Which is the best star naming company in the UK?
Last updated 21 October 2026
Who wrote this: The Star Naming Co., a UK seller. Many "best star naming company" lists are written by sellers that rank themselves first. We'd rather give you the tests and let you apply them, including to us.
The two-minute test
- Does it say "symbolic" before you pay? Look on the homepage and the product page, not the terms. Only the International Astronomical Union assigns official star names, and it doesn't sell them; a seller who tells you so up front has passed the most important test.
- Watch the word "official". "Official register", "officially recorded" and "official partner" all refer to a private database. That isn't illegal, but it's doing work in your head that the facts don't support.
- Is the star identifiable? You should get a catalogue reference (HIP or TYC) and coordinates you can check, not just a pretty chart.
- Can anyone verify the entry online? A register you can look up by number is a register. One that exists only on the certificate is a printout.
- Is each star dedicated only once? Ask how they prevent the same star being sold twice.
- What does it really cost, delivered? Postage, delivery time and reprints vary far more than the headline price.
What different buyers should prioritise
- The lowest price: a digital naming printed at home. See the cheapest way to name a star in the UK.
- A gift to unwrap: a printed pack with free, tracked or quick UK delivery — check the postage before checkout.
- Last minute: instant digital delivery and an e-gift you can send by text.
- A memorial: honesty matters most here; avoid anyone implying the star is officially theirs. Our memorial page explains why.
- A sceptical recipient: real catalogue references and a public register.
How we score ourselves
| Test | The Star Naming Co. |
|---|---|
| Symbolic, before you pay | Yes — on the homepage, above the shop, and on every guide page |
| "Official" | We never use it about our register |
| Identifiable star | HIP or TYC reference and coordinates on every certificate |
| Publicly verifiable | Yes, by registry number, at find your star |
| Dedicated once | Yes — allocated once and never offered again |
| Price, delivered | £9.99 digital worldwide in minutes; £19.99 printed, posted free in the UK within one working day |
| Reprints | At home, free, for life |
| Where we're weaker | We're new: we don't yet have the thousands of reviews that older companies have, and we offer printed documents rather than frames, boxes or jewellery. |
The companies and prices
We checked the UK-facing sellers' own pages and recorded their prices, postage and where (if anywhere) each says the naming is symbolic. That table, with the date it was checked, is on star naming companies compared. Prices change; check the date, then check the seller.
The honest bit
Star naming is symbolic — only the International Astronomical Union assigns official star names, and it doesn't sell them, to us or anyone. What's real: the star, its coordinates, and the dedication in our register, verifiable by anyone at any time. Read how it works and what it costs.
Common questions
What is the best star naming company in the UK?
There is no official one: every company keeps a private, symbolic register, because only the International Astronomical Union assigns official star names and it does not sell them. The best seller for you is one that says so before you pay, gives a real catalogue reference and coordinates, lets anyone verify the entry online, dedicates each star once, and is clear about the delivered price.
Are star naming companies regulated?
Not as star registries. They are ordinary retailers, covered by UK consumer law like any other shop, and there is no official star register for them to join.
Is The Star Naming Co. the best?
We are biased, so judge us by the same tests: we state that naming is symbolic on the homepage before the shop, give HIP or TYC references and coordinates, keep a publicly checkable register, dedicate each star once, charge £9.99 digital or £19.99 printed with free UK postage, and let you reprint at home, free, for life. We are newer and have fewer reviews than older companies.
Why do some companies call their register official?
Usually because it is their own register, run by them. No private register is recognised by astronomers. Treat the word as marketing, and look for a plain statement that the name is symbolic.
£9.99 in minutes · £19.99 for the Physical Gift Pack, posted free in the UK
Name their star ✦