# Planet Name Generator for Science Fiction - Feldar > Free planet name generator for science fiction: colony worlds named by settlers, designations shaped like real exoplanet names, and invented world names. - URL: https://feldar.com/tools/planet-name-generator - Site: [Home](https://feldar.com/) · [About](https://feldar.com/about) · [Blog](https://feldar.com/blog) · [Careers](https://feldar.com/careers) · [Pricing](https://feldar.com/pricing) · [Download](https://feldar.com/download) · [Changelog](https://feldar.com/changelog) - Machine index: [llms.txt](https://feldar.com/llms.txt) · [full site content](https://feldar.com/llms-full.txt) --- #### 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. NameWhat makes it work HD 8587 eA designation: star catalogue, number, and the fourth planet found. New ValparaisoSettlers naming a world after home. Novak's FollyA world named for its founder, with a story in one word. Fortitude IIA virtue name, and a sign that the first Fortitude went wrong. TaloraAn 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](https://feldar.com/features/canvas), linked to the characters and events tied to it, beside the pages you are writing. [Start writing free](https://feldar.com/login) [See how Feldar works](https://feldar.com/novel-writing-software) #### More name generators - [Character names Real names from 30 cultures, plus fantasy styles.](https://feldar.com/tools/character-name-generator) - [Fantasy names All eighteen fantasy and science fiction styles in one place.](https://feldar.com/tools/fantasy-name-generator) - [Random names Quick real full names from 30 cultures, labeled by culture and era.](https://feldar.com/tools/random-name-generator) - [Last names Real surnames from 30 cultures, and fantasy surnames.](https://feldar.com/tools/last-name-generator) - [DnD names Names for tabletop heroes: humans, elves, dwarves, tieflings, dragonborn and more.](https://feldar.com/tools/dnd-name-generator) - [Elf names High elf, wood elf and dark elf names with family names.](https://feldar.com/tools/elf-name-generator) - [Dwarf names Short, heavy dwarf names with clan bynames.](https://feldar.com/tools/dwarf-name-generator) - [Orc and goblin names Guttural orc names with clan bynames, and sharp goblin names.](https://feldar.com/tools/orc-name-generator) - [Dragon names Ancient dragons with titles, and young or bonded dragons.](https://feldar.com/tools/dragon-name-generator) - [Villain names Dark fantasy villains and supervillain codenames.](https://feldar.com/tools/villain-name-generator) - [Hero names Superhero codenames by power, each with a civilian name.](https://feldar.com/tools/hero-name-generator) - [Witch names Old-fashioned witch names, and names for covens.](https://feldar.com/tools/witch-name-generator) - [Fairy names Light fairy names, and titles for the fae courts.](https://feldar.com/tools/fairy-name-generator) - [God names Gods and goddesses with domains, and nameless old powers.](https://feldar.com/tools/god-name-generator) - [Town and city names English-sounding, Norse, fantasy towns and great cities.](https://feldar.com/tools/town-name-generator) - [Kingdom names Kingdoms, empires, duchies and marches.](https://feldar.com/tools/kingdom-name-generator) - [Tavern and inn names Village inns, dockside taverns and fantasy inns.](https://feldar.com/tools/tavern-name-generator) - [Pen names Realistic author names by genre, matching your initials.](https://feldar.com/tools/pen-name-generator) #### Keep reading [Free tool Word counter for writers Words, pages and reading time, with novel lengths by genre.](https://feldar.com/tools/word-counter) [Guide How to outline a novel A full worked example and a free template.](https://feldar.com/guides/how-to-outline-a-novel) [Feature The Canvas Characters, places and plot beats as linked cards.](https://feldar.com/features/canvas)