Planet Name Generator
Writing a sci-fi novel about the universe or outer space? Then you need to use our cosmic planet name generator. From names of major planets to naming newly identified objects, this planet name generator has over 1,000 planet name ideas.
Our planet name generator is based on the names of current planets, such as Jupiter and Saturn. We have included both current planet names and new planet names which haven’t been used yet. And have used greek gods, myths and scientific objects as inspiration. Try our planet name generator now:
You might also enjoy these inspirational Earth Day writing prompts and these creative space-themed writing prompts. Not interested in these planet names, then check out our planet naming rules below to create your own.
Check out our new sci-fi book title generator for more intergalactic ideas, and our sci-fi story idea generator.
Download Our App
For more planet name ideas, download the ideas generator wizard app. It contains over 1,000 unique planet names, as well as hints to help you write about the planet. Here is a sneak preview of the app:
Planet Naming Rules
Creating a realistic planet name for your sci-fi novel is not as simple as naming a fantasy character or coming up with a forest name. There’s a couple of rules created by the International Astronomical Union (IAU) that one must follow. For those who are unfamiliar the IAU is the official group that oversees new discoveries in space, including planets, stars, comets and other objects.
First of all, the name you give your planet in your story will depend on the type of planet it is. We will explain each type of planet below. Before we explain these planet types, here are some general rules to follow:
- Avoid naming a planet after individual names or using pet animal names.
- Avoid using a name which is too similar to current planet names.
- Planet names are ideally less than 16 characters in length.
- Names in most cases are one word long.
- Planet names should be easy to pronounce.
Now let’s explain the main types of planets and their individual naming rules:
Major Planets
These are the big planet names that you are likely to already know. They include the following eight planets in our solar system: Mercury, Venus, Mars, Earth, Jupiter, Saturn, Uranus and Neptune.
If youāre looking to introduce a new major planet in your story, then the naming rule is simple. Name the planet after a Greek or Roman god. For example:
- Mercury: God of Travellers and Merchants
- Mars: God of War
- Venus: Goddess of Love
- Earth (or Terra in Latin): Goddess of Earth or Mother Earth
Okay, so you get the picture – Major planets are named after mythological gods and goddesses. Do some research and find a list of gods in Roman and Greek myths – Use this list to help you create a major planet name.
Dwarf Planets
Dwarf planets are planet-like objects in the solar system – But they are technically not planets. The most common dwarf planet is Pluto. Again the names of dwarf planets can come from Roman or Greek myths. Here are some examples coming from Greek Mythology:
- Pluto: Also known as Hades – Ruler of the underworld
- Styx: Goddess of the river
- Hydra: Serpent-like monster
- Nyx: Goddess of the night.
Dwarf planet naming rules are similar to major planets. However dwarf planets can be named after any creature in mythology – Not just gods and goddesses (Hydra as an example). So it’s back to books with this one, your first task would be to research all creatures in mythology and make a list. From this list, you can develop your planet name ideas.
Minor Planets
Minor planets are planets which have not yet been identified. Since they have just been newly discovered, a provisional name must be assigned to them. If in your sci-fi novel, you are talking about a newly discovered planet, you might want to give it a provisional name first. The naming rules for minor planets is the easiest to understand.
First take the year of discovery, such as 2001, 2021, 2012 etc. – This will depend on what year your story is set in. Next, assign two capital letters to it. These capital letters have their own meanings, such as the letters AD means that the planet was discovered at the beginning of January and it was the 4th discovery made that month. Here is a screenshot taken from the Minor Planet Center website on the meanings of these capital letters:
Take for example the minor planet, 2001 KX was found in the second half of May (K) 2001. And it was the 23rd discovery made that month (X). And thatās all you need to know about naming minor planets in your sci-fi book.
Exoplanets
The final type of planet discussed in this post is exoplanets. These are planets that are found outside the solar system. The names of these planets are also quite simple to understand, once you know the naming rules. Exoplanet names contain two key elements – The first is a noun and the second is a lowercase letter (always starting from ābā).
The first element, the noun can be created based on any related noun to that planet. For example, you might name it after a star it orbits (e.g. 51 Pegasi star), project name (COnvection ROtation and planetary Transits or CoRoT), or the instrument that was used to discover the planet (i.e. Kepler space telescope).
The second element, the lowercase letter relates to the order of discovery, such as the first discovery is given the letter ābā. The second discovery is given the letter, ācā and so on. For example, exoplanet-d was the third planet discovered near the exoplanet star.
Sometimes exoplanets may be given a capital letter instead of lowercase one for the second element. This means the planet orbits the brightest, biggest star in the sky. For example, the planet name Sirius A means that Sirius is the biggest star in the sky. Therefore the planet name, Sirius B is orbiting a less bright (or dimmer) star, but Sirius is still the brightest star in the sky.
Random Planet Names
Major Planet Name Ideas
- Achelous
- Oceanu
- Siren
- Acheron
- Achilles
- Actaeon
- Admetus
- Adoni
- Aeacus
- Aeƫtes
- Aegisthus
- Aegyptus
- Aeneas
- Aeolus
- Asclepiu
- Agamemnon
- Aglaia
- Ajax
- Alcestis
- Alcyone
- Pleiades
- Furies
- Althaea
- Amazons
- Ero
- Amphion
- Amphitrite
- Amphitryon
- Anchises
- Andromache
- Andromeda
- Anteros
- Antigone
- AntinoĆ¼s
- Venus
- Apollo
- Aquilo
- Arachne
- Mars
- Argo
- Argus
- Ariadne
- Arion
- Artemis
- Asclepius
- Astarte
- Sterop
- Astraea
- Atalanta
- Minerva
- Atlas
- Atreus
- Atropos
- Fates
- Eo
- Auster
- Avernus
- Dionysu
- Bellerophon
- Bellona
- Boreas
- Cadmus
- Calliope
- Muses
- Calypso
- Cassandra
- Castor
- Centaurs
- Cephalus
- Cepheus
- Cerberus
- Demete
- Chaos
- Charon
- Charybdis
- Chiron
- Chryseis
- Circe
- Clio
- Clotho
- Clytemnestra
- Saturn
- Cyclopes
- Daedalus
- Danae
- DanaĆÆdes
- DanaĆ¼s
- Daphne
- Graeae
- Ceres
- Artemi
- Dido
- Diomedes
- Dione
- Bacchus
- Dioscuri
- Plut
- Hade
- Dryads
- Echo
- Electra
- Endymion
- Enyo
- Eos
- Aurora
- Erato
- Erebus
- Eris
- Eros
- Eteocles
- Euphrosyne
- Europa
- Eurus
- Gorgons
- Eurydice
- Eurystheus
- Euterpe
- Fauns
- Faunus
- Pa
- Favonius
- Flora
- Fortuna
- Gaea
- Galatea
- Ganymede
- Golden Fleece
- Graces
- Hades
- Hamadryads
- Harpies
- Juventas
- Hecate
- Hector
- Hecuba
- Helen
- Helios
- Sol
- Vulcan
- Hera
- Juno
- Hercules
- Mercury
- Hero
- Hesperus
- Hestia
- Vesta
- Hippolyte
- Amazon
- Hippolytus
- Hippomenes
- Hyacinthus
- Hydra
- Hyperion
- Hypnos
- Somnus
- Iapetus
- Icarus
- Io
- Iobates
- Iphigenia
- Iris
- Ismene
- Ixion
- Janus
- Jocasta
- Zeu
- Heb
- Laius
- Laocoƶn
- Lares
- Let
- Lavinia
- Leda
- Lethe
- Leto
- Latona
- Maia
- Manes
- Marsyas
- Medea
- Medusa
- Meleager
- Melpomene
- Memnon
- Menelaus
- Mentor
- Herme
- Merope
- Midas
- Athen
- Minos
- Minotaur
- Mnemosyne
- Muse
- Momus
- Morpheus
- Thanato
- Naiads
- Napaeae
- Narcissus
- Nemesis
- Neoptolemus
- Poseido
- Nestor
- Nike
- Niobe
- Notus
- Ny
- Nymphs
- Nyx
- Oceanids
- Oceanus
- Odysseus
- Ulysses
- Oedipus
- Oenone
- Rhe
- Orestes
- Furie
- Orion
- Orpheus
- Pan
- Pandora
- Parcae
- Paris
- Patroclus
- Pegasus
- Pelias
- Pelops
- Penates
- Penelope
- Persephone
- Proserpine
- Perseus
- Phaedra
- Phaethon
- Philoctetes
- Phineus
- Phlegethon
- Pirithous
- Pluto
- Pollux
- Polyhymnia
- Polymnia
- Polynices
- Polyphemus
- Polyxena
- Pontus
- Poseidon
- Neptune
- Priam
- Priapus
- Procrustes
- Prometheus
- Persephon
- Proteus
- Psyche
- Pygmalion
- Pyramus
- Python
- Quirinus
- Rhadamanthus
- Rhea
- Ops
- Romulus
- Sarpedon
- Cronu
- Satyrs
- Scylla
- Selene
- Semele
- Sileni
- Silvanus
- Sirens
- Sisyphus
- Helio
- Hypno
- Sphinx
- Styx
- Symplegades
- Syrinx
- Tantalus
- Tartarus
- Telemachus
- Tellus
- Terminus
- Terpsichore
- Thalia
- Thanatos
- Mors
- Themis
- Theseus
- Thisbe
- Thyestes
- Tiresias
- Titans
- Tithonus
- Triton
- Turnus
- Odysseu
- Urania
- Uranus
- Aphrodit
- Hesti
- Hephaestu
- Zephyrus
- Jupiter
Dwarf Planets
- Aeternae
- Alcyoneus
- giant
- Almops
- Poseidon
- Helle
- Aloadae
- Ares
- Amphisbaena
- Arae
- Argus
- Asterius
- Athos
- Briareus
- Catoblepas
- Centaur
- Centauride
- Agrius
- Heracles
- Amycus
- Centauromachy
- Asbolus
- Bienor
- Centaurus
- Chiron
- heroes
- Chthonius
- Nestor
- Pirithous
- Hippodamia
- Cyllarus
- Dictys
- Elatus
- Eurynomos
- Eurytion
- Eurytus
- Lapiths
- Hylaeus
- Atalanta
- Hylonome
- Nessus
- Perimedes
- PhĆ³los
- Pholus
- Rhaecus
- Thaumas
- Cyprus
- Lamos
- Zeus
- Dionysus
- Hera
- Amphithemis
- Cerastes
- Cerberus
- Hades
- Cetus
- Ceuthonymus
- Menoetius
- Charon
- Styx
- Charybdis
- Chimera
- Crocotta
- Cyclopes
- Arges
- Gaia
- Uranus
- Tartarus
- Polyphemus
- Hephaestus
- Daemons
- Ceramici
- Damysus
- Thrace
- Dryad
- Echion
- Eidolon
- Empusa
- Enceladus
- Athena
- Erinyes
- Cronus
- Virgil
- Alecto
- Megaera
- Tisiphone
- Gegenees
- Gello
- Geryon
- Gigantes
- Gorgons
- Euryale
- Medusa
- Stheno
- Graeae
- Griffin
- Harpies
- Aello
- Celaeno
- Ocypete
- Hecatonchires
- Hippalectryon
- Hippocampus
- Lernaean Hydra
- Lerna
- Labour
- Ichthyocentaurs
- Ipotane
- Keres
- Achlys
- Kobaloi
- Laestrygonians
- Antiphates
- Manticore
- Mimas
- Minotaur
- Theseus
- Hellhound
- Orthrus
- Odontotyrannos
- Onocentaur
- Ophiotaurus
- Orion
- Ouroboros
- Pallas
- Panes
- Periboea
- Giantess
- Phoenix
- Polybotes
- Porphyrion
- Satyrs
- Satyresses
- Pan
- Agreus
- Ampelos
- Marsyas
- Nomios
- Silenus
- Scylla
- nereid
- Circe
- Sirens
- Medea
- Pasiphaƫ
- Argo
- Sphinx
- Hieracosphinx
- Taraxippi
- Thoon
- Tityos
- Triton
- Amphitrite
- Typhon
- Monocerata
- Lamiai
- Empousa
- Lamia
- Mormo
- Mormolykeia
- Hecate
- Agriopas
- Damarchus
- Parrhasia
- Lykaia
- Lycaon
- Nyctimus
- Pegasus
- Acanthis
- Carduelis
- Alectryon
- Aphrodite
- Helios
- Autonous
- Gerana
- Oenoe
- Aethon
- Lark
- Alcyone
- Alkyonides
- halcyons
- Ceyx
- AĆ«don
- Procne
- Nyctimene
- Ascalaphus
- Philomela
- Cornix
- Coronis
- Corvus
- Apollo
- Cycnus
- Phaethon
- Eridanos
- Strix
- Tereus
- Hoopoe
- Ionia
- Crommyon
- Gadflies
- Myrmekes
- Menoetes
- Cercopes
- Actaeon
- panthers
- Argos
- Odysseus
- Laelaps
- Maera
- Erigone
- Arion
- Taras
- Styx
- Achilles
- Balius
- Xanthus
- Ladon
- Nemea
- Mysia
- Trojan
- Laocoƶn
- Aeƫtes
- Talos
- Aella
Minor Planets
- 2055 TR
- 2055 YJ
- 2000 XP
- 2000 MU
- 2025 FJ
- 2001 QQ
- 2001 VW
- 3000 SG
- 2001 LM
- 2002 WH
- 2012 RB
- 2021 RZ
- 2012 BW
- 1989 GR
- 2021 PR
- 2025 TH
- 2055 JP
- 3000 VP
- 2100 WL
- 2025 GF
- 2100 QD
- 2002 CP
- 2071 US
- 2002 YX
- 2020 DC
- 2002 HY
- 2012 KQ
- 2025 SA
- 2071 DR
- 2020 EY
- 2000 CO
- 2002 VM
- 2055 QS
- 3000 TA
- 2002 UZ
- 2020 QT
- 2012 QU
- 2020 YB
- 2025 FS
- 2002 EM
- 2012 HV
- 2001 NZ
- 3000 FD
- 2018 AP
- 2012 LU
- 2002 BK
- 2025 OW
- 1989 EO
- 2025 JW
- 2021 HS
- 2012 YZ
- 2000 RN
- 2071 DG
- 2000 HH
- 2020 NW
- 2055 NQ
- 2002 VU
- 1989 OB
- 2001 VD
- 2025 DP
- 2018 GL
- 1989 FT
- 2012 VX
- 2018 UL
- 2002 QK
- 2055 GH
- 2071 RT
- 2100 AX
- 2055 JS
- 2002 NV
- 2021 MT
- 2002 KP
- 2000 PP
- 2002 VC
- 2000 TQ
- 2002 LE
- 2055 NJ
- 1989 PO
- 1989 BC
- 2100 MN
- 2025 LX
- 2000 NM
- 2100 WG
- 3000 SO
- 2020 GH
- 2020 RU
- 2025 JZ
- 3000 HO
- 2002 CH
- 2021 GE
- 2020 SO
- 2001 JU
- 2055 QZ
- 3000 SD
- 2001 BX
- 2001 QT
- 2021 BJ
- 1989 DV
- 2021 BK
- 2001 TZ
- 1989 JW
- 2001 VZ
- 2025 CV
- 2100 UC
- 2012 QF
- 2055 PC
- 2055 WL
- 1989 DL
- 2025 EO
- 2100 VV
- 2055 BH
- 3000 GN
- 2012 XU
- 2100 OT
- 2001 CE
- 2002 OS
- 2001 XQ
- 2071 YN
- 2002 EJ
- 2025 QS
- 2100 TA
- 2021 PP
- 2071 UZ
- 2001 UH
Exoplanets
- Pan-STARRS I
- COAST L
- 51 Pegasi J
- Giausar M
- MAGNUM I
- Beta Pegasi B
- Yed Prior s
- Nekkar T
- Cursa v
- Kraz T
- Syrma v
- Epsilon Pegasi r
- Ursae Minoris g
- Polaris v
- Beta Scorpii V
- Bellatrix H
- Acrux V
- Merak i
- SMARTS k
- Kitt V
- Merak J
- Keck J
- Zeta Puppis D
- Ran S
- Kraz R
- Alpha Pavonis f
- Kepler q
- SMARTS E
- Nekkar Y
- 53 Orionis P
- Epsilon Pegasi O
- 53 Orionis H
- Ran W
- Ursae Minoris X
- Lesath N
- Cursa k
- Kitt o
- TCS L
- Toppo W
- Cursa v
- SMARTS h
- Achird X
- Piautos I
- 53 Orionis e
- Schedar Q
- Syrma n
- Bellatrix t
- Alpha Pavonis p
- COAST U
- Furud Q
- CoRoT s
- Zosma L
- Acrux i
- Lesath l
- Kraz r
- Almaaz x
- Sirius d
- Ursae Minoris d
- MAGNUM e
- Keck S
- Furud l
- Ran s
- Alpha Pavonis N
- ZIMLAT r
- Alpha Pavonis t
- Kitt w
- Alpha Pavonis I
- Lesath j
- Polaris B
- Diadem K
- Kitt X
- Toppo Q
- Acrux M
- Diadem G
- Polaris g
- 51 Pegasi K
- Beta Scorpii F
- KAO j
- MAGNUM H
- Rukbat I
- Vega z
- Yed Prior y
- CHARA Z
- Rukbat E
- Giausar r
- Kraz i
- TCS c
- Ursae Minoris u
- TCS u
- CHARA U
- Kitt h
- Toppo K
- MAGNUM t
- Toppo o
- CoRoT O
- Ran g
- Zosma Y
- TCS u
- Lesath p
- GREGOR E
- COAST v
- Kraz V
- Acrux V
- 53 Orionis l
- Epsilon Pegasi q
- Wezen D
- Almaaz x
- Furud p
- Gamma Leonis Z
- Sirius x
- Nekkar J
- Furud N
- Achird U
- Toppo T
- Almaaz B
- Beta Pegasi j
- SMARTS V
- Achird n
- Giausar O
- Kepler k
- Furud f
- CoRoT D
- Lesath g
- 51 Pegasi e
- Bellatrix v
- Epsilon Pegasi c
- CHARA U
- Merak z
- CHARA E
- CoRoT U
- Gamma Leonis U
- Rukbat l
- Schedar B
- Ran O
- 53 Orionis t
- Bellatrix B
- Piautos R
- Acrux I
- Gamma Leonis C
- MAGNUM t
- Toppo L
- Giausar F
- Zosma c
- Kraz P
- ZIMLAT z
- Furud R
- Cursa n
- Epsilon Pegasi U
- AZT-11 u
- Sirius N
Comments loading...