Alr I have to get my opinion out please stop with the moan-a comments this is not an English name! This is from somewhere else! It's a beautiful girl AND boy name!
Moana Maniapoto, MNZM, known mononymously as Moana, is a Maori New Zealand singer, songwriter and documentary maker. Widely considered one of New Zealand's most successful indigenous acts, her music is described as a fusion of traditional Māori haka, chants and taonga puoro, with contemporary soul, reggae and classical styles. Moana was briefly married to New Zealand politician and radio personality Willie Jackson, during which time she was known as Moana Maniapoto-Jackson; they divorced in 2001. In 2016, Moana was inducted into the New Zealand Music Hall of Fame.
I realize that this name is supposed to be unisex, but I only like it as a girl’s name. Moana doesn’t really suit a boy in my opinion. It may be unisex in the Polynesian world, but in the United States, I think a boy named Moana would get bullied all the time for having a really feminine name. Sorry if I’m offending Hawaii, it’s just my personal opinion. Moana is an elegant name and I like the meaning too.
Moana is a beautiful name for a girl! The Moana association is great! I was surprised to see this name labeled FEMININE & MASCULINE when clearly it’s a feminine name only. This name is so girly and feminine sounding. I really don’t like Moana as a boy’s name at all. Way too feminine! I feel sorry for any males with this name. Nobody really commented anything concerning this name having something to do with Moana being labeled as a unisex name, that’s weird!
― Anonymous User 1/10/2019
-24
This name is Polynesian not English. YES it is Unisex. There are hundreds of cultures and languages in this world besides yours.
― Anonymous User 1/10/2019
29
I don’t understand why the name Moana is labeled Feminine & Masculine! Moana is a total girly, effeminate, delicate, flower, princess, female, and ultra-feminine name! I don’t like it for a boy one bit because of Moana! There’s nothing masculine, strong, or unisex about the name Moana! I can’t believe nobody commented this name about the gender! Didn’t you notice it was labeled Feminine & Masculine? “I actually love Moana for a guy! It’s so handsome and strong! It’s rather boring on a girl!”. “This can also be used for boys”. “This can also be a masculine name”. Or “I love this as a girl’s name! I absolutely hate it as a boy's name”. None of them! Those comments were not found! Please don’t name your son this, unless you want to set him up for teasing because of the Disney Moana Association! I love this name for a girl, but ONLY a girl! I just think it’s awful for a boy! Sorry if you are a male with the name Moana, and I feel sorry for you that you have such a effeminate name! You should change it to something strong!
― Anonymous User 12/7/2018
-27
This is not a boy's name.
― Anonymous User 11/29/2018
-14
Yes it is a boy's name, as well as a girl's name. You don't get to decide the traditional gender usage of a name.
My Hawaiian cousin-in-law is named Moana and apparently it's pretty common in Hawaii. I've also heard from my friend that Moana is a hood name but I'm not sure how credible he is.
Lol, by the way, Disney's "Moana" definitely entered the charts. I heard it totally destroyed "Fantastic Beasts and Where to Find Them" and is currently topping the box office.
― Anonymous User 11/25/2016
-4
When I said that Moana will probably never enter the charts I obviously was referring to the name itself and not about the movie. Charts referring to the top 1000 names/most commonly used names in a country. The name is just OK in my opinion and I'll be one of the very surprised people if it ever enters the top 1000 names. (The name charts).
― Anonymous User 12/17/2016
6
Moana means "ocean" in all Polynesian languages. [noted -ed]
Most likely said as: MO-aw-nuh but givien the fact that it has "Moan" right in the title, I do not ever see this name entering the charts in any English speaking region. Even if the Disney movie ends up being as huge as Frozen (ugh, totally overrated film right there) if Moana ever entered the charts, I'd be very surprised. (Moan can be a sexual association).
― Anonymous User 5/10/2016
-13
That is the stupidest thing I've heard. Just because it has "Moan" in it does not make it sexual. It's not an English word, so you can't give letters that just so happen to spell a word that CAN be sexual (not the first thing most people think of when they see moan). If you don't know the meaning of the word, don't try and correct someone who does. Now please take your dirty mind and go harass Dickson or any other ENGLISH name that has "sexual connotations".
― Anonymous User 12/26/2016
16
I'm anonymous from 5/10/16 and um... I literally stated how the name was pronounced. Moana is not pronounced how you would say "moan" yes, but the spelling and word is still there. Mo-ah-nuh but it has "moan" in the name. That's the point I'm trying to get across and I didn't expect it turn out to be so difficult for one to comprehend. *laughs*The name SOUNDS alright but really kind of a "meh" factor.
― Anonymous User 12/25/2016
-5
It does not have a sexual association because it is not pronounced the way "moan" is pronounced. The letter "O" is not pronounced the way it is pronounced in most English words or when saying the alphabet. It's a 2 syllable word MO-ANA. And the MO is not pronounced "moe", it is pronounced the same way you would pronounce the MO in "more".
― Anonymous User 12/25/2016
-3
Super cool name. Can't wait to see the Disney movie and how Moana will be betrayed.
My name is Moanna, and I am proud of having a unique name in the world. In the Philippines, there could be three people using this name. And I am one of them now.
― Anonymous User 3/29/2015
4
My name is Moana too! How crazy, I have only met three people in the world who's name is Moana, but I guess I havn't been many places. I personally think that the name is nice. So yeah...
― Anonymous User 3/3/2015
3
My name is Moana, and I can not wait until this Princess Moana disney channel comes out so that I can watch it. If anyone has a problem with name Moana aint nobody cares because we polynesians are strong, powerful, muscular, and strong. We all stick together. SO BACK OFF!
― Anonymous User 1/28/2015
10
Revealed as the name of the newest Disney princess, whose film is to be released in 2016.
Moana means "deep ocean" not just near the coasts or the reefs or between isles but far out to sea. [noted -ed] When I hear the word "Moana" I think of bottomless blue seas, sharks, whales and squid. It's a feminine name although it can be included in a long phrase-like name given to both girls and boys e.g Manu-kei-ika-i-Moana. Moana is common all over the Pacific particularly with the Polynesian people from New Zealand all the way to Hawaii.
Maori is Polynesian? This is sea/ocean in Samoan. Also it's the colour blue in Samoan if you put Lana in front. Lana moana is blue. Moana is just ocean. Pronounced MO-AH-NAH. I know some Samoan women with the name Moana. It's never shortened to Moa. That means chicken. Ana, maybe yeah.
In the film "Pan's Labyrinth", the alternate name of the heroine, Ofelia, was Moanna. As princess of the underworld, her name was Moanna, and as the reincarnation of Moanna, her name was Ofelia. Moanna was pronounced MWAH-nuh. This is an interesting name, though I'm not sure I love it.