Baby Name Meanings
Names That Mean Dawn
Across 6 pages
of 6
Roxana
Persian
"dawn; or, little star"
The name of the wife of Alexander the Great, more attractive than the better-known Roxanne. Roxana was first used in the English-speaking world in the 1600s and was popularized by Daniel Defoe's…
Roxanne
Persian
"dawn"
Best known as the beautiful heroine to whom Cyrano de Bergerac says, "Your name is like a golden bell". After peaking in 1954, the name dipped out of the Top 1000 in 2012. It returned at Number 986…
Roxy
Diminutive of Roxanne, Persian
"dawn"
Roxy, also spelled Roxie, is one of those high-stepping showgal names with plenty of moxie, among the many sassy nickname names on the U.K. popularity list--currently Number 398. The fictional…
Sabah
Arabic
"morning"
A popular Arabic name borne by a famed Lebanese actress and singer, could provide an intriguing alternative to Sarah.
Sahar
Arabic, Persian, Hebrew
"dawn, morning, awakening; crescent"
A soft, strong name, commonly heard in the Middle East, Sahar is an Arabic and Persian name, associated with dawn and beginnings, and a Hebrew name, meaning "crescent", in turn linking it to the…
Sampson
Hebrew
"sun"
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:…
Savita
Hindi
"sun, rouser, stimulator"
Lively and bright, Savita is among the most popular Hindi names for girls , and one that could easily immigrate. Derived from the name of the Hindu god Savitr, Savita is a sunny choice, that more…
Shahar
Hebrew
"dawn"
Subtle choice for a baby born in the early morning.
Sorcha
Irish
"bright, shining"
A popular Irish name virtually unknown here, but one that feels like it could follow in the footsteps of Siobhan and Saoirse. It's pronounced SOR-ka, but with a little hiccup between the ' r ' and…
Sunniva
Scandinavian
"sun gift"
Sunniva was an Irish-born saint who fled to Norway, where she hid in an island cave with her followers and eventually died. After miracles were reported on the island, the cave was excavated and…
Suria
Variation of Surya, Hindi
"sun god"
The graceful Indian Suria or Surya may remind Americans more of little Miss Suri Cruise than of the pantheon of Hindi gods and goddesses.
Tarana
Hindi
"music, song"
Both graceful and melodious.
Uhtred
Old English
"advice"
An Anglo-Saxon name that held on in Northumbria years after the Norman Conquest, and gave rise to the surname Oughtred. It's known today from the television series The Last Kingdom , based on Bernard…
Vihan
Sanskrit
"dawn"
Vihan is a popular male name in India. In America, around 50 boys a year receive this name, making it quite a rare choice.
Xanthe
Greek
"golden, yellow"
X marks the spot in names these days, usually at the middles or ends of names, but here is one that puts it squarely up front. This extravagant name, which, like many Greek names beginning with X, is…
Zariza
Hebrew
"gold, brilliantly bright"
Zariza is a unique name sure to appeal to Z lovers.
Zerah
Hebrew
"to arise; dawn"
The Biblical Zerah is etymologically related to such names as Zora, which also means dawn. While the vowel sound at the end of the name does not sound as feminine to our modern ear as it once did,…
Zerlin
Arabic
"beautiful dawn"
Not a spunkier version of Merlin, Zerlin has roots in the Middle East, Spain and Eastern Europe and is thought to mean "beautiful dawn". The countries where this name is most heard are Israel,…
Zerlina
Arabic
"beautiful dawn"
Zerlina is a variation of Zerlin, meaning "beautiful dawn". Zerlina is most famous as the wily, clever servant girl in Mozart's opera Don Giovanni , where she is the only character to seemingly get…
Zorina
Slavic
"golden dawn"
Both a first and last name, Zorina has a pretty, ballerina-like quality.