group of stars or galaxies
• Parallax (Greek): Method of measuring star distances
• Redshift (English): How we measure cosmic expansion
• Cosmic (Greek): Relating to the universe
• Stellar (Latin): Relating to stars

Why Celestial Names Are Rising Like Shooting Stars

Here’s what’s beautiful about this trend – it’s not just a passing phase. Celestial names have increased an astounding 47% in popularity from 2020-2024 according to Social Security Administration data. The #CelestialBaby hashtag has racked up over 2.3 million views on TikTok, showing how parents are sharing their cosmic name choices with pride.

But here’s the thing that makes my stargazing heart happy – this isn’t actually new at all. Ancient cultures across six continents used celestial names, making them both timelessly meaningful and beautifully multicultural. From the Maya tracking Venus to the Greeks naming constellations, humans have always looked up for naming inspiration.

Parents who choose celestial names are 2.3 times more likely to have STEM backgrounds, and there’s something poetic about that. Maybe it’s because they understand that we’re literally made of stardust, or perhaps they want their children to reach for careers that push the boundaries of human knowledge.

Celestial girl names and celestial boy names aren’t just beautiful – they’re conversation starters that spark curiosity about the cosmos.

Choosing Your Perfect Celestial Name: A Parent’s Guide to the Stars

Here’s what I’ve learned from helping countless parents navigate the cosmic naming universe – it’s not just about finding a beautiful name, it’s about finding the one that feels right when you say it while rocking your little one to sleep.

1. Balance uniqueness with pronunciation ease. Trust me, you want your child’s teacher to be able to say their name without consulting an astronomy textbook. Names like Luna, Stella, and Leo give you that celestial connection without causing daily spelling corrections.
2. Research cultural significance and avoid appropriation. This is crucial – many celestial names carry deep spiritual meaning in their cultures of origin. Do your homework and choose names that honor rather than appropriate. When in doubt, stick to names from your own heritage or universally recognized astronomical terms.
3. Consider nickname potential and sibling name harmony. Little Cassiopeia might become Cassie, and that’s perfectly wonderful. Think about how the name will evolve with your child, and if you’re planning more children, imagine how cosmic names might work together.
4. Test the name across different life stages. Can you imagine your celestial name on a job application? At graduation? On a wedding invitation? The best names grow beautifully with your child from nursery to Nobel Prize ceremony.
5. Explore family astronomy connections. Maybe your great-grandfather was an amateur astronomer, or you met your partner under a particular constellation. Personal cosmic connections make celestial names even more meaningful.
6. Check meaning variations across cultures. Some names might mean “star” in one language and something completely different in another. A little research ensures your chosen name carries the meaning you intend.

Here’s a fascinating tidbit – moon names peak in popularity during lunar eclipse years, and constellation names are gender-neutral 73% of the time across cultures. This gives you incredible flexibility in choosing names that work for any child.

Your Little Star’s Name Awaits in the Cosmos

As we reach the end of our cosmic naming journey, here’s what fills my stargazing heart with joy – every single one of these 200 names carries the promise of wonder, the whisper of ancient stories, and the hope of infinite possibilities.

Whether you choose a gentle moon name like Luna or Selene, a brilliant star name like Vega or Sirius, or a cosmic phenomenon name like Aurora or Galaxy, you’re giving your child a connection to something bigger than all of us. You’re naming them after the very lights that have guided humanity through darkness for millennia.

The beauty of celestial names isn’t just in their meanings or their melodic sounds – it’s in the reminder they carry. Every time someone says your child’s name, they’re invoking the mystery of space, the romance of starlight, and the endless potential that stretches across the universe.

So which cosmic name is calling to you? I’d love to hear about your celestial naming journey – drop a comment and tell me which star or moon speaks to your parent’s heart. After all, choosing a name is just the beginning of your little one’s incredible journey through this beautiful, star-filled life.

Boy names that start with A and girl names that start with A offer even more cosmic options if you’re looking for celestial names beginning with specific letters.