For centuries, humans have been fascinated and inspired by the moon. It has the power to impact the tides of the ocean, the gravity of the Earth, and — some say — even human behavior. It has given birth to legends of its ruling deities from cultures globally, been the subject of iconic art and written work, and inspired countless names for baby girls and baby boys across the world. The moon is a symbol of beauty, strength, and mystery, and has been for millennia.
Here’s a list of our favorite picks for baby names inspired by our amazing moon (and the more than 400 in our solar system), the ancient mythological characters associated with them, and the explorers and innovators who study them today.
Creative (Real-Life) Lunar Name Inspiration
1. Selene
Selene was the Greek goddess of the moon. In paintings, she is always depicted as very beautiful, and the Greek poet Hesiod described her as “rich-tressed.” So basically, Selene with the good hair.
2. Jericho
The name of this Palestinian city, ancient enough to have been mentioned in the Bible, comes from the Hebrew word yareakh, meaning “moon.”
3. Luna
Literally the Italian and Spanish word for “moon,” and the name of the Roman goddess of the moon — Selene’s Roman counterpart. It’s also the root word of words like “lunatic” and “lunacy,” since it was long believed that the moon has an effect on people’s moods; the Late Latin phrase was “lunaticus,” meaning “moon-struck.”
4. Aylin
A Turkish name that means “moon halo.” Folklore says that when a halo appears around the moon, stormy weather is coming up — and this is often proven to be true. This same meaning can be applied to the name Ayla.
5. Monday
Yes, it seems a weird addition to this list, but the word “Monday” actually comes from the Old English components mona (“moon”) and dæg (“day”). Sunday makes a little more sense now, too, doesn’t it?
6. Jacira
A name originating with the indigenous Tupi people of Brazil, Jacira is made up of two Tupi words: îasy, meaning “moon,” and ira, meaning “honey.” We’ve all heard the term “honeymoon baby” — and if you’re expecting one, it’s pretty much impossible to find a more fitting name.
7. Io
This is another one plucked from Greek mythology, but its association with the moon actually has something to do with a different moon: namely Io, the largest moon of Jupiter. (By the way… it’s pronounced eye-oh.)
8. Elara
Also, a moon of Jupiter (there are at least 101 of them), this one has a name too beautiful to leave off the list. It’s named for the Greek mythological character Elara, who was one of Zeus’s mortal lovers and bore a giant baby. Ouch.
9. Apollo
On July 20th, 1969, Apollo 11 became the first manned mission to land on the moon, so it’s only fitting to include this Greek name on the list. If you want a less mythological-sounding choice, there’s always Neil (after Neil Armstrong) or Edwin (the birth name of Buzz Aldrin), the first two astronauts to set foot on lunar terrain.
10. Mahina
“Mahina” is the Polynesian word for “moon,” derived from the Hawaiian moon goddess Hina. It is said that Hina was so beautiful that nobody would leave her alone, so she escaped to the moon for some peace and quiet. (We’d probably do the same, TBH.)
11. Meridian
This unique name is an astronomy term; the meridian is an invisible line that runs north and south, extending into the sky. The moon passes through the upper meridian to get to its highest point or zenith. *Cue “The More You Know” music*
12. Chandra
This means “moon” in Hindi and Sanskrit (though the non-English version is spelled like this: चंद्र). Though in English-speaking countries we tend to see this name as overwhelmingly female due to its A-ending, Chandra was actually a male lunar deity in Hindu mythology.
13. Titan
Saturn’s largest moon (fun fact: Saturn leads the solar system with 285 confirmed moons!), Titan is unique because it’s the only moon known to have a dense atmosphere and evidence of stable, Earth-like bodies of liquid … meaning the science-y types are eyeballing it as a potential place for humans to settle someday.
14. Deva
This is a girl’s name after the Hindu moon goddess, referring to brightness or radiance. It’s also the name of model-actress Monica Bellucci’s daughter if celebrity kid names are your thing.
15. Artemis
The etymology of this name is genuinely disputed, but it’s usually a toss-up between the Greek words meaning “butcher” and “safe” (quite the contradiction, as you can see). But Artemis was actually the name of the Greek goddess of the moon and hunting, so shine on, little butcher!
16. Mona
This name has a variety of origins and means something different in each, so you’ll have a number of reasons to tell her why she’s named the way she is. As mentioned above for Monday, one of those reasons is that it means “moon” in Old English.
17. Diana
Just like Artemis, Diana was the goddess of the moon and hunting — but to the Romans, rather than the Greeks. She was also the twin sister of Apollo, another name on this list. How cute would it be to give a pair of brother and sister these matching names?
18. Qamar
This Arabic boy’s name means “moon” and is perfect for your little moon baby.
19. Badru
This Egyptian boy’s name means “born during a full moon” and at one time was so popular that Egyptian parents started using it for their baby girls.
20. Chandni
A variant of chand, the Hindi word for moon, Chandni is an extremely popular girl’s name in India and the South Asian diaspora.
21. Bader
Arabic for “full moon,” this name evokes a lovely image. It could be just the perfect name for your little darling.
22. Koray
This Turkish name meaning “ember moon” alludes to the golden nights when the moon looks as though it’s on fire. It’s also extremely popular in Turkey.
23. Amaris
This name is often listed on baby name sites as a Spanish name meaning “child of the moon,” which is a sweet astrological name for your little one. However, the more widely accepted etymology is Hebrew for “promised by God.”
24. Luan
This name is of Portuguese origin and means “moon.” This is can be a far-out choice for either your baby girl or boy.
25. Ariel
A Hebrew name, Ariel means “lion of God.” It’s also the name of one of the five major moons of Uranus.
26. Celimine
A variant of the girl’s name “Celimene,” Celimine is thought to be derived from Latin and Greek elements meaning “heavenly” and “moon” or “strength.” The name can be traced back to 17th-century French playwright Molière, who used the name Célimène in the 1666 play Le Misanthrope.
27. Hecate
This Greek name may not mean moon directly, but it is related to a Greek figure associated with the moon. This name means “will power.”
28. Altalune
Doesn’t this have a lovely ring to it? A Latin name, Altalune means “over the moon” or “higher than the moon.”
29. Esmeray
This name comes from Turkish origin and means “dark moon.” Bonus: It’s perfect if you want to call your daughter “Esme” for short.
30. Larissa
Larissa comes from Latin origin and means “cheerful” or “joyful.” It is also one of the moons of Neptune.
31. Melinoe
This is the Greek name for the color of quince: a highly fragrant pear-like fruit associated in mythology with Aphrodite, the goddess of love. Melinoe is also a chthonic goddess of ghosts, the daughter of Persephone... so sort of moon goddess-adjacent?
32. Nikini
In Sri Lanka, this name means “full moon in August.”
Even More Moon Names We Love
- Chang’e: Chinese moon goddess, “beautiful and graceful woman”
- Máni: Norse brother of the sun
- Phoebe: Titaness of the moon *and* Saturn’s moon, “radiant”
- Cynthia: epithet of Artemis, “moon”
- Callisto: second-largest moon of Jupiter, “fairest”
- Miranda: smalles moon of Uranus, “worthy of admiration”
- Titania: largest moon of Uranus, “great one”
- Cressida: inner moon of Uranus, “golden”
- Rhea: second-largest moon of Saturn, “flowing” and “mother of the gods”
- Christina (Koch): NASA astronaut who holds world record for the longest single spaceflight by a woman, “anointed one”
- Sally (Ride): the first American woman to travel into space, “noblewoman”
Whether your baby is born under a full moon (or conceived… we’re not judging), or you’re just fascinated by the glowing orb in the sky and the legends and mysteries associated with it, these names are the perfect choice to show your little one some lunar love.
source https://www.scarymommy.com/parenting/lunar-moon-baby-names
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