Star Fantasy Names

Alula, the palindromic name of the first double star to be identified as physically related to its twin, would make the perfect name for a first-born twin. Ideas (we're only half joking) for the second born: Aviva, Aziza, Otto. Alula is reminiscent of the unusual name chosen by Isla Fisher and Sacha Baron Cohen for their second daughter: Elula, a month name from the Hebrew calendar.

The Roman god of the underworld, the former ninth planet, a cartoon dog...but not a baby.

This cute as a button name stems from the Goonayandi word for the sun and can be used as a unisex name.

Short and catchy form of traditional Asian name.

Ursa might be a good choice if you're looking for a bear name for your daughter but want to avoid the She Witch curse placed on Ursula by Disney's The Little Mermaid. Too bad, because Ursula is a classic and lovely name, but Ursa has less baggage.

From the botanical name for common heather, Calluna vulgaris, which ultimately derives from the Greek kallos "beauty". A unique, nature-inspired route to the fashionable nicknames Callie and Luna.

Variant spelling of Nyx, the name of the Greek goddess of the night. It also coincides with the English word "nix, a corruption of German nichts "nothing".

Appropriate for a girl born between late September and late October, Libra suggests both balance and freedom.

Asterope is an undiscovered name that has three wonderful nature connotations: 1) (from its meaning) lighting; 2) it is a type of butterfly 3) it is the name of an asteroid. Asterope is a great name for those looking for something similar to Penelope or Aster, but even more unusual.

After Leo, this is one of the most usable names in the zodiac: part ancient, part new-age, part high-tech. In the night sky, the constellation Gemini is present all year round in both hemispheres. It has been associated with twins since ancient times, and its two brightest stars are named Castor and Pollux after the twins of Greek mythology. It also has STEM connections: Project Gemini was a NASA spaceflight program before Apollo.

Hespera is a variation of Hesperia, the feminine form of Hesperus. In Greek mythology, Hesperus is the Evening Star or the planet Venus. Hesperus is the son of the dawn goddess Eos or her Roman equivalent Aurora.

Capella, the eleventh brightest star in the sky, carries much mythological and astrological significance. In Roman mythology, Capella represented the goat that suckled Jupiter, whose horn became the Cornucopia or horn of plenty. In Hindu mythology, Capella is called the heart of Brahma, while English legend calls it the shepherd's star.

Translating to "star", but used to refer to the leading female artist in a cabaret show, for French speakers, this would be like naming your child "Showgirl".

In geography, a meridian is a line drawn around the curve of the Earth between the North and South Poles. The term comes from Latin meridianus, meaning "pertaining to midday", and the association with midday has led to the word gaining an added figurative meaning of "pinnacle; culmination".

A star system in Sagittarius, so one of the most appropriate names for December babies.

A relatively popular Arabic name that featured in the French Top 500 for much of the second half of the 20th century and into the 21st. It is also used as a given name in Turkey, Iran and Israel, as well as being a relatively common surname (also spelled Nader). Notable bearers include an 18th century Shah of Iran, a 19th century King of Afghanistan and a former Prime Minister of Jordan.

A star in the constellation Triangulum Australe, also the name of a publishing imprint and an assisted living corporation, probably because it has that streamlined corporate I-could-be-a-car-name feel. Atria is the plural of the more familiar term for an entry hall or foyer, atrium.

This cosmological name has a zippy feel that might work well for the galactic parent looking for the perfect name for their own little star.

Cornelious is an elaborated spelling variant of Cornelius, a masculine name with ancient Roman roots. The name derives from the Roman clan name Cornelius, possibly stemming from the Latin word 'cornu' meaning 'horn.' Cornelius was a prominent name in Roman history, belonging to several notable figures including saints and a centurion mentioned in the New Testament who became one of the first Gentile converts to Christianity. Cornelious represents a less common spelling that adds an extra syllable to the traditional form. The name carries an air of distinction and classical sophistication. While never extremely popular in modern times, Cornelious maintains appeal among parents seeking a name with historical gravitas and a slightly uncommon quality.