Baby Names That Mean Moon: 20 Celestial Names With Meanings
Moon names are some of the most evocative a child can have: calm, luminous and tied to the cycles of nature. This list covers 20 names that mean moon, moonlight or a full moon, plus the moon goddesses Artemis and Diana, drawn from Latin, Greek, Sanskrit, Arabic, Persian, Japanese, Swahili, Hawaiian and Nahuatl.
Reviewed
Luna is the best-known, but the moon appears in many languages as a name. Each entry below gives you the meaning, the origin and a quick note on how the name feels in everyday use.
Our top picks
Girl names (12)
- LunaLatinmoonThe Roman moon goddess; a modern favourite that also feels timeless.
- SeleneGreekmoon (the Greek moon goddess)Dreamier and rarer than Luna, with the nickname Lena.
- SelenaGreekmoon (variant of Selene)A familiar, easy-to-spell take on Selene.
- ArtemisGreekmeaning uncertain (Greek goddess of the moon and the hunt)Strong and mythic, with a long literary history.
- DianaLatindivine (Roman goddess associated with the moon and the hunt)A regal classic with a moon-goddess backstory.
- ChandniHindimoonlightLyrical and common in India; pronounced CHUND-nee.
- AylaTurkishmoonlight, halo around the moonShort, modern and one of the most widely used moon names.
- MahtabPersianmoonlightLiterally 'the glow of the moon' (mah + tab).
- TsukikoJapanesemoon child (tsuki, 'moon' + ko, 'child')Delicate and traditional.
- KamariaSwahililike the moon, moonlightBright and rhythmic, with African roots.
- MahinaHawaiianmoonSoft-sounding and meaningful; the word for 'moon' in Hawaiian.
- MeztliNahuatlmoonAn Aztec (Nahuatl) name that is rare and easy to love.
Boy names (3)
- BadrArabicfull moonA beloved Arabic name, with a strong one-syllable sound.
- ManiNorsemoon (the Norse personification of the moon)Short and mythic; also an Indian name with a different meaning.
- SomaSanskritmoon (also a sacred drink in Vedic texts)Used as a given name in India and Hungary.
Unisex names (5)
- ChandraSanskritmoon, shiningUsed for boys in India and for girls in the West.
- HilalArabiccrescent moonCommon in Turkey and across the Muslim world.
- QamarArabicmoonA poetic favourite; used for boys and girls.
- YueChinesemoon (月)Short and widely used; the meaning depends on the character chosen.
- LunarEnglishof the moonA modern word name; bold and rare.
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How to choose
Luna is common now, so consider the alternatives
Luna has been a top-ten girls' name in the US for several years. If you want the moon without a class full of Lunas, look at Selene (Greek), Chandni (Hindi), Kamaria (Swahili) or Mahina (Hawaiian), which are all rarer and just as beautiful.
Moon names exist for boys too
Badr ('full moon' in Arabic), Mani (the Norse moon god) and Soma (Sanskrit) are strong, uncommon boys' options, and Hilal, Qamar, Yue and Chandra work for any child.
Pair a moon name with a sun or star name for siblings
Moon names pair well with Elio or Surya (sun) and Stella or Estelle (star). A celestial sibling set feels intentional without being matchy.
Frequently asked questions
What is the most popular baby name that means moon?
Luna is by far the most popular, and has been a top-ten girls' name in the US in recent years. Ayla, a Turkish name meaning 'moonlight', is another common choice.
What are unique baby names that mean moon?
Selene, Chandni, Kamaria, Mahina, Meztli and Mahtab are all uncommon in the US and have a clear moon meaning.
Are there boy names that mean moon?
Yes. Badr ('full moon', Arabic), Mani (Norse) and Soma (Sanskrit) are boys' names, and Chandra, Hilal, Qamar and Yue work for any child.
Is Diana a moon name?
Diana means 'divine' in Latin, but she was the Roman goddess of the moon and the hunt, so the association with the moon is strong. We list her as a moon-goddess name, not a direct translation of 'moon'.
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