Star name ideas: what to name a star

Last updated 1 November 2026

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Three rules of thumb

• Short reads best. The name can be up to 40 characters and is printed large on the certificate; the message can be up to 120. "Mum's Star" looks better than a sentence; save the sentence for the message.
• Personal beats clever. A nickname or a place you share means more than something grand.
• Say it out loud. If you'd be happy hearing them read it out, it's right.

For couples

• Both names: "Tom & Holly", "Sam and Alex".
• A shared word: "Us", "Always", "Home".
• Where it started: the street, the café or the city you met in.
• For a pair, the Twin Star Gift Pack names two neighbouring stars, one for each of you, side by side on one certificate.

See also: girlfriend, boyfriend, wife, husband and Valentine's Day.

For mum, dad and family

• "Mum's Star", "Nana's Star", "Grandma's Star", or her first name.
• The name only the family uses for her.
• For a parent pair: "Mum & Dad" — or a Twin Star for each of them.

See naming a star for Mother's Day and for dad.

For a new baby or a child

• Their full name, with the date and time of birth as the message.
• Their middle name, if it was chosen for someone special.

See new baby stars.

In memory of someone

• Their full name, as you'd want it remembered.
• What you called them: "Grandad", "Our Dad".

Our memorial star page has wording that suits a remembrance.

Message ideas for the certificate

• A date: the day you met, married, or the day they were born.
• A line: "Look up — that one's yours." "For always." "Thank you for everything."
• From more than one person: "With love from all of us."

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