10 baby girl names that mean ‘moonlight’

Introduction

Moonlight is a long-standing image in Indian culture and Hindu devotional literature. The Sanskrit word chandra — “moon” — and its derivatives appear across poetry, temple art and household devotion, where moonlight often stands for coolness, beauty and a calm mind (manas). Families seeking a name that evokes this luminous quality often choose words meaning “moonlight,” “moonbeam” or “moon‑radiance.” Below are ten girl names that carry that sense, with brief etymologies, script forms and cultural notes. I try to be careful about shades of meaning; some names literally mean “moonlight,” others mean “moon‑like” or “moon‑radiant.”

Ten names that evoke moonlight

• Chandrika — चन्द्रिका (Candrīkā)

  Gloss: “moonlight, moonbeam.” From candra (moon) + diminutive suffix -ikā.

  Notes: A classical Sanskrit word used in poetry to describe the soft glow on leaves or a beloved’s face. Widely used across India; appears in literary and devotional contexts without sectarian association.

• Chandni / Chandani — चाँदनी / चन्दनी (Chāndnī / Candanī)

  Gloss: “moonlight.” A commonly used modern Hindi/vernacular name derived from the same root.

  Notes: Popular in contemporary usage and in song/film imagery; simple and immediately recognisable as “moonlight.”

• Chandralekha — चन्द्रलेखा (Candraleikhā)

  Gloss: “moon‑streak” or “line of the moon” — effectively a moonbeam.

  Notes: Poetic and visual: suggests a streak of moonlight across water or sky. Found in regional literatures and in modern names.

• Indulekha — इन्दुलेखा (Indulekha)

  Gloss: “moon‑streak” or “moon‑writing” (from indu = moon, lekhā = streak/mark).

  Notes: A classical-sounding South Indian name made familiar by regional literature. Conveys the idea of a bright mark of the moon — moonlight or moonbeam.

• Indumati — इन्दुमती (Indumatī)

  Gloss: “possessing the moon” or “moon‑like.”

  Notes: Often used poetically to mean a moon‑faced or moon‑radiant woman. Found in classical stories and epics as a dignified feminine name.

• Chandrakanti — चन्द्रकान्ति (Candrakānti)

  Gloss: “moon‑radiance” (candra = moon, kānti = lustre, radiance).

  Notes: Emphasises the shining, luminous quality of moonlight rather than just the moon as an object.

• Chandrajyoti — चन्द्रज्योति (Candrajyoti)

  Gloss: “moon‑light” (jyoti = light).

  Notes: A compound that is straightforward and literal: the light of the moon. It appears as a devotional or poetic epithet in some modern usages.

• Shashika — शशिका (Śaśikā)

  Gloss: “little moon” or “moon‑like.” Derived from śaśi / śaśanka (terms for the moon).

  Notes: Commonly used to give the sense of being formed of moonlight. In classical imagery the moon is a frequent simile for charm and cool beauty.

• Somika — सोमिका (Somikā)

  Gloss: “of Soma/the moon.”

  Notes: Soma is an ancient Vedic name for the moon; feminine forms like Somikā suggest close association with lunar qualities and are used in various regions.

• Chandravali — चन्द्रवली (Candravalī)

  Gloss: “moon‑like” or “one who is in a row with the moon” depending on reading of valī.

  Notes: Found in classical poetry and devotional songs; sometimes used as an epithet for a beloved or gopi who is moonlike in beauty.

Short guidance for choosing

When families choose a name in a Hindu context, practical and ritual considerations often matter alongside meaning. Many households consult the child’s nakshatra (lunar mansion) to select an initial sound or syllable; others follow family tradition or prefer a name that is easy to pronounce across languages. Names with roots in Sanskrit or vernacular words are common and widely acceptable across Śaiva, Vaiṣṇava, Śākta and Smārta households — the same word (for example, Chandrika) will appear in poetry, bhajan and temple inscriptions.

Pronunciation and script

Include the Devanagari form when registering or inscribing names if your family uses it, and practise a simple phonetic rendering for everyday use. For example, Chandrika (Candrīkā) is pronounced “CHUN-dree-ka” in many Indian tongues; Indulekha roughly “IN-doo-lek-ha.”

Ritual note

If you hold a naming ceremony that involves fasting or extended rituals, remember this can affect health; consult family elders and a doctor if you are unsure about fasting during pregnancy or postpartum periods.

Finally, meanings in Sanskrit and regional languages can be subtle and open to interpretation. I have tried to give the most common glosses and cultural uses — families may prefer one name for its sound, another for a poetic association with the full moon or with classical literature. Whichever name you pick, the moon’s quiet light has been a treasured symbol of serenity and beauty across Indian traditions for millennia.