Baby Name Meanings
By Sophie Kihm · Updated September 2026
Across 6 pages
of 6
Sanskrit
"sunbeam"
In Nepal, India and Pakistan, Kiran is used for both boys and girls - as can be seen from internationally acclaimed (female) author Kiran Desai and (male) Nepali soccer player Kiran Chemjong.…
Norse
"the strong house; the way of the sun"
Currently popular in Norway where it ranks in the Top 50, Solveig is a sunny but strong choice, also familiar across Sweden, Denmark, Germany, and Finland. It notably appears as the name of the…
Egyptian
"sun god"
Sounds like Horace, looks like the head of a hawk on the body of a human.
Icelandic nature name, variation of Sólja, Faroese
"buttercup"
Sóley is the Icelandic word for the buttercup flower, derived from the words meaning "sun" and "island." It is also used on the Faroe Islands as a short form of Sólja.
Latin
"of the Sun"
A surprisingly modern word name, only recorded since the 20th century, Solaris is also the title of a 1961 science fiction novel by Polish author Stanisław Lem, which has been adapted for the big…
French
"solar"
An intriguing French word and surname, Solaire has a hint of aristocratic ruggedness and plenty of flair. Translating to "solar", it is unlikely to be used within France itself, however, it has seen…
English from Latin
"when the sun stands still"
Solstice graduated from word to official first name when author Lionel Shriver used it for a character in her novel Big Brother . But of course, there were people named Solstice before: 16 baby girls…
French form of Apollonia, feminine variation of Apollo, Greek mythology name
"destroyer"
Apolline is a luscious French name chic in Paris -- it's a Top 100 name for baby girls in France -- and ripe for the plucking in the English-speaking world. Derived from the mythological name Apollo,…
Akan
"Born on a Sunday"
The Akan people of Ghana and the Ivory Coast frequently name their children after the day of the week they were born and the order in which they were born. Most Ghanaians have a name using this…
Spanish, Combination of Sol and Luna
"sun + moon"
A name made up of opposites that blend seamlessly into one. Evoking ideas of astrology, tarot cards, graphic tees, and holiday resorts, Soluna fits in with Top 1000 options like Marisol, Solveig,…
Welsh
"warmth from the sun"
A sweet little name with one of the most poetic meanings around: it means "warmth from the sun" in Welsh. Though it's among the undiscovered Welsh names , it's one that deserves wider use.
Twi, Ewe, Ghanaian
"born on Sunday"
Akosua means "born on a Sunday," which relates the name to the sun and thus to fire. The Akan people of Ghana and the Ivory Coast frequently name their children after the day of the week they were…
Greek
"from the east, rising sun"
Anatole is one of the unique boys' names with an unusual-ish feel but an uncertain provenance, with a meaning related to sunrise and thus to fire. While it's Greek in origin, it is associated more…
Albanian
"sun, sunny"
Bright and summery, Diella is a name of Albanian origin, derived from diell meaning "sun". Familiar yet rare, it may appeal to those who enjoy Briella or Daniella but want something more unusual.
"sunset"
The name generally given to the "Good Thief" at the crucifixion of Jesus, although he was not actually named in the New Testament. The name Dismas first appeared in the 4th-century Gospel of…
"sun"
Related to the more common Solana, Salana has a pleasantly rhythmic pan-cultural feel.
Icelandic
"elf of the sun"
This modern Icelandic name combines the elements alfr meaning "elf" and sol meaning "sun" to create something reminiscent of folktales and epic poetry. It's a rare choice, but has been approved as a…
Norwegian
"sun gift"
The Norwegian form of Sunniva used to be very popular in its native country, making the Top 100 every year from 1945 to 1966. It shares Sunniva's beautiful, sunny meaning and has a lovely sound,…
