usagi -- rabbit
tsuki -- moon
no -- of
Tsukino Usagi -- Rabbit of the Moon
In Asian mythology, there is a legend of a rabbit on the moon pounding a rice cake. Luna's password in the first season was even "the rabbit on the moon pounds the mochi (rice cake)". There is many puns on the meaning of Usagi's name. She hates carrots and her hair is somewhat like rabbit ears. Chibi-usa, whose full name is Tsukino Usagi, has more rabbit-eared odangos as well.
Her other name, Selenity, is probably connected with the ancient Greek goddess of the moon, Selene. From her Japanese name is probably where they got her North American name, Serena. Usagi is called Bunny in most other dubs and manga translations because that's the correct translation.
© 1998 Bunny
Sailormoon is copyright © 1992 Naoko Takeuchi/Kodansha, TOEI Animation. This site is not affiliated with any of those companies and has no intentions of infringing on their copyrights.
