Explore the fascinating names of moons in our solar system! From Titan to Triton, each has its own unique story and characteristics to discover.
Our moon is a fascinating visible object in the night sky. The beauty of the moon is just incredible. Celestial objects such as galaxies, planets, nebulae, and moons are known for having cool names.
People see the names of these objects as inspirations for what to choose for their children or pets. In this article, we have covered all the names of the moons in our solar system.
There are a total of 214 natural satellites in our solar system. Each year, scientists discover new moons for many planets, so the number of moons changes every year.
We will see all the names of these moons. But before that, let’s take a quick look at how these moons are named.
How are moons named?
Usually, when naming galaxies and planets, they are named after their finder, the constellation, or just given a sequence of numbers for the catalog. When naming a moon, it is usually given a specific name related to its mythology or according to its parent planet.
There are certain guidelines and traditions followed while naming these moons. These guidelines were established by the International Astronomical Union (IAU). This organization is responsible for naming celestial objects.
So below is the list of all the moon names.
List of all the moon names in our solar system
Out of all the moons, around 20 are completely spherical and have a shape like a planet. The remaining moons have various shapes. Some of the names of the moons are very catchy, and some of them just look like new numbers in the catalog.
So we will go according to the position of a planet in our solar system.
| Name | Parent Planet | Name Meaning |
|---|---|---|
| Moon | Earth | Month |
| Phobos | Mars | This Greek word means “flight.” |
| Deimos | Mars | Deimos means “fear” in Greek |
| Io | Jupiter | Named after The daughter of Inachus, Inachus was the first king of the city of Argos in Greek mythology |
| Europa | Jupiter | Named after the Wife of Minos, king of Crete. |
| Ganymede | Jupiter | Named after the cupbearer of the Olympian gods. |
| Callisto | Jupiter | Named after the Beautiful daughter of Lycaon. |
| Amalthea | Jupiter | Foster-mother of Zeus |
| Himalia | Jupiter | A Rhodian nymph who bore three sons of Zeus. |
| Elara | Jupiter | Named after the daughter of King Orchomenus, a paramour of Zeus. |
| Pasiphae | Jupiter | A nymph who lived on the island of Ogygia |
| Sinope | Jupiter | Named after the daughter of the river god Asopus. |
| Lysithea | Jupiter | Named after the daughter of Kadmos, also named Semele, mother of Dionysos by Zeus. |
| Carme | Jupiter | Carme is a Cretan nymph, a daughter of Eubulus, and the mother of Britomartis by Zeus. |
| Ananke | Jupiter | Named after the goddess of fate and necessity. |
| Leda | Jupiter | Named after the queen of Sparta who was loved by Zeus |
| Thebe | Jupiter | The first wife of Zeus. |
| Adrastea | Jupiter | Adrastea was a nymph who, along with her sister Ida, nursed the infant Zeus on the island of Crete |
| Metis | Jupiter | Aitne was a lover of Zeus and the mother of the Sicilian king Eubuleus. |
| Callirrhoe | Jupiter | One of the Oceanids (daughters of the titan Oceanus) |
| Themisto | Jupiter | Themisto was a daughter of the river god Inachus |
| Megaclite | Jupiter | Daughter of Macareus, who with Zeus gave birth to Thebe and Locrus. |
| Taygete | Jupiter | One of the Pleiades, daughter of the titan Atlas. |
| Chaldene | Jupiter | Bore the son Solymos with Zeus. |
| Harpalyke | Jupiter | Princess of Arcadia. |
| Kalyke | Jupiter | Kalyke was one of the many daughters of the Titan Atlas |
| Iocaste | Jupiter | Wife of Laius, King of Thebes, and mother of Oedipus. |
| Erinome | Jupiter | Erinome is a nymph in Greek mythology who bore Zeus a son named Orchomenos. |
| Isonoe | Jupiter | one of the many daughters of the river god Asopus, who was loved by Zeus. |
| Praxidike | Jupiter | Praxidike is the goddess of judicial punishment and the execution of sentences. |
| Autonoe | Jupiter | The mother of the hero Actaeon |
| Thyone | Jupiter | Thyone was a lover of Zeus and the mother of Dionysus |
| Hermippe | Jupiter | She was a lover of Zeus and bore him a son named Myrmidon |
| Aitne | Jupiter | Pasithee was the goddess of charm, beauty, and fertility. |
| Eurydome | Jupiter | Eurydome was one of the three Graces, minor goddesses of charm, beauty, and fertility. |
| Euanthe | Jupiter | Euanthe was one of the many daughters of the river god Asopus who bore Zeus a son named Ismenus. |
| Euporie | Jupiter | Euporie is a minor goddess of abundance. |
| Orthosie | Jupiter | Orthosie is a minor Greek goddess of prosperity and abundance. |
| Sponde | Jupiter | Sponde is a minor Greek goddess of libations poured in honor of the gods. |
| Kale | Jupiter | Kale was one of the many daughters of the Titan Atlas who bore Zeus five daughters collectively known as the Hyades. |
| Pasithee | Jupiter | Pasithee was the goddesses of charm, beauty, and fertility. |
| Hegemone | Jupiter | Hegemone was a minor goddess of plants and fruit, particularly in the stage of maturation. |
| Mneme | Jupiter | Mneme was one of the Muses, the daughters of Zeus and Mnemosyne, who presided over various arts and sciences. |
| Aoede | Jupiter | Aoede was the Muse of song and voice. |
| Thelxinoe | Jupiter | Thelxinoe was the Muse of charming and soothing the mind. |
| Arche | Jupiter | Arche was the Muse of origins and the beginning of things. |
| Kallichore | Jupiter | Kallichore was the Muse of dance and choral song. |
| Helike | Jupiter | Helike was one of the many daughters of the Titan Atlas who bore Zeus five daughters collectively known as the Hyades. |
| Carpo | Jupiter | Carpo is a minor goddess of the harvest, specifically the act of harvesting and plucking fruits. |
| Eukelade | Jupiter | Eukelade was one of the many daughters of the Titan Atlas who bore Zeus five daughters collectively known as the Hyades. |
| Cyllene | Jupiter | Cyllene was a nymph who bore Zeus a son named Lycaon. |
| Kore | Jupiter | Daughter of Zeus and Demeter, also known as Persephone. |
| Herse | Jupiter | Herse was a daughter of Cecrops, the mythical first king of Athens, and a lover of Zeus who bore him a son named Cephalus. |
| S/2010 J 1 | Jupiter | |
| S/2010 J 2 | Jupiter | Inuit goddess of the sea. Also known as Sedna |
| Dia | Jupiter | Daughter of the river god Alpheus |
| S/2016 J 1 | Jupiter | |
| S/2003 J 18 | Jupiter | |
| S/2011 J 2 | Jupiter | |
| Eirene | Jupiter | Named after the Greek goddess of peace. |
| Philophrosyne | Jupiter | Philophrosyne is a minor goddess personifying kindness, friendliness, and welcome. |
| S/2017 J 1 | Jupiter | |
| Eupheme | Jupiter | |
| S/2003 J 19 | Jupiter | |
| Valetudo | Jupiter | Named after the Roman goddess of health and hygiene. |
| S/2017 J 2 | Jupiter | |
| S/2017 J 3 | Jupiter | |
| Pandia | Jupiter | Named after Pandia, the Greek goddess of the full moon. |
| S/2017 J 5 | Jupiter | |
| S/2017 J 6 | Jupiter | |
| S/2017 J 7 | Jupiter | |
| S/2017 J 8 | Jupiter | |
| S/2017 J 9 | Jupiter | |
| Ersa | Jupiter | Named after the Greek goddess of dew. |
| S/2011 J 1 | Jupiter | |
| S/2003 J 2 | Jupiter | |
| S/2003 J 4 | Jupiter | |
| S/2003 J 9 | Jupiter | |
| S/2003 J 10 | Jupiter | |
| S/2003 J 12 | Jupiter | |
| S/2003 J 16 | Jupiter | |
| S/2003 J 23 | Jupiter | |
| S/2003 J 24 | Jupiter | |
| S/2011 J 3 | Jupiter | |
| S/2016 J 3 | Jupiter | |
| S/2016 J 4 | Jupiter | |
| S/2018 J 2 | Jupiter | |
| S/2018 J 3 | Jupiter | |
| S/2018 J 4 | Jupiter | |
| S/2021 J 1 | Jupiter | |
| S/2021 J 2 | Jupiter | |
| S/2021 J 3 | Jupiter | |
| S/2021 J 4 | Jupiter | |
| S/2021 J 5 | Jupiter | |
| S/2021 J 6 | Jupiter | |
| S/2022 J 1 | Jupiter | |
| S/2022 J 2 | Jupiter | |
| S/2022 J 3 | Jupiter | |
| Mimas | Saturn | Mimas was a Giant in Greek mythology, one of the Gigantes, and a son of Gaia (Earth). |
| Enceladus | Saturn | Named after a Giant in Greek mythology who fought against the gods |
| Tethys | Saturn | Tethys was a Titaness and the wife of Oceanus, representing the fertile ocean that encircles the Earth. |
| Dione | Saturn | Dione was a Titaness, daughter of Oceanus and Tethys, and sometimes considered the mother of Aphrodite by Zeus. |
| Rhea | Saturn | Daughter of Uranus and Gaia, sister and wife of Cronus, and mother of several major Olympian gods, including Zeus. |
| Titan | Saturn | Titans were a race of powerful deities, children of Uranus (Sky) and Gaia (Earth), who preceded the Olympian gods. |
| Hyperion | Saturn | The father of the sun god Helios, the moon goddess Selene, and the dawn goddess Eos. |
| Iapetus | Saturn | One of the first generation Titaness. It means “shining” or “bright”. The original owner of the oracle of Delphi. |
| Phoebe | Saturn | Named after the Wife of Minos, king of Crete. |
| Janus | Saturn | Roman god of beginnings, duality, time, and doorways. |
| Epimetheus | Saturn | One of the Titans. Brother of Prometheus |
| Helene | Saturn | A granddaughter of Kronos, for her beauty she triggered off the Trojan War. |
| Telesto | Saturn | Daughter of the Titans Oceanus and Tethys. |
| Calypso | Saturn | Loge is a giant and the personification of fire. |
| Atlas | Saturn | Atlas is a Titan who was condemned to hold up the sky for eternity as punishment for rebelling against the Olympian gods. |
| Prometheus | Saturn | Prometheus is a Titan known for stealing fire from the gods and giving it to humanity, symbolizing knowledge and progress. |
| Pandora | Saturn | Pandora was the first woman created by the gods. |
| Pan | Saturn | Pan is the god of the wild, shepherds, flocks, rustic music, and companion of the nymphs. |
| Ymir | Saturn | Ymir is the primordial Norse giant and the progenitor of the race of frost giants. |
| Paaliaq | Saturn | Paaliaq is a shaman who could transform into different animals to escape his enemies. |
| Tarvos | Saturn | A divine figure of a bull with three cranes perched on its back |
| Ijiraq | Saturn | Named for an Inuit giant. |
| Suttungr | Saturn | Named for a Norse giant who kindled flames that destroyed the world. |
| Kiviuq | Saturn | Kiviuq is a legendary hero and shaman who embarks on a series of adventures across the Arctic. |
| Mundilfari | Saturn | Mundilfari is the father of Sól (the sun) and Máni (the moon), who were placed in the sky by the gods to light the world. |
| Albiorix | Saturn | Albiorix is a god of war, identified with the Roman god Mars. |
| Skathi | Saturn | Skathi (or Skadi) is a giantess associated with skiing, bowhunting, and winter. |
| Erriapus | Saturn | Erriapus is a god of war, sometimes identified with the Roman god Mars. |
| Siarnaq | Saturn | Named after Narfi, a Jötunn (giant) in Norse mythology |
| Thrymr | Saturn | Thrymr is a giant who steals Thor’s hammer, Mjölnir, and demands the goddess Freyja as his bride in exchange for its return. |
| Narvi | Saturn | One of the Alkyonides, the seven beautiful daughters of Alkyoneus |
| Methone | Saturn | One of the Alkyonides, the seven beautiful daughters of the Giant Alkyoneos. |
| Pallene | Saturn | A giant of Norse mythology. Grandson of Ymir |
| Polydeuces | Saturn | Polydeuces are the sons of Zeus and Leda. He is associated with horsemanship and boxing. |
| Daphnis | Saturn | A Sicilian shepherd, a descendant of the Titans |
| Aegir | Saturn | Aegir is a giant who rules over the ocean and hosts feasts for the gods. |
| Bebhionn | Saturn | Bebhionn is a goddess associated with childbirth and motherhood, |
| Bergelmir | Saturn | Iapetus was a Titan, the son of Uranus and Gaia, and the father of Atlas, Prometheus, Epimetheus, and Menoetius. |
| Bestla | Saturn | Bestla is the mother of the gods Odin, Vili, and Ve, and the wife of the giant Borr. |
| Farbauti | Saturn | Farbauti is a giant and the father of Loki. |
| Fenrir | Saturn | Fenrir is a monstrous wolf, the son of Loki and the giantess Angrboda |
| Fornjot | Saturn | Fornjot is a giant associated with the elements of wind, fire, and water. |
| Hati | Saturn | Giant wolf from Norse mythology. Son of Fenrir |
| Hyrrokkin | Saturn | Norse giantess who launched Balder’s funeral ship. |
| Kari | Saturn | Kari is a giant associated with wind and air. |
| Loge | Saturn | Also known as Surt. Leader of the fire Jötunn (giants) |
| Skoll | Saturn | Skoll is a wolf who chases the sun. |
| Surtur | Saturn | Master of illusions and master castle ruler of the castle Útgarðr in Norse mythology |
| Anthe | Saturn | Anthe is one of the Alkyonides, the seven daughters of the giant Alkyoneus. |
| Jarnsaxa | Saturn | Jarnsaxa is a giantess and the mother of the god Thor’s sons Magni and Modi. |
| Greip | Saturn | Greip is one of the nine daughters of Geirrod. |
| Tarqeq | Saturn | Inuit moon spirit. |
| Aegaeon | Saturn | Aegaeon is a giant associated with the sea and storms. |
| Gridr | Saturn | Norse giantess. |
| Angrboda | Saturn | A female Jötunn (giant) |
| Skrymir | Saturn | Named after a character in Shakespeare’s play Troilus and Cressida |
| Gerd | Saturn | Wife of the god Freyr |
| S/2004 S 26 | Saturn | |
| Eggther | Saturn | A Jötunn (giant) who raises wolves |
| S/2004 S 29 | Saturn | |
| Beli | Saturn | A Jötunn (giant) |
| Gunnlod | Saturn | A female Jötunn (giant) |
| Thiazzi | Saturn | A Jötunn (giant). Father of Skadi |
| S/2004 S 34 | Saturn | |
| Alvaldi | Saturn | A Jötunn (giant). Father of Thiazzi |
| Geirrod | Saturn | A Jötunn (giant) who was killed by Thor |
| S/2004 S 7 | Saturn | |
| S/2004 S 12 | Saturn | |
| S/2004 S 13 | Saturn | |
| S/2004 S 17 | Saturn | |
| S/2004 S 21 | Saturn | |
| S/2004 S 24 | Saturn | |
| S/2004 S 28 | Saturn | |
| S/2004 S 31 | Saturn | |
| S/2004 S 36 | Saturn | |
| S/2004 S 37 | Saturn | |
| S/2004 S 39 | Saturn | |
| S/2006 S 1 | Saturn | |
| S/2006 S 3 | Saturn | |
| S/2007 S 2 | Saturn | |
| S/2007 S 3 | Saturn | |
| S/2009 S 1 | Saturn | |
| S/2019 S 1 | Saturn | |
| Ariel | Uranus | Named after a character in Shakespeare’s “The Tempest.” |
| Umbriel | Uranus | Named after a character in Alexander Pope’s “The Rape of the Lock.” |
| Titania | Uranus | Named after a character in Shakespeare’s “A Midsummer Night’s Dream.” |
| Oberon | Uranus | Named after a character in Shakespeare’s “A Midsummer Night’s Dream.” |
| Miranda | Uranus | Named by Kuiper for the heroine of Shakespeare’s “The Tempest.” |
| Cordelia | Uranus | Daughter of Lear in Shakespeare’s “King Lear.” |
| Ophelia | Uranus | Daughter of Polonius, fiance of Hamlet in Shakespeare’s “Hamlet, Prince of Denmark.” |
| Bianca | Uranus | Daughter of Baptista, sister of Kate, in Shakespeare’s “Taming of the Shrew.” |
| Cressida | Uranus | Named after a character in Shakespeare’s play Othello |
| Desdemona | Uranus | Named after a character in Shakespeare’s play The Tempest |
| Juliet | Uranus | Named after a character in Shakespeare’s “Romeo and Juliet.” |
| Portia | Uranus | Named after a character in Shakespeare’s “The Merchant of Venice.” |
| Rosalind | Uranus | Named after a character in Shakespeare’s “As You Like It.” |
| Belinda | Uranus | Character in Pope’s “Rape of the Lock.” |
| Puck | Uranus | Mischievous spirit in Shakespeare’s “A Midsummer Night’s Dream.” |
| Caliban | Uranus | Named after a character in Shakespeare’s “The Tempest.” |
| Sycorax | Uranus | Son of Poseidon (the Greek equivalent of Neptune) and messenger of the sea. |
| Prospero | Uranus | Named for the rightful Duke of Milan in “The Tempest.” |
| Setebos | Uranus | Named after a deity in the mythology of the indigenous people of Tierra del Fuego. |
| Stephano | Uranus | Named after a character in Shakespeare’s “The Tempest.” |
| Trinculo | Uranus | A jester in Shakespeare’s “The Tempest.” |
| Francisco | Uranus | A lord in “The Tempest.” |
| Margaret | Uranus | A gentlewoman attending on Hero from “Much Ado About Nothing.” |
| Ferdinand | Uranus | Son of the King of Naples in “The Tempest.” |
| Perdita | Uranus | Daughter of Leontes and Hermione in “The Winter’s Tale.” |
| Mab | Uranus | Named after the Queen of the Fairies in Irish folklore. |
| Cupid | Uranus | A character in “Timon of Athens.” |
| Triton | Neptune | Sea nymphs in Greek mythology often accompanied Poseidon. |
| Nereid | Neptune | Named after the Naiads, spirits or nymphs of rivers, seas, fountains, etc. |
| Naiad | Neptune | A Nereid in Greek mythology was associated with saltwater. |
| Thalassa | Neptune | Greek sea goddess. Mother of Aphrodite in some legends; others say she bore the Telchines. |
| Despina | Neptune | Daughter of Poseidon (Neptune) and Demeter. |
| Galatea | Neptune | One of the Nereids, attendants of Poseidon. |
| Larissa | Neptune | Nymph from Thelassy in Greek mythology |
| Proteus | Neptune | Shape-shifting sea god who could change his form at will. |
| Halimede | Neptune | A Nereid in Greek mythology was associated with the island of Samos. |
| Psamathe | Neptune | A Nereid in Greek mythology was associated with the island of Naxos. |
| Sao | Neptune | A Nereid in Greek mythology was associated with sand beaches. |
| Laomedeia | Neptune | A Trojan king who failed to honor a deal with Poseidon and was punished as a result. |
| Neso | Neptune | The mythical seahorse in Greek mythology is a symbol of Poseidon. |
| Hippocamp | Neptune | Mythical seahorse in Greek mythology is a symbol of Poseidon. |
| Vanth | Orcus | |
| (unnamed) | 2003 AZ84 | |
| Charon | Pluto | Named after the ferryman who carried souls across the river Styx in Greek mythology. |
| Nix | Pluto | Named after the Greek goddess of darkness and night. |
| Hydra | Pluto | Named after the nine-headed serpent of Greek mythology. |
| Kerberos | Pluto | Named after the three-headed dog that guards the entrance to the underworld in Greek mythology. |
| Styx | Pluto | Named after the river that separates the world of the living from the underworld in Greek mythology. |
| Actaea | Salacia | |
| Hiʻiaka | Haumea | |
| Namaka | Haumea | |
| Weywot | Quaoar | |
| S/2015 (136472) 1 | Makemake | |
| Ilmarë | Varda | |
| (unnamed) | 2013 FY27 | |
| Xiangliu | Gonggong | |
| Dysnomia | Eris |
List of names of other celestial objects
You might wanna take a look at the names of other celestial objects and their significance.
