Boy names meaning moon include Qamar, Chandra, Badr, Hilal, Arma, Metztli, and Tharindu, with meanings linked to the moon, moonlight, or lunar phases.
If you want a boy name connected to the moon, you have choices from Arabic, Sanskrit, Turkish, Kazakh, Japanese, Burmese, Nahuatl, and other naming traditions. Some names literally mean “moon,” while others refer to a full moon, crescent moon, moonlight, or lunar deity.
The clearest options include Qamar, Chandra, Badr, Hilal, Arma, Metztli, and Shashi. Names such as Rakesh and Chandrakant offer a more specific lunar meaning, while Tsukuyomi connects to Japanese moon mythology.
Quick List of Boy Names Meaning Moon
| Name | Meaning | Origin | Lunar connection |
| Qamar | Moon | Arabic, Urdu | Literal |
| Chandra | Moon | Sanskrit | Literal |
| Badr | Full moon | Arabic | Lunar phase |
| Hilal | Crescent moon | Arabic | Lunar phase |
| Arma | Moon, month | Hittite, Luwian | Literal |
| Metztli | Moon | Nahuatl | Literal |
| Shashi | Moon | Sanskrit | Traditional moon name |
| Rakesh | Lord of the full moon | Sanskrit | Full moon |
| Tharindu | Moon | Sinhala | Literal |
| San | Moon | Burmese | Literal |
| Taqqiq | Moon | Inuktitut | Literal |
| Tuncay | Bronze moon | Turkish, Azerbaijani | Moon compound |
| Koray | Ember moon | Turkish | Moon compound |
| Ayberk | Moon + mighty/firm | Turkish | Moon compound |
| Ayhan | Moon + ruler | Turkish | Moon compound |
| Aibek | Moon + chieftain | Kazakh, Kyrgyz | Moon compound |
| Aidos | Moon + friend | Kazakh | Moon compound |
| Aisūltan | Moon + sultan | Kazakh | Moon compound |
| Aitöre | Moon + nobleman/lord | Kazakh | Moon compound |
| Menophilos | Friend of the moon | Ancient Greek | Moon relationship |
| Ramachandra | Rama + moon | Sanskrit/Indian | Lunar element |
| Chandrakant | Beloved by the moon | Sanskrit | Moon relationship |
| Nirmalendu | Pure moon | Sanskrit | Moon compound |
| Purnama | Full moon | Indonesian | Lunar phase |
| Tsukuyomi | Moon deity | Japanese mythology | Lunar deity |
| Monday | Moon day | English/African usage | Moon etymology |
| Moon | Moon | English | Literal |
| Mitsuki | Beautiful moon | Japanese | Moon element |
| Yue | Moon | Chinese | Possible literal meaning |
| Ziri | Moonlight | Tamazight | Moonlight |
The underlying meanings above are based primarily on established name-reference entries; some names are unisex rather than exclusively masculine.
Boy Names That Literally Mean Moon
If you want the most direct meaning, start with names whose documented meaning is simply “moon.”
Qamar
Qamar means “moon” in Arabic and is used in both Arabic and Urdu. It is a masculine and feminine name, although it is well established as a masculine choice in Arabic usage.
Chandra
Chandra means “moon” in Sanskrit. The name is used across several South Asian languages and traditions and is also connected with the personification of the moon in Hindu tradition.
Arma
Arma means “moon, month” in Hittite and Luwian. In ancient mythology, Arma was the name of a Hittite and Luwian moon god.
Metztli
Metztli means “moon” in Nahuatl. It was also the name of a moon deity in Aztec and Toltec mythology.
San
San means “moon” in Burmese and ultimately relates to the Sanskrit word candra.
Tharindu
Tharindu means “moon” in Sinhala. It gives you a direct lunar meaning without relying on a moon-god association.
Taqqiq
Taqqiq means “moon” in Inuktitut. It is an uncommon choice with a very direct meaning.
Moon
Moon is an extremely literal English word name. It has been used for boys, although it is rare. Nameberry’s current data shows limited U.S. use in recent years rather than mainstream popularity.
Boy Names Meaning Full Moon
A full moon gives you a more specific lunar meaning.
Badr
Badr means “full moon” in Arabic. It is traditionally masculine in Arabic, although it is also listed as a unisex name.
Rakesh
Rakesh means “lord of the full moon.” It comes from Sanskrit elements associated with the full moon and lord or ruler.
Purnama
Purnama means “full moon” in Indonesian and ultimately comes from Sanskrit pūrṇimā. It is listed as masculine and feminine.
Nirmalendu
Nirmalendu means “pure moon,” combining Sanskrit elements for purity and moon. It is a more unusual Indian choice.
Boy Names Meaning Crescent Moon
Hilal
Hilal means “crescent moon” in Arabic. It can also refer to the new moon in the Islamic calendar. The name is typically masculine in Arabic usage and feminine in Turkish usage.
This makes Hilal particularly suitable if you want a name tied to a specific lunar phase rather than the moon in general.
Turkish and Kazakh Boy Names With Moon Meanings
Turkish and Central Asian naming traditions provide several names built with ay, a Turkic element meaning “moon.”
Ayberk
Ayberk combines Turkish ay, “moon,” with berk, meaning “mighty, firm, solid.”
Ayhan
Ayhan combines ay, “moon,” with han, meaning “khan, ruler, or leader.”
Aibek
Aibek combines the Kazakh and Kyrgyz word for “moon” with beg, a Turkic title meaning “chieftain” or “master.”
Aidos
Aidos combines the Kazakh word for “moon” with dos, meaning “friend.”
Aisūltan
Aisūltan combines “moon” with sultan, giving it a meaning related to a moon sultan or moon ruler.
Aitöre
Aitöre combines “moon” with a Turkic term for nobleman or lord.
Tuncay
Tuncay means “bronze moon” in Turkish and Azerbaijani, combining tunc “bronze” with ay “moon.”
Koray
Koray means “ember moon” in Turkish, from kor “ember” and ay “moon.”
Indian Boy Names Connected to the Moon
Indian naming traditions offer many moon-related names, especially through Sanskrit.
Shashi
Shashi is a traditional name for the moon. Its literal Sanskrit sense is associated with “having a hare,” reflecting an old poetic image of a hare within the moon.
Chandrakant
Chandrakant means “beloved by the moon.” The name combines Chandra, “moon,” with a Sanskrit element meaning beloved or desired. It is also associated with moonstone.
Ramachandra
Ramachandra combines the name Rama with Sanskrit candra, meaning “moon.” It is another name of the Hindu deity Rama.
Chandra
For a shorter choice, Chandra itself means moon and has a long history across South Asian naming traditions.
Japanese Boy Names With Lunar Connections
Japanese names require extra care because their meaning depends on the kanji used, not simply on the sound of the name.
Tsukuyomi
Tsukuyomi is the name of the moon god in Japanese mythology. The name has a clear lunar association rather than simply meaning “moon” as an ordinary given name.
Mitsuki
Mitsuki can be written with kanji including 美月, where mi means “beautiful” and tsuki means “moon.” Other kanji combinations can produce different meanings.
This is an important distinction: do not assume every Japanese name that sounds lunar has the same meaning. The written characters matter.
Rare Boy Names Meaning Moon
If you want something less familiar, consider:
- Arma : moon, month
- Taqqiq : moon
- Tharindu : moon
- Metztli : moon
- Menophilos : friend of the moon
- Nirmalendu : pure moon
- Tuncay : bronze moon
- Koray : ember moon
- Aitöre : moon + nobleman
- Aidos : moon + friend
- Purnama : full moon
- Ziri : moonlight
Menophilos is especially distinctive: it comes from Ancient Greek elements meaning “moon” and “friend.”
Ziri means “moonlight” in Tamazight and is listed as a masculine Berber name.
Short Boy Names Meaning Moon
For a short, easy-to-use option, look at:
Qamar : moon
Badr : full moon
San : moon
Yue : moon
Moon : moon
Shashi : traditional moon name
Arma : moon, month
Hilal : crescent moon
Keep in mind that Yue can have different meanings depending on the Chinese character used. The character 月 specifically means “moon.”
Strong Moon Names for Boys
If you want a name with a stronger, more traditional sound, these choices may fit:
- Badr
- Qamar
- Chandra
- Rakesh
- Ayberk
- Ayhan
- Aibek
- Arma
- Tsukuyomi
- Ramachandra
These are not ranked from best to worst. The right choice depends on if you value literal meaning, cultural connection, pronunciation, or familiarity.
Moon Names by Culture
| Culture or language | Names to explore |
| Arabic | Qamar, Badr, Hilal |
| Sanskrit / South Asian | Chandra, Shashi, Rakesh, Chandrakant |
| Turkish | Koray, Ayberk, Ayhan, Tuncay |
| Kazakh / Kyrgyz | Aibek, Aidos, Aisūltan, Aitöre |
| Japanese | Mitsuki, Tsukuyomi |
| Burmese | San |
| Sinhala | Tharindu |
| Nahuatl | Metztli |
| Hittite / Luwian | Arma |
| Inuktitut | Taqqiq |
| Tamazight | Ziri |
This cultural approach is more useful than putting every lunar name into one undifferentiated list because the meaning and gender usage can vary considerably between languages.
How to Choose a Boy Name Meaning Moon
Decide how literal you want the meaning to be
If you want the name to literally mean moon, consider Qamar, Chandra, Arma, Metztli, San, or Tharindu.
If you prefer a specific lunar image, Badr means full moon and Hilal means crescent moon.
Check the cultural origin
A name can look attractive on a list but carry a specific cultural or religious history.
For example, Chandra has Sanskrit and Hindu associations, while Metztli is connected with Nahuatl and Aztec/Toltec mythology.
Choose the name with an understanding of that background.
Say the full name aloud
Check how the first name sounds with the middle and last names.
This matters even more with names such as Menophilos, Ramachandra, or Tsukuyomi, which may require more pronunciation familiarity than Badr or Qamar.
Check the exact spelling
International names often have multiple spellings or transliterations.
For example, Turkish, Arabic, Sanskrit, and Japanese names can appear in different Latin-script forms. Japanese names can also change meaning when different kanji are used.
Think about everyday use
A rare historical name may have a beautiful meaning but require frequent explanation.
If you want something easier for daily use, Qamar, Badr, Chandra, Hilal, or Ayhan may be simpler choices depending on your language and community.
Are Moon Names Popular for Boys?
Moon-themed naming is visible in current baby-name resources, but that does not mean every lunar name is popular.
The U.S. Social Security Administration publishes official annual baby-name data. Its 2025 top boys’ names were Liam, Noah, Oliver, Theodore, and Henry, showing that the most-used U.S. boys’ names are not generally literal moon names.
The SSA also notes that its top 1,000 names represented 75.59% of U.S. boy births in 2025, so many less-common names fall outside that list.
That makes it better to choose a moon name based on its meaning, cultural fit, pronunciation, and personal preference rather than assuming a rare name is currently trending.
Frequently Asked Questions
What male names mean moon?
Some male names associated with the moon include Qamar, Hilal, Chandra, Tsukuyomi, and Aibek. Meanings and cultural usage vary by language.
What is a celestial boy’s name?
A celestial boy’s name is a name connected with the moon, stars, planets, sky, or other heavenly bodies. Examples include Orion, Atlas, Leo, and Cyrus.
Is there a male version of Luna?
There is no single universal male equivalent of Luna. Names such as Chandra, Qamar, and Selene-related forms may have lunar associations in different cultures.
What names mean moonlight?
Names associated with moonlight include Mahiru, Ayla, Aylin, and Chandni. Their exact meanings and gender usage vary by language and culture.
What are the 12 moon names?
The traditional full-moon names commonly used in North American English are Wolf, Snow, Worm, Pink, Flower, Strawberry, Buck, Sturgeon, Harvest, Hunter’s, Beaver, and Cold Moon.
What boy name means “blood moon”?
There is no widely established traditional boy name that literally means “blood moon.” Lunar or moon-related names can capture the theme, while Blood Moon itself refers to a lunar eclipse rather than a personal name.
Conclusion
Boy names meaning moon come from many languages and traditions. Some names have a literal moon meaning, including Qamar, Chandra, Arma, Metztli, San, and Tharindu. Names linked to specific lunar phases include Badr, meaning full moon, and Hilal, meaning crescent moon. More poetic lunar connections appear in Rakesh, Chandrakant, Koray, Tuncay, and Ziri, which relate to the full moon, moon, or moonlight.
The most important step is to check the original language, exact meaning, pronunciation, and cultural context before choosing a name.
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I’m passionate about names, their meanings, origins, and cultural connections. I research naming trends and traditions to help readers discover unique, meaningful, and memorable names.
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