The moon is one of the most popular sources of baby names, thanks to its universally recognized beauty, magical power, and unique ability to completely change its appearance.
From different cultures around the world, the moon has been associated with beauty, mystery, femininity, cycles, balance, and much more. It’s also the symbol of our own planet, used for travel and calendars, and for centuries, it has served as a creative source for poems, paintings, music, and even books.
We know how hard it can be to find the most beautiful-sounding name that also carries meaning. If you’re dreaming of naming your baby boy, girl, or choosing an androgynous, gender-neutral name, then let this list of 100 unique and meaningful names inspire you.
If you like names that stand for something more than just a name, you’ve probably wondered, “Which names mean ‘moon’?” Our full list contains the top 100 baby names for boys and girls that mean moon. These names come from a variety of languages and cultures where the moon plays an important role.
Why Get Inspired by the Moon for Baby Names?
Humans have used the moon as a source of time-keeping for millennia. It has long been used as a navigation tool, a calendar, and a source of inspiration for music, literature, films, and more. The moon has been seen as the guardian of the night sky, a source of calmness and peacefulness, and a healer.
Names that mean moon are as poetic as you can get. Moon-inspired names have a timeless, mystical quality, thanks to the celestial body they refer to. If you’ve been thinking about how to name your baby, moon names have a lot to offer. They are constantly present in our lives, in the sky, and as a source of nightly romance.
100 Baby Names That Mean Moon
Baby Girl Names That Mean Moon
Ayla – Turkish, Hebrew: “Moonlight,” “Halo of light around the moon”
Selene – Greek: The Greek goddess of the moon
Luna – Latin, Spanish, Italian: Means “moon,” a modern revival of the name
Artemis – Greek: Goddess of the moon and the hunt
Chandra – Sanskrit, Hindi: “Moon,” very common in India
Neoma – Greek: “New moon”
Amaris – Hebrew, Spanish: “Child of the moon,” “promised by God”
Cynthia – Greek: Another name for Artemis that means “moon”
Hala – Arabic: Halo of light around the moon
Mahina – Hawaiian: “Moonlight”
Rhiannon – Welsh: Connected with a moon goddess
Phoebe – Greek: “Shining,” associated with the moon in Greek mythology
Tsukiko – Japanese: “Child of the moon”
Io – Greek: Lover of Zeus turned into the moon due to Hera’s jealousy
Amarissa – Spanish: “Moon child”
Mona – Old English, Arabic: Means “moon” in many languages
Lucine – Armenian: “Moon”
Isolde – Celtic: Connected to lunar mythology
Hilal – Arabic: Crescent moon
Meztli – Aztec/Nahuatl: Goddess of the moon
Jaci – Tupi, Brazilian: Moon goddess of the Tupi people
Esmeray – Turkish: “Dark moon”
Aylin – Turkish: “Moonlight”
Marama – Maori: The personification of the moon
Ixchel – Mayan: The moon goddess of fertility and medicine
Mahvash – Persian: “Like the moon”
Thalassa – Greek: Means “sea,” but also connected to the pull of the moon on the seas
Indu – Sanskrit: Another beautiful word for the moon
Sasi – Thai, Sanskrit: “Moon”
Nokomis – Native American/Algonquian: “Daughter of the moon”
Related: Timeless Baby Names That Are Often Overlooked
Baby Boy Names That Mean Moon
Jericho – Hebrew: “City of the moon”
Atlas – Greek: Titan related to the heavens, name of a moon of Saturn
Chandrakant – Sanskrit: “Beloved of the moon”
Mayank – Hindi: “Moon”
Aku – Babylonian: God of the moon in Akkadian (Babylonian) culture
Qamar – Arabic: “Moon”
Badar – Arabic: “Full moon”
Elatha – Irish: Moon god in Irish mythology
Arche – Greek: One of Jupiter’s moons
Ioannis – Greek variant of Io: “Moon” connection due to mythology
Janus – Roman: Related to cycles, sometimes used in connection with the moon
Koray – Turkish: “Ember moonlight”
Chandresh – Sanskrit: “Lord of the moon”
Rakesh – Hindi: “Lord of the full moon night”
Amaris – Hebrew (male usage): “Moon child”
Tsukasa – Japanese: Can be translated as “moon ruler”
Hang – Vietnamese: Named after the moon goddess Hang Nga
Altair – Arabic: A star but associated with moonlit nights
Jeroham – Hebrew: “Moon city,” a variant of Jericho
Chandran – Tamil, Malayalam, Sanskrit: “Moon”
Aibek – Turkish: “Master of the moon”
Sharad – Hindi: “Full moon of autumn”
Aruna – Sanskrit: Tied to moonlight and dawn
Purnima – Sanskrit: Refers to a full moon, but can be used for boys as well
Related: 90 Nerdy and Geeky Baby Names for Boys and Girls
Gender-Neutral Baby Names That Mean Moon
Luan – Portuguese, Vietnamese: “Moon”
Aruna – Sanskrit: Means “reddish like the moon,” but used for both genders
Kama – Sanskrit, Polynesian: Lunar connections in both cultures
Sky – English: Conjures up the moon and moonlit skies
Ariel – Hebrew: Associated with celestial light
Dakota – Native American: Tied to the spiritual energy of moonlit nature
Hoku – Hawaiian: “Star,” but unisex name often used for “moonlit star”
Rumi – Japanese, Arabic: “Beauty of the moon” (Japanese) or “grace” (Arabic)
Zenith – English: Refers to the top of the sky, where the moon is often found
Io – Greek: Works as a name for any gender, with mythological ties to the moon
Quila – Incan: From Mama Quilla, the moon goddess, but can be used for any gender
Eris – Greek: A heavenly body, can be a modern moon-inspired name
Storm – English: Can reflect the moon and its connection to weather and tides
Phoenix – Greek, global: Associated with rebirth, often tied to lunar cycles
Lux – Latin: “Light” and a symbol of moonlight
Ashwin – Sanskrit: Twin lunar deities
Halo – English: Inspired by the moon’s halo ring of light
Nova – Latin: Star that shines bright, often due to moonlight nearby
Ocean – Greek/Latin: Tied to tides, the moon rules over them
Vale – English: Valley in which the moon can light up at night
Winter – English: Season where the moon stays out for longest at night
Sage – English: Wisdom can be tied to lunar cycles, like the moon
Aster – Greek: Starry, but works with moon names to look beautiful
Cielo – Spanish: “Sky,” a name directly from the moon itself
Noor – Arabic: “Light,” but also moonlight
Shashi – Sanskrit: Literally means “moon,” but for any gender
Amani – Swahili/Arabic: “Peace,” often associated with the moon’s calm energy
Kiran – Sanskrit: “Ray of light,” often referring to moonlight
Orion – Greek: Constellation often seen under moonlit skies
Zephyr – Greek: Gentle wind under the moon
River – English: Can reflect light that the moon’s glow can cause on water
Silver – English: Evokes the silver color of the moon
Echo – Greek: Mythological character whose home was moonlit forests
Rune – Old Norse: Ancient mystical symbols, often carved under moonlight
Kai – Hawaiian, Japanese, global: “Sea” tied to the moon’s tidal pulling power
Atlas – Greek: A celestial name that connects to a moon of Saturn, also unisex
Solin – Kurdish, Turkish: “Moonlight”
Arwa – Arabic: Graceful and smooth, often tied to moonlight
Nuru – Swahili: “Light,” but also moonlight
Aylmer – Old English: “Noble moon”
Related: 35 Wonderful European Baby Names for Boys and Girls
Tips for Choosing the Perfect Moon Name
Meaning first. Moon names have some of the most powerful meanings. Consider if you prefer lunar new beginnings, light in the darkness, mystery, beauty, or femininity.
Say it out loud. See how it sounds with your last name, as well as with your child’s sibling names.
Nicknames. Consider which nicknames a name would lead to. Selene, for example, is likely to be shortened to Lena, while Chandresh may become Chandra.
Honor your culture. Many of these names come from specific cultures, so if you have a particular tradition, there may be a name that suits you.
Popularity. Some names, like Luna, are quite popular, while others, like Selene, are more unique, evoking ancient Greek mythology.
Final Thoughts
The moon has long served as an inspiration for names. Moon-inspired baby names are not just a collection of pretty words. Many of them also carry deep cultural, religious, or mythological significance, connecting directly with the moon through symbolism.
Whether you’re looking for a moody nature name for a girl or a fun gender-neutral name for your little one, look no further than names that mean moon! With a name like Selene, Luna, or Meztli, your child will carry a name that shines a little brighter, just like the moon lights up the night.
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