Luna is most often seen as a girl name. Learn more about the meaning, origin, and popularity of the name Luna.
Fact checked by Karen CilliThe name Luna means "moon" in Latin and 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 their moon goddess from Selene, the moon goddess of the ancient Greeks. 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.
Although many baby names are separated by gender, Parents believes that sex 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.
The name Luna has been steadily growing in popularity since 2003. In 2016 it reached the top 100 names and broke the top 20 in 2019 when it ranked number 16. With celestial names, nature-inspired names, and mythological references on the rise, it's likely to stay popular in the coming years.
Interestingly, Luna was a top 1,000 girl name in 1900 before nearly dropping off the list in the following decade. In 1922, it fell off the charts and did not appear again until its resurgence in 2003. In 2022, Luna was ranked the 10th most common name, its most popular year yet, with 8922 baby girls getting this celestial moniker.
Luna has several variations, none of which compare with its popularity. Lunette means "little moon" in French, as does Lunetta in Italian. Other variations of Luna include:
Luna is not the only name that means moon. You have many other choices if you want to name your child after our planet's faithful satellite.
Take a look at these names that also mean moon:
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 sound. Mixing up the vowel sounds between the initial consonant sounds yields a similar impression.
Some options for names similar to Luna include:
If you're an astronomy fan, you might want to name your baby after a planet, another moon, or something related to the starry sky. Other celestial names include:
Luna is already a short and sweet name, but there a few adorable nicknames to choose from. Common nicknames for Luna include:
Luna pairs well with other celestial and nature-inspired names. Consider sibling names such as:
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:
Still searching for the perfect baby name? Check out these related baby name lists for even more options:
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Read the original article on Parents.
2024-04-16T19:52:56Z dg43tfdfdgfd