Luminous Names
- Aurian
Origin:
Literary name inspired by LatinMeaning:
"gold, dawn or breeze"Description:
The eponymous character of the fantasy novel Aurian by Maggie Furey. It may have been inspired by the Latin aurum "gold", or by names like Aurora ("dawn") or Aura ("breeze"), also derived from the Latin.
- Livana
Origin:
HebrewMeaning:
"the moon, white"Description:
Pretty and unusual, Livana may find a lot more fans as parents look for alternatives to Number 1 Olivia. Livana was used for only seven baby girls in the US last year.
- Adaluna
Origin:
Variation of Ada and Luna, German and LatinMeaning:
"noble moon"Description:
Adaluna is the ultra-stylish smoosh name that nobody's caught onto yet. It's a one-of-a-kind compromise if you're deciding between Ada or Adeline and Luna. But despite its modern appearance, Adaluna has ancient roots. The Roman name for England's River Lune was Adaluna, probably due to its crescent-like shape. The similar name Adeluna is believed to be a variation of Adelina.
- Elidi
Origin:
GreekMeaning:
"gift of the sun"Description:
Elidi is intriguing but potentially confusing. Try the French Elodie instead.
- Eleadora
Origin:
GreekMeaning:
"gift of the sun"Description:
Cross classic Eleanor with rising vintage star Theodora and you get Eleadora, a beautiful Greek name with a wonderful meaning.
- Daystar
Origin:
EnglishMeaning:
"a planet visible in the east just before sunrise; (poetic) the sun"
- Sky
Origin:
Nature nameDescription:
Sky may be a bit hippie-ish, but it's bright and sunny nonetheless. Sky rejoined the Top 1000 in 2013 after spending many years off the list. Sky was the choice of magician David Copperfield for his daughter, born in 2010.
- Rainbow
Origin:
EnglishMeaning:
"rainbow"Description:
Colorful, yes, but also probably among the hippiest of hippie names. Holly Madison recently chose it for her little girl.
- Dusk
Origin:
English word nameMeaning:
"twilight; darkening"Description:
Influencer Nara Smith called out Dusk as one of the names she likes but won't be using, which is probably the reason you're here. Dusk is a totally unique baby name, given to fewer than five children last year.
- Dusk
Origin:
English word nameMeaning:
"twilight; darkening"
- Elanor
Origin:
English, Literature, SindarinMeaning:
"sun star"Description:
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", the exact origins and meaning of Eleanor are unknown.
- Tinuviel
Origin:
Literary nameMeaning:
"Daughter of the twilight / nightingale"Description:
Lúthien Tinúviel is an elf princess in J. R. R. Tolkien’s legendarium, who falls in love with a mortal human, Beren, and chooses to become mortal herself rather than to live without him. Tinúviel is a Sindarin name given to her by Beren, meaning "daughter of twilight" and therefore "nightingale".
- Jalus
Origin:
TibetanMeaning:
"rainbow"
- Mirri
Origin:
Australian AboriginalMeaning:
"the sun"Description:
This cute as a button name stems from the Goonayandi word for the sun and can be used as a unisex name.
- Solstice
Origin:
English from LatinMeaning:
"when the sun stands still"Description:
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 were given the name in the US in 2021, and it was last on the charts for boys in 2018, when six baby boys got the name.
- Deva
Origin:
HindiMeaning:
"divine, shining one"Description:
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.
- Neri
Origin:
HebrewMeaning:
"my candle"Description:
Gender-neutral choice ideal for a child born during Hanukkah.
- Taliesin
Origin:
WelshMeaning:
"shining brow"Description:
Taliesin is a name an architecture-minded parent could love, because of its close association with Frank Lloyd Wright.
- Daystar
Origin:
EnglishMeaning:
"a planet visible in the east just before sunrise; (poetic) the sun"
- Nolwenn
Origin:
WelshMeaning:
"shining, holy"Description:
Nolwenn is popular in Wales but would be a very adventurous choice in the US. Though with the increased visibility of names like Arwen, thanks to Lord of the Rings, it may not feel as odd going forward as it might have a generation ago. Other, similar ideas: Olwen, Anwen, Bronwen, Rowena.
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