As Valentine’s Day approaches, many seek unique romantic gestures, like naming a star after a loved one during a starry picnic. Online services offer this for as little as $40, complete with certificates and star maps. However, these names hold no official recognition among astronomers.

Star-Naming Services and Their Limitations

These commercial packages range from basic options at A$40 to premium add-ons. Fine print in FAQs reveals names enter private databases only, as required by regulations. The International Astronomical Union’s Working Group on Star Names declares: “the sky is not owned by anyone.” Stars generally cannot receive personal names, except in exceptional circumstances.

Services often promise naked-eye visibility, yet only about 2,500 stars (5,000 across hemispheres) appear to the unaided eye on clear nights. Premium “extra bright” or binary star selections shrink options further. With claims of 100,000 to 500,000 customers, popular stars likely bear dozens of names—hardly exclusive romance.

How Astronomers Officially Name Stars

Astronomers rely on proper names like Sirius, Betelgeuse, and Polaris, or systematic designations combining letters and numbers from star catalogs. Fewer than 600 stars hold proper names among over one billion cataloged by experts. The IAU Working Group on Star Names maintains the list, adding entries as recently as December 25, 2025.

Names draw from historical, cultural, and indigenous traditions. Recent addition “Sarvvis” honors Sami people from Northern Scandinavia. Designations reveal discovery details: Sirius boasts over 60, including 2MASS J06450887-1642566 (infrared survey), HIP 32349 (Hipparcos mission, bright optical star), and CNS5 1676 (nearby star catalog).

New Designations and Strict Guidelines

Astronomers assign fresh designations in sky surveys. For instance, the Sydney Radio Star Catalogue and MeerKAT telescope observations yield identifiers like MKT J170456.2-482100, denoting telescope (“MKT” for MeerKAT) and coordinates. Stars accumulate multiple such labels over time.

IAU guidelines ban commercial, political, military, or pet names. Public campaigns target faint, invisible stars. A new official name, “Siwarha”—meaning “her bracelet”—graces Betelgeuse’s companion, proposed by its discoverers.

Official personal star names remain elusive, but romantics can stargaze early Valentine’s evening. In the Southern Hemisphere, spot Betelgeuse, Sirius, and Rigel.