Moths often get overlooked. But they are just as amazing as butterflies. They come in many colors and sizes. Some are tiny. Others are huge, like the Atlas moth. Each one deserves a great name.
This guide gives you over 540 moth names. You’ll find funny names, cute names, and elegant ones too. There are Latin names for real species. There are names for pets, characters, and more. Pick the one that fits best.
Key Characteristics & Facts Moth
Before diving into names, it helps to know what makes moths so distinct:
- Antennae: Moths typically have feathery or saw-edged antennae, unlike the thin, club-tipped antennae of butterflies.
- Wings at rest: Most moths rest with their wings flat or tented over their body, while butterflies fold theirs upright.
- Bodies: Moths tend to have thicker, fuzzier (hairier) bodies built for insulation during nighttime flight.
- Activity: The majority of moths are nocturnal, though some — like the hummingbird hawk-moth — are active during the day.
- Metamorphosis: Like butterflies, moths undergo complete metamorphosis: egg, larva (caterpillar), pupa (cocoon), and adult.
- Cocoons vs. chrysalises: Moth caterpillars typically spin a silk cocoon, while butterfly caterpillars form a hard chrysalis.
- Diversity: Moths range from the tiny, crop-damaging codling moth to the enormous Atlas moth, which can have a wingspan over 10 inches.
- Lifespan: Some adult moths, like the Luna moth, don’t eat at all as adults — they live for about a week, just long enough to mate.
- Pollinators: Many moths are important nighttime pollinators, especially for pale, heavily-scented flowers that open after dark.
- Light attraction: Moths are drawn to light due to a navigation phenomenon called transverse orientation, where they use the moon to fly in a straight line and get confused by artificial lights.
Best Moth Names
A well-rounded shortlist of the most popular, versatile moth names for pets, characters, or projects:
- Luna
- Atlas
- Comet
- Willow
- Cinder
- Ash
- Dusk
- Ember
- Nova
- Selene
- Moondust
- Flicker
- Papillon
- Storm
- Whisper
- Silk
- Mothra
- Shadow
- Twilight
- Hazel
- Cocoa
- Feather
- Pearl
- Velvet
- Cosmo
Famous Moth Names
Moths that have made their mark in pop culture, mythology, and science:
- Mothra (Godzilla franchise)
- The Death’s-Head Hawk-moth (from The Silence of the Lambs)
- Venom’s Moth (comic reference nod)
- Psyche (Greek mythology, associated with the soul and moths/butterflies)
- Attacus atlas (the real Atlas moth, one of the largest in the world)
- Bombyx mori (the domesticated silk moth, source of silk production)
- Biston betularia (the Peppered Moth, famous for industrial melanism in evolution studies)
- Actias luna (the real Luna moth)
- Cecropia (from Hyalophora cecropia, North America’s largest native moth)
- Mottikins (nickname coined by fans for viral internet “moth memes”)
- Venus (a nod to moth-inspired fashion and art pieces)
- The Peacock Moth (Saturnia pavonia, famous for its eye-spot wings)
- Antheraea (genus behind Tussar silk moths)
- The Gypsy Moth / Spongy Moth (Lymantria dispar, notorious invasive species)
- Deilephila elpenor (the Elephant Hawk-moth, beloved for its pink coloring)
Moth Name for Male
Strong, handsome names with a masculine feel:
- Atlas
- Ash
- Onyx
- Orion
- Sable
- Griff
- Talon
- Cinder
- Bramble
- Hawk
- Storm
- Ridge
- Slate
- Basil
- Ferro
- Copper
- Nimbus
- Rook
- Thorne
- Dusty
- Cobalt
- Maple
- Winston
- Cosmo
- Ranger
Cool Names for Moth
For a moth (or moth-inspired character) with edge and personality:
- Nyx
- Vortex
- Blaze
- Static
- Nightshade
- Void
- Cipher
- Frost
- Havoc
- Onyx
- Zephyr
- Wraith
- Talon
- Phantom
- Raven
- Ghost
- Neon
- Slate
- Ashen
- Vesper
- Grim
- Blitz
- Ember
- Rogue
- Static
Funny Moth Names
Because not every moth needs to be mysterious — some just need to make you laugh:
- Mothy McMothface
- Chunky Fuzzball
- Sir Flaps-a-Lot
- Porch Light Pete
- Bulby
- Lampshade Larry
- Fuzz Butt
- Moth Vader
- Antennae Andy
- Mothilda
- Dusty Duster
- Flappy McFlapperson
- Wingnut
- Moth Damon
- Screen Door Steve
- Moffet
- Bug Zapper Bait
- Sir Flutters-a-Lot
- Mothzilla
- Grubby
- Puff Daddy (the moth version)
- Fluffernutter
- Mothew McConaughey
- Antennae Annie
- Buzzkill (even though moths don’t buzz — that’s the joke)
Beautiful Moth Name
Elegant, poetic names inspired by the delicate beauty of moths:
- Seraphina
- Luna
- Celestine
- Aurelia
- Isolde
- Wisteria
- Aria
- Ivory
- Marigold
- Opaline
- Calliope
- Elowen
- Rosalind
- Ondine
- Vesperia
- Lumen
- Petalie
- Adalyn
- Seren
- Moonflower
- Anthea
- Belladonna
- Thistledown
- Iridessa
- Solace
Unique Names for Moth
Distinctive names you won’t find on every other list:
- Vellichor
- Moriah
- Quill
- Sable-wing
- Thistlemoth
- Yonder
- Umbral
- Petrichor
- Halcyon
- Vantablack
- Sylvane
- Driftwood
- Nimbostrata
- Cinderglow
- Nocturne
- Fable
- Wraithe
- Aeon
- Loam
- Sootling
- Wispwing
- Marrow
- Cendrillon
- Ashglow
- Quietus
Brown Moth Names
Perfect for moths (or names) that reflect earthy, brown tones:
- Cocoa
- Hazel
- Chestnut
- Umber
- Toffee
- Bramble
- Acorn
- Walnut
- Sepia
- Cinnamon
- Mocha
- Bark
- Clove
- Almond
- Nutmeg
- Rusty
- Peat
- Loam
- Amber
- Fawn
- Cedar
- Mahogany
- Bronte
- Terra
- Dune
Moth Names Pet
Friendly, endearing names ideal for a pet moth, plush toy, or beloved insect enthusiast’s companion name:
- Flutter
- Buddy
- Mothball
- Peanut
- Biscuit
- Nugget
- Pip
- Sprout
- Dot
- Marshmallow
- Pebble
- Bramble
- Clover
- Pippin
- Truffle
- Wisp
- Sunny
- Poppy
- Fig
- Mango
- Bean
- Chip
- Cricket
- Sage
- Olive
Good Name for Moth
Solid, well-rounded name choices that suit almost any moth character or pet:
- Willow
- Ash
- Dusk
- Selene
- River
- Sage
- Hazel
- Ember
- Storm
- Wren
- Fern
- Briar
- Cove
- Marlowe
- Wilder
- Sorrel
- Sable
- Aspen
- Onyx
- Quinn
Moth Names Latin
Real (or Latin-inspired) scientific-style names for an authentic touch:
- Actias luna (Luna Moth)
- Attacus atlas (Atlas Moth)
- Hyalophora cecropia (Cecropia Moth)
- Antheraea polyphemus (Polyphemus Moth)
- Automeris io (Io Moth)
- Bombyx mori (Domestic Silk Moth)
- Biston betularia (Peppered Moth)
- Deilephila elpenor (Elephant Hawk-moth)
- Manduca sexta (Tobacco Hawk-moth)
- Acherontia atropos (Death’s-head Hawk-moth)
- Saturnia pavonia (Emperor Moth)
- Callimorpha dominula (Scarlet Tiger Moth)
- Arctia caja (Garden Tiger Moth)
- Lymantria dispar (Spongy/Gypsy Moth)
- Galleria mellonella (Greater Wax Moth)
- Plodia interpunctella (Indian Meal Moth)
- Tineola bisselliella (Common Clothes Moth)
- Sphinx ligustri (Privet Hawk-moth)
- Smerinthus ocellatus (Eyed Hawk-moth)
- Cerura vinula (Puss Moth)
- Phalera bucephala (Buff-tip Moth)
- Zygaena filipendulae (Six-spot Burnet)
- Hemaris thysbe (Hummingbird Clearwing Moth)
- Citheronia regalis (Regal Moth)
- Eacles imperialis (Imperial Moth)
- Callosamia promethea (Promethea Moth)
- Endromis versicolora (Kentish Glory)
- Catocala relicta (White Underwing)
- Xestia c-nigrum (Setaceous Hebrew Character)
- Noctua pronuba (Large Yellow Underwing)
Moth Name List with Pictures
Note: Since this is a text-based guide, here’s a description-based list to help you visualize each named species. You can search these Latin names for photos, or ask for a follow-up with real images.
- Luna Moth (Actias luna) — Pale green wings with long, curling hindwing tails.
- Atlas Moth (Attacus atlas) — Enormous reddish-brown wings with snake-head-shaped wingtips.
- Cecropia Moth (Hyalophora cecropia) — Reddish body, crescent-marked wings in brown, red, and white.
- Polyphemus Moth (Antheraea polyphemus) — Tan wings with large purple-blue eyespots.
- Io Moth (Automeris io) — Yellow (male) or reddish-brown (female) wings with bold black-and-blue eyespots.
- Rosy Maple Moth (Dryocampa rubicunda) — Bubblegum pink and creamy yellow, fuzzy body.
- Death’s-head Hawk-moth (Acherontia atropos) — Brown wings, skull-shaped marking on the thorax.
- Elephant Hawk-moth (Deilephila elpenor) — Olive-green and hot pink wings.
- Emperor Moth (Saturnia pavonia) — Grey-brown wings with large eyespots on all four wings.
- Garden Tiger Moth (Arctia caja) — Brown-and-white patterned forewings, orange hindwings with blue-black spots.
- Hummingbird Hawk-moth (Macroglossum stellatarum) — Brown body, orange hindwings, hovers like a hummingbird.
- Peppered Moth (Biston betularia) — Speckled black-and-white “peppered” pattern.
- Six-spot Burnet (Zygaena filipendulae) — Glossy black wings with six red spots.
- Puss Moth (Cerura vinula) — Fuzzy white-grey body resembling a small cat.
- White Ermine Moth (Spilosoma lubricipeda) — White wings dotted with small black spots.
Moth Names with Meaning
Names that carry symbolic weight, often tied to transformation, night, or light:
- Luna — meaning “moon,” reflecting nocturnal nature
- Psyche — Greek for “soul” or “breath of life,” linked to metamorphosis
- Nyx — Greek goddess of the night
- Vesper — Latin for “evening”
- Selene — Greek moon goddess
- Ember — a glowing remnant, symbolizing quiet resilience
- Aurelia — Latin-derived, meaning “golden,” referencing the golden hue of a chrysalis
- Nocturne — a musical term evoking night
- Halcyon — meaning peaceful, calm
- Solace — comfort in darkness
- Aeon — meaning an age or long span of time
- Wraith — a ghostly, ephemeral presence
- Phoenix — symbolizing rebirth, much like metamorphosis
- Twilight — the in-between hour moths favor
- Cinder — remains of fire, echoing transformation
- Willow — flexibility and resilience
- Dusk — the fading of day into night
- Zephyr — a gentle breeze, symbolizing light flight
- Elysia — derived from Elysium, meaning a blissful afterlife
- Umbra — Latin for “shadow”
Moth Unisex Names
Gender-neutral names that fit any moth, character, or pet:
- River
- Sage
- Wren
- Ash
- Storm
- Sky
- Fern
- Robin
- Wisp
- Aspen
- Dune
- Sparrow
- Rowan
- Quinn
- Nova
- Briar
- Wilder
- Marlowe
- Onyx
- Vesper
- Indigo
- Ridley
- Winter
- Cove
- Ember
Moth Names female
Soft, feminine names fitting for a moth character or pet:
- Luna
- Selene
- Aurelia
- Willow
- Hazel
- Ivy
- Poppy
- Marigold
- Rosalind
- Wisteria
- Isolde
- Calliope
- Seraphina
- Elowen
- Ondine
- Petalie
- Anthea
- Belladonna
- Iris
- Celestine
- Moonflower
- Aria
- Opaline
- Thistle
- Adalyn
Moth Nickname
Short, casual, affectionate nicknames:
- Mothy
- Flutter
- Dusty
- Wingy
- Fuzz
- Nugget
- Buddy
- Sprout
- Pip
- Ash
- Bug
- Puff
- Speck
- Peanut
- Moxie
- Buzz (even though moths don’t buzz, it’s a fun nickname)
- Flit
- Cricket
- Fizz
- Twinkle
White Moth Names
For pale or ghostly-winged moths:
- Ivory
- Snowdrop
- Frost
- Ghost
- Pearl
- Alba
- Opal
- Cloud
- Ermine
- Blanche
- Winter
- Chalk
- Moonbeam
- Cotton
- Marble
- Bianca
- Halo
- Vellum
- Milk
- Glacier
- Snowflake
- Dove
- Lily
- Porcelain
- Whisper
Moth Names for Girls & Boys
A combined, family-friendly list to suit any moth, whether choosing for a child’s pet bug or a story character:
For Girls:
- Luna
- Willow
- Hazel
- Poppy
- Ivy
- Marigold
- Aria
- Rosalind
- Wren
- Fern
For Boys:
- Atlas
- Ash
- Cosmo
- Orion
- Storm
- Basil
- Hawk
- Ridge
- Talon
- Winston
Colour Inspire Name for Moth
Names drawn directly from moth wing colors and patterns:
- Slate (grey)
- Umber (brown)
- Ivory (white)
- Copper (reddish-orange)
- Sable (black)
- Rusty (orange-brown)
- Olive (green-brown)
- Charcoal (dark grey)
- Amber (golden brown)
- Blush (pink)
- Cobalt (blue)
- Mocha (dark brown)
- Cream
- Bronze
- Jet (deep black)
- Fawn (light tan)
- Moss (green)
- Taupe
- Saffron (yellow-orange)
- Ash (grey)
Luna Moth Names
Names specifically inspired by the ethereal, pale-green Luna moth:
- Luna
- Selene
- Celeste
- Moonbeam
- Lumen
- Silvermoon
- Nightglow
- Astra
- Cressida
- Moth-Luna hybrids: Lunaria, Lunette, Lunetta
- Opal Luna
- Crescent
- Halo
- Waxing
- Diana (Roman moon goddess)
Cute Names for Moth
Adorable names perfect for a small, gentle moth pet or plush:
- Marshmallow
- Pudding
- Biscuit
- Waffles
- Nugget
- Bumble
- Fuzzy
- Sprinkle
- Clover
- Sugar
- Cupcake
- Honeybee (even for a moth!)
- Buttons
- Daisy
- Sweetpea
- Pumpkin
- Cinnamon
- Snickers
- Fluffy
- Peaches
- Bubbles
- Muffin
- Twinkle
- Cookie
- Pippin
A – Z Name for Moth
A full alphabetical list to make picking a name simple, letter by letter:
- A — Atlas, Ash, Aurelia, Amber
- B — Basil, Briar, Bramble, Blaze
- C — Cinder, Cosmo, Clover, Copper
- D — Dusk, Dot, Driftwood, Daisy
- E — Ember, Elowen, Echo
- F — Fern, Flutter, Frost, Fawn
- G — Ghost, Griff, Golden
- H — Hazel, Hawk, Halcyon
- I — Ivy, Isolde, Indigo
- J — Juniper, Jasper, Jet
- K — Kestrel, Kindle
- L — Luna, Lumen, Lily
- M — Marigold, Mocha, Mothra
- N — Nova, Nyx, Nugget
- O — Onyx, Opal, Orion
- P — Poppy, Pearl, Pip
- Q — Quill, Quinn, Quartz
- R — River, Rosalind, Rusty
- S — Sage, Selene, Storm, Sable
- T — Twilight, Thistle, Talon
- U — Umbra, Ursa
- V — Vesper, Velvet, Violet
- W — Willow, Wren, Wisp
- X — Xena, Xylo
- Y — Yonder, Yuki
- Z — Zephyr, Ziggy, Zinnia
Tips for Choosing the Perfect Moth Names
- Look at the wings first. Color, pattern, and shape are the easiest inspiration source — brown moths suit earthy names, pale moths suit soft names like Ivory or Frost.
- Consider the species if you know it. A Luna moth practically names itself, while a hawk-moth might suit something bold like Talon or Hawk.
- Think about personality or behavior. Is your moth calm and slow, or does it flutter erratically? Names like Whisper or Static can reflect movement style.
- Keep pronunciation simple if the name will be used often, especially for pets or characters in a story kids will read.
- Use Latin names for authenticity. If you want a scientific or elegant feel, borrowing directly from real species names like Actias or Automeris adds credibility.
- Match the name to the mood of your project. Horror stories might lean toward Wraith or Nightshade, while a children’s book might prefer Pip or Marshmallow.
- Test it out loud. A good name should feel natural to say and call out, especially for a pet.
- Avoid names that are too long or complex if it’s for daily use — nicknames from a longer name (like Aurelia → Rory) often work best.
- Draw from color, myth, or nature for a name with real depth of meaning rather than picking at random.
- Have fun with it. Moths are quirky, delicate, and often overlooked — a fun or funny name can be just as fitting as an elegant one.
Frequently Asked Questions
What is a good name for a pet moth?
Simple, soft names work best. Try Luna, Willow, or Ash.
What are some funny moth names?
Try “Mothy McMothface” or “Porch Light Pete.” They’re silly and fun to say.
Is Luna a good name for a moth?
Yes. Luna moths are pale green and named after the moon. It fits perfectly.
What are moths called in Latin?
Real species use Latin names. Example: Actias luna is the Luna moth.
Can moth names be used for both boys and girls?
Yes. Names like River, Sage, and Ash work for any gender.
What colors inspire moth names?
Brown, white, and grey are common. Try names like Umber, Ivory, or Ash.
Do moth names need to match real species?
No. You can pick any name you like. Real species names just add extra charm.
Conclusion
Moths are quiet, gentle creatures. They deserve good names too. This list gives you over 540 options. You can pick a name based on color, sound, or meaning. There’s something here for every moth lover.
Naming a moth can be fun and simple. Use a funny name or a beautiful one. Pick a Latin name for a scientific touch. Or choose a cute name for a pet moth. Whatever you choose, have fun with it.
