The baby name Luna shines, a nature name with vintage charm.
It’s also the Harry Potter character name most thoroughly embraced by Muggles.
Thanks to Allison for suggesting our Baby Name of the Day.
MOON GODDESS
Long before JK Rowling imagined Hogwarts, ancient Romans considered Luna the name of the Roman goddess of the moon. She’s often shown driving a chariot through the night sky.
Sometimes other goddesses, like Diana and Juno. were called Luna; at other times it’s clear that Luna was separate.
It is the Latin word for moon. But Luna also shares roots with the Latin word for light, making it a cousin to lux and lumen.
And our words lunar and lunacy come from the same origins. As goddess names go, it’s one of the most easily understood.
That’s especially true, as Luna is simply the Spanish word for moon, too.
In Greek mythology, the goddess is called Selene.