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Names that mean Light or Bright

Deni
By Deni
Updated Thu May 25 2023
  1. Ailana

    • Origin:

      Kazakh

    • Meaning:

      "moonlight"

    • Description:

      A pretty Kazakh name derived from Turkish ayla, meaning "moonlight". The Hawaiian name 'Ailana (with the 'okina mark) means "loving".
  2. Aileen

    • Origin:

      Irish variation of Helen

    • Meaning:

      "bright, shining light"

    • Description:

      Irish Aileen and Scottish Eileen may be pronounced the same way or Aileen can be pronounced with a long a at the beginning. While neither is particularly stylish, Aileen is slightly more popular and has reversed its downward slide to inch upward in the past few years, perhaps thanks to its stylish A beginning. Nicknames for Aileen include Isla, Ayla, Lee and Lena.
  3. Alina

    • Origin:

      Slavic, Germanic, Arabic, Scottish

    • Meaning:

      "bright, beautiful; noble; delicate, soft; defending men"

    • Description:

      Alina has been drifting up the US popularity charts since the early 1980s, and now sits in in the Top 200. But Alina's real strength is in its international flexibility: The name ranks highly in a wide range of European, English speaking, and Latin American countries.
  4. Alyena

    • Origin:

      Variation of Yelena or Helen

    • Description:

      One of the many international variations of the classic Helen.
  5. Claire

    • Origin:

      French form of Clara

    • Meaning:

      "bright, clear"

    • Description:

      Claire, luminous, simple, and strong, is one of those special names that is familiar yet distinctive, feminine but not frilly, combining historical depth with a modern edge. And though Claire is enjoying revived popularity, it will never be seen as trendy. Claire is also a great middle name choice.
  6. Clara

    • Origin:

      Latin

    • Meaning:

      "bright, clear"

    • Description:

      Clara is a strong, lovely girls' name that's always ranked among the US Top 1000 girl names but has been climbing since the turn of this century. It now ranks right around Number 100, making it a modern classic that's neither too popular nor unfamiliar.
  7. Claren
    • Eileen

      • Origin:

        Scottish variation of Evelyn

      • Meaning:

        "desired; or water, island"

      • Description:

        The Scottish Eileen was a midcentury darling that was on a long downward slide for decades. And then, in 2012, it took an unexpected pivot and has been inching upward in the US. The unrelated but similar-sounding Isla may have revived the taste for Eileen. Isla along with Lee and Lena might be nicknames for Eileen. Eileen is an Anglicized form of the Gaelic Eibhlin or Aibhilin, which is technically a form of to Evelyn/Aveline, but is also sometimes considered part of the Helen family of names. Aileen is the Irish version, less popular now than Eileen.
    • Elaina

      • Origin:

        Variation of Elaine or Elena,"bright, shining light"

      • Meaning:

        "bright, shining light"

      • Description:

        While both Elaine and Elena are on an upward trajectory, Elaina has shifted up and down the charts in recent years, making no big moves in either direction. Steadily used, this blend of the two could make it clearer which pronunciation is preferred.
    • Elaine

      • Origin:

        French and Scottish

      • Meaning:

        "bright, shining light"

      • Description:

        This old Scottish form of Helen has had quite a history, going from appearing as one of the shining heroines of the Arthurian legends, the princess who fell in love with Sir Lancelot and became the mother of Sir Galahad, referred to as 'Elaine the fair' and 'Elaine the lovable', to being the name of the most famous of New York's celebrity restaurants, to being the archetypal New York neurotic on Seinfeld.
    • Elea

      • Description:

        Elea is a delicate feminine name with multiple origin possibilities. It may be derived from the Greek name Eleos, meaning "compassion," or could be a variation of Eliana, meaning "my God has answered." Some consider it a shortened form of Eleanor, which has Germanic origins meaning "bright, shining one." With its soft sound and brevity, Elea has an ethereal, graceful quality. The name remains relatively uncommon, giving it a distinctive appeal for parents seeking something unique yet accessible. Its popularity has seen slight increases in European countries, particularly France and Italy, though it remains a rare choice in English-speaking nations, making it perfect for parents wanting an uncommon yet melodious name.

    • Elena

      • Origin:

        Spanish, Italian, German, Greek variation of Helen

      • Meaning:

        "bright, shining light"

      • Description:

        Elena is at its most popular point ever in the US, thanks to its cross-cultural appeal and the overall popularity of El- names. It's more international than Ellen or Eleanor, but still accessible.
    • Eliora

      • Origin:

        Hebrew

      • Meaning:

        "the Lord is my light"

      • Description:

        A pretty and melodic name of Hebrew origin that combines the elements el referring to God, li meaning "for me", and or meaning "light". The name entered the UK Top 1000 for the first time in 2023, and it's easy to understand why. With its rich vowel sounds and playful elegance, Eliora shares the sounds of other popular choices like Eleanor, Eliana, Aurora, and Elodie, which also remaining distinctive.
    • Helena

      • Origin:

        Latinate form of Helen, Greek

      • Meaning:

        "torch; shining light"

      • Description:

        Helena is one of those classic names that just misses making the US Top 1000 girl names for its entire history, falling off for a single year in 1992. Since then it's been drifting lazily up the charts, and makes a perfect choice if you want a name that both fits in and stands out.
    • Leora

      • Origin:

        Diminutive of Eleanor, or Hebrew and Greek

      • Meaning:

        "light"

      • Description:

        Somewhat dated Hebrew name that appears more modern when spelled Liora.
    • Lucian

      • Origin:

        Latin

      • Meaning:

        "light"

      • Description:

        Lucian is a sleeker, more sophisticated version of Lucius that is climbing in tandem with other Lu-starting names.
    • Lucius

      • Origin:

        Latin

      • Meaning:

        "light"

      • Description:

        Lucius is an old Roman clan name that has lots of religious and literary resonance, yet is still vital today. It was the name of three popes, appears in several Shakespeare plays, and, like all the names beginning with 'luc' relates to the Latin word for light.It was one of a limited number of forenames used in ancient Rome, and because of its meaning was often given to boys born at dawn.
    • Neve

      • Origin:

        Anglicized spelling of Irish Niamh or Italian and Portuguese

      • Meaning:

        "snow"

      • Description:

        Introduced to the American public by actress Neve Campbell; it was her Dutch-born mother's maiden name. Neve is an interesting and fresh new possibility, one which Conan O'Brien chose for his daughter.
    • Nora

      • Origin:

        Diminutive of Honora or Eleonora, Latin

      • Meaning:

        "honor or meaning unknown"

      • Description:

        Nora is a lovely, refined name that conjures up images of Belle Epoch ladies in fur-trimmed coats skating in Central Park. Long seen as a quintessentially Irish name though its roots are not in Ireland, Nora is a quietly stylish favorite that's tiptoed to the top of the popularity ladder.
    • Phoebe

      • Origin:

        Greek

      • Meaning:

        "radiant, shining one"

      • Description:

        Phoebe is the Latin variation of the Greek name Phoibe, which derived from phoibos, meaning "bright." In classical mythology, Phoebe is the by-name of Artemis, goddess of the moon and of hunting. The masculine version of Phoebe is Phoebus.