Father's Day gift ideas
11 November 2026
A good personal Father's Day gift is one he can't buy for himself: something with his name on it, such as a real star named after Dad, with coordinates he can check. Father's Day in the UK is Sunday 20 June 2027.
Why give Dad a star for Father's Day?
Plenty of dads, handed a star, ask the obvious question: which one is it? A good star gift answers that properly. The documents give the star's catalogue number and its position in the sky, right ascension and declination, which work in planetarium software, stargazing apps and GoTo telescopes. For a dad who reads the instructions first, that is half the present.
The other half is the name. Dads often take a joke better than a compliment, so you have range: his full name done properly, what you actually call him, or his favourite catchphrase.
We run two star naming brands, each with its own register, documents and website.
The Star Naming Co.
The Star Naming Co. dedicates a real star from the Hipparcos and Tycho-2 catalogues, compiled from the European Space Agency's Hipparcos mission, with its catalogue reference and coordinates on the documents. Its guide to naming a star for your dad explains what he can check.
- Physical Gift Pack. Five A4 documents printed on fine cream stock and posted free in the UK within 24 hours: a name certificate, a welcome letter, a coordinates sheet with a sky chart, the story of his constellation and a sealed extract from the register.
- Digital Gift Pack. The same five to print at home, emailed within minutes at any hour, with his own live star page and an e-gift reveal.
- Twin Star Gift Pack. Two neighbouring stars in the same constellation on one landscape certificate, for Grandad and Nana together.
- A constellation he knows. Orion and Ursa Major (the Plough) are the two most people can already find, or pick his star sign if it is Taurus, Gemini, Leo or Scorpius.
The register entry can be looked up at any time by its registry number and star name.
Intergalactic Star Database
Intergalactic Star Database has been naming stars as gifts since 2004. From November 2026 each new star comes from the Hipparcos catalogue, and its co-ordinates sheet lists the Right Ascension, Declination, magnitude, colour, constellation and catalogue number, so the HIP number can be typed into planetarium software. The posted gift pack holds a Certificate of Registry, a Star Area Co-ordinates Sheet, a welcome letter and a fold-out star chart in a full-colour gift envelope; the print-at-home star is ready as soon as you have paid. Its page on a star for Father's Day has naming ideas and timing, and there is a guide to a star to thank Mum or Dad for the rest of the year.
Can you see a star in June?
It is worth being straight about this. Father's Day falls close to midsummer, when nights are at their shortest, and in Scotland and the north of England the sky barely gets properly dark. Named stars are too faint for the naked eye and need binoculars or a telescope and a dark sky, so mid-June is not the easiest time to find one.
That doesn't spoil the gift; it makes it two gifts. On the day, hand over the pack and open the star's page together: it shows the real sky around his star whatever the weather or time of day. Later, look at when his star is best placed and pick a date to go out and find it. In the north, August onwards is a good place to start. Write the date in the card so it actually happens.
Who is a Father's Day gift for?
- The dad who checks everything. Real coordinates, a catalogue number and a register he can look up.
- Grandads. A star from the grandchildren. More ideas in gifts for grandparents.
- A new dad. His first Father's Day, with the baby's name in the message.
- Stepdads, uncles and the friend who always turned up. Anyone who did the job.
- The man who has everything. See gifts for someone who has everything.
Ideas for the star's name
- His full name, for a man who likes things done correctly.
- What you call him: Dad, Pops, Papa, or your family's own word.
- His catchphrase, or his specialist subject.
- A plain compliment, made specific: best dad in his county, not the world.
When do I need to order for Father's Day 2027?
| Gift | Order by |
|---|---|
| The Star Naming Co. Physical Gift Pack or Twin Star Gift Pack | Monday 14 June 2027 (posted within 24 hours) |
| Intergalactic Star Database posted gift pack | The weekend before; allow a few working days, and Friday-evening or weekend orders go out the next working day |
| The Star Naming Co. Digital Gift Pack | Any time, including the day itself |
| Intergalactic Star Database print-at-home star | Any time, including the day itself |
If this Father's Day is one of remembering, our memorial gift ideas may help. For Mum, see our Mother's Day gift ideas.
Frequently asked questions
When is Father's Day 2027 in the UK?
Sunday 20 June 2027. In the UK, Father's Day falls on the third Sunday in June.
What is a good personal gift for Dad?
Something made around him: his name, or the thing he always says. Most dads remember those long after the socks have gone.
Is the star real?
Yes. Both brands name real, catalogued stars and print the catalogue reference and coordinates on the documents, so the star can be found in astronomy software or with a GoTo telescope.
Can he find it with a telescope or binoculars?
The constellation is easy; the star itself is too faint for the naked eye. Depending on the star, it needs binoculars or a telescope, a dark sky and the right time of year. The documents show when it is best placed.
Can I order on Father's Day itself?
Yes. The Star Naming Co. Digital Gift Pack arrives by email within minutes, and the Intergalactic Star Database print-at-home star is ready as soon as you have paid. Posted packs need ordering the week before.
Is the star name official?
No. Naming a star is a symbolic gift: only the International Astronomical Union assigns official star names, and it does not recognise names from commercial registers. The star is real, and your name for it is recorded in the brand's register.