Can two people name the same star?
Last updated 1 November 2026
Not in our registry. In the Intergalactic Star Database each star is given to one name only, and every registration has its own Database Number.
How we make sure of it
From November 2026 every new star comes from the Hipparcos catalogue, which gives each star a unique HIP number. When a star is registered, its HIP number is recorded against your name and taken out of the pool of stars we choose from, so it can never be chosen again.
Your Database Number (ISD followed by seven digits) is the key to that record. It is printed on your Certificate of Registry and on your co-ordinates sheet, and it opens your star's own page on our star finder.
What about other star registries?
Each registry in this business keeps its own records, so it is possible for a star in our registry to appear in someone else's list too. That is the honest position for every registry, because none of them is an official naming body: official star names are decided by the International Astronomical Union. More on what naming a star means.
Two names, one star?
If you want a star for a couple, put both names on it: "Tom and Kate", or a phrase you share. We print it exactly as you type it, and it is still one star, one registration. Stars for weddings and anniversaries.