Moana
Gender: Girl
Meaning: Sea circle, great brightness, or sea defender
Origin: Welsh
Popularity: Ranked #4141 in 2025 with 35 babies born.
History: A variant or related form of Morgan. Shares the meaning 'Sea circle, great brightness, or sea defender.'
Similar names: moani, mohan, molani, maan, man, manna, manny, moon
Name length: 5 letters
How common is Moana? About 1 in 95,100 babies born in 2025 were named Moana, or roughly 0.1 per day in the United States.
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Frequently asked about Moana
What does the name Moana mean?
Moana means “Sea circle, great brightness, or sea defender” from Welsh roots.
What is the origin of the name Moana?
Moana has Welsh origin. The traditional meaning is “Sea circle, great brightness, or sea defender”.
How popular is Moana?
Moana ranked #4067 in 2025 — given to 35 babies that year.
When was Moana most popular?
Moana peaked in 2017 with 141 babies registered that year.
Is Moana a boy or girl name?
Moana is predominantly a girls' name — over 90% of Moanas in registered births are female.
Is the name Moana rising or falling in popularity?
Moana has fallen 836 spots in the rankings over the last 5 years — from #3231 in 2020 to #4067 in 2025.
How long has Moana been recorded?
Moana appears in birth records across 68 years — from 1941 through 2025.