Names That Mean Light

Mystical and mysterious, but with grounded sounds, Virva is a name of Finnish origin, derived from the word virvatuli meaning "will o' the wisp". In folklore, will o' the wisps are floating orbs of bluish light, appearing above water and marshes in the dark, then disappearing when travellers approach them. Sometimes said to lure the unwary into danger, in Finnish folklore specifically, they are they are claimed to mark the places where faerie gold is buried.

One bright spot: famous namesake Threepenny Opera playwright Berthold (later known as Bertolt) Brecht.

Spiritual author Deepak Chopra made this familiar, if not particularly accessible, outside the Indian community.

A pretty but powerful name of Persian origin, Roshanara combines Roshan with the element ārā to create the subtly spiritual yet also nature-inspired meaning "to adorn with light". In Indian, it is associated with Roshanara Begum, the daughter of the 17th century Mughal emperor and builder of the Taj Mahal, Shah Jahan. Another notable bearer was the 20th century dancer, Olive Craddock, who used Roshanara as her stage name and famously brought Indian dance techniques to Britain and America.

A zippy name of Sanskrit origin, Cahya is a unisex name used in Indonesia, particularly on the Island of Java. Derived from the element chāyā meaning "light, reflection, shadow", in Indonesian, it usually interpreted as meaning "light". Alternative forms include Cahaya, Cahyo, Cahyani, and Cahyono.

One of the more familiar Hindu choices, with built-in depth and a suggestion of enlightenment.

This name may mean light but is likely to be heavy to wear outside of Spain.

A bit blunt.

A poetic name first used in Edmund Spenser's "The Faerie Queene" in 1596, it had a literary vogue in the 18th century, especially favored by Robert Burns. "inda" names--Melinda, Belinda, Linda" are not particularly in right now.

Also appearing as Alyonushka and Alinoshka, Alionushka is a Russian diminutive of Alyona, itself a diminutive (though used as a given name). Ultimately, the name comes from the classic Helen and shares its bright meaning.

Worldly and evocative.

A multicultural choice, used in Southern Africa as a standalone name meaning "light", and as a rare German diminutive of Elisabeth.

A rhythmic name of Sanskrit origin, Cahaya is unisex name though it is predominantly used on girls. Derived from the element chāyā meaning "light, reflection, shadow", in Malay and Indonesian, it usually interpreted as meaning "light". The streamlined form Cahya may also be used.

A variation on the Arabic name Nouran, Nurana combines nur meaning "light, radiance" with the suffix -an meaning "of, like", to create a name symbolic of beauty, and, in Islamic tradition, of understanding faith to God.

Esclarmonde de Foix was an Occitan countess and an important figure in Catharism, a medieval Christian movement, which allowed women and men to both hold church offices. Her tale inspired an opera by the same name by Jules Massenet; the name is also featured in Kate Mosse's bestselling novel Labyrinth.

Almost unheard of in recent years, Dagobert has some connections to the French diaspora. Pere Dagobert was an eighteenth century Capuchin monk who immigrated to New Orleans from Quebec. Dagobert I was a king of the Merovingian dynasty in the seventh century.

That difficult Ur- sound cancels out the feminine appeal of the rest of the name.

Argider is a somewhat used boys' name in Basque-speaking parts of Spain.