Fun Facts About the Name Moani
- 108 babies named Moani: U.S. records list 108 babies given the name Moani from 1880 through 2025.
What Does the Name Moani Mean?
Moani is a Hawaiian name derived from the Hawaiian word moani, which refers to a gentle breeze and to fragrance carried on the air. English-language name references often give the meaning as "gentle breeze" or "fragrance"; these are connected senses of the same Hawaiian word, not separate origins. The name is not a variant of the similar-looking Moana, which comes from the Hawaiian word for ocean.
Moani Name History & Origins
Moani is a Hawaiian word name rather than a form of an older European given name. It is taken directly from the Hawaiian word moani, so its development is tied to the Hawaiian language rather than to a saint's name, a dynasty, or a medieval European root. The name keeps the word's form unchanged; it is not a shortened or altered version of another Hawaiian name.
The spelling Moani is the usual English-language form. In Hawaiian pronunciation each vowel in mo-a-ni is sounded, giving approximately mo-AH-nee; the name is written without an ʻokina or kahakō. Its resemblance to Moana is coincidental in origin, even though both are Hawaiian names.
How Popular is the Name Moani?
Moani 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 2005. Its best rank was #10,255 in 2019.
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 | #12,769 | 7 | 0.0004% |
| 2024 | #11,783 | 8 | 0.0005% |
| 2023 | #14,601 | 6 | 0.0004% |
| 2021 | #16,894 | 5 | 0.0003% |
| 2020 | #16,751 | 5 | 0.0003% |
| 2019 | #10,255 | 10 | 0.0006% |
| 2018 | #13,379 | 7 | 0.0004% |
| 2017 | #13,656 | 7 | 0.0004% |
| 2013 | #18,421 | 5 | 0.0003% |
| 2008 | #16,830 | 6 | 0.0003% |
| 2007 | #14,979 | 7 | 0.0004% |
| 2005 | #10,680 | 10 | 0.0005% |
| 2003 | #15,163 | 6 | 0.0003% |
| 2002 | #10,814 | 9 | 0.0005% |
| 1995 | #14,983 | 5 | 0.0003% |
| 1976 | #10,310 | 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.
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How the Name Moani 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 very intuitive. You have a reservoir of inspired wisdom combined with inherited analytical ability, which could reward you through expressions of spiritual leadership, business analysis, marketing, artistic visions, and scientific research. Operating on spiritual side of your individuality can bring you to the great heights, and drop you off if you neglect your spiritual identity. You are always looking for an opportunity to investigate the unknown, to use and show your mental abilities, to find the purpose and meaning of life. You want to grow wise and to understand people and things. You need privacy to replenish your energy. You have a unique way of thinking, intuitive, reflective, absorbing.
✦ Moani's Deeper Meaning & Tips for Parents Discover Moani's symbolic numbers and practical tips for choosing a name that complements your child's birth date.