Full Moon Names and Meanings

Moon Folklore Names – UK and USA

  • Both the USA and UK share some traditional Moon names, particularly those with Anglo-Saxon or Celtic origins, but many common USA Folklore names come from Native-American traditions.
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  • US names often reflect natural seasonal events specific to North American geography, such as the Sturgeon Moon, while UK names draw from older European traditions.

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Names & meaning for each monthsUK moon folklore NamesUS moon folklore names
JanuaryMoon After YuleWolf Moon
FebruarySnow Moon / Storm MoonSnow Moon
MarchLenten MoonWorm Moom
AprilEgg MoonPink Moon
MayMilk Moon / Flower MoonFlower Moon
JuneHay Moon / Mead MoonStrawberry Moon
JulyHay Moon / Grain MoonBuck Moon
AugustGrain Moon / Fruit MoonSturgeon Moon
SeptemberHarvest MoonCorn Moon
OctoberHunter’s MoonHunter’s Moon
NovemberBlood Moon / Moon before YuleBeaver Moon
DecemberMoon before Yule / Cold MoonCold Moon

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January

January: Moon after Yule / The Wolf Moon

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  • In the UK
    – Moon After Yule
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  • Meaning in the United Kingdom
    – The first full moon after the winter solstice.
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  • Full Moon in January (UK)
    –  2020 Friday 10th January
    –  2021 Thursday 28th January
    –  2022 Monday 17th January
    –  2023 Friday 6th January
    –  2024 Thursday 25th January
    –  2025 Monday 13th January
    –  2026 Saturday 3rd January
    –  2027 Friday 22nd January
    –  2028 Wednesday 12th January
    –  2029 Tuesday 30th January
    –  2030 Saturday 19th January
  • In the US
    – Wolf Moon
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  • Meaning in the United States
    – Traditionally heard wolves howling during this time in winter.

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February

February: The Snow Moon / The Hunger Moon

  • In the UK
    – Snow Moon / Storm Moon
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  • Meaning in the United Kingdom
    – Refer to winter weather, though wolves are not native to the UK.
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  • Full Moon in February (UK)
    –  2020 Saturday 8th February
    –  2021 Saturday 21st February
    –  2022 Wednesday 16th February
    –  2023 Sunday 5th February
    –  2024 Saturday 24th February
    –  2025 Wednesday 12th February
    –  2026 Sunday 1st February
    –  2027 Saturday 20th February
    –  2028 Thursday 10th February
    –  2029 Wednesday 28th February
    –  2030 Sunday 17th February
  • In the US
    – Snow Moon
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  • Meaning in the United States
    – Named for the typically heaviest snowfalls in North America.

March

March: Lenten Moon (UK) / Worm Moon (US)

  • In the UK
    – Lenten Moon
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  • Meaning in the United Kingdom
    – Refers to the pre-Christian Germanic spring festivals.
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  • Full Moon in March (UK)
    –  2020 Monday 9th March
    –  2021 Sunday 28th March
    –  2022 Friday 18th March
    –  2023 Tuesday 7th March
    –  2024 Monday 25th March
    –  2025 Friday 14th March
    –  2026 Tuesday 3rd March
    –  2027 Monday 22nd March
    –  2028 Saturday 11th March
    –  2029 Friday 30th March
    –  2030 Tuesday 19th March
  • In the US
    – Worm Moon
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  • Meaning in the United States
    – Signifies the reappearance of earthworms as the soil thaws.

April

April: Egg Moon / Pink Moon

  • In the UK
    – Egg Moon
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  • Meaning in the United Kingdom
    – Connected to the Anglo-Saxon spring festival and Easter.
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  • Full Moon in April (UK)
    –  2020 Wednesday 8th April
    –  2021 Tuesday 27th April
    –  2022 Saturday 16th April
    –  2023 Thursday 6th April
    –  2024 Tuesday 23rd April
    –  2025 Sunday 13th April
    –  2026 Thursday 2nd April
    –  2027 Tuesday 20th April
    –  2028 Sunday 9th April
    –  2029 Saturday 28th April
    –  2030 Thursday 18th April
  • In the US
    – Pink Moon
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  • Meaning in the United States
    – Named for the pink phlox, an early blooming spring flower.

May

May: Milk Moon or Flower / Flower moon

  • In the UK
    – Milk Moon / Flower Moon
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  • Meaning in the United Kingdom
    – Refers to cows being milked three times daily or the month of flowers.
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  • Full Moon in May (UK)
    –  2020 Friday 8th May
    –  2021 Wednesday 21st May
    –  2022 Monday 16th May
    –  2023 Friday 5th May
    –  2024 Thursday 23rd May
    –  2025 Monday 12th May
    –  2026 Friday 1st May
    –  2027 Thursday 20th May
    –  2028 Monday 8th May
    –  2029 Sunday 27th May
    –  2030 Friday 17th May
  • In the US
    – Flower Moon
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  • Meaning in the United States
    – Refers to the time when flowers are abundant.

June

June: Hay Moon or Mead Moon / Strawberry Moon

  • In the UK
    – Hay Moon / Mead Moon
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  • Meaning in the United Kingdom
    – Signifies the time for hay harvest or the traditional brewing of mead.
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  • Full Moon in June (UK)
    –  2020 Friday 5th June
    –  2021 Thursday 24th June
    –  2022 Tuesday 14th June
    –  2023 Sunday 23rd June
    –  2024 Saturday 22nd June
    –  2025 Wednesday 11th June
    –  2026 Monday 26th June
    –  2027 Saturday 19th June
    –  2028 Wednesday 7th June
    –  2029 Tuesday 26th June
    –  2030 Saturday 15th June
  • In the US
    – Strawberry Moon
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  • Meaning in the United States
    – Marks the ripening of wild strawberries.

July

July: Hay Moon or Grain Moon / Buck Moon

  • In the UK
    – Hay Moon / Grain Moon
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  • Meaning in the United Kingdom
    – Named for harvesting hay, with Grain Moon referring to ripening crops.
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  • Full Moon in July (UK)
    –  2020 Sunday 5th July
    –  2021 Saturday 21st July
    –  2022 Wednesday 13th July
    –  2023 Monday 3rd July
    –  2024 Sunday 21st July
    –  2025 Thursday 10th July
    –  2026  Wednesday 29th July
    –  2027 Sunday 18th July
    –  2028 Thursday 6th July
    –  2029 Wednesday 25th July
    –  2030 Monday 15th July
  • In the US
    – Buck Moon
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  • Meaning in the United States
    – Named for the male deer (bucks) who are growing new antlers.

August

August: Grain Moon or Fruit Moon / Sturgeon Moon

  • In the UK
    – Grain Moon / Fruit Moon
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  • Meaning in the United Kingdom
    – Named for the ripening of grain or wild fruits.
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  • Full Moon in August (UK)
    –  2020 Monday 3rd August
    –  2021 Sunday 22nd August
    –  2022 Friday 12th August
    –  2023 Tuesday 1st August
    –  2024 Monday 19th August
    –  2025 Saturday 9th August
    –  2026 Friday 28th August
    –  2027 Tuesday 17th August
    –  2028 Saturday 5th August
    –  2029 Friday 24th August
    –  2030 Tuesday 13th August
  • In the US
    – Sturgeon Moon
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  • Meaning in the United States
    – Named by North American fishing tribes for the abundance of sturgeon in the Great Lakes.

September

September: Harvest Moon / Corn Moon

  • In the UK
    – Harvest Moon
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  • Meaning in the United Kingdom
    – The full moon closest to the autumnal equinox, which helps farmers harvest late.
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  • Full Moon in August (UK)
    –  2020 Monday 3rd August
    –  2021 Sunday 22nd August
    –  2022 Friday 12th August
    –  2023 Tuesday 1st August
    –  2024 Monday 19th August
    –  2025 Saturday 9th August
    –  2026 Friday 28th August
    –  2027 Tuesday 17th August
    –  2028 Saturday 5th August
    –  2029 Friday 24th August
    –  2030 Tuesday 13th August
  • In the US
    – Corn Moon
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  • Meaning in the United States
    – Marks the time when corn is ready to be harvested.

October

October: The Hunter’s Moon

  • In the UK
    – Hunter’s Moon
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  • Meaning in the United Kingdom
    – The full moon after the Harvest Moon, used for hunting before winter.
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  • Full Moon in October (UK)
    –  2020 Thursday 1st and Saturday 31st October  (Blue Moon)
    –  2021 Wednesday 20th October
    –  2022 Sunday 9th October
    –  2023 Saturday 28th October
    –  2024 Thursday 11th October
    –  2025 Tuesday 7th October
    –  2026 Saturday 26th October
    –  2027 Friday 15th October
    –  2028 Tuesday 3rd October
    –  2029 Monday 22nd October
    –  2030 Friday 11th October
  • In the US
    – Hunter’s Moon
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  • Meaning in the United States
    – Historically a time for hunting and stocking up on meat before winter.

November

November: Blood Moon or Moon Before Yule / Beavers Moon

  • In the UK
    – Hunter’s Moon
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  • Meaning in the United Kingdom
    – Refers to the slaughtering of livestock before winter or being the last full moon before Yule.
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  • Full Moon in November (UK)
    –  2020 Monday 30th November
    –  2021 Friday 19th November
    –  2022 Tuesday 8th November
    –  2023 Monday 27th November
    –  2024 Friday 15th November
    –  2025 Wednesday 5th November
    –  2026 Tuesday 24th November
    –  2027 Sunday 15th November
    –  2028 Thursday 2nd November
    –  2029 Wednesday 21st November
    –  2030  Sunday 10th November
  • In the US
    – Beavers Moon
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  • Meaning in the United States
    – Named for the time when beavers build their winter dams.

December

December: The Cold Moon / Cold Moon

  • In the UK
    – Hunter’s Moon
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  • Meaning in the United Kingdom
    – The last full moon before the winter solstice, or marks the onset of cold weather.
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  • Full Moon in December (UK)
    –  2020 Wednesday 30th December
    –  2021 Sunday 19th December
    –  2022 Thursday 8th December
    –  2023 Wednesday 27th December
    –  2024 Sunday 15th December
    –  2025 Thursday 4th December
    –  2026 Thursday 24th December
    –  2027 Monday 13th December
    –  2028 Saturday 2nd and Sunday 31st December (Blue Moon)
    –  2029 Thursday 20th December
    –  2030 Monday 9th December
  • In the US
    – Cold Moon
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  • Meaning in the United States
    – Refers to the onset of cold weather and long nights.

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