Best of… Star Baby Names

These days, more and more of us are looking up for baby name inspiration. The night sky is inspiring celebrity parents and has led to a serious celestial baby name boom. Can we say Luna?! While night-sky-themed name lists abound, we’re taking our cue from actual star names.

Did you know there’s a group of astronomers who help decide how stars are named? Dream job. The Working Group on Star Names (WGSN) was established in 2016 by the International Astronomical Union (IAU). For this list, we sifted through the List of IAU-approved Star Names for our favorite star baby names. 

And here they are, for all those parents who want to name your little star after a real one:

Alcyone

A name from Greek mythology, Alcyone is also the largest and central star of the Seven Sisters, earning it the nickname “The Central One.” This strong and beautiful name means “kingfisher” and brings to mind the word “halcyon,” which means “an idyllic and peaceful time.”  And it should, as the word halcyon is actually derived from the name Alcyone! 

Alhena

The meaning of this star name is perfectly appropriate for the baby who is the star in your life: it means “the shining one.” Inspired by the fixed star, Alhena, Gamma Geminorum, this brilliant white star sits in the left foot of the twin Pollux in the Gemini constellation. An unusual name, it has a ring of familiarity in how it sounds a bit like the perennially loved Elena.

Altair

Altair is an Arabic name meaning “falcon,” or “eagle,”  and it’s the name of the twelfth brightest star in the sky. It’s also a rapidly rotating star, spinning at over double the speed of Earth. Bright and quick-moving seem like perfect traits to bestow on your little one! We think Altair is a great way to get a preppy feel in a celestial name.

Atria

An orange-red supergiant, Atria (AH-tree-a) is the brightest star in the constellation Alpha Trianguli Australi. The name itself means “entry hall,” evoking the soaring beauty of an open-air atrium. Atria shares the “ah” sound with names like Aria and Audrey, but with a more unusual glamour.

Bellatrix

The most famous Bellatrix is probably Bellatrix Lestrange from J.K. Rowling’s Harry Potter books, but we get our inspiration here from the star of the same name, the third brightest in the constellation Orion. A Latin name meaning “warrior,” it has soft-sounding nicknames in Bella and Belle, or if you want, Trixie. 

Caph

We could see this name, pronounced CAF, working like any other short and sweet baby name trending right now. Like Dax or Cal, but much less expected, Caph seems totally wearable. Only astronomers and sky enthusiasts would know that it’s the name of a subgiant star in the constellation of Cassiopeia.

Electra

Electra is a Greek name meaning “amber,” or “shining.” A star in the constellation of Taurus, Electra could be a fun way to tie in your April-May baby’s astrological sign. Sure, the mythological Electra carries some baggage, but the name has endured for a reason. It’s a strong and confident name, similar style-wise to Allegra and Scarlett. And Marvel Comics’s Elektra adds a take-no-prisoners boldness to the name that will undoubtedly stand out in a crowd.

Imai

Imai is a massive star that is in the process of evolving into a giant. Given its name by the Mursi people of modern-day Ethiopia, this star only received this name officially in August 2018. But what a beauty of a name! Imai is also a Japanese surname, though its meanings vary depending on the choice of the kanji symbols used to represent it. 

Hamal

Hamal is an Arabic name meaning “lamb,” but it’s also the name of the most luminous star in the Aries constellation, and the 50th brightest star in our night sky. Similar in sound to the better-known Jamal and Amal, it is intuitive to pronounce but different enough that your baby won’t bump into another Hamal within a light-year distance!

Keid

Similar in sound to the name Cade, Keid has its own unique story. An unassuming star, Keid (now called 40 Eridani A), is a white dwarf—the first of its kind ever discovered! The star name can also be pronounced KYED, like Kai, or KEED, like Reid, making it a great choice for astronomy-buff parents who want a celestial take on any of these more popular names.

Merak

Merak is one of the stars that make up the Big Dipper and an Arabic name meaning “He is magnificent.” We love the idea that a child with this name could look up into the sky and see their namesake in the stars, especially in one of the most recognizable constellations in the northern skies! It makes us think of surname name Merrick, too, which might appeal to star-loving parents who want that style.

Mira

Mira is the only name on this list in the top-1000 US baby names, currently ranking in the “sweet spot” at #465. An international beauty, this name has various meanings depending on language and cultural context. While it’s on the rise, it now perfectly rides the line between familiar and unusual. 

Nihal

Nihal is located in the constellation of Lepus, which lies just under Orion’s feet. As a baby name, Nihal has a history of use for males and females, depending on the country. Nihal is a beautiful choice for those who have an Indian heritage to honor, or for couples looking for a cross-cultural baby name.

Pleione

In Greek mythology, Pleione was an Oceanid nymph who was known as the protector of sailing. It’s also the name of a shell star, but rarely used as a baby name, making it full of potential. Pronounced like PLY-o-nee, it’s a name that’s part celestial, part mythological, and part water-inspired baby name. Penelope-lovers might find a less popular alternative in Pleione.

Revati

A choice baby name for the Pisces parent or child, Revati is the Hindu name for the star Zeta Piscium, which sits on the edge of the Pisces constellation.  Revati is also the final nakshatra of the 27 nakshatras in Vedic astrology. Sometimes spelled Revathi, it is a name that means “wealth” and is associated with good fortune.

Rigel

While the name’s meaning in Arabic is “foot,” we don’t think anyone is going to be thinking about appendages when they hear the name Rigel. Instead, the name evokes its celestial origin: the bright blue star in the constellation Orion. The name has great usability, like Nigel, but will likely remain off most people’s radar.

Saiph

The name Saiph derives from an Arabic phrase meaning “sword of the giant,” though the star is known today by a Latin phrase meaning “right knee of the giant.” While it has a powerful meaning, we like the name for its calming sound and the connotation of protection that comes from its homonym, “safe.”

Talitha

The name of a subgiant star in the constellation Ursa Major, Talitha is a beautiful blue-white star that can be seen with the naked eye. The name means “little girl,” and it reminds us of hidden gem Tabitha. And we’re loving Tally as a nickname.

Vega

Vega is the brightest star in the constellation Lyra. Vega has the same short and sweet flair of fast-rising Nova but with a bit more bite in its hard V sound. Though Las Vegas might be the association that first comes to mind with Vega, we’re partial to the name’s association with singer/songwriter Suzanne Vega, which lends this name a bit of a rockstar vibe.

Zibal

A name that has roots in both Indian and Muslim tradition (it means fast, majestic, and honorable), it is also the name of a blue star in the southern constellation of Eridanus, which is represented as a river. We love how this name has associations with the water and sky, making it both out of this world and grounded!

And those are our favorite star baby names! All but one are outside the top 1000 US baby names, yet we find them surprisingly wearable.

Readers, which would you use? Any no-gos?