Baby Names That Mean Moon: 40+ Celestial and Mystical Picks

There's a reason the moon has enchanted humanity forever — and a reason so many parents are drawn to naming a baby after it. The moon is gentle but powerful, constant but ever-changing, glowing softly in the dark. It governs the tides and the night, it's wrapped up in mystery and magic and dozens of goddesses across every culture. A name that means moon carries all of that: luminous, calming, a little mystical, and quietly feminine-or-not (there are gorgeous moon names for boys too).

This guide gathers 40+ baby names that mean moon, or are tied to it, from around the world — the direct translations, the radiant moon goddesses, and the soft lunar-adjacent gems. As always, you'll get origins, nicknames, and honest notes on how each wears, plus a clear sense of how "moon" names differ from their celestial cousins (star, sun, dawn) so you choose exactly the light you want. Let's go moon-gazing.

Names that mean "moon" directly

The direct hits — names that literally mean moon across different languages:

• Luna (Latin — "moon") — the queen of moon names: soft, beautiful, and hugely popular for very good reason.
• Mahina (Hawaiian — "moon") — island-lovely and rare.
• Chandra (Sanskrit — "moon") — used across genders, gentle and global.
• Qamar (Arabic — "moon") — radiant and uncommon.
• Marama (Maori — "moon, light") — soft and luminous.
• Hilal (Arabic — "crescent moon") — the new-moon crescent, fresh and meaningful.
• Tsuki / Tsukiko (Japanese — "moon" / "moon child") — delicate and poetic.
• Badar / Badr (Arabic — "full moon") — strong, often for boys.
• Aylin / Ayla (Turkish — "moon halo" / "moonlight") — beautiful and increasingly loved.

Luna is the obvious star (or, well, moon) — but if you adore the meaning and want rarity, Ayla, Mahina, and Aylin are gorgeous, easier-to-wear alternatives. A quick honest word on Luna, since it's the one everyone considers: it has rocketed up the charts in the last decade, so it no longer feels as rare as its mystical vibe suggests. That's no reason to rule it out if you love it — but if part of the appeal was distinctiveness, one of the global moon names above will give you the same luminous meaning with far more rarity.

The moon goddesses

Nearly every culture worshipped a moon deity, and their names make luminous, powerful choices — moon names with myth woven in:

• Selene (Greek — the moon goddess herself) — ethereal and rising; the original Luna.
• Diana / Artemis (Roman/Greek — goddesses of the moon and the hunt) — strong and classic.
• Phoebe (Greek — "bright," a Titan associated with the moon) — a sparky, beloved classic.
• Selena (Spanish form of Selene) — warm and melodic.
• Cynthia (Greek — an epithet of the moon goddess Artemis) — vintage, with nickname Cindy or the cooler Cyn.
• Ix Chel (Mayan — moon goddess) and Losna (Etruscan moon goddess) — for the truly rare.
• Rhiannon (Welsh — a goddess linked to the moon and a magical white horse) — lyrical and enchanting.

Selene and Phoebe are the standouts — Selene for full mystical drama, Phoebe for an easy, sunny classic that still nods to the moon.

Moon names for boys

Moon names lean feminine in the popular imagination, but there are genuinely handsome options for boys — gathered here so you don't have to hunt:

• Badr / Badar (Arabic — "full moon") — strong and crisp.
• Chandra / Chandran (Sanskrit — "moon") — works across genders.
• Hilal (Arabic — "crescent moon") — soft but masculine.
• Jericho (Hebrew — "city of the moon") — bold and characterful.
• Mani (Norse — the male personification of the moon) — short and Norse-cool.
• Apollo's twin aside — Quill/Qamar** for the daring.

Badr and Jericho are the most wearable for a boy — one soft and meaningful, one bold and surname-cool.

How "moon" differs from star, sun, and dawn

Since celestial names overlap, here's how to pick the right light — because moon, star, sun, and dawn each carry a different feeling:

• Moon (Luna, Selene) — gentle, mystical, calming, a little magical. The night's soft glow.
• Star (Stella, Esther, Hoshi) — sparkling, aspirational, "reach for the stars." See our star names guide.
• Sun (Elio, Soleil, Apollo) — warm, bold, radiant, energetic. See our sun names guide.
• Dawn (Aurora, Roxana) — hopeful, new beginnings, first light.

If the feeling you want is calm, dreamy, and quietly magical, moon is your light. For a broader sweep of the night sky, see our celestial names guide.

Crescents, full moons, and lunar magic

One of the loveliest things about moon names is that you can choose your phase — and each carries a slightly different feeling, which is a beautiful way to make the name even more personal:

• The crescent / new moon — fresh starts and gentle beginnings: Hilal (Arabic — crescent), Aylin (Turkish — moon halo), Neoma (Greek — new moon).
• The full moon — abundance and radiance: Badr (Arabic — full moon), Purnima (Sanskrit — full moon), Mahina (Hawaiian — full, glowing moon).
• Moonlight & glow — soft luminance: Ayla (moonlight), Marama (moon, light), Jaci (Tupi — moon).

Some parents even choose a name that matches the moon phase their baby was born under — a crescent name for a new-moon babe, a full-moon name for a full-moon night. It roots the name in the exact sky that watched over their arrival, which is about as magical as naming gets.

The moon's long association with intuition, femininity, tides, and transformation is exactly why these names feel so deep and mystical. A moon name suggests someone gentle yet powerful, changeable yet constant — like the moon itself, always returning, always quietly lighting the dark.

A moon name is a soft kind of magic — it glows rather than blazes, it changes yet always returns, and it watches gently over the dark. It says: you are luminous, even in the night.

Pairings and sibling sets

Middle names that flow: Luna Mae, Selene Rose, Phoebe Claire, Ayla Grace, Chandra Lee, Jericho James.

Sibling sets with a celestial thread: Luna & Orion (moon + the hunter constellation). Selene & Apollo (moon + sun — the classic mythological pair!). Phoebe & Atlas (moon + Titan). For siblings, pairing the moon with the sun or stars makes a gorgeous, intentional celestial set — a little family constellation where each child holds a different light in the same night sky. It's one of the most satisfying ways to theme a sibling set without it ever feeling matchy or forced.

Frequently Asked Questions

What baby names mean moon?

Names meaning moon include Luna (Latin), Selene (Greek moon goddess), Ayla (Turkish "moonlight"), Chandra (Sanskrit), Qamar (Arabic), and Mahina (Hawaiian).

What girl name means moon?

Luna is the classic choice, along with Selene, Ayla, Aylin, Phoebe, and Cynthia — all luminous, mystical girl names tied to the moon.

What boy name means moon?

Badr (Arabic, "full moon"), Chandra (Sanskrit), Hilal (crescent moon), Jericho (city of the moon), and Mani (Norse moon god) are handsome moon names for boys.

What names mean "moon goddess"?

Selene (Greek), Diana and Artemis (Roman/Greek), and Cynthia (an epithet of the moon goddess) all refer to moon goddesses — powerful, mythological choices.

Are there rare names that mean moon?

Yes — Mahina (Hawaiian), Aylin (Turkish), Marama (Maori), and Qamar (Arabic) all mean moon and feel beautifully distinctive next to the popular Luna.

How is a moon name different from a star or sun name?

Moon names (Luna, Selene) feel gentle, dreamy, and mystical; star names (Stella) feel sparkling and aspirational; sun names (Elio, Soleil) feel warm and bold; dawn names (Aurora) feel hopeful. Choose the light that matches the feeling you want.

🔗 More Baby Name Guides You'll Love

Ready to find your moon name?

Whether you want the beloved Luna, the goddess Selene, or a rare global gem like Ayla or Mahina, there's a luminous, mystical name here waiting — one that glows softly, just like your little one in the dark.

👉 Open the free Baby Name Builder and explore over 1,000 names by vibe, origin, and meaning. Swipe, save the ones that shimmer, and build a shortlist you love. No signup, no app — just you and a world of names. 💕

Which name had that soft, moonlit glow? Trust that quiet pull — start your shortlist today.