250+ Names That Mean Moon 🌙 Beautiful Lunar Baby Names & Meanings

The moon has been my quiet companion for as long as I can remember. Growing up, my grandmother would point to the sky every month and tell me the moon was watching over me — and somehow, on the hardest nights, that small silver face made everything feel a little less heavy. Years later, when my sister was expecting her first baby, she asked me to help her find a name, and I found myself right back under that same moon, scrolling through lists at midnight with a cup of chai going cold beside me. That’s when I discovered the most beautiful secret in the naming world: names that mean moon are everywhere, in every culture, carrying centuries of light, mystery, and tenderness in a single word.

There’s something about lunar names that hits differently. Sun names feel bold and fiery; star names feel distant and sparkly. But moon names? They feel like a warm lamp left on for you at night — soft, steady, and quietly magical. Whether you’re naming a baby, a character in a story you’re writing, or even a pet with moonlit eyes, a lunar name gives them a little piece of the night sky to carry around forever. I’ve gathered the most beautiful names that mean moon from Greek temples to Japanese poetry, from Arabic deserts to Hawaiian shores — each with its meaning, origin, and the feeling it carries. Find the one that feels like yours.

Moon Names for Girls

Some names glow like moonlight through a window. These are the feminine lunar names parents keep coming back to — timeless, graceful, and full of quiet radiance.

Luna – Meaning: moon / Origin: Latin / Traits: luminous, gentle, artistic.

Selene – Meaning: moon / Origin: Greek / Traits: radiant, graceful, serene.

Diana – Meaning: divine; Roman goddess of the moon / Origin: Latin / Traits: independent, strong, protective.

Artemis – Meaning: Greek goddess of the moon and the hunt / Origin: Greek / Traits: fierce, free, wise.

Cynthia – Meaning: from Mount Cynthus; epithet of the moon goddess / Origin: Greek / Traits: classic, elegant, timeless.

Phoebe – Meaning: bright, radiant; Titaness of the moon / Origin: Greek / Traits: warm, luminous, spirited.

Chang’e – Meaning: the Chinese moon goddess / Origin: Chinese / Traits: ethereal, graceful, mysterious.

Tsukiko – Meaning: moon child / Origin: Japanese / Traits: gentle, dreamy, poetic.

Mahina – Meaning: moon / Origin: Hawaiian / Traits: soft, island-warm, melodic.

Aylin – Meaning: moon halo / Origin: Turkish / Traits: radiant, gentle, modern.

Moon Names for Boys

Moon names aren’t just for girls. There’s a whole constellation of masculine lunar names — strong, steady, and carrying that calm nighttime confidence.

Chandra – Meaning: moon / Origin: Sanskrit / Traits: calm, radiant, wise.

Qamar – Meaning: moon / Origin: Arabic / Traits: bright, dignified, poetic.

Hilal – Meaning: crescent moon / Origin: Arabic / Traits: fresh, hopeful, luminous.

Mani – Meaning: Norse god of the moon / Origin: Norse / Traits: brave, steady, quietly strong.

Jericho – Meaning: city of the moon / Origin: Hebrew / Traits: strong, historic, grounded.

Badar – Meaning: full moon / Origin: Arabic / Traits: radiant, confident, serene.

Ayberk – Meaning: moon + strong / Origin: Turkish / Traits: bold, bright, modern.

Aibek – Meaning: moon master, chieftain of the moon / Origin: Turkic / Traits: noble, strong, regal.

Tsukuyomi – Meaning: moon god / Origin: Japanese / Traits: powerful, mysterious, noble.

If you love names with deep meanings, you might also fall for our collection of names that mean obsession — intense, emotional names that carry their meaning just as powerfully as these lunar ones.

Unisex Moon Names

Not every name needs to pick a lane. These moon names sit beautifully in the middle — luminous enough for anyone, and refreshingly modern.

Moon – Meaning: the moon itself / Origin: English / Traits: dreamy, bold, free.

Ayla – Meaning: moonlight, halo around the moon / Origin: Turkish / Traits: soft, luminous, warm.

Lusine – Meaning: moon / Origin: Armenian / Traits: melodic, gentle, rare.

Chanda – Meaning: moon / Origin: Sanskrit / Traits: warm, soft, radiant.

Mayar – Meaning: moon glow / Origin: Arabic / Traits: luminous, gentle, modern.

Sasi – Meaning: moon / Origin: Sanskrit / Traits: serene, simple, sweet.

Ila – Meaning: moonlight, earth / Origin: Sanskrit / Traits: simple, sweet, grounded.

Jaci – Meaning: moon goddess / Origin: Tupi (Brazilian) / Traits: earthy, mystical, rare.

Mythological Moon Names

Every ancient civilization looked up and saw a god or goddess in the moon. These names come straight from the old myths — heavy with story, power, and silver-lit magic.

Selene – Meaning: Greek Titaness who drove the moon across the sky / Origin: Greek / Traits: radiant, mythic, eternal.

Artemis – Meaning: Olympian goddess of the moon, hunt, and wild / Origin: Greek / Traits: fierce, independent, wild-hearted.

Diana – Meaning: Roman goddess of the moon and protector of women / Origin: Latin / Traits: strong, protective, noble.

Hecate – Meaning: goddess of magic, crossroads, and the moon / Origin: Greek / Traits: mystical, powerful, enigmatic.

Neoma – Meaning: new moon / Origin: Greek / Traits: fresh, hopeful, lyrical.

Chang’e – Meaning: Chinese moon goddess who flew to the lunar palace / Origin: Chinese / Traits: ethereal, lonely-graceful, poetic.

Mani – Meaning: Norse god who pulls the moon through the night / Origin: Norse / Traits: steadfast, brave, celestial.

Chandra – Meaning: Hindu god of the moon, riding a silver chariot / Origin: Sanskrit / Traits: luminous, calm, divine.

Tsukuyomi – Meaning: Japanese god of the moon, brother of the sun goddess / Origin: Japanese / Traits: majestic, mysterious, regal.

Moon meanings are just the beginning — our names that mean perseverance collection is full of equally meaningful names for little fighters who never give up.

Celestial Moon Names

Maybe you want the whole night sky, not just the moon. These celestial names orbit around the moon — stars, constellations, and heavenly bodies that share its glow.

Celeste – Meaning: heavenly / Origin: Latin / Traits: elegant, calm, classic.

Stella – Meaning: star / Origin: Latin / Traits: bright, timeless, warm.

Estelle – Meaning: star / Origin: French / Traits: romantic, elegant, soft.

Astra – Meaning: star / Origin: Greek / Traits: cosmic, bold, bright.

Lyra – Meaning: constellation of the lyre / Origin: Greek / Traits: musical, delicate, bright.

Vega – Meaning: falling eagle; one of the brightest stars / Origin: Arabic / Traits: bold, luminous, modern.

Andromeda – Meaning: chained princess turned constellation / Origin: Greek / Traits: epic, mythic, grand.

Orion – Meaning: hunter constellation / Origin: Greek / Traits: strong, adventurous, bright.

Rare & Hidden-Gem Moon Names

Now for the ones nobody at the playground will share. These rare moon names come from quieter corners of the world — perfect if you want lunar meaning without the Luna crowd.

Mahsa – Meaning: like the moon / Origin: Persian / Traits: soft, poetic, radiant.

Mahjabeen – Meaning: moon-faced / Origin: Persian/Urdu / Traits: elegant, luminous, classic.

Kamaria – Meaning: moonlight / Origin: Swahili / Traits: warm, melodic, joyful.

Ilkay – Meaning: first moon / Origin: Turkish / Traits: rare, melodic, bright.

Aysun – Meaning: of the moon / Origin: Turkish / Traits: gentle, bright, modern.

Mona – Meaning: moon (Old English) / Origin: Old English / Traits: vintage, soft, simple.

Menodora – Meaning: gift of the moon / Origin: Greek / Traits: vintage, rare, lyrical.

Aibek – Meaning: moon master / Origin: Turkic / Traits: regal, strong, uncommon.

And if your heart leans toward fiery rather than lunar, browse our names that mean fire — bold, blazing meanings with the same name-by-name breakdown.

Cute Moon Nicknames

Every great name deserves a cozy little nickname for whispered goodnights. These moon-inspired nicknames are short, sweet, and full of sparkle.

Lulu – Meaning: from Luna; little moon / Origin: Latin-inspired / Traits: playful, sweet, bright.

Moony – Meaning: like the moon / Origin: English / Traits: cozy, nostalgic, warm.

Lune – Meaning: moon / Origin: French / Traits: chic, soft, elegant.

Cici – Meaning: from Cynthia, the moon goddess’s name / Origin: Greek-inspired / Traits: fun, sparkly, sweet.

Sel – Meaning: from Selene, the moon / Origin: Greek / Traits: sleek, modern, cool.

Di – Meaning: from Diana, moon goddess / Origin: Latin / Traits: simple, classy, warm.

Arty – Meaning: from Artemis / Origin: Greek / Traits: creative, bright, free.

Conclusion

And that is the moon, in 59 names. My grandmother was right, by the way — the moon really does feel like it’s watching over us, and now you get to hand a little piece of it to someone you love. Whether you choose the soft glow of Luna, the strength of Chandra, or a hidden gem like Menodora, a lunar name is a promise: like the moon, this person will always find their light, even in the dark. Sweet dreams, and happy naming.

FAQs

What girl name means moon?

The most beloved girl name meaning moon is Luna (Latin), followed by Selene (Greek), Diana (Latin), Aylin (Turkish, “moon halo”), and Mahina (Hawaiian). All are feminine, melodic, and timeless.

What boy name means moon?

Beautiful boy names meaning moon include Chandra (Sanskrit), Qamar (Arabic), Hilal (Arabic, “crescent moon”), Mani (Norse moon god), and Jericho (Hebrew, “city of the moon”).

What is a unique name that means moon?

For something rare, consider Mahsa (Persian, “like the moon”), Lusine (Armenian), Ilkay (Turkish, “first moon”), Menodora (Greek, “gift of the moon”), or Kamaria (Swahili, “moonlight”).

What Japanese name means moon?

Tsukiko means “moon child” in Japanese — gentle and poetic for a girl. Tsukuyomi is the Japanese moon god’s name, carrying power and mystery.

What name means moonlight?

Ayla (Turkish) and Kamaria (Swahili) both mean moonlight directly, while Mayar (Arabic) means “moon glow” — perfect for a soft, glowing name.

Is Luna too popular a baby name?

Luna has surged into the top baby-name charts in many countries, so your little Luna will likely meet a few namesakes. If you love the meaning but want rarer air, try Selene, Aylin, or Mahina instead.