Names That Mean Sun

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 system (think Kofi Annan, whose name means born on a Friday). Kwasi is the name for boys born on a Sunday. (The name for girls born on a Sunday is Akosua).

The Hawaiian word for sunflower is also used figuratively for people who gaze toward the sun, and has a nice resonance with Lion King name Nala.

A traditional possibility for a Japanese or Japanese-American child born in April or May.

This lovely, rhythmic Hindu nature name relates to the mythical Kalinda Mountains, from which a sacred river flows.

Has a nice fresh, early morning meaning, but not the most mellifluous of sounds. Also spelled Arpineh.

Sunny Italian surname name for a little girl. Solari was the name of a character on Xena: Warrior Princess.

Kalindi is a lovely, rhythmic name refers to one of the seven sacred rivers of India.

Sunna was a mythological goddess of the sun. As a mythology name that easily translated into English yet is unique and uplifting, Sunna feels like an all-around winner.

Strong and rhythmic Italian form of Samson

Since it's also Spanish for "nothing," this name wouldn't be great for a girl's self-esteem.

There's no shortage of quirky ways to get to hip nickname Oz -- Ozias, Osborne, Ozymandias -- but this one may appeal to parents looking for a full name with some religious significance. It was originally a name for Palm Sunday, which came from the Latin word for "hosanna."

Solana has been trending up the Nameberry popularity charts, perhaps thanks to a legion of SZA fans. And it's poised to enter the US Top 1000 too, given to over 225 baby girls last year.

This name is very wearable in English-speaking countries and has a lovely meaning.

Midcentury macramé-maker.