text: how did betelgeuse get it's name? how did betelgues (the star) get it's name? the name betelgeuse is a corruption of the arabic "yad al jauza," which means the "hand of al-jauza," al-jauza the ancient arabs' "central one," a mysterious woman. another theory is betelguese and the related names derive from the arabic phrase ibt al jauzah meaning "the armpit of the central one".  the designation al mankib means in arabic "the shoulder".  see second reference for diagram: