| Name | What Makes It “Moon” | Origin | Pronunciation Tip | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Luna | Literal word for “moon” | Latin | LOO-nuh | Straightforward, widely recognized |
| Selene | Literal word for “moon” | Greek | seh-LEE-nee | Classic sound; myth-friendly |
| Mah | Literal word for “moon” | Persian | MAH | Short, bright, easy to spell |
| Tsukiyomi | Moon deity association | Japanese (myth) | tsoo-kee-YOH-mee | Rare as a given name; strong lore |
| Chang’e | Moon goddess association | Chinese (myth) | CHAHNG-uh | Iconic story; special character spelling |
Looking for names that mean moon that actually feel usable, not like a museum label? This page is built for moon baby names, lunar meaning, and the kind of “moon-themed” picks people search when they want something calm, elegant, and a little magical.
One important thing: moon meaning can be literal (the word “moon” itself), or it can be myth-linked (a moon deity), or it can be imagery (moonlight, crescent, halo). That’s why you’ll see names that mean moon separated into clear buckets, so the meaning stays honest and the choices stay useful.
If you’re searching phrases like “names that mean moon”, “moon baby names”, or “{language} moon meaning names”, the sections below are designed to help you compare meaning type, origin, and pronunciation fast.
Table of Contents
Moon Meaning and Lunar Name Ideas
- Literal “Moon”
- The name is the actual word for “moon” in its language, or a very direct form of it.
- Moon Deity Link
- The name is tied to a moon god or moon goddess in mythology or traditional stories.
- Moon Imagery
- Meaning leans toward moonlight, crescent, halo, or a poetic lunar metaphor rather than the literal word.
In practice, people browsing names that mean moon usually want one of two things: a clean literal meaning they can explain in one sentence, or a moon-linked story that gives the name a richer vibe. This article gives you both, and it keeps the labels clear.
Small naming note: A name can be moon-linked without literally translating to “moon.” That’s normal in myth-based naming, and the list below always tells you which kind you’re looking at.
Top Picks: 12 Moon-Meaning Names
Luna
Type: Literal “moon” • Origin: Latin • Use: Girl / Unisex
A direct, friendly moon name with a clean meaning: “moon”. Short spelling, easy sound, strong lunar vibe.✅Source
Selene
Type: Literal “moon” • Origin: Greek • Use: Girl
Elegant and classic. In Greek, it’s tied to the moon as a word and as a myth name, which makes it feel both meaningful and timeless.✅Source
Mah
Type: Literal “moon” • Origin: Persian • Use: Unisex (often used in compounds)
Minimalist and bright. Persian mah is literally “moon,” and it also shows up inside longer names, which gives you lots of variant potential.✅Source
Diana
Type: Moon deity link • Origin: Roman • Use: Girl
Often picked for a moon-linked feel in Western naming. It’s not the literal word “moon,” but it’s a familiar name with night-sky energy.
Artemis
Type: Moon deity link • Origin: Greek • Use: Girl
A strong choice when you want lunar association without using the literal word. The sound is bold, the nickname options are friendly, and the myth link is well known.
Phoebe
Type: Moon epithet link • Origin: Greek • Use: Girl
Light, playful, and still classic. It’s used for moon-linked naming because it connects to a bright and celestial vibe.
Cynthia
Type: Moon epithet link • Origin: Greek • Use: Girl
A polished option when you want moon association with a very familiar structure. It reads classic, sounds smooth, and feels professional too.
Chandra
Type: Moon deity link • Origin: Indian traditions • Use: Unisex (varies by region)
A well-known moon deity name in South Asia. It’s often chosen for a calm, luminous meaning set, with night-sky symbolism.✅Source
Soma
Type: Moon deity link • Origin: Indian traditions • Use: Unisex
Used in South Asian naming with a lunar association in many contexts. Short, distinctive, and easy to combine as a middle name.
Tsukiyomi
Type: Moon deity link • Origin: Shintō mythology • Use: Rare (more lore-driven)
A direct moon god reference from Japanese tradition. It’s memorable and dramatic, usually chosen by people who want the story to be part of the name.✅Source
What “Moon” Can Mean in Names
When people say “names that mean moon”, they don’t always mean the same thing. Some want a dictionary definition. Others want lunar symbolism. Here are the main meaning paths, with clear labels so you can pick what fits.
- Direct translation: the actual word “moon” in a language (cleanest meaning).
- Myth name: a moon deity or legendary figure connected to the moon (story-based).
- Epithet and title: a poetic label used for the moon (often very specific and literary).
- Moonlight imagery: words that evoke the moon (light, glow, crescent, halo) without being the literal word.
If you want the strictest meaning: focus on direct translation names. If you want more options while staying accurate, mix in myth names and keep the label visible.
Big List: Moon Names By Style
This is the discovery zone: a big set of moon baby names with quick tags. Some are literal “moon” names, some are moon deity names, and some are moon-imagery picks. The tag is the important part.
Girl Names
- Luna literal Latin
- Selene literal Greek
- Selena variant Greek-linked
- Diana deity link Roman
- Artemis deity link Greek
- Phoebe epithet link Greek
- Cynthia epithet link Greek
- Chang’e deity link Chinese
- Lunae style form Latin-linked
- Lunaria moon imagery Latinate
- Lunette moon imagery French-style
- Lucine light imagery soft lunar vibe
- Aylin moon imagery modern
- Ayla moon imagery modern
- Hala halo imagery short
- Leila night imagery lunar-adjacent
- Layla night imagery lunar-adjacent
- Nisha night imagery South Asian
- Rhiannon myth vibe sky feel
- Ariadne myth vibe silvery feel
Boy Names
- Chandra deity link South Asian
- Soma deity link South Asian
- Tsukiyomi deity link Japanese
- Mani myth link Norse
- Khonsu deity link Egyptian
- Sin deity link Mesopotamian
- Nanna deity link Mesopotamian
- Aster sky imagery bright feel
- Orion sky imagery night vibe
- Altair sky imagery sleek
- Atlas myth vibe cosmic
- Castor sky imagery classic
- Nox night imagery short
- Luan sound-alike moonish
- Mah literal Persian
Unisex Names
- Luna literal Latin
- Mah literal Persian
- Soma deity link South Asian
- Chandra deity link South Asian
- Aylin moon imagery modern
- Ayla moon imagery modern
- Lior light imagery clean
- Elio sky imagery bright
- Noor light imagery glow
- Stella sky imagery starry
Names By Origin and Tradition
This section is for people searching “{language} moon meaning names”. Each mini-list keeps the meaning path clear: literal word, deity link, or imagery. That way your moon name choice stays accurate and still feels fun.
Latin and Romance
Luna is the cleanest literal pick here. If you like a simple meaning and global recognition, Latin-root moon baby names tend to feel approachable and easy to spell.
- Luna literal
- Lunaria moon imagery
- Lunae style form
- Lunette moon imagery
Greek
Greek gives you both: literal moon and moon-linked myth. If you want the meaning to be explainable in one breath, go with Selene. If you want association and a softer feel, variants help.
- Selene literal
- Selena variant
- Phoebe epithet link
- Cynthia epithet link
- Artemis deity link
Persian
Persian mah is a literal “moon” word, and it’s famous for being used inside longer names. If you like short cores with lots of expandability, this origin is a strong match.
- Mah literal
- Mahin mah-based
- Mahtab mah-based
- Mahsa mah-based
South Asian Traditions
If your search is moon baby names with deep symbolism, South Asian traditions include well-known moon deity names and a lot of poetic moon titles. You’ll see both Chandra and shorter picks like Soma used in real naming.
- Chandra deity link
- Soma deity link
- Kṣapānātha poetic “moon”
- Kṣapāpati poetic “moon”
Japanese Myth
For a bold myth choice, Tsukiyomi is a direct moon deity reference. It’s usually chosen for the story connection more than for everyday simplicity, so it’s a very intentional lunar pick.
- Tsukiyomi deity link
Chinese Myth
Chang’e is one of the best-known moon goddess figures. As a name choice, it’s usually for families who enjoy literary and cultural meaning and don’t mind explaining the spelling.
- Chang’e deity link
Spotlight: Moon-Linked Favorites
Luna
Luna is the most “say it once and everyone gets it” option among names that mean moon. The meaning is literal and clean, which makes it easy to explain without a long story. In English it usually lands as “LOO-nuh,” and the spelling is stable across a lot of regions. If you like names that feel soft but not childish, Luna is a sweet spot: short, rounded sound, and a strong lunar meaning.
Variants tend to be style-based rather than meaning-based, so you’ll see people riff on it for a different vibe (more formal, more rare, more decorative). The core appeal stays the same: moon meaning with a name that reads modern and familiar at the same time. It’s also one of the easiest moon baby names to pair with a longer middle name.
Selene
Selene is a classic pick for people who want Greek origin plus a direct moon meaning. It feels elegant without feeling complicated. In English you’ll often hear “seh-LEE-nee,” and it keeps a graceful rhythm that works well with both short and long last names.
One nice thing about Selene is that it sits between “rare” and “recognizable.” It’s not everywhere, but the spelling is still intuitive. It also has close-feel relatives like Selena, which many people use when they want a more modern sound while keeping the moon-linked core. If your goal is “meaning first,” Selene stays one of the clearest entries in the names that mean moon category.
Mah
Mah is a minimalist literal option: short, bright, and direct. It’s especially interesting because it’s not only used on its own, but it also appears inside longer Persian names, which means you can keep the moon meaning while still getting something longer and more personalized. Pronunciation is usually a simple “MAH,” which makes it easy across many languages.
For people searching moon baby names with a global feel, Mah works because it’s short and doesn’t depend on a tricky consonant cluster. It also pairs nicely with middle names, since it doesn’t fight for attention. If you love the idea of variants, Mah is a strong root to explore.
Chandra
Chandra is a well-known moon-linked name in South Asian traditions. It’s often chosen for its calm, luminous feel and its clear celestial association. In English, people usually go with “CHAN-druh,” though the exact sound can shift by language and region. The name also works well because it’s easy to spell and easy to recognize once you’ve heard it once.
If you want meaning-first naming and you also want a name that carries a story link, Chandra fits nicely. It’s commonly treated as unisex in international contexts, even if usage patterns vary. In a list of names that mean moon, it stands out because it feels both traditional and modern depending on how you pair it with other names.
Tsukiyomi
Tsukiyomi is a direct myth-based option: a moon deity name tied to Japanese tradition. It’s not the kind of name you pick for “blend in.” You pick it because you want the moon story to be front and center. Pronunciation is usually handled in syllables (“tsoo-kee-YOH-mee”), and the romanization can vary a bit, which is worth knowing up front.
In a moon baby names list, Tsukiyomi fits the “statement pick” category. It’s also a good example of how moon meaning can come from a figure, not a dictionary word. If you like rare, lore-heavy naming, it delivers that lunar energy immediately.
Chang’e
Chang’e is one of the most recognizable moon-goddess names in Chinese mythology, which makes it a powerful story-based choice. As a baby name, it’s typically chosen by people who want a strong cultural reference and don’t mind that the spelling and punctuation (like the apostrophe in some romanizations) might require explanation. The sound is often rendered as “CHAHNG-uh” in casual English approximation, but exact pronunciation depends on the language context.
If you’re building a list of names that mean moon with myth depth, Chang’e is a headline option. It’s not the literal word “moon,” but it’s deeply moon-linked, and the association is immediate. It also pairs nicely with simpler middle names so the full name stays balanced and readable.
Variants and Spellings
With names that mean moon, variants usually fall into a few practical patterns: spelling tweaks, sound-softening, or a shift from literal to moon-linked. The goal is to keep the lunar meaning while making the name fit your style.
Common Variant Patterns
- Direct variant: Selene → Selena (same core feel, more modern sound).
- Style form: Luna → Lunae, Lunaria (keeps moon vibe, changes texture).
- Root expansion: Mah often appears inside longer names (lets you keep literal moon root with a longer full name).
- Lore-driven spelling: Tsukiyomi can appear with close romanization variants (same deity link; different transliteration choices).
Pronunciation reality check: If you want a no-explaining experience in English, Luna and Selene usually travel smoothly. If you love myth-heavy names, expect occasional spelling questions, and that’s fine.
FAQ
Frequently Asked Questions
Do all names on this page literally mean “moon”?
No. Some are literal “moon” names (the word itself), and some are moon deity or moon-imagery names. Each entry is tagged so the meaning type stays clear.
Which names are the most direct “moon meaning” picks?
If you want the strictest definition of names that mean moon, start with Luna, Selene, and Mah, since they’re used as literal “moon” words in their language contexts.
Are myth-based moon names “less correct” than literal ones?
Not at all. They’re just a different meaning path. A moon deity link is still a real, trackable association. It simply means the name is moon-linked rather than a direct dictionary translation.
Which moon names tend to be easiest in English pronunciation?
In many English settings, Luna and Selene are typically the smoothest. They’re short, familiar in structure, and don’t rely on uncommon sound patterns.
Is Tsukiyomi commonly used as a given name?
It’s usually a lore-forward choice rather than a mainstream everyday pick. People choose it because the moon deity meaning is the point, and they want that strong association.
How can I keep “moon meaning” but make the name feel more unique?
Look at variants and root expansions: examples include Selene → Selena or using a root like Mah inside a longer form. This keeps the lunar theme while changing the style.