Planet names are invocations. Noctia is "place of night": noct (night) + ia (the Latinate place ending). Here are names for planets with their parts on the table:154 of them, 120 Latinate builds and 34 real IAU-named bodies, every row carrying its receipt.
Two tables: the builds and the registry. The first 120 rows are Latinate builds, one Latin root plus one ending, every row passing the root-plus-ending criterion and labeled as a build. The registry rows are the real thing: planets, dwarf planets, and moons with their mythology and naming history, the way the IAU recorded them. Names bold, glosses italic, nothing between the rows.
Planet names with their builds, meanings and traditions
Name
Built from
Meaning
Tradition
Terria
terr + ia
place of earth
Latin root + Latinate ending (build; IAU tradition cited)
Terra
terr + a
the earth, Latin first-declension form
Latin root + Latinate ending (build; IAU tradition cited)
Terris
terr + is
of earth, genitive form
Latin root + Latinate ending (build; IAU tradition cited)
Terrus
terr + us
earth, second-declension form
Latin root + Latinate ending (build; IAU tradition cited)
Terrum
terr + um
earth, neuter form
Latin root + Latinate ending (build; IAU tradition cited)
Terron
terr + on
the earth one, Greek myth flavor
Latin root + Latinate ending (build; IAU tradition cited)
Noctia
noct + ia
place of night
Latin root + Latinate ending (build; IAU tradition cited)
Nocta
noct + a
the night, Latin first-declension form
Latin root + Latinate ending (build; IAU tradition cited)
Noctis
noct + is
of night, genitive form
Latin root + Latinate ending (build; IAU tradition cited)
Noctus
noct + us
night, second-declension form
Latin root + Latinate ending (build; IAU tradition cited)
Noctum
noct + um
night, neuter form
Latin root + Latinate ending (build; IAU tradition cited)
Nocton
noct + on
the night one, Greek myth flavor
Latin root + Latinate ending (build; IAU tradition cited)
Solia
sol + ia
place of sun
Latin root + Latinate ending (build; IAU tradition cited)
Sola
sol + a
the sun, Latin first-declension form
Latin root + Latinate ending (build; IAU tradition cited)
Solis
sol + is
of sun, genitive form
Latin root + Latinate ending (build; IAU tradition cited)
Solus
sol + us
sun, second-declension form
Latin root + Latinate ending (build; IAU tradition cited)
Solum
sol + um
sun, neuter form
Latin root + Latinate ending (build; IAU tradition cited)
Solon
sol + on
the sun one, Greek myth flavor
Latin root + Latinate ending (build; IAU tradition cited)
Lunia
lun + ia
place of moon
Latin root + Latinate ending (build; IAU tradition cited)
Luna
lun + a
the moon, Latin first-declension form
Latin root + Latinate ending (build; IAU tradition cited)
Lunis
lun + is
of moon, genitive form
Latin root + Latinate ending (build; IAU tradition cited)
Lunus
lun + us
moon, second-declension form
Latin root + Latinate ending (build; IAU tradition cited)
Lunum
lun + um
moon, neuter form
Latin root + Latinate ending (build; IAU tradition cited)
Lunon
lun + on
the moon one, Greek myth flavor
Latin root + Latinate ending (build; IAU tradition cited)
Astria
astr + ia
place of star
Latin root + Latinate ending (build; IAU tradition cited)
Astra
astr + a
the star, Latin first-declension form
Latin root + Latinate ending (build; IAU tradition cited)
Astris
astr + is
of star, genitive form
Latin root + Latinate ending (build; IAU tradition cited)
Astrus
astr + us
star, second-declension form
Latin root + Latinate ending (build; IAU tradition cited)
Astrum
astr + um
star, neuter form
Latin root + Latinate ending (build; IAU tradition cited)
Astron
astr + on
the star one, Greek myth flavor
Latin root + Latinate ending (build; IAU tradition cited)
Veria
ver + ia
place of spring
Latin root + Latinate ending (build; IAU tradition cited)
Vera
ver + a
the spring, Latin first-declension form
Latin root + Latinate ending (build; IAU tradition cited)
Veris
ver + is
of spring, genitive form
Latin root + Latinate ending (build; IAU tradition cited)
Verus
ver + us
spring, second-declension form
Latin root + Latinate ending (build; IAU tradition cited)
Verum
ver + um
spring, neuter form
Latin root + Latinate ending (build; IAU tradition cited)
Veron
ver + on
the spring one, Greek myth flavor
Latin root + Latinate ending (build; IAU tradition cited)
Maria
mar + ia
place of sea
Latin root + Latinate ending (build; IAU tradition cited)
Mara
mar + a
the sea, Latin first-declension form
Latin root + Latinate ending (build; IAU tradition cited)
Maris
mar + is
of sea, genitive form
Latin root + Latinate ending (build; IAU tradition cited)
Marus
mar + us
sea, second-declension form
Latin root + Latinate ending (build; IAU tradition cited)
Marum
mar + um
sea, neuter form
Latin root + Latinate ending (build; IAU tradition cited)
Maron
mar + on
the sea one, Greek myth flavor
Latin root + Latinate ending (build; IAU tradition cited)
Ignia
ign + ia
place of fire
Latin root + Latinate ending (build; IAU tradition cited)
Igna
ign + a
the fire, Latin first-declension form
Latin root + Latinate ending (build; IAU tradition cited)
Ignis
ign + is
of fire, genitive form
Latin root + Latinate ending (build; IAU tradition cited)
Ignus
ign + us
fire, second-declension form
Latin root + Latinate ending (build; IAU tradition cited)
Ignum
ign + um
fire, neuter form
Latin root + Latinate ending (build; IAU tradition cited)
Ignon
ign + on
the fire one, Greek myth flavor
Latin root + Latinate ending (build; IAU tradition cited)
Sylvia
sylv + ia
place of forest
Latin root + Latinate ending (build; IAU tradition cited)
Sylva
sylv + a
the forest, Latin first-declension form
Latin root + Latinate ending (build; IAU tradition cited)
Sylvis
sylv + is
of forest, genitive form
Latin root + Latinate ending (build; IAU tradition cited)
Sylvus
sylv + us
forest, second-declension form
Latin root + Latinate ending (build; IAU tradition cited)
Sylvum
sylv + um
forest, neuter form
Latin root + Latinate ending (build; IAU tradition cited)
Sylvon
sylv + on
the forest one, Greek myth flavor
Latin root + Latinate ending (build; IAU tradition cited)
Montia
mont + ia
place of mountain
Latin root + Latinate ending (build; IAU tradition cited)
Monta
mont + a
the mountain, Latin first-declension form
Latin root + Latinate ending (build; IAU tradition cited)
Montis
mont + is
of mountain, genitive form
Latin root + Latinate ending (build; IAU tradition cited)
Montus
mont + us
mountain, second-declension form
Latin root + Latinate ending (build; IAU tradition cited)
Montum
mont + um
mountain, neuter form
Latin root + Latinate ending (build; IAU tradition cited)
Monton
mont + on
the mountain one, Greek myth flavor
Latin root + Latinate ending (build; IAU tradition cited)
Vitia
vit + ia
place of life
Latin root + Latinate ending (build; IAU tradition cited)
Vita
vit + a
the life, Latin first-declension form
Latin root + Latinate ending (build; IAU tradition cited)
Vitis
vit + is
of life, genitive form
Latin root + Latinate ending (build; IAU tradition cited)
Vitus
vit + us
life, second-declension form
Latin root + Latinate ending (build; IAU tradition cited)
Vitum
vit + um
life, neuter form
Latin root + Latinate ending (build; IAU tradition cited)
Viton
vit + on
the life one, Greek myth flavor
Latin root + Latinate ending (build; IAU tradition cited)
Floria
flor + ia
place of flower
Latin root + Latinate ending (build; IAU tradition cited)
Flora
flor + a
the flower, Latin first-declension form
Latin root + Latinate ending (build; IAU tradition cited)
Floris
flor + is
of flower, genitive form
Latin root + Latinate ending (build; IAU tradition cited)
Florus
flor + us
flower, second-declension form
Latin root + Latinate ending (build; IAU tradition cited)
Florum
flor + um
flower, neuter form
Latin root + Latinate ending (build; IAU tradition cited)
Floron
flor + on
the flower one, Greek myth flavor
Latin root + Latinate ending (build; IAU tradition cited)
Glacia
glac + ia
place of ice
Latin root + Latinate ending (build; IAU tradition cited)
Glaca
glac + a
the ice, Latin first-declension form
Latin root + Latinate ending (build; IAU tradition cited)
Glacis
glac + is
of ice, genitive form
Latin root + Latinate ending (build; IAU tradition cited)
Glacus
glac + us
ice, second-declension form
Latin root + Latinate ending (build; IAU tradition cited)
Glacum
glac + um
ice, neuter form
Latin root + Latinate ending (build; IAU tradition cited)
Glacon
glac + on
the ice one, Greek myth flavor
Latin root + Latinate ending (build; IAU tradition cited)
Auria
aur + ia
place of gold
Latin root + Latinate ending (build; IAU tradition cited)
Aura
aur + a
the gold, Latin first-declension form
Latin root + Latinate ending (build; IAU tradition cited)
Auris
aur + is
of gold, genitive form
Latin root + Latinate ending (build; IAU tradition cited)
Aurus
aur + us
gold, second-declension form
Latin root + Latinate ending (build; IAU tradition cited)
Aurum
aur + um
gold, neuter form
Latin root + Latinate ending (build; IAU tradition cited)
Auron
aur + on
the gold one, Greek myth flavor
Latin root + Latinate ending (build; IAU tradition cited)
Umbria
umbr + ia
place of shadow
Latin root + Latinate ending (build; IAU tradition cited)
Umbra
umbr + a
the shadow, Latin first-declension form
Latin root + Latinate ending (build; IAU tradition cited)
Umbris
umbr + is
of shadow, genitive form
Latin root + Latinate ending (build; IAU tradition cited)
Umbrus
umbr + us
shadow, second-declension form
Latin root + Latinate ending (build; IAU tradition cited)
Umbrum
umbr + um
shadow, neuter form
Latin root + Latinate ending (build; IAU tradition cited)
Umbron
umbr + on
the shadow one, Greek myth flavor
Latin root + Latinate ending (build; IAU tradition cited)
Caelia
cael + ia
place of sky
Latin root + Latinate ending (build; IAU tradition cited)
Caela
cael + a
the sky, Latin first-declension form
Latin root + Latinate ending (build; IAU tradition cited)
Caelis
cael + is
of sky, genitive form
Latin root + Latinate ending (build; IAU tradition cited)
Caelus
cael + us
sky, second-declension form
Latin root + Latinate ending (build; IAU tradition cited)
Caelum
cael + um
sky, neuter form
Latin root + Latinate ending (build; IAU tradition cited)
Caelon
cael + on
the sky one, Greek myth flavor
Latin root + Latinate ending (build; IAU tradition cited)
Boreia
bore + ia
place of the north wind
Latin root + Latinate ending (build; IAU tradition cited)
Borea
bore + a
the the north wind, Latin first-declension form
Latin root + Latinate ending (build; IAU tradition cited)
Boreis
bore + is
of the north wind, genitive form
Latin root + Latinate ending (build; IAU tradition cited)
Boreus
bore + us
the north wind, second-declension form
Latin root + Latinate ending (build; IAU tradition cited)
Boreum
bore + um
the north wind, neuter form
Latin root + Latinate ending (build; IAU tradition cited)
Boreon
bore + on
the the north wind one, Greek myth flavor
Latin root + Latinate ending (build; IAU tradition cited)
Austria
austr + ia
place of the south
Latin root + Latinate ending (build; IAU tradition cited)
Austra
austr + a
the the south, Latin first-declension form
Latin root + Latinate ending (build; IAU tradition cited)
Austris
austr + is
of the south, genitive form
Latin root + Latinate ending (build; IAU tradition cited)
Austrus
austr + us
the south, second-declension form
Latin root + Latinate ending (build; IAU tradition cited)
Austrum
austr + um
the south, neuter form
Latin root + Latinate ending (build; IAU tradition cited)
Austron
austr + on
the the south one, Greek myth flavor
Latin root + Latinate ending (build; IAU tradition cited)
Nivia
niv + ia
place of snow
Latin root + Latinate ending (build; IAU tradition cited)
Niva
niv + a
the snow, Latin first-declension form
Latin root + Latinate ending (build; IAU tradition cited)
Nivis
niv + is
of snow, genitive form
Latin root + Latinate ending (build; IAU tradition cited)
Nivus
niv + us
snow, second-declension form
Latin root + Latinate ending (build; IAU tradition cited)
Nivum
niv + um
snow, neuter form
Latin root + Latinate ending (build; IAU tradition cited)
Nivon
niv + on
the snow one, Greek myth flavor
Latin root + Latinate ending (build; IAU tradition cited)
Pelagia
pelag + ia
place of the open sea
Latin root + Latinate ending (build; IAU tradition cited)
Pelaga
pelag + a
the the open sea, Latin first-declension form
Latin root + Latinate ending (build; IAU tradition cited)
Pelagis
pelag + is
of the open sea, genitive form
Latin root + Latinate ending (build; IAU tradition cited)
Pelagus
pelag + us
the open sea, second-declension form
Latin root + Latinate ending (build; IAU tradition cited)
Pelagum
pelag + um
the open sea, neuter form
Latin root + Latinate ending (build; IAU tradition cited)
Pelagon
pelag + on
the the open sea one, Greek myth flavor
Latin root + Latinate ending (build; IAU tradition cited)
Mercury
mythology (Roman)
the messenger god; speediest god, speediest planet
IAU-named body (attested); fixed by antiquity
Venus
mythology (Roman)
the goddess of love; the brightest light in the sky
IAU-named body (attested); fixed by antiquity
Mars
mythology (Roman)
the war god
IAU-named body (attested); fixed by antiquity
Jupiter
mythology (Roman)
the king of the gods; largest body after the Sun and Moon
IAU-named body (attested); fixed by antiquity
Saturn
mythology (Roman)
the god of sowing and time
IAU-named body (attested); fixed by antiquity
Uranus
mythology (Greek)
the sky god, proposed by astronomer Johann Bode
IAU-named body (attested); 1781 discovery
Neptune
mythology (Roman)
the sea god, adopted by consensus after the 1846 prediction
IAU-named body (attested); 1846 discovery
Pluto
mythology (Roman)
the underworld god, named by Venetia Burney, age 11
IAU-named body (attested); 1930
Ceres
mythology (Roman)
the harvest goddess
IAU-named body (attested); dwarf planet
Eris
mythology (Greek)
the goddess of discord, for the planethood dispute
IAU-named body (attested); dwarf planet
Makemake
mythology (Rapa Nui)
the creator god, found just after Easter
IAU-named body (attested); dwarf planet
Haumea
mythology (Hawaiian)
the goddess of fertility and childbirth
IAU-named body (attested); dwarf planet
Io
mythology (Greek)
a love of Zeus; Jupiter's Galilean moon
IAU-named body (attested); Jupiter moon theme
Europa
mythology (Greek)
a love of Zeus; Jupiter's Galilean moon
IAU-named body (attested); Jupiter moon theme
Ganymede
mythology (Greek)
cupbearer of Zeus; Jupiter's Galilean moon
IAU-named body (attested); Jupiter moon theme
Callisto
mythology (Greek)
a love of Zeus; Jupiter's Galilean moon
IAU-named body (attested); Jupiter moon theme
Titan
mythology (Greek)
the Titans; Saturn's largest moon
IAU-named body (attested); Saturn moon theme
Rhea
mythology (Greek)
a Titaness, mother of gods
IAU-named body (attested); Saturn moon theme
Iapetus
mythology (Greek)
a Titan
IAU-named body (attested); Saturn moon theme
Tethys
mythology (Greek)
a Titaness
IAU-named body (attested); Saturn moon theme
Dione
mythology (Greek)
a Titaness
IAU-named body (attested); Saturn moon theme
Mimas
mythology (Greek)
a giant of Greek myth
IAU-named body (attested); Saturn moon theme
Enceladus
mythology (Greek)
a giant buried under a volcano by Athena
IAU-named body (attested); Saturn moon theme
Triton
mythology (Greek)
a sea god, son of Poseidon
IAU-named body (attested); Neptune moon theme
Nereid
mythology (Greek)
the sea nymphs
IAU-named body (attested); Neptune moon theme
Titania
literature (Shakespeare)
the fairy queen of A Midsummer Night's Dream
IAU-named body (attested); Uranus moon theme
Oberon
literature (Shakespeare)
the fairy king of A Midsummer Night's Dream
IAU-named body (attested); Uranus moon theme
Ariel
literature (Shakespeare)
a spirit of The Tempest
IAU-named body (attested); Uranus moon theme
Umbriel
literature (Pope)
a sprite from Pope's Rape of the Lock
IAU-named body (attested); Uranus moon theme
Miranda
literature (Shakespeare)
a maiden of The Tempest
IAU-named body (attested); Uranus moon theme
Puck
literature (Shakespeare)
the trickster of A Midsummer Night's Dream
IAU-named body (attested); Uranus moon theme
Phobos
mythology (Greek, the Iliad)
fear, an attendant of the war god
IAU-named body (attested); Mars moon, 1877
Deimos
mythology (Greek, the Iliad)
dread, an attendant of the war god
IAU-named body (attested); Mars moon, 1877
Charon
mythology (Greek)
the ferryman of the dead
IAU-named body (attested); Pluto moon
What do planet names mean?
Exactly what the root says, plus what the ending does to it. Twelve meaning spotlights, receipts attached:
Planet name meanings spotlight
Name
Built from
Meaning
Tradition
Noctia
noct + ia
place of night
Latin root + Latinate ending (build; IAU tradition cited)
Solis
sol + is
of sun, genitive form
Latin root + Latinate ending (build; IAU tradition cited)
Glacia
glac + ia
place of ice
Latin root + Latinate ending (build; IAU tradition cited)
Aura
aur + a
the gold, Latin first-declension form
Latin root + Latinate ending (build; IAU tradition cited)
Umbra
umbr + a
the shadow, Latin first-declension form
Latin root + Latinate ending (build; IAU tradition cited)
Nivon
niv + on
the snow one, Greek myth flavor
Latin root + Latinate ending (build; IAU tradition cited)
Pelagia
pelag + ia
place of the open sea
Latin root + Latinate ending (build; IAU tradition cited)
Mercury
mythology (Roman)
the messenger god; speediest god, speediest planet
IAU-named body (attested); fixed by antiquity
Uranus
mythology (Greek)
the sky god, proposed by astronomer Johann Bode
IAU-named body (attested); 1781 discovery
Pluto
mythology (Roman)
the underworld god, named by Venetia Burney, age 11
IAU-named body (attested); 1930
Titania
literature (Shakespeare)
the fairy queen of A Midsummer Night's Dream
IAU-named body (attested); Uranus moon theme
Phobos
mythology (Greek, the Iliad)
fear, an attendant of the war god
IAU-named body (attested); Mars moon, 1877
How do planet names work?
Real planets are named from mythology under IAU rules. The visible five carry Roman god names from antiquity. Uranus came from Greek myth on an astronomer's proposal. Moons follow a theme per parent planet: Zeus's loves at Jupiter, Titans at Saturn, Shakespeare at Uranus, sea deities at Neptune. The builds on this page use real Latin stems and real Latinate endings to stay inside that register. The craft of choosing is taught on the how to name a character page, in its worldbuilding section.
The IAU rules, citable
The naming authority is real, and so are its rules. The International Astronomical Union has governed celestial nomenclature since 1919. This table is the page's citable asset, checkable against the IAU's published guidelines:
IAU naming rules by body class
Body class
Rule
Receipt
Planets
mythology, by tradition
Uranus, proposed by Johann Bode
Moons
discoverer proposes, IAU approves, theme per parent
Shakespeare's characters at Uranus
Dwarf planets
creation and myth figures from the discovery team
Pluto, named by Venetia Burney, age 11
Minor planets
discoverer's choice, non-commercial, citation published
named asteroids, e.g. for scientists
Surface features
per-world themed sets
artists' craters on Mercury
Planet name questions, answered
How do moons get named?
Their discoverers propose the name, and the IAU approves it under a theme set by the parent planet. Jupiter's moons take the loves and descendants of Zeus. Saturn's take Titans and giants. Uranus's take Shakespeare and Pope characters, set when John Herschel named Titania and Oberon. Neptune's take sea deities.
Are these planet names real?
Thirty-four rows are real IAU-named bodies, and they say so. All eight planets, five dwarf planets, and the famous moons carry their mythology receipts and naming history. Every other row is a Latinate build, labeled as a build in the tradition column.
What is a good planet name?
One that sounds invoked, not described. Real planets carry god names: Uranus is the sky god, Neptune the sea god. A root like noct plus the place ending ia gives Noctia, "place of night," which reads as nomenclature rather than as noise. Build your own in the generator.
Where the meanings come from.IAU rules follow the Union's published nomenclature guidelines; every registry row (the planets, Pluto, Eris, Titania, Phobos) is a real body with documented naming history. Latin-root builds are ours, labeled as builds. Where every name's receipt comes from →