View Message

[Facts] Luana
This site doesn't list the name's meaning, only this:http://www.behindthename.com/name/luanaHowever, this name was very popular in Italy (not so much anymore, seems to be middle-aged/older there) and Portugal.So I think it must have an Italian or Portuguese origin as well?Luan apparently means "moon" in Portuguese, is Luana related to this?I'm interested in finding out the origin of this name.
vote up1vote down

Replies

"Lua" means moon in Portuguese, but although fit wasn't used as a given name until recently.Luana as a Portuguese name seems to have originated in Brazil, either from the origins mentioned above (including the 1932 movie and possibly the influence of Italian immigrants) and later characters from books and telenovelas, namely Sétimo Sentido (1982). The association with the word "lua" certainly must have helped popularized the name, but that was probably folk etymology. Its usage in Portugal is more recent, and again by Brazilian influence.It could also be interpreted as an elaboration of "Lu" (a diminutive of Luísa, Lúcia, Lurdes) with "-ana" (compare with Luann our Louanne in English). Luan seems to be a (Brazilian) masculinization of Luana.Sources:
https://super.abril.com.br/sociedade/de-juma-a-luana-14-nomes-que-pais-escolheram-vendo-novela/
vote up2vote down
There is at least one other etymology found herehttp://www.behindthename.com/name/luana/submittedgoing back to Albanian Luan "lion". Since there are still Albanian minorities in Italy, this would be a plausible explanation of the name in Italy.
vote up1vote down