Moon names carry something almost universally irresistible: a sense of mystery, luminosity, and quiet power that works just as well for a fictional heroine as for a real baby. The moon has been named, worshipped, and written into mythology by nearly every culture on earth, and that long history has left a stunning trail of names in its wake.
What counts here is a genuine connection. Every name below either literally means moon, derives from a word for moon, or belongs to a moon deity or moon figure with a name that has crossed into real given-name use. No stretching, no “vibes.”
Classic Moon Names from Greek and Roman Mythology
The Greco-Roman tradition gave us some of the most recognizable moon deities in history, and their names have been in human use for centuries.
Selene
The Greek goddess of the moon herself, Selene is the most direct Greek moon name there is. It comes from the Greek selasmeaning brightness or light, and it has a flowing, three-syllable elegance that feels both ancient and completely fresh.
Luna
Latin for moon, pure and simple. Luna was the Roman moon goddess, and the name has become one of the most popular moon names in the modern world, riding a huge wave in many Western countries. It is warm, easy to say in almost any language, and genuinely beautiful.
Diana
The Roman goddess of the hunt and the moon, Diana derives from the Latin root divusmeaning divine or heavenly. She is one of the most enduring goddess names in the Western tradition, and the name has never really gone out of use.
Artemis
The Greek counterpart to Diana, Artemis was the goddess of the moon, the hunt, and the wilderness. The name’s etymology is debated, but its identity as a moon name is rock solid. It has a striking, slightly severe sound that gives it real character.
Phoebe
One of the epithets of Artemis as the moon goddess, Phoebe comes from the Greek phoibosmeaning bright or radiant. It is also the name of a Titaness associated with the moon in early Greek myth. Phoebe has been a popular given name for centuries and is currently a strong choice in English-speaking countries.
Cynthia
Another epithet of Artemis, Cynthia refers to her birthplace on Mount Cynthus on the island of Delos. It became a poetic name for the moon in classical literature and was widely used as a given name from the Renaissance onward, peaking in mid-twentieth-century America.
Lucina
A Roman goddess associated with light and the moon, Lucina derives from luxLatin for light, specifically in her role as the goddess who brings things to light. She was sometimes identified with Diana. The name is rare today, which makes it feel genuinely distinctive.
Moon Names from Other Mythological Traditions
Beyond Greece and Rome, moon deities appear across Norse, Hindu, Aztec, and other traditions, and several of their names have made real inroads as given names.
Mani
In Norse mythology, Mani is the personification of the moon, a male figure who drives the moon’s chariot across the sky. The name is short, strong, and used as a given name in Scandinavia and parts of South Asia with entirely different roots. As a Norse moon name, it has a quietly mythic quality.
Chandra
Sanskrit for moon, Chandra is both a name and a title for the Hindu moon god. It is widely used as a given name across South Asia for people of any gender, and it carries connotations of luminosity and beauty rooted in Sanskrit poetry.
Soma
In Vedic tradition, Soma is another name for the moon deity as well as the sacred ritual drink associated with the gods. As a given name it is used in South Asian cultures, and it has a soft, unusual sound that travels well internationally.
Tecuciztecatl
The Aztec god of the moon, Tecuciztecatl is far more of a character name than a baby name, but it is a genuine given name in its mythological tradition. If you are building a world or writing fiction rooted in Mesoamerican mythology, this is the real thing.
Alignak
In Inuit mythology, Alignak is the god of the moon and weather. The name is authentic and rare, and for a character name set in an Arctic or indigenous-inspired world, it carries real mythological weight.
Names That Mean Moon in Various Languages
Some of the most beautiful moon names are simply the word for moon in another language, used as given names by speakers of those languages.
Aylin
A Turkish name meaning moonlight or halo of the moon, Aylin is one of the most popular given names in Turkey and has spread into use in other countries. It has a gentle, lyrical sound and a completely genuine lunar meaning.
Ay
The Turkish and Azerbaijani word for moon, Ay is used as a given name and appears as a component in many compound names. It is spare and striking as a standalone name, though it is more commonly found in combination.
Ayla
While Ayla has several origins, in Turkish it means moonlight or halo around the moon, derived from ay. It is used as a given name in Turkey and has become popular internationally, partly through Jean Auel’s character in The Clan of the Cave Bear.
Marama
In Maori, Marama means moon as well as light and understanding. It is used as a given name in New Zealand and among Maori communities, and it carries a depth of meaning that goes beyond simple luminosity.
Tsuki
Japanese for moon, Tsuki is used as a given name in Japan and appears in many compound names. It has a clean, minimal sound that works beautifully on its own.
Mizuki
A Japanese name that can be written with characters meaning beautiful moon, Mizuki is one of the most popular feminine given names in Japan. The reading and meaning depend on the kanji chosen by parents.
Kuu
Finnish for moon, Kuu is used as a given name in Finland. It is extremely spare and sounds almost like a breath, which gives it an ethereal quality that is hard to manufacture.
Levana
A Hebrew name meaning moon or white, Levana appears in Jewish tradition and has been used as a given name in Israel and in Jewish communities. It has a soft, flowing sound and a strong sense of identity.
Qamar
Arabic for moon, Qamar is a genuine given name used across the Arabic-speaking world and in Muslim communities globally. It works for any gender and has a strong, resonant sound.
Badr
Arabic for full moon, Badr is a masculine given name used throughout the Arab world and in Muslim communities. It carries connotations of completeness and beauty associated with the full moon in classical Arabic poetry.
Hilal
Arabic for crescent moon, Hilal is used as a given name in Arabic-speaking countries and Muslim communities. The crescent is one of the most symbolically loaded forms of the moon, and the name has an elegant, precise meaning.
Moon-Derived Names with Latin and European Roots
Latin’s influence spread the word for moon across Romance languages and into European naming traditions, leaving a cluster of names with genuine lunar ancestry.
Lunetta
An Italian diminutive of Luna, Lunetta means little moon. It is used as a given name in Italy and has a charming, soft quality that makes it feel warmer than plain Luna while keeping the meaning intact.
Lunara
A feminine given name found in some European and Latin American communities, built directly on the Latin luna. It is rarer than Luna but has a more elaborate, romantic sound.
Lusine
An Armenian name derived from the Armenian word for moon, lusin. Lusine is a genuine given name used in Armenia and among Armenian communities worldwide, and it has a delicate, musical quality.
Moon Names for Boys
Moon names skew feminine in many traditions, but there is a real set of masculine moon names with genuine mythological and linguistic roots.
Jericho
The ancient city of Jericho takes its name from a Semitic root related to the moon, likely from the word yareachHebrew for moon. Jericho is used as a masculine given name today and carries this ancient lunar etymology alongside its biblical associations.
Muraco
A Native American name, specifically from some Algonquian-speaking peoples, meaning white moon. It is used as a masculine given name and has a strong, unusual sound.
Ainar
A Kazakh masculine name meaning moonlight. It is used in Kazakhstan and Central Asia, and like many Central Asian names, it has a clean, direct construction that makes the meaning immediately apparent.
Aydin
A Turkish masculine name meaning bright, enlightened, or of the moon, from the root ay (moon). It is one of the most common masculine given names in Turkey and has spread into use in other countries with Turkish diaspora communities.
Coyolxauhqui
The Aztec goddess of the moon, Coyolxauhqui (meaning she of the golden bells) is a genuinely powerful figure in Mesoamerican mythology. As a given name it belongs firmly in the character-naming space, but it is real and significant.
Gender-Neutral Moon Names
Several moon names sit comfortably in the middle, used for any gender across different cultures.
Hala
An Arabic name meaning halo around the moon, Hala is used across the Arab world for girls and occasionally boys. It has a soft, open sound and a meaning that is quietly poetic.
Ariel
While Ariel has multiple meanings, one of its Hebrew readings connects to the concept of the lion of God, but in specific Semitic traditions, it has also been used as a moon-associated name. This is a borderline entry: Ariel’s lunar connection is genuine in some traditions but not its primary etymology, so it sits at the edge of this list.
Mond
German for moon, Mond is used as a given name in some German-speaking communities, though it is rare. For a character name with a Germanic or Central European feel, it is direct and striking.
Moon Names Drawn from Astronomy
The moons of other planets have been given names drawn from mythology, and several of those names have crossed into use as given names for children and characters.
Callisto
One of Jupiter’s largest moons, Callisto takes her name from a nymph in Greek mythology associated with Artemis. The name means most beautiful in Greek, and it is used as a feminine given name. The moon connection layers nicely on top of the classical mythology.
Io
Another of Jupiter’s moons, Io is named for a priestess of Hera in Greek myth. It is an extremely spare two-letter name that has a genuine classical pedigree and is used as a given name. Bold, minimal, and completely real.
Rhea
A moon of Saturn named for the Titan goddess in Greek mythology. Rhea is used widely as a given name and has been climbing in popularity. It has a clean, strong sound and a layered mythological background.
Titania
The largest moon of Uranus, named for the Queen of the Fairies in Shakespeare’s A Midsummer Night’s Dream. Titania is used as a given name and has a grand, theatrical quality that works brilliantly for a character.
Oberon
Another moon of Uranus, named for the King of the Fairies from Shakespeare. Oberon is used as a masculine given name and has a literary, slightly otherworldly quality that makes it compelling for both babies and characters.
Rare and Underused Moon Names Worth Knowing
These are the moon names that deserve far more attention than they currently get.
Meztli
The Aztec word for moon and the name of the moon deity, Meztli is used as a given name in Mexico and among Mexican communities. It has a strong, distinctive sound and a direct connection to one of the great mythological traditions of the Americas.
Aine
An Irish name meaning brightness or radiance, Aine is associated in Irish mythology with the moon as well as with sovereignty and the sun. It is a genuine given name with deep roots in Irish tradition, pronounced roughly AHN-ya.
Ayasha
A Native American feminine name, used in some Chippewa and Ojibwe traditions, meaning little one or moonflower. It is a genuine given name with a soft, flowing sound.
Cece
This is not a moon name — removing this entry to maintain accuracy.
How to Choose a Moon Name That Actually Fits
The first question worth asking is whether you want the connection to be obvious or layered. Luna announces itself immediately; Phoebe or Cynthia carry the moon meaning more quietly, as classical allusions. Both approaches are valid, but they create very different impressions.
Think about the cultural origin and whether it connects to your own background or the character’s world. Chandra belongs to South Asian tradition; Marama belongs to Maori culture. Qamar belongs to Arabic-speaking communities. Using a name from a living culture with no connection to your own is a choice worth making consciously and respectfully.
Sound matters enormously. A moon name is often chosen for its luminous, floating quality, and many of the best ones — Selene, Aylin, Lusine — have that naturally. But Artemis and Badr and Io have a completely different energy: crisp, strong, direct. Match the sound to the personality you are imagining, whether that is a real child or a fictional character.
Finally, consider rarity versus recognition. Luna is beautiful and popular, which means your child will share it. Levana, Muraco, or Kuu carry the same genuine meaning with far less competition. Neither path is wrong, but knowing which you are choosing makes the decision feel more intentional.
Moon names are one of the few naming categories where the mythology, the linguistics, and the pure sound all tend to align. Whatever language or tradition draws you in, the moon has left its name in good hands.
