Moena
A girl's name with 16 recorded U.S. births.
Meaning & Origin
Moena peaked during the Millennial wave, when 6 babies received this name in a single year (1996). That era was defined by pop-culture-influenced, individuality-forward naming, and Moena has a more concentrated history, reflecting a specific cultural moment rather than a broad generational wave.
Moena is not in the current top 1,000 girl names nationally, making it an uncommon choice — though your state or community may differ.
Moena is a rare feminine name, possibly of Samoan or Polynesian origin — in Samoan, moana means ocean or deep sea, and Moena may be a shortened form. The name gained broader recognition as a variant form related to Moana, the popular Disney animated film title.
Moena is very uncommon in American records. If Polynesian in origin, it carries the vast, deep-sea imagery of Pacific Islander naming traditions — a name that evokes the ocean's depth and the sense of navigation and discovery central to Polynesian culture.
EtymologyShow more
Phonetically, Moena belongs to a cluster of names characterized by their open, warm ending — a soft ending that crosses many language boundaries. At two syllables, it has a two-beat rhythm that is easy to call across a room and natural in conversation.
Sound-alike names often cluster in style even when they come from different linguistic roots. The Similar Names section below uses letter and phonetic patterns to surface names in Moena’s sonic neighborhood.
At a Glance
Popularity Over Time
Moena has 3+ years of history in the U.S., first appearing in 1993.
Popularity by Decade
| Decade | Births | Avg Rank | Trend |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2000s | 5 | #17098 | ▼ |
| 1990s | 11 | #13958 | — |
The Story of Moena
A Millennial name
Peaking in 1996, Moena is a Millennial-era classic. Girls named Moena are most likely born between 1993 and 2001.
How rare is Moena?
With fewer than 500 recorded births, Moena is an exceptionally rare name — a one-of-a-kind choice.
The journey through the decades
First appeared in the records in 1993, peaked in the 1990s with 11 births that decade, and has gracefully settled into a quieter chapter.
Year-by-Year Data
View complete yearly data(3 years, 1993–2001)
| Year | Births | Rank |
|---|---|---|
| 2001 | 5 | #17098 |
| 1996 | 6 | #12930 |
| 1993 | 5 | #14985 |
Source: U.S. Social Security Administration. Showing years with 5+ recorded births.
Frequently Asked Questions
Is Moena a boy's or girl's name?
When was Moena most popular?
How popular is the name Moena?
Data source: U.S. Social Security Administration, 1993–2001