Girl Names That Mean Moon 160+ Beautiful Names from Every Culture

The moon has inspired parents for thousands of years. Across every continent and culture, people have looked at that glowing light in the night sky and felt something deeply personal about it. It is mysterious, beautiful, and constant. It guides tides, marks calendars, and appears in the oldest stories humanity has ever told.

Whether you are looking for a classic name like Luna or something rare and cultural like Chandrani or Purnima, this complete guide covers 160 plus girl names that mean moon, including names from Greek, Arabic, Sanskrit, Japanese, Hawaiian, Native American, Celtic, English, and many other traditions.

Why Choose a Girl Name That Means Moon

Moon names carry real meaning rooted in culture, mythology, and nature. The moon has long been a symbol of femininity across cultures. In Roman mythology, Luna drove her chariot across the sky. In Greek tradition, Selene was the goddess of the moon. In Hindu culture, the moon represents beauty, calm, and divine grace. These associations give moon names a richness that goes far beyond what a name sounds like.

Moon names also age beautifully. A girl named Luna or Diana carries the same grace at five years old as she does at thirty-five. And for parents who love nature, astronomy, or mythology, a moon name connects their child to something much bigger than everyday life.

160+ Girl Names That Mean Moon

All names below come from verified cultural, mythological, and linguistic sources covering more than 25 origins worldwide.
Names That Mean Moon for Girl: Detailed Meanings

Luna

Meaning: Moon
Origin: Latin
Pronunciation: LOO-nah
Culture: Roman mythology. Luna was the divine goddess of the moon who drove her silver chariot across the night sky.
Symbolism: Represents purity, beauty, and feminine power.
Why parents choose this name: Luna is simple, elegant, and works in nearly every language without losing its meaning.
Famous Namesake: Luna Lovegood from Harry Potter. Luna, daughter of John Legend and Chrissy Teigen.

Selene

Meaning: Moon goddess
Origin: Greek
Pronunciation: seh-LEE-nee
Culture: Ancient Greek mythology. Selene was the Titan goddess of the moon, sister of Helios (the sun) and Eos (the dawn), depicted driving a silver chariot across the night sky.
Symbolism: Represents divine feminine beauty and the eternal light of the moon in darkness.
Why parents choose this name: Selene is rare enough to feel special but classic enough to feel timeless.
Famous Namesake: Selene, lead character played by Kate Beckinsale in the Underworld film series.

Diana

Meaning: Divine moon goddess
Origin: Roman/Latin
Pronunciation: dy-AN-ah
Culture: Roman mythology. Diana was the goddess of the moon, the hunt, and nature, the Roman equivalent of the Greek Artemis.
Symbolism: Represents independence, strength, and the protective power of the moon.
Why parents choose this name: Diana carries centuries of power and elegance. It is familiar but never boring, classic but never outdated.
Famous Namesake: Princess Diana, Princess of Wales. Diana Ross, legendary American Motown singer.

Artemis

Meaning: Moon goddess of the hunt
Origin: Greek
Pronunciation: AR-teh-mis
Culture: Ancient Greek mythology. Artemis was the twin sister of Apollo, goddess of the moon, wilderness, and the hunt, and one of the twelve Olympian gods.
Symbolism: Represents independence, power, and the wild beauty of nature under moonlight.
Why parents choose this name: Artemis feels bold and modern while being deeply rooted in ancient mythology. NASA naming its lunar missions after her brought this name back into popular conversation.
Famous Namesake: Artemis Fowl by Eoin Colfer. NASA Artemis Program, the mission to return humans to the moon.

Cynthia

Meaning: Moon goddess from Mount Cynthus
Origin: Greek
Pronunciation: SIN-thee-ah
Culture: Greek mythology. Cynthia was an alternative name for Artemis, derived from her birthplace on Mount Cynthus on the island of Delos.
Symbolism: Represents the poetic, literary side of the moon. Cynthia was a favourite in Elizabethan poetry as a metaphor for the moon and Queen Elizabeth I.
Why parents choose this name: Cynthia has classical depth with a friendly feel. The nickname Cindy makes it versatile across life stages.
Famous Namesake: Cynthia Nixon, actress from Sex and the City. Cynthia Erivo, award-winning British actress and singer.

Ayla

Meaning: Halo of light around the moon
Origin: Turkish/Hebrew
Pronunciation: AY-lah
Culture: Turkish naming tradition. Ayla describes the soft, glowing circle of light that surrounds the moon on misty nights.
Symbolism: Represents the soft, indirect glow of the moon reaching into the surrounding sky.
Why parents choose this name: Ayla is short, soft, and beautiful. It works across many cultures and feels modern while carrying real meaning.
Famous Namesake: Ayla, main character of Jean Auel’s Clan of the Cave Bear. Ayla Brown, American singer.

Mahina

Meaning: Moon
Origin: Hawaiian
Pronunciation: mah-HEE-nah
Culture: Native Hawaiian tradition. The moon (Mahina) is central to Hawaiian culture, used to track planting seasons, fishing cycles, and spiritual ceremonies.
Symbolism: Represents the connection between the natural world and human life. The moon governs growth, harvest, and the rhythms of the ocean in Hawaiian spirituality.
Why parents choose this name: Mahina is rare outside Hawaii, making it a genuinely distinctive choice with beautiful cultural roots.
Famous Namesake: Mahina Henry, Hawaiian cultural practitioner and hula educator.

Chandra

Meaning: Moon
Origin: Sanskrit
Pronunciation: CHUN-dra
Culture: Hindu mythology. Chandra is one of the Navagraha (nine celestial bodies in Hindu astrology) and is worshipped as a lunar deity governing emotions, mind, and intuition.
Symbolism: Represents emotional depth and the gentle, nurturing qualities of the moon in Vedic astrology.
Why parents choose this name: Chandra is widely used across India, Nepal, and Sri Lanka, carrying thousands of years of Sanskrit tradition.
Famous Namesake: NASA’s Chandra X-ray Observatory. Chandra Wilson, American actress known for Grey’s Anatomy.

Purnima

Meaning: Full moon night
Origin: Hindi/Sanskrit
Pronunciation: poor-NEE-maha
Culture: South Asian tradition. Purnima refers to the night of the full moon, which holds deep religious significance across Hindu, Buddhist, and Jain traditions.
Symbolism: Represents completeness, celebration, and spiritual fullness. The full moon in South Asian tradition is a time of prayer, gathering, and gratitude.
Why parents choose this name: Purnima is widely used across India and among South Asian communities worldwide. It carries spiritual depth and a beautiful, musical sound.
Famous Namesake: Purnima, a celebrated classical dancer in Indian traditions.

Rhiannon

Meaning: Moon goddess / divine queen
Origin: Welsh
Pronunciation: ree-AN-on
Culture: Welsh mythology. Rhiannon was a powerful goddess in the Welsh Mabinogion, associated with horses, birds, and the moon, representing sovereignty and grace.
Symbolism: Represents resilience, mystical power, and the connection between the moon and the feminine spirit in Celtic tradition.
Why parents choose this name: Rhiannon has a musical, flowing quality. Its Celtic roots give it authentic mystical character.
Famous Namesake: Rhiannon by Fleetwood Mac, one of the most famous rock songs ever written. Rhiannon Giddens, Grammy-winning American singer.

Female Names That Mean Moon or Stars

Many beautiful girl names draw meaning from both the moon and the stars, connecting to the full night sky.

Celeste

Meaning: Heavenly
Origin: Latin
Pronunciation: seh-LEST
Culture: Latin and French tradition. Celeste comes from caelestis meaning of the sky or heaven, encompassing the moon, stars, and all celestial beauty.
Symbolism: Represents the full beauty of the night sky including both the moon and the stars.
Why parents choose this name: Celeste is elegant and internationally recognised. It works in English, French, Italian, and Spanish.
Famous Namesake: Celeste, award-winning British singer-songwriter. Celeste Holm, Oscar-winning American actress.

Sitara

Meaning: Star
Origin: Persian/Urdu
Pronunciation: si-TAH-rah
Culture: Persian and South Asian tradition. Sitara is the Persian and Urdu word for star, used across Iran, Afghanistan, Pakistan, and India. The moon and stars appear together throughout Islamic art, making star names closely linked to lunar symbolism.
Symbolism: Represents guidance and celestial light. Stars in Persian poetry are constant companions to the moon.
Why parents choose this name: Sitara is rare in Western countries while being warmly familiar to South Asian and Middle Eastern families.
Famous Namesake: Sitara Devi, legendary Indian classical dancer known as the Queen of Kathak.

Zorya

Meaning: Star goddess
Origin: Slavic
Pronunciation: ZOR-yah
Culture: Slavic mythology. Zorya were guardian goddesses of the dawn and dusk stars, companions to the moon in the night sky.
Symbolism: Represents the transition between day and night and the stars that guard the sky alongside the moon.
Why parents choose this name: Zorya is rare, distinctive, and carries genuine Slavic mythological weight.
Famous Namesake: Zorya is a major character in Neil Gaiman’s novel American Gods and its television adaptation.

Names That Mean Blood Moon for Girl

Blood moon names carry dramatic, powerful energy that appeals to parents who love mythology, fantasy, and strong feminine names.

Esmeray

Meaning: Dark moon
Origin: Turkish
Pronunciation: ez-meh-RAY
Culture: Turkish naming tradition. Esmeray combines esmer (dark) and ay (moon). The dark moon evokes the mysterious new moon phase and the deep red tones of a blood moon or lunar eclipse.
Symbolism: Represents the powerful, mysterious side of the moon. In many traditions, the blood moon is a time of transformation and deep change.
Why parents choose this name: Esmeray is rare and beautiful, with a dark, lyrical quality that sets it apart from more common moon names.
Famous Namesake: Esmeray, a beloved Turkish singer known for her emotional performances.

Hecate

Meaning: Moon goddess of magic and crossroad
Origin: Greek
Pronunciation: HEK-ah-tee
Culture: Ancient Greek mythology. Hecate was the goddess of the dark moon, magic, and crossroads, associated with the blood moon and the powerful dark lunar phase.
Symbolism: Represents transformation, mystery, and the raw power of the dark moon.
Why parents choose this name: Hecate appeals to parents drawn to mythology, Wiccan tradition, and strong names with real spiritual weight.
Famous Namesake: Hecate in Shakespeare’s Macbeth as queen of the witches. A recurring figure in modern fantasy literature and gaming.

Ratri

Meaning: Night of the moon
Origin: Sanskrit
Pronunciation: RAH-tree
Culture: Hindu tradition. Ratri is the Sanskrit word for night and the name of a night goddess mentioned in the Rigveda, one of the oldest sacred texts in human history.
Symbolism: Represents the sacred nature of the night and the moon as a protector in darkness.
Why parents choose this name: Ratri is extremely rare outside South Asia, making it a truly unique choice with deep cultural roots.
Famous Namesake: The Ratri Sukta, a famous hymn from the Rigveda, is dedicated to this night goddess.

English Girl Names That Mean Moon

English moon names are often overlooked because people assume moon names must come from Latin, Greek, or Sanskrit. But English has produced some genuinely beautiful names connected to the moon, whether through direct meaning, astronomical connection, or lunar imagery.

Monday

Meaning: Day of the moon
Origin: English
Pronunciation: MUN-day
Culture: The word Monday comes from the Old English Monandaeg meaning moon’s day. Every week, English speakers name a day after the moon without even thinking about it. As a given name, Monday carries a completely unique personality.
Symbolism: Represents the moon’s ownership of time itself, the original lunar calendar that shaped how humanity measures days and weeks.
Why parents choose this name: Monday is rare, bold, and completely unexpected as a given name. It is memorable and carries a quiet lunar meaning most people never notice.
Famous Namesake: Monday is used as a character name in several contemporary novels and has appeared in TV series as a distinctive feminine name.

Nova

Meaning: New moon / new star
Origin: English/Latin
Pronunciation: NOH-vah
Culture: Nova in astronomy refers to a star that suddenly increases in brightness. In common English usage it has become strongly associated with new beginnings, new moons, and the fresh start energy the moon represents at the start of each lunar cycle.
Symbolism: Represents new beginnings, the energy of the new moon phase, and the brilliance of the night sky.
Why parents choose this name: Nova is short, modern, and powerful. It has risen dramatically in popularity across English-speaking countries while still feeling fresh and distinctive.
Famous Namesake: Nova, a long-running science documentary series by PBS. Nova is also a popular character name in several superhero universes.

Dawn

Meaning: First moonlit light before sunrise
Origin: English
Pronunciation: DAWN
Culture: Dawn in English describes the transitional moment when moonlight gives way to the first light of the sun. It sits at the meeting point of lunar and solar energy.
Symbolism: Represents the quiet, beautiful transition from the moon’s reign to the sun’s arrival. Dawn is the moon’s final gift to the night.
Why parents choose this name: Dawn is soft, familiar, and carries a natural beauty that never feels dated.
Famous Namesake: Dawn French, beloved British comedian and actress. Dawn, the character from the British version of The Office played by Lucy Davis.

Halo

Meaning: Ring of moonlight
Origin: English
Pronunciation: HAY-loh
Culture: A halo in English describes the luminous ring that appears around the moon on misty nights, created by moonlight refracting through ice crystals in the atmosphere.
Symbolism: Represents the soft, diffused beauty of moonlight spreading beyond the moon itself into the surrounding sky.
Why parents choose this name: Halo is short, striking, and carries a sense of both natural beauty and spiritual grace. It is rare enough to feel distinctive without being difficult.
Famous Namesake: Halo, a massive-selling Microsoft video game franchise. Halo, a hit song by Beyonce.

Conclusion

These 160 plus girl names that mean moon come from over twenty cultures and every major language group including English, and thousands of years of human history. From the elegance of Luna to the depth of Purnima, from the Celtic mystery of Rhiannon to the Turkish drama of Esmeray, every name here carries real meaning rooted in real culture.

Moon names for girls are timeless because they connect a child to the natural world, to mythology, and to the shared human experience of looking at the same light our ancestors admired. Whatever culture you come from, the moon has always been there, and the names it has inspired are among the most beautiful in any language.