Full Moon Names by Month
The full moon has been given names by different cultures, inspired by nature or activities that happen during the month. The names we typically use today are a combination of those used by Native American Tribes as well as those brought to the United States from other cultures.
January: Full Wolf Moon
The January Full Moon is referred to as the Full Wolf Moon, named for wolves howling at the moon. A few other names including: the Old Moon, Ice Moon, Moon After Yule, and Full Snow Moon.
You may notice the February Full Moon is referred to as the Full Snow Moon. Sometimes the names overlap depending on the source.
February: Full Snow Moon
The February full moon is referred to as the Full Snow Moon, named for snow that frequently occurs during the month. Other nicknames include the Hunger Moon, Chaste Moon, and Storm Moon.
March: Full Worm Moon
The March full moon is referred to as the Full Worm Moon, named for earthworms that start to reappear as the ground thaws. And with the worms, the birds start to come back as we get closer to spring. Other nicknames include: Sap Moon, Crow Moon, Chaste Moon, Sugar Moon, and Lenten Moon.
April: Full Pink Moon
The April full moon is referred to as the Full Pink Moon, named for a flowering pink herb moss widespread that time of year. Spring is on its way. Or maybe you thought the name would be tied to rain because “April showers bring May flowers”. Other nicknames include: Egg Moon, Full Sprouting Grass Moon, and Full Fish Moon (generally among the coastal indigenous tribes).
May: Full Flower Moon
Of all the Full Moon Names, this one probably doesn’t come as a surprise. Welcome spring and its flowers. The May full moon name as the Full Flower Moon follows the saying nicely. Other nicknames for the May Full Moon include the Corn Planting Moon, and Milk Moon.
June: Full Strawberry Moon
The June Full Moon is referred to as the Full Strawberry Moon, a nickname that isn’t a huge surprise if you happen to eat berries. Welcome back Summer and the lovely little red fruit. Other nicknames include: Rose Moon, Mead Moon, and Honey Moon.
July: Full Buck Moon
The July Full Moon is called the Full Buck Moon, based on the time of the time of year when the antlers start to appear on bucks (male deer). It’s a nickname you may not have guessed. Other nicknames include the Thunder Moon and Hay Moon.
August: Full Sturgeon Moon
The August Full Moon is called the Full Sturgeon Moon, as the sturgeon are caught in high numbers in North America’s Great Lakes. Other nicknames include the Barley Moon, Corn Moon, Dog Moon, Fruit Moon, Grain Moon, Green Corn Moon, Herb Moon, Red Moon, and Wyrt Moon.
September or October: Full Harvest Moon
The full moon closest to the Autumnal or September Equinox each year is called the Full Harvest Moon. Typically it is the September Full Moon, but every 3 to 4 years it is the October Full Moon.
September: Corn Moon
In the years where the September Full Moon is not the closest to the equinox, it is called the Full Corn Moon. The nickname ties back to when corn is usually harvested.
October: Full Hunter’s Moon
In the years where the October Full Moon is not the closest to the equinox, it is called the Full Hunter’s Moon. The moon name is inspired by Native Americans and their activities for getting ready for the winter. They would start gathering provisions to get them through the winter.
November: Full Beaver Moon
The November Full Moon is called the Full Beaver Moon. This nickname comes from the time when Native Americans and early settlers would set traps to catch beavers to have warm furs for the winter.
Another nickname for the November full moon is the Frosty Moon, which makes sense depending on where you live in North America. November maybe when you start to see frost in the morning.
December: Full Cold Moon
And finally the December Full Moon is called the Full Cold Moon. A fitting name given how the temperatures get colder with the official start of Winter. Other nicknames include the Long Nights Moon and the Oak Moon. The Long Nights Moon is another fitting given December has the shortest day of the year.
Blue Moon
A Blue Moon is the name given to a full moon that occurs in a calendar month. This can happen in any month except for February and more often happens in months with 31 days.
The other definition of a blue moon is given to a full moon where it is a third full moon in a season with four full moons. Seasons typically have three full moons and the extra full moon is called a seasonal blue moon. The full moon of that month typically retains its original nickname.
While the seasonal blue moon was likely the original intent of the “blue moon” defintion, the two full moons in a month version is more commonly understood today.
Check out the date of the next blue moon and list of all blue moons from 1900 to 2100.