20 Celestial Baby Names That Blow All Others Out Of The Galaxy

The Orion constellation is named after the Greek hunter, noted Space.com, an authority on all things celestial. The constellation "located on the celestial equator, is one of the most prominent and recognizable constellations in the sky and can be seen throughout the world," reported the site. Plus Orion is a really strong-sounding name, and has some sweet nicknames like O and Ri.

Alula would be such a pretty name for a baby girl. The star marks the hind foot of the Greater Bear constellation, according to Constellations of Words, a site that's great for nerding out on stars. And do I even have to mention the cute nickname of Lula? Alula is really great, and short three-syllable names pack a lot of punch.

While Estrella isn't the name of a specific star, it's actually the word for star in Spanish. It's a lovely take on the name Stella, and has a nice, simple meaning behind it. It feels very enchanting, and there is just something special about those three syllables. (Bonus: nicknames galore here.)

A Nova, or new star, is actually a star that instantly becomes a lot brighter and then gradually fades to its original intensity. Ask an Astronomer explained, "a star previously too dim to be seen with the naked eye can become the brightest object in the sky (besides the sun and the moon) when it becomes a nova." How sweet would that be for a little baby who is bound to be brighter than anything else in your world?

A bright star 25 light years away, Vega "was the North Star several thousand years ago, and will become the North Star again in about 12,000 years," according to Space.com. It would also make a lyrical baby girl's name, but I think it can be unisex, too. Nameberry has it listed as both a boy's name and a girl's name, with the meaning being "swooping Eagle." All sky all the time.

While its ancient Arabic meaning "the fatty tail of the sheep," might not impress you, Alya is a lovely name for a baby girl. According to Jim Kaler, Professor Emeritus of Astronomy at the University of Illinois, Alya is actually a double star, which seems like a perfectly fitting name if your child is born a Gemini.

Archer is the name for the Sagittarius constellation group of stars, and depicts a centaur holding a bow and arrow, noted Constellation Guide. It would also be an awfully cute baby boy name. It's one of the more popular "unique" names, and Nameberry noted that it was #239 on the popularity list in 2018.

While you might be worried you'll end up with a serious child naming him Sirius, it could actually work in the opposite direction because Sirius is the brightest star in the night sky, according to Sky and Telescope. The website explained, "Sirius stands alone as the most brilliant by a wide margin — it’s about twice the apparent brightness of the next brightest star, Canopus." Take that for a bright shining name choice.

First catalogued by the astronomer Ptolemy in the second century, Leo has been around the block for quite some time, according to Constellation Guide. We all know it from the astrology sign and its lion meaning, makes for a very strong baby name. Bonus: the name even means brave lion.

Columba is a relatively uncommon baby name, so points for uniqueness. Plus its constellation forms a dove, as Sea Sky explained, which could very well usher in a peaceful baby. Nameberry lists the name as unisex, and also noted that the name does mean "dove." Apparently Columba was also an early saint name.

A new twist on the name Nigel, Rigel would make for a unique boy name. Earth Sky explained the mythology behind the name: "According to some, Orwandil was traveling with his companion, the god Thor, when his big toe froze in an unfortunate river-crossing incident. Thor broke off the frozen digit and threw it into the sky, where it became the star we see as Rigel." Now that would make a great conversation starter for your kid for years to come.

If music runs in your family, Lyra might be just the name for your baby girl. Constellation Guide said the name "represents the lyre, a musical instrument with strings used in antiquity." While it might be hard to get your kid music lessons on it, it's a very pretty name nonetheless.

While we know Aries as the ram in astrology, it turns out it doesn't register as that in all cultures. Space.com explained, "The Chinese see the constellation as twin inspectors, and it's a porpoise in the Marshall Islands." Who knew? Even if your baby doesn't have Aries as a zodiac sign, it's a strong, steadfast name for a baby.

If you're pretty sure your daughter is going to be like royalty, go with Cassiopeia, which was named after Cassiopeia Queen of Greek Mythology, according to Constellation Guide. EarthSky gave directions for finding it: "Cassiopeia is very easy to pick out. It’s small and compact and looks like the letter M or W, depending on the time of night and time of year."

If you're expecting an August baby, consider naming your little one after Perseus, known for the annual Perseid meteor shower that happens in mid-August every year. Space.com explained that the meteor shower is "usually best viewed in the predawn hours." What a birthday celebration that could involve! You could even shorten Perseus to Percy if you wanted a sweet nickname.

Cassiopeia's daughter, Andromeda, became a star just like her mother, so if you want another strong name rooted in Greek mythology, this might be the one for you. Andromeda means "advising like a man," so it's full of major girl power and strong feminist vibes. And you can't go wrong with that four-syllable sound.

Regulus is a darling boy's name that means prince, but it's also the traditional name of the brightest star in the sky. Reg is such a sweet nickname, but it also has some Harry Potter connections if you're into that kind of thing. (There's a definite theme here of JK Rowling using star names for her characters.)

A unisex name, Cielo is the Italian word for sky. It is short enough to be quirky and fun, but has such a sweet meaning that it feels extra special. And what could be more expansive and huge than the sky above you and your sweet little babe? Sky's the limit, after all.

For another subtle nod to the sky and constellations, there's Alto. With its musical connections and its meaning of high, it's a sweet choice for a boy or a girl, and definitely changes things up when it comes to a list of star names. I can almost guarantee you'll only have one Alto in your kid's preschool class, too.

Ara is a super sweet, fun, quirky name for your little girl. It's a southern constellation, and has ties to Greek mythology, too. With its Armenian origin, Nameberry noted that the name also means "king," which is truly a power move. I mean, how much more hardcore can your baby get with the name Ara?