A fiery Indian name used enough in the US to make it onto the Top 1000 list in 2010 and 2015.

Aarush

This little-known Ancient Roman name might make a fresh spin on the popular Ella, Ayla, Isla contingent. The "ae" is pronounced "ee" (think Aesop's fables).The Annals of Aeliana is a children's fantasy series by Ryan Watters. The meaning is thought to derive from the Greek helios, or sun.

Aelia

This female form of the ancient Latin Aelian has an appealing sound, though kids might have a hard time handling that initial "ae" spelling. Just remember that the "ae" is pronounced "ee" (think Aesop's fables).The Annals of Aeliana is a children's fantasy series by Ryan Watters. 

The meaning is uncertain but is thought to derive from the Greek helios, which means sun.

Aeliana

This Roman family — whose most famous bearer was Emperor Hadrian, of wall fame — possibly derives from Greek helios, meaning sun.

Aelius

Akosua means "born on a Sunday," which relates the name to the sun and thus to fire.
 
The Akan people of Ghana and the Ivory Coast frequently name their children after the day of the week they were born and the order in which they were born. Most Ghanaians have a name using this system (think Kofi Annan, whose name means born on a Friday). 
 
Akosua is the name for girls born on a Sunday. The name for boys born on a Sunday is Kwasi.

Akosua

Variant of Kwasi, given to boys born on a Sunday among the Akan people of Ghana.

Akwasi

Alpenglow

Anatole is one of the unique boys' names with an unusual-ish feel but an uncertain provenance, with a meaning related to sunrise and thus to fire. While it's Greek in origin, it is associated more closely with France. Anatole Kuragin is a dashing, roguish prince in Tolstoy's War and Peace.

 Fewer than five baby boys were named Anatole in the US last year, making it a good choice if you're looking for a truly uncommon boy's name that has a solid history.

Anatole

With mythological names rising, the handsome son of Zeus and god of medicine, music, and poetry among many other things might offer an interesting, if high-pressure, option. 
 
But if Romeo and Venus are now deemed baby-appropriate, why not Apollo? Olympic speed skater Apolo Anton Ohno might inspire some parents. And now that it's been chosen by Gwen Stefani and Gavin Rossdale, it could take off as their first son's name—Kingston—has.
 Other cool associations include NASA's Apollo program, from 1961-72, that succeeded in putting the first humans on the moon when astronauts Neil Armstrong and Buzz Aldrin landed their lunar module and walked on the moon's surface. There's also the historic Apollo Theatre in Harlem, on whose stage the careers of Billie Holiday, Ella Fitzgerald, Artetha Franklin, Stevie Wonder, the Supremes, the Jackson 5, and countless others were launched.

Apollo

This name of a third-century Christian martyr has an romantic, appealing feel in the modern world. It first came to American attention via Prince's love interest in the film Purple Rain. 
 St. Apollonia of Alexandria propelled her name into great popularity in the Middle Ages; her name is invoked against toothaches.
 Apolonia, one 'l', is the name of a character in John Steinbeck's novel, The Pearl.

Apollonia

Part-April, part-Felicity, but with the wonderfully whimsical feel of Serendipity. Apricity debuted in the US charts for the first time in 2022.

Apricity

A Top 50 choice in Armenia, where it boasts a bright and poetic meaning.

Arevik

Arpi is a rising ethereal name in Armenia, where it is a poetic word for "sun".

Arpi

Has a nice fresh, early morning meaning, but not the most mellifluous of sounds.  Also spelled Arpineh.

Arpina

Commonly associated with the Japanese beverage company Asahi, which produces a beer by the same name.

Asahi

This evocative short name is suddenly chic — it was recently chosen by Jennifer Lawrence for her baby boy. JLaw's son's name honors Cy Twombly, the influential mid-century American artist. Born Edwin Parker Twombly Jr., both Cy Twombly and his father shared a nickname after baseball player Cy Young (himself born Denton True Young).
 
We foresee Cy heating up in a big way, along with other Cy- names like Cypress, Cyan, and Cyra.

The title of a Shakespeare play based on legends featuring the early Celtic King Cunobelinus, whose name derives from the Gaulish sun god Belenus.

Cymbeline

Cyra is an unusual name that can be pronounced either SEER-a or SI-ra, rhyming with Keira or Tyra. This name may be a feminine variation of Cyrus but is also a Persian name that stands on its own.  One noted bearer is writer Cyra McFadden.

Cyra

Cyrus is one of those surprising names that have always ranked among the Top 1000 boy names in the US. On an upward trend since the mid-90s, Cyrus now sits in that comfortable place between too popular and too unusual.
 
Long popular in the Iranian community, this name of the founder of the Persian Empire has had a more down-home, corncob pipe-smoking image for most Americans in the past, but today it's one of those antique names that sounds fresh again. 
 The powerful Cyrus the Great was the fifth century B.C. Persian leader who conquered Babylon to establish his empire. He is noted in the Old Testament as freeing the Jewish captives in Babylonia and permitting them to return to their homelands. Since his name is mentioned in the Old Testament, it was fashionable with the Puritans.
 Cyrus McCormick was the inventor of the reaper, and Cyrus Vance was Secretary of State under Jimmy Carter. The name is also associated these days with singer Miley Cyrus. Claire Danes and Hugh Dancy named their baby boy Cyrus, and there have been Cyruses on Gossip Girl, Law & Order and Scandal.
Ciro is the catchy Italian version.

Cyrus

Dawn's heyday in the US, Canada and the UK came in the 1960s and 70s. It peaked at #14 in the US in 1971, but has since sunk from sight to be eclipsed by other names with the same meaning, such as Aurora, Roxana or Zariah.

Dawn

Daystar

The feminine form of the masculine name Diell, meaning "sun" in Albanian – making this a rare and striking celestial choice.

Diellza

Pleasant-sounding word that could morph into a unique Sunday-picnic-type name. 

Dimanche

The name generally given to the "Good Thief" at the crucifixion of Jesus, although he was not actually named in the New Testament.
 The name Dismas first appeared in the 4th-century Gospel of Nicodemus, and is derived from the the Greek for "sunset" or "death". Dismas (or Dysmas, Dimas) is venerated as a saint by the Catholic Church.

Dismas

Commonly heard in Hispanic cultures, a rhythmic possibility here. 

Domingo

An evocative word name denoting a rare celestial phenomenon when the sun and moon are aligned so that the moon casts a shadow over the Earth (a solar eclipse), or when the moon is right in front of the sun, showing only a ring of light (a lunar eclipse).

Eclipse

An alternative spelling of Eleanor or Elinor, whose meaning is debated. It may come from the Germanic name Adenorde, meaning "ancient north" or "noble north". Another theory is that it derives from the Latin phrase alia Aenor, meaning "other Aenor," used to distinguish some original Eleanor, who was named after her mother Aenor.

 This spelling is also a literary name, used by J. R. R. Tolkien for a character in Lord of the Rings, after a type of flower.

Elanor

Cross classic Eleanor with rising vintage star Theodora and you get Eleadora, a beautiful Greek name with a wonderful meaning.

Eleadora

Eleodora

Eliane is a melodic name with the very fashionable El- beginning. Lovely and lilting as it is, be aware that there are many El- variations around these days, and little girls called Ellie as a result.


Eliane

Elidi is intriguing but potentially confusing. Try the French Elodie instead. 

Elidi

Elio is a sunny and spirited Italian and Spanish name that makes a great crossover prospect, which could catch on as Enzo has. Elio is also currently popular in France, ranking in the Top 250.

Elio

Flowing, melodic boy name with a sun-drenched meaning.

Eliodoro

Girasol is a Spanish nature name, meaning "sunflower." As sun-related names — such as Soleil, Sol, and Sunny — heat up, we may see more of Girasol.

Girasol

Güneş

The feminine form of Helios or Helio is occasionally heard in Spain and Portugal. In Greek mythology, Helia is one of the Heliades, daughters of the sun god Helios by Clymene the Oceanid.

Helia

More familiar to English speakers in the Italian Elio form. 

Helio

Heliodoros was derived from the Greek components helios, meaning "sun," and doron, "gift."

Heliodoros

The name of the young Greek sun god, brother to the moon goddess Selene, who rode across the sky each day in a chariot pulled by four horses.

Helios

This Welsh name presents some pronunciation/spelling challenges but has a lovely sound and meaning. The name has been used in the South Korean multiplayer game Mabinogi for one of the human healer characters.

Heulfryn

A lesser-known Welsh name with a beautiful sunny meaning.

Heulwen

Himari

Himawari is the Japanese word for sunflower and modern word name. The most famous bearer is Himawari Akaho, a silver-medal-winning basketball player from Japan. Himawari is more frequently used as a character name, as in Himawari Uzumaki from Naruto and the anime series Himawari!

Himawari

Hinata is a unisex Japanese name and surname but is primarily seen as a given name among women. It has many possible meanings, most of which have something to do with the sun.

Hinata

Sounds like Horace, looks like the head of a hawk on the body of a human. 

Horus

A beautiful meaning for a baby born in the summer or following a difficult time.

Hunu

A pretty, if unusual choice for a summer baby, particularly a girl with an ancestor named Ida. An epithet of the goddess Aphrodite, Idalia is derived from the Greek place name Idalion.
 
Idalia is currently attracting more attention after being featured in the Netflix series From Scratch.

Idalia

A warm, sunny, and extremely rare name, even within its native France. Idalie would be especially perfect to honor an Ida.

Idalie

Rare Russian name borne by an enemy of Rasputin.

Iliodor

Ishaan is the guardian of the Northeast in the Hindu religion.
 Ishaan: Sapno Ko Awaaz De is a kids' television show on Disney Channel India, starring a teenage boy named Ishaan.

Ishaan

This lovely, rhythmic Hindu nature name relates to the mythical Kalinda Mountains, from which a sacred river flows.
 Kalinda Sharma is a major character on the TV show The Good Wife, making Kalinda one of the most familiar <a href="https://nameberry.com/baby-names/539/hindi-names-for-girls">Hindi names for girls</a>

Kalinda

Kalindi is a lovely, rhythmic name refers to one of the seven sacred rivers of India. 

Kalindi

Kiara can be considered a variation of both the Italian name Chiara and the Irish name Ciara. Chiara is the Italian form of Clara, meaning "bright" or "clear," while Ciara is the feminine form of male given name Ciar, derived from the old Irish cíar, meaning "dark." 
 
Kiara is also an Australian name derived from an Aboriginal word for the white cockatoo, and has roots as a Korean name meaning "first ray of sun".
 
Simba's daughter in The Lion King, Kiara fits in with stylish modern names like Keira and Kaia.

Kiara

As attractive and straightforward as Kir may be, you may wish to go with the Irish spelling Keir (of different origins), due to Kir's association with the French cocktail.

Though it sounds like a modern invention, Kiran is a traditional Hindu name from India; chosen for her son by actress Kelli Williams.  Author Kiran Desai is a woman and this name, which bears a resemblance to both the Irish (male) Kieran and the fifties favorite Karen, certainly works as well for a girl.

Kiran

In Nepal, India and Pakistan, Kiran is used for both boys and girls - as can be seen from internationally acclaimed (female) author Kiran Desai and (male) Nepali soccer player Kiran Chemjong. Nepali-American Fox news anchor Kiran Chetry is another famous, female bearer of this name. With its light-filled meaning, and similarity to names such as Kieran and Karen, this name works well outside Asia.

Kosuke

The Akan people of Ghana and the Ivory Coast frequently name their children after the day of the week they were born and the order in which they were born. Most Ghanaians have a name using this system (think Kofi Annan, whose name means born on a Friday). 

Kwasi is the name for boys born on a Sunday. (The name for girls born on a Sunday is Akosua).

Kwasi

Kyros

Liodor is the Leo and Theodore mash-up you didn't know you needed — with authentic Russian roots! It ultimately derives from the Greek name Heliodoros.

Liodor

English speakers might want to pronounce this lovely name like the familiar Mary or Merry, but the correct Persian pronunciation includes the h -- meh-ree.

Mehri

This cute as a button name stems from the Goonayandi word for the sun and can be used as a unisex name.

Mirri

Since it's also Spanish for "nothing," this name wouldn't be great for a girl's self-esteem. 

Nada

The Hawaiian word for sunflower is also used figuratively for people who gaze toward the sun, and has a nice resonance with Lion King name Nala.

Nanala

Nedda

Nuha is an Arabic name meaning wise, and also a name from Semitic mythology of unknown origin, belonging to an ancient sun goddess.

Nuha

Nyxelio

A particularly beautiful member of the Orane/Oriana clan, Oriane is the first name of a major character in Proust's In Search Of Lost Time, the Duchesse de Guermantes.

Oriane

Quasheba is a name unique to America, where it was used among enslaved people as a variation of the West African name Kwasi for girls born on a Sunday.

Quasheba

Quashee was used in America and the Caribbean — particularly Jamaica — among enslaved people. It is derived from the traditional Akan name for boys born on Sunday, Kwasi.

Quashee

The name of the sun god of Egyptian mythology could only be used in combination with a longer name. 

A title of the Hindu sun god, made cross-culturally famous by sitar player Ravi Shankar. 

Ravi

Related to the more common Solana, Salana has a pleasantly rhythmic pan-cultural feel.

Salana

This name, once considered overly powerful due to the superhuman strength of the biblical figure, is now an option for parents in search of an unusual route to Sam. But you really don't need that p: Samson will do.

Sampson

With the prevailing popularity of Samuel, some parents are considering this more (literally) powerful biblical name, which shares the desirable nickname of Sam.
 Samson was, of course, the supernaturally strong champion of the Israelites against the Philistines who was betrayed by Delilah, as dramatized in more than one technicolor epic. But the more it is used for children today, the more the name is able to move away from that image.
Sampson is a variant spelling--Sampson Brass is a character in the Dickens novel The Old Curiosity Shop, Samzun is the interesting Celtic spelling, Sansone the Italian version.
 The story of Samson has been translated into a number of works of art, including Milton's poetic drama Samson Agonistes, an oratorio by Handel, an opera by Saint-Saens, and paintings by Rembrandt and Rubens.

Samson

Samzun

A sunny choice that's popular for girls in Lithuania. Also the name of the ancient Lithuanian sun goddess.

Saulė

Savita is among the most popular <a href="https://nameberry.com/baby-names/539/hindi-names-for-girls">Hindi names for girls</a>, and one that could easily immigrate. Want more ideas? How about the Italian or Spanish Sarita or the simplified Vita or the Scandinavian Sunniva?

Savita

Shoyo

Would undoubtedly be confused with the geographical Syria. 

Siria

Although pinochle-playing partner Sam came out of retirement, we don't see it happening to Sol. Near soundalike Saul has more of a shot.
Sol was also a Roman god/personification of the sun, and an epithet of sun-god Apollo.

A short and sweet Spanish and Portuguese name, meaning "sun". Sol has been used on its own for centuries (it belongs to one of the daughters in the 10th-11th century Spanish epic poem "El Cantar de mio Cid"), and it is also found as a short form of the Marian names María del Sol and María de la Soledad, and of the related names Marisol and Soledad. A famous bearer is Argentine TV presenter (María) Sol Perez.
 
Sol is also one of the <a href="https://nameberry.com/list/433/goddess-baby-names">goddess names</a> fashionable for baby girls: she's a Nordic sun goddess, also called Sunna.
 
Sol entered the Top 1000 for the first time in 2022, surpassing the previous favorite sunny form, Soleil. Along with Soleil, other intriguing longer forms include Marisol, Solange, and Solvieg.

Solaira

A bright and warm possibility for a summertime girl, Solana has been heard in a few video games. Solana Rowe is the real name of the singer known as SZA. Names with sunny meanings are red-hot, with Soleil, Sunny, and Sol amongst the most fashionable today. Spanish Solana — meaning "sunshine" — is a welcome addition to the party that entered the US Top 1000 for the first time in 2023.

Solana

Solar is a new gender-neutral word name used nearly evenly for boys and girls. With both a weather and a heavenly bent, it's a name that's just warming up.

Solar

This sunny new word name is gender neutral, used for 13 baby girls and 12 boys in 2021. Along with other celestial and weather choices, we can see Solar getting hotter.

An English innovation based on Latin solaris "of the sun", or on its English cognate "solar". Toyota used it for one of its cars, and Mila Kunis played a character by the name in the 2010 post-apocalyptic action film The Book of Eli.

Solara

Sunny Italian surname name for a little girl.

Solari was the name of a character on Xena: Warrior Princess.

Solari

The sunny name Solaria debuted on the baby name charts in 2021 thanks to the cartoon Star vs. the Forces of Evil, which features a character named Solaria. Solaria is also the name of a fictional planet in the Winx Club series.

Solaria

A surprisingly modern word name, only recorded since the 20th century, Solaris is also the title of a 1961 science fiction novel by Polish author Stanisław Lem, which has been adapted for the big screen several times. An unexpected route to cool-guy nickname Sol.

Solaris

alyshadragonfriend's list "Solar Names" of 136 great name ideas: Aarush - Yuuhi!

Solar Names

Names meaning sun or having to do with the sun/other suns. Also some star names because stars are basically distant suns.