Sophia Girl
soh-FEE-uh
“wisdom” · Greek
#5
Moana
GirlMaori, Hawaiian· “ocean, sea”
- Meaning
- ocean, sea
- Origin
- Maori, Hawaiian
- Pronunciation
- moh-AH-nuh
- Syllables
- 2
- US rank 2025
- #4,141
- US babies 2025
- 35
- Best rank
- #1,559 (2017)
- Peak year
- 2017
Meaning and origin of Moana
Moana is a Maori and Hawaiian name that means “ocean, sea”.
Moana is a Maori and Hawaiian word meaning ocean or sea, used as a given name in Polynesia. In Maori, moana refers to the sea, and in Hawaiian it can mean open sea or ocean. The name gained international recognition through the Disney animated film Moana, about a Polynesian girl who sets out across the ocean. It is said moh-AH-nuh. In Hawaiian, the phrase moana nui means the great open ocean, which shows how central the word is to island life.
Popularity over time
Moana first appears in US Social Security records in 1941. It has never ranked in the national top 1,000, which keeps it genuinely uncommon. Its best national rank was #1,559 in 2017, the same year it reached its highest count of 141 babies. In 2025, 35 babies were named Moana, and it ranked #4,141 nationally. That is 94% more than ten years earlier, so it is clearly on the rise.
Its national rank moved from #6,186 in 1980, #7,892 in 2000, #11,958 in 2010, and #4,141 in 2025. Of the 1,146 US girls named Moana since records began, 36% were born in the 2010s, its biggest decade. The 2020s come next, with 272 babies.
Other girls' names that peaked around the same time include Karoline, Raeleigh, Zaynab, Kinzlee, and Sanaya.
Where it is most popular (2025)
In 2025, Moana ranked highest in California.
| State | Rank there | Babies |
|---|---|---|
| California | #3390 | 5 |
Gender, sound and spelling
In the US it is used almost only for girls.
Moana is usually pronounced moh-AH-nuh, with two syllables. It has five letters, starts with M and ends in “-na”.
Middle names for Moana
A few middle names that flow with Moana: each avoids a matching first letter, a rhyme and a vowel clash where the names meet.
Sibling names for Moana
Similar names
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Lists that include Moana
Frequently asked questions
What does the name Moana mean?
Moana is a Maori and Hawaiian name that means “ocean, sea”.
What is the origin of the name Moana?
Moana has Maori and Hawaiian roots. Moana is a Maori and Hawaiian word meaning ocean or sea, used as a given name in Polynesia.
Is Moana a popular name?
Not especially. Moana ranked #4,141 in the US in 2025, which puts it outside the top 1,000.
Is Moana a boy or girl name?
Moana is mainly a girl's name. In the US it is used almost only for girls.
How do you pronounce Moana?
Moana is usually pronounced moh-AH-nuh. Stressed syllables are in capital letters.
Popularity figures come from US Social Security card applications (names given to at least five babies in a year, 1880 to 2025). How we source names and meanings