Star Names List

The following are a list of the star names in sorted alphabetical order. So if you're looking for an "S" name, this list makes it a little easier. Independent stars and constellations are shown with their name in boldface, with the number of stars in parentheses after the names.

NAME Alternate Names Constellation Meaning
Acamar   Eridanus end of the river
Achemar   Eridanus end of the river
Achird   Cassiopeia (unknown)
Acrux   Crux first of the cross
Acubens   Cancer claw
Adhafera   Leo curl of the hair
Adhil   Andromeda train of a garment
Ain   Taurus eye of the bull
Al Athfar   Lyra talons (with Aladfar)
Al Bali   Aquarius the swallower
Al Dhanab   Grus tail
Al Gieba   Leo forehead
Al Giedi   Capricornus goat
Al Haud   Ursa Major the pond
Al Na'ir   Grus the bright
Al Nair   Indus bright
Al Niyat   Scorpius the arteries
Al Reschia Rischia Pisces rope
Al Thalimain   Aquila the two ostriches (actually two stars)
Aladfar   Lyra talons (with Al Athfar)
Albireo   Cygnus iris
Alchibah   Corvus tent
Alcor   Ursa Major black horse (?)
Alcyone   Pleadies queen who wards off evil and storms
Aldebaran   Taurus follower
Alderamin   Cepheus right forearm
Alfirk   Cepheus flock
Algenib   Pegasus flank
Algol   Perseus the ghoul / the demon star
Algorab   Corvus raven
Alioth   Ursa Major black horse / black bull
Alkaid Benetnasch Ursa Major the leader / daughters of bier
Alkalurops   Bootes shepherd's crook
Alkes     cup
Almach   Andromeda the weasel
Almeisan Alhena Gemini shining / the mark
Alnilam   Orion arrangment of pearls (middle of the belt)
Alnitak   Orion belt (east)
Alphard Cor Hydrae Hydra solitary / heart of the hydra
Alpheratz Sirrah Andromeda the horse or the navel
Alsafi   Draco cooking tripod
Alshain   Aquila falcon
Altair   Aquila flying one
Alterf   Leo glance
Aludra   Canis Major maidenhood
Alula Australis   Ursa Major first leap of the gazelle
Alula Borealis   Ursa Major first leap of the gazelle
Alya   Serpens the tail of a sheep
Ancha   Aquarius hip-bone
Andromeda (5) Andromedae   the daughter of Cassiopeia
Angetenar   Eridanus curve of the river
Ankaa   Phoenix (a magical bird)
Antares   Scorpius anti-Ares (rival of Mars)
Antlia Antliae   the pump
Apus Apodis   the bird of paradise
Aquarius (8) Aquarii   the water carrier
Aquila (5) Aqualae   the eagle
Ara (2) Arae   the altar
Arcturus   Bootes bear-guard
Aries (5) Arietis   the ram
Arkab   Sagittarius hamstrikng
Arneb   Lepus hare
Arrakis   Draco dancer
Ascella   Sagittarius armpit
Asellus Astralius   Cancer southern donkey
Asellus Borealis   Cancer northern donkey
Asmidiske   Puppis little shield
Asterope   Pleadies lightning / twinkling / sun-face
Atik   Perseus shoulder
Atlas   Pleadies he who dares suffers (father)
Atria   Triangulum Australe height of the triangle
Auriga (7) Aurigae   the charioteer
Auva   Virgo the barker
Avior   Carina (unknown meaning, modern)
Azelfafage   Cygnus tortoise (originally a part of Lyra)
Azha   Eridanus hatching place
Baham   Pegasus livestock
Baten Kaitos   Cetus belly of Cetus
Beid   Eridanus ostrich eggs
Bellatrix   Orion warrioress
Betelgeuse   Orion hand of Al-Jazwa
Bootes (7) Bootis   the oxherd
Botein   Aries little belly
Caelum Caeli   the graving tool
Camelopardalis     the giraffe
Cancer (6) Cancri   the crab
Canes Venatici (3) Canum Venaticorum   the hunting dogs
Canis Major (7) Canis Majoris   the big dog
Canis Minor (3) Canis Minoris   the little dog
Canopus   Carina Menelaus's helmsman
Capella   Auriga she-goat
Caph   Cassiopeia palm
Capricornus (5) Capricorni   the horned goat
Carina (5) Carinae   the keel of the Argo
Cassiopeia (7) Cassiopeiae   the wife of Cepheus
Castor   Gemini beaver / first twin
Celaeno   Pleadies swarthy
Centaurus (6) Centauri   the centaur
Cepheus (6) Cephie   a legendary king
Cetus (7) Ceti   the whale or the menace
Chamaeleon Chamaeleontis   the chamaeleon
Chara   Canes Venatici joy
Cheleb Celbalrai Ophiuchus dog of the shepherd
Choo or Qu   Ara staff
Circinus Circini   a pair of compasses
Columba (4) Columbae   the dove
Coma Berenices Comae Berenices   Bernice's lock of hair
Cor Caroli   Canes Venatici heart of Charles
Corona Australis Coronae Australis   the southern crown
Corona Borealis (3) Coronae Borealis   the norther crown
Corvus (6) Corvi   the crown / the raven
Coxa Chort / Chertan Leo hip / small rib
Crater Crateris   the cup
Crux (4) Crucis   the cross
Cujam   Hercules club
Cursa   Eridanus chair / footstool (of Orion)
Cygnus (7) Cygni   the swan
Dabih   Capricornus slaughterer
Delphinus (4) Delphini   the dolphin
Deneb   Cygnus tail of the hen
Deneb Algiedi   Capricornus tail of the goat
Deneb or Al Dhanab al Dulfim   Delphinus tail of the dolphin
Denebola   Leo tail of the lion
Diphda Deneb Kaitos Cetus frog / tail of Cetus
Dorado Doradus   the goldfish
Draco (13) Draconis   the dragon
Dschubba   Scorpius forehead
Dubhe Dubh / Dubb / Alruccabah Ursa Major bear
Dziban   Draco the two jackals
Edasich   Draco hyena
El Nasl   Sagittarius arrowhead
El Nath   Taurus the butting
Electra   Pleadies amber
Eltanin   Draco snake (arabic)
Enif   Pegasus nose
Equuleus (2) Equulei   the little horse
Er Rai   Cepheus shepherd
Eridanus (10) Eridani   the river
Fomalhaut   Piscis Austrinus mouth of the fish
Fornax Fornacius   the furnace
Fum al Samakah   Pisces the fish's mouth
Furud   Canis Major solitary ones
Gacrux   Crux gamma of the cross
Gemini (9) Geminorium   the twins
Gemma Alphecca Corona Borealis gem or the broken
Giauzar   Draco dragon
Gienah   Cygnus wing
Gomeisa   Canis Minor the bleary eyed
Graffias Acrab Scorpius claws / scorpion
Grumium   Draco jaw
Grus (3) Gruis   the crane
Hadar Agena Centaurus unknown
Hamal   Aries ram
Heka Meissa Orion white spot / shining
Hercules (8) Herculis   a famous hero
Heze   Virgo unknown
Homam   Pegasus the high-minded man
Horologium Horologii Hercules the clock
Hydra (4) Hydrae   a legendary dragon
Hydrus Hydri   the water serpent
Indus (2) Indi   the Indian
Jabbah   Scorpius forehead
Jabhat al Akrab   Scorpius scorpion's forehead
Kabdhilinan   Auriga anklebone of the rein-holder
Kaffaljidhmah   Cetus cut-short hand
Kaus Australis   Sagittarius bow (southern)
Kaus Borealis   Sagittarius bow (northern)
Kaus Media   Sagittarius bow (middle)
Ke Kuan   Centaurus cavalry officer
Keid   Eridanus broken eggshell
Kerhah   Cepheus blaze
Kitalpha   Equuleus part of the horse
Kochab Kokab Ursa Minor star
Kornephoros   Hercules club-bearer
Kraz   Corvus unknown
Kuma   Draco as last
Lacerta Lacertae   the lizard
Leo (11) Leonis   the lion
Leo Minor (2) Leonis Minoris   the little lion
Lepus (3) Leporis   the hare
Lesath Lesuth Scorpius sting / bite
Libra (5) Librae   the scales
Lupus (2) Lupi   the wolf
Lynx     the lynx
Lyra (6) Lyrae   the lyre
Maaz   Auriga he-goat
Maia   Pleadies mother / grandmother / nurse
Marfik   Ophiuchus elbow
Markab   Vela ship
Massim   Hercules wrist
Matar   Pegasus rain
Mebsuta   Gemini outstretched
Megrez   Ursa Major insertion point
Mekbuda   Gemini pulled in paw
Men   Lupus unknown
Menkalinan   Auriga shoulder of him of the reigns
Menkar Menkab Cetus nostril
Menkent   Centaurus shoulder of the center
Menkib   Perseus shoulder
Mensa Mensae   the table
Merak Mirak Ursa Major loins
Merope   Pleadies eloquent / bee-eater / mortal
Mesarthim   Aries servants
Miaplacidus   Carina placid waters
Microscopium Microscopii   the microscope
Mimosa   Crux (name of a plant)
Minhar al Shuja   Hydra the snake's nose
Minkar   Corvus beak
Mintaka   Orion belt (west)
Mira   Cetus wonderful
Mirach   Andromeda the loins
Mirak Izar/ Pulcherrima Bootes loins / loincloth
Mirfak Marfak Perseus elbow
Mirzam   Canis Major (unknown meaning)
Mizar   Ursa Major corruption of "Mirak (loins)"
Monoceros Monocerotis   the unicorn
Mothallah Caput Trianguli Triangulum head of the triangle
Muhlifain   Centaurus unknown
Muliphein   Canis Major two causing dispute / swearing an oath
Mulu-lizi   Libra man of fire
Muphrid   Bootes isolated / lance-bearer's
Musca Muscae   the fly
Muscida   Ursa Major muzzle
Na'ir al Saif   Orion bright tip of the sword
Naos   Puppis ship
Nashira   Capricornus she who brings good news
Nekkar Nakkar Bootes cattleman
Nihal   Lepus camels drinking
Nodus Secundus Altais Draco second knot
Norma Normae   the carpenter's level
Nunki   Sagittarius of Enki
Nusakan   Corona Borealis the two series
Octans Octanis   the octant
Ophiuchus (7) Ophiuchi   the snake holder
Orion (10) Orionis   the hunter
Pavo (2) Pavonis   the peacock
Pegasus (9) Pegasi   the winged horse
Perseus (5) Persei   the heroic rescuer of Andromeda
Phact Phaet Columba dove
Phad Phecda Ursa Major thigh
Pherkab   Ursa Minor calf
Phoenix (2) Phoenicis   the phoenix
Pictor Pictoris   the painter (or the easel)
Pisces (3) Piscium   the fish
Piscis Austrinus (2) Piscis Austrini   the southern fish
Pleadies (11)     (a cluster within Taurus)
Pleione   Pleadies sailing queen (mother)
Polaris   Ursa Minor pole star
Pollux   Gemini much wine / second twin
Porrima   Virgo (Roman goddess of childbirth)
Praecipula   Leo Minor principal star
Prijipati   Auriga Lord of Creation
Primus Hyadum   Taurus first Hyad
Procyon   Canis Minor before the dog
Propus Tejat prior Gemini forward foot
Puppis (3) Puppis   the poop deck (of the Argo)
Pyxis Pyxidis   the box, the compass or the Argo
Rana   Eridanus frog
Ras Algethi   Hercules head of the kneeling one
Ras Alhague   Ophiuchus head of the snake
Ras Elased   Leo head of the lion
Rasalas   Leo head of the lion
Rastaban   Draco head of the snake
Regulus Cor Leonis / Kalb Leo Heart of the Lion
Reticulum Reticuli   the net (or the optical instrument)
Rigel   Orion foot
Rigel Kentaurus Rigilkent Centaurus foot of the centaur
Rotanev   Delphinus Venator backwards
Ruchba   Cygnus hen's knee
Ruchbah Rukbah Cassiopeia knee
Rukbat   Sagittarius knee
Sabik   Ophiuchus the preceding
Sadachbia   Aquarius lucky star of tents
Sadal Melik   Aquarius lucky star of the king
Sadal Suud   Aquarius luck of lucks
Sadalbari   Pegasus lucky star of the excellent one
Sadatoni   Auriga two young goats
Sadr   Cygnus breast
Sagitta Sagittae   the arrow
Sagittarius (9) Sagittarii   the archer
Sargas   Scorpius seizer / smiter / weapon of the god of war
Sarin   Hercules unknown
Scheat   Pegasus leg
Schedar Shedir Cassiopeia breast
Schemali   Cetus northern (branch of the tail)
Scorpius (10) Scorpii   the scorpion
Sculptor Sculptoris   the sculptor (originally the studio)
Scutulum Aspidiske Carina little shield
Scutum Scuti   the shield
Segin Navi Cassiopeia (unknown)
Serpens (4) Serpentis   the snake
Sextans Sextantis   the sextant
Shaula   Scorpius raised tail
Sheliak or Shelyak   Lyra harp
Sheratan   Aries the two signs
Signus   Bootes (a bastardized version of Thegius, Medevial Latin from Arabic transliteration of Greek "bootes")
Sirius   Canis Major scorching
Situla   Aquarius water jar
Skat Scheat / Seat Aquarius the shin
Spica Azimech Virgo ear of wheat
Sualocin   Delphinus Nicolaus backwards
Suhail   Vela unknown
Sulafat   Lyra tortoise
Syrma   Virgo train of a garment
Talitha Australis   Ursa Major third leap of the gazelle
Talitha Borealis Dnoces Ursa Major third leap of the gazelle
Tania Australis   Ursa Major second leap of the gazelle
Tania Borealis   Ursa Major second leap of the gazelle
Tarazed   Aquila plundering falcon
Tarf   Cancer glance / eye
Taurus (5) Tauri   the bull
Taygeta   Pleadies long-necked
Tegmine   Cancer cover
Tejat   Gemini foot?
Telescopium Telescopii Pleadies the telescope
Thabit   Orion fixed star
The Garnet Star   Cepheus unknown
The Peacock Star   Pavo the peacock
Thuban   Draco snake
Tian Ke   Vela heaven's record
Triangulum (2) Tranguli   the triangle
Triangulum Australe (2) Trianguli Australis   south triangle
Tsih Ci Cassiopeia (whip?)
Tucana Tucanae   the toucan
Tyl Kin Yu Draco unknown / goldfish
Ukdah   Hydra the knot
Unuk Al Hay Unukalhai Serpens neck of the snake
Ursa Major (17) Ursae Majoris   the big bear
Ursa Minor (5) Ursae Minoris   the little bear
Vega   Lyra the swooping eagle
Vela (5) Velorum   the sails
Vindemiatrix   Virgo vine-harvester (female)
Virgo (9) Virginis   the virgin
Volans Volantis   the flying fish
Vulpecula Vulpeculae   the little fox
Wasat   Gemini middle of the sky
Wezen   Canis Major the weight
Wezn Wazn Columba weight
X-1     the first discovered black hole (not visible)
Yed Posterior   Ophiuchus eastern hand
Yed Prior   Ophiuchus western hand
Yildun   Ursa Minor star
Zaniah   Virgo corner
Zaurak   Eridanus boat
Zavijava Alaraph Virgo barker's corner / grape gatherer
Zhou   Serpens an imperial dynasty
Zi Dz Columba son
Zi Ceng   Leo second general
Zozma   Leo loincloth
Zuben El Genubi   Libra southern claw (of the scorpion)
Zuben Eschamali   Libra northern claw (of the scorpion)
Zubenhakrabi Zubanalakrab Libra scorpion's claw