Names That Mean Moon, Real Meanings and Origins
Moon-related names come from a wide range of languages, and unlike some meaning categories, this one has genuine international breadth rather than concentrating in just one or two languages.
Names that mean moon or moonlight
- Luna (Latin, the most widely used moon name, tied to the Roman moon goddess and currently one of the most popular girls’ names in the US)
- Kuu (Finnish, the direct word for moon)
- Nuray (Turkish, meaning bright moon, used for both boys and girls)
- Gunay (Turkish, meaning a moon seen in daylight)
- Getsumei (Japanese, meaning moonlight, used for both genders)
- Luan (Portuguese, meaning moon; a separate, unrelated meaning of lion exists in Albanian)
Frequently asked questions
What is the most popular name that means moon?
Luna is by far the most widely used, currently ranking among the most popular girls’ names in the US.
Are there gender-neutral names that mean moon?
Yes. Getsumei (Japanese) and Nuray (Turkish) are both used across genders.
Does Luan mean moon in every language that uses it?
No. It means moon in Portuguese but carries a completely separate meaning, lion, in Albanian, since the two languages developed the sound independently.
Related reading
Related concept pages: names that mean sun, names that mean star, names that mean light.