Full Moon Names

Gary

Full Moon Names are different in every culture. Some are tied to the seasons. Some relate to the environment where people lived. While other names just seem very fanciful. The Full Moons throughout the year have been given names by various cultures down through the centuries (and probably millennia).

Since the Moon orbits the Earth roughly every 27 days, which is shorter than the length of a month, there are 13 or 14 full moons each year rather than 12.

In the West, we typically refer to the second full moon in a month as a Blue Moon. And each year, there are 1 to 2 Blue Moons – full moons that don’t have other specific names like those below.

During a total lunar eclipse, the moon takes on a red of coppery hue and it is sometimes referred to as a Blood Moon. This shouldn’t be confused with the formally named Blood Moon in the English Medieval and Neo Pagan calendars below.

Wolf Moon – Amid the cold and deep snows of midwinter, wolf packs prowled hungrily around villages in both Europe and America, so this became a name for January’s full moon on both sides of the world.

Flower Moon – the name given to the full moon in April or May by different Native Americans. The different months chosen may have to do when spring arrives in their part of the country.

Harvest Moon – another common name in different cultures for the full moon around September/October. For Native Americans it marked when corn was supposed to be harvested. Most often, the September full moon is actually the Harvest Moon, which is the full Moon that occurs closest to the autumn equinox. In two years out of three, the Harvest Moon comes in September, but in some years it occurs in October. Farmers can work late into the night by the light of this Moon.

Cold Moon – Different cultures give this name to their December or January full moon. It depends on which month is the coldest in that part of the world.

 

Chinese
January: Holiday Moon July: Hungry Ghost Moon
February: Budding Moon August: Harvest Moon
March: Sleepy Moon September: Chrysanthemum Moon
April: Peony Moon October: Kindly Moon
May: Dragon Moon November: White Moon
June: Lotus Moon December: Bitter Moon
Celtic
January: Quiet Moon July: Moon of Claiming
February: Moon of Ice August: Dispute Moon
March: Moon of Winds September: Singing Moon
April: Growing Moon October: Harvest Moon
May: Bright Moon November: Dark Moon
June: Moon of Horses December: Cold Moon
Celtic Ogham
(Dec 24 – Jan 20): Birch (Beith) – New start. Start of a journey. Overcoming difficulties.
(Jan 21 – Feb 17): Rowan (Luis) – Protection. Quickening (new life).
(Feb 18 – March 17): Ash (Nion) – The world tree (Yggdrasil). Provides links and connections. Inner & outer worlds connected.
(March 18 – April 14): Alder (Fearn) – Balances male & female aspects. An oracle.
(April 15 – May 12): Willow (Saille) – Flexibility, adaptability, a feminine tree. Wisdom gained from adversity.
(May 13 – June 9): Hawthorn (Huath) – Opens heart, purity, innocence, helps preparation for tasks.
(June 10 – July 7): Oak (Duir) – Provides strength & courage. A door to inner strength and spirituality. Provides protection.
(July 8 – Aug 4): Holly (Tinne) – Symbol of everlasting life & unconditional love. Provides balance, direction & protection.
(Aug 5 – Sept 1): Hazel (Coll), – Fertility, wisdom, knowledge. Helps provide inspiration & inner guidance. Powerful for divining.
(Sept 2 – Sept 29):  Bramble (or vine) (Muin) – Helps with linking & connections.
(Sept 30 – Oct 27): Ivy (Gort) – Preservation. Transformation through persistence. Helps with perseverance and overcoming obstacles.
(Oct 28 – Nov 24): Wheatstraw(or Reed) (Ngetal) – Source of life. Authority. Sovereignty.
(Nov 25 – Dec 23): Elder (Ruis) – Regeneration. Helps with seeing a beginning in the end.
See The Celtic Ogham Calendar for more information on this calendar
English Medieval
January: Wolf Moon July: Mead Moon
February: Storm Moon August: Corn Moon
March: Chaste Moon September: Barley Moon
April: Seed Moon October: Blood Moon
May: Hare Moon November: Snow Moon
June: Dyan Moon December: Oak Moon
Neo Pagan
January: Ice Moon July: Rose Moon
February: Snow Moon August: Lightening Moon
March: Death Moon September: Harvest Moon
April: Awakening Moon October: Blood Moon
May: Grass Moon November: Tree Moon
June: Planting Moon December: Long Night Moon
New Guinea
Name: Rainbow Fish Moon Name: Black Trevally Moon
Name: Parriotfish Moon Name: Open Sea Moon
Name: Palolo Worm Moon Name: Tiger Shark Moon
Name: Flying Fish Moon Name: Rain & Wind Moon
American Indian (Cherokee)
January: Cold Moon July: Ripe Corn Moon
February: Bony Moon August: Fruit Moon
March: Windy Moon September: Nut Moon
April: Flower Moon October: Harvest Moon
May: Planting Moon November: Trading Moon
June: Green Corn Moon December: Snow Moon
American Indian (Choctaw)
January: Cooking Moon July: Crane Moon
February: Little Famine Moon August: Women’s Moon
March: Big Famine Moon September: Mulberry Moon
April: Wildcat Moon October: Blackberry Moon
May: Panther Moon November: Sassafras Moon
June: Windy Moon December: Peach Moon
American Indian (Other)
January: Wolf Moon July: Buck Moon
February: Snow Moon August: Sturgeon Moon
March: Worm Moon September: Corn/Harvest Moon
April: Pink Moon October: Hunter/Harvest Moon
May: Flower Moon November: Beaver Moon
June: Strawberry Moon December: Cold/Long Nights Moon
American Indian (Dakotah Sioux)
January: Moon of the Terrible
February: Moon of the Raccoon, Moon When Trees Pop
March: Moon When Eyes Are Sore from Bright Snow
April: Moon When Geese Return in Scattered Formation
May: Moon When Leaves Are Green, Moon To Plant
June: Moon When June Berries Are Ripe
July: Moon of the Middle Summer
August: Moon When All Things Ripen
September: Moon When The Calves Grow Hair
October: Moon When Quilling and Beading is Done
November: Moon When Horns Are Broken Off
December: Twelfth Moon
Colonial American
January: Winter Moon July: Summer Moon
February: Trapper’s Moon August: Dog Day’s Moon
March: Fish Moon September: Harvest Moon
April: Planter’s Moon October: Hunter’s Moon
May: Milk Moon November: Beaver Moon
June: Rose Moon December: Christmas Moon
North American
January: Old Moon July: Thunder Moon
February: Snow Moon August: Green Moon
March: Sap Moon September: Fruit Moon
April: Grass Moon October: Harvest Moon
May: Flower Moon November: Hunter’s Moon
June: Rose Moon December: Cold Moon
Wiccan
January: Wolf Moon July: Mead Moon
February: Storm Moon August: Wyrt Moon
March: Chaste Moon September: Barley Moon
April: Seed Moon October: Blood Moon
May: Hare Moon November: Snow Moon
June: Dyad Moon December: Oak Moon
Southern Hemisphere
January: Hay Moon, Buck Moon, Thunder Moon, Mead Moon
February: Grain Moon, Sturgeon Moon, Red Moon, Wyrt Moon, Corn Moon, Dog Moon, Barley Moon
March: Harvest Moon, Corn Moon
April: Harvest Moon, Hunter’s Moon, Blood Moon
May: Hunter’s Moon, Beaver Moon, Frost Moon
June: Oak Moon, Cold Moon, Long Night’s Moon
July: Wolf Moon, Old Moon, Ice Moon
August: Snow Moon, Storm Moon, Hunger Moon, Wolf Moon
September: Worm Moon, Lenten Moon, Crow Moon, Sugar Moon, Chaste Moon, Sap Moon
October: Egg Moon, Fish Moon, Seed Moon, Pink Moon, Waking Moon
November: Corn Moon, Milk Moon, Flower Moon, Hare Moon
December: Strawberry Moon, Honey Moon, Rose Moon
South African
January: Thunder Moon July: Old Moon
February: Grain Moon August: Hunger Moon
March: Harvest Moon September: Storm  Moon
April: Hunter’s Moon October: Seed  Moon
May: Fell Moon November: Flower Moon
June: Cold Moon December: Fruit Moon

I haven’t found any source that breaks down the Southern Hemisphere full moon names by region or country.

Since the seasons are 6 months behind those in the northern hemisphere, some of the names you’d see used in the northern hemisphere will be used six months later in the Southern hemisphere.

Some full moon names are unique to the Southern hemisphere like the Hay Moon, Grain Moon and Long Night’s Moon.

The Norse (Viking) calendar was based on the lunar cycle rather than the solar one. While they don’t appear to have had specific names for Full Moons, their months were named for for each lunar cycle (moonth) of the year. There’s a lot of information on the Norse calendar on this page.

If you know of any other Full Moon names, please let me know and I’ll add them to the list.

Gary

23 thoughts on “Full Moon Names”

  1. ariel

    Hello Gary,

    Wow this was so interesting. Amazing how the people who are so much more in tune with Mother Earth choose the names of the moon, yes?

    What a fun and informative read. Thank you for this.

    In peace and gratitude, Ariel

    Reply
    1. Administrator

      Hi Ariel,

      I’m sure there are many other names for Full Moons that I haven;t come across yet. The Mayans were expert astronomers and I’m sure they had their own names for full moons. I don’t know if such names have ever been translated or published.

      The Moon played a huge role in ancient people’s lives, probably up to as far as the Industrial Revolution. After that, science really kicked in and aside from the religious and cultural meaning of the Moon, we began to learn what a huge effect it has on Earth and everything that lives on it.

      I’m not aware of any comparatively recent names for full moons. I think they probably need an environmental or cultural context.

      Gary

      Reply
  2. Lawrence Bredenkamp

    Well that was very interesting.

    I’m guessing the New Guinea names would apply to us here in New Zealand.

    I have Maori flatmates and will ask them in the morning if the Maori have specific names for the full moons. I am sure they will have.

    Reply
    1. Administrator

      Hi Lawrence, please let me know if your flatmates do know of full moon names used in Maori culture. I’d love to be able to add them to the list!

      Reply
      1. Tepora Watene

        Tena koe Gary, hi Gary, I can provide you with all the names of our moon according to my Maori culture. Kia ora, by for now, Tepora Watene, Aotearoa New Zealand.

        Reply
  3. Maja

    Very interesting post. I did not know that the Moon has different names in other cultures. It seems to me that the American Indians had the Moon names somehow the closest to nature, which was understandable as they lived in harmony with nature. Thanks for sharing.

    Reply
    1. Administrator

      I’d be curious to know if the different Native American tribes each had their own names for Full Moons or whether common names were used among all tribes.

      I’m sure my list is only a partial one. I haven’t found any names that were used by South American cultures. Yet. 🙂

      Reply
  4. Sharon

    This is such an interesting read, Gary. Never have I thought there were so many names by the different cultures. And I saw Harvest Moon being the most shared among them.

    Thanks for sharing!
    Sharon

    Reply
    1. Administrator

      I guess harvest time was one of the most important times of the year, Sharon. It would determine if there was going to be enough food to get people through Winter. And whatever the settled culture, that was something they all had in common. I suppose it’s not too surprising that many of them came up with the same name for the Full Moon at that time of the year!

      Reply
  5. Arya Beltaine

    Hi, thanks for the article!

    I would love your opinion on what names you recommend I use. I have Scottish heritage but have lived in Australia my whole life. Thanks!

    Reply
    1. Gary

      Hi Arya, for your Scottish heritage, look at the Celtic Moon Names. I’ve added Full Moon names for the Southern hemisphere to the bottom of the list which will cover Australia. Unfortunately, I haven’t been able to find a breakdown of names by culture, country or region, so it’s a collective list.

      Reply
    1. Gary

      Hi Lebo, after some research I was able to find full moon name for South Africa. I’m still looking for more country-specific full moon names for that continent.

      All the best,
      Gary.

      Reply
  7. Karen Ward

    Hi Gary,
    well done and thank for a very informative article. I am looking for specifically Irish Full Moon names and wonder if you have come across any as opposed to the Celtic and British Isles. Warm blessings, Karen

    Reply
  8. Gabrielle

    Awesome post! I’m doing research about this subject and was wondering if you have the sources of where you got the names of the moons for the different cultures. Would love to use this information but need to be able to trace the source to validate its use in my work.
    Thank you so much!

    Reply
  10. Atul Sinha

    Very nicely written article. I totally loved it. I just wished that if you could also have added the full moon names in terms of Indian culture, like in India, the full moon is known as Purnima. And same goes with the names of all the monthly occurring Full moons.

    Apart from that, I really love this article.

    Reply
  12. Sandra Prater

    I am in Colombia, South America, and just saw the December full moon referred to as the Plantain Leaf (Hoja de Plátano) Moon. Now I can’t find the post, drat!

    Reply
  13. Julie R Moore

    I study Mayan history and language as a hobby. I am sure they named their moons, because the named every day of their 13-day- long week. They had 20 weeks of 13 days in a calendar year. By their naming system, the same name for a specific individual day also fell into a system of 20 weeks. This gave every day its own specific name. for example July 27,1938 was The month of Jaguar and the 11th day was Lizard. This is my Husbands’ birthday in Mayan. I was born in The month of Rabbit in the 1st day of Rabbit, which makes me a 1-Rabbit. Typical one rabbit people are known to be drunks or just a little crazy, and the Mayans just let them be.

    Reply

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