Names that Mean Red or Redhead

  1. Vermilion
    • Origin:

      Color name
    • Description:

      This vivid reddish orange color name is an undiscovered possibility -- kind of a female equivalent of Cerulean for boys.
  2. Ruadh
    • Origin:

      Irish
    • Meaning:

      "red"
    • Description:

      Also spelt Rua, Ruadh is a strong and simple Irish name with a fiery meaning. Ruadhan is a popular related name.
  3. Carmine
    • Description:

      Carmine as a feminine name represents an interesting gender crossover, as it's traditionally more common as a masculine name in Italian culture. Derived from the Latin 'carminium' referring to a vivid red dye or the color crimson, Carmine carries rich visual associations. While predominantly used for boys in Italian communities, its melodic quality and color association have made it occasionally appear as a feminine option. The name's connection to the vibrant red hue gives it a passionate, dramatic quality. As a feminine choice, Carmine remains quite rare, appealing to parents seeking a bold, distinctive name with artistic and colorful connotations. Its cross-cultural history and dual-gender usage add layers of interest to this colorful, expressive name.

  4. Russet
    • Origin:

      French
    • Meaning:

      "reddish"
    • Description:

      Both warmer and cooler than Russell.
  5. Alhambra
    • Origin:

      Place-name
    • Description:

      The Alhambra, which means "red city," is in Granada, Spain. British writer Ali Smith used it for a character in her novel The Accidental.
  6. Rua
    • Origin:

      Irish
    • Meaning:

      "red"
    • Description:

      Anglicized form of Ruadh
  7. Bayard
    • Origin:

      French
    • Meaning:

      "russet-haired"
    • Description:

      An old English redhead name -- one of the few that doesn't begin with the letter r -- with references both to a famous French knight and a magical horse. Civil Rights leader Bayard Rustin is a contemporary bearer of this unusual and evocative name.
  8. Flame
    • Origin:

      Word name
    • Description:

      There are many fire-related names, from Aidan to Fiammetta, but the Flame isn't one that's often found on birth certificates. It's a highly symbolic word: flames can represent faith, passion and cleansing, for example, as well as straightforward heat and light.
  9. Damek
    • Origin:

      Slavic variation of Adam
    • Meaning:

      "son of the red earth"
    • Description:

      Damek, which you might think of as Adam with a Slavic accent, considerably freshens up the original.
  10. Reed
    • Origin:

      English
    • Meaning:

      "red-haired"
    • Description:

      Sleek, unisex surname rarely heard for girls -- which could be seen as an asset.
  11. Redford
    • Origin:

      English
    • Meaning:

      "red ford"
    • Description:

      An unusual surname-style choice with a strong meaning and potential for nicknames Ford and Red. Associated with the actor Robert Redford, it was also used for a one of the main characters in the 2019 novel Get a Life, Chloe Brownby author Talia Hibbert.
  12. Rufina
    • Origin:

      Latin
    • Meaning:

      "red-haired"
    • Description:

      A feminine form of Rufus, which has potential in the current trend for ancient Roman names.
  13. Rubi
    • Origin:

      Spanish, Portuguese, Japanese
    • Meaning:

      "ruby; precious gemstone, lapis lazuli + beautiful"
    • Description:

      The Spanish and Portuguese form of popular Ruby is another addition to the list of attractive gem names for girls, that might sometimes be used by English speaking parents who want their child's name to stand out when written down. Rubi is also of Japanese origin, and associated with another gemstone: the lapis lazuli.
  14. Rubio
    • Origin:

      Spanish
    • Meaning:

      "red-haired, ruddy"
    • Description:

      Bright and lively in sound, Rubio is a Spanish surname which was originally used as a nickname for someone with red hair or a ruddy complexion. It ultimately derives from the Latin root rubers meaniing "red", which connects it to the popular Ruby.
  15. Cheasequah
    • Origin:

      Cherokee
    • Meaning:

      "red bird, cardinal"
    • Description:

      Cheasequah refers to the cardinal, associated with the sun in Cherokee culture.
  16. Coahoma
    • Origin:

      Choctaw, Native American
    • Meaning:

      "red panther"
  17. Rohit
    • Origin:

      Sanskrit
    • Meaning:

      "red"
    • Description:

      Signifying the first rays of sun, Rohit is a wildly popular name in India, where it is connected to the Hindu God Vishnu. Along with Hindus, Rohit is also used among Jains and Sikhs.
  18. Alinta
    • Origin:

      Australian Aboriginal
    • Meaning:

      "fire, flame"
    • Description:

      This Noongar girls’ name has a dainty sound that belies its fierce fire meaning and could easily cross over into the American or European context.
  19. Roone
    • Origin:

      Irish
    • Meaning:

      "red-haired"
    • Description:

      Roone is a lively, attractive and unusual redhead entry brought into the mix by the late TV sports and news executive Roone Arledge, who seemed to own it as a one-person name when he was alive.
  20. Nezuko
    • Origin:

      Japanese
    • Meaning:

      "red bean child"
    • Description:

      This demon name from the anime Demon Slayer: Kimetsu no Yaiba, was one of the highest debuts of 2021, when it was given to 20 baby girls. It rose to 29 girls in 2022.