Full Moon Names by Month: Meanings and Magic
In short: The traditional full moon names used in North America are Wolf (January), Snow (February), Worm (March), Pink (April), Flower (May), Strawberry (June), Buck (July), Sturgeon (August), Corn or Harvest (September), Hunter's (October), Beaver (November), and Cold (December). They were popularized by the Old Farmer's Almanac and draw on Native American, colonial American, and European traditions. Each name reflects what was happening in nature at that time of year.
Someone posts "Tonight's Strawberry Moon!" and you look up expecting pink. It is regular moon colored. Disappointing? Only until you learn that the names were never about color. They are a calendar written in nature: what was ripening, migrating, freezing, or hungry at that moment of the year.
Where do the full moon names come from?
Many cultures that tracked time by the moon named each lunar month after seasonal events. The names popular in the US today were collected and published by the Old Farmer's Almanac starting in the 1930s, drawing mainly on Algonquian-speaking peoples of the northeastern United States, along with colonial American and European folk names. Different Native nations have their own names for each moon, often very different from these. Treat these as one tradition, not the only one.
Full moon names and meanings
January: Wolf Moon
Named for wolves heard howling in the deep winter. Magic: protection, loyalty, finding your pack. A good moon for setting the tone of the year.
February: Snow Moon
Often the snowiest month in North America. Magic: purification, stillness, clearing the slate. Pairs with Imbolc.
March: Worm Moon
Named for earthworms appearing as the ground thaws. Magic: emergence, fertility of ideas, getting unstuck. Plant a literal seed.
April: Pink Moon
Named for early spring wildflowers, especially pink creeping phlox. Magic: growth, love, new beginnings, self-love spells.
May: Flower Moon
Flowers everywhere. Magic: beauty, abundance, pleasure, creativity. A great moon for glamour magic and flower baths.
June: Strawberry Moon
Named for the wild strawberry harvest. Magic: sweetness, gratitude, love, enjoying the fruits of your work.
July: Buck Moon
Named for male deer growing new antlers. Magic: strength, ambition, growth after loss, personal power.
August: Sturgeon Moon
Named for the giant sturgeon fish most easily caught in the Great Lakes at this time. Magic: abundance, harvest, deep wisdom from beneath the surface.
September: Corn Moon or Harvest Moon
The Harvest Moon is the full moon closest to the autumn equinox, so it is sometimes in October. Its bright light let farmers work late into the night. Magic: gratitude, gathering, balance, reaping what you sowed.
October: Hunter's Moon
Named for hunting season, when fields were cleared and game was easy to spot. Magic: focus, intention, ancestors, Samhain prep. See how to celebrate Samhain.
November: Beaver Moon
Named for beavers building their winter dams, and for trapping season. Magic: home, preparation, protection, practical planning.
December: Cold Moon
The long cold nights of early winter. Magic: rest, reflection, release before the new year. Pairs with the winter solstice.
Special full moons
- Blue Moon: the second full moon in a calendar month, or the third of four full moons in a season. They happen every two to three years. Magic: rare opportunities, wishes, big goals.
- Supermoon: a full moon near the Moon's closest point to Earth, looking slightly bigger and brighter. Magic: amplification.
- Blood Moon: a total lunar eclipse, when Earth's shadow turns the moon red. Many witches rest rather than cast during eclipses.
- Black Moon: a second new moon in a month. Magic: deep shadow work and endings.
A simple ritual for any full moon
- Look up this month's name and what it means.
- Write down one thing you are ready to release and one thing you are grateful for, using the moon's theme as a prompt.
- Light a white or silver candle and read both lines out loud.
- Burn or tear up the release line. Keep the gratitude line on your altar.
- Set out a jar of water to make moon water.
For rituals by phase, see rituals for each moon phase.
Full moon names FAQ
Do the full moon names come from Native Americans?
Some do. The popular list mixes names from Algonquian peoples with colonial American and European names, as collected by the Old Farmer's Almanac. Individual Native nations have their own, often different names.
Does the moon actually change color to match its name?
No. The names refer to seasons, not color. A full moon can look orange or red when it is low on the horizon, but that is atmosphere, not the name.
What is the Harvest Moon?
The full moon closest to the autumn equinox. It is usually in September but sometimes falls in October.
Live by the moon
Get every moon phase and ritual in the Live by the Moon Guide, and new and full moon ceremonies in the Saged app.
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