Names That Mean Sun

There's no shortage of quirky ways to get to hip nickname Oz -- Ozias, Osborne, Ozymandias -- but this one may appeal to parents looking for a full name with some religious significance. It was originally a name for Palm Sunday, which came from the Latin word for "hosanna."

Concise Nada is a cross-cultural choice with pleasant meanings. In Arabic, it is derived from nadan meaning "dew, moisture", though other possible translations include "caller" and "goodness". As a Serbian, Bosnian, and Croatian name, it means "hope".

If you like Annika but want a rarer alternative, Lonneke has a lot to offer. Originating as a diminutive of Apollonia, it is a subtle and stylish Greek mythology-inspired choice. Namesakes include the model Lonneke Engel, volleyball player Lonneka Slöetjes, and racing cyclist Lonneka Uneken.

The Norwegian form of Sunniva used to be very popular in its native country, making the Top 100 every year from 1945 to 1966. It shares Sunniva's beautiful, sunny meaning and has a lovely sound, although the Ø may confuse those who aren't familiar with it: it is said like the U in "burn".

A rare Georgian name with a poetic meaning, Mzistvala combines mze meaning "sun" and tvali meaning "eye". The 'M' at the beginning is softly pronounced.

A name made up of opposites that blend seamlessly into one. Evoking ideas of astrology, tarot cards, graphic tees, and holiday resorts, Soluna fits in with Top 1000 options like Marisol, Solveig, Stella, Solana and Luna.

A grand Russian name, Apollinaria is a feminine form of Apollinaris, an Ancient Greek name that belonged to many Saints and martyrs. The most well-known bearer of this name was Apollinaria Suslova: better known as Polina Suslova. She was Fyodor Dostoyevsky's mistress and she is believed to have been the inspiration for many female characters in his novels. This name can also be transliterated as Apollinariia.

A vibrant name of Armenian origin, Hayarpi is a nature-inspired choice that could be a meaningful option for anyone wanting to honor Armenian heritage.

Bright and summery, Diella is a name of Albanian origin, derived from diell meaning "sun". Familiar yet rare, it may appeal to those who enjoy Briella or Daniella but want something more unusual.

The Swedish spelling of the Icelandic Álfsól, this name combines the elements alfr meaning "elf" and sol meaning "sun" to create a name reminiscent of folktales and epic poetry. It's a rare choice that has nonetheless been given to a tiny handful of girls in Sweden.

A spiky and vivid sounding name, Sonnika could be an elaboration of Sonya, itself a form of Sophia, or derived from the German word sonne "sun". Alternatively, it could be a variation on the Hindi names Soniya and Sonika meaning "golden, lovely, beloved".

An intriguing French word and surname, Solaire has a hint of aristocratic ruggedness and plenty of flair. Translating to "solar", it is unlikely to be used within France itself, however, it has seen usage with the Francophone Democratic Republic of Congo, and in the US where it was given to 9 boys and 6 girls in a recent year. It was also used for a character in the video game Dark Souls.

A sunny and gentle sounding name used throughout India, Rashmi is a unisex option, though it is used more often as a feminine choice. Notable bearers include actress Rashmi Gautam and model, dancer and actress Rashami Desai. The name can also be used as a short form of Rajalakshmi, a compound name blending Raja and Lakshmi giving it the meaning "ruler's sign" or "sign of royalty".

Like Mia but with a zippy Z in the middle, Mzia is a mini-name from Georgia with a sunny meaning.

This modern Icelandic name combines the elements alfr meaning "elf" and sol meaning "sun" to create something reminiscent of folktales and epic poetry. It's a rare choice, but has been approved as a given name in Iceland, meaning there is at least one person out there with Álfsól as a first or middle name. The Swedish form is Alfsol.

This bright, spirited, and summery name derives from the Serbian and Croatian word sunce meaning "sun".

Mystical and romantic with a charmingly Old Norse feel, Solveiga is the variant of Solveig that is found in Latvia and Lithuania.