The Complete List of Moon Names

Moons, galaxies, and stars are famous for having cool and interesting names inspired by mythology, fauna, literature, or other sources.

This is why many people look to the stars for inspiration when they are looking for names for their children, pets, or even to name characters in fiction.

In this article, we’ll take a look at the names of moons in the Solar system and where they get them from.

How do Moons get their names?

Moons within the Solar system are one of the few types of objects that still receive proper names when new ones are discovered. And surprisingly, they are still being discovered. New moons were discovered orbiting Saturn as recently as 2021.

Unlike stars or galaxies that only receive scientific designations these days because it would be hard to name the millions of them that are out there, Moons are scarce enough that astronomers still give them names.

The organization in charge of naming them is the International Astronomical Union formed by astronomers from many different countries.

Moons are named depending on their parent planet. Generally, they are characters from Greek mythology that are related in some way to the equivalent of the Roman god their planet is named after. But there are a few exceptions with Uranus being the most unique.

Mars – Named after the sons of the Greek god of war, Ares (the equivalent to the Roman god, Mars)

Jupiter – Named after descendants or lovers of Zeus (the Greek equivalent to Jupiter)

Saturn – Named after the Titans or their descendants. When those ran out giants and large creatures from other mythologies were used, for example, Jötunns from Norse mythology.

Uranus – Named after William Shakespeare’s or Alexander Pope’s characters

Neptune – Named after sea-related Greek deities or mythological characters

Remember that neither Mercury nor Venus have any moons.

The name of Earth’s Moon comes from the old English word Mōna which means month and also shares origins with the Latin word for measurement.

Moon names

We have compiled a list of all the natural satellites (moons) in the Solar system. It is ordered by the distance to the Sun of their parent planet.

Some of Jupiter’s and Saturn’s moons have been discovered so recently that they have yet to be named so at the moment they only have a scientific designation. Others haven’t even been confirmed as satellites and are still being studied.

Some of these moons are so small that they can’t be seen with home telescopes and have only been discovered thanks to modern imaging techniques. Only about 20 moons in the Solar system – including ours – are large enough to achieve hydrostatic equilibrium which is what shapes big objects like planets spherical.

Name	Parent planet	Name meaning
Moon	Earth	“month”
Phobos	Mars	Greek god of fear and panic
Deimos	Mars	Greek god of dread and terror
Io	Jupiter	Ancestor to Perseus, Cadmus, Heracles, and Minos
Europa	Jupiter	Mother of king Minos of Crete
Ganymede	Jupiter	Male hero of Troy. Served as Zeus cup-bearer in Olympus
Callisto	Jupiter	One of the nymphs. Daughter of king Lycaon and one of Artemis followers
Amalthea	Jupiter	Foster-mother of Zeus
Himalia	Jupiter	Nymph of the island of Rhodes. Had three sons with Zeus: Sparteus, Kronios and Kytos
Elara	Jupiter	Mortal princess, daughter of king Orchomenus and mother of the giant Tytios.
Pasiphae	Jupiter	Queen of Crete. Daughter of Helios and mother of the minotaur.
Sinope	Jupiter	Daughter of Ares and one of the Amazons. It is believed the Turkish city of Sinop is named after her.
Lysithea	Jupiter	Mother of Heracles and Zeus. Daughter of the titan Oceanus.
Carme	Jupiter	Mother of Britomartis, goddess of mountains and hunting
Ananke	Jupiter	Personification of necessity. It also means “constrain” or “force”.
Leda	Jupiter	Aetolian princess and later Spartan queen.
Thebe	Jupiter	Name used by a few of Zeus’ daughters. It is also the name of a city in central Greece.
Adrastea	Jupiter	Goddess of “inevitable fate”. Was in charge of nurturing and protecting Zeus.
Metis	Jupiter	First wife of Zeus and mother of Athena.
Callirrhoe	Jupiter	One of the Oceanids (daughters of the titan Oceanus)
Themisto	Jupiter	Daughter of the river god Inachus.
Megaclite	Jupiter	Princess of the Locris region.
Taygete	Jupiter	One of the Pleiades, daughter of the titan Atlas.
Chaldene	Jupiter	Mother of the hero Solymos.
Harpalyke	Jupiter	Princess of Arcadia.
Kalyke	Jupiter	Alternatively written as Calyce. Thessalian princess. It is also the name of one of the nymphs.
Iocaste	Jupiter	Named after Jocasta, daughter of king Menoeceus and wife of Oedipus.
Erinome	Jupiter	In her story, Venus compelled her to fall in love with Jupiter to ruin her.
Isonoe	Jupiter	One of the Danaides. Zeus turned her into a spring after her death.
Praxidike	Jupiter	Greek goddess of punishment.
Autonoe	Jupiter	Theban princess and eldest daughter of Cadmus.
Thyone	Jupiter	Also known as Semele. Youngest daughter of Cadmus.
Hermippe	Jupiter	Daughter of Boetus. Had a son with Poseidon.
Aitne	Jupiter	The personification of mount Etna
Eurydome	Jupiter	Also known as Eurynome or Euanthe. Mother of the Graces, goddesses of charm, beauty, goodwill, and creativity
Euanthe	Jupiter	See above
Euporie	Jupiter	Also known as Euporia. Greek goddess of abundance.
Orthosie	Jupiter	Greek goddess of prosperity and one of the Horae.
Sponde	Jupiter	One of the Horae (goddesses of seasons and time periods)
Kale	Jupiter	One of the Graces or Charities (goddesses of charm, beauty, goodwill, and creativity)
Pasithee	Jupiter	One of the Graces or Charities (goddesses of charm, beauty, goodwill, and creativity)
Hegemone	Jupiter	One of the Graces or Charities (goddesses of charm, beauty, goodwill, and creativity)
Mneme	Jupiter	One of the three original muses (goddesses of literature, science, and arts)
Aoede	Jupiter	One of the three original muses (goddesses of literature, science, and arts)
Thelxinoe	Jupiter	One of the three original muses (goddesses of literature, science, and arts)
Arche	Jupiter	One of the muses
Kallichore	Jupiter	One of the nymphs
Helike	Jupiter	One of the nymphs
Carpo	Jupiter	Daughter of Zeus and one of the Horae (goddesses of the seasons)
Eukelade	Jupiter	Also written as Eucelade. One of the muses
Cyllene	Jupiter	A naiad (a spirit or nymph that hangs in rivers, lakes, streams or other water bodies)
Kore	Jupiter	Alternativve name for Persephone, daughter of Zeus and wife to Hades which made her queen of the underworld.
Herse	Jupiter	Personification of dew. Daughter of Zeus and the Moon (Selene). Also known as Ersa.
S/2010 J 1	Jupiter
S/2010 J 2	Jupiter
Dia	Jupiter	Daughter of Deioneus, wife of Ixion.
S/2016 J 1	Jupiter
S/2003 J 18	Jupiter
S/2011 J 2	Jupiter
Eirene	Jupiter	Personification of Peace. One of the Horae.
Philophrosyne	Jupiter	Spirit of friendliness and kindness. One of the Charities or Graces.
S/2017 J 1	Jupiter
Eupheme	Jupiter	Greek spirit of words of good omen, praise, and acclaims.
S/2003 J 19	Jupiter
Valetudo	Jupiter	Roman goddess of health and hygiene
S/2017 J 2	Jupiter
S/2017 J 3	Jupiter
Pandia	Jupiter	Greek representation of the Moon. Daughter of Zeus and Selene.
S/2017 J 5	Jupiter
S/2017 J 6	Jupiter
S/2017 J 7	Jupiter
S/2017 J 8	Jupiter
S/2017 J 9	Jupiter
Ersa	Jupiter	Personification of dew. Daughter of Zeus and the Moon (Selene). Also known as Herse.
S/2011 J 1	Jupiter
S/2003 J 2	Jupiter
S/2003 J 4	Jupiter
S/2003 J 9	Jupiter
S/2003 J 10	Jupiter
S/2003 J 12	Jupiter
S/2003 J 16	Jupiter
S/2003 J 23	Jupiter
S/2003 J 24	Jupiter
S/2016 J 4	Jupiter
S/2016 J 3	Jupiter
S/2018 J 3	Jupiter
S/2018 J 4	Jupiter
S/2021 J 1	Jupiter
S/2021 J 2	Jupiter
S/2021 J 3	Jupiter
S/2021 J 4	Jupiter
S/2021 J 5	Jupiter
S/2021 J 6	Jupiter
Mimas	Saturn	One of the Gigantes (giants). Son of Gaia (Earth)
Enceladus	Saturn	One of the Gigantes (giants). Son of Gaia (Earth) and Uranus (Sky)
Tethys	Saturn	One of the Titans. Mother of the Oceanids.
Dione	Saturn	One of the Titans
Rhea	Saturn	One of the Titans. Older sister of Cronus.
Titan	Saturn	Named after the Greek Titans
Hyperion	Saturn	Titan god of observation. Father of Helios, Eos, and Selene (the Moon)
Iapetus	Saturn	One of the Titans. Father of Atlas and Prometheus. Also written as Japetus
Phoebe	Saturn	One of the first generation Titaness. It means “shining” or “bright”. Original owner of the oracle of Delphi.
Janus	Saturn	Roman god of beginnings, duality, time, and doorways.
Epimetheus	Saturn	One of the Titans. Brother of Prometheus
Helene	Saturn	Named after Helen of Troy. Granddaughter of Cronus.
Telesto	Saturn	Personification of divine blessing and success. One of the Oceanids.
Calypso	Saturn	A nymph who lived in the island of Ogygia
Atlas	Saturn	One of the Titans. Condemned to hold up the sky for eternity after the Titanomachy
Prometheus	Saturn	One of the Titans. Known for stealing the fire of the gods and gifting it to humanity
Pandora	Saturn	Also known as Anesidora.It means “she who sends up gifts”
Pan	Saturn	God of the wild, sheperds, and flocks.
Ymir	Saturn	Ancestor to all the frost giants in Norse mythology. Also known as Aurgelmir, Brimir, or Bláinn
Paaliaq	Saturn	Named after after a fictional shaman in the book The Curse of the Shaman
Tarvos	Saturn	A divine figure of a bulle with thre cranes perched on its back
Ijiraq	Saturn	Shapeshifting creature in Inuit mythology
Suttungr	Saturn	A Jötunn (giant) in Norse mythlogy
Kiviuq	Saturn	A hero in Inuit mythology
Mundilfari	Saturn	Father of the Sun and the Moon in Norse mythology
Albiorix	Saturn	Named after a Gallic giant who was said to be “king of the world”
Skathi	Saturn	Also known as Skadi or Skaði. A goddess associated with bowhunting, skiing, winter, and the mountains
Erriapus	Saturn	A giant in Gaulish (Celtic) mythology
Siarnaq	Saturn	Inuit goddess of the sea. Also kown as Sedna
Thrymr	Saturn	King of the Jǫtnar in Norse mythology
Narvi	Saturn	Named after Narfi, a Jötunn (giant) in Norse mythlogy
Methone	Saturn	One of the Alkyonides, the seven beatiful daughters of Alkyoneus
Pallene	Saturn	One of the Alkyonides, the seven beatiful daughters of Alkyoneus
Polydeuces	Saturn	Alternative name for Pollux, son of Zeus and Leda
Daphnis	Saturn	A Sicilian sheperd, descendant of the Titans
Aegir	Saturn	Personification of the tranquil seas in Norse mythology
Bebhionn	Saturn	Irish goddess of birth
Bergelmir	Saturn	A giant of Norse mythology. Grandsonof Ymir
Bestla	Saturn	Mother of Odin
Farbauti	Saturn	Father of Loki
Fenrir	Saturn	Giant wolf from Norse mythology
Fornjot	Saturn	A giant of Norse mythology
Hati	Saturn	Giant wolf from Norse mythology. Son of Fenrir
Hyrrokkin	Saturn	A female Jötunn (giant)
Kari	Saturn	Personification of wind in Norse mythology
Loge	Saturn	Also named Logi. A fire Jötunn (giant)
Skoll	Saturn	Giant wolf from Norse mythology. Son of Fenrir
Surtur	Saturn	Also known as Surt. Leader of the fire fire Jötunn (giants)
Anthe	Saturn	It means “flowery”. One of the Alkyonides, the seven beatiful daughters of Alkyoneus
Jarnsaxa	Saturn	A female Jötunn (giant)
Greip	Saturn	A female Jötunn (giant)
Tarqeq	Saturn	A lunar (moon) deity in Inuit mythology
Aegaeon	Saturn	One of the hekatonkheires, three giants of Greek mythology
Gridr	Saturn	A female Jötunn (giant)
Angrboda	Saturn	A female Jötunn (giant)
Skrymir	Saturn	Master of illusions and master of castle ruler of the castle Útgarðr in Norse mythology
Gerd	Saturn	Wife of the god Freyr
S/2004 S 26	Saturn
Eggther	Saturn	A Jötunn (giant) who raises wolves
S/2004 S 29	Saturn
Beli	Saturn	A Jötunn (giant)
Gunnlod	Saturn	A female Jötunn (giant)
Thiazzi	Saturn	A Jötunn (giant). Father of Skadi
S/2004 S 34	Saturn
Alvaldi	Saturn	A Jötunn (giant). Father of Thiazzi
Geirrod	Saturn	A Jötunn (giant) who was killed by Thor
S/2004 S 7	Saturn
S/2004 S 12	Saturn
S/2004 S 13	Saturn
S/2004 S 17	Saturn
S/2004 S 21	Saturn
S/2004 S 24	Saturn
S/2004 S 28	Saturn
S/2004 S 31	Saturn
S/2004 S 36	Saturn
S/2004 S 37	Saturn
S/2004 S 39	Saturn
S/2006 S 1	Saturn
S/2006 S 3	Saturn
S/2007 S 2	Saturn
S/2007 S 3	Saturn
S/2009 S 1	Saturn
S/2019 S 1	Saturn
Ariel	Uranus	Named after a character in Alexander Pope’s works.
Umbriel	Uranus	Named after the “dusky melancholy sprite” in Alexander Pope’s works.
Titania	Uranus	Named after a charcter in Shakespeare’s play A Midsummer Night’s Dream
Oberon	Uranus	Named after a charcter in Shakespeare’s play A Midsummer Night’s Dream
Miranda	Uranus	Named after a charcter in Shakespeare’s play The Tempest
Cordelia	Uranus	Named after a charcter in Shakespeare’s play King Lear
Ophelia	Uranus	Named after a charcter in Shakespeare’s play Hamlet
Bianca	Uranus	Named after a charcter in Shakespeare’s play The Taming of the Shrew
Cressida	Uranus	Named after a charcter in Shakespeare’s play Troilus and Cressida
Desdemona	Uranus	Named after a charcter in Shakespeare’s play Othello
Juliet	Uranus	Named after a charcter in Shakespeare’s play Romeo and Juliet
Portia	Uranus	Named after a charcter in Shakespeare’s play The Merchant of Venice
Rosalind	Uranus	Named after a charcter in Shakespeare’s play As You Like It
Belinda	Uranus	Named after a character in Alexander Pope’s works.
Puck	Uranus	Named after a charcter in Shakespeare’s play A Midsummer Night’s Dream
Caliban	Uranus	Named after a charcter in Shakespeare’s play The Tempest
Sycorax	Uranus	Named after a charcter in Shakespeare’s play The Tempest
Prospero	Uranus	Named after a charcter in Shakespeare’s play The Tempest
Setebos	Uranus	Named after a charcter in Shakespeare’s play The Tempest
Stephano	Uranus	Named after a charcter in Shakespeare’s play The Tempest
Trinculo	Uranus	Named after a charcter in Shakespeare’s play The Tempest
Francisco	Uranus	Named after a charcter in Shakespeare’s play The Tempest
Margaret	Uranus	Named after a charcter in Shakespeare’s play Much Ado About Nothing
Ferdinand	Uranus	Named after a charcter in Shakespeare’s play The Tempest
Perdita	Uranus	Named after a charcter in Shakespeare’s play The Winter’s Tale
Mab	Uranus	Named after a charcter in Shakespeare’s play Romeo and Juliet
Cupid	Uranus	Named after a charcter in Shakespeare’s play Timon of Athens
Triton	Neptune	Greek god of the sea. Son of Poseidon
Nereid	Neptune	Named after the Nereids, the sea-nymphs of Greek mythology
Naiad	Neptune	Named after the Naiads, spirts or nymphs of rivers, seas, fountains, etc.
Thalassa	Neptune	Pre-Greek word for “sea” and its representation in mythology
Despina	Neptune	Also known as Despoina. One of Poseidon’s daughter
Galatea	Neptune	One of the Nereids in Greek mythology
Larissa	Neptune	Nymph from Thelassy in Greek mythology
Proteus	Neptune	Shape-changing sea god in Greek mythology
Halimede	Neptune	One of the Nereids in Greek mythology
Psamathe	Neptune	One of the Nereids in Greek mythology
Sao	Neptune	One of the Nereids. Associated with “safety” and “rescue” at sea.
Laomedeia	Neptune	One of the Nereids in Greek mythology
Neso	Neptune	One of the Nereids in Greek mythology
Hippocamp	Neptune	Named after the mythological sea-horse creature

Names of dwarf planet moons

Some dwarf planets also have their own natural satellites and some of them have also received proper names.

Vanth	Orcus	
(unnamed)	2003 AZ84	
Charon	Pluto	
Nix	Pluto	
Hydra	Pluto	
Kerberos	Pluto	
Styx	Pluto	
Actaea	Salacia	
Hiʻiaka	Haumea	
Namaka	Haumea	
Weywot	Quaoar	
S/2015 (136472) 1	Makemake	
Ilmarë	Varda	
(unnamed)	2013 FY27	
Xiangliu	Gonggong	
Dysnomia	Eris	

Other words and names that mean “moon”

• Luna – The term used to refer to something that pertains to the moon is “lunar”. This comes from the Spanish word for “moon”, which is “luna”. It derives from the Latin word lūna. It is also commonly used as a girl’s name.
• Cynthia – This name means “from mount Cynthos”. In ancient Greece, it was commonly associated with the moon.
• Selene – Greek goddess of the Moon. Some variants like Selena or Serena are also commonly used in some countries. It is also sometimes used as a prefix to refer to something related to the Moon, for example, selenography is the study of the surface of the Moon.
• Artemis – Greek goddess of the hunt. She was often associated with the Moon as well.
• Diana – Roman equivalent of Artemis

Who named the moons?

Moons were usually named by their discoverer. For example, the Martian satellites Phobos and Deimos were named by the American astronomer Asaph Hall.

For a while in the 17th and 18th century, naming moons fell out of fashion. They were just refered to by the name of their parent planet with a roman numeral at the end. For example, Io was referred to as “Jupiter I”, Europa was “Jupiter II”, Callisto was “Jupiter IV”, etc.

As more moons were discovered, naming conventions started to be agreed to and that’s how all the satellites started to recieve names based on certain themeslike Uranus’ moons being named after Shakespeare’s characters and Saturn’s being named after Titans and giants.

Since the creation of the Planetary System Nomeclature in 1973, the International Astronomical Union is the organization in charge of assigning names to moons and any other celestial bodies.

List of names of other celestial objects

If you didn’t find the names you were looking for in this list, try our other lists of names for other celestial objects. Stars and constellations tend to have more interesting names than galaxies.

• List of galaxy names
• List of star names
• List of comet names
• List of exoplanet names
• List of baby names inspired by space and astronomy