The story behind Moana
From Hawaiian Moana (“sea, ocean”), Māori moana, and other Polynesian languages.
Pronunciation
New-Zealand: /məʊˈɑːnə/
Popularity
Moana ranked #4141 in US for 2025.
Source: SSA national baby names
Names Similar to Moana
Makoa
makoa (“brave”).
- Gender
- masculine
- Syllables
- 2 syllables
- Ending
- ends A
- same syllable count
- similar length
Hiʻiaka
Borrowed from Hawaiian Hiʻiaka.
- Gender
- mixed
- Syllables
- 2 syllables
- Ending
- ends A
- same syllable count
- similar length
Kaila
kaila (“style”),a loan word from English style; can also be construed as ka (“the”) + ila (“dark birthmark; darkness; seedling”).
- Gender
- feminine
- Syllables
- 2 syllables
- Ending
- ends A
- same syllable count
- similar length
Laʻakea
From laʻa (“sacredness”) + kea (“white”), literally “sacred things of day”.
- Gender
- masculine
- Syllables
- 2 syllables
- Ending
- ends A
- same syllable count
- similar length
Naiʻa
From naiʻa (“dolphin”).
- Gender
- feminine
- Syllables
- 2 syllables
- Ending
- ends A
- same syllable count
- similar length
Nāinoa
nā, plural definite article + inoa (“names; namesakes”). Originally given to a child who was named after relatives or friends.
- Gender
- masculine
- Syllables
- 2 syllables
- Ending
- ends A
- same syllable count
- similar length
Middle Names for Moana
Hanalei
From Hana- (“Bay”, in compounds) + lei (“lei, necklace”), literally “crescent bay”.
- Gender
- feminine
- Syllables
- 3 syllables
- Ending
- ends I
- balanced syllable contrast
- good length contrast
Haunani
hau (“snow”) + nani (“beauty”) = "beautiful snow", as on mountain tops in Hawaii.
- Gender
- feminine
- Syllables
- 3 syllables
- Ending
- ends I
- balanced syllable contrast
- good length contrast
Hiʻilani
hiʻi (“carry in the arms”) + lani (“sky”) = "cherished or praised one".
- Gender
- feminine
- Syllables
- 3 syllables
- Ending
- ends I
- balanced syllable contrast
- good length contrast
Sibling Names for Moana
Hanalei
From Hana- (“Bay”, in compounds) + lei (“lei, necklace”), literally “crescent bay”.
- Gender
- feminine
- Syllables
- 3 syllables
- Ending
- ends I
- shared origin connection
- balanced name length
Hauʻoli
From hauʻoli (“happiness”).
- Gender
- neutral
- Syllables
- 2 syllables
- Ending
- ends I
- shared origin connection
- balanced name length
Haunani
hau (“snow”) + nani (“beauty”) = "beautiful snow", as on mountain tops in Hawaii.
- Gender
- feminine
- Syllables
- 3 syllables
- Ending
- ends I
- shared origin connection
- balanced name length