This moon name generator makes names for the moons of invented worlds. A folk name, such as the Pale Lantern, is what the people who live under the moon call it. An invented name, such as Calune, is a proper name with no meaning in English. A designation, such as Vesara IV, is the label an astronomer or a starship crew would use.

Three Styles of Moon Name

Style	What it suits	Examples
Folk name	Fantasy worlds, myths and calendars	the Pale Lantern, the Hunter's Coin, the Little Sister
Invented name	A moon that is also a goddess, or a named world	Calune, Vesara, Thalion
Designation	Science fiction, star charts and colony records	Vesara IV, S/2241 V 3

How Real Moons Are Named

Real moons carry both kinds of name, which is why both feel right in fiction. A newly found moon first receives a provisional designation: the letter S for satellite, the year of discovery, a letter for the planet and a number, as in S/2003 J 2. Moons are also numbered in Roman numerals after their planet, so Io is Jupiter I. Proper names come later and follow a theme for each planet. The moons of Jupiter are named for figures connected with Zeus, and the moons of Uranus for characters from Shakespeare and Alexander Pope, which is where Titania, Oberon and Miranda come from. The designations in this generator use the same two formats with invented planet names.

Naming the Moons of a World

Give each moon two names. A folk name for the villagers and a proper name for the priests or the astronomers.
Name a pair together. Two moons are nearly always described against each other: the Little Sister and the Pale Sister, the Hunter's Lantern and the Hunter's Hound.
Tie the name to the sky. A red moon, a slow moon or a moon seen only in winter gives its own name.
Use it in the calendar. Months, festivals and tides can all be counted by a named moon.

For the world the moon belongs to, use the Planet Name Generator. For the god or goddess of the moon, see the Deity Name Generator.

How to Use the Moon Name Generator

Choose a style: Pick a folk name, an invented name or an astronomer's designation.
Generate: Each press gives eight new moon names.
Copy: Use the copy button beside the name you want.

Frequently Asked Questions

What is a good name for a fantasy moon?

One that people in the setting would actually use. Farmers and sailors name a moon for what it looks like or when it rises: the Pale Lantern, the Winter Eye, the Late Sister. Keep a formal name in reserve for temples and scholars.

How are moons named in science fiction?

Usually by designation. A planet's name with a Roman numeral, such as Vesara IV, means the fourth moon of Vesara. Settlers then give it a nickname, which is a good place for a folk name.

What should I call a world with two moons?

Give them names that contrast: large and small, bright and dim, fast and slow. Sisters, twins, hunter and hound, and shepherd and lamb are all patterns that readers understand at once.

Are these real moons?

No. The names of real moons, and of the gods they are named for, are left out of the generator. The designations use the real format with invented planet names and future years.

I am looking for moon elf names. Is this the right tool?

No. This tool names moons. Moon elves are a kind of elf in Dungeons & Dragons, and the Elf Name Generator on this site makes names for them.

Can I use these names in a published work?

Yes. They are common words and invented names. Search for a name before you rely on it, in case it is already in use.