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
NovemberMoon before YuleBeaver Moon
DecemberMoon before Yule or Cold MoonCold Moon

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January

January: Moon after Yule / The Wolf Moon

  • Full Moon in January
    In January snow gathers deep in the woods and the howling of wolves can be heard echoing in the cold still air.
  • 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

  • Full Moon in February
    Snow piles even higher in February, giving this moon its most common name. Among tribes that used this name for the January moon, the February moon was called the Hunger Moon due to the challenging hunting conditions.
  • 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)

  • Full Moon in March
    Snow slowly begins to melt, the ground softens, and earthworms show their heads again and their castings or fecal matter can be found.
  • 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

  • Full Moon in April
    Flowers begin to appear, including the widespread grass pink or wild ground.
  • 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

  • Full Moon in May
    Flowers come into full bloom and corn is ready to plant.
  • 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

  • Full Moon in June
    Strawberry-picking season reaches its peak during this time.
  • 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

  • Full Moon in July
    Buck deer start growing velvety hair-covered antlers in July.
  • 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

  • Full Moon in August
    The reddish appearance of the moon through the frequent sultry hazes of August also prompted a few tribes to dub it the Red 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

  • Full Moon in September
    The strong light of the Harvest Moon allowed European farmers to work late into the night to harvest their crops. The Harvest Moon does not always occur in September. Traditionally, the name goes to the full moon closest to the autumn equinox, which falls during October once or twice a decade.
  • 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

  • Full Moon in October
    Hunters can ride easily over the fields’ stubble, and the fox and other animals are more easily spotted. Some years the Harvest Moon falls in October instead of September.
  • 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

  • Full Moon in November
    At this time of year the beavers are busy preparing for winter, and it’s time to set beaver traps and secure a store of warm fur before the swamps freeze over.
  • In the UK
    – Moon Before Yule
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  • Meaning in the United Kingdom
    – Refers to begin 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: Moon Before Yule or Cold Moon / Cold Moon

  • Full Moon in December
    Winter takes a firm hold and temperatures plummet at this time. Sometimes this moon is also called the Long Night Moon as the winter nights lengthen and the moon spends more time above the horizon opposite a low sun.
  • In the UK
    – Moon before Yule or Cold 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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