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 | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
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| 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 | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
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| 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.
Tagged with: astronomy • full moon • full moon names • moon names • the Moon
Filed under: The Moon
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
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
I will try to look up the Mayan moons for you.
Thanks, Julie, that would be great.
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.
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!
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.
That’t be great, Tepora. Send them over whenever you can and I’ll add them to the page.
All the best,
Gary.
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.
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. 🙂
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
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!
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!
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.
Hi. If anyone knows any African names for full moons I’d appreciate it thanks.
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.
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
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!
Your continuing addition to this list are interesting. Thank you. Brilliant.
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.
I’m in the UK and I have always used the Ogham structure (from practicing druids and Gwydion’s Moon Diary
https://www.paganpens.co.uk/the-oghma-calendar
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!
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.