There is something timeless about the moon.
It can feel calm and mysterious, bright and gentle, distant but familiar.
That makes moon-inspired names especially appealing if you want a baby name connected to nature, night, light, mythology, or the sky.
Some names literally mean moon. Others mean moonlight, moon-like, or have strong connections to lunar deities and mythology.
Whether you’re looking for something familiar like Luna or a rarer name with roots in another language, this list of names that mean moon offers plenty of inspiration.
Table of Contents
Girl Names That Mean Moon
Let’s start with names commonly used for girls.
1. Luna
Origin: Latin
Meaning: Moon
Luna is probably the best-known moon name today.
In Roman mythology, Luna was also the personification of the moon.
It’s short, recognizable, and easy to pair with many middle names.
2. Selene
Origin: Greek
Meaning: Moon
Selene is associated with the moon goddess in Greek mythology.
It has a softer, more classical feel than Luna.
3. Cynthia
Origin: Greek
Association: Moon goddess Artemis
Cynthia became an epithet associated with Artemis, who was linked with the moon.
It’s a traditional name with a subtle lunar connection rather than a literal “moon” meaning.
4. Diana
Origin: Latin / Roman
Association: Roman moon goddess
Diana was the Roman goddess associated with the moon, hunting, and nature.
It’s an established name with a strong mythological background.
5. Artemis
Origin: Greek
Association: Greek goddess connected with the moon
Artemis has a bold mythological feel.
While the name itself does not literally mean moon, the goddess became strongly associated with lunar imagery.
6. Chandra
Origin: Sanskrit
Meaning: Moon
Chandra is directly associated with the moon in Sanskrit and Hindu tradition.
It can be used across different naming traditions and has a clear celestial meaning.
7. Mahina
Origin: Hawaiian
Meaning: Moon
Mahina is a beautiful option for parents looking for something less common.
It has a soft sound and a direct lunar meaning.
8. Tsukiko
Origin: Japanese
Meaning: Moon child
Tsukiko traditionally combines elements associated with moon and child.
It has an unmistakably lunar feel.
9. Ayla
Origin: Turkish
Meaning: Halo of light around the moon
Ayla is often associated with moonlight or the halo surrounding the moon.
It’s short, modern-sounding, and easy to pronounce.
10. Aylin
Origin: Turkish
Meaning: Moon halo / belonging to the moon
Aylin has a graceful sound and strong lunar associations.
11. Aysel
Origin: Turkish
Meaning: Moon flood / moonlight
Aysel is another Turkish name built around the element ay, meaning moon.
12. Aysu
Origin: Turkish
Meaning: Moon water
Aysu combines the ideas of moon and water.
It has a very nature-inspired feel.
13. Aygül
Origin: Turkish
Meaning: Moon rose
This name combines lunar imagery with a flower.
14. Aysima
Origin: Turkish
Association: Moon-like brightness
Aysima is associated with a face or appearance shining like the moon.
15. Lucine
Origin: Armenian
Meaning: Moon
Lucine is an elegant Armenian name directly connected to the moon.
16. Lusine
Origin: Armenian
Meaning: Moon
Lusine is another Armenian form with the same lunar meaning.
17. Hala
Origin: Arabic
Meaning: Halo around the moon
Hala is short, simple, and connected with the glowing circle surrounding the moon.
18. Badria
Origin: Arabic
Association: Full moon
Badria comes from the same root associated with the full moon.
19. Badriya
Origin: Arabic
Meaning: Like the full moon
Badriya is another spelling variation with a bright lunar association.
20. Qamar
Origin: Arabic
Meaning: Moon
Qamar is a direct moon name and can be used across different naming traditions.
Beautiful Girl Names Inspired by Moonlight
Not every lunar name has to literally mean moon.
Some evoke moonlight, brightness, or the night sky.
21. Jyotsna
Origin: Sanskrit
Meaning: Moonlight
Jyotsna has a direct association with moonlight.
22. Chandni
Origin: Hindi / Sanskrit-derived
Meaning: Moonlight
Chandni is a beautiful name with a soft, glowing meaning.
23. Chandrika
Origin: Sanskrit
Meaning: Moonlight
Chandrika carries a graceful, luminous feel.
24. Indu
Origin: Sanskrit
Meaning: Moon
Indu is short and has traditional lunar associations.
25. Indumati
Origin: Sanskrit
Association: Moon-like / connected with the moon
Indumati has a classical feel and a strong celestial connection.
26. Raka
Origin: Sanskrit
Association: Full moon
Raka is traditionally associated with the full moon.
27. Purnima
Origin: Sanskrit
Meaning: Full moon
Purnima directly refers to the full-moon day in many South Asian traditions.
28. Soma
Origin: Sanskrit
Association: Moon
Soma has ancient religious and mythological associations, including connections with the moon.
29. Amaris
Association: Often used with moon-related interpretations
Amaris is sometimes connected in modern baby-name usage with moon imagery, although its etymology is less straightforward than literal moon names such as Luna or Chandra.
30. Elara
Origin: Greek mythology / astronomy
Association: Moon of Jupiter
Elara does not mean moon, but it is the name of one of Jupiter’s moons.
It’s a lovely choice if you prefer an astronomical connection.
Boy Names That Mean Moon
Moon names aren’t limited to girls.
There are plenty of masculine names with lunar meanings or strong lunar associations.
31. Chandra
Origin: Sanskrit
Meaning: Moon
Chandra can be used as a masculine name and is associated with the lunar deity in Hindu tradition.
32. Soma
Origin: Sanskrit
Association: Moon
Soma is traditionally connected with the moon and ancient mythology.
33. Badr
Origin: Arabic
Meaning: Full moon
Badr is a strong, concise boy name directly associated with the full moon.
34. Hilal
Origin: Arabic
Meaning: Crescent moon
Hilal refers to the crescent moon.
It has a clear lunar meaning and a distinctive sound.
35. Qamar
Origin: Arabic
Meaning: Moon
Qamar can also be used for boys depending on naming tradition and region.
36. Ayman
Some modern baby-name lists associate Ayman with lunar imagery, but its established meaning is more commonly related to being blessed or fortunate.
For a direct moon meaning, names such as Badr or Hilal are clearer choices.
37. Mayank
Origin: Sanskrit
Meaning: Moon
Mayank is a familiar masculine name in South Asia with a direct lunar meaning.
38. Himanshu
Origin: Sanskrit
Association: Moon / moonbeam
Himanshu is traditionally associated with the moon and its rays.
39. Shashank
Origin: Sanskrit
Meaning: Moon
Shashank is another traditional masculine name for the moon.
40. Nishakar
Origin: Sanskrit
Meaning: Maker of the night
Nishakar is a poetic term associated with the moon because it illuminates the night.
41. Nishant
Origin: Sanskrit
Meaning: End of night / dawn
Nishant doesn’t literally mean moon, but it fits beautifully in a night-sky naming theme.
42. Aydin
Origin: Turkish
Meaning: Bright / enlightened
Aydin isn’t literally a moon name, but its bright meaning can complement lunar-inspired naming.
43. Koray
Origin: Turkish
Association: Ember moon / glowing moon
Koray has lunar associations and a strong modern sound.
44. Jericho
Origin: Ancient place name
Possible association: Moon
Jericho has sometimes been linked etymologically with ancient lunar terminology, though its exact origin is debated.
It works better as a subtle lunar association than a direct “moon” translation.
45. Iah
Origin: Ancient Egyptian
Meaning: Moon
Iah was an ancient Egyptian lunar deity.
It’s very short and distinctly mythological.
Gender-Neutral Names That Mean Moon
Some moon names work beautifully regardless of gender.
46. Moon
Origin: English
Meaning: Moon
Sometimes the simplest option is the most direct.
Moon is rare as a given name but unmistakably celestial.
47. Qamar
Origin: Arabic
Meaning: Moon
Qamar can work across different naming traditions.
48. Chandra
Origin: Sanskrit
Meaning: Moon
Depending on culture and usage, Chandra may be used across genders.
49. Soma
Origin: Sanskrit
Association: Moon
Soma has an ancient, celestial feel that can work as a distinctive modern choice.
50. Ay
Origin: Turkish
Meaning: Moon
Ay is the Turkish word for moon and appears inside many longer Turkish names.
51. Lunar
Origin: Latin-derived modern word name
Meaning: Relating to the moon
Lunar is a very unusual modern option.
52. Crescent
Origin: English word name
Meaning: Crescent shape
Crescent isn’t a traditional given name, but it has an immediate moon connection.
53. Halo
Origin: Greek-derived word name
Association: Ring of light
Halo can evoke the glowing ring sometimes visible around the moon.
54. Sky
Origin: English
Meaning: Sky
Sky doesn’t mean moon, but it works naturally within a celestial naming theme.
55. Nova
Origin: Latin
Meaning: New
Astronomically, a nova is a star that suddenly becomes much brighter.
It isn’t a moon name, but it pairs well with other celestial choices.
Names Connected to Moon Goddesses
If you like mythology, lunar deities provide another source of inspiration.
56. Selene
Greek goddess and personification of the moon.
57. Luna
Roman personification of the moon.
58. Artemis
Greek goddess who became strongly associated with the moon.
59. Diana
Roman goddess associated with the moon and nature.
60. Hecate
A Greek goddess sometimes associated with the moon, night, magic, and crossroads.
61. Phoebe
Origin: Greek
Meaning: Bright, radiant
Phoebe was a Titan associated with brightness and later linked with lunar mythology.
62. Cynthia
A traditional epithet for Artemis derived from Mount Cynthus.
63. Rhiannon
Rhiannon belongs to Welsh mythology and is sometimes given modern lunar associations, although the original stories do not make her simply a “moon goddess.”
64. Arianrhod
A figure from Welsh mythology with strong celestial associations.
The name has sometimes been interpreted as relating to a silver wheel.
65. Chang’e
Origin: Chinese mythology
Association: Moon goddess
Chang’e is one of the most famous lunar figures in Chinese mythology.
Names Connected to Moon Gods
66. Khonsu
Origin: Ancient Egyptian
Association: Moon god
Khonsu was an Egyptian deity associated with the moon.
67. Iah
An ancient Egyptian lunar deity whose name is directly associated with the moon.
68. Mani
Origin: Norse mythology
Association: Personification of the moon
Máni is the male personification of the moon in Norse mythology.
69. Sin
Origin: Mesopotamian mythology
Association: Moon god
Sin, also called Nanna in Sumerian tradition, was an important lunar deity.
Because of the modern English meaning of the word “sin,” parents may prefer Nanna or another lunar name instead.
70. Nanna
Origin: Sumerian mythology
Association: Moon god
Nanna was a prominent Mesopotamian lunar deity.
71. Tsukuyomi
Origin: Japanese mythology
Association: Moon deity
Tsukuyomi is the moon god in Japanese mythology.
It’s a striking choice with a very strong cultural and mythological identity.
Names Inspired by the Crescent Moon
The crescent moon has its own symbolism and visual appeal.
72. Hilal
Arabic name meaning crescent moon.
73. Hila
A short name with Hebrew usage. While not literally “crescent moon,” its sound pairs naturally with Hilal-style lunar names.
74. Crescent
A direct English word-name option.
75. Aylin
Associated with the moon halo and lunar imagery.
76. Aysel
Another Turkish lunar name built around ay, meaning moon.
Full-Moon Names
The full moon often symbolizes brightness, completeness, and illumination.
77. Badr
Arabic name meaning full moon.
78. Badriya
Arabic name associated with the full moon.
79. Purnima
Sanskrit name meaning full moon.
80. Raka
Associated with the full moon in Sanskrit tradition.
81. Purna
Origin: Sanskrit
Meaning: Complete / full
It isn’t literally a moon name, but its meaning connects naturally with full-moon imagery.
Names Meaning Moonlight
If “moon” feels too direct, moonlight names can be softer.
82. Jyotsna
Meaning: Moonlight
83. Chandni
Meaning: Moonlight
84. Chandrika
Meaning: Moonlight
85. Aylin
Often associated with the halo or glow around the moon.
86. Ayla
Often interpreted as moon halo or moonlight.
87. Hala
Associated with the halo surrounding the moon.
88. Himanshu
Traditionally connected with moonbeams or the moon.
Astronomical Names Connected to Moons
Another option is choosing names from actual moons in our solar system.
These names don’t necessarily mean moon—they are names of moons.
89. Callisto
One of Jupiter’s largest moons.
Callisto also comes from Greek mythology.
90. Europa
One of Jupiter’s major moons.
It’s a dramatic and unusual celestial name.
91. Io
One of Jupiter’s largest moons.
Io is extremely short and originates in Greek mythology.
92. Elara
A moon of Jupiter.
93. Leda
A moon of Jupiter and a figure from Greek mythology.
94. Himalia
Another of Jupiter’s moons.
95. Phoebe
A moon of Saturn.
It also works as a familiar traditional first name.
96. Rhea
One of Saturn’s major moons.
Rhea is also a Titan in Greek mythology.
97. Dione
A moon of Saturn.
The name comes from Greek mythology.
98. Tethys
One of Saturn’s moons and the name of a Titan goddess.
99. Pandora
A moon of Saturn as well as a famous mythological name.
100. Ariel
One of Uranus’s moons.
Ariel is already familiar as a given name.
101. Miranda
A moon of Uranus.
Miranda has a classic literary feel as well.
102. Juliet
A moon of Uranus named after Shakespeare’s character.
103. Cordelia
Another moon of Uranus with a Shakespearean name.
104. Bianca
A moon of Uranus.
105. Ophelia
Another Uranian moon with a well-known literary name.
106. Titania
The largest moon of Uranus.
The name comes from Shakespeare’s A Midsummer Night’s Dream.
Rare Moon-Inspired Names
If you’re looking for something less familiar:
107. Lucine
Moon.
108. Mahina
Moon.
109. Tsukiko
Moon child.
110. Aysu
Moon water.
111. Aygül
Moon rose.
112. Shashank
Moon.
113. Mayank
Moon.
114. Koray
A Turkish name with lunar associations.
115. Khonsu
Egyptian moon god.
116. Tsukuyomi
Japanese moon deity.
117. Mani
Norse moon personification.
118. Raka
Associated with the full moon.
119. Indu
Moon.
120. Lusine
Moon.
Short Names That Mean Moon
If you prefer compact names:
- Ay
- Io
- Iah
- Indu
- Badr
- Hala
- Raka
- Luna
- Soma
- Mani
Short lunar names can work especially well with longer middle or last names.
Examples:
- Luna Genevieve
- Hala Josephine
- Badr Alexander
- Io Catherine
Moon Names for Girls
Some of the strongest feminine options include:
- Luna
- Selene
- Diana
- Cynthia
- Artemis
- Mahina
- Ayla
- Aylin
- Lucine
- Lusine
- Chandni
- Jyotsna
- Purnima
- Phoebe
- Rhea
- Elara
Moon Names for Boys
For boys, consider:
- Badr
- Hilal
- Chandra
- Mayank
- Shashank
- Himanshu
- Khonsu
- Mani
- Iah
- Koray
- Soma
- Nishakar
Modern-Sounding Moon Names
If you like names that feel contemporary:
- Luna
- Ayla
- Aylin
- Elara
- Rhea
- Nova
- Halo
- Sky
- Ariel
- Callisto
- Lucine
- Koray
Mythological Moon Names
For something with history and mythology:
- Selene
- Artemis
- Diana
- Cynthia
- Hecate
- Chang’e
- Khonsu
- Mani
- Tsukuyomi
- Nanna
- Iah
- Chandra
How to Choose a Moon-Inspired Baby Name
A theme can help narrow your list, but the name still needs to work for your family.
Decide How Direct You Want the Meaning to Be
Do you want a name that literally means moon?
Try:
- Luna
- Chandra
- Mahina
- Lucine
- Lusine
- Mayank
Or would you rather have a subtle lunar connection?
Try:
- Diana
- Artemis
- Phoebe
- Elara
- Rhea
- Ariel
Consider Pronunciation
Names from different languages can be beautiful, but learn their authentic pronunciation before choosing one.
That is especially important when a name comes from a culture or language you aren’t familiar with.
Check the Full Name
Say:
First + middle + last
several times.
A beautiful first name can feel completely different once you add the surname.
Check the Initials
It’s an easy step to forget.
Write down all the initials before making your final decision.
Think About Cultural Context
Some names carry strong religious, cultural, or mythological significance.
It’s worth learning about the name rather than choosing it purely because of how it sounds.
Middle Names for Moon-Inspired Names
Since we already have our Middle Names for Boys guide, we can also use lunar names as either first or middle names.
For girls:
- Luna Rose
- Luna Claire
- Selene Grace
- Ayla Mae
- Diana Claire
- Phoebe June
- Elara Rose
- Rhea Elise
For boys:
- Badr Alexander
- Hilal James
- Mayank Daniel
- Koray James
- Chandra Lee
- Mani Alexander
You can also reverse the combination:
- Sophia Luna
- Clara Selene
- James Badr
- Alexander Moon
Sometimes the lunar name works better as the middle.
Sibling Names That Pair With Moon Names
If you already have a Luna, you don’t necessarily need another celestial name.
But if you enjoy a subtle theme, consider:
Luna & Stella
Luna & Leo
Selene & Orion
Ayla & Nova
Diana & Apollo
Rhea & Atlas
The names don’t need to match perfectly.
A loose connection often feels more natural than an obvious theme.
Frequently Asked Questions
What baby name means moon?
Luna directly means moon in Latin, while names such as Chandra, Mahina, Lucine, Lusine, Mayank, and Qamar are also associated with the moon in their respective languages and traditions.
What girl names mean moon?
Girl names with strong lunar meanings or associations include Luna, Selene, Mahina, Ayla, Aylin, Lucine, Lusine, Chandni, Jyotsna, Purnima, Diana, and Artemis.
What boy names mean moon?
Boy names associated with the moon include Badr, Hilal, Chandra, Mayank, Shashank, Himanshu, Soma, Mani, and Iah.
What name means moonlight?
Names commonly associated with moonlight include Jyotsna, Chandni, Chandrika, Ayla, Aylin, and Hala.
What name means full moon?
Badr is an Arabic name meaning full moon, while Purnima is associated with the full moon in Sanskrit and South Asian traditions.
Is Luna a moon name?
Yes. Luna is the Latin word for moon and was also the Roman personification of the moon.
What are some rare moon names?
Less common options include Mahina, Lucine, Lusine, Tsukiko, Aysu, Raka, Shashank, Koray, Iah, Khonsu, and Tsukuyomi.
Are there gender-neutral moon names?
Depending on cultural usage, options such as Qamar, Chandra, Soma, Moon, Sky, and Halo can work as gender-neutral or modern celestial choices.
Final Thoughts
Names that mean moon can range from familiar and simple to rare and mythological.
You could choose the direct beauty of Luna, the classical feel of Selene, the strength of Badr, the softness of Ayla, or something unusual like Mahina or Lucine.
You can also look beyond literal meanings.
Names connected to moon goddesses, full moons, moonlight, and actual moons in our solar system all offer different ways to bring lunar inspiration into a baby’s name.
Make a shortlist.
Say each full name aloud.
Learn its origin and cultural context.
And then choose the one that feels right when you imagine calling your child by it for years to come.
The moon may be ancient, but a beautiful moon-inspired name can still feel completely your own.
