There are currently 7 planets that start with I. All of them are outside the Solar system. These names are given and approved only by the International Astronomical Union.
Unlike stars and constellations whose names come mostly from Greek mythology or Arabic words, planets get their names from many different cultures.
Here’s what each of the columns in the table means:
Planet: Name of the planet or exoplanet. Exoplanets are outside the Solar system and only a few of them receive proper names. Every few years the International Astronomical Union opens a contest to suggest names for newly discovered ones.
Star: The proper name and/or scientific designation of the star the planet orbits. Most of the stars with planets that receive proper names also get one.
Distance: Approximate distance from our Solar system to the star that hosts the planet. It is given in light-years.
Discovery: Year of discovery of the planet.
Meaning: Origin of the name of the planet.
| Planet | Star | Distance | Discovery | Meaning |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Ibirapitá | Ceibo (HD 63454) | 117 | 2005 | A tree native to South America |
| Indépendance | Citadelle (HD 1502) | 519 | 2011 | Haitian Declaration of Independence |
| Iolaus | Lerna (HAT-P-42) | 1458 | 2012 | Nephew of Heracles in Greek mythology |
| Isagel | Aniara (HD 102956) | 411 | 2010 | Character from the poem Aniara by Harry Martinson |
| Isli | Tislit (WASP-161) | 1130 | 2018 | Lake in the Atlas Mountains of Morocco |
| Ixbalanqué | Hunaphú (HD 98219) | 437 | 2011 | One of twin gods who became the Moon in K’iche’ mythology (Mayan/Guatemalan) |
| Iztok | Irena (WASP-38) | 360 | 2010 | Character from the historical novel Pod svobodnim soncem by Fran Saleški Finžgar |
This list does not include minor planets and planetoids as those are generally just named by using the last name of the person who discovered them.
Find more planet names with the letter: