Solar System Name Generator
Real star catalog names and invented systems for your galaxy map
Generate solar system names for sci-fi maps and space games, drawing on real astronomical conventions: Bayer designations like Epsilon Eridani, catalog stars like Gliese 581 and Wolf 359, and evocative invented systems for original settings.
About solar system names
Real star systems are named in a few predictable ways, and using those conventions is the quickest route to a believable galaxy map. Bright stars keep their ancient Arabic, Greek and Latin proper names: Vega, Rigel, Betelgeuse, Zubenelgenubi. Fainter naked-eye stars carry Bayer designations, a Greek letter plus the genitive of the constellation, so Epsilon Eridani means the fifth-brightest star in Eridanus. Everything dimmer is known by a catalog: Gliese 581, Wolf 359, Lalande 21185, Ross 128, or by the telescope that found its planets, as in Kepler-186 and TRAPPIST-1.
Strictly speaking there is only one Solar System (ours, named for Sol), and astronomers say star system or planetary system for the rest. In science fiction the terms blur, and colonists would surely rename their home star. That gives you three tiers of names: the cold catalog number the survey used, the Bayer name astronomers know, and the warm name settlers adopt, like Hearth, Providence or New Sol. A mythological name (Astraea, Tyche, Nemesis) nods to how our own planets and moons were named.
The list mixes the twenty nearest stars, famous exoplanet hosts, more than two hundred Bayer designations and invented systems. It also holds variable stars (R Carinae), Norse, Egyptian and Mesopotamian figures, Latin settler names (Lux Aeterna), binaries (The Varga Binary) and invented survey numbers (Outbound 17).
How to choose solar system names
- For hard science fiction, use real nearby stars (Tau Ceti, Epsilon Eridani, Gliese 581) and check their actual distance from Earth so travel times make sense.
- Bayer-style names need a Greek letter and a constellation genitive: Delta Pavonis, not Delta Pavo. A quick lookup of the constellation's genitive form keeps it correct.
- Give a colonized system two names, the survey catalog number and the settler name, and let characters use different ones to signal their background.
- Name planets in the system by adding lowercase letters in discovery order (Gliese 581 b, c, d) or Roman numerals by orbit (Tau Ceti IV) to match real astronomy.
- Avoid Prime, Major and Minor as generic tags unless there really is a Secundus or Minor counterpart somewhere in your setting.
Frequently asked questions
Is 'solar system' the right term for other star systems?
Technically no. Solar refers to Sol, our sun, so astronomers call others star systems or planetary systems. In fiction and casual speech the terms are used interchangeably, and both are fine for a story.
How are real star systems named?
Bright stars have traditional proper names (Sirius, Vega); most visible stars use Bayer designations (Alpha Centauri, Tau Ceti); faint stars use catalog numbers (Gliese 581, Wolf 359); and exoplanet hosts often take the survey's name (Kepler-442, TRAPPIST-1).
What are the closest star systems to Earth?
Alpha Centauri (including Proxima) at 4.2 light-years, then Barnard's Star, Wolf 359, Lalande 21185, Sirius, Luyten 726-8, Ross 154, Ross 248, Epsilon Eridani and Lacaille 9352, all within about 11 light-years.
Can I use real star names in my novel or game?
Yes. Star names and catalog designations are astronomical nomenclature that anyone may use in a story, which is why so many franchises use Tau Ceti, Epsilon Eridani, Alpha Centauri and Wolf 359.
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All 1,000 solar system names
A: 78 names
- AA Tauri
- AB Aurigae
- AC Herculis
- Achernar
- Achird
- Acrux
- Ad Astra
- Adeyemi's Star
- Adhafera
- Adhara
- Aegle
- Aeolus
- AF Leporis
- AG Draconis
- Aglaia
- AH Scorpii
- Ainalrami
- Albireo
- Alcyone
- Aldebaran
- Alderamin
- Alfirk
- Algenib
- Algol
- Alkaid
- Alnair
- Alnilam
- Alnitak
- Alpha Arae
- Alpha Centauri
- Alpha Equulei
- Alpha Fornacis
- Alpha Horologii
- Alpha Hydri
- Alpha Lacertae
- Alpha Lupi
- Alpha Mensae
- Alpha Monocerotis
- Alpha Reticuli
A, continued
- Alpha Sculptoris
- Alpha Scuti
- Alpha Telescopii
- Alpha Tucanae
- Alpha Vulpeculae
- Alphard
- Alpheratz
- Alpherg
- Alrescha
- Altair
- Aludra
- Amberly
- Ananke
- Ankaa
- Annus Mirabilis
- Antares
- Antlia Hollow
- Anvil
- Apsu
- Apus Ladder
- Aquila Rift
- Arcturus
- Ardenne
- Argent
- Arke
- Arx Solis
- Ashen Star
- Ashfall
- Asterholm
- Asteria
- Astra Quieta
- Astraea
- Atria
- Atum
- Aurelion
- Auriel
- Aurora Nova
- Averre
- Avior
B: 44 names
- Baldur
- Barnard's Star
- Baten Kaitos
- BD+20 594
- Beacon
- Belisar
- Bellatrix
- Beta Camelopardalis
- Beta Canis Minoris
- Beta Canum Venaticorum
- Beta Circini
- Beta Columbae
- Beta Comae Berenices
- Beta Coronae Australis
- Beta Corvi
- Beta Doradus
- Beta Fornacis
- Beta Gruis
- Beta Horologii
- Beta Hydri
- Beta Indi
- Beta Lacertae
- Beta Leporis
- Beta Librae
- Beta Lupi
- Beta Lyrae
- Beta Monocerotis
- Beta Muscae
- Beta Pavonis
- Beta Phoenicis
- Beta Pictoris
- Beta Reticuli
- Beta Sculptoris
- Beta Scuti
- Beta Tucanae
- Beta Virginis
- Beta Volantis
- Betelgeuse
- Bibha
- Blue Vesper
- BP Tauri
- Bramwell's Folly
- Brightwater
- Bunda
C: 41 names
- Caelum Rift
- Cairn
- Calimere
- Calliope
- Calvera
- Candlemas
- Canopus
- Capella
- Carina Reach
- Cassard 88
- Cassiel
- Castellan
- Castellane's Find
- Castor
- Cebalrai
- Cernunnos
- Cerulean
- Cervantes
- Chi Cygni
- Chi Draconis
- Chi Herculis
- Chi Ophiuchi
- Cinder
- Cindermoor
- Circinus Arc
- Citadelle
- CN Leonis
- Coldharbor
- Columba Roost
- Concordia
- Copernicus
- Copper Sun
- Corona Australis
- CoRoT-3
- CoRoT-7
- Corvus Reach
- Crater Basin
- Crownfall
- Crucible
- Custos Noctis
- Cygnus Reach
D: 39 names
- Dabih
- Dancers of Thune
- Dawn Anchor
- Dawnmere
- Dazhbog
- Delacroix's Lantern
- Delphine
- Delphinus Leap
- Delta Capricorni
- Delta Cephei
- Delta Crateris
- Delta Crucis
- Delta Doradus
- Delta Eridani
- Delta Lyrae
- Delta Ophiuchi
- Delta Pavonis
- Delta Reticuli
- Delta Sagittae
- Delta Trianguli
- Delta Velorum
- Demeter
- Deneb
- Denebola
- DENIS 0255-4700
- DENIS 1048-3956
- DG Tauri
- Diadem
- Dingolay
- Dione
- Domus Aurea
- Dorado Expanse
- DP Leonis
- Draco Spine
- Drift Marker 19
- DS Tucanae
- Dschubba
- Duskwater
- DX Cancri
E: 40 names
- Eastmarch
- Edasich
- Elara
- Eltanin
- Elysian Reach
- Ember
- Ember Sister
- Emberwake
- Enlil
- Eos
- Epsilon Arietis
- Epsilon Aurigae
- Epsilon Delphini
- Epsilon Eridani
- Epsilon Gruis
- Epsilon Hydri
- Epsilon Indi
- Epsilon Leporis
- Epsilon Lyrae
- Epsilon Pegasi
- Epsilon Sagittarii
- Epsilon Tauri
- Epsilon Ursae Minoris
- Equuleus Stride
- Erato
- Erebus
- Erenthal
- Eta Boötis
- Eta Cassiopeiae
- Eta Centauri
- Eta Ceti
- Eta Columbae
- Eta Corvi
- Eta Crucis
- Eta Ophiuchi
- Eta Piscium
- EV Lacertae
- Evenfall Reach
- Evenstar
- EZ Aquarii
F: 14 names
- Fafnir
- Far Lantern
- Far Reach
- Farcast 606
- Farrow's Light
- FF Aquilae
- Finis Terrae
- Fjordhaven
- Fomalhaut
- Fons Lucis
- Fornax Void
- Fortitude
- Furnace
- Furud
G: 72 names
- Galdren
- Gamma Arae
- Gamma Cephei
- Gamma Chamaeleontis
- Gamma Crucis
- Gamma Delphini
- Gamma Gruis
- Gamma Hydrae
- Gamma Hydri
- Gamma Leporis
- Gamma Lupi
- Gamma Pavonis
- Gamma Phoenicis
- Gamma Pictoris
- Gamma Serpentis
- Gamma Trianguli
- Gamma Tucanae
- Gamma Ursae Minoris
- Gamma Volantis
- Gilded Star
- GJ 357
- Glasswing
- Gliese 1
- Gliese 1002
- Gliese 1061
- Gliese 1148
- Gliese 1151
- Gliese 1214
- Gliese 1245
- Gliese 15
- Gliese 205
- Gliese 3021
- Gliese 328
- Gliese 3293
- Gliese 3323
- Gliese 338
G, continued
- Gliese 3470
- Gliese 3512
- Gliese 3634
- Gliese 380
- Gliese 412
- Gliese 433
- Gliese 436
- Gliese 440
- Gliese 486
- Gliese 536
- Gliese 569
- Gliese 570
- Gliese 581
- Gliese 623
- Gliese 649
- Gliese 667 C
- Gliese 674
- Gliese 682
- Gliese 686
- Gliese 687
- Gliese 710
- Gliese 809
- Gliese 832
- Gliese 849
- Gliese 86
- Gliese 876
- Gliese 880
- Golden Elder
- Gomeisa
- Good Harbor
- Greywater
- Groombridge 1830
- Groombridge 34
- Grus Wing
- GU Piscium
- Gwydion
H: 55 names
- Hadar
- Halcedon
- Halcyon
- Halloran's Signal
- Halvard
- Harbinger
- Harrow Catalog 1140
- Harvest Sun
- HAT-P-12
- Haven's Rest
- Havenmoor
- HD 10180
- HD 102365
- HD 106906
- HD 108874
- HD 128311
- HD 136352
- HD 140283
- HD 141399
- HD 147513
- HD 149026
- HD 154345
- HD 156668
- HD 163296
- HD 17156
- HD 189733
- HD 192263
- HD 202206
- HD 20794
- HD 209458
- HD 215152
- HD 219134
- HD 28185
- HD 40307
- HD 45364
- HD 74156
- HD 80606
- HD 95086
- HD 97658
- Hearth
- Hecate
- Helios Minor
- Hemera
- Hesperus
- Highlantern
- HIP 11915
- HIP 56948
- Hollowmere
- Homeward
- Horologium Ring
- HR 4796
- HR 7703
- HR 8799
- Hydra Shoal
- Hyperion
I: 21 names
- Iapetus
- Ignis Fatuus
- IK Tauri
- Ilios
- Illuvane
- Illyrian
- Ilmarinen
- Innes' Star
- Intercrus
- Iota Aurigae
- Iota Cancri
- Iota Carinae
- Iota Centauri
- Iota Cephei
- Iota Eridani
- Iota Horologii
- Iota Leonis
- Iota Orionis
- Iota Persei
- Isenvale
- Ishikawa's Lamp
J: 2 names
- Jorrund
- Journey's End
K: 55 names
- K2-138
- K2-155
- K2-18
- K2-3
- Kaelith
- Kairos
- Kappa Canis Majoris
- Kappa Cassiopeiae
- Kappa Coronae Borealis
- Kappa Cygni
- Kappa Draconis
- Kappa Fornacis
- Kappa Geminorum
- Kappa Ophiuchi
- Kappa Pavonis
- Kappa Scorpii
- Kappa Velorum
- Kapteyn's Star
- Karaka
- Kaus Borealis
- KELT-9
- Kepler-10
- Kepler-11
- Kepler-138
- Kepler-16
- Kepler-1649
- Kepler-1652
- Kepler-1708
- Kepler-186
- Kepler-22
- Kepler-37
- Kepler-438
- Kepler-440
- Kepler-442
- Kepler-444
- Kepler-452
- Kepler-62
- Kepler-69
- Kepler-88
- Kepler-90
- Kepteris
- Kessane 6
- Kestrel
- Keystone
- Khepri
- KIC 8462852
- Kiln
- Kingsfall
- Kochab
- Kornephoros
- Kowalski's Rest
- Krios
- Kruger 60
- KW Sagittarii
- KY Cygni
L: 46 names
- La Superba
- Lacaille 8362
- Lacaille 8760
- Lacaille 9352
- Lacerta Span
- Lalande 21185
- Lalande 46650
- Lambda Andromedae
- Lambda Aurigae
- Lambda Boötis
- Lambda Geminorum
- Lambda Sagittarii
- Lambda Serpentis
- Lambda Tauri
- Lantern
- Last Sun
- Lastlight
- Lerna
- Lesath
- Leto
- LHS 1140
- LHS 288
- LHS 292
- LHS 3844
- LHS 475
- Libertas
- Lighthouse 3
- Lindqvist's Candle
- Lindqvist's Star
- Long Evening
- Longshot 31
- Lowfield Survey 40
- LP 944-20
- LTT 9779
- Lumen Vitae
- Lupus Gate
- Lux Aeterna
- Lux Prima
- Luyten 674-15
- Luyten 722-22
- Luyten 726-8
- Luyten 97-12
- Luyten's Star
- Lynx Trace
- Lyonesse
- Lyra Minor
M: 35 names
- Manannan
- Marduk
- Margin 118
- Marguerite's Candle
- Marrowgate
- MASCARA-1
- Matar
- Meissa
- Melpomene
- Menkalinan
- Menkar
- Mensa Shelf
- Merak
- Meridian Deep
- Meridian Survey 212
- Merope
- Merridian
- Metis
- Milepost 7
- Mimir
- Mimosa
- Mintaka
- Mira
- Mirelune
- Mizar
- Mnemosyne
- Moldoveanu
- Monoceros Horn
- Morrowmere
- Mu Arae
- Mu Cephei
- Mu Herculis
- Mu Leporis
- Mu Virginis
- Muphrid
N: 42 names
- Nabu
- Naos
- Navarro's Light
- Neith
- Nemesis
- Nephthys
- Nereus
- Nergal
- New Alexandria
- New Arcadia
- New Avalon
- New Canaan
- New Carthage
- New Harvest
- New Hearth
- New Ithaca
- New Kyoto
- New Lisbon
- New Meridian
- New Samarkand
- New Sol
- New Thule
- NGTS-10
- NGTS-4
- Nihal
- Nike
- Ninth Landfall
- Ninurta
- Nodens
- Northreach
- Notus
- Novaterra
- Nox Clara
- Nu Andromedae
- Nu Centauri
- Nu Hydrae
- Nu Ophiuchi
- Nu Phoenicis
- Nuada
- Nusakan
- NY Virginis
- Nyamien
O: 25 names
- OGLE-TR-10
- OGLE-TR-56
- Ogma
- Okonkwo's Star
- Old Amber
- Omega Capricorni
- Omega Piscium
- Omicron Ceti
- Omicron Persei
- Omicron Tauri
- Ondrel
- Open Door
- Ophion
- Ophiuchus Rift
- Orange Elder
- Orimel
- Oriveth
- Orrin's Triple
- Orsinne
- Ossary
- Ostmere
- Ostrander 451
- Ostrava's Star
- Outbound 17
- Outer Tally 310
P: 39 names
- Pale Sister
- Pallas
- Patience
- Pavo Crown
- Pax Stellarum
- PDS 70
- Peitho
- Pellaris
- Pellucid
- Perses
- Perun
- Petra
- Pharos
- Phecda
- Phi Draconis
- Phi Gruis
- Phoenicia
- Pi Herculis
- Pi Hydrae
- Pi Mensae
- Pi Sagittarii
- Pi Scorpii
- Pictor Frame
- Pilot Light
- Pincoya
- Pleione
- Poerava
- Polaris
- Pollux
- Porta Caeli
- Procyon
- Propus
- Providence
- Proxima Centauri
- Psi Capricorni
- Psi Velorum
- Ptah
- Pyxis Narrows
- PZ Cassiopeiae
Q: 3 names
- Quenneth
- Quiet Morning
- Quill
R: 40 names
- R Andromedae
- R Aquilae
- R Aurigae
- R Boötis
- R Carinae
- R Centauri
- R Coronae Australis
- R Cygni
- R Geminorum
- R Horologii
- R Lyrae
- R Serpentis
- R Trianguli
- R Ursae Majoris
- R Virginis
- Ran
- Rasalhague
- Red Sun of Karth
- Red Warden
- Regulus
- Reliance
- Renewal
- Rhea
- Rho Coronae Borealis
- Rho Ophiuchi
- Rho Puppis
- Rigel
- Rimefall
- Ross 128
- Ross 154
- Ross 248
- Ross 458
- Ross 508
- Ross 780
- Ross 986
- RT Aurigae
- Rukbat
- Rust Dwarf
- RW Cephei
- RY Tauri
S: 71 names
- S Cephei
- S Coronae Borealis
- S Orionis
- S Persei
- S Sagittae
- Sadachbia
- Sadalmelik
- Sadr
- Saffron Star
- Sagarmatha
- Saltmarsh
- Sanctum
- Scarlet Elder
- Scheat
- Schedar
- Scholz's Star
- Sculptor Void
- Scutum Wall
- Second Dawn
- Second Sun
- Second Survey 77
- Sekhmet
- Selene
- Semper Lucens
- Sentinel
- Seraph
- Serpens Coil
- Seshat
- Sextans Verge
- Sham
- Sheliak
- Sheratan
- Sigma Coronae Borealis
- Sigma Draconis
- Sigma Librae
S, continued
- Sigma Octantis
- Sigma Puppis
- Sigma Scorpii
- Signal Fire
- Silverwind
- Sirius
- Sobek
- Sol Invictus
- Sol Novus
- Sol Oriens
- Sol Prime
- Sol Secundus
- Sol Ultima
- Sol Vespera
- Solara
- Sorensen's Drift
- Sounding 9
- Spes Nova
- Spica
- Starfall
- Stella Errans
- Stella Maris
- Stillhaven
- Struve 2398
- Styx
- SU Cassiopeiae
- SU Ursae Majoris
- Sualocin
- Sulis
- Summerhold
- Sunder
- Sundown
- Sunlance
- Suns of Merrow
- SV Vulpeculae
- Svarog
T: 79 names
- T Chamaeleontis
- T Lyrae
- T Monocerotis
- T Ursae Majoris
- T Vulpeculae
- Tabula Rasa
- Tallis Deep Field 9
- Talwyn
- Tanaka's Reach
- Tania Australis
- Taranis
- Tarazed
- Tau Boötis
- Tau Ceti
- Tau Cygni
- Tau Scorpii
- Teegarden's Star
- Telescopium Sight
- Tempest
- Terra Incognita
- Terra Nova
- Tessarine
- Tether 52
- Tethys
- Thalessa
- The Amber Twins
- The Ashen Giant
- The Blue Straggler
- The Far Hearth
- The Halden Trinary
- The Lesser Lamp
- The Long Waltz
- The Low Ember
- The Mirrored Suns
- The Old Lamp
- The Paired Lamps
- The Pale Giant
- The Patient Sun
- The Quiet Dwarf
T, continued
- The Slow Giant
- The Solenne Pair
- The Three Sisters
- The Varga Binary
- The White Ember
- The Wide Pair
- Theia
- Themis
- Thessaly's Star
- Theta Aquilae
- Theta Aurigae
- Theta Capricorni
- Theta Cassiopeiae
- Theta Centauri
- Theta Draconis
- Theta Indi
- Theta Persei
- Theta Scorpii
- Theta Serpentis
- Thornfield
- Thoth
- Three Candles
- Threnody
- Tiamat
- TOI-1235
- TOI-1452
- TOI-270
- TOI-674
- TOI-700
- Tojil
- TRAPPIST-1
- Traveler's Rest
- Trellis
- Tucana Drift
- Twin Fires of Oru
- Twin Suns of Ilyra
- Twin Suns of Kaelen
- TX Camelopardalis
- Tyche
- TZ Arietis
U: 14 names
- U Antliae
- U Camelopardalis
- U Herculis
- U Hydrae
- U Monocerotis
- U Orionis
- U Sagittarii
- Uklun
- Umbra
- Unukalhai
- Upsilon Andromedae
- Upsilon Carinae
- Upsilon Sagittarii
- UV Ceti
V: 28 names
- V Aquilae
- V Hydrae
- V Sagittae
- V471 Tauri
- Vaelen
- Vaeloran
- Van Maanen's Star
- Vantara
- Varrow's Twin
- Vashti Prime
- Vaspar
- Vasquez Landing
- Vega
- Vela Prime
- Veritate
- Verity
- Vermilion
- Vessane
- Vesta Prime
- Veyra
- Via Lucis
- Vigil 204
- Vindemiatrix
- Vireo
- Volans Passage
- Vulcan
- Vulpecula Run
- VW Hydri
W: 34 names
- W Andromedae
- Wanderer's Star
- WASP-12
- WASP-121
- WASP-193
- WASP-39
- WASP-43
- WASP-69
- WASP-79
- WASP-80
- WASP-96
- Watchfire
- Wayfarer's Star
- Wayline 12
- Whitehaven
- Whitlock's Beacon
- Winter's End
- WISE 0350-5658
- WISE 1506+7027
- WISE 1828+2650
- Wolf 1055
- Wolf 1061
- Wolf 294
- Wolf 359
- Wolf 424
- Wolf 489
- Wolf 498
- Wolf 503
- Wolf 630
- Wolf 922
- Wolf 940
- WR 104
- WR 124
- WR 140
X: 8 names
- X Cygni
- Xi Bootis
- Xi Geminorum
- Xi Herculis
- Xi Pegasi
- Xi Puppis
- Xi Tauri
- Xi Ursae Majoris
Y: 7 names
- Yarrow
- Yellow Keeper
- Yewfall
- Ymir
- Ysolde's Lamp
- Ythrael
- YZ Ceti
Z: 21 names
- Zaurak
- Zavijava
- Zelus
- Zephyrus
- Zeta Aquarii
- Zeta Aquilae
- Zeta Cancri
- Zeta Cassiopeiae
- Zeta Centauri
- Zeta Herculis
- Zeta Hydrae
- Zeta Lupi
- Zeta Lyrae
- Zeta Pavonis
- Zeta Puppis
- Zeta Reticuli
- Zeta Sagittarii
- Zeta Tucanae
- Zeta Virginis
- Zosma
- Zubenelgenubi