Fun Facts About the Name Moa
- 15 babies named Moa: U.S. records list 15 babies given the name Moa from 1880 through 2025. Even 5 girls received the name Moa - about 1 girl for every 2 boys.
What Does the Name Moa Mean?
Moa is a feminine given name used chiefly in Sweden and Norway. It is generally described as a short or familiar form rather than a name built from a clear root, and the base it comes from is not settled; Swedish usage is often connected with names beginning with Mo-, such as Mona. Since that parent name has an uncertain origin of its own, no firm literal meaning is established for Moa.
Moa is also a Japanese feminine given name. Names of this kind are written with kanji chosen by the parents, so the meaning comes from the characters rather than the sound: the spelling 最愛, for instance, joins the characters for 'most' and 'love.'
Moa Name History & Origins
Moa appears in Swedish use first as a familiar form of women's names and later as a given name in its own right. The author Moa Martinson (1890 - 1964), born Helga Maria Swartz, is an early well-known bearer of the name in Swedish public life. The name is also found in Norway.
The Japanese name Moa is separate in origin and is written with kanji, as in the spelling 最愛. It has no established connection to the Māori word moa, the name of the extinct flightless birds of New Zealand, which comes from a different language.
How Popular is the Name Moa?
Moa has historically been an exceptionally rare given name in the United States, remaining well outside the national mainstream. It saw its highest recorded annual births in 2025. Its best rank was #13,504 in 2023.
U.S. name popularity from 1880-2025, based on SSA data. Rank shows how the name compares with other names - lower numbers mean greater popularity. Births shows how many babies received the name each year.
| Year | Rank | Births | % |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2025 | #16,512 | 5 | 0.0003% |
| Year | Rank | Births | % |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2023 | #13,504 | 5 | 0.0003% |
| 2016 | #13,554 | 5 | 0.0003% |
Name popularity over more than a century, based on Social Security Administration data. Gaps in the chart indicate years when the name does not appear in the published records.
Most Popular Boy Names That Start with M
Short Boy Names That Start with M
How the Name Moa Shapes Your Personality and Life?
You have psychic power. You can carry on for others with joy. You have a receptive nature and may bear burdens for others. You are pragmatic, thorough, strong-willed, practical and stubborn at times. You are hard working, often martyr to duty. You like home and security above all. You are frank, methodical and believe in law, system and order.
You are always looking for an opportunity to achieve financial and emotional security. You are basically peacemaker. You understand the law of harmony and desire to balance your life with those around you. You may feel incomplete without someone to share your love, ideals, wealth or work. You can be very sensitive and could appear a bit shy and perceptive. You have developed intuition, patience and the ability to nurture others. You can achieve the state of happiness if you are willing to accept your needs in a complimentary relationship and go to create them.
✦ Moa's Deeper Meaning & Tips for Parents Discover Moa's symbolic numbers and practical tips for choosing a name that complements your child's birth date.