full moon names used by Old Farmer’s Almanac Originated from the Algonquin people and adopted by the colonial Americans. The energy of these full moons is active throughout the month, from one full moon to the next. Here’s a guide and calendar for full moon names that we also use in astrology.
While there is some controversy surrounding the legend and origin of some full moon names, these are the explanations behind the local full moon names for each month. Some have additional names and were used as guides for hunting, planting, fishing, and gathering.
Editor’s note: Set in Maine in 2026 Farmer’s AlmanacPublished since 1818, publishes its last edition. Located in New Hampshire Old Farmer’s Almanac (which we quote in this article) has been published since 1792.
Full moon names by month
JANUARY Full Moon Name: Full Wolf Moon
The sound of hungry, howling wolves in the bitter winter inspired the name of January’s full moon.
FEBRUARY Full Moon Name: Full Snow Moon
Aptly named, this full moon coincides with one of the snowiest months of the year.
MARCH Full Moon Name: Full Worm Moon
Since the earth is not frozen, the worms came out in March to enrich the soil and received a full moon in their honor.
APRIL Full Moon Name: Full Pink Moon
The month was named after the northern Native Americans, who named it after a pink type of wildflower that was abundant in April.
MAY Full Moon Name: Full Flower Moon
April showers bring May… you know the rest – and it lives up to its flower-inspired full moon name.
JUNE Full Moon Name: Full Strawberry Moon
In July, strawberry picking began for the Native Americans; In Europe, the full moon of July is called the Full Rose Moon.
JULY full moon name: Full Buck Moon
Every year in July, the male deer (buck) begins to restore its antlers. This is the monthis also called the Thunder Moon.
AUGUST full moon name: Full Moon
The inspiration for August’s full moon is fishing, as grassfish were abundant during this period. Since this moon can also have a red color, it is called the Red Moon.
SEPTEMBER full moon name: Full harvest month
The harvest moon, which fell after the autumnal equinox, marked the best time to harvest crops. This particularly bright moon allowed farmers to continue harvesting in the afternoon. This month is also known as full corn month.
OCTOBER Full Moon Name: Full Hunter Moon
Also a very bright month, this month is named for the best deer and fox hunting season. Mowed fields and bright lights made it easier for hunters to see their prey at night.
NOVEMBER full moon name: Full Beaver Moon
Named for Native Americans setting beaver traps or beavers spending the winter dam building season. This month is also called the Frost Month.
DECEMBER Full Moon Name: Full Cold Moon
Baby, it’s cold outside. Nuff said.
Other month names
Here are some other moon names you may want to know more about in addition to the full moon names above.
Blue moon
Every two and a half years there is an “extra” full moon in the calendar year. The blue moon — the name of the second full moon in a calendar month. This is because the Earth takes 11 days longer than the Moon to complete one revolution around the Sun, so the extra days add up to the discrepancy.
Blood moon
A blood moon is not a monthly phenomenon, but it is a popular term, so we included it. This happens when the moon is total eclipse and when illuminated by sunlight filtered and refracted by the earth’s atmosphere, a reddish-brown color appears.
Black moon
From an astrological point of view, both the blue moon and a black moon refer to the month’s double headers. And yes, they are a rare occurrence.
Both events occur once every 32 months, and sometimes only in certain time zones.
This “bonus moon” means we have 13 new moons in a calendar year instead of the usual 12. And since new moons create the most expansive (highest to lowest) tides, having an extra new moon can create epic growth within a month.
Read more about months in astrology.
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