June 26, 2022

Astronomer names

baby names astronomy Expecting parents can find their perfect baby name when they least expect it. Maybe when they're watching a Disney flick, or when appreciating the best television characters, or possibly even when they spot what's flying in the friendly skies. But perhaps they should look a little bit higher in the sky to find inspiration for their upcoming baby. Take a look at the list of 50 brilliant baby names inspired by astronomy:

Girl names:

Andromeda: Its galaxy was named after a princess in Greek mythology, and means "ruler of man, " so you know your little girl will always be in charge. Plus, she's named after an entire galaxy, so she'll definitely be the center of your world.
Ariel: You might immediately think of the the crimson-haired Disney princess, but it's actually the brightest moon of Uranus. She'll definitely shine.
Aurora: Remember Balto? When the dogs encountered the beautiful natural light display while traveling through the polar region? That was an Aurora borealis, so any girl with this moniker will clearly be bright. (And maybe an early riser because it's also named after the Roman goddess of dawn - uh-oh!)
Bianca: A small moon of Uranus, named after the most desirable character in William Shakespeare's The Taming of the Shrew. The name was most popular in 1991 and was the #312 most popular name in 2012, so it's perfect for parents looking for an unconventional yet meaningful name.
Callisto: The name of the third-largest moon in the universe comes from the nymph love interest for Zeus in Greek mythology. For a cute nickname, go with Calli or Callis!
Calypso: This moon of Saturn was personified as a Queenly nymph in Greek mythology. You could add a twist by spelling it with a K - Kalypso. Or shorten it to Caly or Callie (Kaly or Kallie).
Cassiopeia: This constellation, named after beautiful figures in Greek mythology, would be a sweet name for a girl. Alternatives could be Cassie or Cass.
Cressida: A moon of Uranus, named after a character in William Shakespeare's "Troilus and Cressida." Bonus: It's the name of Prince Harry's current love interest!
Elara: It's a moon of Jupiter and one of Zeus's lovers. But watch out, the name is growing in popularity (especially since 2013), so don't be surprised to find another Elara in your kid's preschool class.
Faye: This comet is in the Jupiter family, and works very well as a middle name. Think: Lillian Faye or Emma Faye.
Halley: The only short-period comet that can be clearly visible by the human naked eye from Earth and can appear twice in the human lifetime. It's the perfect name for a unique little girl.
Juliet: You might know it from William Shakespeare's Romeo and Juliet, but did you know it's also a moon of Uranus? Shorten it to Julie or Jules for a different spin.
Libra: This constellation in the eastern sky is also, obviously, part of the zodiac. It's represented by the scales, so she's poised to be well-balanced, fair, and tactful!
Lyra: This harp-like constellation in the northern hemisphere is named after the lyre in the ancient Green myth of Orpheus. With a musical name like that, expect a future rock star on your hands.
Miranda: One of Uranus's five major moons and is named after Miranda from William Shakespeare's The Tempest. It means "she who must be admired, " and who doesn't admire famous ladies like Miranda Kerr or Miranda Lambert?!
Moon: It's bright and beautiful just like your baby is sure to be. You just might want to think about a better middle name than "Unit" though. (Musician Frank Zappa named his daughter "Moon Unit" and took a lot of flack for it.)
Nova: An explosion in a white dwarf, which causes a sudden increase in the brightness of a star, and means "new star." Briana DeJesus, from Teen Mom 3 named her daughter Nova Star, so the girl has both of the celestial objects covered.
Ophelia: A small moon of Uranus and is based on a character in William Shakespeare's Hamlet. Both Jamie Lee Curtis and Blake Lively have played characters named Ophelia, so your little one will have plenty of namesakes.
Pandora: A moon of Saturn, named after the first woman on earth in Greek mythology. If you look past the association with the music website, the name means "all gifted" and is beautiful.
Phoebe: A moon of Saturn (who knew?!). In Greek mythology, "radiant, bright, prophetic" Phoebe was a goddess. The name has been rapidly rising in popularity so don't choose this one if you're looking for something unique.
Portia: This large moon of Uranus was named after a character in William Shakespeare's The Merchant of Venice. As deeply rooted as it may be in Shakespearean writings, younger ones would probably associate her with the stylist in The Hunger Games!
Star: An adorable middle name for a rising superstar. Alternatively, Stella makes for a great and very feminine nickname.
Titania: The largest moon of Uranus and the queen of fairies in William Shakespeare's A Midsummer Night's Dream. Can be shortened to Tania.
Vega: The fifth brightest star in the night sky, known as the "Harp Star." It's mostly popular in Scandinavian countries but has started making its way west, so don't be surprised if the "swooping eagle" name picks up speed in the US.
Venus: The second-closest planet to the Sun was named for the Roman goddess of love and beauty, making it feminine and regal. Venus Williams immediately comes to mind and if the tennis champion is any indication, any little lady with this moniker has one lovely future.
Boy names:
Altair: The 12th brightest star in the sky and the brightest star in the constellation Aquila the Eagle. It's a unisex name, but has been more popular with boys in the past.
Archer: This is the half-man, half-horse Sagittarius grouping of stars. The name Archer is strong and powerful. Archie could be a nice alternative or a cute nickname.
Aries: The constellation that depicts a ram and is the representation of the Golden Fleece in Greek mythology. For an alternative that isn't as easily recognized, go with Ares or Arese!
Atlas: The famous Greek Titan that held up the celestial sphere, and is known as the titan of astronomy and navigation. Anne Heche made this name popular when she named her son Atlas Heche Tupper in 2009.
Castor: The brightest star in the constellation Gemini (its twin is Pollux) and together with his brother, they are known as "The Great Twins" in Greek mythology. If you're ever blessed with some twin dudes, Castor and Pollux would be excellent starry choices.
Columba: A constellation named after the dove that warned Noah about the upcoming flood. Columba hasn't been as popular in recent years (listen up, hipsters!), but Callum is a nice variation!
Cosmos: The entire physical universe: "The world." Most recently, it's been popular in television shows, and specifically Seinfeld and The Fairly OddParents fame! Consider Cosmo for the baby who is "the world" to you.
Draco: Latin for "dragon, " this constellation was inspired by the dragon that Hercules slayed during his 12 labors. Granted, it's also the name of one of the biggest villains in the Harry Potter series, so for a nicer version, go with the modern American variation: Drake.
Galileo: The famed Italian astronomer who searched the heavens, and was the first to discover the phases of Venus, the moons of Jupiter (named...