Baby Name Meanings
By Pamela Redmond · Updated September 2026
Across 12 pages
of 12
Diminutive of Elaine
"bright shining one"
Lainie is a nickname for Elaine that has been in the public eye via Lainie Kazan (that was her full given name), who was a popular singer in the 1960s and 1970s (she was Barbra Streisand's understudy…
Arabic
"brighter, clearer"
Strongly identified with peace-accord-seeking Egyptian president Anwar el-Sadat.
Aramaic and Hebrew
"light"
Beguiling cousin of Sahara.
Hebrew
"My God is my light"
This appealing Hebrew name is heard in Israel, and would fit in well with all the popular El-starting names for boys , such as Elliot and Ellery. It was given to just five American boys in 2015. Also…
Swahili
"moonlight"
Lush and unusual.
German
"bright, shining intellect"
A name that sounds so old-fashioned some parents out there might conceivably find it quirky enough for a comeback, along with other one-time fuddie-duddies like Oscar and Homer. Along with other…
Irish Gaelic
"bright"
Niamh, derived from the Old Irish Niam, is an ancient Irish name that was originally a term for a goddess. In Irish myth, one who bore it was Niamh of the Golden Hair, daughter of the sea god, who…
Persian
"light, bright"
The name of the sweet human baby in the film Ice Age , Roshan is a handsome Persian name that is the origin of the female name Roxanne, via its feminine form Roshanak.
Irish
"brightness, splendor"
More commonly seen here as Anya, this traditional yet unique Irish name belonged to the queen of the Munster fairies and is sprinkled throughout Irish folklore as an early Celtic goddess of summer…
German variation of Robert
"bright fame"
Rupert is a charming-yet-manly name long more popular in Britain (where it's attached to a beloved cartoon bear) than in the U.S. Yet we can see Rupert as a more stylish, modern way to honor an…
"shining, bright"
This shining name of Arabic origin has familiar sounds and an appealing meaning. It shares the same roots as the name Zahra. Cricketer Azhar Ali is a notable bearer, while Azhar was a 2016 sports…
"light, lamp"
Worldly and evocative.
"of the bright sea, sea-bright"
Once a poetic Celtic name, that of the angel who governs the month of June, Muriel has for a time, become the mom or grandma of TV sitcoms. A Top 200 name from 1912 to 1933, Muriel might just be due…
Latin
Lumina is a radiant feminine name derived from the Latin word 'lumen,' meaning 'light.' This elegant name carries connotations of brightness, illumination, and enlightenment across various cultures.…
"bright, glorious"
Ever since Allied soldiers in World War I dubbed the enormous German cannon "Big Bertha", this name hasn't worked for a sweet little baby girl. But this was not always so. Hard as it might be to…
"light-bearer"
Lucifer is the name of the archangel cast into hell and while theologians disagree on whether he and Satan are separate beings, it long been on the list of forbidden names for religious and…
Arabic or Hebrew
"light or my fire"
A name used in the Middle East but that could easily work in the US. As a girls' name, Nuri can also be a short form of Nuria. It was chosen by Christy Lefteri for the protagonist of her novel, The…
"light, or furrow, plowed field"
Symbolic name given to girls born on TuB'Shevat, the New Year of the Trees.
Hebrew, Irish, Scottish
"light, song, little green one"
A calm and gentle multicultural choice. Oran is popular in Ireland, where its Gaelic form is Odhrán, meaning "little green one". In Scottish Gaelic, the name means "song", and in Hebrew, it's a…
French feminine variation of Lucian
Lucienne is a soft and ultra-sophisticated French-accented option in the Lucy family, one that could provide a fresh alternative to such fatigued Gallic choices as Danielle and Michelle. So if you're…
