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Where Do Moon Names Come From?

The Moon names we use in The Old Farmer’s �������� come from , Colonial American, or other traditional North American sources passed down through generations. For example, the name of January’s Wolf Moon is not a traditional Native American name; it is thought to have English origins and was brought to North America by European settlers. 

Note that for Native American names, each Moon name was traditionally applied to the entire lunar month in which it occurred, the month starting either with the new Moon or full Moon. Also, the name of the lunar month might vary each year or between bands or other groups within the same nation.

Some names listed here may reflect usage at once in history but may no longer be used by a designated group today. Many of the names listed here are English interpretations of the words used in Native American languages. They are only roughly aligned here with the months of the Gregorian calendar; you’ll notice that some names are repeated in multiple months.

Click on the linked names below for our monthly Full Moon Guides, and see our Full Moon Calendar to find out the date of the next full Moon!

Why Native Americans Named the Moons

The early Native Americans did not record time using the Julian or Gregorian calendar months. Many tribes kept track of time by observing the seasons and lunar months, although there was much variability. For some tribes, the year contained four seasons and started at a particular season, such as spring or fall. Others counted five seasons to a year. Some tribes defined a year as 12 Moons, while others assigned it 13. Certain tribes that used the lunar calendar added an extra Moon every few years to keep it in sync with the seasons. 

Each tribe that did name the full or new Moons (and/or lunar months) had its own naming preferences. Some would use 12 names for the year, while others might use 5, 6, or 7; certain names might change the next year. A Moon name used by one tribe might differ from one used by another tribe for the same time period or be the same name but represent a different time period. The name was often a description relating to a particular activity/event that usually occurred in their location.

Colonial Americans adopted some of the Native American Moon names and applied them to their own calendar system (primarily Julian and, later, Gregorian); they also brought their own traditions from Europe. Since the Gregorian calendar is the system that many in North America use today, that is how we have presented the list of Moon names as a frame of reference. 

Moon Name Reference Sources

If you want to learn more, below are credible reference sources for these Full Moon Names—from Native American organizations to early American historical references. 

• Akta Lakota Museum & Cultural Center
  Chamberlain, South Dakota
• 
  Pilwakanagan, Ontario
• ””
  by Captain Jonathan Carver, first published in 1781.
  P. 250-252
  [Editor’s Note: Carver’s book is referenced by Meriweather Lewis, secretary for Thomas Jefferson.]
• ””
  by Stephen Return Riggs
  Washington: Government Printing Office, 1890

Other Full Moon Names

The following Moon names came into popular use more recently and do not refer to any specific month’s Moon:

• Blue Moon: Occasionally, two full Moons occur within the same calendar month. The first full Moon goes by the name normally assigned to that month’s full Moon, but the second full Moon is commonly called a Blue Moon. Blue Moons occur about every 2½ years. Another definition for “Blue Moon” is the third full Moon in a series of four full Moons occurring in a single astronomical season.
• Black Moon: The term “Black Moon” has a few definitions. Most commonly, it refers to the second new Moon occurring within a single calendar month; by this definition, a Black Moon can never occur in February. It has also been used to refer to a month in which there is no full Moon; this can only occur in February because the calendar month has fewer days (28 or 29 days) than the lunar month (about 29.5 days).
• Supermoon: A full Moon is said to be a “Supermoon” when it is at the point in its orbit closest to Earth. In astronomy, the terms “perigee-syzygy” or “perigee full Moon” are typically used instead of “Supermoon.” Learn more about Supermoons.
• Blood Moon: The term “Blood Moon” is used when there is a complete lunar eclipse. The moon isn’t actually “bloody,” but it appears orange or coppery like a penny.

When Is the Next Full Moon?

Check out our Full Moon Calendar to see when the next full Moon will happen, and see our Moon Phase Calendar to find the Moon phase for a specific date!