Space exploration has captured our imaginations for generations, and with Elon Musk working on space tourism, interest in astronomy continues to soar.
And it seems an increasing number of parents are taking inspiration from space exploration or a love of astronomy.
From Luna, Nova, Celeste and Astrid to Apollo, Buzz, Orion and Galileo, we’ve picked out the space-inspired baby names for girls and boys, we think are out of this world!
We’ve also picked some gender-neutral options including Skyler, Jupiter and Rocket that will let your child know you want them to reach for the stars!
We’d love to know what you think of our space-inspired selection, and if you have any more stellar options from subtle starry references to full on sci-fi names!
Get in touch with us at lucindakate@namebabyname.com – we read and reply to every mail!
Luna:
Of Latin origin, meaning “moon”, in mythology Luna was the goddess of the moon. The name is now internationally popular, ranking consistently in the top 100 in the US and across Europe for decades. In the US it peaked in 2022 at #10.
Eris:
Of Greek origin and meaning “strife”, Eris in mythology was the Goddess of strife and discord. Hers is also the name of the biggest dwarf planet, sometimes referred to as the tenth planet.
Aurora:
A Latin name meaning “dawn”, Aurora is also the name of the natural night sky light display more commonly known as the Northern Lights.
Gaia:
A Greek name meaning “earth”, Gaia embodies the nurturing and life-giving aspects of Mother Earth, our home planet.
Astrid:
Of Norse origin, Astrid means “divinely beautiful”, It was also the name of two microsatellites designed and developed by Swedish Space Corporation on behalf of the Swedish National Space Board.
Nova:
A Latin name meaning “new”, Nova is also the name given to bright stars that appear suddenly in the sky. It reached peak popularity in 2021 and 2022, when it was repeatedly ranked the 32nd most popular name in the US.
Vega:
Of Arabic origin, Vega means “swooping eagle” and is also the name of the brightest star in the constellation Lyra.
Celeste:
A Latin name meaning “heavenly” or “celestial”, Celeste embodies the serene and boundless beauty of the sky, perfect for a child with a serene nature and a soulful depth.
Somaya:
Of Arabic origin, Somaya means “high above”. It’s a name that evokes elevation and aspiration, perfect for a child with lofty dreams and a high-reaching spirit.
Estelle:
Of French origin, Estelle means “star” and re-entered the US Top 1000 in 2012 after 49 years out of the charts.
Galaxia:
A name of Greek origin meaning “galaxy”, Galaxia evokes the vast and mysterious expanse of the universe, ideal for a child with an exploratory spirit and a curiosity for the unknown.
Stella:
Of Latin and Italian origin, Stella means “star”. It’s popularity waned in the 1980s but it has been on an upward trajectory since 1998 and it has been in the top 50 most popular names in the US since 2016, peaking in 2018 at #38.
Venus:
A name of Latin origin, Venus means “love” and “beauty” and is also the name of the second closest planet to the sun.
Cressida:
Of Greek origin, Cressida means “gold”. It is also the name of one of the small inner moons of the planet Uranus.
Pandora:
A Greek name meaning “all gifts”, Pandora is an inner satellite of Saturn, and named after Pandora from Greek mythology.
Lyra:
Of Greek origin, Lyra means “lyre”, and is also the name of a small constellation in the sky which contains the second brightest star after the sun, Vega.
Badriyah:
Of Arabic origin, Badriyah means “resembling the full moon” and is considered a romantic name in Arabic culture. We agree!
Astra:
A Latin name meaning “of the stars”, Astra captures the boundless beauty and mystery of the night sky.
Ophelia:
A Greek name meaning “help”, Ophelia is also the name of a moon of Uranus.
Cordelia:
Of Latin and Celtic origin, Cordelia means “heart; daughter of the sea” and is the name of another moon of Uranus.
Rhea:
Of Greek origin meaning “flowing” in mythology Rhea was worshipped for her fertility. Hers is also the name of the second-largest moon of Saturn and the ninth-largest moon in the Solar System, with a surface area comparable to the size of Australia.
Athena:
Of Greek origin, Athena means “goddess of wisdom and war”. It is also an abbreviation for the Advanced Telescope for High-Energy Astrophysics – an X-ray observatory mission by the European Space Agency due to restart in 2024.
Titania:
A Greek name meaning “giant”, popularized as the queen of the fairies in literature. Titania is also the name of Uranus’ largest moon.
Carina:
A Latin name meaning “keel of a ship”, Carina is also a constellation in the southern sky.
Vela:
Of Latin origin, Vela means “sails of a ship” and was the name given to a constellation in the southern sky which contains the Vela supercluster.
Tucana:
A name of Latin origin, Tucana is the name of a constellation in the southern sky which represents the toucan, a large-billed tropical American bird. The shape of the constellation looks like the bird’s bill.
Selene:
A Greek name meaning “moon”, Selene was the Greek goddess of the moon, sister of Helios the sun god. The Latin variation Selena is more popular in the US.
Capella:
Of Latin origin, Capella literally means “chapel” and it’s part of the musical phrase “a capella” which means singing without instruments. It is also the name of the sixth-brightest star in the night sky, located in the constellation Auriga.
Miranda:
Of Latin origin, Miranda means “admirable” or “wonderful”. It is also the name of the innermost and smallest of five major moons of Uranus.
Adrastea:
Named after one of Jupiter’s moons, Adrastea is of Greek origin, meaning “inescapable”. In mythology, Adrastea was a nymph who supported Titaness Rhea with the birth of her son, Zeus. The name can also be spelt Adrasteia.
Cassiopeia:
A Greek name meaning “she who entwines”, Cassiopeia is the name of a large constellation in the northern sky named after the vain and boastful queen in Greek mythology.
Lucia:
Of Latin origin, Lucia means “light” from the latin word ‘lux’. Traditionally given to babies born as daylight was breaking, Lucia has always featured in the US top 1000 since records began, and peaked in 2022 at #126.
Gloria:
A Latin name meaning “glory”, Gloria suggests honor and high praise. It is also the name given to the first free and open access network of 14 robotic telescopes in the world, allowing users to take images and actively participate in the scientific exploration of space.
Aura:
Of Greek origin, Aura means “breeze” and is also the acronym for the Association of Universities for Research in Astronomy, so perfect for a little astronaut!
Hesper:
A Greek name meaning “evening star”, Hesper is also linked to the Ancient Greek Hesperides, who are the daughters of nymphs known as “Daughters of the Evening” who are linked to beautiful golden sunsets.
Elara:
Of Greek origin, Elara means “moon”. In Greek mythology she was a lover of Zeus who gave birth to a giant! Elara is also the name of one of Jupiter’s moons so has real celestial grace.
Astraea:
Of Greek origin, Astraea means “star-maiden” or “starry night”. In Greek mythology she was the virgin goddess of justice, innocence, purity and precision and became the constellation Virgo, so a name particularly relevant for girls born between August 23 and September 22.
Celestia:
A Latin name meaning “heavenly”, Celestia is derived from the masculine Latin name Celaestis, meaning “of the sky”.
Bianca:
Of Italian origin, Bianca means “white” and is also the name of an inner moon of Uranus, discovered by Voyager 2.
Phoebe:
A Greek name meaning “bright, shining”, Phoebe is also the biggest, most irregular and arguably most intriguing of Saturn’s moons.
Alkaid:
Of Arabic origin, Alkaid means “leader of the daughters”. It is also the name of one of the stars in the Ursa Major constellation, also known as the end of the handle of the Big Dipper!
Corona:
A Latin name meaning “crown”, a Corona is also the name of the aura of light around the sun or moon, so ideal for a radiant child! However, with the beer brand and the coronavirus, we can’t see this name climbing the charts again any time soon. Shame!
Cygnus:
Of Greek origin, Cygnus means “swan”. The name has also been given to an American cargo spacecraft, and is one of the most recognisable constellations of the northern summer and autumn featuring a prominent asterism known as the northern cross.
Baby Boy names inspired by space
Namid: Of Native American origin, Namid means “star dancer”. We absolutely love this meaning!
Elio: A variant of Helios, the Greek sun god’s name, Elio means “sun”, and like the sun, its popularity continues to rise! An increase in popularity saw it reach #844 in the US Top 1000 boys names in 2021, and #877 in 2022.
Sirius: Of Greek origin, Sirius means “glowing” or “scorcher”. It’s also the name of the brightest star in the night sky from the constellation Canis Major, and is also known as the Dog Star.
Janus: Latin for “gateway”, Janus was the Roman god of beginnings, transitions and endings. Janus is also the name of one of Saturn’s moons.
Apollo: Of Greek origin, Apollo means “destroyer”. In mythology, Apollo was the god of the sun, music, and healing. The name is also now synonymous with the NASA space program that landed the first men on the moon.
Neptune: A name of Latin origin, Neptune means “god of the sea” and in Roman mythology, Neptune was the god of water and the sea. Neptune is also the name of the eighth and furthest planet from the sun.
Hercules: From the Greek name Herakles, which stems from ‘heros’ meaning “hero” or “warrior” and ‘kleos’ meaning glory. In mythology Hercules was known for his strength and adventures. Hercules is also the fifth largest constellation in the sky.
Arcturus: Of Greek origin, Arcturus means “guardian of the bear”. In mythology, Arcturus was put in the sky by Zeus to protect his mother Callisto. His name was later given to the brightest star in the kite-shaped constellation Boötes, which is close to Ursa Major “great bear” and Ursa Minor “lesser bear”.
Jerah: A Hebrew name meaning “moon”, and sometimes thought to mean “taught by God”. In the Bible, Jerah was one of the descendants of Joktan.
Castor: Of Greek origin, Castor means “to shine”. In classic mythology, Castor was one of the twins immortalised in the Gemini constellation. He and his brother Pollux were seen as the patron gods of sailors and appeared as the weather phenomenon St Elmo’s fire. They are also associated with horsemanship.
Astro: Derived from the Greek word for “star”, Astro is a fantastic name for boys and is increasing in popularity. It’s usage waned after it was the name given to the dog on 1980s cartoon TV series The Jetsons!
Hamal: Arabic for “lamb”, Hamal is the brightest star in the Aries constellation so could be perfect for boys born between March 21 and April 19.
Cosmo: Of Greek origin, Cosmo means “order” and “beauty” and is the start of many space-related words including cosmos, cosmic and cosmonaut. It is also the name of the patron Saint of physicians and the English form of Cosimo. In 2021 it was chosen by actress Scarlett Johansson and her partner Colin Jost for their baby boy born.
Orion: Of Greek origin, Orion means “boundary” or “limit”. Orion is one of the brightest and most recognisable constellations in the northern sky, and was named after a hunter in Greek mythology who pursued the seven daughters of Atlas, before being killed by Zeus and placed in the sky. The name’s popularity is trending upwards, having re-entered the Top 1000 US names in 1991 after an 81 year hiatus!
Sterling: Of English origin, Sterling means “little star”. It is linked to British currency and believed to have emerged from when early Norman pennies featured a small star. We love the meaning and the story!
Anshul: Of Sanskrit origin, Anshul means “sunbeam”. It is a popular Hindu name and symbolizes radiance and warmth.
Draco: A Latin name meaning “dragon”, Draco is also a constellation in the shape of a dragon in the night sky and for that reason, the name of one of the main characters in the Harry Potter series.
Perseus: A Greek name meaning “to destroy”. In mythology, Perseus was a hero known for slaying Medusa and rescuing Andromeda from a sea monster. He later married her. The Perseus constellation symbolises his bravery and sense of his adventure.
Rigel: Arabic for “foot”, Rigel is a brilliant blue star in the constellation Orion, marking the hunter’s foot. It symbolizes guidance and brightness.
Zabian: An Arabic name meaning “one who worships the stars”, the ancient Zabian people were famous for their astronomical knowledge.
Samson: Of Hebrew origin, Samson means “sun” or “sun child”. Known for his extraordinary strength in the Bible, Samson symbolizes strength and resilience. While more unusual than Samuel, it still gives way to the same nickname Sam and it’s popularity has been increasing since 2018 when it began appearing in the top 600 US names for boys. In 2022 it was #585.
Ginan: Derived from Sanskrit meaning “knowledge”, Ginan is a single orange-hued star in the Crux constellation, also known as Epsilon Crucis. It is one of five stars that make up the Southern cross and was officially recognised as Ginan by the International Astronomical Union in 2018 despite being known by that name for thousands of years by the Wardaman people of the Northern Territory.
Altair: Of Arabic origin, {Altair} means “the flying eagle”. It’s also the name of the brightest star in the Aquila constellation.
Jericho: Of Arabic origin, Jericho means “city of the moon” and indeed it is the name of a city in the West Bank, Palestine. In the Bible, the ancient city of Jericho was conquered by Joshua. As a name, Jericho has increased in popularity since 2012 when it first entered the US Top 1000 boys names, and in 2022 it was #930.
Leo: A Latin name meaning “lion”, Leo is also a zodiac sign and a constellation resembling a lion. It represents courage and strength.
Cyrus: Of Persian origin, Cyrus means “sun” or “one who bestows care” and has been traditionally popular with Persian kings. It is also popular in the US where it has consistently ranked in the top 500 names since 2012, peaking in 2022 at #326.
Astrophel: A name coined by 16th century poet Sir Philip Sidney, Astrophel combines Greek elements to mean “star lover”. Also spelt Astrophil, it is the title of Sidney’s sonnet sequence Astophil and Stella, a combination of 108 sonnets and 11 songs where Stella is his star.
Proteus: Of Greek origin meaning “first” or “primary”, Proteus could be a strong name for a firstborn son. In mythology, Proteus was the eldest son of Poseidon and an early sea god. His name was given to one of Neptune’s moons. Proteus is also the name of one of Shakespeare’s gentlemen in the story Two Gentleman of Verona.
Regulus: Of Latin origin, Regulus means “little king”. It is also the name of the brightest star in the constellation of Leo so could be especially relevant for boys born between July 23 and August 22.
Atlas: A name of Greek origin, Atlas means “to carry” or “endure”. In mythology, Atlas was a Titan condemned to hold up the sky for eternity and the name is associated with strength. Atlas is also the name of a family of American space launch vehicles. Its popularity as a boy’s name has been trending upwards since 2013, peaking at #129 in 2022.
Helios: Of Greek origin, Helios means “sun”. In mythology, Helios was the sun god who wore a radiant crown and who drove his horse-drawn chariot across the sky each day. He was brother to the moon goddess Selene, and Eos, goddess of the dawn.
Tarek: Of Arabic origin, Tarek means “morning star” or “he who knocks at the door”. It is often thought of as a variant of the popular Tariq.
Astraeus: Of Greek origin, Astraeus means “starry one”. In mythology, Astraeus is the titan god of dusk, father of the winds and the stars and husband to Eos, goddess of the dawn.
Mars: A name of Latin origin, Mars is the Roman god of war. Mars is also the fourth planet from the sun, known for its red appearance. Mars is also the basis of the name of the third month, March, as well as the word ‘Tuesday’ which in Latin is dies Martis or ‘day of Mars’. so could be relevant for those birthdays!
Gender netural names inspired by space
Mercury:
Of Latin origin, Mercury means “messenger of the gods”. In Roman mythology, Mercury was the god of travelers and thieves, known for his speed and cunning. Mercury is also the name of the innermost and swift-moving planet of our solar system.
Lumen:
A Latin name meaning “light”, Lumen is also the term used for measuring light so topical for those looking to the skies for inspiration.
Nimbus:
Of Latin origin, Nimbus means “cloud”. It was also the name given to seven US weather satellites launched in the 1960 and 70s.
Comet:
An Old English name referring to the celestial object with a glowing coma and a long tail, made of ice, dust, and gas, Comet in Greek means “to wear the hair long”.
Skylar:
Of Dutch origin, Skylar from ‘schuyler’ means “scholar”. Obviously linked to the sky above, it’s been in the top 200 names in the US consistently since 1998 and in 2022 was ranked #87 for girls. The variation Skyler was ranked #541 for girls in the US, and #670 for boys.
Zenith:
Of Arabic origin, Zenith means “the time at which something is most powerful or successful”. In astronomy, it refers to the point in the sky directly above an observer.
Aquila:
Of Latin origin meaning “eagle”, the unisex name Aquila has been given to a constellation on the celestial equator and in mythology represents the bird that carried Zeus’ thunderbolts.
Celeste:
A Latin name meaning “heavenly”, “of the sky” Celeste, or in France Céleste, is a gender-neutral name that proves popular with girls and boys in France and Italy. In the US it has been gaining popularity for girls, and was ranked #292 in the Top 1000 names of 2022.
Galaxy:
Of Greek origin from ‘galaxias’ meaning “system of stars”, the space-inspired Galaxy is also varied to Galaxie or Galaxia.
Comet:
An English name referring to the celestial object with a bright tail, Comet symbolizes brilliance, uniqueness, and the fleeting moments that leave a lasting impression, perfect for a child with a dynamic personality.
Eclipse:
A name that captures the celestial event of an Eclipse that occurs when the Earth, moon and sun align.
Nova:
Of Latin origin, meaning “new”, a {Nova) is also the term given to a star that suddenly increases in brightness.
Sol:
A Latin name meaning “sun”, particularly popular in Spain and Portugal. It entered the US Top 1000 names for girls for the first time in 2022. For boys, it was most popular from 1900-1924, which means going by the 100 year rule it could be due for a resurgence!
Jupiter:
Of Latin origin, Jupiter was the name of the king of the Roman gods. It’s also the largest planet in our solar system. Singer Ed Sheeran and actress Ashley Tisdale have both picked the name for their daughters, but it is also popular with boy parents!
Rocket:
An English name that embodies exploration and speed, Rocket literally means “jet-propelled tube”. and the human desire to reach beyond our limits. We think it could be super fun for a middle name!
Star:
An English name derived from the Latin ‘stella’ and Greek ‘aster’, Star is a distinctive name and one that really makes us smile!
Aries:
Of Latin origin, meaning “ram” and representing the first sign of the Zodiac, Aries would be ideal for baby boys or girls born between March 21 and April 19.
Horizon:
An English name referring to the line where the earth meets the sky, Horizon is distinctive and gender neutral.
Izar:
Of Basque origin meaning “star”, Izar is a star in the northern constellation of Boötes.
Phoenix:
Of Greek origin, Phoenix means “dark red” or “crimson” and is often associated with the mighty mythological bird. It is also the name of a constellation and the title given to an unmanned space probe that landed on Mars in 2008.
Juno:
A Latin name, Juno means “youth” and “queen of the gods”. It is also the name of a NASA space probe orbiting the planet Jupiter.
Space names inspired by pioneering women
Valentina Tereshkova (6 March 1937) – The first and youngest woman to have flown in space with a solo mission on the Vostok 6. Valentina is of Latin origin and means “strong” or “brave”. The name has been trending upwards of late, appearing in the US Top 100 every year since 2017 and peaking in 2022 at #56.
Sally Ride (26 May 1951) – The first American woman in space. Sally is a Hebrew name meaning “princess”. The name peaked in popularity in the US in the 1930s so could be due a resurgence. It is a top 100 name in Sweden.
Mae Jemison (17 October 1956) – The first African-American woman to travel in space. Mae has Latin origins and is a variation of May, the English name for the spring month, named after the Roman goddess Maia. In Portugeuse Mãe means mother.
Katherine Johnson (16 August 1918) – An American mathematician whose calculations of orbital mechanics were critical to the success of the first and subsequent U.S. manned spaceflights. The space agency noted her historical role as one of the first African-American women to work as a NASA scientist. Katherine is a Greek name meaning “pure” and has a permanent place in the US Top 200 names, most recently at #166.
Margaret Hamilton (17 August 1936) – An American computer scientist who led the development of on-board flight software for NASA’s Apollo moon missions. Margaret is a Latin name meaning “pearl” and has appeared in the US Top 200 names every year since 1880!
Nancy Grace Roman (16 May 1025) – An American astronomer and the first female executive at NASA, she is known as “Mother of Hubble” for her role in planning the Hubble Space Telescope. Nancy is a Hebrew name meaning “grace” or a British name which stemmed from “mine Ancy” depending on who you choose to believe! The name has appeared in the US Top 1000 every year since 1880, but while it made the top 10 in the 30s, 40s and 50s, it only ranked #997 in 2022.
Annie Jump Cannon (13 May 1863) – An American astronomer whose cataloging work was instrumental in the development of contemporary stellar classification. Annie is a Hebrew name, a variation of Anne which stems from the biblical Hannah. Perennially popular, Annie was ranked #206 in the US Top 100 names in 2022.
Edmon Halley (8 November 1656) – An English astronomer, mathematician and physicist who was the first to calculate the orbit of a comet, later named after him. Today Halley is an increasingly popular girl’s name. It is variously thought of as being of English origin meaning “hall” or “woodland clearing” and of Scandinavian origin meaning “heroine”. We prefer the latter!
Space names inspired by pioneering men
Neil Armstrong (5 August 1930) – The first person to walk on the moon during the Apollo 11 mission in July 1969. Neil is an English version of the Irish name Niall which means “champion” or “passionate”. There is also some who say it means “cloud”, but we prefer the other meanings!
Buzz Aldrin (20 January 1934) – The second person to walk on the moon, as part of the Apollo 11 mission, and the namesake of the popular Pixar spaceman, Mr Lightyear! Buzz Aldrin’s real name is Edwin Eugene – the story goes that he was given the nickname Buzz as a child because his sister couldn’t say ‘brother’, only ‘buzzer’! Today Buzz is an increasingly popular boys’ name. Some say it is a shortening of Busby, but it could also be an Old Norse word for “village in the woods”.
Carl Sagan (9 November 1934) – An American astronomer, astrophysicist, and cosmologist known for popularizing science and the space series Cosmos. Carl is from the German and Scandinavian Karl, which in itself is a form of Charles, meaning “free man”.
Yuri Gagarin (9 March 1934) – A Soviet astronaut and the first human to journey into outer space. Yuri is a Russian name meaning “farmer” or “earth worker” – ironic given Mr Gagarin’s incredible feat! Yuri is also thought to be the Russian version of the Greek name George.
Edwin “Buzz” Hubble (20 November 1889) – An American astronomer who played a crucial role in establishing the field of extragalactic astronomy and is known for the Hubble Space Telescope which was named in his honor. Edwin is an Old English name taken from words meaning “wealthy” and “friend”. We thought it was fairly unusual, but we were wrong! It was in the Top 100 Us names until 1941, remained in the top 200 until 1998 and is still ranked #358 of most popular boys’ names today.
Galileo Galilei (15 February 1564) – Italian Renaissance astronomer, physicist and engineer, sometimes described as a polymath from Pisa. Galileo has been called the “father of observational astronomy”, the “father of modern physics”, the “father of the scientific method” and the “father of modern science”. If you’re interested in the name Galileo for your son, it’s an Italian name meaning quite simply “from Galilee”.
What do you think of our Space inspired names?
Which ones would you use? Or do you have a little star whose name was inspired by the skies above? We’d love to hear from you! Please email lucindakate@namebabyname.com and tell us about your world!
