Star Names
Most of the stars in sky today come from the names given in this list are derived from the early Arabic astronomers, most notably the Persian Abd al Rahman Abu al Husain called Al Sufi [The Mystic or The Sage]. However, the named stars had a long tradition starting with the Egyptians, through the Greeks and then the Romans to the Arabian scholars. What is often forgotten is that the first true library was at Alexandria in what is now modern Egypt and the first university was in Tim Buk Tu in north central Africa. While Europe was deep in the dark ages, classical scholarship was active in northern Africa and the Middle East. Somehow Sirius [the oldest of all star names] is a lot more pleasing to the ear than HD48915 or SAO151881 or BD-16 1591 or even Alpha Canis Major. Even late comers like Procyon [Greek], Arcturus [Roman] and Cor Caroli [Modern Latin] are easier to place than a catalog number. Many of these names can be found in Richard Hinckley Adam's [RHA] book Star Names, Their Lore and Meaning (1899).
When this essay was first published, it contained a substantial number of poor or simply incorrect translations of Arabic names. I am grateful to Haim Guy for pointing out these errors. Their removal has improved this document. As always any remaining errors remain the fault of the author.
Many words simply mean common parts of the body. These include:
| Anak | Neck |
| Anif/Enif | Nose |
| Dhanab | Tail |
| Dhahr | Back |
| Fum | Mouth |
| Ezra | Arm |
| Ibt | Armpit |
| Jubha | Forehead |
| Janb | Side |
| Marfik1 | Elbow |
| Menkib | Shoulder |
| Merek | Loin |
| Phecda | Thigh |
| Ras | Head |
| Rijl | Foot |
| Rukbah | Knee |
| Scheat | Foreleg/Shin |
| Urkab | Calf/Leg |
| Yad | Hand |
1From which we get the star Marfak.
Other parts of the star names come from the Arabic equivalent of the Roman constellation. In most case the names if they are not exact derivations are similar, but a few bear little or no relationship. These cross index constellations include:
| Ahir | End1 | Eriadanus |
| Asad | Lion | Leo |
| Caph | Camel2 | Cassiopiea |
| Dajajah | Hen3 | Cygnus |
| Dubb al Akbar | Greater Bear | Ursa Major |
| Dubb al Asghar | Lesser Bear | Ursa Minor |
| Fahd | Leopard4 | Lupus |
| Fakkah | Dish5 | Corona Borealis |
| Faras | Horse6 | Pegasus |
| Hague | Snakecharmer | Ophiuchus |
| Hamel | Sheep7 | Aries |
| Hut | Fish | Pieces Austrinus |
| Inan | Charioteer | Auriga |
| Jady | Goat | Capricornus |
| Jawza | Giant | Orion |
| Kaitos | Whale | Cetus |
| Kentaurus | Centaur | Centaurus |
| Marah | Woman | Andromeda |
| Shahin | Raven8 | Aquila |
| Rini | Archer | Sagittarius |
| Sadal | Lucky one9 | Aquarius |
| Saif | Sword | Orion's Sword |
| Shuja | Snake | Hydra |
| Tha'ban10 | Snake | Draco |
| Tinnen | Crocodile | Draco |
1 referring to end of river Eriadnus
2 no correllation to Cassiopiea's Chair
3 Hen rather than a Swan
4 Leopard rather than a Wolf
5 Dish rather than a Crown
6 Horse rather than the Flying Horse
7 Sheep rather than a Ram
8 Raven rather than a Eagle
9 no correllation to the Water Bearer
10 alternate for Tha'ban
A few words are adjectives and articles:
Al The [or] Of The Akbar Greater Asghar Lesser Janubiyyah Southern Khawwar Faint [or] Dim MusalSalah Chained Nasr Black Nair Shining [or] Bright Shamaliyyah Northern Suud Lucky [or] Fortunate Wazn Weight Yamin Right
Many of the words have been horribly mutilated as they moved from the classical Arabic to modern usage.
| Star Constellation |
Classical meaning {translation} |
| Achernar α Eri |
Ahir al Nahr {The end of the river} |
| Albireo β Cyg |
This name does not appear in antiquity. It appears to be a Latin mispelling of "ab ireo" in the Almagest (1515). The Arabic name of this star is Al Menkar Al Dajajah {The nose [beak] of the Hen} |
| Aldebaran α Tau |
Al Dabaran {The Two Stalkers [of the Pleiades]} |
| Alcor 80 UMa |
Al Khawwar {The faint one} |
| Alderamin α Cep |
Al Dhirah al Yamin {The right arm} |
| Algenib α Per |
Al Janb {The Side [of Perseus]} |
| Algol β Per |
Al Ghul {The Ghoul/Ghost} |
| Alioth ε UMa |
Alia (or simply Lia) {The fat part of a sheep's tail} The derivation of this word makes little sense. It has been conjectured that Alioth is a fat sheep's tail eaten by the bear but this is farfetched. |
| Alkaid η UMa |
Kaid Banat {Mourning girls [at the funeral of Calypso who became the great bear]} |
| Almach γ And |
Al Hamis al Naamat {Ostrich} Al Rijl al Musalsalah {The foot of the chained [woman]} |
| Almeisan γ Gem |
Al Maisan {The [weighing] scales in Arabic. RHA attributes this to "the proud marcher" (?). This star is almost universally called Gammagem today.} |
| Alnilam ε Ori |
Al Nitham {The Pearl [Buckle]} |
| Alnitak ζ Ori |
Al Nitak {The Girdle} |
| Alphard α Hyd |
Al Fard al Shuja {Solitary star in the snake} |
| Alpheca α CrB |
Al Nair al Fakkah {The shining star of the dish (ie Northern Crown} |
| Alpheratz α And |
Al Surattal al Faras {The head of the horse (refering to Pegasys)} or Al Ras al Musalsalah {The head of the chained [woman] (refering to Andromeda)} |
| Alsad | See Sadalschbia |
| Alshain β Aql |
Al Shahin {The falcon} |
| Altair α Aql |
Al Thair {The Raven. RHA attributes the name as "Eagle" which would be more in line with the current IAU designation but in this case it should have been "Okab" not "Thair".} |
| Antares α Sco |
Greek - often rendered as the "rival of Ares [Mars]" but I prefer the form "anti Ares" or literally "not Ares [Mars]" |
| Arcturus α Boo |
Latin "Arctos" a hunter who hunted his own mother "Callisto" not knowing she had become a bear. They became Ursa Minor and Major respectively. Yes, Arcturus is in Bootes, but that didn't bother the ancients. Arcturus is the fourth brightest star in the sky. |
| Arkab β Sgr |
Al Urkub {The calf [muscle of the archer]} |
| Bellatrix γ Ori |
Latin "Beautiful Warrior" a name given to an Amazon queen. |
| Betelgeuse α Ori |
Yad al Jawza {Hand of Orion}1 |
| Canopus α Car |
Erosthenes, the Greek who first accurately measured the Earth named this star. It means "pilot star" indicating that the pilot of Argo (ship of the Argonauts). This is the brightest star after Sirius. |
| Capella α Aur |
Latin for she-goat who pulled Auriga's Chariot. |
| Castor α Gem |
Latin proper name derived from "horseman". Castor was the mortal brother of the twins. |
| Caph α Cas |
Al Caph {The Camel} |
| Cor Caroli α CVn |
"Modern Latin" - Heart of Charles II of England. Sir Edmund Halley wanted the king's patronage. |
| Deneb α Cyg |
Dhanab al Dajajah {Tail of the hen} |
| Deneb Kaitos β Cet |
Dhanab al Kaitos {Tail of the whale} |
| Denebokab ε Aql |
Dhanab al Okab {Tail of the Eagle} |
| Denebola β Leo |
Dhanab al Asad [Leo] {The tail of the lion}. |
| Dschubba δ Sco |
Al Jubhah {The Forehead} |
| Dubhe α UMa |
Dhahr al Dubb al Akbar {Big Bear's Back} |
| Elnath [or Hamel] α Ari |
Al Natih {The Horn} [or Ras Al Hamel {Head of the Sheep}] |
| Enif ε Peg |
Al Enif {The nose [of Pegasys]} |
| Etamin γ Dra |
Ras al Tinnin {The head of the Dragon} |
| Formalhaut α PsA |
Fum al Hut {The Mouth of the [southern] Fish} |
| Geidi α1 & α2 Cap |
Al Jady {The Goat} Baron Harkonon's base of operation in Frank Herbert's Dune. Geidi Prima and Geidi Secondus |
| Gomeissa β CMi |
Al Gomeyla {Announcer [of Sirius]} |
| Kochab β UMi |
Al Kochab (Arabic for star) is used here as an alternate to Dubb al Asaghar {Little Bear} for this constellation. |
| Marfak α Her |
Al Marfik {The Elbow} |
| Markab α Peg |
Al Matn al Faras {The "withers" <shoulders> of the horse} |
| Megrez δ UMa |
Al Maghrez {The [bear's] place.} |
| Menkar α Cet |
Al Menkiar al Kaitos {The nose of the whale} |
| Menkellian β Aur |
Al Mankib Dhil Inan {Shoulder of the Charioteer} |
| Merek β UMa |
Al Marakk {The [Bear's] Loin} |
| Mintaka δ Ori |
Al Mintaka {The Belt} |
| Mirach β And |
Al Janb al Musalsalah {The side of the [ chained] woman} |
| Mirzam β CMa |
Al Mirzama al Shirayanin {The announcer of the Shinning One} |
| Mizar ε UMA |
Al Anak Mirak al Banat {The neck of the "chief mourning girls" [of Calypso, the paramour of Jupiter whom he made the Great Bear.]}. |
| Nekkar β Boo |
Al Nakkar {The Digger, ie the Plowman Bootes} |
| Phecda γ UMa |
Al Phecda {The Thigh} |
| Polaris α UMi |
This Latin name is now universal. The Greeks called this star Phoenice {lovely northern light} and the Arabians called this star Al Kiblah {The closest star [to the pole] - then about 5 degrees off}. |
| Pollux β Gem |
Latin proper name derived from "Pugil" (boxer). Pollux was an immortal who gave up immortality for love of his twin. |
| Porrima γ Vir |
Latin name for the goddess of prophecy. |
| Procyon α CMi |
Greek name meaning "The predecessor of the dog [star]" |
| Rasalgethi α Her |
Ras Al Gethi {The kneeler} |
| Rasalhague α Oph |
Ras al Hawwe {Head of the Snake Charmer} |
| Regulus α Leo |
Latin from "Rex/Regis". Leo is King of Beasts. |
| Rigil β Ori |
Rijl Jawza al Kura {Foot of Orion} |
| Rigel Kent[aurus] α Cen |
Al Rijl al Kentaurus {The foot of the Centaur} This star is also universally known as Alpha Centauri. Alpha Centauri is the closest visible star and the third brightest. |
| Rukbat α Sgr |
Al Rukbat al Rini {The knee of the archer} |
| Sadalchbia γ Aqu |
Al Sadal Al Alibiyah {The secret lucky one} |
| Sadalmelik α Aqu |
Al Sadal al Malik {The lucky one of the king} |
| Sadalsuud β Aqu |
Al Sadal al Suud {The luckiest of the lucky} |
| Scheat δ Aqu |
Scheat Edeleu {Shin Bone} |
| Scheat β Peg |
Scheat al Faras {Shin of the Horse} Duplicate names never bothered the ancients. |
| Shaula γ Sco |
Al Shaulah {The Sting [of the scorpion]} |
| Sirius α CMa |
Egyptian - Osirius a principal Egyptian god's name comes through almost intact after 4 millenia. The Arabic equivalent Al Shira {Shining One} sometimes is seen. Sirius is the brightest star by a wide margin. |
| Spica α Vir |
Latin meaning spike of wheat. Virgo [The Maiden] holds wheat as a symbol of fertility and marriagability. |
| Tarazed γ Aql |
Shahin tara zed {Striking falcon} |
| Thuban α Dra |
Al Tha'ban {The Snake}, This star is also called Al Tinnin {also "The Crocodile/Dragon" which is more in tune with the constellation Draco.} |
| Toliman | See Rigil Kentaurus |
| Trapezium θ1 Ori |
Modern Latin for a "trapazoid". Originally Nair al Saif {The bright one in the sword} |
| Vega α Lyr |
Al Wega {Pole star} Vega was called the pole star even though it had been millenia since it truely was the pole. Vega is the fifth brightest star in the sky. |
| Vindamiatrix ηVir |
Latin word mean a woman who harvests grapes. Again, like Spica this name symbolizes the fertility of Virgo [The Maiden]. |
| Wezam δ CMa |
Al Wazn {The Weight} |
| Zubenelgenubi α Lib |
Zuban al Janubiyya {Southern scale pan} |
| Zubeneschamali β Lib |
Zuban al Schmaliyya {Northern scale pan} |
- 1 One of the fascinating things that happens when you edit an astronomy website is that knowledgeable people actually review your material. This is what has happened with the naming of Orion's great red star Betelgeuse. I an indebted to Brian Tung for this material which I quote as he wrote to me in detail:
-
- You've undoubtedly gotten notes on this, but the etymology of Betelgeuse you give in your Star Names essay has generally been discredited. As Paul Kunitzsch writes in the January 1983 issue of Sky and Telescope, the original Arabic was [yad al-jawza], "the hand of al-Jawza [Orion]." How did the initial 'y' become a 'b'? A simple transliteration error: The two letters look very similar, differing only in a diacritical mark-- a 'y' has two dots under the letter, and a 'b' has only one. Thus, in the 13th century, a star table prepared by John of London (but living in Paris!) named it "Bedalgeuze."
- This table was the source for many European scholars, who had to guess what this initial "bed" or "bad" might be in Arabic (no such word exists). Joseph Scaliger (1540-1609), the developer of the Julian dating, decided that it had to be a transliteration of Arabic [bat], "armpit." However, that word would not be written like that; it would be written [ibt] (as you mention in your essay). The Dutch philosopher Hugo Grotius (1583-1645) thought, on the other hand, that it was from Hebrew [bath], meaning "pupil [of the eye]" or "daughter." Both were plausible, given the best data that either scholar had at the time, but since they were based on a faulty transcription, they are both in error.
- The correct explanation had been given no later than an 1665 edition of the Ulugh Beg star catalogue produced by the English Semitic scholar Thomas Hyde (1636-1703), but it has generally been ignored in favor of the more dramatic "armpit" etymology.
- Thanks Brian. Your information is appreciated. I guess I'll have to explain to visitors that the old armpit is simply a hand now.
The HYADES contain the following stars which are all Greek names:
Ambrosia Eudora Kleea Koronis Phaeo Phaesula Polyxo
The PLEIADES contain the following stars (with their meanings):
Atlas A Titan (precursor of the Olympic Gods) who fathers the PLEIADES. Pleione Mother of the PLEIADES who gave the group its name Maia First born and most beautiful daughter (May) Alcyone Halcyon Electra Sorrowful Merope Mortal Taygeta Bountiful [Harvest] Celaeno Lightning struck Sterope Lost sister