The moon has inspired names across every civilization. Whether you are building a baby name app or just love etymology, these 30 lunar names from around the world are fascinating.
Why Moon Names?
Moon names work because the moon is universal. Every culture sees it, names it, tells stories about it. These names connect to something bigger — the night sky that every human shares.
Girl Names Meaning Moon
Luna — Latin for "moon." The most direct lunar name, and one of the fastest-rising names globally.
Selene — Greek goddess of the moon. She drove her silver chariot across the night sky.
Aylin — Turkish for "moon halo." The soft glow around the moon on a misty night.
Mahina — Hawaiian for "moon" and "moonlight." Carries the warmth of Pacific island nights.
Chandra — Sanskrit for "moon; shining." In Hindu mythology, Chandra is the moon deity.
Hala — Arabic for "moon halo; aura of light." Short, elegant, deeply rooted in Arabic poetic tradition.
Tsuki — Japanese for "moon." Minimalist and beautiful, like moonlight on still water.
Artemis — Greek goddess of the moon and the hunt. Bold, powerful, increasingly popular.
Mitsuki — Japanese for "beautiful moon." Combines beauty (mi) with moon (tsuki).
Qamar — Arabic for "moon." Used in both Arabic and Urdu-speaking cultures.
Jaci — Tupi (Brazilian indigenous) for "moon." In Tupi mythology, Jaci is the moon goddess.
Ayla — Turkish for "moonlight." Also means "oak tree" in Hebrew.
Phoebe — Greek for "bright, radiant." One of the Titans associated with the moon.
Neoma — Greek for "new moon." Perfect for a child born during a new moon phase.
Lucine — Armenian for "moon." Elegant and uncommon.
Boy Names Meaning Moon
Hilal — Arabic for "crescent moon." The crescent is a powerful symbol in Islamic culture.
Koray — Turkish for "ember moon." Combines fire and moonlight.
Badr — Arabic for "full moon." The Battle of Badr gives this name historical weight.
Jericho — Hebrew for "city of the moon." The biblical city with an unexpected poetic dimension.
Atlas — Bearer of the heavens — moon included. A strong, cosmic choice.
Unisex Moon Names
Ariel — Hebrew for "lion of God," also associated with the moon in astrological traditions.
Nyx — Greek goddess of the night. Short, striking, and gender-fluid.
Soma — Sanskrit for "moon; nectar." In Vedic tradition, both the moon god and a sacred drink.
Io — One of Jupiter's moons. Just two letters, packed with celestial meaning.
Building a Name Database
When I built BabyNamePick.com, cataloging moon names across cultures was one of the most rewarding parts. Each culture's relationship with the moon reveals something about their values:
- Arabic names often reference the crescent (Hilal) or full moon (Badr) — phases with religious significance
- Japanese names tend toward minimalism (Tsuki) — the moon as aesthetic object
- Greek names carry mythology (Selene, Artemis) — the moon as divine being
- Hawaiian names feel warm (Mahina) — the moon as companion
This kind of cross-cultural pattern recognition is what makes name databases interesting to build and explore.
Explore the full collection of 2800+ names from 50+ origins at BabyNamePick.com — including a dedicated moon and celestial names guide.
What is your favorite moon name? Drop it in the comments!
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