Stars and Constellations

  1. 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.
  2. Vela
    • Origin:

      Sanskrit, Latin
    • Meaning:

      "shore, sail"
    • Description:

      Vela is one of those rare names that is at once simple, straightforward, authentic, and unusual, at least in the Western World. Besides being an Indian girls' name, Vela is a Southern sky constellation whose name is Latin for sail – originally part of the Argo Navis constellation.
  3. Talitha
    • Origin:

      Aramaic
    • Meaning:

      "little girl"
    • Description:

      Talitha appears in the Bible as words Jesus says to awaken a young girl whose parents feared she was dead. It has been used in the US since colonial times. Talitha is also the name of two stars in Ursa Major, where it's related to the Arabic word for "third." Talitha definitely makes a fresh spin on Tabitha or Talisa.
  4. Aries
    • Origin:

      Latin
    • Meaning:

      "a ram"
    • Description:

      Better than Capricorn or Cancer, not as usable as Leo, the name of the Roman god of war becomes more possible as a baby name every day, as mythological names take the place of biblical names.
  5. 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.
  6. Rigel
    • Origin:

      Astronomy, Arabic
    • Meaning:

      "foot, leg"
    • Description:

      This might sound and look like a blend of Ryan, Riley, and Nigel, but it is in fact the name of the seventh brightest star in the sky. Found in the constellation of Orion, its name comes from the Arabic phrase, Rijl Jauzah al Yusrā, , meaning "the left foot of the central one."
  7. Navi
    • Origin:

      Hebrew
    • Meaning:

      "to name"
    • Description:

      Nickname for the star Gamma Cassiopeiae given by the late astronaut Gus Grissom after his own middle name (Ivan) spelled backwards. Navi also relates to the prophets in the Hebrew Bible.
  8. Alya
    • Origin:

      Arabic
    • Meaning:

      "heavens, highborn, exalted"
    • Description:

      Alya is most familiar in the US in its much-more-complicated form Aaliyah, the spelling used by the later singer. The traditional name of the star system Theta Serpentis, Alya is also an established Muslim first name and a Turkish place-name. It may also be a Russian short form for Alexandra or any other Al- name.
  9. Antares
    • Origin:

      Astronomical name
    • Description:

      Antares is a star in the Scorpio constellation, making it an interesting choice for babies born under that zodiac sign. It is the fifteenth-brightest star in the night sky, appearing as a reddish star when viewed with the naked eye. This reddish tint is what lent the star its name, whcih mean "equal to Ares" who is the god of war and associated with the red planet Mars.The sky's other name is Alpha Scorpii, but Antares is a far more romantic choice.
  10. Aquila
    • Origin:

      Latin
    • Meaning:

      "eagle"
    • Description:

      An evocative ancient word that's used as a first name in the New Testament, among other places. It's also the name of an eagle-shaped constellation.
  11. Ursa
    • Origin:

      Short form of Ursula, Latin
    • Meaning:

      "little female bear"
    • Description:

      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.
  12. Ara
    • Origin:

      Armenian
    • Meaning:

      "king"
    • Description:

      Simple and yet distinctive, Ara is a mythological name of a famously handsome king. Although it originated as a boys' name, in the contemporary US, it's now much more commonly used for girls.
  13. Rana
    • Origin:

      Arabic
    • Meaning:

      "queenly"
    • Description:

      A favorite in Near Eastern cultures, with a charming meaning.
  14. Capella
    • Origin:

      Latin
    • Meaning:

      "little she goat"
    • Description:

      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.
  15. Izar
    • Origin:

      Basque
    • Meaning:

      "star"
    • Description:

      Used more for girls in Europe, but definitely sounds masculine enough for a boy here.
  16. Corona
    • Origin:

      Spanish
    • Meaning:

      "crown"
    • Description:

      Corona was once an improbable choice due to the beer brand. After the coronavirus pandemic of 2020, its firmly cemented its status as a nonviable baby name.
  17. Tania
    • Origin:

      Russian, diminutive of Tatiana
    • Meaning:

      "belonging to the house of Tatius"
    • Description:

      Tania is a Russian name that has been fully integrated into the American name pool, retaining just a touch of its Slavic flavor. It started as a pet form of Tatiana, which is beginning to be used in this country as well. Also spelled Tanya, as in country singer Tanya Tucker.
  18. Pollux
    • Origin:

      Greek
    • Meaning:

      "crown"
    • Description:

      Castor's twin in the constellation Gemini. That final x makes this name modern and cool.
  19. Nashira
    • Origin:

      Arabic
    • Meaning:

      "the bearer of good news"
    • Description:

      Nashira is one of those obscure space names that might rise along with such heavenly choices as Orion, Luna, and even Nevaeh. A giant star in Capricorn, Nashira is an unusual and attractive name with several positive associations.
  20. Ascella
    • Origin:

      Latin
    • Meaning:

      "armpit"
    • Description:

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

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