These 25 Space-Inspired Baby Names Are Perfect For Those Starry, Sleepless Nights

Luna means "moon" in Latin, and Luna was the ancient Roman moon goddess, the opposite of the sun. It's also the namesake of my favorite celebrity baby, Chrissy Teigen and John Legend's Luna Simone. It's sweet, it's easy to spell, and it's perfect for your little one. It definitely has a spunky vibe.

In Greek mythology, Apollo is the son of Zeus and the god of several things (including the sun, light, and music, to name a few). Apollo is also the name of the famous NASA program that successfully got men on the moon for the first time. The name Apollo has an impressive backstory, and it's a spunky name for a little boy.

Some people might think of the music app when they hear the name Pandora — reality TV junkies, like me, might think of Lisa Vanderpump's daughter — but the name has a lot more history than that. In Greek mythology, Pandora was the very first woman, and astronomers honored her by bestowing the name on one of Saturn's moons.

If you want your son to look up to someone, Buzz Aldrin is not a bad person to choose. Buzz Aldrin was part of NASA's Gemini and Apollo programs, and was one of the first men to land on the moon. If Buzz is a little too out there for you, what about Neil?

Meeting your daughter is a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity, so naming her after Halley's comet is pretty accurate. After all, it's literally impossible to see Halley's comet more than once in your lifetime, according to Space.com. Many have tweaked the name slightly (like the famous Halle Berry), but it's also gorgeous as is.

In Greek mythology, Atlas was a famous titan who, after angering Zeus, was forced to hold up the sky for all eternity. The name was also used for many different NASA launches. One of my friends named their son Atlas and he’s basically the coolest little boy ever, so I can vouch for the name wholeheartedly.

Who remembers the Disney movie Zenon: Girl of the 21st Century? In that cinematographic masterpiece, a singer named Proto Zoa performs a truly incredible song called "Supernova Girl" in a space station orbiting the earth... and that's all I can think of when I hear the name "Nova" now. Beyond silly movies, a supernova is basically a star explosion that happens at the end of a star's life. If your daughter's birth is as magical as a big, bright, star explosion... you've found her name.

What's more space-themed than Star Wars? If you want to honor your son with a name from the iconic franchise, I would personally suggest Luke over Anakin, Yoda, Chewbacca, or Darth — although Benjamin would also be cool. Plus, naming your child after the most powerful Jedi in the galaxy is pretty awesome.

Cassiopeia is a constellation in the northern sky, and is also one of the easiest ones for amateur astronomers to spot. It was named after the Greek goddess, who was known to be beautiful but also quite vain. Your daughter will undoubtedly be just as beautiful, but much more humble.

Orion is the most well-known constellation in the sky. Named after the Greek huntsman Orion, the constellation looks like a huntsman with a shield, raised arm, and sword. This is a great alternative to the more common name Ryan. Plus, it’s the one constellation that everyone can spot thanks to his famous belt of three stars.

Portia is a beautifully-named moon for one of our worst-named planets (Uranus). NASA describes it as "small and fast-moving," which will be perfect once your baby reaches toddlerhood. This moon was named after the heroine in Shakespeare's play The Merchant of Venice, so it's also perfect for literary buff parents.

The NASA Phoenix was a spacecraft sent to Mars in 2007 (it landed in 2008) that was used to conduct various experiments about life on Mars. The program was considered a success, and the name Phoenix is a great fit for a brave little explorer. It’s also a mythological bird that rises from its own ashes, so you’ve got a double meaning that’s pretty great.

Why name your child after a star or a moon when you could name her after an entire galaxy? The Andromeda Galaxy is the Milky Way's closest neighbor, and it contains over one trillion stars. Also, the name lends itself to some pretty cute nicknames like Andy and Mimi. It’s out there, alright, but in the best way.

The second-largest moon of Jupiter would also work as a really fun, gender-neutral name. However, if you’re nerdy, you might recognize the name from X-Men, where Callisto was the mutant leader of the Morlocks. Yes, she was in one of the movies, but we’re not going to talk about that because I’m a fan of the comics and it could get ugly.

Yeah, I get it. Alien isn’t real space, but I think it’s a perfectly valid space name. It can be used for any gender, and it’s extremely cute. Plus, Ellen Ripley was incredibly boss. She survived all of it, and never gave up. What a legacy to give to your kid.

Leo is not only the name of a constellation, it’s also an astrological sign. They are vibrant, exciting, and full of life. It is also the Latin word for Lion, so your child is already the king of beasts before they even take their first steps. Beyond that, it’s just a really cute name, and sounds equally good for an adult.

I love this name for a girl, and its connection to space — while not immediately apparent — is deeply meaningful. Mary Jackson was one of the amazing Black women who helped launch the space program. She was a champion for minorities at NASA, and an amazing engineer. A very, very worthy name for any child.

Chandra is actually the name of an X-Ray observatory. Launched from the Space Shuttle Columbia in 1999, this observatory is up there with Hubble in the level of importance of its discoveries. It actually captured the emission from a black hole on camera, leading to important new theories about what they are capable of.

Draco is the name of a constellation in the far northern sky. It was named centuries ago after the Latin word for “dragon" because of its serpentine shape. As a name, you have to admit, Draco is pretty cool. It’s a little goth, a little fanciful, and I like it.

Ever wonder what a French astronomer would do if he not only studied the moon and stars, but also wrote weird novels? Let me introduce astronomer, author, and physical scientist, Camille Flammarion. The background is cool, but the name is a stunner. You could call your baby “Cami,” for short, which is just plain adorable.

I can’t write a post about space names without including Mae. Mae Carol Jemison is an astronaut, a doctor, and an engineer. If that wasn’t impressive enough for you, she is also a fierce advocate for women’s and Black rights. The first Black woman in space, this is a name that should be on every baby name list out there.

Pronounced “Fahh-ng,” Fang Lizhi was not only a genius astrophysicist, but also a bold and brave political dissident who helped students coalesce in the uprising at Tiananmen Square. He was imprisoned by the Chinese government for “reeducation” after calling for an overhaul on how the educational system was run. He was exiled to the United States where he died in 2012, and is a true name full of courage.

Is there any scientist name cooler than “Hawking?” No, I contend that there is not. Stephen Hawking was an English theoretical physicist, cosmologist, and did more for string theory than just about anyone else. He had questions and hypotheses about the universe that most of us can’t begin to wrap our heads around, and it made the world a more interesting place. He wanted a theory to explain everything. What a thing. What a name.

Hang with me on this one. Yes, it’s the name of a flower, and a beautiful one at that, but the Annus Mirabilis (miraculous year) papers written by Albert Einstein in 1905, changed the way we all look at space and time forever. It set in motion what would be the work of a lifetime for Einstein. Also, Mira is a darned cute nickname.

Rhea is a moon of Saturn, but also a daughter of Uranus in Greek mythology. She was a titan and the mother of the gods. Yes, you’re going to have to overlook the fact that she married her brother who then proceeded to eat their children whole like so many chicken nuggets. But hey, it’s still a really pretty name.