Names That Mean Light

Strongly identified with peace-accord-seeking Egyptian president Anwar el-Sadat.

An elegant and fluid Arabic name that casts a brilliant light. Mashal is most commonly used among Muslim families in countries such as Iran, Pakistan, Saudi Arabia, and the UAE, but has hopped in and out of the US charts since 1990. At peak usage, Mashal was given to 12 American baby girls in 1995.

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

A little-known Hebrew name which ranks in the Top 100 in Israel.

Zariza is a unique name sure to appeal to Z lovers.

A li'l hell-raiser name in the Ryder-Rogue-Rebel vein.

More modern than Helen or Helena, and an interesting alternative to Hayley and Hallie. By coincidence, heli also means "saltwater" in Welsh.

Beguiling cousin of Sahara.

As well as Japanese physicist Hideki Yukawa, two Yankees ballplayers, Hideki Irabu and Hideki Matsui, made this name familiar to Americans.

Positive meaning -- and a choice of spelling variations.

The Greek form of the Hebrew Jair, Jairus appears in the Bible as the father of a girl resurrected by Jesus. Though it is the original, its Spanish variation Jairo is more popular.

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

This elaboration of the popular Noor and Nur combines the radiant Arabic name with the Persian suffix -an to form a name that suggests the bearer is comparable to light. Nouran and Nurana are alternative forms.

A cross-cultural name that can be a nickname for David, as is common in Wales, pronounced "dye".

A radiant Slavic name with an easily accessible sound. While it is reminiscent of the more familiar Svetlana, Svetla actually originates from the Bulgarian word svetal, meaning bright.

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.

Certainly qualities desired for our sons.

Asterope is an undiscovered name that has three wonderful nature connotations: 1) (from its meaning) lighting; 2) it is a type of butterfly 3) it is the name of an asteroid. Asterope is a great name for those looking for something similar to Penelope or Aster, but even more unusual.

Not a creative spelling of Glitter, but a sparkly Icelandic name meaning "to gleam, to glint, to flash, to blink". Approved as a given name since 2017, it is a rarely used option that may remind people of the word marglytta, translating literally as "sea-gleam" and more familiarly used as the Icelandic word for jellyfish.