Nebula Name Generator

Names for star nurseries, veils and glowing clouds

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Name the nebula in your sci-fi setting, star map or space-opera campaign: real nebula names like Orion, Helix and Cat's Eye, invented descriptive names like The Lantern Veil and Ashfall Shroud, Latin coinages like Velum Ignis, and mythic names drawn from gods of fire, mist and night.

About nebula names

Almost every famous nebula is named for what it looked like through a telescope. The Crab, the Horsehead, the Cat's Eye, the Dumbbell, the Ring, the Owl and the Elephant's Trunk are all visual nicknames layered on top of dull catalog numbers like M1, NGC 7293 and IC 434. Astronomers still do it today: the Pillars of Creation, Mystic Mountain and the Cosmic Cliffs are Hubble and Webb-era names for regions inside the Eagle and Carina nebulae. A smaller group honors discoverers (Barnard's Loop, Hubble's Variable Nebula, Thor's Helmet is the exception that proves the rule) or describes the physics (the Blinking Planetary, the Eight-Burst, the Twin Jet).

This list gives you the real names plus several invented registers so you can pick what fits your setting. Descriptive English names such as The Lantern Veil, Ashfall Shroud and Cradle of Sorrows work the way real nicknames do. Latin and Greek coinages like Velum Ignis, Nubes Sanguinis and Nephele Pyrrha sound like something a survey office would approve. Mythic names borrow gods of mist, fire, night and weaving, and discoverer-style names like Okonkwo's Lantern and Petrova's Wreath imply a history of exploration. Survey-style labels such as Halvane Cloud Complex and Thrale Supernova Remnant are there for star maps that need formal entries.

How to choose nebula names

  • Decide what kind of nebula it is before naming it. Emission nebulae glow red and get fiery names; reflection nebulae shine blue and suit cold, glassy words; dark nebulae block light and want names like Coalsack or Shroud; planetary nebulae are small rings and bubbles; supernova remnants are tangled loops and veils.
  • Real nebula names are almost all nicknames for a shape, so pick an object, animal or garment and let the name describe it. Cat's Eye, Horsehead, Witch's Broom and Lemon Slice all follow that pattern and so do the invented ones here.
  • In a hard sci-fi setting, pair a formal designation with the crew's nickname: Halvane Cloud Complex on the chart, The Drowned Lantern in conversation. The contrast makes the universe feel surveyed and lived in.
  • Use possessive discoverer names sparingly. One or two Okonkwo's Lantern-style names suggest a history of astronomers, but a whole sector of them reads as a roster.
  • Avoid reusing a very famous real name for a fictional object unless you are writing about our own sky. Orion, Crab and Eagle are instantly recognizable to most readers.

Frequently asked questions

How do real nebulae get their names?

Most have a catalog designation (M for Messier, NGC and IC for the New General and Index Catalogues, Sh2 for Sharpless, Barnard numbers for dark clouds) and, if they are photogenic, a popular nickname describing their shape: Crab, Ring, Horsehead, Cat's Eye, Helix. A few are named after discoverers, like Barnard's Loop and Hubble's Variable Nebula, and some famous regions inside larger nebulae have their own names, like the Pillars of Creation in the Eagle Nebula.

What is a good nebula name for a sci-fi story or game?

Match it to who named it. Scientists would give a survey label like Thrale Supernova Remnant or Ithris Star-Forming Region; spacers would use a blunt visual nickname like The Widow's Shawl or Ember Cradle; an old religious culture would use a mythic name like Hecate's Lantern or Tiamat's Breath. A nebula that matters to the plot usually deserves two names, the formal one and the one people actually say.

What is the difference between a nebula, a galaxy and a star cluster?

A nebula is a cloud of gas and dust inside a galaxy, often where stars are being born (Orion, Carina) or where one has died (Crab, Ring, Helix). A galaxy is a whole system of billions of stars, and a cluster is a tight group of stars. Early astronomers called all of them nebulae because they looked fuzzy, which is why the Andromeda Galaxy was once the Andromeda Nebula.

Can I use these names for a nebula-themed brand, band or username?

Yes. Short invented names like Cinderhaven, Glimmerveil, Halcyon Drift and Nightbloom work well as handles, studio names or album titles, and the Latin coinages like Velum Aureum or Lux Dormiens give a more formal feel. Check trademarks before using any name commercially.

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All 500 nebula names

This is the complete list the generator above draws its random batches from, sorted A to Z and grouped by first letter.

Plain text, one name per line.

A: 30 names

  • Abernathy Haze
  • Achlys Major
  • Achlys Minor
  • Achterberg's Fan
  • Adeyemi's Shawl
  • Aer Sanguis
  • Agni's Hearth
  • Aither Cradle
  • Alabaster Reach
  • Alchemist's Retort
  • Amber Tangle
  • Anansi's Web
  • Andromeda's Chain
  • Angel Nebula
  • Ant Nebula
  • Antler Nebula
  • Anvil Nebula
  • Apep Coil
  • Arawn's Shroud
  • Arcus Cinereus
  • Ardenwake Remnant
  • Ariadne's Thread
  • Arrowhead Nebula
  • Ashfall Shroud
  • Ashwreath
  • Aspis Pyrrha
  • Athena's Loom
  • Aubrey's Cloud
  • Aurora Pendens
  • Avenlock Cloud

B: 22 names

  • Baba Yaga's Mortar
  • Baby Eagle Nebula
  • Barnacle Nebula
  • Barnard's Loop
  • Basilisk Eye
  • Bat Nebula
  • Beaumont Tangle
  • Bifrost Shroud
  • Blinking Planetary
  • Bloodwick Bubble
  • Blue Snowball
  • Boomerang Nebula
  • Box Nebula
  • Bramblewisp
  • Breath of Ardent
  • Brennach Molecular Cloud
  • Brennock Dark Lane
  • Brightwater's Knot
  • Brigid's Flame
  • Broken Spectacles Nebula
  • Bubble Nebula
  • Butterfly Nebula

C: 40 names

  • Calabash Nebula
  • Calder's Remnant
  • Caldera Ring
  • Caldwright Remnant
  • Caligo Aurea
  • Caligo Rubra
  • Caligo Viridis
  • Candlesnuffer Nebula
  • Carina Nebula
  • Carrowmere Cloud
  • Cassiopeia's Mirror
  • Castellanos Veil
  • Cat's Eye Nebula
  • Cat's Paw Nebula
  • Cathedral Cloud
  • Cave Nebula
  • Cerberus Tangle
  • Ceridwen's Cauldron
  • Cinder Bloom
  • Cinderhaven
  • Clamor Silens
  • Coalsack
  • Cobalt Wake
  • Cobweb Nebula
  • Cocoon Nebula
  • Cone Nebula
  • Corona Cinerea
  • Cosmic Cliffs
  • Cosmic Keyhole
  • Cosmic Reef
  • Crab Nebula
  • Cracked Bell Nebula
  • Cradle of Kings
  • Cradle of Sorrows
  • Crescent Nebula
  • Crimson Lattice
  • Crow's Foot Nebula
  • Crown of Cinders
  • Crown of Thessaly
  • Cygnus Loop

D: 14 names

  • Daedalus Loom
  • Danae's Rain
  • Dandelion Clock Nebula
  • Dark Doodad
  • Dawnshroud
  • Delacroix Cloud
  • Dolphin Head Nebula
  • Dorrigan Cloud
  • Dragon's Breath
  • Dragonfly Wreath
  • Dravell Molecular Cloud
  • Drowned Ring
  • Dumbbell Nebula
  • Duskmantle

E: 13 names

  • Eagle Nebula
  • Egg Nebula
  • Eight-Burst Nebula
  • Elephant's Trunk Nebula
  • Ember Cradle
  • Ember Pit Nebula
  • Emberfall
  • Enki's Cradle
  • Ereshkigal Shroud
  • Eskildsen Cloud
  • Eurydice Shroud
  • Eye of Kestrin
  • Eye of the Weaver

F: 20 names

  • Fairweather's Lamp
  • Farrokhzad Plume
  • Ferrante's Veil
  • Fetus Nebula
  • Fighting Dragons of Ara
  • Fishhook Nebula
  • Flame Nebula
  • Flaming Star Nebula
  • Flamma Pallida
  • Flos Tenebrarum
  • Fornax Dormiens
  • Fox Fur Nebula
  • Fox Wisp
  • Foxglove Veil
  • Frayed Rope Nebula
  • Freya's Tears
  • Frosty Leo
  • Fujin Drift
  • Fumus Caelestis
  • Funnel Nebula

G: 16 names

  • Gallows Veil
  • Ganymede Cup
  • Garnet Hollow
  • Gate of Ashes
  • Gate of Halvane
  • Ghost Head Nebula
  • Ghost of Jupiter
  • Ghostlight Shoal
  • Ghostwick Bubble
  • Giant's Forge
  • Glaukos Shroud
  • Glimmerveil
  • Goblet Nebula
  • Gomez's Hamburger
  • Greaves Shroud
  • Gum Nebula

H: 31 names

  • Halcyon Drift
  • Haldane's Crescent
  • Halloran's Shroud
  • Halvane Cloud Complex
  • Handprint Nebula
  • Hanuman's Leap
  • Harlequin Veil
  • Harp of Cassiel
  • Harrowgate Cloud
  • Hathersage Remnant
  • Heart Nebula
  • Heart of Ardennes
  • Hearth of Vesper
  • Hecate's Lantern
  • Heimdall's Lamp
  • Hel's Lantern
  • Helios Wake
  • Helix Nebula
  • Hephaestus Forge
  • Heron Nebula
  • Hind's Variable Nebula
  • Hollis Drift
  • Hollowlight
  • Hollowmere Shroud
  • Homunculus
  • Horsehead Nebula
  • Hourglass Nebula
  • Hubble's Variable Nebula
  • Hyaline Cloud
  • Hydra's Crown
  • Hypnos Mist

I: 10 names

  • Ignis Fatuus
  • Ignis Sacer
  • Ilmaris Reflection Nebula
  • Indigo Scar
  • Indra's Net
  • Ink Blot Nebula
  • Io Flame
  • Iris Nebula
  • Ishikawa's Ribbon
  • Ithris Star-Forming Region

J: 2 names

  • Jellyfish Nebula
  • Jormungand Coil

K: 11 names

  • Kali's Tongue
  • Kavanagh Veil
  • Keening Loop
  • Kessandra Remnant
  • Kestrel Plume
  • Keyhole Nebula
  • Kharsis Cloud
  • Kite Nebula
  • Korvane Emission Complex
  • Kraken's Shroud
  • Kupala's Wreath

L: 25 names

  • Lace Collar Nebula
  • Lacrimae Stellarum
  • Ladder of Ysolde
  • Lagoon Nebula
  • Lampshade Nebula
  • Lantern Fish Nebula
  • Lantern of Ilyra
  • Lantern of Sable
  • Lantern of Thule
  • Lantern Reach
  • Lazarus Bloom
  • Leda's Wing
  • Lemon Slice Nebula
  • Lilac Furnace
  • Lindgren's Bell
  • Lindqvist's Bubble
  • Lion Nebula
  • Little Dumbbell
  • Little Gem Nebula
  • Little Ghost Nebula
  • Lobster Nebula
  • Loom of Harrow
  • Loom of Ondine
  • Lux Dormiens
  • Lux Sepulta

M: 18 names

  • Mami Wata's Comb
  • Manannan Mist
  • Manatee Nebula
  • Marchetti's Eye
  • Mariner's Lamp
  • Martyr's Crown
  • Maui's Net
  • Mbeki's Halo
  • Medusa Nebula
  • Melas Pall
  • Meridian Cloud
  • Monkey Head Nebula
  • Moonwake Shell
  • Moreau's Window
  • Morrigan's Wing
  • Morrowlight
  • Mothwing Cloud
  • Mystic Mountain

N: 21 names

  • Nakamura's Kite
  • Nebula Lactea
  • Nebula Somnii
  • Necklace Nebula
  • Nephele Argyra
  • Nephele Chlora
  • Nephele Pyrrha
  • Nephos Kyaneos
  • Nessaren Dark Nebula
  • Nidhogg's Shadow
  • Niflheim Mist
  • Nightbloom
  • Nightshade Bloom
  • Nimbus Aeternus
  • Nimbus Ferreus
  • North America Nebula
  • Nubes Ardens
  • Nubes Sanguinis
  • Nubes Vitreus
  • Nut's Mantle
  • Nyx Shroud

O: 18 names

  • Odin's Eye
  • Okonkwo's Lantern
  • Ombros Chrysos
  • Omega Nebula
  • Opal Wreath
  • Opaline Wreath
  • Oracle Plume
  • Orion Nebula
  • Ormond's Flame
  • Orphan's Hearth
  • Orsova Cloud Complex
  • Oshun's Mirror
  • Oskarion Emission Region
  • Ossuary Cloud
  • Ostrander's Knot
  • Owl Nebula
  • Oyelaran's Torch
  • Oyster Nebula

P: 26 names

  • Pacman Nebula
  • Palewake
  • Pallium Stellare
  • Pele's Hair
  • Pelican Nebula
  • Pellucid Cloud
  • Pendragon Wisp
  • Persephone Bloom
  • Perun's Hammer
  • Petrova's Wreath
  • Phlox Veil
  • Phoenix Ash
  • Phoenix's Nest
  • Pickering's Triangle
  • Pilgrim's Fire
  • Pillars of Creation
  • Pipe Nebula
  • Plough Nebula
  • Porphyra Cloud
  • Prancing Horse
  • Prawn Nebula
  • Prometheus Flame
  • Prophet's Shroud
  • Pulvis Aureus
  • Pulvis Ignis
  • Pulvis Regum

Q: 2 names

  • Quetzal Plume
  • Quicksilver Curtain

R: 17 names

  • Ra's Ember
  • Ragnarok Ash
  • Ravel's Curtain
  • Ravenfall Mist
  • Red Rectangle
  • Red Spider Nebula
  • Reliquary Cloud
  • Rete Lucis
  • Retina Nebula
  • Ribcage Nebula
  • Ring Nebula
  • Roc's Feather
  • Rosette Nebula
  • Rotten Egg Nebula
  • Ruiz-Obando Loop
  • Running Man Nebula
  • Rutherford Wreath

S: 44 names

  • Saffron Tide
  • Sanctum Glow
  • Sapphire Weft
  • Saraswati's Veena
  • Sarrow Dark Cloud
  • Saturn Nebula
  • Scarlet Gyre
  • Seagull Nebula
  • Seahorse Nebula
  • Sekhmet Flame
  • Selas Erythron
  • Selene's Veil
  • Semele's Fire
  • Sentinel's Eye
  • Seraph's Breath
  • Serpent's Cradle
  • Shango's Axe
  • Shiva's Third Eye
  • Shroud of Anset
  • Shroud of Hesper
  • Shroud of Morrow
  • Sickle Nebula
  • Sindon Astralis
  • Skull Nebula
  • Sleeping Fox Nebula
  • Snake Nebula
  • Soap Bubble Nebula
  • Sorrentino Plume
  • Sorrow's Cradle
  • Soul Nebula
  • Southern Crab
  • Spaghetti Nebula
  • Speculum Nocturnum
  • Sphinx's Veil
  • Spindle Nebula
  • Spirograph Nebula
  • Squid Nebula
  • Starcradle
  • Starling Cradle
  • Statue of Liberty Nebula
  • Stingray Nebula
  • Sudarium Caeli
  • Susanoo Storm
  • Szymanski Cloud

T: 80 names

  • Tadpole Nebula
  • Tanaka Bloom
  • Tangaroa Wake
  • Tarantula Nebula
  • Teardrop Nebula
  • Tenebrae Florens
  • Tessaly Cloud
  • Tessek Planetary Nebula
  • Tezcatlipoca's Mirror
  • The Ash Tree
  • The Beggar's Crown
  • The Bishop's Hat
  • The Blue Kiln
  • The Bone Garden
  • The Broken Crown
  • The Burning Lyre
  • The Choir Loft
  • The Coral Throne
  • The Crooked Ladder
  • The Dancer's Sleeve
  • The Drifting Orchard
  • The Drowned Lantern
  • The Drowsy Dragon
  • The Ember Shroud
  • The Empty Chalice
  • The Ferryman's Lamp
  • The Frozen Torch
  • The Glass Serpent
  • The Gravedigger's Lantern
  • The Green Shepherd
  • The Hanging Garden
  • The Hermit's Window
  • The Hollow Bell
  • The Hunter's Lamp
  • The Iron Lily
  • The Lantern Veil
  • The Leaning Tower
  • The Lost Anvil
  • The Midwife's Hands
  • The Mourning Dove

T, continued

  • The Mourning Veil
  • The Painted Gate
  • The Pilot's Scarf
  • The Quiet Furnace
  • The Raven's Wing
  • The Red Harp
  • The Rusted Gate
  • The Saint's Bones
  • The Salt Flats
  • The Shepherd's Fire
  • The Silver Moth
  • The Sleeping Giant
  • The Slow Comet
  • The Smith's Spark
  • The Smuggler's Fog
  • The Spilled Inkwell
  • The Sunken Cathedral
  • The Thousand Candles
  • The Tidewrack
  • The Tinker's Bellows
  • The Torn Sail
  • The Veiled Bride
  • The Wandering Eye
  • The Weaver's Loom
  • The Whispering Gallery
  • The Widow's Shawl
  • Thistledown Haze
  • Thor's Helmet
  • Thornfield Cloud
  • Thrale Supernova Remnant
  • Thrane's Loop
  • Tiamat's Breath
  • Titan's Cradle
  • Tlaloc Cloud
  • Toby Jug Nebula
  • Tresses of Maelis
  • Trifid Nebula
  • Tsukuyomi Mist
  • Tulip Nebula
  • Twin Jet Nebula

U: 4 names

  • Ulvane Cloud
  • Umbra Lucens
  • Unicorn's Mane
  • Urania's Lamp

V: 20 names

  • Valkyrie Wreath
  • Vance's Cradle
  • Vapor Sidereus
  • Vasquez Ribbon
  • Veil Nebula
  • Veil of Castellan
  • Veil of Orsolya
  • Veil of Tamsin
  • Veles's Horn
  • Vellamar Reflection Cloud
  • Velum Aureum
  • Velum Cineris
  • Velum Ignis
  • Velum Noctis
  • Verdant Shroud
  • Vermilion Tresses
  • Vestis Viduae
  • Veyland Star-Forming Region
  • Vitrine Mist
  • Voss Remnant

W: 14 names

  • Wake of the Drowned Star
  • War and Peace Nebula
  • Wasp Nest Nebula
  • Watchman's Torch
  • Whitlock's Loop
  • Widow's Lantern
  • Wishbone Nebula
  • Witch Head Nebula
  • Witch's Broom
  • Wizard Nebula
  • Wolfsbane Drift
  • Wraith Shell
  • Wreath of Nerys
  • Wyvern's Wake

Y: 1 name

  • Yggdrasil Shroud

Z: 1 name

  • Zorya's Gate