Baby Names That Mean Moon: Girl, Boy and Unisex Picks

Celestial names are having a moment, and the moon leads the way. Here is a curated list of baby names that mean moon or moonlight, sorted for girls, boys, and unisex, each with a real origin. Every meaning below is one we checked, so you can love the sound and still trust the story behind it.
Moon names span many cultures, from Latin and Greek to Arabic, Sanskrit, Turkish, and Hawaiian. That range is the fun part: the same idea, a hundred ways to say it. Pick the language that speaks to your family.
Girl names that mean moon
- Luna — Latin: the moon. The clearest, softest pick of all.
- Selene — Greek: the moon goddess who drove her chariot across the night.
- Selena — a warm variant of Selene, still tied to the moon.
- Chandra — Sanskrit: the moon; bright and easy to say.
- Jaci — Tupi: the moon, from Indigenous Brazil.
- Ayla — Turkish: moonlight, or the halo of light around the moon.
- Mahina — Hawaiian: the moon, with an island lilt.
- Neoma — Greek: the new moon, quietly rare.
- Qamar — Arabic: the moon, used for girls and boys.
- Hala — Arabic: the halo around the moon.
- Aylin — Turkish: the moon's halo.
- Mahtab — Persian: moonlight, poetic and old.
- Marama — Maori: the moon.
- Badra — Arabic: the full moon.
- Kamaria — Swahili: like the moon, or moonlight.
- Indu — Sanskrit: the moon; a bright drop of light.
Boy names that mean moon
- Chandra / Chander — Sanskrit: the moon, and the name of the Hindu moon god.
- Soma — Sanskrit: the moon, and an ancient moon-god.
- Indu — Sanskrit: the moon, worn by all genders.
- Shashi — Sanskrit: the moon.
- Shashank — Sanskrit: the moon.
- Mayank — Sanskrit: the moon.
- Himanshu — Sanskrit: the moon, the cool-rayed one.
- Qamar — Arabic: the moon.
- Badar — Arabic: the full moon.
- Hilal — Arabic: the crescent moon.
- Ay — Turkish: the moon, short and clean.
- Chandran — Tamil: the moon.
- Iah — Egyptian: an early moon god, also written Yah.
Unisex names that mean moon
Some moon names sit easily on any child. These unisex names that mean moon suit a girl or a boy alike. For more gender-neutral ideas, browse our guide to unique baby names.
- Tsuki — Japanese: the moon; rare and gentle as a given name.
- Chandra — Sanskrit: the moon.
- Qamar — Arabic: the moon.
- Kamaria — Swahili: like the moon.
- Aylin — Turkish: the moon's halo.
- Marama — Maori: the moon.
- Indu — Sanskrit: the moon.
- Shashi — Sanskrit: the moon.
- Badr — Arabic: the full moon.

Names inspired by the moon and night sky
These names do not directly mean moon, but each is tied to the moon or the night sky through myth or meaning. They belong here as moon-adjacent, celestial choices.
- Cynthia — Greek: an epithet of the moon goddess, from Mount Cynthus.
- Diana — Roman: a goddess long linked to the moon.
- Artemis — Greek: goddess of the hunt, tied to the moon.
- Phoebe — Greek: bright; a Titan associated with the moon.
- Nyx — Greek: the night itself, the moon's backdrop.
- Celeste — Latin: heavenly.
- Stella — Latin: star.
- Estelle — French, from Latin: star.
How to choose the right moon name
Start with the meaning and the sound. If both make you smile, you are close. A good name for your baby should feel warm in your mouth on an ordinary Tuesday, not only on paper. Read our full method for choosing a baby name if you want a clear process.
Say the name out loud with your surname. Listen for clashing sounds or an odd rhythm. Then check the pronunciation of the less common picks, like Mahtab or Shashank, so friends and family get it right the first time.
Think about nicknames too. Selene softens to Lena, Himanshu to Hima, Kamaria to Mari. A name that shortens well gives your child options as they grow.
FAQ
What girl name means moon?
Luna is the clearest: it is Latin for the moon. Selene, the Greek moon goddess, and Ayla, Turkish for moonlight, are lovely alternatives with the same glow.
What boy name means moon?
Chandra, also spelled Chander, is Sanskrit for the moon and names the Hindu moon god. Qamar, Arabic for the moon, suits boys well, and Hilal means the crescent moon.
Is there a unisex name that means moon?
Yes. Tsuki, Japanese for the moon, plus Qamar, Chandra, and Kamaria, meaning like the moon in Swahili, all sit comfortably on any child.
What name means moonlight?
For names that mean moonlight, Ayla from Turkish and Mahtab from Persian lead the way. Mahina, Hawaiian for the moon, carries a similar soft glow as a third option.
A name and a first glimpse
The moon has named children for as long as people have looked up. Whether you choose Luna, Chandra, or Kamaria, you are giving your baby a small piece of the night sky to carry.
Curious how a moon name might suit your little one? Try our AI baby generator to preview your future baby's face, then say the name out loud and see if it fits: meet your baby.

