Is Luna a Japanese name?

No, Luna is not a traditional or common Japanese given name. As we‘ll explore in this article, Luna is Latin in origin and has vastly more popularity and use in Western countries.

What does the name Luna mean? Detailed etymology

The name Luna traces back to Latin roots rather than Japanese. In Latin, Luna was the goddess personifying the moon. The meaning of the name Luna is simply "moon".

So while a beautiful name with an evocative nighttime meaning, Luna does not have intrinsic Japanese origins. However, for reasons we‘ll cover, it still fits well into the Japanese naming landscape.

Similar Japanese names related to the moon

While Luna itself is non-Japanese, below are some great examples of authentic Japanese girl‘s names with related moon meanings that could make fitting substitutions:

• Mitsuki (ミツキ) – "Beautiful moon"
• Tsukiko (月子) – "Child of the moon"
• Tsukiyo (月夜) – "Moonlit night"

The Japanese have a deep cultural appreciation for the moon, as we‘ll explore later regarding mythology. So while Luna is not included, there are plenty of lovely Japanese names that evoke the moon.

Popularity of Luna as a baby name

To determine if Luna fits into modern Japanese naming culture, let‘s compare its popularity as a baby girl‘s name in Japan vs Western countries:

As we can see, Luna enjoys significantly more popularity outside of Japan, with their complex naming practices likely favoring options perceived as more authentically Japanese.

Luna in Japanese mythology and folklore

While the name Luna itself may not appear, the moon holds deep cultural and mythological importance in Japan:

• Brother of the sun goddess Amaterasu in Shinto religion
• God Tsukuyomi personifies the moon
• The moon rabbit "pounds mochi" in famous folklore legend
• Beautiful moon viewing festivals like Tsukimi are celebrated

So while Luna as a name is uncommon, its lunar meaning resonates in Japan. Their history of moongazing and Tsukimi festivals means they appreciate the moon‘s symbolism.

Does Luna fit into Japanese naming culture?

Given the musical quality foreign names can bring, I believe Luna could integrate into modern Japanese naming, even if not yet a mainstream choice.

The flowing three-syllable sound embodies the dreamy glow of moonlight. Paired with a more traditional middle name, a child named Luna could embrace her Japanese heritage while having a name reflecting celestial beauty.

Examples of Japanese characters named Luna

While still uncommon, here are some named Japanese anime and video game characters helping introduce Luna-derived names:

• Luna from Japanese franchise Sailor Moon
• Luna Minami from Subarashiki Kono Sekai

So those with strong ties to gaming and anime culture, like myself as a content creator, may be most inclined to pass on distinctive mythic names like Luna to the next generation.

In summary, while Luna is not of Japanese origin, its evocative moon-based meaning still lingers beautifully across the night skies of Japanese artistic tradition. So for parents seeking to give their daughter a truly one-of-a-kind name, Luna certainly fits the bill.