Full Moon Names 2017: 12 Full Moons
Each full moon has a nickname. Here is a list of the Full Moon Names for 2017 based on the traditional Native American names.
A full moon is a lunar phase that occurs when the Earth is directly between the Sun and Moon so that the moon looks completely illuminated when you look at it. It happens about once a month or, 29.53 days on average in the middle of the lunar cycle.
In 2017 the full moon names were as follows:
- January 2017: Full Wolf Moon
- February 2017: Full Snow Moon
- March 2017: Full Worm Moon
- April 2017: Full Pink Moon
- May 2017: Full Flower Moon
- June 2017: Full Strawberry Moon
- July 2017: Full Buck Moon
- August 2017: Full Sturgeon Moon
- September 2017: Full Corn Moon
- October 2017: Full Harvest Moon
- November 2017: Full Beaver Moon
- December 2017: Full Cold Moon
Continue reading below for more information about the 2017 Full Moon Names, their meanings, and dates.
The dates and times provided by NASA in United States Eastern Time (ET) account for both Eastern Standard Time (EST) and Eastern Daylight Time (EDT) for part of the year. Also included is the Coordinated Universal Time (UTC) time. This was previously referred to as Greenwich Mean Time (GMT). Since your local time zone may differ, the exact dates may shift slightly for your calendar.
The supermoons are based on the calculations by AstroPixels.
What were the names of the full moons in 2017?
In 2017 there were 12 full moons, each with a nickname or two. The names change depending on which list you refer to. The Native American names are the commonly used nicknames and take their inspiration from nature.
The names of the 2017 full moons are:
January: Full Wolf Moon
The January 2017 full moon name, the Full Wolf Moon, is one of many inspired by nature. The Full Wolf Moon, takes its name from the wolves howling at the moon. There are also a few other names that are also used for the January Full Moon including: the Old Moon, Ice Moon, Moon After Yule, and Full Snow Moon.
The 2017 Full Wolf Moon occurred on January 12, 2017.
February: Full Snow Moon
The February 2017 full moon name, the Full Snow Moon, refers to the snow that frequently occurs at that time of year. It’s a fitting name for a moon that’s part of the Winter season. It is the next full moon of the year following January. Other nicknames for the February full moon include the Hunger Moon, Chaste Moon, and Storm Moon.
You may notice that an alternate nickname for the January Full Moon is also the Full Snow Moon. Sometimes the names overlap depending on the source.
The 2017 Full Snow Moon occurred on February 10, 2017 (February 11, 2017 UTC).
March: Full Worm Moon
The March 2017 full moon name, the Full Worm moon, takes its name from the earthworms that start to reappear as the grown thaws at the end of the winter. The birds start to come back as spring approaches, with the Spring Equinox that happens each year towards the end of March.
Other nicknames for the March Full Moon include: Sap Moon, Crow Moon, Chaste Moon, Sugar Moon, and Lenten Moon.
Depending on the year, the Full Worm Moon could occur either at the end of Winter or the beginning of Spring. In 2017 it was part of the Winter season.
The 2017 Full Worm Moon occurred on March 12, 2017.
April: Full Pink Moon
The April 2017 full moon name, the Full Pink moon, comes from a pink herb moss that flowers at that time of year.
Other nicknames for April’s full moon include: the Seed Moon, Egg Moon, Full Sprouting Grass Moon, and Full Fish Moon. They all have a common tie to the spring season as new flowers start to bloom and the fish begin to spawn.
Depending on the year, the Full Pink Moon could either be the first or second full moon of Spring. In 2017 it was the first Spring Full Moon.
The 2017 Full Pink Moon occurred on April 11, 2017.
May: Full Flower Moon
The May 2017 Full Moon name, the Full Flower Moon, probably isn’t a surprise: “April Showers bring May Flowers” as the saying goes. Welcome to spring and the flowers that come with the season.
While the April full moon name doesn’t reference rain, the May full moon matches the time-honored saying.
Other nicknames for the May Full Moon include the Corn Planting Moon, and Milk Moon.
The 2017 Full Flower Moon occurred on May 10, 2017.
June: Full Strawberry Moon
The June 2017 Full Moon name, the Full Strawberry Moon, is probably one you could have guessed if you like to pick strawberries in June. The Full Strawberry Moon fits nicely as summer approaches, and it’s time to enjoy this fruit.
Depending on the year, the Full Strawberry Moon could occur either at the end of Spring or the beginning of Summer, depending on if it happens before or after the Summer Solstice. In 2017 it was the last full moon of the Spring season.
Other nicknames for the June Full Moon include: Rose Moon, Mead Moon, and Honey Moon.
The 2017 Full Strawberry Moon occurred on June 9, 2017.
July: Full Buck Moon
The July 2017 Full Moon name, the Full Buck Moon, is not likely one you would have immediately guessed. The Full Buck Moon takes its name from the time of year when antlers start to appear on male deer (bucks).
For 2017, it was the first full moon of the Summer season.
Other nicknames for July’s Full Moon include the Thunder Moon and Hay Moon.
The 2017 Full Buck Moon occurred on July 9, 2017.
August: Full Sturgeon Moon
The August 2017 Full Moon name, the Full Sturgeon Moon, might not have been your first guess. The August Full Moon gets its name as sturgeon are caught in high numbers in North America’s Great Lakes at that time of year.
Other nicknames for the Full Moon in August include the Green Corn Moon, Grain Moon, and Corn Moon.
The 2017 Full Sturgeon Moon occurred on August 7, 2017.
September: Full Corn Moon
The September 2017 Full Moon, the Full Corn Moon, name takes its inspiration from agriculture. The Full Corn Moon is nicknamed for when corn is usually harvested.
Depending on how close the September Full Moon is to the Autumn Equinox, the nickname for the full moon changes. In 2017 it was further away from the start of Fall than the October Full moon. In other years, the September Full Moon is called the Full Harvest Moon.
The 2017 Full Corn Moon occurred on September 6, 2017.
October: Full Harvest Moon
The October 2017 Full Moon’s name, the Full Harvest Moon, is both inspired by nature and agriculture as well as the timing of the Fall Equinox. In 2017, the October full moon was called the Full Harvest Moon because it was closer to the start of Autumn than September’s.
In other years, October’s Full Moon name is the Full Hunter’s Moon.
Another nickname for October’s full moon includes the Blood Moon.
The 2017 Full Harvest Moon occurred on October 5, 2017.
November: Full Beaver Moon
The November 2017 Full Moon name, the Full Beaver Moon, was probably not your first guess. Inspired by nature, this nickname comes from the time when Native Americans and early settlers would set traps to catch beavers to have warm furs for the winter.
Another nickname for the November full moon is the Frosty Moon.
The 2017 Full Beaver moon occurred on November 4, 2017.
December: Full Cold Moon
The December 2017 Full Moon name, the Full Cold Moon, fits the month well given how the temperatures get colder with the official start of Winter.
Depending on the year, the Full Cold Moon can occur either at the end of the Autumn or just after the start of Winter, depending the timing with the Winter Solstice. In 2017, the Full Cold Moon was part of the Fall season.
Other nicknames for the December full moon include the Long Nights Moon and Oak Moon.
The 2017 Full Cold Moon occurred on December 3, 2017.
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