Everything changes when we find out a baby is about to enter our world. Plans are made, daydreams are forming, and we start to imagine what our babe will look like as they grow. But first on the agenda for all those plans is a baby name. While it's not necessary to have one absolutely locked down before the due date — and there's still time after the little one is born to decide, too — having a shortlist can help relieve some stress and pressure. And looking to the galaxy — specifically the stars — might be the best place to start.
Stars are magical and a place of comfort for many people who like to unwind by sitting in the quiet of night and looking up at the dots that light up our sky. They're otherworldly, and that's a little something like how we feel about our babes while we wait for them to be born. So why not look to the sky for baby name inspiration?
If you're a fan of the beautiful galaxy, here are some names that mean "star" or are inspired by them — you might just find the exact one you've been searching for.
Nova
The name Nova works for any gender and is the first to come to mind when thinking of a name that's inspired by the stars. Nova means "new" but in the world of the stars, it's used to reference a brand new, very bright star in the sky.
Orion
Orion is a name that's rooted right into Greek mythology. The story is tied to Orion, the sun of Poseidon, who was accidentally killed and placed into the stars — specifically the constellation we know as Orion. The name certainly has that strong and memorable connotation to it.
Hoku
Hoku is a Hawaiian name that means "star" or "night of the full moon." The name isn't overly popular but since it's so versatile, it might be the name parents who are struggling to find the name that sings to them have been waiting for.
Sidra
The name Sidra has been said be an Arabic name that's typically used for a little girl. The meaning translates to be "goddess of the stars" or "like a star," but the name has also been tied to a Latin meaning, "like a star."
Reeva
Reeva is a Hindu name and it has everything that it would need to make it a popular name for a girl. There are multiple vowels, ends with an "a" and has a beautiful meaning behind it, "one who guides people like a river or a star."
Leo
Leo is derived from Latin and means "lion," but there's a tie back to the stars with this popular name. The name comes from the star constellation Leo, one of the 13 constellations of the Zodiac.
Jupiter
There are some baby names that are a little unconventional, but only because we know the names as something else. Like Jupiter, for example. We learned in the second grade that Jupiter is a planet, but it's mystical and stunning which makes it ideal for a baby name inspired by the stars, too.
Stella
Stella is a beautiful name for a little girl and it has that perfect mix of being popular but not at the same time. Stella generally sits in the top 50 most popular baby names or a little behind that. The name is Latin and is derived directly from the word "star", so it fits this feel perfectly.
Esther
Esther is an old-fashioned name that's no longer on popularity charts, but with a meaning like "morning star" and references to the brave Queen Esther from the Bible, we can see it making a comeback in future years.
Star
Star might be a little too on the nose for a parent who is looking for a baby name inspired by the stars, but that's not a reason to ignore it. Star is beautiful and can stand perfectly on its own. It's not a super popular name which is good for those who like something more unique.
Venus
It's pretty obvious where the inspiration for the name Venus comes from. While we like to think of the name Venus for the planet, planets really are just stars. We love the moniker not only because it's inspired by the stars, but one of the planet's greatest tennis stars shares the name, too.
Tarak
Tarak is a really gorgeous Indian name that is the perfect tie back to the beautiful night sky. Tarak means "protector" or "star" and it's one of the names that's not been too popular in the US. While it's traditionally used as a name for a boy, new gender-neutral name acceptance means it's a great name for anyone.
Aurora
Aurora is probably best known for one of two things. It's either Aurora from Disney's Sleeping Beauty, or from the "Aurora borealis" which is the beautiful Northern Lights display of the stars that's on everyone's bucket list.
Zeke
Itri
The name Itri is Moroccan and typically given to a little boy. But we're feeling the name for any gender because it has such a beautiful ring to it. The name translates to mean "star" so it fits for any parent who wants that mystical standout name.
Saturn
Saturn is the second largest planet in our solar system, which means it's a big giant star. The name for a person is typically given to a little girl and it's not one of the planets or stars that we typically see as a name, but that's why we love it.
