Long before the first astronauts set foot on its rocky surface in 1969, people were fascinated by the moon.
Choosing a baby name inspired by the moon—or by one of the many moons orbiting other planets—will evoke the same mystery and beauty we experience every time we glimpse the night sky.
Read on for a summary of 100 baby names that mean “moon” or are related to the moon.
Although this article breaks down names by gender, the gender your baby is assigned at birth does not need to determine the name you choose for your baby. Names themselves are not gender specific or associated with a specific gender, and it is important to choose a name that is appropriate for your child and family.
baby names inspired by the moon
Looking for a unique nickname? Here, we’ve collected the best baby names that mean “moon,” or are the names of moons in the solar system. Not only are these celestial names sure to make your baby special, but they also have sweet meanings and histories that you might find interesting.
Alina
- origin: Russian
- significance: Bright and beautiful (please refer to moonlight)
- Famous namesakes: Alina Balazs (American singer)
- Peak of popularity: Alina has become increasingly popular in recent years. It peaked in 2022 at No. 132.
Ayman
- origin: Kazakh
- significance: the beauty of the moon
- Peak of popularity: Aiman is not a popular name in the United States and has never made it into the top 1000 baby names.
Aruna
- origin: Sanskrit, Japanese
- significance: reddish-brown; Asian moon
- Famous namesakes: Aruna is the charioteer in Hinduism who drives the sun god Surya across the sky.
- Peak of popularity: Aruna is not a common name in the United States and has never cracked the top 1,000 baby names.
Ella
- origin: Hebrew; Turkish
- significance: halo, moonlight, oak tree
- Famous namesakes: Ella (the main character in the movie) cave bear clan), Princess Ella (video game character timed trigger), Ella Marie Kyle (American actress)
- Peak of popularity: Ayla’s popularity peaked in 2022, when it ranked No. 98, according to the Social Security Administration.
badar
- origin: Arabic, Hindi
- significance: full moon
- Famous namesakes: Badar Uz Zaman (Pakistani composer)
- Peak of popularity: Badar is an uncommon name in the United States and has never made the top 1,000 baby names.
so
- origin: Arab
- significance: moon halo
- Famous namesakes: Hala Gorani (American television journalist)
- Peak of popularity: Not many people in the United States name their babies Hala, as the name has never made it into the top 1,000 baby names.
grown up
- origin: Türkiye
- significance: Ember Moon
- Famous namesakes: Kore Arslan (Turkish football player), Kore Candemir (Turkish musician)
- Peak of popularity: Koray has never cracked the top 1,000 baby names.
lebanon
- origin: Hebrew
- significance: moon, white
- Peak of popularity: Although “Livana” is closely related to the name “Olivia,” this name is not given to many babies in the United States and has never cracked the top 1,000.
Lucian
- origin: Latin
- significance: light, moonlight
- Famous namesakes: St. Lucian of Antioch (theologian), Lucien Giggs (protagonist in “St. Lucian”) Sierra Leone)
- Peak of popularity: Lucian’s popularity peaked in 2023, when it ranked 487th among baby names.
Luna
- origin: Latin
- significance: moon
- Famous namesakes: Luna Lovegood (movie character) harry potter series), Luna Maximoff (character in Marvel comics), Luna Bryce (American actress)
- Peak of popularity: Luna is a very popular name for baby girls, peaking in the top ten in 2023 and 2022.
Rakesh
- origin: Hindi
- significance: lord of full moon
- Peak of popularity: Despite the interesting nickname “Rake,” the nickname is not commonly used in the United States and has never made the top 1,000 baby names.
selena
- origin: greek
- significance: moon, moon goddess
- Famous namesakes: Selena Gomez (pop singer, former Disney star), Selena Quintanilla (Tejano singer)
- Peak of popularity: Selena first appeared in the top 1000 names in 1900 and has been in the top 1000 since 1958. Ranked 203rd and ranked 229th in 2023.
titan
- origin: greek
- significance: Defender (also the name of Saturn’s largest moon)
- Famous namesakes: Titan Leeds (American yearbook publisher), Titan (character in Marvel comics)
- Peak of popularity: The name Titan has been among the top 1,000 baby names since 2012, peaking in 2017 at number 621.
moon
- origin: Japanese
- significance: moon
- Peak of popularity: Tsuki is not a commonly used name in the United States and has never made the top 1,000 baby names.
Zenith
- origin: English
- significance: The point where the Moon is directly overhead and at an angle of 90 degrees to the Earth.
- Peak of popularity: Despite its cute nickname, Zenith is not a common name choice in the United States and has never made the top 1,000 baby names.
Cute baby names that mean the moon
The moon connects us to the universe, it is also a wonderful and mysterious thing that bathes the world in its elegant silvery light. For more moon-related baby names, look no further than this list of cute names.
- swinging moon
- Alcay
- Callisto
- carmen
- That
- Chanari
- Chantala
- diketone
- Janus
- Lunet
- Mani
- Neoma
- gold
- Noure
- phoebe
- Rhea
- speech
- Sassi
- Selene
- titanium dioxide
- Umbriel
- for
Unique baby names that represent the moon
Some parents looking for baby names that mean “moon” want a unique choice, but the name can’t be found on every backpack at school. Here are some of our favorite original baby names inspired by the moon.
- Einar
- omnipotent
- chandra
- Charon
- Despina
- Excellent
- Esmere
- Youant
- galatea
- Himalaya
- hydra
- India
- a month
- lunafreya
- moon
- Light
- March
- Neoma
- Oberon
- tray
- healthy
- ocean
- sercino
- Taiang
- Zulay
- Zuna Air
Short baby names meaning moon
There’s something special about short baby names related to the moon. Not only do short names make it easier for children to learn, they’re also less likely to be nicknamed or abbreviated (if that’s important to you). Plus, short baby names are catchy and make an instant impression!
- athens
- atlas
- Deva
- Yes
- Elara
- Elsa
- kale
- without any
- Leda
- Lua
- Lu’an
- wall
- cancer
- Sellier
- Ymir
Classic baby names that represent the moon
While most moon-inspired names are unique in nature, they can also have a classic feel. Check out some of our favorites below.
- Ariel
- artemis
- Ethel
- Bianca
- Selimene
- Charlton
- Chanda
- Cressida
- Selin
- Devana
- Elena
- Francisco
- Heart
- Helena
- kamalia
- Larissa
- lamp
- Runes
- Lisicia
- Miranda
- Pandya
- Rosalind
Tips for naming your child
Your baby’s name is one of the first gifts you give them. Choosing a name may seem daunting, but the process should be fun. Take your time and don’t put too much pressure on yourself. No matter which name you choose, it will suit your child.
In the meantime, here are some additional baby naming tips to remember.
- Start by exploring all types of names and developing a list of options.
- Consider the real-life role of each name—you want your child to be able to introduce themselves without feeling self-conscious or awkward.
- Consider popular names and unique names. Having a popular name means the nickname is popular, while a unique name is fun and original.
- Test each name on the list by incorporating it into everyday conversation.
- Look at your child’s potential initials to make sure they don’t spell something embarrassing.
- Make sure your baby’s name isn’t too difficult to spell or pronounce.
- Think about what your baby’s name rhymes with and how people shorten it.
- Resist the pressure to find the perfect baby name; no matter what, you’re unlikely to choose the wrong name for your baby!