Girls · #27 in 2025

Luna: Meaning, Origin & Popularity

Origin
Latin
Meaning
Moon
Pronunciation
LOO-nuh
Nickname options
Lulu, Lu

Origin and meaning

Luna is the Latin word for moon and the name of the Roman moon goddess. It is a direct celestial name, rather than a modern construction assembled to suggest the night sky.

U.S. popularity

Luna ranked #27 for girls in the United States in 2025, with 6,076 girls given this spelling. Its highest recorded U.S. rank was #10, reached in 2022–2023. Historical coverage: 1880–2025. Peak refers to rank, not the largest number of births.

Source: Social Security Administration; historical peaks calculated from its national name files. Rankings count each spelling separately within the listed sex.

The Hello Baby Names take

Luna feels soft, rounded, and a little dreamy. Its imagery is expansive, but the name itself is small and easy to carry. It suits parents who love a celestial connection and prefer a complete two-syllable name over something more elaborate.

Things to consider

Luna has followed the "pet name to baby name pipeline," starting out as a beloved name for a dog (we all know a dog named Luna, right?!" now it does a great job standing alone as a name for a person. But you'll inevitably hear a lot of, "Oh! That was my childhood dog's name, I love it!" when you introduce your little Luna.

If you love Luna, consider…

  • Stella: Offers another concise celestial choice.
  • Aurora: Adds more syllables and a dawn connection.
  • Iris: Keeps the mythological and nature-inspired mood.
  • Nova: Feels brighter and more contemporary.
  • Mila: Shares the gentle shape without sky imagery.
  • Isla: Offers a similarly airy two-syllable sound.
  • Selene: Leans further into the lunar atmosphere.
  • Willow: Trades the sky for a softer botanical setting.