“Moroni was probably born close to the middle of the fourth century A.D. The only other member of his family mentioned is his father Mormon, the Nephite military commander-in-chief and the Lord’s chosen prophet. We do not know his mother’s name or whether he had siblings or was married. Mormon, who was well aware of the prophecies about his people, knew that his newly born son would experience a lifetime of bloodshed, turmoil, and strife … .
“Knowing the difficulties his son would encounter, Mormon, no doubt, named his infant son after the legendary prophet and military leader Captain Moroni, whose history he had abridged (see Alma 43:16–62:43)” (Peterson, “Moroni, the Last of the Nephite Prophets,” 235–36).