Planet name generator

Three ways a world gets a name: from the settlers who land on it, from the astronomers who catalogue it, and from a language invented for your story.

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Kind of name

6 12 24 48

or press G

Settlers name worlds after home, founders and hopes.

Shortlist

Press the star on a name to keep it here. The shortlist is shared by all of Feldar's name generators.

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How real planets are named

The planets of our solar system beyond Earth carry the names of Roman gods, apart from Uranus, named for a Greek one. Planets around other stars get a catalogue designation first: the name of the star, often a catalogue and a number, followed by a lowercase letter. The first planet found around a star is b, the next c, and so on in order of discovery, so 51 Pegasi b is the first planet found around the star 51 Pegasi. The International Astronomical Union has also run public contests, called NameExoWorlds, to give some of these planets proper names.

That gives science fiction writers a realistic rule: a world is a designation to the scientists who found it and a name to the people who live on it.

Name	What makes it work
HD 8587 e	A designation: star catalogue, number, and the fourth planet found.
New Valparaiso	Settlers naming a world after home.
Novak's Folly	A world named for its founder, with a story in one word.
Fortitude II	A virtue name, and a sign that the first Fortitude went wrong.
Talora	An invented name, short enough for a star chart.

Naming worlds in a story

Who named it? Corporations, governments, religious colonies and lone pilots name worlds differently. The name tells readers who got there first.
Use both kinds. Let a scientist say "GJ 193 f" and a settler say "Harmony" about the same planet. The gap says a lot about your world.
Check real designations. The designation style is invented but shaped like real ones, and a few may match real catalogue numbers. If accuracy matters, check the exoplanet catalogues.
Avoid the famous worlds. The generator skips the best known planets from science fiction books and films.

Questions writers ask

How are real exoplanets named?

By the star's name or catalogue number followed by a lowercase letter, starting with b for the first planet found. Some have also received public names through the International Astronomical Union's NameExoWorlds contests.

What makes a good science fiction planet name?

A name that tells readers who named the world and why: settlers' hopes (Providence), a founder (Novak's Folly), a home left behind (New Lagos), or a short invented word that reads well on a map.

Are the designations real planets?

No. They are invented in the real format. Some may match real catalogue numbers by chance.

Can I use these names in a book or game?

Yes. Search any name you build a series on.

Keep your worlds and your story in one place

In Feldar every planet, colony and ship can be a card on the Canvas, linked to the characters and events tied to it, beside the pages you are writing.

Start writing free See how Feldar works

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