Space Baby Names

Sun Dec 15 2019By Sophie Kihm

There are cool star names like Uma and Bono, and then there are the even more extreme astronomical star and constellation names, which might appeal to parents looking for baby boy or girl names that are unique and celestial—in other words, a heavenly name.

Along with Atlas and Nova, other Space names in the US Top 1000 include Aurora, Leo, Luna, Miranda, Orion, Phoebe, Samson, and Titan. Other stylish Space baby names include Elio, Juno, Kepler, and Vesper

Space names for babies include all things planetary and nebular, from names of stars to satellites. If you are looking for baby names related to space, here are some stellar ideas:

Luna

Origin:
Latin
Meaning:
"moon"
Description:
The name of the Roman goddess of the moon, Luna is derived straight from the Latin word for moon, luna. Luna’s divine complement is Sol, the god of the Sun. In Roman art, Luna is often depicted driving a chariot.

Aurora

Origin:
Latin
Meaning:
"dawn"
Description:
Aurora is the name of the Roman goddess of sunrise whose tears turned into the morning dew. She was said to renew herself by traveling from East to West across the sky, announcing the arrival of the sun each dawn. Aurora is also associated with the scientific term for the Northern Lights, Aurora Borealis.

Aurora Continued

Leo

Origin:
Latin
Meaning:
"lion"
Description:
Leo was derived from the Latin leo, meaning “lion.” Thirteen popes have carried the name, including St. Leo the Great. In Germanic languages, Leo has historically been used as a nickname for names including Leon and Leopold. In Latinate languages, Leonardo is considered a full form for Leo.

Ophelia

Origin:
Greek
Meaning:
"help"
Description:
Ophelia is a beautiful name that has long been hampered by the stigma of Hamlet's tragic heroine—for whom he seems to have invented the name—but more and more parents are beginning to put that association aside. There is also a gutsy Ophelia in Harriet Beecher Stowe's 1852 Uncle Tom's Cabin, which seems to have had some influence on baby namers at the time.

Ophelia Continued

Atlas

Origin:
Greek mythology
Meaning:
"bearer of the heavens"
Description:
Previously thought too powerful for a baby boy – who would have to be strong enough to carry the world on his shoulders – Atlas has joined the pantheon of Greek and Roman god and goddess names now in the realm of possibility, along with Mars, Zeus and Apollo. It was one of the fast-rising names on the list in recent years in the USA, jumping from oblivion in 2012 into the Top 500 in 2015, and climbing several hundred places higher since then. Anne Heche was one of the first to make this audacious choice, but several celebrity parents have followed suit.

Atlas Continued

Phoenix

Origin:
Arizona place-name and Greek
Meaning:
"dark red"
Description:
Phoenix rolls a lot of cool trends into one: it's a place-name and a bird name, it ends in the oh-so-hip letter x, and as the mythic bird that rose from the ashes, it's a symbol of immortality. It's also got celebrity chops, via the acting family that includes Joaquin and the late River, and as the child of an ex-Spice Girl.

Phoenix Continued

Orion

Origin:
Greek mythology name
Description:
Orion is a rising star, with both mythical and celestial overtones.

Orion Continued

Lyra

Origin:
Greek
Meaning:
"lyre"
Description:
Lyra is a constellation name taken from the lyre of Orpheus. It contains the star Vega and thus could make a melodic choice for a parent interested in music, astronomy, or mythology. It has more depth and history than Lyric, is more unusual than Lila (which it rhymes with). It debuted in the US Top 1000 in 2015.

Phoebe

Origin:
Greek
Meaning:
"radiant, shining one"
Description:
Phoebe is the Latin variation of the Greek name Phoibe, which derived from phoibos, meaning “bright.” In classical mythology, Phoebe is the by-name of Artemis, goddess of the moon and of hunting. The masculine version of Phoebe is Phoebus.

Phoebe Continued

Nova

Origin:
Latin
Meaning:
"new"
Description:
Nova is a name that has the feel of both newness, from his meaning, and great energy from being an astronomical term for a star that suddenly increases in brightness, then fades.

Cordelia

Origin:
Latin; Celtic
Meaning:
"heart; daughter of the sea"
Description:
Cordelia, the name of King Lear's one sympathetic daughter, has style and substance, and is exactly the kind of old-fashioned, grown-up name that many parents are seeking today. If you're torn between Cordelia and the equally lovely Cora, you can always choose Cordelia for long and then call her Cora for short—or Delia, Lia, Del, or even the extremely different Cordie. Cordelia is a Nameberry favorite—Number 106 on the site—and it reentered the US Top 1000 in 2014 after a 60+ year absence.

Cordelia Continued

Stella

Origin:
Latin
Meaning:
"star"
Description:
Stella was derived from stella, the Latin word for “star.” It was coined by Sir Philip Sidney in 1590 for the protagonist of his poem collection Astrophel and Stella. The title literally means “the star lover and his star,” but unlike Stella, Astrophel did not catch on as a given name.

Stella Continued

Flora

Origin:
Latin
Meaning:
"flower"
Description:
Flora, the name of the Roman goddess of flowers and spring, who enjoyed eternal youth, is one of the gently old-fashioned girls' flower names we think is due for a comeback--alongside cousins Cora and Dora. Also the name of a saint, Flora has long been a favorite in Scotland where it was the name of the young heroine who helped Bonnie Prince Charlie make his way to France. Florence, Fiorella, Fleur, and Flower are translations, but we like Flora best of all.

Flora Continued

Ayla

Origin:
Hebrew, or Turkish
Meaning:
"oak tree, or halo, moonlight"
Description:
Tired of Ava and Isla? Consider Ayla, a more offbeat choice and a lovely name that means light as well as tree. Its literary reference is the independent and feisty heroine of Jean Auel's The Clan of the Cave Bear.

Elio

Origin:
Italian and Spanish from Greek sun god, Helios
Description:
Elio is a sunny and spirited Italian and Spanish name that makes a great crossover prospect, which could catch on as Enzo has. Elio is also currently popular in France, ranking in the Top 250.

Juliet

Origin:
English from Latin
Meaning:
"youthful or sky father"
Description:
One of the most romantic names, the lovely and stylish Juliet seems finally to have shaken off her limiting link to Romeo. In Shakespeare's play, it was Juliet who said "What's in a name?"

Juliet Continued

Esther

Origin:
Persian
Meaning:
"star"
Description:
Esther was derived from the Old Persian word stāra, meaning “star.” In the Old Testament, Esther, originally named Hadassah, was the captured Jewish wife of the King of Persia who risked her life to save her exiled people from annihilation. This story is celebrated by Jews on the holiday of Purim, so that it has traditionally been given to girls around that time.

Esther Continued

Andromeda

Origin:
Greek mythology name
Meaning:
"advising like a man"
Description:
One of the stellar unique baby names from mythology, Andromeda was the beautiful daughter of Cassiopeia who, like her mother, literally became a star--the constellation that bears her name.The Bohemian Andromeda makes a dramatic and adventurous choice in a time when four-syllable mythological names are gradually making their way into the mainstream.

Andromeda Continued

Apollo

Origin:
Greek mythology name
Description:
With mythological names rising, the handsome son of Zeus and god of medicine, music, and poetry among many other things might offer an interesting, if high-pressure, option. But if Romeo and Venus are now deemed baby-appropriate, why not Apollo? Olympic speed skater Apolo Anton Ohno might inspire some parents. And now that it's been chosen by Gwen Stefani and Gavin Rossdale, it could take off as their first son's name—Kingston—has.

Apollo Continued

Mira

Origin:
Latin, Slavic, Arabic, Sanskrit
Meaning:
"admirable; peace; female ruler; ocean"
Description:
This name owes its present life to actress Sorvino. Mira and Mirra have an arty aura. Mira is a true cross-cultural choice, with the literal meaning of "look" in Spanish, a peaceful meaning in several Eastern European languages, a well-used name in Arabic cultures meaning queen-like or a female ruler, and a nature name in Sanksrit. In Greek, it means "fate, destiny". Mira can also be a short form of Miryam or Miranda.

Juno

Origin:
Latin
Meaning:
"queen of the heavens"
Description:
Juno is an ancient name that feels as fresh as if it had been minted — well, not yesterday, but in 2007. Since the release of the popular indie film Juno, this lively but strong o-ending Roman goddess name has become more and more prominent as a potential baby name — Coldplay's Will Champion chose Juno for one of his twins (whose brother is the kingly Rex).

Faye

Origin:
English
Meaning:
"fairy"
Description:
Does Fay really need that e at the end? We vote no, but modern parents disagree: The Faye spelling was used for nearly 300 girls in 2014, vaulting the name back onto the Top 1000 after a 35-year absence, nearly ten times as many babies as received the Fay spelling.

Maia

Origin:
Greek
Meaning:
"mother"
Description:
Maia was derived from the Greek word maia, meaning “mother.” In Greek legend, she was the fair-haired daughter of Atlas who mothered Zeus's favorite illegitimate son, Hermes. To the Romans, Maia was the incarnation of the earth mother and goddess of spring, after whom they named the month of May. Maya is the more common spelling.

Cressida

Origin:
Greek
Meaning:
"gold"
Description:
Cressida is a pretty mythological and Shakespearean heroine name much better known in Britain than it is here — an imbalance the adventurous baby namer might want to correct. For although the Trojan heroine of that name in the tale told by Boccaccio, then Chaucer, then Shakespeare, didn't have the greatest reputation — she was faithless to Troilus and broke his heart — the name today sounds fresh, crisp and creative.

Cressida Continued

Soleil

Origin:
French
Meaning:
"sun"
Description:
An attractive French word name known here via former child TV star Soleil Moon Frye, aka Punky Brewster. It started to be lightly used in the U.S. in the 1920's, and is now attracting some attention as both a sunny nature and an exotic name. It's currently Number 680 on Nameberry.

Soleil Continued

Rhea

Origin:
Greek mythology name
Meaning:
"a flowing stream"
Description:
Old-style creative name of the Greek mythological earth mother of all the gods. A lot better than the Roman equivalent: Ops. Rhea reentered the US Top 1000 in 2015. Its only previous appearance on the list since 1968 was 2004.

Cassiopeia

Origin:
Greek mythology name
Description:
Cassiopeia, the name of a mythological mother who became a stellar constellation, is challenging but intriguing, and has all those softening Cass nicknames available. With the rise of other otherworldly and mythical choices, from Apollo to Jupiter to Juno, Cassiopeia may just feel more possible for mortals now than ever before in its long history.

Cassiopeia Continued

Estelle

Origin:
French
Meaning:
"star"
Description:
Maybe it's because she shares that winning -elle sound with Isabel and Bella, but Estelle is no longer seen as a muumuu-wearing canasta player of a certain age (think George Costanza's mother on Seinfeld or Joey Tribbiani's talent agent in Friends). This could be in part thanks to the young Royal Couple of Sweden, who chose it for their firstborn daughter, or the single-named British R&B singer. It reentered the US Top 1000 in 2012 after a nearly fifty-year absence.

Estelle Continued

Draco

Origin:
Greek from Latin
Meaning:
"dragon"
Description:
For as long as we all shall live, Harry Potter's sneering nemesis.

Draco Continued

Ariel

Origin:
Hebrew
Meaning:
"lion of God"
Description:
Ariel is a male Biblical name, seen there as the messenger of Ezra, and also used as a symbolic name for the city of Jerusalem, while Shakespeare used it for a (male) sprite in The Tempest.

Ariel Continued

Calypso

Origin:
Greek
Meaning:
"she who hides"
Description:
This hyper-rhythmic name has two evocative references. In Greek mythology, she was an island nymph, a daughter of Atlas, who delayed Odysseus from returning home. It is also a genre of West Indian music, originating in Trinidad and Tobago and largely popularized in the States by Harry Belafonte.

Calypso Continued

Ida

Origin:
German
Meaning:
"industrious one"
Description:
Many vowel names stylish a century ago are coming back, and Ida seems like a possible, logical successor to Ada and Ava.

Bianca

Origin:
Italian
Meaning:
"white"
Description:
Bianca, the livelier Italian and Shakespearean version of Blanche, has been chosen by many American parents since the 1990s, just as Blanca is a favorite in the Spanish-speaking community. It's meaning of white relates to snow, making it one of the prime names for winter babies.

Bianca Continued

Wolf

Origin:
Animal name or diminutive of Wolfgang
Meaning:
"traveling wolf"
Description:
Wolf is a name with a split personality. It can be seen as one of the fierce animal names, like Fox and Bear and Puma, with a touch of the werewolf, or it can be viewed as a quieter, Wolf Blitzer kind of name, fairly common in German (where is pronounced Vulf) and Jewish families, sometimes as a short form of Wolfgang.

Astra

Origin:
Latin
Meaning:
"of the stars"
Description:
A kind of Jetsons-like, intergalactic name, it's attached both to a comic book character and to Princess Astra on "Doctor Who".

Astra Continued

Sirius

Origin:
Latin from Greek
Meaning:
"burning"
Description:
Yes, it's the name of the brightest star in the sky, but can't you just hear people saying, "Are you serious?" Singer Erykah Badu used it as a middle name for son Seven.

Sirius Continued

Bellatrix

Origin:
Latin
Meaning:
"female warrior"
Description:
J.K. Rowling is a modern master of naming who brought a whole constellation of ancient and celestial names to modern parents. Bellatrix, of one of the stars of Orion, combines fashionable names Bella and Beatrix to make a convivial and original name. The down side: the Harry Potter character Bellatrix, played by Helena Bonham Carter, is a character so evil she's called a Death Eater, killing one beloved character and being murdered by another. And the name Bellatrix is so closely associated with that character that it might be challenging to sidestep the association.

Bellatrix Continued

Astraea

Origin:
Greek
Meaning:
"star"
Description:
Astraea -- also found as Astraia -- is the Greek goddess of justice and innocence who became the constellation Virgo. A more unusual form of the many star-related names, from Astra to Esther to Estelle to Stella, all on the rise. Astraea was the daughter of Astraeus, the god of the dusk, and Eos, the goddess of the dawn.

Astraea Continued

Pandora

Origin:
Greek
Meaning:
"all gifted"
Description:
Pandora has occasionally been used by the British gentry (for girls with brothers who might be called Peregrine) but is rarely heard here, probably because Pandora was the mythological first woman on earth whose curiosity caused her to lift a forbidden box and inadvertently unleash all the evils of the world.

Pandora Continued

Venus

Origin:
Latin, Roman mythology name
Description:
The name of a heavenly planet and the Roman goddess of beauty and love was an intimidating no-no until tennis champ Venus Williams put an athletic, modern spin on it.

Venus Continued

Io

Origin:
Greek mythology name
Description:
Io may be one of the slightest names in the book, but there aren't many two-letter names with as much substance as this Greek mythological example. Io, a name used for the largest moon of Jupiter, was in classic myth raped by Zeus and escaped from him by changing herself into a cow.

Rosalind

Origin:
Latin
Meaning:
"pretty rose"
Description:
Rosalind has a distinguished literary history --it started as a as a lyrical name in early pastoral poetry, probably coined by Edmund Spenser. It was further popularized by Shakespeare via one of his most charming heroines, in As You Like It --and, along with a bouquet of other Rose names, might be ready for a comeback.

Rosalind Continued

Oberon

Origin:
Variation of Auberon
Meaning:
"noble, bearlike"
Description:
The Shakespearean character Oberon in A Midsummer Night's Dream is King of the Fairies, but the name, with its strong 'O' beginning, projects a far more virile image than that.

Oberon Continued

Samson

Origin:
Hebrew
Meaning:
"sun"
Description:
With the prevailing popularity of Samuel, some parents are considering this more (literally) powerful biblical name, which shares the desirable nickname of Sam.

Samson Continued

Elara

Origin:
Greek mythology name
Description:
Elara, a lover of Zeus who gave birth to a giant son (ouch); it's also the lovely name of one of the moons of Jupiter.

Elara Continued

Selena

Origin:
Latinized variation of Greek Selene
Meaning:
"moon goddess"
Description:
Selena is smooth, shiny, and sensual, a nineteenth-century name that found new life in the Latino community, following the biopic of slain Tejano singer Selena Quintanilla, starring Jennifer Lopez. But you don't have to be Latin to love Selena, which is both distinctive yet in step with stylish modern names such as Seraphina and Celia.

Selena Continued

Cyra

Origin:
Persian or Greek
Meaning:
"sun or throne, or lord"
Description:
Cyra is an unusual name that can be pronounced either SEER-a or CY-ra. This name may be a feminine variation of Cyrus but is also a Persian name that stands on its own. One noted bearer is writer Cyra McFadden.

Seren

Origin:
Welsh or Turkish
Meaning:
"star or sail mast"
Description:
Seren is a top girls' name in Wales – and a lovely choice almost unknown elsewhere. Seren, in the Sirona form, was an ancient goddess of the hot springs.

Seren Continued

Perseus

Origin:
Greek mythology name
Description:
Perseus is a godly Greek hero (he was a son of Zeus) whose ancient name just might have modern possibilities along with other so-old-they're-new-again names such as Atticus and Orion.

Perseus Continued

Altair

Origin:
Arabic
Meaning:
"falcon"
Description:
The eleventh brightest star in the sky has a celestial feel, but also could be the name of a commercial airline.

Altair Continued

Loading ...