Names That Mean Light

  1. Eila
    • Origin:

      Hebrew, Norwegian variation of Elina
    • Meaning:

      "oak tree; bright, shining light"
    • Description:

      Eila is a Hebrew name heard in Israel. The name also has roots in Finland and Norway, where it's derived from Elina, a variation of Helen, or from Aila, a form of Helga. Eila could gain attention as a cross-cultural name and fresh alternative to popular sound-alike choices like Ayla, Ella, and Isla.
  2. Elior
    • Origin:

      Hebrew
    • Meaning:

      "My God is my light"
    • Description:

      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 worth considering is the pretty female version, Eliora.
  3. Malo
    • Origin:

      Breton
    • Meaning:

      "shining hostage"
    • Description:

      Malo, the name of an important sixth century Breton saint who founded St. Malo, the charming port town in Brittany -- is considered quite au courant in France right now, ranking firmly in the Top 100.
  4. Meyer
    • Origin:

      German surname or Hebrew
    • Meaning:

      "landlord, farmer; bringer of light"
    • Description:

      Favored by first-generation Jewish families from the affluent Guggenheims to criminal-producing Lanskys; now Meyer is pretty much relegated to poolside gin games in Boca.
  5. Hannelore
    • Origin:

      German
    • Meaning:

      "grace + god is my light"
    • Description:

      A pretty and substantial German smoosh name, a combination of Hanne and Eleonore. Most popular in Germany from the 1930s to the 1950s. Former German Chancellors Helmut Kohl and Helmut Schmidt both had wives named Hannelore.
  6. Edna
    • Origin:

      Hebrew
    • Meaning:

      "rejuvenation, delight"
    • Description:

      Edna is one of those names that, until what it seemed like a few minutes ago, felt so terminally frumpy that no one could imagine a parent choosing it for an innocent modern baby girl. But with the great upswing in names honoring ancestral family members, several of them being other four-letter, e-ending names, we wouldn't be so sure.
  7. Ziva
    • Origin:

      Hebrew
    • Meaning:

      "life"
    • Description:

      A zippy little international name. The Hebrew name relates to the month of Israeli independence, while the Slavic Ziva (also spelled Živa and Siva) is a goddess of love, life and fertility.
  8. Lucienne
    • Origin:

      French feminine variation of Lucian
    • Meaning:

      "light"
    • Description:

      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.
  9. Reyansh
    • Origin:

      Hindi
    • Meaning:

      "ray of light"
    • Description:

      This unusual Indian name, which refers to one of the names of Lord Vishnu, has been one of the fastest-growing boys' names of the last decade. It first managed to climb into the US Top 1000 in 2014. The nickname Rey Americanizes it.
  10. Elettra
    • Origin:

      Italian variation of Electra, from Greek
    • Meaning:

      "amber, shining, bright"
    • Description:

      Less electric and more serene than Electra which comes with a lot of tragic and psychoanalytical baggage, Elettra is the Italian form that ranks in the Top 200 in the Italian charts. Nicknames Etta, Lettie, and Elle make this doubly appealing.
  11. Leocadia
    • Origin:

      Spanish
    • Meaning:

      "splendid brightness"
    • Description:

      Leocadia marries a mix of sounds: the strength of a lion, with a rhythmic Latin ending.
  12. Elouan
    • Origin:

      Breton and French
    • Meaning:

      "light"
    • Description:

      This beautiful Breton saint's name peaked at #127 in France in 2006. It's still in the Top 500 there today, but remains almost unknown outside of France.
  13. Neri
    • Origin:

      Hebrew or Greek
    • Meaning:

      "my candle; ocean spirit"
    • Description:

      A simple but unusual name with roots in disparate cultures, Neri appears in the Bible as a male name and is still sometimes used for boys as well as girls. The appeal of Neri are its deep roots combined with its simple, upbeat, modern feel, ala Peri and Rory.
  14. Toula
    • Origin:

      Greek, feminization of Fotis or Fotios
    • Meaning:

      "light"
    • Description:

      Toula came to light as the name of the heroine of "My Big Fat Greek Wedding," short for Fotoula, a variant of Fortini, a feminine version of Fotis or Fotios, meaning "light".
  15. Bibi
    • Origin:

      French, Persian, or diminutive of Bibiana
    • Meaning:

      "toy; delight; lady of the house; life"
    • Description:

      A spunky nickname name for parents with showbiz aspirations for their daughter.
  16. Merrill
    • Origin:

      English
    • Meaning:

      "sea-bright"
    • Description:

      Merrill, once fairly common for males, is rarely used for girls (or boys either, for that matter) with this spelling. Chef Emeril Lagasse dropped the initial E from his name and called his daughter Meril.
  17. Meir
    • Origin:

      Hebrew
    • Meaning:

      "bringer of light"
    • Description:

      The original form of the Hebrew Meyer.
  18. Sherwood
    • Origin:

      English
    • Meaning:

      "bright forest"
    • Description:

      Unfashionable surname, best left in the forest with Robin Hood and his Merry Men.
  19. Alberta
    • Origin:

      English, feminine variation of Albert
    • Meaning:

      "noble, bright"
    • Description:

      This jazzy old name could make a comeback, the way Josephine and Ella have. In England the name was popularized by Queen Victoria's daughter Princess Louise Caroline Alberta, after whom her governor general of Canada husband named the North American province. Jazz singer Alberta Hunter was a noted bearer.
  20. Fairlight
    • Origin:

      English
    • Meaning:

      "beautiful light"
    • Description:

      A rare but historic English name bestowed upon girls in the 19th century. Fairlight seems to have been particularly popular among baby girls in the Appalachian region of the US. It appeared as a character name in Catherine Mashall's 1967 novel Christy, which was turned into a TV show in 1994.

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