UK girl's name
Moana
A feminine name of Polynesian origin meaning "ocean" or "deep sea".
For 2026, the newest official UK baby-name figures on this page are from 2024. That release is the current official benchmark rather than a forecast.
Moana is a girl's name in the UK records. People looking for Moana popularity in 2026 should use the latest official release, which is 2024 in this profile. In that release it ranked #3695, with 6 babies registered with the name. Its strongest year in the published records was 2018, with 11 births.
This profile covers 67 England and Wales registrations across 9 recorded years from 2013 to 2024. The figures come from ONS England and Wales, so the page is a view of published baby-name registrations rather than a forecast or a live count of people using the name today.
The latest count is about 55% of the recorded peak, which gives a quick read on how the name has moved since its high point.
We estimate that about 67 living people in the UK are called Moana. This uses published birth registrations from England and Wales, Scotland and Northern Ireland, then applies ONS national life tables to estimate how many are likely still alive. It does not forecast extra births for 2025 or 2026.
Key insights
- • Moana ranked #3695 for girls in England and Wales in 2024, with 6 registrations.
- • The name peaked in 2018, when 11 girls were registered as Moana.
- • About 67 living people in the UK are estimated to have Moana as a first name, after adjusting past birth registrations with ONS life tables.
Latest rank (E&W)
#3695
2024
Births in 2024
6
Latest year
Peak year
2018
11 births
Estimated living
67
2026
Meaning
What does Moana mean?
The name Moana has its origins in the Polynesian languages, particularly in the Maori language spoken in New Zealand and the Hawaiian language. In these languages, the word "moana" means "ocean" or "wide expanse of water." The name is believed to have been in use for centuries, reflecting the deep cultural connection of Polynesian peoples with the sea.
In Maori mythology, Moana is the name of the ocean deity, a powerful figure associated with the vast waters that surround the islands of New Zealand. The name was likely given to children as a way to honor this deity and express a reverence for the ocean's importance in Polynesian life.
One of the earliest recorded examples of the name Moana dates back to the late 18th century, when it was mentioned in the journals of European explorers who visited the Pacific islands. Captain James Cook, the famous British explorer, recorded encounters with Polynesian peoples and may have noted the name during his voyages.
Throughout history, there have been several notable individuals named Moana. One example is Moana Carcasses Kalosil (1888-1968), a Fijian chief and paramount leader of the Lau Islands. Another is Moana Pozzi (1961-1994), an Italian actress and model who was known for her work in adult films.
In the realm of literature, the name Moana has been used in works by authors such as Robert Louis Stevenson, who featured a character named Moana in his novel "The Ebb-Tide" (1894). The name has also appeared in various Polynesian legends and oral traditions, reflecting its deep cultural significance.
Other notable individuals named Moana include Moana Mackey (born 1981), a New Zealand singer and songwriter, and Moana Nui (born 1995), a French Polynesian singer and dancer.
The name Moana gained wider recognition in recent years with the release of the 2016 Disney animated film "Moana," which featured a young Polynesian princess named Moana as the main character. The film's popularity contributed to an increased interest in the name and its cultural significance.
Sourced from namecensus.com.
Popularity
Moana over time
The chart below shows babies named Moana registered in England and Wales in the years where the name appears in the published records, from 2013 to 2024. Empty years are left out so rare names are not stretched across long periods where the published files do not show any registrations.
For Moana, the clearest high point is 2018. The latest England and Wales figure is 6 births in 2024, compared with 11 at the peak.
Babies born per year
Decades
Moana by decade
Decade totals smooth out the yearly jumps and make it easier to see whether Moana was a short-lived spike or a name that stayed in regular use. Average rank is calculated only from years where a published rank exists.
| Decade | Average rank | Total births | Years covered |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2020s | #3215 | 36 | 5 |
| 2010s | #3442 | 31 | 4 |
Related
Names similar to Moana
- Megan 70,884
- Mia 67,204
- Molly 47,734
- Millie 44,390
- Maisie 32,671
- Matilda 29,965
- Maya 26,445
- Madison 18,441
- Maria 17,304
- Mollie 15,914
- Martha 15,116
- Maddison 14,918
FAQ
Moana: questions and answers
How popular is the name Moana in the UK right now?
In 2024, Moana was ranked #3695 for girls in England and Wales, with 6 births registered.
When was Moana most popular?
The peak year on record was 2018, with 11 babies registered as Moana in England and Wales.
What is the meaning and origin of Moana?
A feminine name of Polynesian origin meaning "ocean" or "deep sea".
How many people are called Moana in the UK?
A total of 67 babies have been registered as Moana across the 9 years of ONS England & Wales records shown here.
Which records is this page based on?
The England and Wales timeline uses ONS baby-name records. Scotland figures come from NRS and Northern Ireland figures come from NISRA. Counts are registrations in published baby-name files. The living estimate uses those birth registrations with ONS national life tables.