Names That Mean Light

Deriving from the Catalan title for the Virgin Mary, Nostra Senyora de Núria , meaning "Our Lady of Nuria", this distinctive name is a popular choice in Spain and Portugal.
 
Nuria is a Spanish sanctuary which houses a shrine and statue of the Virgin Mary, and in this instance, the name is derived from Basque, likely meaning "place between the valleys", via the word Norra.
 
The name has a more layered history however, as it is also used as an Arabic name as an elaboration of Nur, meaning "light", and might have some Hebrew origins too as a feminization of Nuri or Nuriel, meaning "my fire" and "fire/light of God".

Nuria

This chic Ukrainian form of Helen is relatively unknown outside of its native country, but it definitely has international appeal. Olia or Olenka are the usual Ukrainian diminutives, but tomboyish Oli or Leni could work too.
 
As a Hawaiian name, it could refer to the plant, spice, and dye, turmeric, or more broadly to its yellow-ginger color. It also appears in the Hawaiian names Lolena and Pololena, variants of Lorna and Florence. Olympic surfer Carissa Moore chose it for her daughter in 2025.

Olena

This gender-neutral Indonesian name feels familiar but unique. 

Damar is also used among African-American parents for boys. 

Damar

With fashionable nickname Ky and a distinctive double-letter spelling, Kyiir likely derived from the contemporary creation and fast rising choice of 2024, Kyaire. Kyaire itself may then be derived from: the African place name, Zaire, the Spanish Jair, meaning "he shines", from Arabic Khair, meaning "goodr"; or perhaps from the Biblical Melchior, meaning "king of light".
 
Like Kyaire before it, Kyiir is quietly on the rise, and was given to 33 boys in 2024, compared to just five in 2023.

Kyiir

Modern French form of the saint's name Elouan. Loan is currently a Top 200 choice in France.

Loan

Lumen is a Latin word meaning "light", and the term used for the measurement of light output (making it an attractive choice for science-buffs). 
The name was used for a female character in the TV series Dexter (played by Julia Stiles), and a real-life bearer is the American (male) artist Lumen Martin Winter.

Lumen

A variant of the ancient roman Lucilia. Add an accent and Lucélia is a municipality in Brazil and the name of actress Lucélia Santos.
 
Lucelia is a rare name and barely breaks the Social Security Administration's extended list of names — averaging a little under 10 babies per year.

Lucelia

A compound name or a variant of Myla, associated best perhaps with musician Myleene Klass.

Mylene

Neriah is a biblical figure mentioned in the Book of Jeremiah as the father of Baruch and Seraiah ben Neriah.  According to the Talmud, Neriah and his sons are all prophets.  The name is traditionally associated with Hanukkah, the festival of lights.

Neriah

Lior connects with several factors stylish for Israeli names: It's short, it's unisex, and it has an uplifting nature theme.  Lior might make a more modern spin on Leah.

Lior

Old-fashioned nickname for Nora, Honora, Eleanor, Noreen... or any name with that "nor" sound.

Norrie

A succinct variation of Ziya, Zia is an Arabic boy name, with a glowing meaning, also used as the Urdu and Bengali transcription. Notable bearers of the name include Bangaledeshi politician Ziaur Rahman (also known as Zia-ur-Rahman), scholar Zia Uddin, and former president of Pakistan, Zia-ul-Haq. 
 
Zia (said as ZEE-uh) also appears in the Bible, borne by a minor character and a descendant of Gad, the founder of one of the Twelve Tribes of Israel. In this context, it may mean "trembling, shaking".

A warm and simple alternative to Luna, derived from Latin lumen "light".

Luma

Leor

A delicate name with an ancient pedigree, more appealing to some than Lucille.  It elaborates on Lucy and even Lucia and feels more distinctive than Lucinda. 




Lucilla

A Portuguese and German variant of Lucia which was particularly popular in Brazil during the 20th century. 

Luzia

A word name with an appealing and illuminating meaning. 

Beacon

Popular in the 1930s in France, this is a diminutive of Lucy (or Lucie). 

Lucette

Form of Lucia currently popular in Slovenia and Croatia.

Lucija

Also appearing as Luz-Elena and Luz Elena, this compound name has a bright and cheerful sound. It combines the Spanish Luz, meaning "light", with the international Helen variant, Elena meaning "bright, shining light" or "torch", giving it an all round glowy meaning.
 
Mexican actress Luz Elena González is one bearer of the name, though this smooshed form has been predominantly used in Brazil. Ten girls were also given the name in the US in a recent year.