Luna qualifies as the Harry Potter character name most thoroughly embraced by Muggles.
Thanks to Unknown for suggesting our Baby Name of the Day.
Moon Goddess
Long before JK Rowling imagined Hogwarts, her heroic boy wizard, or any of his fantastic world, the Romans worshiped Luna as a goddess of the moon.
Sometimes Diana and Juno were called by the epithet Luna; at other times it’s clear that she was a separate deity.
The name 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.
All of this puts Luna perfectly in step with current nature name trends for girls.
Vintage
None of this means that the name is novel.
In fact, it qualifies as a vintage revival. Back in the nineteenth and early twentieth centuries, Luna regularly ranked in the US Top 1000, charting as late as 1921.
Another vintage reference: Luna Park, a destination at New York’s Coney Island opened in 1903. Entrepreneurs Elmer Dundy and Frederic Thompson opened the park; the name could have come from Dundy’s sister, or possibly it was inspired by one of their flagship rides, A Trip to the Moon. Dozens of other parks borrowed the name, from Melborune to Moscow, and across the US, too.
A fire destroyed the original park in the 1940s, but it was rebuilt and re-opened in 2010. You can still ride roller coasters and carousels there today.
Lovegood
While there’s history aplenty before the Harry Potter books, the name had fallen out of use – dramatically – before they were published.
Miss Lovegood first appears in the fifth book in the series, published in 2003. At first, she more than earns her nickname – Looney – thanks to a love of conspiracy theories and unconventional accessories. But she ends up quite heroic by the series’ end.
The name re-entered the US Top 1000 the same year The Order of the Phoenix was published. When the movie adaptation followed in 2007, Luna reached the Top 500.
Right Name, Right Time
Parents clearly took inspiration from the character, and yet, it was also case of the right name at the right moment.
- Nature names were trending in the early 2000s, with choices like Hazel and River climbing the charts.
- Mythological names, like Orion and Penelope, were gaining plenty of attention, too.
- Both categories served as major influences for names in the Wizarding World. That makes it tough to unravel how much is Rowling’s influence, and how much credit goes to the other trends.
- Luna checks other boxes, too: it’s an easy English-Spanish crossover.
- By 2003, Lucy and Lucia were both racing up the charts, and Lucille had returned to the rankings after many years’ absence.
And, of course, Stella – the Latin word for star – was white hot in 2003, and paved the way for sister name Luna to catch on.
High Profile BAs
For a few years, it seemed like every famous family was choosing this name for their daughters.
Uma Thurman named her daughter with Arpad Busson Rosalind Arusha Arkadina Altalune Florence in 2012, but they shortened her mouthful of a moniker to just Luna.
Penelope Cruz and Javier Bardem gave the name to their daughter in 2013, reinforcing the name’s status as an easy English-Spanish crossover.
And Chrissy Teigen and John Legend welcomed daughter Luna Simone in 2016.
By the Numbers
Since the name debuted in 2003, it’s gained steadily, reaching #37 on the current charts. And Luna shows no signs of slowing down. A few years ago, I wrote, ” … no wonder this celestial appellation is a stylish choice for parents in 2014. The only question is how popular she’ll become.”
All these years later, the answer seems to be very popular, indeed. And yet, I still think this night sky name could rise even more. That means the question remains: just how high will Luna go?
Originally published on July 14, 2008, the post was revised substantially revised and re-posted on January 13, 2014, and again on May 1, 2019.
Imogen says
May 2, 2019 at 2:00 PMI love Luna, and I love the fact that you remembered the date of the Battle of Hogwarts! I’ve just read the AM Newsletter while drinking a glass of strawberry wine. Nothing to beat it!
Zeffy says
January 14, 2014 at 12:09 PMI think Luna is such a sweet, pretty name. I love seeing it being used but don’t think I could use it myself. It’s one of those names that reminds me too much of something else; in this case I would always be thinking Luna, and then adding a silent ‘-tic’ to the end of it in my head. I guess I would choose Altalune, or Celeste, instead.
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January 14, 2014 at 1:37 AMI loveeee this name!!
Blue Juniper says
January 13, 2014 at 6:41 PMWe recently adopted a cat and named her Luna, because she’s white like the moon and just a little bit crazy! It also rhymes with tuna (which she is crazy for), so sometimes she gets Luna, Looney, Luna Tuna or Miss Luna.
My husband also calls her Luna Berry, which is so cute!
I love the name and would have definitely considered it for a child if I hadn’t already given it to our cat
Maeve says
August 13, 2013 at 8:36 PMWe have our second daughter due in December and we are naming her Luna. I have always loved the sweetness, simplicity and earthiness of Luna. It makes me think of moonlight 🙂
appellationmountain says
August 13, 2013 at 8:53 PMLovely name, Maeve! Congrats on daughter #2. 🙂
lm2703 says
January 27, 2010 at 1:09 PMI have to say, it’s a great name!
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Juliet says
December 23, 2009 at 9:48 AMPersonaly, I love the serene sound of the name.The name just sounds so peaceful and beautiful
It’s not a name I’d use- but, I see nothing wrong in using it
I just don’t love it enough to use
Beautiful name, though
Mookie says
July 9, 2009 at 3:47 AMThis name has been on my top ten list for a while now, with Lulu as the nickname. I have a feeling that if I do ever have a little Luna, I’ll lovingly call her my little Lunatic! And yes, I did first love this after reading HP. Lovegood is probably one of my favorite characters in the book, alongside Sirius and Lupin. But this is just showing how I’m both a name nerd and a bookworm.
appellationmountain says
July 16, 2008 at 12:58 AMAnother, Celeste is gorgeous! And Unknown, Calla is great, too. It’s one of those names that is so simple and lovely that you can’t believe it isn’t more popular. (Though I’m sure you’re pleased that there isn’t a Calla on every block.)
Personally, whenever I hear Luna, I find myself singing along to that old Duran Duran song with the chorus, “Last time la luna, I light my torch and wave it for the New Moon on Monday …” But see, I’m just showing my age. 😉
Stephanie says
July 15, 2008 at 3:27 AMI have a puppy named Luna. If I had had a duaghter first, her name would be Luna. I always give my pets human names.
It is a love-it-or-hae-it name. Most love it.. But those who don’t, hate it.
We call her Luna Toons when she acts crazy.. Like Looney Toons.
Katharine says
July 14, 2008 at 5:11 PMI like the idea of Luna but overall, it’s just too looney for me!
Another says
July 14, 2008 at 4:51 PMLuna is great, but being a little more conservative than the rest of you, I’d probably go with Celeste if I wanted something to represent the heavens (and I do love Celeste!). Unfortunately my husband is quite more conservative than I am and would almost certainly never even allow Celeste. 🙁
Lola says
July 14, 2008 at 2:55 PMAwww, Looney’s unfortunate. Luna’s gorgeous! I don’t think she needs a nickname, being so simple herself but Lulu steers away from looney quite nicely. My Dad had some fond childhood memories of Luna Park along with some pictures of him and his brothers there on the boardwalk. Funny seeing them all under 15!
I would be pleased to hear or see Luna being used, I think she’s beautifully feminine and sweetly simple. Beats a handful of top 20 names, in my book. And I’d never, ever call her looney!
Unknown says
July 14, 2008 at 1:55 PMI love Luna. She ranked pretty high on my baby name list, but I just don’t like possibility that she may be called Loony Luna or the fact that this name’s used in Harry Potter and that’s what most people, unfortunately, think of first. So for our second daughter, we went for Calla instead.