Day Names for Babies

Most common in Japan in the mid-20th century, but to Western ears it doesn't sound dated.

A generic possibility if you don't want to specify Spring or Summer.

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).

Hemera was the personification of day and one of the Greek primordial deities. She is the goddess of the daytime and,said to be the daughter of Erebus and Nyx (the goddess of night).

Aroon, also spelled Haroon, is the mythic charioteer of the dawn.

This more elaborate version of the name is heard occasionally, but Samira or the related Samara is simpler and just as rhythmic.

Among the Ewe people of Ghana and Togo, Yao is the name for babies born on Thursday.

Lively and engaging Scottish surname, particularly appropriate for a boy born on Monday.

March has never been popular as a month name, possibly because of its slightly abrupt sound. But with all kinds of month (and season, day, and holiday) names, from January to December, Sunday to Easter, Winter to Midnight, coming to the fore, March is beginning to seem eminently baby-ready.

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

This modern Finnish word name is a fashionable choice in its home country, having entered into wide usage only since the turn of the 21st century.

Though this feels like a new invention, people have used day names such as Morning and Afternoon for centuries -- and so why not Evening too? It's a lovely word with an evocative meaning and makes a perfect addition to this newly stylish group.

Problematic, even if not for Dilbert.

A title given to the elf Arwen in Tolkien’s Lord of the Rings, meaning "evening star" and usually rendered poetically as Evenstar. Like her revered ancestor Lúthien, Arwen chooses to become mortal in order to marry her human love, Aragorn.

A word that's been used, very infrequently, as a name for hundreds of years. Interesting sound and meaning.

Gry is becoming a popular name in Denmark where it is currently in the Top 50. Despite its beautiful meaning, the similarity of its sound to the English word gruel is unlikely to make this a winning choice for English-speakers.

This sweet and straightforward Finnish name could be an ideal choice for a daughter born at night.

Perfect example of a surname that would work well as a first.

Juba, a strong and resonant unisex name, belonged to an ancient African king, is a city and river name, and is traditionally given to Ashanti (of Ghana) girls born on Monday.

This popular Muslim name would more easily translate to English-speaking cultures in its Bahar form.