Pet Names · Dog Names
By Brynn McKeon · Updated September 2026
Across 12 pages
of 12
Dutch from Hebrew
"city of the king; king of light"
The least used of the Three Wise Men's names, but a strong option for bold namers to consider. The exact origins of Melchior are unknown, but it is speculated that it derived from either the Hebrew…
Australian Aboriginal
"the sun"
This cute as a button name stems from the Goonayandi word for the sun and can be used as a unisex name.
Arabic
"source of light, beacon, torch"
A unisex Arabic name with a soft and international sound, Mishal has a glowing meaning too.
Japanese
"full moon; beautiful moon; moonlight; snake vessel"
Traditionally, this name is written with kanji that give it lovely meanings of "full moon," "moonlight," or similar. The character Mitsuki in Naruto uses kanji that denote the meaning "snake vessel,"…
Variation of Iliodor, Russian from Greek
"gift of the sun"
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.
Dutch, Latvian
"light"
A light and lovely short form of Helena, also used in its own right in Latvia and the Netherlands.
Tswana
A sparkling and rare option among the names that mean light.
Hebrew
"I have a light"
Spelling variation of Lior.
"candle, light"
Because of its meaning, this is a symbolic name given to girls born on Hanukkah, the Festival of Lights.
Czech, Slovak, Slovene, Croatian
"light or of Magdala"
A pretty and lively Slavic diminutive of Helena or Magdalena, long used as a standalone. In Czechia, it was a Top 10 choice from 1960 to 1991, and it still ranks highly there today.
Latin
Latona is the Roman equivalent of Leto, the Greek goddess of light. These days Leto feels more modern for a baby girl, but Latona retains its appeal.
Irish
Pronounced lee-sha, Laoise is the feminine form of the Irish mythological names Lugh and Lugus, which means light. Lugus was the Celtic god of commerce and craftsmanship, the equivalent of the Roman…
"bright light; hopeful fortune"
A Japanese name with lovely meanings.
Russian variation of Cyrus, Persian
"sun"
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.
Hindi
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…
Sanskrit
The slightly complex spelling of this Sanskrit name belies its sweet and simple sound.
Ethiopian, Amharic
Jember is an Amharic boy name used in Ethiopia. Pronounced "JEM-bair", this name has a gorgeous meaning — sunset, sunrise, or horizon. Jem would be a sweet nickname.
Hausa
"light, fair"
