What are the full moon names?
Cultures across the world have given special names to full moons, and this practice is very much alive in North America. Some almanacs assign full moon names by the month. On the other hand, other almanacs like to reference full moons relative to seasonal markers, as defined by equinoxes and solstices. Is one way better than the other? No. Both have their roots in folklore. Also, lists of full moon names vary widely coming from different regions and cultures.
Below, we list the most commonly used full moon names in North America. Most of these names were derived from Old English and/or Native American sources. We list them first by the month, and then by the season. Around the middle of this post, we talk about Blue Moons. Toward the bottom, we have a word about moon names in the Southern Hemisphere.
North American full moon names by month
Different Native American tribes, European cultures, and colonial almanacs had their own naming systems, so there’s some overlap and variation between months depending on the source. Here are the most widely recognized full moon names followed by some other traditional names.
January: The most recognized name is Wolf Moon, which is rooted in Native American and European folklore and tied to the howling of hungry wolves during the depths of winter. Other names include:
- Moon After Yule – referencing its position just after the Christmas/Yule season
- Old Moon – an older English name
- Cold Moon – used by some cultures for January’s moon, though this name is more often applied to December in the Algonquin tradition
- Ice Moon – reflecting the frozen conditions of midwinter
- Snow Moon – occasionally used for January, though it’s more commonly associated with February
February: The most common name today is Snow Moon, reflecting the heavy snowfall typical of February in many parts of North America. Other names include:
- Hunger Moon – referencing the scarcity of food and difficult hunting conditions during late winter
- Storm Moon – used in some European traditions for the harsh weather this time of year
- Ice Moon – another nod to the cold, icy conditions
- Bald Eagle Moon – used by the Cree, marking the time when bald eagles begin to appear
- Bear Moon – used by the Ojibwe, tied to the time when bear cubs are born during hibernation
- Groundhog Moon – a lighter, more modern nickname referencing Groundhog Day
March: March’s full moon is best known as the Worm Moon. It’s traditionally linked to earthworms reappearing in thawing soil as spring approaches, though some sources tie it instead to beetle larvae emerging from bark. Other names include:
- Sap Moon – referencing the time when maple sap starts flowing and syrup-tapping season begins
- Crow Moon – used by some Native American tribes, marking the return of cawing crows as a sign of winter’s end
- Lenten Moon – a European Christian name tied to the season of Lent
- Crust Moon – referencing the crusty texture of snow that thaws by day and refreezes at night
- Sugar Moon – another reference to maple sugaring season
- Chaste Moon – an older European name symbolizing purity, tied to the approach of spring
April: The full moon in April is most commonly known as the Pink Moon. Despite the name, it doesn’t refer to the moon’s actual color. It’s named after Phlox subulata (moss pink or wild ground phlox), one of the first wildflowers to bloom in early spring. Other names include:
- Sprouting Grass Moon – referencing new plant growth as the weather warms
- Egg Moon – tied to springtime and the symbolism of eggs, often associated with Easter
- Fish Moon – used by some coastal tribes, marking the time when shad and other fish swim upstream to spawn
- Pesach/Passover Moon – reflecting timing near the Jewish holiday of Passover, which is tied to the lunar calendar
- Seed Moon – referencing the start of spring planting season
- Breaking Ice Moon – used in some Northern traditions for the thawing of frozen waterways
May: The May full moon is best known as the Flower Moon. It reflects the abundance of blooming flowers across North America in May. Other names include:
- Corn Planting Moon – marking the time when corn was traditionally sown
- Milk Moon – a European name referencing livestock giving abundant milk during this fertile season
- Mother’s Moon – another nod to the fertility and abundance associated with springtime
- Hare Moon – a European name tied to the increased visibility of hares (rabbits) during breeding season
- Bright Moon – referencing the clearer, longer nights of late spring
- Frog Moon – used by some tribes, marking the time when frogs become active and vocal
June: The June full moon is most widely known as the Strawberry Moon. It marks the short strawberry harvesting season in North America, used by Algonquin and other tribes. Other names include:
- Rose Moon – a European name referencing roses blooming in early summer
- Hot Moon – reflecting the arrival of summer heat
- Mead Moon – tied to the tradition of harvesting honey and fermenting mead around this time (this is also linked to the origin of the term “honeymoon”)
- Honey Moon – another reference to honey harvesting season, when hives were typically at their fullest
- Green Corn Moon – used by some tribes, referencing early corn growth
- Planting Moon – used in some traditions to mark ongoing summer planting
July: The July full moon is most commonly known as the Buck Moon. It references the time when male deer (bucks) begin growing new antlers, covered in velvety fur. Other names include:
- Thunder Moon – tied to the frequent summer thunderstorms in July
- Hay Moon – reflecting the timing of hay harvesting season
- Wort Moon – an old European name referring to the time for gathering herbs (“wort” being an old word for plant or herb)
- Salmon Moon – used by some coastal and Pacific Northwest tribes, marking the time when salmon swim upstream
- Feather Moulting Moon – used by the Cree, referencing the time when birds molt their feathers
- Halfway Summer Moon – used by some tribes to mark the midpoint of the summer season
August: The August full moon is best known as the Sturgeon Moon. It’s named for the large sturgeon fish that were most easily caught in the Great Lakes and other major bodies of water during this time. Other names include:
- Grain Moon – referencing the harvesting of grain crops in late summer
- Red Moon – tied to the reddish appearance the moon can take on due to summer haze near the horizon
- Green Corn Moon – used by some tribes to mark ripening corn (though this name is also sometimes used for June or July)
- Fruit Moon – reflecting the ripening of fruit as late summer approaches
- Barley Moon – a European name marking barley harvest time
- Dog Moon – referencing the “dog days of summer,” tied to the star Sirius (the “Dog Star”) being prominent in the sky this time of year
September: The September full moon is often the Harvest Moon, or the full moon closest to the autumn equinox. It was valued for its bright light that let farmers harvest crops into the night. Other names include:
- Corn Moon – used when the Harvest Moon falls in October instead, since September’s moon then takes this name, marking the time when corn is traditionally harvested
- Barley Moon – a European name referencing the barley harvest, tied to the need to gather and thresh grain before the weather turned
- Fruit Moon – reflecting the ripening of fruits like apples and grapes in early autumn
- Full Corn Moon – another variation emphasizing the timing with corn harvesting
October: The October full moon is best known as the Hunter’s Moon, which follows the Harvest Moon. This name reflects the time when hunters would track and store meat for winter, taking advantage of the bright moonlight and fields cleared after harvest. Other names include:
- Harvest Moon – when it is closest to the fall equinox
- Blood Moon – tied to the hunting and slaughtering season, and also to the reddish hue the moon can take on this time of year (note: this is different from the astronomical “blood moon” during a lunar eclipse)
- Travel Moon – referencing the migration of animals and, in some traditions, people preparing for winter
- Dying Grass Moon – used by some tribes, marking the time when grasses turn brown and die back as autumn deepens
- Sanguine Moon – another reference to the reddish coloring associated with this time of year
November: The November full moon is best known as the Beaver Moon. It has two possible origins: either referencing the time when beavers become most active building winter dams before the water freezes, or the time when it was traditional to set beaver traps to secure warm furs for winter. Other names include:
- Frost Moon – reflecting the arrival of harder, more consistent frosts
- Mourning Moon – a European name reflecting the darkening days and approach of winter
- Dark Moon – another reference to the shorter days and longer nights of late autumn
- Digging/Scratching Moon – used by some tribes, referencing animals foraging for food before winter sets in
December: The December full moon is best known as the Cold Moon. It reflects the arrival of winter’s deep cold as the year draws to a close. Other names include:
- Long Night Moon – referencing the winter solstice, when nights are at their longest
- Moon Before Yule – a European name marking the time just before the Yule/Christmas season
- Oak Moon – another European name, tied to the significance of oak trees in winter solstice traditions
- Snow Moon – occasionally used for December in some traditions, though it’s more commonly associated with February
- Full Cold Moon – another variation emphasizing the depth of winter’s chill
Sometimes February doesn’t have a full moon
About once every 19 years, February has no full moon at all. The last time that happened was in 2018. The next time February won’t have a full moon is 2037.
Read more: Why no full moon in February 2018?
North American full moon names by season
After the winter solstice:
Old Moon or Moon After Yule
Snow Moon, Hunger Moon or Wolf Moon
Worm Moon, Sap Moon, Crow Moon or Lenten Moon
After the spring equinox:
Grass Moon or Egg Moon
Planting Moon or Milk Moon
Rose Moon, Flower Moon or Strawberry Moon
After the summer solstice:
Thunder Moon or Hay Moon
Green Corn Moon or Grain Moon
Fruit Moon or Harvest Moon
After the autumnal equinox:
Harvest Moon or Hunter’s Moon
Hunter’s Moon, Frosty Moon or Beaver Moon
Moon Before Yule or Long Night Moon
Full moon names in the Southern Hemisphere?
As you probably know, the seasons for Earth’s two hemispheres are opposite. When it’s summer in the Northern Hemisphere, it’s winter in the Southern Hemisphere, and so on. When we originally published this article, we suggested that the full moon names might be likewise reversed. For example, the Green Corn Moon or Grain Moon – moon name for the August full moon in North American skylore – might work for the February full moon in the Southern Hemisphere.
But assigning full moon names to moons in the Southern Hemisphere in that way – by flipping the names around to match the seasons – doesn’t really work. For example, our name for January’s full moon in North American skylore is often given as the Wolf Moon. You wouldn’t expect a Wolf Moon for the Southern Hemisphere, because what most of us think of as a “wolf” – a gray wolf, Canis lupus – isn’t native to the Southern Hemisphere.
Unfortunately, it’s difficult to find records of moon names used in the Southern Hemisphere. We asked several EarthSky friends in the Southern Hemisphere if they knew of full moon names for that part of the world, but they all said no. We did find some full moon names for the large island of New Guinea, near Australia, and for South Africa at the website LunarPhasePro.com, but we’ve been unable to establish if those names are still in use today. Check them out if you’re interested!
What about Blue Moons?
Blue Moons are a special case, whether they come by the month or by the season. Sky watchers in recent years have come to recognize both calendar-month and seasonal Blue Moons.
Calendar-month Blue Moons
Calendar-month Blue Moons happen when two full moons fall within a single calendar month. The second of the month’s two full moons is popularly called a Blue Moon. This sort of Blue Moon happens seven times in every 19 years. And we have a calendar Blue Moon on May 31, 2026. As a matter of fact, it’s the most distant full micromoon of 2026.
Let’s take a look at the eight calendar-month Blue-Moons in the present 19-year Metonic cycle:
- March 31, 2018
- October 31, 2020
- August 31, 2023
- May 31, 2026
- December 31, 2028
- September 30, 2031
- July 31, 2034
- January 31, 2037
Also, in a year where February has no full moon at all, as in the year 2018, you can have two full moons in January and two full moons in March. Thus, during those years there are two Blue Moons in single year. The next time we have two Blue Moons in one year is 2037.
Seasonal Blue Moons
Seasonal Blue Moons happen seven times in 19 years, too. There are usually three full moons between an equinox and a solstice, or vice versa. But sometimes four full moons fall in a single season. In that case, the third of a season’s four full moons is the Blue Moon. The last Blue Moon by this definition happened on August 19, 2024. The next seasonal Blue Moon is May 20, 2027. The seven seasonal Blue Moons in the current 19-year lunar cycle are:
- May 18, 2019
- August 22, 2021
- August 19, 2024
- May 20, 2027
- August 24, 2029
- August 21, 2032
- May 22, 2035
Is it possible to have only 2 full moons in a single season?
Full moon photos from our EarthSky Community Photos
Bottom line: North American full moon names, listed first by month and then by season.
Read more: Traditional full moon names
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