The name Luna means "moon" in Latin and in several languages with Latin roots, including Spanish and Italian. In ancient Roman mythology, Luna was the moon goddess. Also referred to as Diana, she is often depicted in Roman art driving a white chariot drawn by horses or oxen.
The ancient Romans adapted the their moon Goddess from that of the ancient Greeks, Selena. Her attributes are a crescent moon and a biga, the chariot she drives. It was said that each night at dusk, she shot an arrow full of stars across the night sky.
- Origin: The name Luna originates in Roman Mythology and has Latin roots.
- Gender: Luna is frequently used as a girl's name, being a feminine noun in both Spanish and Italian. Luna is the name of a female goddess, making it more likely to be a namesake for little girls. Although it is less common, Luna has been used a boy's name as well.
- Pronunciation: LOO-nuh
Although many baby names are separated by gender, Verywell Family believes that gender does not need to play a role in your name selection process. It’s important to select a name that you feel suits your new baby the best.
How Popular Is the Name Luna?
The name Luna has been steadily growing in popularity since it appeared on the charts in 2003. In 2016 it reached the top 100 names and it broke the top 20 in 2019 when it peaked at position 16. With celestial names, nature-inspired names, and mythological references on the rise, it's likely to stay common over the coming years.
Interestingly, Luna was a top 1,000 name since 1900 before nearly dropping off the charts in the following decade. In 1922, it fell off the charts and did not appear again until its resurgence in 2003.
Name Variations
Luna has several variations, none of which compare with its popularity. Lunette means "little moon" in French, as does Lunetta in Italian. Variations of Luna include:
- Louna
- Lunara
- Luneth
- Lunetta
- Lunette
- Lunneta
Similar Names
Luna is not the only name that means moon. If you want to name your child after our planet's faithful satellite, you have many other choices.
Take a look at these names that mean moon:
- Amaris
- Artemis
- Chandra
- Cynthia
- Deva
- Diana
- Esmeray
- Indu
- Liviana
- Lua
- Lucine
- Lutana
- Mona
- Neoma
- Selena
Maybe you just love how the name Luna sounds. The two syllables of Luna drop off the tongue in a simple but oh-so-pretty moniker. Mixing up the vowel sounds between the initial consonant sounds yields a similar impression.
Some options for names similar to Luna include:
- Lana
- Lena
- Lina
- Lona
- Luana
Common Nicknames
Luna is already a short and sweet name, but there a few adorable nicknames to choose from. Common nicknames for Luna include:
- Lou
- Lulu
- Una
Suggested Sibling Names
Luna pairs well with other celestial and nature-inspired names. Consider sibling names such as:
- Archer
- Asher
- Aurora
- Celeste
- Cyrus
- Daisy
- Dawn
- Fawn
- Finch
- Fletcher
- Ivy
- Leo
- Lupin
- Nova
- Oberon
- Orion
- Poppy
- Samson
- Sky
- Stella
- Titan
Famous People Named Luna
Luna is most commonly used as a girl's name, but interestingly, one of the most famous people named Luna was a man, Luna Leopold, known for his call for a new philosophy of water management.
Famous people named Luna include:
- Luna Leopold, American geomorphologist, hydrologist, author, and professor known for his holistic approach to water management.
- Luna Haruna, Japanese singer and fashion model from Tokyo known for her gothic-Lolita fashion aesthetic
- Luna Maya, Indonesian model, actress, and singer, and 2020 host of Indonesia's "Next Top Model"
- Luna Mágica, Mexican female professional wrestler
- Luna Al-Masri, Jordanian footballer
- Luna Alcalay, Austrian pianist, music educator, and composer
- Luna Gevitz, Danish footballer
- Luna H. Mitani, Japanese-American artist known for his painting and pen-and-ink drawing
- Luna Schweiger, German child actress
- Luna Voce, Dutch-Italian model and beauty pageant titleholder and crowned Miss Universo Italia 2013
- Luna Mijović, Bosnian actress
Verywell Family uses only high-quality sources, including peer-reviewed studies, to support the facts within our articles. Read our editorial process to learn more about how we fact-check and keep our content accurate, reliable, and trustworthy.
By
Elisa Cinelli
Elisa is a well-known parenting writer who is passionate about providing research-based content to help parents make the best decisions for their families. She has written for well-known sites including POPSUGAR and Scary Mommy, among others.
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