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Names That Mean Moon

Moon names have a quiet pull. They’re soft without being vague, and they travel well across cultures — Latin luna, Greek selene, Sanskrit chandra, Arabic qamar, Turkish ay. If you want names that mean moon, start with the classics, then branch into lunar nicknames and nature-adjacent picks.

Below: girl, boy, and unisex lists with origin notes. A few entries mean “moonlight” or “of the moon” rather than the bare word “moon”; we’ve marked those so you can choose how direct you want the meaning to be.

Girl names that mean moon

Name Origin Meaning
Luna Latin Moon
Selene Greek Moon (goddess)
Cynthia Greek From Mount Cynthus; epithet of Artemis / moon association
Diana Latin Roman goddess linked with the moon
Artemis Greek Goddess associated with the moon and the hunt
Aylin Turkish Moon-related (ay = moon)
Ayla Turkish Halo of light around the moon / moonlight
Qamar / Qamari Arabic Moon
Mahina Hawaiian Moon
Tsuki Japanese Moon (as a word/name element; kanji-dependent)
Yue Chinese Moon
Chandra (f. use) Sanskrit Moon (more often masculine historically; modern unisex/feminine use exists)
Indu Sanskrit Moon
Sasi / Shashi Sanskrit Moon
Metztli Nahuatl Moon
Haliya Philippine mythology contexts Moon-related figure (verify cultural use)
Celeste Latin Heavenly; often paired with moon/star sets
Stella Latin Star (companion theme; not moon itself)
Mona Multiple In some Irish/Arabic paths debated; “moon” is not the primary scholarly meaning — prefer Luna/Selene for clarity
Lunet / Lunette French diminutives Little moon

Boy names that mean moon

Name Origin Meaning
Chandra Sanskrit Moon
Qamar Arabic Moon
Hilal Arabic Crescent moon
Rakesh Sanskrit Lord of the full moon (traditional gloss)
Indu Sanskrit Moon
Shashi / Sasi Sanskrit Moon
Mayank Sanskrit Moon
Vidhu Sanskrit Moon
Sasanka Sanskrit Moon (poetic)
Aybars Turkish Moon + leopard (ay = moon)
Moon English Moon (word name)

Unisex & modern lunar picks

Name Origin Meaning
Luna Latin Moon (increasingly unisex in some regions)
Moon English Moon
Soluna Modern blend Sun + moon
Lunar English (word) Of the moon
Crescent English Crescent moon shape
Silver English Lunar color imagery
Night English Night (adjacent vibe)
Sky English Sky (adjacent)
Ren Japanese / other Varied meanings by language; only include if kanji/etymology supports moon — otherwise cut

Pairing moon names with siblings or middles

Moon pairs beautifully with light, peace, and water themes (names that mean water). For twin sets, soft lunar + bright solar (Luna & Sol, Selene & Apollo) is a classic literary pattern — see also Japanese twin names if you want culturally matched pairs.

FAQ

What name means moon for a girl?
Luna and Selene are the most direct. Ayla and Aylin carry strong Turkish moon associations.

What boy name means moon?
Chandra, Qamar, and Hilal are among the clearest.

Is Luna only a girl name?
It’s predominantly feminine in English-speaking countries, but usage can vary by place and family.

Does Cynthia really mean moon?
Cynthia began as an epithet tied to Artemis and Mount Cynthus; the moon link is mythological rather than a dictionary word for “moon.”

Any Japanese moon names?
Tsuki means moon as a word; given names may use moon-related kanji. Cross-check Japanese girl names.

Why moon names feel different from star names

Star names (Stella, Esther’s folk associations, Astra) point upward and sharp; moon names tend to feel cyclical and soft. That’s useful when you’re building a sibling set: a moon first name with a light or water middle keeps the theme without stacking three celestial words in a row.

If you’re drawn to Japanese forms, remember that moon meanings are kanji-dependent — Mizuki is a common “beautiful moon” direction in English guides, while Tsuki as a standalone given name is less typical than as an element. Cross-check the Japanese girl names hub before you lock spelling.

For pets, Luna remains one of the most borrowed moon names on dog parks worldwide; if you want the meaning without the chart-topper feel, try Hilal, Ayla, or Zephyr-adjacent night sets from the wind list for contrast.