Total births
1,146
Girls' name · since 1941
Moana
Moana has 1,146 recorded births since 1941 in federal Social Security data, most heavily in 2017 -- full year-by-year trend, decade aggregates, and state rankings follow.
- #3187
- among girls today
- 1,146
- born since 1941
- 2010s
- peak decade
- 82%
- more common than other girls
1,146 babies have been named Moana since 1941, making it today's #3187 girls' name.
According to the U.S. Social Security Administration, Moana has been recorded 1,146 times among girls since 1941, currently ranked #3187 nationally and more common than 82% of girls, with its heaviest use in the 2010s. This profile covers year-by-year birth trends, decade totals, and state-level distribution, all derived directly from SSA birth-registration files spanning 1941 to 2025.
- #3187 among girls today
- 1,146 born since 1941
- 2010s peak decade
- 82% more common than other girls
Data updated Jul 2026
The verdict
Moana is currently the #3187 girls' name in America, more common than 82% of girls - 1,146 born since 1941, peaking in the 2010s.
- #3187
- among girls today
- 1,146
- born since 1941
- 2010s
- peak decade
- 82%
- more common than other girls
Moana vs. every other girls name in current SSA rankings
#3187
of 17,726 girls in use
More common than 82% of names given to girls today.
2010s
Peak decade
36% of everyone ever named Moana was born in this single decade.
2017
Single peak year
141 babies were named Moana in 2017 - its busiest year on record.
How Moana compares
1,146 Top 29% higher than 71% of 17,726 names currently given to girls
Based on all-time total births among currently-ranked girls names. Names with fewer occurrences are grouped into wider buckets on the right.
Source U.S. Social Security Administration, national baby name data
How the numbers stack up
Moana's all-time total is 3x the median girls name, and Olivia still leads by a wide margin.
| Metric | Moana | Median girls name (Emerly) | #1 girls name (Olivia) |
|---|---|---|---|
| All-time total births | 1,146 | 382 | 567,345 |
| Peak-year births | 141 | 48 | 19,840 |
Moana's usage pattern, beyond the headline number
Divide Moana's SSA record in two at 1991 and the more recent half accounts for 74% of all births, the earlier half the remaining 26%, consistent with a name still gaining ground rather than fading. Its calmest year was 1957, with only 5 births recorded -- set against the 2017 peak of 141, that's the full swing in one name's fortunes.
Moana at a glance
Outside the top 1,000Peak year
2017
Current rank
#3,187
Active since
1941
Moana popularity over time
Annual U.S. births registered with the Social Security Administration · 1941–2025
- Peak year (2017)
- 141
- Annual births at peak, across 85 years of records
Moana by decade
Total births in each ten-year window, peak vs trough at a glance
2010s was Moana's strongest decade.
415 babies received the name during that ten-year window, about 36% of all-time use.
Moana births by decade
Total births in each ten-year window
- 1940s 16
1940s
16 births
- 1950s 53
1950s
53 births
- 1960s 37
1960s
37 births
- 1970s 108
1970s
108 births
- 1980s 76
1980s
76 births
- 1990s 59
1990s
59 births
- 2000s 110
2000s
110 births
- 2010s
2010s
415 births
- 2020s
2020s
272 births
What this shows Peak: 2010s at 415 births (36% of all-time use).
How Moana compares to similarly-sized names
Years in SSA records vs. share of all-time use concentrated in the single peak year, among 15 girls names closest to Moana's total volume
Moana vs 15 similarly-sized girls names
Moana by state
Where Moana concentrates geographically, total births since 1941
| Rank | State | Visual share | Births | Share of total |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| #1 | California | | 142 | 12.4% |
| #2 | Hawaii | | 85 | 7.4% |
| #3 | Florida | | 31 | 2.7% |
| #4 | Texas | | 28 | 2.4% |
| #5 | North Carolina | | 11 | 1.0% |
| #6 | Pennsylvania | | 11 | 1.0% |
| #7 | Arizona | | 8 | 0.7% |
| #8 | New York | | 8 | 0.7% |
California share of Moana's total US births 12.4%
Even split
142 of 1,146 births nationwide. Compared to a flat distribution across 10 reporting states.
Moana appears in 10 states. Explore state details →
Frequently Asked Questions
How popular is the name Moana? ▼
Since 1941, Social Security records show 1,146 babies named Moana. Today it holds rank #3187 among girls. Its busiest year on record was 2017, with 141 births.
When was Moana most popular? ▼
Moana was most popular in the 2010s decade with 415 total births. The single peak year was 2017.
Where is Moana most popular? ▼
The top states for the name Moana are California (142 births), Hawaii (85 births), Florida (31 births).
How long has the name Moana been used? ▼
Moana has been recorded in Social Security data since 1941, spanning 85 years of data through 2025.
What names are similar to Moana? ▼
Names with a similar sound or spelling include Moani, Moanna, Moa. These share a common prefix and are also used for girls.
What to do with Moana's data
- Moana's usage has stayed within range of its 2010s decade-level peak (415 total births) through the 2020s (272) -- a comparatively stable name, not a fading trend.
- California records the most Moanas (142 births) -- see the full state breakdown if geography matters to your decision. California names
- Weighing it against an alternative? Put two names side by side. Compare names
Figures reflect SSA-reported births only; see the methodology above for the privacy-suppression floor.
Keep exploring Moana
Nearby Names Like Moana
Names with a similar sound, spelling, or feel to Moana
Compare Moana side by side: Moana vs Moani Moana vs Moanna Moana vs Moa
Related Names
Names with a similar popularity rank to Moana
Data Sources
Data as of July 2026. Source: U.S. Social Security Administration (SSA).
According to the Social Security Administration, this profile draws directly from the agency's public-use baby-name files (updated June 2026). See our methodology for the full extraction, aggregation, and privacy-suppression rules.
Primary: Source: U.S. Social Security Administration, Baby Names from Social Security Card Applications, National Data, 1941–2025 (ssa.gov/oact/babynames).
State-level: Source: U.S. Social Security Administration, Baby Names, State-Level Files (namesbystate.zip).
Cite this page
NameAlmanac Editorial. "Moana: #3187 Girls' Name - 1,146 Births, Peak 2017." NameAlmanac. Accessed via https://namealmanac.com/name/moana. Licensed CC BY-SA 4.0.
Name Almanac is rendered directly from the Social Security Administration's public baby-name files, no number is typed in by an editor. This profile for Moana draws directly on SSA national and state-level files, no figure is typed in by an editor. See our editorial standards & corrections policy, the methodology behind these numbers, or report a data error. Data current as of July 2026.