The full moon names used by the Old Farmer’s Almanac derive from the Algonquin people and were adopted by colonial Americans. The energy of these full moons is considered to be active for the entire lunar month, from one full moon until the next. Here’s a guide and calendar to these full moon names.
Note: While there’s debate around the legend and origin of some full moon names, these are the explanations behind the indigenous full moon names each month. Some have additional names, and they were used as a guide for hunting, planting, fishing and harvesting.
Full moon names
January: Full Wolf Moon
The sound of hungry, howling wolves in the starkness of winter inspired January’s full moon name.
February: Full Snow Moon
An obvious name, this full moon falls during one of the snowiest months of the year.
March: Full Worm Moon
With the ground no longer frozen, worms came out to enrich the soil in March—and got a full moon named in their honor.
April: Full Pink Moon
This moon was dubbed by northern Native Americans who named it after a pink species of wildflower abundant in April.
May: Full Flower Moon
April showers bring May…well, you know the rest—and it goes to the tune of this floral-inspired full moon name.
June: Full Strawberry Moon
Strawberry harvesting began in July for Native Americans; in Europe, July’s full moon has been called the Full Rose Moon.
July: Full Buck Moon
Each year in July, the male deer (buck) begin to regrow their antlers. This month‘s lunation is also called the Thunder Moon.
August: Full Sturgeon Moon
Fishing is the inspiration for August’s full moon, as the sturgeon were plentiful during this time. Because this moon also can have a scarlet hue, it’s been called the Red Moon.
September: Full Harvest Moon
Falling after the autumn equinox, the harvest moon signaled the best time to gather crops. This especially bright moon allowed farmers to continue harvesting after dusk. This moon is also known as the Full Corn Moon.
October: Full Hunter’s Moon
Also an extra-bright moon, this month’s named for the prime hunting season of deer and fox. The harvested fields and luminous beams made it easier for hunters to see prey at night.
November: Full Beaver Moon
Named either for Native Americans setting beaver traps, or beavers having their winter dam-building season. This moon is also called the Frost Moon.
December: Full Cold Moon
Baby, it’s cold outside. ‘Nuff said.
The Blue Moon
Every two-and-a-half years, there’s an “extra” full moon in the calendar year. The Blue Moon is the name given to the second full moon to fall in a single calendar month. This happens because the Earth takes 11 days longer than the moon to complete its orbit around the Sun, so the extra days cause the discrepancy.
Blood Moon
The blood moon is not a monthly phenomenon, but it’s a buzzed-about term, so we included it. It occurs when the moon is in total eclipse and appears a reddish-brown hue as it’s illuminated by sunlight filtered and refracted by the earth’s atmosphere.
Black Moon
Astrologically speaking, both a Blue Moon and a Black Moon refer to lunar double headers. And yes, they are a rare occurrence.
Both phenomena occur once every 32 months—and sometimes only in particular time zones.
This “bonus moon” means we have 13 new moons in a calendar year, rather than the typical 12 new moons. And since new moons create the most expansive (highest to lowest tides), having an extra new moon might bring an epic burst of growth in a single month.
