Parents have been drawn to baby names that mean sun since the dawn of history. These sunny appellations hold the promise of an illuminated life and impart the promise for hope and brighter days ahead. Some names that mean sun are subtle like Cyra or Cyrus while others like Soliel or Sol are a little more apparent. We’ve rounded up names for every taste from a variety of naming traditions from around the world.
There are so many shining names that mean sun for you to choose from. Below you will first find girl names that mean sun followed by boy names that mean sun. We’ve included pronunciations for trickier names that might be new to you and the precise meaning of each name. Take a look through them for some sunny baby name inspiration!
Girl Names That Mean Sun
Aelia
A name from Ancient Rome that sounds fresh today, Aelia is of Latin origin and means “sun.” This name has never been popular in the US making it a distinct option.
Apolline
Apolline is a French name from Apollonia, a name of Greek origin that means “sun god.” This too would make for an offbeat choice for a girl today.
Cyra
Pronounced SEER-ah, Cyra is a name found in both Greek and Persian traditions. The name has three possible meanings: “sun,” “throne,” or “lord.” Somehow, this handsome name has never been a popular choice in the US.
Eliane
Eliane is an attractive name of Hebrew origin. It’s a variation of Eliana. It also means “sun.” Again, this would be a unique choice because the appellation has never been popular in the US. It’s one of the best girl names that mean sun.
Helia
Helia is one of the names that mean sun that comes from Greek and relates to Helios, a sun god. It was likely the root adopted by the Romans that brought us the first name on this list, Aelia.
Idalia
An epithet of the goddess Aphrodite, Idalia was derived from a Greek place name, Idalion. Today, you are only likely to encounter the name in Poland or Italy. This handsome choice means, “behold the sun.”
Kalinda
Kalinda is a mesmerizing Hindi name that relates to the mythic Kalinda Mountains. One of the sacred rivers flows from the mountains giving this name even more added meaning. This is another one of the girl names that means sun.
Kiran
Another name you’ll find in India today, Kiran is a unisex option of Sanskrit origin that means “sunbeam.” It would be an excellent name to honor your heritage and is completely accessible for English speakers.
Mehri
Mehri is a jolly name of Persian origin that means “sunny” or “lovable.” With its winning sound and meanings, this name is primed to become a hit.
Mirri
Mirri is a unisex option that is of Australian Aboriginal origin from the Goonayandi word for the sun. It’s pronounced MIH-ree.
Nada
Nada was once a popular name in the US until the 1930s. It’s one of the names that mean sun that deserved a comeback today. The name is of Arabic origin and means “dew at sunrise.” Not bad, not bad at all!
Nanala
Nanala is a gentle, rhythmic name of Hawaiian origin with a flowery meaning in “sunflower.” The name is also used as a nickname for folks who gaze at the sun.
Oriana
Oriana is a splendid name of Latin origin that was a fashionable choice in the Medieval Period. Somehow this treasure of a name never migrated to the US. Oriana means “dawn.”
Salana
Salana is a Latinate name that’s used in by a variety of different languages. This is another one of the girl names that mean sun.
Savita
Savita is yet another one of the Hindi names that mean sun. It has a percussive quality and the zippy -vita component that is full of energy.
Siria
A name that will inevitably be confused with the country of Syria, Siria is a Spanish name of Persian origin that means “sun-bright” and “glowing.”
Soleil
Pronounced so-LAY, Soleil is one of the most attractive French names that mean sun. The name was once mildly (and we do mean mildly) popular name in the US in the 1920s and it has never returned to favor. You know what to do, parents.
Sunniva
Pronounced SOON-ee-va, Sunniva is a Scandinavian name of Norwegian origin. The name belonged to an Irish saint who fled to Norway. She is the patron saint of Western Norway today. Sunniva means “sun gift.”
Suree
Suree is a super-cute name of Thai origin that means “sunshine.” Despite being virtually unknown in the US, it’s a completely accessible choice and one of the sweetest girl names that mean fire.
Tesni
Tesni is one of the best girl names that mean sun. The name is of Welsh origin and more precisely means “warmth of the sun.” It’s pronounced TESS-nee.
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Boy Names That Mean Sun
Aarush
Aarush is one of the boy names that mean sun of Hindi origin to make the US top 1000 list of most popular baby names. The name more precisely means “the first ray of sun.”
Anatole
Pronounced AH-nah-tole, Anatole is a name of Greek origin that was last popular in the US in the 19th century! It deserves a renaissance. The name means “from the east” or “rising sun.”
Apollo
A name once considered too mighty for a baby boy to shoulder, Apollo names the Greek sun god. Surprisingly, the name is on the rise in the US today in a huge way. It’s now ranked in the top 500 most popular names for boys; making it one of the most widely used boy names that mean sun on this list.
Baskara
The Indonesian name Baskara has likely suffered in the US due to it rhyming with maskara. We’re not letting that stop us! Baskara is one of the most unique boy names that mean sun.
Cymbeline
Pronounced SIM-bel-een, Cymbeline is a name of Celtic origin that means “sun lord” or “sun hound.” The name is derived from the Gaulish sun god Belenus.
Cyrus
Cyrus has been in the US top 1000 most popular baby names since records began in 1880 making it one of the most roundly beloved boy names that mean sun. It is of Persian origin and was borne by the founder of the Persian Empire.
Disma
Disma is a rare name found in the Bible that has gone unused for centuries. The name comes from Greek and means “sunset” (and unfortunately, can also translate to “death.”) Disma is often referred to as the “good thief” or the “penitent thief” in the story of Christ’s crucifixion. We still don’t think it’s a dealbreaker but you get to decide.
Elio
Elio is a Latinate name with a playful sound that has mysteriously never been a popular choice in the US despite it being a favorite in Europe, especially in France where it’s one of the most popular choices for boys born today. The name is derived of the Greek sun god, Helios. It’s one of our favorite boy names that mean sun.
Heulfryn
Welsh names are notoriously difficult for Americans to pronounce and Heulfryn is no different. It is correctly said HALE-vrin. This handsome choice means “sunny hill.”
Horus
Horus is the Egyptian god with the head of a hawk on the body of a human. This name has felt off-limits by American parents but with other bold mythology names like Apollo, Atlas, and Jupiter taking off, perhaps there’s room for Horus today. It makes for a great alternative to Horace and means “sun god.”
Ishaan
Ishaan is the custodian of the Northeast in the Hindu religion. This Hindi name means “the sun.” It’s one of many names that mean sun of Sanskrit and/or Hindi origin on this list.
Kem
Kem is a very rare English name that might actually be from Grenada. It is considered one of the names that mean sun.
Ra
Ra is a name that belongs to the Egyptian sun god and means “sun.” Do you think it’s enough name for a boy born today? We think it could be an offbeat option.
Ravi
Ravi is the name of a Hindi sun god. The name is mildly popular in the US but has never landed in the top 1000. Although the appellation is associated with the sun god, the name means “conferring.”
Sampson
Sampson was once a popular name in the US but it fell from favor around 1915. Most consider it to be an “old man name” and one of the more cumbersome routes to get you to the Sam nickname. Its Hebrew root means “sun.”
Sol
Sol is a Spanish name that once enjoyed wide popularity in the US but that faded away in the 1930s. It’s one of the few Spanish boy names that mean sun on this list and it’s an oldie but a goodie in our opinion.
Solaris
Solaris is a name of Latin origin that’s correctly pronounced soh-LAAR-iss. The name means “of the sun.” If you like the name Sol, but want something a little more substantial, choose Solaris and call him “Sol” as a nickname.
Sulien
Sulien is a storied Welsh name that belonged to a legendary academic who was said to be the most learned man in all of Wales. As with other Welsh names, Sulien might trip some up as it is pronounced SIL-yen. The appellation means “sun born.”
Surya
The name of a sun salutation in yoga, Surya is another one of the Hindi names that mean sun in “sun god.”
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Zeus
We leave you with the mighty name Zeus that comes from Greek mythology and belongs to the supreme god of the sky, thunder, lightning, and fate, among other weighty duties. The etymology of the name Zeus breaks down to mean “shining” or “to shine.”
There you go! We hope you found some brilliant names that mean sun for your baby. Sunshine names are always a bright idea in our opinion. If you’re looking to choose a name for its meaning as well as its sound there should be several options from this list worth considering. May the sun light your way on your baby name journey!