Sci-Fi Names
Science fiction names have a job to do: they have to sound like the future while still being easy to read. The best ones twist familiar names (Kaelen, Juniper Vance), borrow from Greek, Latin and astronomy (Orion, Lyra, Vega) or add a hard, clipped edge that feels engineered (Kade, Zyra, Rook).
This list collects 110+ sci-fi names for novels, screenplays, tabletop RPGs and games: character first names and surnames, pilot callsigns, planet names, megacorporations and a roll call of iconic characters from the genre. Round out your universe with our alien names, robot names and spaceship names.
Sci-fi male names
Strong, clipped names with a futuristic twist — captains, pilots, rebels and rogue scientists.
| Name | Vibe | Best for |
|---|---|---|
| Kaelen | Smooth, modern-mythic | Hero pilot |
| Orion | The hunter constellation | Explorer |
| Cassian | Latin, Roman family name | Spy or rebel |
| Talon | Sharp, predatory | Fighter pilot |
| Draven | Dark, sleek | Antihero |
| Jaxon | Punchy, modern | Mercenary |
| Soren | Scandinavian, calm | Scientist |
| Kade | Short, hard | Soldier |
| Ezra | Hebrew, “help” | Engineer |
| Atlas | Titan who holds up the sky | Commander |
| Lysander | Greek, “liberator” | Revolutionary |
| Castor | One of the Gemini twins | Twin character |
| Zev | Hebrew, “wolf” | Smuggler |
| Thane | Old Scots title, “lord” | Officer |
| Idris | Welsh, “ardent lord” | Diplomat |
| Tycho | After astronomer Tycho Brahe | Navigator |
| Maddox | Welsh, “fortunate” | Bounty hunter |
| Corvin | Latin corvus, “raven” | Hacker |
| Evander | Greek, “good man” | Idealist captain |
| Rhys | Welsh, “ardor” | Rookie |
Sci-fi female names
Bright, starry and a little dangerous. Browse our names that mean star for more.
| Name | Vibe | Best for |
|---|---|---|
| Lyra | The lyre constellation | Navigator |
| Zyra | Sharp, alien-tinged | Assassin |
| Vesper | Latin, “evening star” | Spy |
| Nova | Latin, “new”; an exploding star | Heroine |
| Juniper | Evergreen shrub | Botanist |
| Andromeda | Chained princess; nearest big galaxy | Royal |
| Seren | Welsh, “star” | Pilot |
| Kira | “Beam of light” / “glittering” | Rebel |
| Sable | Dark fur, dark color | Smuggler |
| Elara | Moon of Jupiter | Astronomer |
| Thea | Greek, “goddess” | AI creator |
| Ione | Greek, “violet” | Diplomat |
| Nyla | Soft, modern | Medic |
| Astra | Latin, “stars” | Captain |
| Rhea | Titan mother; moon of Saturn | Matriarch |
| Octavia | Latin, “eighth” | Commander |
| Calla | Greek, “beautiful” | Empath |
| Imara | Swahili, “strong” | Engineer |
| Quinn | Irish, “counsel” or “wisdom” | Hacker |
| Solene | French, “solemn” | Ship’s AI |
Unisex and one-syllable sci-fi names
Short names feel efficient and futuristic. Many work for any gender. More on our unique unisex names page.
| Name | Meaning / idea |
|---|---|
| Sol | Latin, “sun” |
| Ryn | Minimalist, invented |
| Jax | Modern short form of Jackson |
| Rook | Chess piece; clever bird |
| Zen | Buddhist school of meditation |
| Ash | Tree, or what’s left after fire |
| Vale | Valley |
| Kai | “Sea” in Hawaiian |
| Onyx | Black gemstone |
| Cypher | Code, secret |
| Echo | Greek nymph of repeated sound |
| Wren | Small bird |
| Halcyon | Mythical bird; calm days |
| Sky | Open space above |
| Phoenix | Bird reborn from fire |
| Io | Moon of Jupiter |
Sci-fi surnames
Pair with any first name above. Crisp two-syllable surnames sound best on a ship’s roster.
| Surname | Vibe |
|---|---|
| Voss | Hard, Germanic |
| Harrow | Grim English place name |
| Vance | Old English, “fen, marsh” |
| Arcturus | Bright star name |
| Stroud | Industrial |
| Kovač | Slavic, “smith” |
| Okafor | Igbo surname |
| Nakamura | Japanese, “middle village” |
| Delacroix | French, “of the cross” |
| Rourke | Irish, tough |
| Sato | Common Japanese surname |
| Cortez | Spanish conquistador ring |
| Hale | Old English, “nook” |
| Mercer | Trader |
| Blackwell | Dark and industrial |
| Ashgrove | Post-apocalyptic mood |
Pilot callsigns and code names
Fighter pilots and special-ops teams go by callsigns. Pick one that says something about the character.
| Callsign | What it says |
|---|---|
| Viper | Fast, deadly flyer |
| Ghost | Never seen coming |
| Maverick | Breaks the rules |
| Starbuck | Cocky ace (classic reference) |
| Hotshot | Show-off |
| Reaper | Too many kills to count |
| Longshot | Sniper or impossible odds |
| Sparrow | Small but agile |
| Nomad | No home port |
| Deadlock | Never gives up |
| Glitch | Tech specialist |
| Halo | The team’s guardian |
Sci-fi planet and world names
Worlds for your characters to fight over. For real star names see our star names and constellation names.
| Planet name | What kind of world |
|---|---|
| Kepler’s Reach | Colony at the edge of known space |
| Tessaris | Desert trading hub |
| Nimbus Prime | Gas giant with floating cities |
| Veyra | Ocean world |
| Korrath | Volcanic mining planet |
| Eos Station | Orbital city at dawn’s edge |
| Hesperia | Garden world in the west |
| Thalos IV | Military outpost |
| Glacium | Frozen research planet |
| Aurelia | Wealthy capital world |
| Umbriel | Dark moon prison |
| Serapis | Ancient ruins world |
Megacorporations and factions
Every good sci-fi setting has a faceless corporation or a rebel alliance.
| Name | Role |
|---|---|
| Helix Dynamics | Biotech giant |
| Orbital Consolidated | Space mining monopoly |
| Axiom Industries | Weapons contractor |
| Nexus Collective | Hacker underground |
| Stellar Accord | Interplanetary government |
| Free Colonies Front | Rebel alliance |
| Veridian Corp | Terraforming company |
| Obsidian Syndicate | Crime cartel |
Iconic sci-fi character names
The genre’s most famous names — for reference, trivia and tribute. See superhero names for caped heroes.
| Character | From | Note |
|---|---|---|
| Ellen Ripley | Alien (1979) | Warrant officer of the Nostromo |
| Luke Skywalker | Star Wars | Jedi farm boy |
| Leia Organa | Star Wars | Princess and rebel leader |
| Han Solo | Star Wars | Smuggler of the Millennium Falcon |
| James T. Kirk | Star Trek | Captain of the Enterprise |
| Spock | Star Trek | Half-Vulcan science officer |
| Paul Atreides | Dune (Frank Herbert) | Heir who becomes Muad’Dib |
| Ender Wiggin | Ender’s Game (Orson Scott Card) | Child military genius |
| Deckard | Blade Runner / Philip K. Dick | Replicant hunter |
| Neo | The Matrix | Hacker who becomes The One |
| Sarah Connor | The Terminator | Mother of the resistance leader |
| Katniss Everdeen | The Hunger Games | Named after an edible plant |
| Kara Thrace | Battlestar Galactica (2004) | Callsign “Starbuck” |
| Arthur Dent | The Hitchhiker’s Guide to the Galaxy | Ordinary man lost in space |
How to create a sci-fi name
- Twist a real name. Change a letter or ending (Caelan → Kaelen) so it feels familiar but futuristic.
- Borrow from astronomy. Stars, moons and constellations (Vega, Io, Lyra) are built-in sci-fi names.
- Use X, Z, K and V sparingly. One unusual letter reads as futuristic; three reads as a password.
- Reflect your world’s cultures. Future Earth will be diverse; mix surnames from many languages, as in our Japanese last names or Nigerian last names.
- Say it on the comms. “Captain Voss, respond” should sound natural in dialogue.
Frequently asked questions
What are good sci-fi names?
Kaelen, Orion, Cassian, Talon, Lyra, Nova, Vesper and Zyra are popular sci-fi first names. Pair them with crisp surnames like Voss, Kade or Vance.
How do you make a futuristic name?
Start with a real name or word, shorten or respell it, and add a sharp consonant (K, X, Z, V). Astronomy terms and Latin words also make great futuristic names.
What are some sci-fi names for girls?
Lyra, Nova, Vesper, Astra, Elara, Seren, Andromeda and Zyra all have a futuristic, spacey feel.
What are good sci-fi names for boys?
Orion, Kaelen, Cassian, Atlas, Talon, Tycho, Corvin and Soren are strong sci-fi names for male characters.
Why do sci-fi names use so many X’s and Z’s?
These letters are rare in English, so they feel alien or futuristic. Used sparingly they add flavor; overused, they make names hard to read.