Venetia Burney ( 1918-2009 ) is known for suggesting name the Pluto for newly discovered celestial body in 1930 by Clyde Tombaugh . At that time , Venetia Burney was an 11 year old schoolgirl living in Oxford , England . Venetia Phair , nÃ e Burney ( 11 July 1918 â '' 30 April 2009 ) was the first person to suggest the name Pluto for the object discovered by Clyde Tombaugh in 1930 .