17 cute celestial baby names
By Amy Valm
Mar 19, 2018
Photo: iStockphoto
1. Apollo It's not just the name of the Zeus' son, you probably recognize it from NASA's famous space program. The name is associated with a Greek verb meaning "to destroy," but we like to think of it as slaying.
2. Galaxy/GalexieYou know, the great beyond that we're just floating in like a speck of dust. This name can be shortened to Gal or Lexie.
3. Orion A Greek name meaning "rising in the sky," Orion (pronounced O-Ryan) is also a constellation with three bright stars.
4. Archer If you're having a Sagittarius baby, this name could be a cute fit. The symbol for that group of stars is an archer who is half-man, half-horse. We think Archie has a nice ring to it, too.
5. SiriusIt's the name of Harry Potter's godfather, but Sirius is also the brightest star in the night sky.
6. LeoWho says this one has to be short for Leonardo? Leo is a constellation and the fifth astrological sign of the zodiac.Leos represent determination and courage.
7. NovaA nova is when a star suddenly brightens, so it's no wonder this name means "new star."
8. SolThe short form of the classic Hebrew name Solomon, Sol is also the Latin word for sun. We think this moniker is a bright idea.
9. AuroraOriginating from the Roman goddess of the dawn whose tears were attributed to morning dew, it's the name of the dazzling display of lights that dance in the sky called the Aurora Borealis (or Northern lights). But let's not forget Princess Aurora from Sleeping Beauty.
10. CelesteA derivative of the French word céleste, this pretty name means heavenly or celestial. What a perfect title for your little angel.
11. OpheliaOphelia is a tiny moon on Uranus (how a planet called that can have such a beautifully named moon is beyond us). The name is also in Shakespeare's Hamlet. In Greek, it means serpent.
12. PortiaIt seems Shakespeare was a big fan of the names of Uranus' moons, since the female lead of his play The Merchant of Venice was named Portia. Ellen's wife, Portia de Rossi, is one of its more popular namesakes.
13. PhoebeMeaning "bright, radiant and prophetic," Phoebe was one of Saturn's outermost moons for nearly a century. It's also the name of the Goddess of the moon in Greek mythology. If you're a Friends fan, you know this name from eccentric character, Phoebe Buffay. #smellycat
14. HalleyYou've probably heard of Halley's Comet, you may have even seen one in your life. The short-period comet is the only one known to be regularly visible to the naked-eye from Earth (but it's only visible to us every 74-79 years).
15. LunaThe Latin word for moon, it's made its way into pop culture thanks to Harry Potter's friend Luna Lovegood. Chrissy Teigen and John Legend named their daughter Luna in 2016.
16. AstridA Scandinavian name meaning "divine strength," it's also the name of the Swedish microsatellite and is a favourite moniker of Norway's royal families.
17. CassiopeiaThe constellation Cassiopeia is rooted in Greek mythology, as she was the queen who infamously boasted about her beauty (so maybe not an ideal role model for your kid). But it is a sweet name for your beautiful new baby. It can be shortened to Cassie or Cass.