Wolf Moon
January
The first full moon of the year, named for the wolves heard howling through the long, cold January nights.
Full Moon Names by Month
Every month's moon and what its name means
Each full moon of the year has a traditional name that describes the season. Most come from Native American and colonial almanacs; a few, like the Harvest Moon and Blue Moon, follow rules rather than months.
Snow Moon
February
February typically brings the heaviest snowfall in North America, and the full moon took its name from it.
Worm Moon
March
The last full moon of winter, named for the earthworms and beetle larvae that appear as the ground thaws.
Pink Moon
April
Not pink at all: named for the early spring wildflower Phlox subulata, the moss pink, one of the first to bloom in April.
Flower Moon
May
May is when flowers are abundant across much of the northern hemisphere, and the full moon carries their name.
Strawberry Moon
June
The June full moon marked the short strawberry harvesting season for Algonquin peoples.
Buck Moon
July
Named for the time of year when male deer grow new antlers, still covered in velvet.
Sturgeon Moon
August
The giant sturgeon of the Great Lakes and Lake Champlain were most easily caught in August.
Corn Moon
September
The September full moon takes this name only when the Harvest Moon falls in October instead.
Harvest Moon
September
The full moon closest to the September equinox, which can fall in September or early October.
Hunter's Moon
October
The first full moon after the Harvest Moon, when fields were cleared and game was easy to spot and fatten for winter.
Beaver Moon
November
Beavers finish their lodges and dams in November before the freeze, and trappers once set their traps then.
Cold Moon
December
The December full moon, when winter cold takes hold and nights are longest.
Blue Moon
Any month
A second full moon in one calendar month. It happens about every two and a half years and has nothing to do with color.