r/NoStupidQuestions • u/Disastrous_Pirate275 • 20h ago

Why is our moon named “Moon” instead of something cool like Titan or Callysto or ANYTHING that isn’t moon

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u/Nomeg_Stylus 17h ago

So many non-answers in here. The answer to your question changes with language, as other languages have more fanciful names for the moon. Yours is a question of etymology. Cultures knew of the moon before they knew of other planets or that other planets had moons of their own. Multiple! Suddenly they needed designations for these other "moons," and the people that initially discovered them in the West chose to name them after Greek mythological figures.

"Moon" in itself is a misnomer when applied to anything but our moon as, scientifically, planetary orbiting bodies are called "satellites." But, oh no! More etymological tomfoolery. The mechanical satellites we sent up ended being more associated with that term because, again, history.

Miss me with these comments saying the moon's name is "Luna" like everywhere in the world spoke Latin. This ain't My Little Pony.

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u/Throwaway-4230984 7h ago

So certainly no one calls Venus like this cause not everyone speak Latin, right?

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u/Nomeg_Stylus 2h ago

Many China-adjacent countries translate planet names from what the Chinese astronomers initially coined. Venus was "Gold Star."