Browse Names

Aberash f Amharic
Means "giving off light, shining" in Amharic.

Abha f Hindi
From Sanskrit आभा (ābhā) meaning "splendour, light".

Abner m English, Biblical, Biblical Latin
From the Hebrew name אַבְנֵר (ʾAvner) meaning "my father is a light", derived from אָב (ʾav) meaning "father" and נֵר (ner) meaning "lamp, light". In the Old Testament, Abner was a cousin of Saul and the commander of his army. After he killed Asahel he was himself slain by Asahel's brother Joab.... [more]

Aegle f Greek Mythology (Latinized)
Latinized form of the Greek Αἴγλη (Aigle), which meant "light, radiance, glory". This was the name of several characters in Greek myth, including one of the Heliades and one of the Hesperides.

Aelius m Ancient Roman
Roman family name that was possibly derived from the Greek word ἥλιος (helios) meaning "sun". This was the family name of the Roman emperor Hadrian.

Ailbhe f & m Irish, Irish Mythology
From Old Irish Ailbe, possibly derived from the Celtic root *albiyo- "world, light, white" or Old Irish ail "rock". In Irish legend this was the name of a female warrior of the Fianna. It was also the name of a 6th-century male saint, the founder of a monastery at Emly.

Ainur f Kazakh
Kazakh form of Aynur.

Ainura f Kyrgyz
Kyrgyz form of Aynur.

Ajnur m Bosnian
Bosnian masculine form of Aynur.

Akari f Japanese
From Japanese 明 (aka) meaning "bright" or 朱 (aka) meaning "vermilion red" combined with 里 (ri) meaning "village" or 莉 (ri) meaning "white jasmine". Other combinations of kanji characters can also form this name.

Akemi f Japanese
From Japanese 明 (ake) meaning "bright" and 美 (mi) meaning "beautiful". Other kanji combinations are possible.

Aki 2 f Japanese
From Japanese 晶 (aki) meaning "clear, crystal", 明 (aki) meaning "bright, light, clear" or 秋 (aki) meaning "autumn". It can also come from 亜 (a) meaning "second, Asia" combined with 希 (ki) meaning "hope". Other kanji or combinations of kanji can form this name too.

Akihiko m Japanese
From Japanese 明 (aki) or 昭 (aki) both meaning "bright" combined with 彦 (hiko) meaning "boy, prince". Other combinations of kanji characters can also form this name.

Akihito m Japanese
From Japanese 明 (aki) or 昭 (aki) both meaning "bright" combined with 仁 (hito) meaning "compassionate". Other kanji combinations are possible. Akihito (1933-), name written 明仁, was the emperor of Japan from 1989 to 2019.

Akiko f Japanese
From Japanese 晶 (aki) meaning "clear, crystal", 明 (aki) meaning "bright, light, clear" or 秋 (aki) meaning "autumn" combined with 子 (ko) meaning "child". Other combinations of kanji characters are possible.

Akimitsu m Japanese
From Japanese 昭 (aki) meaning "bright" and 光 (mitsu) meaning "light". Other combinations of kanji can also form this name.

Akira m & f Japanese
From Japanese 昭 (akira) meaning "bright", 明 (akira) meaning "bright" or 亮 (akira) meaning "clear". Other kanji with the same pronunciation can also form this name. A famous bearer was the Japanese filmmaker Akira Kurosawa (1910-1998), given name written 明.

Alinur m Kazakh
From the given name Ali 1 combined with Arabic نور (nūr) meaning "light".

Amandeep m & f Indian (Sikh)
From Punjabi ਅਮਨ (aman) meaning "peace" (ultimately from Arabic) and Sanskrit दीप (dīpa) meaning "lamp, light".

Amardeep m & f Indian (Sikh)
From Sanskrit अमर (amara) meaning "immortal" and दीप (dīpa) meaning "lamp, light".

Amitabh m Hindi
From Sanskrit अमिताभ (amitābha) meaning "immeasurable splendour". A famous bearer is Indian actor Amitabh Bachchan (1942-).

Antiman m Mapuche
Means "condor of the sun" in Mapuche, from antü "sun" and mañku "condor".

Antinanco m Mapuche
Means "eagle of the sun" in Mapuche, from antü "sun" and ñamko "eagle, hawk, buzzard".

Apollo m Greek Mythology (Latinized)
From Greek Ἀπόλλων (Apollon), which is of unknown meaning, though perhaps related to the Indo-European root *apelo- meaning "strength". Another theory states that Apollo can be equated with Appaliunas, an Anatolian god whose name possibly means "father lion" or "father light". The Greeks later associated Apollo's name with the Greek verb ἀπόλλυμι (apollymi) meaning "to destroy". In Greek mythology Apollo was the son of Zeus and Leto and the twin of Artemis. He was the god of prophecy, medicine, music, art, law, beauty, and wisdom. Later he also became the god of the sun and light.

Areg m Armenian
Means "sun, bright" in Armenian (a poetic word).

Arevik f Armenian
Means "like the sun" in Armenian.

Argi m Basque
Means "light" in Basque.

Argider m Basque
Derived from Basque argi "light" and eder "beautiful".

Arpi f Armenian
Means "sun, ether" in Armenian (a poetic word).

Arthit m Thai
Means "sun" in Thai, derived from the name of the Hindu god Aditya.

Asahi m & f Japanese
From Japanese 旭 (asahi) or 朝日 (asahi) both meaning "morning sun". Other kanji combinations can also form this name.

Asterope f Greek Mythology
Means "lightning, flash of light" in Greek. This is the name of several characters from Greek mythology, including a naiad who died fleeing Aesacus.

Aygün f Turkish, Azerbaijani
Derived from the Turkic elements ay meaning "moon" and gün meaning "sun".

Aynur f Turkish, Azerbaijani, Uyghur
Means "moonlight" in Turkish, Azerbaijani and Uyghur, ultimately from Turkic ay meaning "moon" and Arabic نور (nūr) meaning "light".

Ayşenur f Turkish
Combination of Ayşe and Arabic نور (nūr) meaning "light".

Bergljot f Norwegian
From the Old Norse name Bergljót, which was composed of the elements bjǫrg "help, salvation" and ljótr "light".

Berhane m & f Amharic
Means "my light" in Amharic.

Berhanu m Amharic
Means "his light" in Amharic.

Bhaskara m Hinduism
Means "shining, light maker", derived from Sanskrit भास (bhāsa) meaning "light" and कर (kara) meaning "maker". This is another name of Hindu sun god Surya. It was additionally borne by a 12th-century Indian astronomer, also known as Bhaskaracharya.

Cahaya m & f Indonesian, Malay
Means "light" in Malay and Indonesian, ultimately from Sanskrit छाया (chāyā).

Cahya m & f Indonesian
Variant of Cahaya.

Cahyo m Javanese
Javanese variant form of Cahaya.

Chiaki f & m Japanese
From Japanese 千 (chi) meaning "thousand" combined with 秋 (aki) meaning "autumn", 晶 (aki) meaning "clear, crystal" or 明 (aki) meaning "bright, light, clear". This name can also be formed from other kanji combinations.

Chirag m Hindi, Marathi, Gujarati
Means "lamp, light" in Hindi and other Indian languages, ultimately from Persian چراغ (cherāgh).

Dip m Hindi, Marathi, Gujarati, Bengali, Punjabi
Masculine form of Dipa.

Dipa f Hindi, Marathi, Punjabi, Bengali, Malayalam, Tamil
From Sanskrit दीप (dīpa) meaning "light, lamp".

Dipti f Hindi, Marathi, Kannada
From Sanskrit दीपति (dīpti) meaning "brightness, light".

Diya 1 f Hindi
Means "lamp, light" in Hindi.

Drita f Albanian
Derived from Albanian dritë meaning "light".

Dritan m Albanian
Masculine form of Drita.

Eguzki m Basque
Means "sun" in Basque.

Eki m Basque
Means "sun" in Basque, a variant of Eguzki.

Elanor f Literature
Means "star sun" in the fictional language Sindarin. In The Lord of the Rings (1954) by J. R. R. Tolkien this is Sam's eldest daughter, named after a type of flower.

Elanur f Turkish
Means "hazel light", from Turkish ela meaning "hazel" combined with Arabic نور (nūr) meaning "light".

Elior m Hebrew
Means "my God is my light" in Hebrew.

Elnur m Azerbaijani
Means "light of the people" in Azerbaijani, ultimately derived from Turkic el meaning "country, society" and Arabic نور (nūr) meaning "light".

Elouan m Breton, French
Possibly from a Breton word meaning "light". This name was borne by an obscure 6th-century saint who is now venerated mainly in Brittany and Cornwall.

Endrit m Albanian
From Albanian dritë meaning "light".

Esmanur f Turkish
From the name Esma combined with Arabic نور (nūr) meaning "light".

Gerel f Mongolian
Means "light" in Mongolian.

Goizargi f Basque
Derived from Basque goiz "morning" and argi "light".

Gülnur f Turkish
Means "rose light" in Turkish, ultimately from Persian گل (gol) meaning "flower, rose" and Arabic نور (nūr) meaning "light".

Günəş f Azerbaijani
Means "sun" in Azerbaijani.

Günay f & m Turkish, Azerbaijani
Derived from the Turkic elements gün "sun" and ay "moon".

Günel f Azerbaijani
Derived from the Turkic elements gün "sun" and el "country, society".

Güneş f Turkish
Means "sun" in Turkish.

Gurdeep m & f Indian (Sikh)
From Sanskrit गुरु (guru) meaning "teacher, guru" and दीप (dīpa) meaning "lamp, light".

Hardeep m & f Indian (Sikh)
From the name of the Hindu god Hari and Sanskrit दीप (dīpa) meaning "lamp, light".

Haru m & f Japanese
From Japanese 陽 (haru) meaning "light, sun, male", 春 (haru) meaning "spring" or 晴 (haru) meaning "clear weather". Other kanji or kanji combinations can form this name as well.

Haruki m Japanese
From Japanese 晴 (haru) meaning "clear weather" or 陽 (haru) meaning "light, sun, male" combined with 輝 (ki) meaning "brightness" or 生 (ki) meaning "living". Other kanji combinations are possible.

Haruko f Japanese
From Japanese 春 (haru) meaning "spring" or 陽 (haru) meaning "light, sun, male" combined with 子 (ko) meaning "child", as well as other kanji combinations.

Haruto m Japanese
From Japanese 陽 (haru) meaning "light, sun, male", 遥 (haru) meaning "distant, remote" or 晴 (haru) meaning "clear weather" combined with 斗 (to), which refers to a Chinese constellation, or 翔 (to) meaning "soar, fly". Other kanji combinations can also form this name.

Haul m Welsh (Rare)
Means "sun" in Welsh. This is a modern Welsh name.

Heliodoro m Spanish, Portuguese
From the Greek name Ἡλιόδωρος (Heliodoros), derived from the elements ἥλιος (helios) meaning "sun" and δῶρον (doron) meaning "gift". Saint Heliodoro was a 4th-century bishop of Altino.

Helios m Greek Mythology
Means "sun" in Greek. This was the name of the young Greek sun god, a Titan, who rode across the sky each day in a chariot pulled by four horses. His sister was the moon goddess Selene.

Heulwen f Welsh
Means "sunshine" in Welsh (a compound of haul "sun" and gwen "white, blessed").

Hideaki m Japanese
From Japanese 英 (hide) meaning "excellent, fine" and 明 (aki) meaning "bright, light, clear", as well as other combinations of kanji.

Hikari f & m Japanese
From Japanese 光 (hikari) meaning "light". Other kanji can also form this name. It is often written with the hiragana writing system.

Hikaru m & f Japanese
From Japanese 光 (hikaru) meaning "light" or 輝 (hikaru) meaning "brightness". Other kanji can also form this name.

Hina f Japanese
From Japanese 陽 (hi) meaning "light, sun" or 日 (hi) meaning "sun, day" combined with 菜 (na) meaning "vegetables, greens". Other kanji combinations are possible.

Hinata f & m Japanese
From Japanese 日向 (hinata) meaning "sunny place", 陽向 (hinata) meaning "toward the sun", or a non-standard reading of 向日葵 (himawari) meaning "sunflower". Other kanji compounds are also possible. Because of the irregular readings, this name is often written using the hiragana writing system.

Hiranur f Turkish (Modern)
From Arabic حراء (Ḥirāʾ), the name of the cave where the Prophet Muhammad received his first revelation, combined with نور (nūr) meaning "light".

Hnub f Hmong
Means "sun" in Hmong.

Ifa m Oromo
Means "light" in Oromo.

İkranur f Turkish
From the name İkra combined with Arabic نور (nūr) meaning "light".

İlknur f Turkish
Means "first light", from Turkish ilk meaning "first" combined with Arabic نور (nūr) meaning "light".

Illuminata f Late Roman
Means "illuminated, brightened, filled with light" in Latin. This name was borne by a 4th-century saint from Todi, Italy.

Il-Seong m Korean
From Sino-Korean 日 (il) meaning "sun, day" and 成 (seong) meaning "completed, finished, succeeded". Other hanja character combinations are possible. A notable bearer was Kim Il-sung (1912-1994), the first leader of North Korea.

Inti m Quechua, Inca Mythology
Means "sun" in Quechua. This was the name of the Inca god of the sun. He was a son of Viracocha.

Jatau m Hausa
Means "fair-coloured, light" in Hausa.

Jayashri f Marathi
Means "goddess of victory", derived from Sanskrit जय (jaya) meaning "victory" and the honorific श्री (śrī).

Jóhonaa'éí m New World Mythology
Means "sun" in Navajo. In Navajo mythology this is the name of the sun god.

Jothi f & m Tamil
Tamil form of Jyoti.

Jyothi f & m Telugu, Malayalam
Telugu and Malayalam form of Jyoti.

Jyoti f & m Hindi, Marathi, Bengali, Assamese, Nepali
Derived from Sanskrit ज्योतिस् (jyotis) meaning "light". This is a transcription of both the feminine form ज्योती and the masculine form ज्योति.

Kaguya f Literature
Means "bright, shining" in Japanese. It is spelled with the kanji 赫 (kagaya) meaning "bright" and 映 (ya) meaning "reflect". The name originates from the old Japanese folktale The Tale of the Bamboo Cutter, about a bamboo cutter who finds a tiny baby in a bamboo stalk and names her Kaguya-hime "shining princess". When she grows up she rejects all proposals for marriage (including that from the Emperor) and eventually returns to her true home on the moon.... [more]

Keren f Hebrew
Means "horn" or "ray of light" in Hebrew.

Khorshid m & f Persian, Persian Mythology
Modern Persian form of Avestan 𐬵𐬎𐬎𐬀𐬭𐬆⸱𐬑𐬱𐬀𐬉𐬙𐬀 (Huuarə Xshaēta) meaning "shining sun". In Zoroastrianism this was the name of a Yazata (a holy being) who was associated with the sun.

Kōji m Japanese
From Japanese 浩 (kō) meaning "prosperous", 幸 (kō) meaning "happiness, good luck" or 康 (kō) meaning "peace" combined with 司 (ji) meaning "officer, boss", 二 (ji) meaning "two" or 次 (ji) meaning "next". This name can also be formed from many other combinations of kanji characters.

Kōki m Japanese
From Japanese 光 (kō) meaning "light" or 幸 (kō) meaning "happiness, good luck" combined with 希 (ki) meaning "hope" or 輝 (ki) meaning "brightness". This name can be formed from other combinations of kanji characters as well.

Kuldeep m Indian (Sikh)
From Sanskrit कुल (kula) meaning "family" and दीप (dīpa) meaning "lamp, light".

Lasha m Georgian
Possibly from a Northwest Caucasian word meaning "light". This was a name of Giorgi IV, a 13th-century king of Georgia.

Lesedi f & m Tswana
Means "light" in Tswana.

Lior m & f Hebrew
Means "my light" in Hebrew, from לִי (li) "for me" and אוֹר (ʾor) "light".

Lucasta f Literature
This name was first used by the poet Richard Lovelace for a collection of poems called Lucasta (1649). The poems were dedicated to Lucasta, a nickname for the woman he loved Lucy Sacheverel, whom he called lux casta "pure light".

Lucero f & m Spanish (Mexican), Spanish (Latin American)
Means "light source, bright star, morning star" in Spanish, a derivative of luz "light". It is most common in Mexico and Colombia.

Lucifer m Judeo-Christian-Islamic Legend
Means "bringing light", derived from Latin lux "light" and ferre "to bring". In Latin this name originally referred to the morning star, Venus, but later became associated with the chief angel who rebelled against God's rule in heaven (see Isaiah 14:12). In later literature, such as the Divine Comedy (1321) by Dante and Paradise Lost (1667) by John Milton, Lucifer became associated with Satan himself.

Lucina f Roman Mythology
Derived from Latin lucus meaning "grove", but later associated with lux meaning "light". This was the name of a Roman goddess of childbirth.

Lucius m Ancient Roman, Biblical, English
Roman praenomen, or given name, which was derived from Latin lux "light". This was the most popular of the praenomina. Two Etruscan kings of early Rome had this name as well as several prominent later Romans, including Lucius Annaeus Seneca (known simply as Seneca), a statesman, philosopher, orator and tragedian. The name is mentioned briefly in the New Testament belonging to a Christian in Antioch. It was also borne by three popes, including the 3rd-century Saint Lucius. Despite this, the name was not regularly used in the Christian world until after the Renaissance.

Luminița f Romanian
Means "little light", derived from Romanian lumina "light" combined with a diminutive suffix.

Luse f Armenian
Means "light" in Armenian.

Lux f & m Various
Derived from Latin lux meaning "light".

Luz f Spanish
Means "light" in Spanish. It is taken from the title of the Virgin Mary, Nuestra Señora de la Luz, meaning "Our Lady of Light".

Mandeep m & f Indian (Sikh)
From Sanskrit मनस् (manas) meaning "mind, intellect, spirit" and दीप (dīpa) meaning "lamp, light".

Manjushri m Buddhism
Means "beautiful radiance", derived from Sanskrit मञ्जु (mañju) meaning "lovely, beautiful" and श्री (śrī) meaning "radiance, splendour, beauty". According to Buddhist tradition this is the name of a bodhisattva.

Maor m Hebrew
Means "a light" in Hebrew.

Marisol f Spanish
Short form of María Soledad. It is sometimes considered a combination of María and Sol 1, or from Spanish mar y sol "sea and sun".

Mehrab m Persian, Persian Mythology
From Persian مهر (mehr) meaning "sun" or "friendship" and آب (āb) meaning "water". This is the name of the king of Kabul in the 10th-century Persian epic the Shahnameh.

Mehrdad m Persian
From Persian مهر (mehr) meaning "sun" or "friendship" and داد (dād) meaning "given". Since مهر is also the Modern Persian form of Mithra, this name can also function as a modern form of Mithridates.

Mehrnaz f Persian, Persian Mythology
From Persian مهر (mehr) meaning "sun" or "friendship" and ناز (nāz) meaning "delight, comfort". This is the name of a character in the 10th-century Persian epic the Shahnameh.

Meir m Hebrew
Means "giving light" in Hebrew.

Melchior m Judeo-Christian-Islamic Legend, French (Rare), Dutch (Rare)
Possibly from the Hebrew roots מֶלֶךְ (meleḵ) meaning "king" and אוֹר (ʾor) meaning "light". This was a name traditionally assigned to one of the wise men (also known as the Magi, or three kings) who were said to have visited the newborn Jesus. According to medieval tradition he was a king of Persia.

Mephistopheles m Literature
Meaning uncertain. It might be based on Hebrew מֵפִיץ (mefits) "scatterer, disperser" and טָפַל (ṭafal) "liar", or on Greek μή (me) "not", φῶς (phos) "light" and φίλος (philos) "friend, lover". Many other etymologies have been proposed. In a German legend, notably retold by Goethe, this is the name of a demon who makes a deal with Faust to exchange his soul for magical powers.

Ming m & f Chinese
From Chinese 明 (míng) meaning "bright, light, clear" or 铭 (míng) meaning "inscribe, engrave", as well as other characters that are pronounced similarly.

Mitsuaki m Japanese
From Japanese 光 (mitsu) meaning "light" and 昭 (aki) meaning "bright, luminous". Other kanji combinations can also form this name.

Mitsuki f Japanese
From Japanese 美 (mi) meaning "beautiful" and 月 (tsuki) meaning "moon". It can also come from 光 (mitsu) meaning "light" and 希 (ki) meaning "hope", as well as several other kanji combinations.

Mitsuko f Japanese
From Japanese 光 (mitsu) meaning "light" and 子 (ko) meaning "child". Other kanji combinations are possible.

Myeong m & f Korean
From Sino-Korean 明 (myeong) meaning "bright, light, clear" or other hanja characters with the same pronunciation. Although it does appear rarely as a single-character name, it is more often used in combination with another character.

Myeong-Suk f Korean
From Sino-Korean 明 (myeong) meaning "bright, light, clear" combined with 淑 (suk) meaning "good, pure, virtuous, charming". Other hanja combinations are possible.

Mzia f Georgian
Derived from Georgian მზე (mze) meaning "sun".

Naranbaatar m Mongolian
Means "sun hero" in Mongolian, from наран (naran) meaning "sun" and баатар (baatar) meaning "hero".

Narangerel f Mongolian
Means "sun light" in Mongolian, from наран (naran) meaning "sun" and гэрэл (gerel) meaning "light".

Narantsetseg f Mongolian
Means "sun flower" in Mongolian, from наран (naran) meaning "sun" and цэцэг (tsetseg) meaning "flower".

Natela f Georgian
Derived from Georgian ნათელი (nateli) meaning "light, bright".

Navdeep m & f Indian (Sikh)
From Sanskrit नव (nava) meaning "new, fresh" and दीप (dīpa) meaning "lamp, light".

Neriah m Biblical
Means "lamp of Yahweh" in Hebrew, from נֵר (ner) meaning "lamp, light" and יָהּ (yah) referring to the Hebrew God. This is the name of the father of Baruch in the Old Testament.

Nisanur f Turkish
From the name Nisa combined with Arabic نور (nūr) meaning "light".

Noor-Ali m Persian
From Persian نور (nūr) meaning "light" (of Arabic origin) combined with the name Ali 1. Though usually transcribed into Latin characters with a dash or a space, it is not written with a space in Persian.

Noriaki m Japanese
From Japanese 憲 (nori) meaning "law" or 典 (nori) meaning "rule, ceremony" combined with 明 (aki) meaning "bright, light, clear". Other kanji combinations can also form this name.

Nou f Hmong
Means "sun" in Hmong.

Nur f & m Arabic, Turkish, Azerbaijani, Urdu, Bengali, Uyghur, Indonesian, Malay
Means "light" in Arabic. In Islamic tradition النور (al-Nūr) is one of the 99 names of Allah.

Nur ad-Din m Arabic
Means "light of religion", from Arabic نور (nūr) meaning "light" combined with دين (dīn) meaning "religion, faith".

Nurasyl m Kazakh (Rare)
From Kazakh нұр (nur) meaning "light" and асыл (asyl) meaning "precious, noble" (both words ultimately of Arabic origin).

Nuray f Turkish, Azerbaijani, Kazakh
Means "bright moon" in Turkish, Azerbaijani and Kazakh, ultimately from Arabic نور (nūr) meaning "light" and Turkic ay meaning "moon".

Nurbek m Kyrgyz
From Kyrgyz нур (nur) meaning "light" (of Arabic origin) combined with the Turkic military title beg meaning "chieftain, master".

Nurcan f Turkish
Means "bright soul" in Turkish, ultimately from Arabic نور (nūr) meaning "light" and Persian jān meaning "soul, life".

Nurdaulet m Kazakh
From Kazakh нұр (nur) meaning "light" and дәулет (daulet) meaning "country, government" (both words ultimately of Arabic origin).

Nurgül f Turkish
Means "radiant rose" in Turkish, ultimately from Arabic نور (nūr) meaning "light" and Persian گل (gol) meaning "flower, rose".

Nurgul f Kazakh, Kyrgyz
Kazakh and Kyrgyz form of Nurgül.

Nuri m Arabic, Turkish
Means "my light" in Arabic.

Nurislam m Kazakh
From Kazakh нұр (nur) meaning "light" (of Arabic origin) combined with Islam, the name of the religion (ultimately from Arabic إسلام).

Nurlan m Kazakh, Kyrgyz, Azerbaijani
Means "bright boy" in Kazakh, Kyrgyz and Azerbaijani, ultimately from Arabic نور (nūr) meaning "light" and Turkic oglan meaning "young man, boy".

Nurmuhamad m Avar
Combination of Arabic نور (nūr) meaning "light" and the name Muhamad.

Nursultan m Kazakh
From Kazakh нұр (nur) meaning "light" and сұлтан (sultan) meaning "sultan, king" (both words of Arabic origin).

Nurten f Turkish
Means "radiant skin" in Turkish, ultimately from Arabic نور (nūr) meaning "light" and Persian تن (tan) meaning "body".

Nuru f Swahili
Means "light" in Swahili, ultimately from Arabic نور (nūr).

Nurul m & f Arabic, Indonesian, Malay
First part of compound Arabic names beginning with نور ال (Nūr al) meaning "light of the" (such as نور الدين (Nūr al-Dīn) meaning "light of religion").

Nurullah m Arabic, Turkish
Means "light of Allah", from Arabic نور (nūr) meaning "light" combined with الله (Allah).

Nurzhan m Kazakh
From Kazakh нұр (nur) meaning "light" (of Arabic origin) and жан (zhan) meaning "soul" (of Persian origin).

Ochieng m Luo
Means "born when the sun shines", derived from Luo chieng meaning "sun".

Or m & f Hebrew
Means "light" in Hebrew.

Ora 2 f Hebrew
Strictly feminine form of Or.

Orel m Hebrew
Means "light of God" in Hebrew.

Ori m & f Hebrew
Means "my light" in Hebrew.

Orion m Greek Mythology
Meaning uncertain, but possibly related to Greek ὅριον (horion) meaning "boundary, limit". Alternatively it may be derived from Akkadian Uru-anna meaning "light of the heavens". This is the name of a constellation, which gets its name from a legendary Greek hunter who was killed by a scorpion sent by the earth goddess Gaia.

Orit f Hebrew
Means "light" in Hebrew.

Orli f Hebrew
Means "light for me" in Hebrew.

Photine f Ancient Greek
Derived from Greek φῶς (phos) meaning "light" (genitive φωτός (photos)). This is the name traditionally given to the Samaritan woman Jesus met at the well (see John 4:7). She is venerated as a saint by the Eastern Church.

Photios m Ancient Greek
Derived from Greek φῶς (phos) meaning "light" (genitive φωτός (photos)).

Prabhakara m Sanskrit
Means "light maker", derived from Sanskrit प्रभा (prabhā) meaning "light" and कर (kara) meaning "maker". In Hindu scripture this term is used to refer to the sun and the moon. A notable bearer of this name was a 6th-century scholar from Kerala.

Pradip m Hindi, Marathi, Bengali, Malayalam, Kannada, Telugu, Tamil, Nepali
Derived from Sanskrit प्रदीप (pradīpa) meaning "light, lantern".

Prakash m Hindi, Marathi, Kannada, Tamil, Telugu, Malayalam, Gujarati, Bengali, Odia, Nepali
Derived from Sanskrit प्रकाश (prakāśa) meaning "light, bright, shining".

Pratibha f Hindi, Marathi
From Sanskrit प्रतिभा (pratibhā) meaning "light, splendour, intelligence".

Ra m Egyptian Mythology
From Egyptian rꜥ meaning "sun" or "day". Ra was an important Egyptian sun god originally worshipped in Heliopolis in Lower Egypt. He was usually depicted as a man with the head of a falcon crowned with a solar disc. In later times his attributes were often merged with those of other deities, such as Amon, Atum and Horus.

Ravi m Hinduism, Hindi, Marathi, Odia, Gujarati, Telugu, Tamil, Kannada, Bengali, Nepali
Means "sun" in Sanskrit. Ravi is a Hindu god of the sun, sometimes equated with Surya. A famous bearer was the musician Ravi Shankar (1920-2012).

Ravinder m & f Indian (Sikh)
Variant of Ravindra used by Sikhs.

Ravindra m Hinduism, Hindi, Marathi, Telugu, Kannada
Means "lord of the sun" from Sanskrit रवि (ravi) meaning "sun" combined with the name of the Hindu god Indra, used here to mean "lord". This is another name for the Hindu god Surya.

Roshan m & f Persian, Hindi, Marathi, Nepali
Means "light, bright" in Persian.

Roshanak f Persian
Feminine form of Roshan, used in Persian to refer to Roxana the wife of Alexander the Great.

Roshanara f Persian (Archaic)
From Persian روشن (rōshan) meaning "light" and آرا (ārā) meaning "decorate, adorn". This was the name of the second daughter of the 17th-century Mughal emperor Shah Jahan.

Roshni f Marathi, Hindi
From Hindi and Marathi रौशनी (raushanī) meaning "light, brightness", ultimately of Persian origin.

Säde f Finnish
Means "ray of light" in Finnish.

Sarangerel f Mongolian
Means "moonlight" in Mongolian, from саран (saran) meaning "moon" and гэрэл (gerel) meaning "light".

Saulė f Lithuanian, Baltic Mythology
Means "sun" in Lithuanian. This was the name of the Lithuanian sun goddess.

Savitri f Hinduism, Hindi, Marathi
Means "of the sun" in Sanskrit. This is the name of a hymn in the Rigveda dedicated to Savitr, a sun god. This is also the name of Savitr's daughter, a wife of Brahma, considered an aspect of Saraswati. In the Hindu epic the Mahabharata it is borne by King Satyavan's wife, who successfully pleas with Yama, the god of death, to restore her husband to life.

Sengphet f & m Lao
From Lao ແສງ (saeng) meaning "light" and ເພັດ (phet) meaning "diamond, gem".

Shamash m Semitic Mythology
Means "sun" in Akkadian. This was the Akkadian, Assyrian and Babylonian name of Utu.

Shams f & m Arabic, Persian, Urdu, Semitic Mythology
Means "sun" in Arabic. This was the name of a pre-Islamic Arabian goddess of the sun, identified with the Akkadian sun god Shamash (whose name is related) and the northern Arabian goddess Nuha.

Shams ad-Din m Arabic
Means "sun of the religion", from Arabic شمس (shams) meaning "sun" and دين (dīn) meaning "religion, faith". This was the given name of the 14th-century Berber explorer Ibn Battuta.

Shandiin f & m Navajo
From Navajo sháńdíín meaning "sunshine".

Sheraga m Jewish
Means "light, candle" in Aramaic.

Shimshon m Hebrew, Biblical Hebrew
Hebrew form of Samson.

Shri f Hinduism
Means "diffusing light, radiance, beauty" in Sanskrit, a word used as a title of respect in India. This is another name of the Hindu goddess Lakshmi.

Shriram m Hindi, Marathi
From the Sanskrit honorific श्री (śrī) meaning "radiance, splendour" combined with the name of the Hindu deity Rama 1.

Siqiniq f Inuit
Means "sun" in Inuktitut.

Siyana f Bulgarian
Derived from Bulgarian сияние (siyanie) meaning "glow, shine, light".

Sol 1 f Spanish, Portuguese
Means "sun" in Spanish or Portuguese.

Sole f Italian
Means "sun" in Italian.

Soleil f Various
Means "sun" in French. It is not commonly used as a name in France itself.

Sóley f Icelandic
Means "buttercup (flower)" in Icelandic (genus Ranunculus), derived from sól "sun" and ey "island".

Solfrid f Norwegian
From the Old Norse elements sól "sun" and fríðr "beautiful, beloved". This name was coined in the 19th century.

Solveig f Norwegian, Swedish, Danish
From an Old Norse name, which was derived from the elements sól "sun" and veig "strength". This is the name of the heroine in Henrik Ibsen's play Peer Gynt (1876).

Sonnhild f German (Rare)
From German Sonne meaning "sun" combined with the Old German element hilt meaning "battle". This name was created in the modern era.

Sorin m Romanian
Possibly derived from Romanian soare meaning "sun".

Sukhdeep m & f Indian (Sikh)
From Sanskrit सुख (sukha) meaning "pleasant, happy" and दीप (dīpa) meaning "lamp, light".

Sunčica f Croatian, Serbian
Derived from Serbo-Croatian sunce meaning "sun".

Sunday m & f English
From the name of the day of the week, which ultimately derives from Old English sunnandæg, which was composed of the elements sunne "sun" and dæg "day". This name is most common in Nigeria and other parts of Africa.

Sunniva f Norwegian
Scandinavian form of the Old English name Sunngifu, which meant "sun gift" from the Old English elements sunne "sun" and giefu "gift". This was the name of a legendary English saint who was shipwrecked in Norway and killed by the inhabitants.

Sunshine f English
From the English word, ultimately from Old English sunne "sun" and scinan "shine".

Suraj m Hindi, Marathi, Gujarati, Bengali, Nepali
Means "sun" in several northern Indian languages, derived from Sanskrit सूर्य (sūrya).

Surya m Hinduism, Telugu, Kannada, Tamil, Malayalam, Hindi, Marathi, Nepali, Indonesian
Means "sun" in Sanskrit. This is the name of the Vedic Hindu god of the sun who rides a chariot across the sky.

Svetla f Bulgarian
Derived from Bulgarian светъл (svetal) meaning "bright, light".

Svetlana f Russian, Slovak, Bulgarian, Serbian, Macedonian, Estonian, Latvian, Lithuanian, Armenian, Georgian
Derived from Russian свет (svet) meaning "light, world". It was popularized by the poem Svetlana (1813) by the poet Vasily Zhukovsky. It is sometimes used as a translation of Photine.

Tawny f English (Modern)
From the English word, ultimately deriving from Old French tané, which means "light brown".

Tifawt f Berber
Means "light" in Tamazight.

Tinatin f Georgian, Literature
Possibly related to Georgian სინათლე (sinatle) meaning "light". The name was devised by the Georgian poet Shota Rustaveli for his 12th-century epic poem The Knight in the Panther's Skin, in which Tinatin is the ruler of Arabia and the lover of Avtandil.

Tonalli m & f Nahuatl
Means "day, warmth of the sun" in Nahuatl.

Tonatiuh m Aztec and Toltec Mythology, Nahuatl
Means "sun" in Nahuatl. This was the name of the Aztec sun god.

Toshiaki m Japanese
From Japanese 俊 (toshi) meaning "talented, handsome" or 利 (toshi) meaning "benefit, advantage" combined with 明 (aki) meaning "bright, light, clear". Other combinations of kanji characters can also form this name.

Uri m Biblical, Biblical Latin, Hebrew
Means "my light" in Hebrew, a possessive form of אוּר (ʾur) meaning "light". This is the name of the father of Bezalel in the Old Testament.

Uriah m Biblical
From the Hebrew name אוּרִיָה (ʾUriya) meaning "Yahweh is my light", from the roots אוּר (ʾur) meaning "light, flame" and יָהּ (yah) referring to the Hebrew God. In the Old Testament this is the name of a Hittite warrior in King David's army, the first husband of Bathsheba. David desired Bathsheba so he placed Uriah in the forefront of battle so he would be killed.

Uriel m Biblical, Hebrew
From the Hebrew name אוּרִיאֵל (ʾUriʾel) meaning "God is my light", from אוּר (ʾur) meaning "light, flame" and אֵל (ʾel) meaning "God". Uriel is an archangel in Hebrew tradition. He is mentioned only in the Apocrypha, for example in the Book of Enoch where he warns Noah of the coming flood.

Utu m Sumerian Mythology
Derived from Sumerian 𒌓 (ud) meaning "sun". In Sumerian mythology this was the name of the god of the sun. He was the son of the moon god Nanna and Ningal.

Vasuda f Hindi (Rare)
Means "granting wealth" in Sanskrit. This is another name of the earth.

Vasudeva m Hinduism
From Sanskrit वसु (vasu) meaning "excellent, good, wealthy" and देव (deva) meaning "god". This was the name of the father of Krishna. Krishna is also called by the patronymic वसूदेव (Vasūdeva).

Vasudha f Hindi
Means "holding wealth" in Sanskrit, used to refer to the earth.

Vasundhara f Hindi, Telugu
Means "possessor of wealth" in Sanskrit, used to refer to the earth.

Willka m Aymara
From Aymara wilka meaning "sun".

Xbalanque m Mayan Mythology
Possibly from Classic Maya balam "jaguar" and k'in "sun" or kej "deer". In the Popol Vuh, the sacred book of the K'iche' Maya, Xbalanque and his twin brother Hunahpu avenge their father's death at the hands of the underworld gods.

Yang m & f Chinese
From Chinese 洋 (yáng) meaning "ocean" or 阳 (yáng) meaning "light, sun, male" (which is typically only masculine), as well as other Chinese characters pronounced similarly.

Yeong f & m Korean
From Sino-Korean 英 (yeong) meaning "flower, petal, brave, hero", as well as other hanja characters that are pronounced similarly. It usually occurs in combination with another character, though it is sometimes used as a stand-alone name. This name was borne by Jang Yeong-sil (where Jang is the surname), a 15th-century Korean scientist and inventor.

Yeong-Ho m Korean
From Sino-Korean 英 (yeong) meaning "flower, petal, brave, hero", 映 (yeong) meaning "reflect light" or 泳 (yeong) meaning "dive, swim" combined with 浩 (ho) meaning "great, numerous, vast" or 皓 (ho) meaning "bright, luminous, clear, hoary". Other hanja combinations are possible.

Yōko f Japanese
From Japanese 陽 (yō) meaning "light, sun, male" or 洋 (yō) meaning "ocean" combined with 子 (ko) meaning "child". Other combinations of kanji characters can also form this name.

Yoshimitsu m Japanese
From Japanese 義 (yoshi) meaning "righteous", 芳 (yoshi) meaning "fragrant, virtuous, beautiful", or 吉 (yoshi) meaning "good luck" combined with 光 (mitsu) meaning "light". Other combinations of kanji can also form this name.

Yōsuke m Japanese
From Japanese 陽 (yō) meaning "light, sun, male" or 洋 (yō) meaning "ocean" combined with 介 (suke) meaning "help, assist". This name can also be formed from other combinations of kanji characters.

Yōta m Japanese
From Japanese 陽 (yō) meaning "light, sun, male" and 太 (ta) meaning "thick, big, great". Other character combinations are possible.

Zazil f Mayan
Means "clear, light, clarity" in Yucatec Maya. Zazil Há was a 16th-century Maya woman who married the Spanish shipwreck survivor Gonzalo Guerrero.

Zhulong m Chinese Mythology
From Chinese 烛 (zhú) meaning "candle, torch, light" and 龙 (lóng) meaning "dragon". In Chinese mythology this was the name of a giant scarlet serpent, also called the Torch Dragon in English.

Ziya m Arabic, Turkish
Means "splendour, light, glow" in Arabic. This was the name of a 14th-century Islamic Indian historian.

Ziya ad-Din m Arabic
Means "splendour of religion" from Arabic ضياء (ḍiyāʾ) meaning "splendour, light, glow" combined with دين (dīn) meaning "religion, faith".

Ziya ur-Rahman m Arabic
Means "splendour of the merciful" from Arabic ضياء (ḍiyāʾ) meaning "splendour, light, glow" combined with رحْمن (raḥman) meaning "merciful".

Zohar m & f Hebrew
Means "light, brilliance" in Hebrew.

Zuhra 2 f Arabic (Rare)
Means "brilliancy, light" in Arabic, derived from the root زهر (zahara) meaning "to shine". This name is written identically to the related name Zahra, though it is pronounced differently.

Žydrė f Lithuanian
From Lithuanian žydra meaning "light blue".

Žydrūnas m Lithuanian
From Lithuanian žydra meaning "light blue" (using the patronymic suffix ūnas).