Girl name · Māori
Moana
“ocean, sea”
Vibes
Explore Moana further
Similar-feel alternatives, or middle-name candidates that pair well with Moana — both ranked by the same scoring system (vibe overlap, syllable rhythm, origin compatibility).
About the name
Moana is Māori and pan-Polynesian — "ocean, open sea" — the great water itself, a name the Pacific has always used and Disney made globally beloved in 2016.
The film cuts both ways: instant recognition, occasional cartoon association — but the name predates and outlasts it, as oceans do.
Three rolling syllables (moh-AH-nah). It pairs well with steady middles (Moana Ruth, Moana Jane). On our vibe map it is Nature-Inspired at ocean scale with Cultural Fusion navigation — the sea, first-person.
More Māori names
Moana sits in our Māori set — these share its roots.
All Māori names →Moana — common questions
Is Moana a boy or girl name?
Moana is traditionally a girl name of Māori origin.
What does the name Moana mean?
Moana means “ocean, sea” of Māori origin. Moana is Māori and pan-Polynesian — "ocean, open sea" — the great water itself, a name the Pacific has always used and Disney made globally beloved in 2016.
Where does the name Moana come from?
Moana is Māori in origin. The film cuts both ways: instant recognition, occasional cartoon association — but the name predates and outlasts it, as oceans do.
How popular is Moana?
Moana did not make the top 1,000 girls' names in US Social Security Administration data for 2025, which makes it genuinely rare in the US.
Bring the name into the room
A couple of nice things named Moana you might want for the nursery.