A space name generator for worlds, stars, ships and aliens
Need a name for a new world in your novel, a starship in your tabletop campaign or an alien species in your game? This space name generator invents names for planets, stars, galaxies and nebulae, spaceships, alien species and sci-fi characters, in five distinct styles: built from real Greek and Latin roots, formatted like astronomical catalogue entries and ship registries, cute and cuddly, harsh and alien, or epic and mythic.
Names are assembled in your browser from word-part tables and patterns, so nothing is sent anywhere. Every list comes from a seed: keep the same seed and settings and you get exactly the same names again, which makes it easy to share a list or come back to it. Star the names you like to keep them in your favourites on this device.
How to use the Space Name Generator
- Choose what you are naming: planet, star, galaxy or nebula, spaceship, alien species or character.
- Pick a style — Greek and Latin, catalogue/registry, cute, harsh and alien, epic and mythic, or mixed — and how many names you want.
- Press Generate new names for a fresh list, or type a seed to reproduce a list exactly.
- Read the note under each name: the roots and their meanings, or the catalogue format it follows.
- Tap the star to save a name to Favourites, the copy button to copy one name, or Copy all for the whole list.
Space Name Generator features
Six things to name
Planets, stars, galaxies and nebulae, spaceships, alien species and characters each have their own patterns.
Real roots with meanings
Greek and Latin names combine roots such as thal- (sea), pyr- (fire) or noct- (night), and the note tells you what they mean.
Catalogue realism
Exoplanet-style names like “HD 104237 c”, galaxy entries like “NGC 4021” and ship registries like “TCS Meridian (TCS-4471)”.
Reproducible lists
A seed fixes the list, so a group can agree on names from the same seed.
Favourites
Keep the names you like; they are stored only in this browser.
How real astronomers name things
Most real stars have catalogue numbers rather than names: HD numbers come from the Henry Draper Catalogue, HIP from the Hipparcos satellite catalogue and Gliese numbers from a catalogue of nearby stars. Bright stars also have Bayer designations — a Greek letter plus the Latin genitive of the constellation, such as Alpha Centauri. Exoplanets take the host star’s designation plus a lower-case letter in order of discovery, starting at b: Kepler-186 f was the fifth planet found around Kepler-186.
Galaxies and nebulae are listed in catalogues such as the New General Catalogue (NGC) and its Index Catalogue (IC). Official names for features on planets and moons, and public names for stars and exoplanets, are assigned by the International Astronomical Union (IAU) — no website can sell an official star name. For the real night sky, explore the star chart.
Tips for memorable sci-fi names
- Match the sound to the feel: soft vowels and l, m, n sound gentle; hard k, x, z and glottal stops (Vrax’kul) sound alien or hostile.
- Keep it pronounceable — readers stumble over more than three consonants in a row.
- Give a world a meaning: a Latin-rooted name like “Glacara” (glac-, ice) hints at a frozen planet.
- Ship names often follow a theme across a fleet — virtues, rivers, or epic adjective-noun pairs.
- Search a name before publishing it in a book or game to check it is not already a well-known trademark or character.
Name styles at a glance
| Style | Planet example pattern | Good for |
|---|---|---|
| Greek & Latin | root + ending: Thalara, Cryonis | Hard science fiction, classical feel |
| Catalogue / registry | HD 104237 c, TCS-4471 | Realistic exploration stories |
| Cute | Twinkle Puff, Momo-3 | Children’s stories, cosy games |
| Harsh & alien | Vrax’kul, Zhuun | Hostile worlds and invaders |
| Epic & mythic | The Shattered Crown | Space opera and fantasy |
Space Name Generator FAQ
How does the space name generator work?
It combines word parts from tables written for each style — Greek and Latin roots with endings, catalogue number formats, soft or harsh syllables, and epic adjective-noun pairs — using a seeded random generator, so the same seed always gives the same names.
Can I name a real star with these names?
Not officially. Real star and exoplanet names are approved by the International Astronomical Union, and companies selling star names have no official standing. Use these names for fiction, games and fun.
Are the catalogue numbers real stars?
They follow real formats, so a generated number may happen to match a real catalogued star or galaxy. They are not looked up from any catalogue.
Can I use the names in my book or game?
Yes, the generated names are yours to use. Check that a name you choose is not already a famous trademark or character.
How do I get the same list again?
Note the seed shown above the list. Enter the same seed with the same type, style and count and the list is reproduced exactly.
Where are my favourite names saved?
In this browser’s local storage, on your device only. Use “Copy favourites” to keep them somewhere else.