What do you call it when you believe in aliens?

The conviction that intelligent life exists beyond Earth, particularly life that has visited our planet, manifests in a rich, sometimes confusing, vocabulary of labels and self-identifications. Whether one approaches the topic through a lens of scientific skepticism, spiritual seeking, or fervent conviction, there is a specific term, or a range of terms, applied to that belief system. It is far more nuanced than simply being an "alien believer." The language used often betrays the type of belief held, moving from academic study to deeply personal, almost religious, conviction. ^[1][2]

# Ufology Terms

For those who study Unidentified Flying Objects (UFOs) or Unidentified Aerial Phenomena (UAPs), the most straightforward professional-sounding term is often Ufologist. ^[2] This term implies a serious, if often unaccredited, investigation into sightings and related evidence. ^[2] A Ufologist may or may not believe in the extraterrestrial hypothesis (ETH) as the sole explanation for all phenomena, but the pursuit of the mystery is central to their focus. ^[1]

However, the simple act of believing in the existence of aliens—extraterrestrial life somewhere in the universe—is a broader category than simply being interested in UFOs. ^[8] NASA’s Astrobiology Program, for instance, focuses on the scientific search for life beyond Earth, emphasizing that this search encompasses life as we don't even know it, whether microbial or complex, on other planets or moons. ^[9] The common person who says, "Yes, I believe aliens are out there," might not identify as a Ufologist at all; they might just accept the statistical probability suggested by the vastness of the cosmos. ^[8] In less formal contexts, such an individual might simply be called an alien believer or someone who believes in UFOs. ^[2]

# Spiritual Adherents

When the belief shifts from passive acceptance of life elsewhere to active conviction of visitation and direct interaction, the terminology becomes much more specific and often overlaps with religious or spiritual movements. ^[1]

# Contactees and Abductees

Two key historical labels define those who claim personal encounters: Contactees and Abductees. ^[1]

• Contactees historically claimed voluntary, often spiritual or positive, meetings with extraterrestrials, frequently receiving warnings or wisdom. ^[1] These interactions were often public or semi-public.
• Abductees, conversely, generally describe non-consensual, often terrifying experiences where they are taken aboard craft against their will for examinations or procedures. ^[1]

These terms highlight a critical distinction: the nature of the perceived interaction dictates the label, reflecting different levels of psychological or spiritual immersion in the subject matter. ^[1]

# UFO Religions

The belief structure can solidify into formal religious practice, leading to the label of UFO religion. ^[1] These movements treat the extraterrestrials not just as visitors, but often as deities, saviors, or spiritual guides. ^[1] Examples span historical groups like the Aetherians, who awaited arrival from Venus, to more well-known, tragic cases such as Heaven's Gate. ^[1] In these contexts, belief in aliens becomes the central tenet of a worldview that often rejects established societal norms or traditional faith structures. ^[1] It’s an acknowledgment that the search for meaning can sometimes find its ultimate answer in the stars, especially when terrestrial explanations or institutions feel insufficient or dissatisfying. ^[6]

Do you believe in the existence of aliens?

# Identity Beliefs

A particularly modern and identity-focused manifestation of this belief centers on the idea that the believer themself is of extraterrestrial origin. This concept is widely known as Starseed belief. ^[5]

Psychologists study this phenomenon because it represents more than just a belief in aliens; it's a claim of origin. ^[5] Individuals identifying as Starseeds often feel a profound sense of disconnection or alienation on Earth, believing their true home or soul originates from a distant star system. ^[5] They may feel they were incarnated here with a specific mission to raise Earth's consciousness or help humanity navigate difficult transitions. ^[5]

Comparing this to the historical categories, a Starseed is distinct from a Contactee or an Abductee because the primary relationship is internal—it is about who they are, not just what they saw. ^[5] While a Ufologist studies the phenomena externally, the Starseed internalizes the phenomena as their personal legacy.

# The Spectrum of Conviction

To better organize these varied beliefs, it can be helpful to visualize the spectrum of commitment, ranging from academic inquiry to existential identification.

This spectrum illustrates that what one person calls their belief, another might label as their spiritual orientation, or perhaps, in more dismissive circles, as delusion. ^[6] The drive to believe in something more—whether that "more" is scientific proof of life elsewhere or a spiritual savior from the stars—often fills a void left by uncertainty or perceived meaninglessness in everyday life. ^[3][6] It speaks to a deep human need for narrative and purpose that science alone may not always satisfy for every individual. ^[6]

One interesting observation when comparing the historical context of UFO belief with modern discussions is how the rise of existential philosophy might feed the modern hunger for external meaning. If one accepts a nihilistic premise—that the world is inherently meaningless—the search for an external, grand narrative, such as being a reincarnated alien soul or being chosen by extraterrestrials, offers a powerful counter-narrative to that perceived void. ^[3]

Do people still believe in aliens?

# Scientific Context

It is essential to place these personal beliefs against the backdrop of the established scientific search. The scientific community, represented by institutions like NASA's Astrobiology Program, operates on the principle that life exists elsewhere until proven otherwise, based on astronomical odds and the discovery of exoplanets. ^[9] The search focuses heavily on finding biosignatures—evidence of past or present life, often microbial—which is a very different goal than validating anecdotal reports of flying saucers. ^[8][9]

The Planetary Society notes that whether aliens are real remains one of humanity's biggest questions, but the scientific method demands verifiable evidence for complex, intelligent visitation claims. ^[8] This contrast between the scientific search and the personal conviction defines the boundary between ufology as an anecdotal field and astrobiology as a formal science. ^[9] A practical way to approach conversations on this topic, therefore, is to clearly delineate between: "I am hopeful scientists find microbial life on Europa" (a scientific stance) versus "I know beings from Zeta Reticuli visited me last Tuesday" (a conviction based on subjective experience). ^[8]

# Psychological Drivers

Why do these labels persist and why do people adopt them? The conversation surrounding belief often circles back to psychology and faith. As one source suggests, when individuals adopt these beliefs, psychologists look at the underlying drivers, which are often related to identity formation, community belonging, or coping mechanisms. ^[5][6]

For some, believing they are a Starseed allows them to frame their feelings of being an outsider—perhaps social anxiety or just general nonconformity—as evidence of their special, non-terrestrial nature. ^[5] This turns a potential negative self-perception into a positive, mission-driven identity. ^[5]

Similarly, for those drawn to UFO religions, the shared belief system provides a community and an authority structure, fulfilling fundamental human needs similar to traditional religion, but anchored to perceived cosmic truths rather than ancient scripture. ^[1][6] The need to believe in something extraordinary, even if it challenges established facts, is a recurring theme across human culture. ^[6]

When considering the sheer volume of the universe, which contains billions of galaxies each with billions of stars, the statistical argument for life elsewhere is compelling enough to solidify a passive belief in many people. ^[8] The leap from "life exists" to "they are here now and communicating" is where the specific labels like Contactee or Abductee become necessary to categorize the commitment to the latter assumption. ^[1][2]

The commitment to belief can sometimes be so profound that it shapes one's entire interaction with the world, particularly in groups where shared experience validates the claims. Social media spaces, for example, become echo chambers where these specialized terms are the common language, reinforcing the reality of the experience for the adherent. ^[7] For the reader seeking to understand these terms, recognizing the context—scientific, spiritual, or identity-based—is the first step in understanding what the speaker means when they use a label like Ufologist or Starseed. ^[1][5] It is a testament to the human capacity for narrative construction that such a diverse set of terminology has evolved around the simple idea of "Are we alone?". ^[8]