Moonlight
A girl's name of Old English origin with 5 recorded U.S. births.
Meaning & Origin
Moonlight is a two-syllable girl's name with a sharp, distinct sound — ending on a consonant gives it a firm, clear close. With only 5 recorded U.S. births, it is exceptionally rare — the kind of name most people encounter for the first time when they meet your child.
Moonlight is not in the current top 1,000 girl names nationally, making it an uncommon choice — though your state or community may differ.
Moonlight is a girl's baby name of Old English origin, a poetic compound of moon and light evoking the soft, silver glow of the night sky. As a given name, it carries a dreamlike, ethereal quality — and gained additional cultural resonance through the Academy Award-winning film Moonlight (2016).
EtymologyShow more
Moonlight is cataloged under the Old English naming tradition. Names from the Old English tradition carry linguistic and cultural patterns that shape their sound, structure, and associations.
In the U.S., Moonlight has been recorded as a girl's name since 2022, with 5 total births. Browse the Old English names hub on this site to explore the broader family.
At a Glance
Popularity Over Time
Moonlight has 1+ years of history in the U.S., first appearing in 2022.
Popularity by Decade
| Decade | Births | Trend |
|---|---|---|
| 2020s | 5 | — |
The Story of Moonlight
A Gen Alpha name
Peaking in 2022, Moonlight is a fresh, modern favorite. Girls named Moonlight are most likely born between 2022 and 2022.
How rare is Moonlight?
With fewer than 500 recorded births, Moonlight is an exceptionally rare name — a one-of-a-kind choice.
The journey through the decades
First appeared in the records in 2022, peaked in the 2020s with 5 births that decade.
Year-by-Year Data
View complete yearly data(1 years, 2022–2022)
| Year | Births | Rank |
|---|---|---|
| 2022 | 5 | #16972 |
Source: U.S. Social Security Administration. Showing years with 5+ recorded births.
Frequently Asked Questions
Is Moonlight a boy's or girl's name?
When was Moonlight most popular?
How popular is the name Moonlight?
Explore More
Data source: U.S. Social Security Administration, 2022–2022