User-created list
Luminous Names
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Desdemona
Greek
"ill-starred"
Desdemona is as Shakespearean as a name can be, but because the beautiful and innocent wife of Othello came to such a tragic end, her name has been avoided for centuries. But at this point in time,…
Deva
Hindi
"divine, shining one"
If you don't want your daughter to be a Diva, try this Hindu moon goddess name that was chosen by actress Monica Bellucci for hers.
Dusk
English word name
"twilight; darkening"
Eibhlin
Irish form of Aveline and Evelyn, German
"desired; or water, island"
The Irish Gaelic form of Evelyn or Aveline, this name is more authentically spelled Eibhlín. It appears in the title of a love song by 17th century composer Cearbhall Óg Ó Dálaigh, called Eibhlín a…
Eila
Hebrew, Norwegian variation of Elina
"oak tree; bright, shining light"
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…
Elanor
English, Literature, Sindarin
"sun star"
On one hand, Elanor is a spelling variation of the classic Eleanor with a slightly lighter, contemporary look about it. Usually said to derive from the Latin phrase, alia Aenor meaning "other Aenor",…
Eleadora
Greek
"gift of the sun"
Cross classic Eleanor with rising vintage star Theodora and you get Eleadora, a beautiful Greek name with a wonderful meaning.
Electra
Greek
"amber, shining, bright"
Though the plays by Sophocles and Eugene O'Neill and via the "Electra Complex" proposed by psychoanalyst Carl Jung, this name has, unfortunately, become associated with incest and murder.…
Elidi
Greek
"gift of the sun"
Elidi is intriguing but potentially confusing. Try the French Elodie instead.
Enfys
Welsh
"rainbow"
The Welsh name Enfys is a unisex name, although it is more commonly used for girls. With the beautiful meaning "rainbow", it is a rare choice in the UK, given to just a handful of babies each year,…
Esclarmonde
Occitan
"Light of the World"
Esclarmonde de Foix was an Occitan countess and an important figure in Catharism, a medieval Christian movement, which allowed women and men to both hold church offices. Her tale inspired an opera by…
Esmanur
Turkish
"supreme light"
A Turkish compound of Esma — the Turkish form of Asma — and Nur, an Arabic name meaning "light."
Esmeray
Turkish
"dark moon"
Lovers of Esme might also like this beautiful Turkish name, with its mysterious meaning. The last syllable sounds like "rye".
Essi
Finnish diminutive of Esteri, Elisabet
"star; pledged to God"
A Finnish nickname for names such as Esteri, Elisabet, or any name starting with Es-.
Este
Diminutive of Esther, Persian
"star"
Este -- think Esme with a t -- comes to us via one of the rocking sisters in the musical group Haim. For long best known as the Esther diminutive used by cosmetics queen Estee Lauder, Este is a…
Estel
Catalan variation of Estelle, French
"star"
Sounds just like its cognate Estelle, but with a more streamlined spelling.
Eurwen
Welsh
"white gold"
An Edwardian coinage from the Welsh word for gold, plus the suffix -wen.
Evaluna
English, Hebrew, Latin
"life + moon"
This lovely compound name blends two of the most stylish girl names of the moment. The result has a pretty and sophisticated sound, reminiscent of stylish rarities like Evelina. Evaluna Montaner is a…
Evenstar
English
"evening star"
An archaic astrological term for the planet Venus. You may also recognize Evenstar as a name of Arwen Undómiel in The Lord of the Rings series.
Faina
Russian from Greek
"shining"
This appealing Russian/Nordic name has been used a handful of times since Eowyn Ivey's novel The Snow Child was published in 2012. There, Faina is a mysterious girl who loves the cold Alaskan woods.