Planet Names
Name a world — and give your story or game a universe worth exploring.
Famous Planet Names That Nailed It
Real-world names that became iconic. Here's what makes them work.
Borrowed from Greek mythology, the name suggests both beauty and danger — perfectly matched to the film's lush but deadly world.
Frank Herbert coined this name to evoke an arid, Arabic-influenced world — harsh consonants that feel as dry as desert sand.
Inspired by the Tunisian town Tataouine, it grounds the fictional world in real geography while feeling otherworldly.
Tips for Choosing Planet Names
Use hard consonants like K, X, and Z for planets that feel alien and imposing.
Soft vowel sounds create warmer, more welcoming worlds — ideal for utopian or pastoral settings.
Draw on mythology — Roman, Greek, Norse, and Mesopotamian names all carry built-in cosmic resonance.
Consider what the name means to the inhabitants — in-universe etymology adds depth to your world-building.
Test the name in sentences: 'The fleet arrived at ___' — does it feel right when spoken aloud?
Frequently Asked Questions
Confirmed exoplanets are typically named with their star's name plus a letter (e.g., Kepler-22b), but some receive proper names through IAU naming campaigns based on mythology or culture.
A good fictional planet name is distinctive, pronounceable, and evocative — it should hint at the world's character without spelling everything out.
Absolutely. Our own solar system planets are all named after Roman gods. Greek, Norse, Egyptian, and other mythologies offer rich naming options.
Consider the planet's role in your game — hub world, hostile environment, mysterious ruin. Let that function guide the feel of the name.
Not necessarily. Alien-sounding names can be great for atmosphere, but if players or readers need to say the name often, clarity matters more than exoticism.
How to Create Planet Names
Define the world's character
Draw on linguistic roots
Experiment with phonetics
Build in-universe lore
Test and refine
Related Categories
Curious about what names mean? Explore Name Meanings →