Valentine's gift ideas
11 November 2026
A personal Valentine's gift is one that says something only you could say. For a partner, that might be a real star named after them, or two neighbouring stars for the two of you. Valentine's Day 2027 is Sunday 14 February.
Why name a star for Valentine's Day?
Roses are dropping petals by the following weekend. A named star is the opposite kind of present: a real, catalogued star is recorded in a register under the name you pick, and the certificate goes in a frame rather than the recycling.
The real work is in the wording. Their name is a safe choice; a nickname, the place you first met or a line only the two of you would understand is better. That is what makes it feel like it came from you and not from a shop.
February also helps. The evenings are long and dark, so a clear night with a pair of binoculars and a flask can become part of the present.
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, catalogued star to the name you choose, and its page on naming a star for Valentine's Day covers the options in full.
- The Lovers Edition. Made for couples: two real stars that sit next to each other in the same constellation, one named for each of you, together on a single landscape certificate with gold hearts. The seven documents are printed on special edition pink stock and posted free in the UK. See the Lovers Edition.
- Love constellations. Lyra, Aquila, Andromeda and Cygnus all carry a love story, and the story of the one you choose comes with the pack.
- Physical Gift Pack. One star, five A4 documents printed on fine cream stock: the certificate, a welcome letter, a coordinates sheet with a sky chart, the story of the constellation and a sealed extract from the register. Posted free in the UK.
- Digital Gift Pack. The same five documents to print at home, emailed within minutes at any hour, with a live star page and an e-gift reveal you can send by text or WhatsApp.
There are separate guides for naming a star for your girlfriend or partner and naming a star for your boyfriend.
Intergalactic Star Database
Intergalactic Star Database registers a real star under the name you type, up to 60 characters, printed exactly as written. Its posted gift pack holds a Certificate of Registry, a Star Area Co-ordinates Sheet, a welcome letter and a fold-out star chart, sent in a full-colour gift envelope. A print-at-home version is ready as soon as you have paid.
If you order two stars at once they are registered together in the same small patch of sky, each with its own Database Number and certificate. Its guide to a Valentine's star gift has naming ideas for every stage of a relationship, and there are pages for buying a star for your girlfriend or a star for your boyfriend.
What should I call a Valentine's star?
Match the name to where you are as a couple. A few starting points:
- Early days. Keep it light: an in-joke, the café where you had your first drink, the thing you both ordered.
- A year or two in. Show you have been paying attention. Both first names and the date you met works well.
- Engaged. Both names and the wedding month.
- Married for years. Something short and settled, or the first line of the first card you wrote them.
- Living apart. A name about sharing the same sky from different places.
- Not a couple at all. A star for a best friend who is dreading the day can be the kindest Valentine's gift of all.
Whatever you choose, spell their name carefully and preview it on the certificate before you order. To give it, bring the pack out with dessert, print the certificate and fold it inside a card, or send the gift link to their phone, which suits a long-distance relationship.
When do I need to order for Valentine's Day 2027?
| Gift | Order by |
|---|---|
| The Star Naming Co. Physical Gift Pack or Lovers Edition | Monday 8 February 2027 (posted within 24 hours; Royal Mail does not deliver letters on Sundays) |
| Intergalactic Star Database posted gift pack | At least a week ahead; orders on a Friday evening or at the weekend go out the next working day |
| The Star Naming Co. Digital Gift Pack | Any time, including the morning itself |
| Intergalactic Star Database print-at-home star | Any time, including the morning itself |
Looking further ahead? See our ideas for an anniversary, a wedding or a birthday.
Frequently asked questions
What day is Valentine's Day 2027?
Sunday 14 February 2027. Because it falls on a Sunday, posted star gifts need ordering early in that week or before; digital and print-at-home stars can be ordered on the day.
What is a good personal Valentine's gift?
Something that carries your own words. Flowers and chocolates are lovely, but anyone could send them; a name you chose could only have come from you.
Can we name a star for both of us?
Yes. You can put both names on a single star, or choose The Star Naming Co.'s Lovers Edition, which names two neighbouring stars in the same constellation, one for each of you, on one certificate. Intergalactic Star Database registers stars from the same order side by side, each with its own certificate.
Can you see a named star on Valentine's night?
Not with the naked eye. The constellation is easy to find, but the stars themselves are fainter than the eye can see unaided, so you will need binoculars or a telescope, and every star has its own best months. The documents show where to look.
Is naming a star official?
No. Star naming is a symbolic gift: only the International Astronomical Union assigns official star names, and it does not recognise commercial names or sell them. The star itself is real and catalogued, and your name for it is recorded in the brand's register.