For the avid sci fi writers out there, it can sometimes be difficult to come up with a cool planet name for your story, narrative, or fictional universe. And you’re not alone! There are plenty of random planet name generators out there online, but I feel that they are derivative and uninspired.
Today I’ve put together a list of cool planet names from using my own creative process to act as a starting point for writers. Whether you see a name you like and decide to use it, or draw inspiration from some of the names here, this list is designed to be your go-to place for planet naming.
Let’s begin with:
What should you consider for a planet name?
First and foremost, when choosing to name anything for a fictional world, considering the context, history, culture, and gro-politics of your world is hugely important. In the context of science fiction writing, you should opt to name planets as one of the last things you do to build your world or universe. Why? It’ll make it easier to choose names that won’t conflict with your larger world logic or with your story as you develop the plot and characters.
If we look at the Star Wars universe it is a prime example. The ‘legends’ stories reference dozens upon dozens of places and worlds that were stripped from the official canon universe. It is anyone’s guess as to why this was the case, but it made timelines and stories for the official canon universe easier to maintain, develop, and write without plotholes, inconsistencies, and issues arising from telling their new stories.
Whether you agree with what Disney did to Star Wars or not, it stands as an excellent example of why naming your places or worlds after you’ve developed things like factions, history, and your general lore can help create a more consistent world.
So, in short, you should consider aspects such as:
- The historical context of the world
- Who inhabits the world and what their society is like
- If you plan for the world to be inhabited or not
- Any external factors that might influence naming, such as factions, empires, or guilds that can exert control over the world. Colonialism is a prime example of a concept that can not only alter, but outright change the name of a place (and in this context, a whole world).
- The political context of the world and its society
- What kind of world you have. Is it in the habitable zone of a star? Does it need to lie in the traditional idea of a habitable zone? Does it have a star? Do any of these factors matter for how the world should be named?
This list is by no means exhaustive, but is a fantastic starting point.
Prefixes and Suffixes for Planet Naming
When you’ve considered what factors will influence the naming of your world, you’ll also need to decide if those factors will influence any prefixes or suffixes for the name. For instance, does the empire that controls your fictional planet have a naming convention? Perhaps the overall structure of the star system will define the name.
For instance:
- If a star system has many planets, they may be numbered. As an example, if your star system is called Tolihol, then the subsequent planets may be named: Tolihol-5, Tolihol-4, and so on.
- Another common naming convention is the use of prime, major, and minor. For instance, if you have a star system with two planets (one with a moon), the naming convention could be: Tolihol Prime, Tolihol Major, and for the moon that orbits Tolihol Major, you could call it Tolihol Minor.
- Similarly, if your faction or empire has an abbreviation this could easily be placed in front of or behind the planet name. For example: HHR Tolihol, or Tolihol HHR.
These suffixes or prefixes will largely depend on the historical context of your greater universe – so have a think before you get naming!
Cool Planet Names – The Big List!
And now for what you all came for, the list of inspiration! Below I’ve compiled all my favourite names (as well as a bunch i’ve made up for this list). Have a read and I hope this helps you build your universe.
Let’s start with:
A
- Anaria
- Apolun
- Aeterna
- Altharia
- Astraea
- Amaryllis
- Aetheria
- Ancoris
- Anthalion
- Antikythos
- Aphanis
- Aphelion Prime
- Aquilla Minor
- Aridani
- Arkanis IV
- Astra Gale
- Atovon
- Amblyra
- Avarenth
- Aethonix
- Akravion
- Alyndros
- Azyrion
- Aelvoria
- Arcionyx
- Athelion
- Axythera
- Auroneth
- Aelthorin
- Azmarae
- Acrythia
- Aevyron
- Arkelion
B
- Baenox
- Balyther
- Bexalon
- Baryndra
- Berythion
- Brionyx
- Balthora
- Byndros
- Belthara
- Bexurion
- Bryndara
- Borynth
- Baevora V
- Balthyrex
- Bravionis
- Bythera
- Belythor
- Bexylar
- Brythorix
- Balthyra
- Baryzeth
- Brelthor Prime
- Bexurionis
- Barythos
- Bravethra
- Belyxar
- Baerithon
- Bexalor
- Bryndeth
- Baryxion
- Bralveth Minor
C
- Caelthara
- Ceryndor
- Clythera
- Cavoris
- Cexulon
- Calthyra Minor
- Cyndara
- Corveth
- Caexora
- Cerythion
- Caxiron
- Corthara Prime
- Cyvelis
- Celyndra VII
- Cavorion
- Cexyra
- Calthorin
- Cyndorix
- Coralyth
- Ceryxar
- Cavelion
- Cytheris
- Caxoria
- Corthyx
- Caelyth Prime
D
- Daelthara
- Deryndor
- Draxionis
- Davoris Major
- Dexulon
- Dalthyra
- Dyndara
- Dorveth
- Daexora
- Derythion
- Daxiron
- Dorthara
- Dyvelis
- Delyndra
- Davorion
- Dexyra-7
- Dalthorin
- Dyndorix
- Doralyth
- Deryxar
- Davelion
- Dytheris
- Daxoria
- Dorthyx
E
- Ealthera
- Eryndor
- Exarionis
- Evoris
- Exulon D56
- Elthyra
- Eyndara
- Eorveth
- Eaxora
- Erythion
- Eaxiron Minor
- Eorthara
- Eyvelis
- Elyndra
- Evorion
- Exyra 5
- Elthorin
- Eyndorix
- Eoralyth
- Eryxar
- Evelion
- Eytheris
- Eaxoria
- Eorthyx
- Ealyth Prime
F
- Faelthara
- Feryndor
- Fyxarion
- Favoris N2
- Fexulon
- Falthyra
- Fyndara
- Forveth II
- Faexora
- Ferythion
- Faxiron Minor
- Forthara
- Fyvelis
- Felyndra
- Favorion
- Fexyra
- Falthorin
- Fyndorix
- Foralyth
- Feryxar X
- Favelion
- Fytheris
- Faxoria
- Forthyx
- Faelyth Prime
G
- Gaelthara
- Geryndor
- Gaxurion
- Gavoris
- Gexulon I7
- Galthyra
- Gyndara
- Gorveth
- Gaexora Prime
- Gerythion
- Gaxiron
- Gorthara
- Gyvelis
- Gelyndra
- Gavorion
- Gexyra
- Galthorin Minor
- Gyndorix
- Goralyth
- Geryxar
H
- Haelthara
- Heryndor
- Haxurion XV
- Havoris
- Hexulon
- Halthyra
- Hyndara
- Horveth-2
- Haexora
- Herythion
- Haxiron
- Horthara
- Hyvelis
- Helyndra Major
- Havorion
- Hexyra
- Halthorin
- Hyndorix
- Horalyth
- Heryxar
I
- Iaelthara
- Iryndor V
- Iaxurion
- Iavoris
- Iexulon
- Ialthyra
- Iyndara
- Iorveth
- Iaexora
- Ierythion Minor
- Iaxiron
- Iorthara
- Iyvelis
- Ielyndra
- Iavorion
- Iexyra-4
- Ialthorin
- Iyndorix
- Ioralyth V3
- Ieryxar
J
- Jaelthara
- Jeryndor
- Jaxurion
- Javoris Major
- Jexulon
- Jalthyra
- Jyndara
- Jorveth
- Jaexora
- Jerythion
- Jaxiron
- Jorthara
- Jyvelis
- Jelyndra 2-X
- Javorion
- Jexyra
- Jalthorin
- Jyndorix
- Joralyth
- Jeryxar
K
- Kaelthara
- Keryndor
- Kaxurion
- Kavoris
- Kexulon
- Kalthyra
- Kyndara Prime
- Korveth
- Kaexora
- Kerythion
- Kaxiron
- Korthara
- Kyvelis-0V
- Kelyndra
- Kavorion
- Kexyra
- Kalthorin II
- Kyndorix
- Koralyth
- Keryxar
L
- Laelthara Major
- Leryndor
- Laxurion
- Lavoris
- Lexulon
- Lalthyra
- Lyndara RO5
- Lorveth
- Laexora
- Lerythion
- Laxiron
- Lorthara
- Lyvelis-X
- Lelyndra
- Lavorion
- Lexyra Minor
- Lalthorin
- Lyndorix
- Loralyth
- Leryxar
M
- Maelthara
- Meryndor XI
- Maxurion
- Mavoris
- Mexulon
- Malthyra
- Myndara Prime
- Morveth
- Maexora
- Merythion
- Maxiron
- Morthara
- Myvelis
- Melyndra
- Mavorion
- Mexyra Minor
- Malthorin
- Myndorix
- Moralyth
- Meryxar
N
- Naelthara
- Neryndor
- Naxurion
- Navoris
- Nexulon
- Nalthyra
- Nyndara
- Norveth
- Naexora
- Nerythion-7
- Naxiron
- Northara
- Nyvelis
- Nelyndra
- Navorion Prime
- Nexyra
- Nalthorin
- Nyndorix
- Noralyth
- Neryxar
O
- Oaelthara
- Oryndor
- Oaxurion
- Oavoris-7
- Oexulon
- Oalthyra
- Oyndara
- Oorveth
- Oaexora
- Oerythion
- Oaxiron Major
- Oorthara
- Oyvelis
- Oelyndra
- Oavorion
- Oexyra
- Oalthorinar
- Oyndorix
- Ooralyth
- Oeryxar
P
- Paelthara
- Peryndor
- Paxurion
- Pavoris
- Pexulon Minor
- Palthyra
- Pyndara
- Porveth
- Paexora
- Perythion
- Paxiron
- Porthara IV
- Pyvelis
- Pelyndra
- Pavorion
- Pexyra-2
- Palthorin
- Pyndorix
- Poralyth
- Peryxar
Q
- Qaelora
- Qeryndis
- Qaviron
- Qexara
- Qalthion
- Qyndara
- Qorvexis
- Qaethra
- Qylaron
- Qorthis
- Qavelyx
- Qirathon
- Qythera
- Qoralis
- Qendara
- Qavoryn
- Qyxelis
- Qorthalon
- Qiralyth
- Qavendra
R
- Raelthara
- Reryndor
- Raxurion
- Ravoris
- Rexulon
- Ralthyra
- Ryndara
- Rorveth
- Raexora
- Rerythion
- Raxiron
- Rorthara
- Ryvelis
- Relyndra
- Ravorion
- Rexyra
- Ralthorin
- Ryndorix
- Roralyth
- Reryxar
S
- Saelthara
- Seryndor
- Saxurion
- Savoris
- Sexulon
- Salthyra
- Syndara
- Sorveth
- Saexora
- Serythion
- Saxiron
- Sorthara
- Syvelis
- Selyndra
- Savorion
- Sexyra
- Salthorin
- Syndorix
- Soralyth
- Seryxar
- Solarunii
T
- Taelthara
- Teryndor
- Taxurion
- Tavoris
- Texulon
- Talthyra
- Tyndara
- Torveth
- Taexora
- Terythion
- Taxiron
- Torthara
- Tyvelis
- Telyndra
- Tavorion
- Texyra
- Talthorin
- Tyndorix
- Toralyth
- Teryxar
U
- Ualthera
- Uryndor
- Uxarion
- Uvoris
- Uxulon
- Ulthyra
- Uyndara
- Uorveth
- Uaexora
- Urythion
- Uxiron
- Uorthara
- Uyvelis
- Uelyndra
- Uvorion
- Uxyra
- Ulthorin
- Uyndorix
- Uoralyth
- Uryxar
V
- Vaelthara
- Veryndor
- Vaxurion
- Vavoris
- Vexulon
- Valthyra
- Vyndara
- Vorveth
- Vaexora
- Verythion
- Vaxiron
- Vorthara
- Vyvelis
- Velyndra
- Vavorion
- Vexyra
- Valthorin
- Vyndorix
- Voralyth
- Veryxar
W
- Waelora
- Weryndis
- Waviron
- Wexara
- Walthion
- Wyndara
- Worvexis
- Waethra
- Wylaron
- Worthis
- Wavelyx
- Wirathon
- Wythera
- Woralis
- Wendara
- Wavoryn
- Wyxelis
- Worthalon
- Wiralyth
- Wavendra
X
- Xaelthara
- Xeryndor
- Xaxurion
- Xavoris
- Xexulon
- Xalthyra
- Xyndara
- Xorveth
- Xaexora
- Xerythion
- Xaxiron
- Xorthara
- Xyvelis
- Xelyndra
- Xavorion
- Xexyra
- Xalthorin
- Xyndorix
- Xoralyth
- Xeryxar
Y
- Yaelora
- Yeryndis
- Yaviron
- Yexara
- Yalthion
- Yyndara
- Yorvexis
- Yaethra
- Yylaron
- Yorthis
- Yavelyx
- Yirathon
- Yythera
- Yoralis
- Yendara
- Yavoryn
- Yyxelis
- Yorthalon
- Yiralyth
- Yavendra
Z
- Zaelthara
- Zeryndor
- Zaxurion
- Zavoris
- Zexulon
- Zalthyra
- Zyndara
- Zorveth
- Zaexora
- Zerythion
- Zaxiron
- Zorthara
- Zyvelis
- Zelyndra
- Zavorion
- Zexyra
- Zalthorin
- Zyndorix
- Zoralyth
- Zeryxar
Final Note on Planet Naming
A final note I want to share on planet naming is not to get too distracted about how the name sounds, unless you intend to create a language system. This might sound counter-intuitive but, generally speaking, most of your readers will pronounce the letters and syllables of your planet name completely differently. This is especially true for vowels!
Settle on a name that makes sense within your fictional world – that sounds right for your story. The rest will fall into place.
Top Tip: use a placeholder name when writing if you can’t immediately decide on a name. It can be changed later!
More from Lore
At Lore Publication we don’t just publish writer aids and the occasional book review. We also occasionally publish short fiction and poetry.
Some other articles you might find interesting from us:
- List of Alien Story Ideas (50+)
- Artificial Intelligence and Sci Fi Themes of Identity
- List of Sci Fi Words (450+) for Writers
- List of Fantasy Words (450+) for Writers
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Cool Planet Names: Some FAQs
What is a cool world name?
A ‘cool world name’ will vary from writer to reader. What sounds cool in your native language or in your thoughts might be understood entirely differently in other places. Always look to your favourite stories or literature as sources of inspiration. There are dozens of real world languages and fictional languages you can also draw inspiration from. Ultimately, a cool world name is subjective but must be ‘cool’ to you!
What are good fake planet names?
Aside from the list above, a few fake planet names I love from literature are Nowhere (although, this technically isn’t a planet), Tatooine, Maldo Kreis, Miri (Planet 113-IV), Meridian (from Star Trek), and a few others. When naming, it is important to consider if the name comes from mythical lore, if it is a functional name, or named after something (or someone). This cna help you create lore later on around the name and how the planet came to be named in such a way.
What is a cool name for Earth?
For those writing fiction that takes place here on Earth, but maybe in a different timeline, dimension, or universe, it can be cool to think up new names for planet Earth. Some common ones include Terra and Gaia (from Greek and Roman mythology). Others could be Marblea, Oceanaria, An Talamh (from Scots Gaelic), A’ Chruinne (another one from Scots Gaelic) – there are plenty of ways to get creative with it!