Names Categorized "light"

This is a list of names in which the categories include light.
gender
usage
Aarti f Hindi, Marathi
From the name of a Hindu ritual in which offerings of lamps or candles are made to various gods, derived from Sanskrit आरात्रिक (ārātrika).
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]
Achieng f Luo
Feminine form of Ochieng.
Adalbert m Germanic, German
Old German form of Albert. This is the name of a patron saint of Bohemia, Poland and Prussia. He is known by his birth name Vojtěch in Czech and Wojciech in Polish.
Adelbert m German, Dutch (Rare)
German and Dutch variant of Adalbert.
Adhara f Astronomy
Derived from Arabic عذارى (ʿadhārā) meaning "maidens". This is the name of the second brightest star (after Sirius) in the constellation Canis Major.
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.
Aeliana f Ancient Roman
Feminine form of Aelianus.
Aelianus m Ancient Roman
Roman cognomen that was a derivative of Aelius.
Aelita f Literature, Russian, Latvian
Created by Russian author Aleksey Tolstoy for his science fiction novel Aelita (1923), where it belongs to a Martian princess. In the book, the name is said to mean "starlight seen for the last time" in the Martian language.
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.
Agim m Albanian
Means "dawn" in Albanian.
Aglaia f Greek Mythology, Greek
Means "splendour, beauty" in Greek. In Greek mythology she was one of the three Graces or Χάριτες (Charites). This name was also borne by a 4th-century saint from Rome.
Aigle f Greek Mythology
Greek form of Aegle.
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.
Aina 5 f Kazakh
Means "mirror" in Kazakh, ultimately from Persian آینه (āyneh).
Áine f Irish, Irish Mythology, Old Irish
Means "radiance, brilliance" in Irish. This was the name of a goddess of love and fertility in Irish legend, thought to dwell at the hill of Cnoc Áine in Limerick. It has sometimes been Anglicized as Anne.
Ainur f Kazakh
Kazakh form of Aynur.
Ajna f Bosnian
Bosnian form of Aina 5.
Akari f Japanese
From Japanese (aka) meaning "bright" or (aka) meaning "vermilion red" combined with (ri) meaning "village" or (ri) meaning "white jasmine". Other combinations of kanji characters can also form this name.
Akemi f Japanese
From Japanese (ake) meaning "bright" and (mi) meaning "beautiful". Other kanji combinations are possible.
Aki 2 f Japanese
From Japanese (aki) meaning "clear, crystal", (aki) meaning "bright, light, clear" or (aki) meaning "autumn". It can also come from (a) meaning "second, Asia" combined with (ki) meaning "hope". Other kanji or combinations of kanji can form this name too.
Akie f Japanese
From Japanese (aki) meaning "autumn" or (aki) meaning "bright" combined with (e) meaning "picture, painting" or (e) meaning "favour, benefit". Other kanji combinations can also form this name.
Akihiko m Japanese
From Japanese (aki) or (aki) both meaning "bright" combined with (hiko) meaning "boy, prince". Other combinations of kanji characters can also form this name.
Akihito m Japanese
From Japanese (aki) or (aki) both meaning "bright" combined with (hito) meaning "compassionate". Other kanji combinations are possible. Akihito (1933-), name written , was the emperor of Japan from 1989 to 2019.
Akiko f Japanese
From Japanese (aki) meaning "clear, crystal", (aki) meaning "bright, light, clear" or (aki) meaning "autumn" combined with (ko) meaning "child". Other combinations of kanji characters are possible.
Akio m Japanese
From Japanese (aki) meaning "bright, luminous" combined with (o) meaning "man, husband", (o) meaning "male, man" or (o) meaning "hero, manly". Other kanji combinations are also possible.
Akira m & f Japanese
From Japanese (akira) meaning "bright", (akira) meaning "bright" or (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 .
Alba 1 f Italian, Spanish, Catalan
This name is derived from two distinct names, Alba 2 and Alba 3, with distinct origins, Latin and Germanic. Over time these names have become confused with one another. To further complicate the matter, alba means "dawn" in Italian, Spanish and Catalan. This may be the main inspiration behind its use in Italy and Spain.
Albert m English, German, French, Catalan, Polish, Czech, Russian, Dutch, Swedish, Norwegian, Danish, Icelandic, Finnish, Romanian, Hungarian, Albanian, Germanic
From the Germanic name Adalbert meaning "noble and bright", composed of the elements adal "noble" and beraht "bright". This name was common among medieval German royalty. The Normans introduced it to England, where it replaced the Old English cognate Æþelbeorht. Though it became rare in England by the 17th century, it was repopularized in the 19th century by the German-born Prince Albert, the husband of Queen Victoria.... [more]
Alberte 2 f French, Danish
French and Danish feminine form of Albert.
Albine f French
French form of Albina.
Albino m Italian, Portuguese, Spanish
Italian, Portuguese and Spanish form of Albinus.
Albinus m Ancient Roman
Roman cognomen that was a derivative of Albus. Saint Albinus (also called Aubin) was a 6th-century bishop of Angers in Brittany.
Albus m Ancient Roman
Roman cognomen meaning "white, bright" in Latin.
Alby m Irish
Anglicized masculine form of Ailbhe.
Alena 1 f German, Czech, Slovak, Slovene
Short form of Magdalena or Helena. This was the name of a saint, possibly legendary, who was martyred near Brussels in the 7th century.
Alenka f Slovene
Slovene diminutive of Alena 1.
Alinur m Kazakh
From the given name Ali 1 combined with Arabic نور (nūr) meaning "light".
Altan 1 m Turkish
Means "red dawn" in Turkish.
Alyona f Russian, Ukrainian
Originally a Russian diminutive of Yelena. It is now used independently.
Amalbert m Germanic
Derived from the Old German elements amal possibly meaning "unceasing, vigorous, brave" and beraht meaning "bright".
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".
Amaryllis f Literature
Derived from Greek ἀμαρύσσω (amarysso) meaning "to sparkle". This is the name of a character appearing in Virgil's pastoral poems Eclogues. The amaryllis flower is named for her.
Amaterasu f Japanese Mythology
Means "shining over heaven", from Japanese (ama) meaning "heaven, sky" and (terasu) meaning "shine". This was the name of the Japanese sun goddess, the ruler of the heavens. She was born when Izanagi washed his left eye after returning from the underworld. At one time the Japanese royal family claimed descent from her.
Amitabh m Hindi
From Sanskrit अमिताभ (amitābha) meaning "immeasurable splendour". A famous bearer is Indian actor Amitabh Bachchan (1942-).
Anatol m Polish, Belarusian
Polish and Belarusian form of Anatolius.
Anatole m French
French form of Anatolius.
Anatoli m Russian, Ukrainian, Georgian
Alternate transcription of Russian Анатолий or Ukrainian Анатолій (see Anatoliy), as well as the Georgian form.
Anatolia f Ancient Greek
Feminine form of Anatolius. This was the name of a 3rd-century Italian saint and martyr. This is also a place name (from the same Greek origin) referring to the large peninsula that makes up the majority of Turkey.
Anatolijs m Latvian
Latvian form of Anatolius.
Anatolius m Ancient Greek (Latinized)
From the Greek Ἀνατόλιος (Anatolios), derived from ἀνατολή (anatole) meaning "sunrise". Saint Anatolius was a 3rd-century philosopher from Alexandria.
Anatoliy m Russian, Ukrainian
Russian and Ukrainian form of Anatolius.
Anatoly m Russian
Alternate transcription of Russian Анатолий (see Anatoliy).
Andebert m Germanic
From the Old German element anto meaning "zeal" combined with beraht meaning "bright".
Anik m Hindi, Bengali
From Sanskrit अनीक (anīka) meaning "army" or "splendour".
Ansbert m Germanic
Composed of the Old German elements ansi "god" and beraht "bright". It is a cognate of Osbert. This name was borne by a 7th-century Frankish saint, a bishop of Rouen.
Antiman m Mapuche
Means "condor of the sun" in Mapuche, from antü "sun" and mañku "condor".
Anwar m Arabic, Urdu, Indonesian
Means "brighter, more luminous" in Arabic, related to نور (nūr) meaning "light". This name was borne by Egyptian president Anwar Sadat (1918-1981), who was assassinated three years after being awarded the Nobel Peace Prize.
Aoibheann f Irish
From Old Irish Oébfinn or Aíbinn, derived from oíb meaning "beauty, appearance, form" and finn meaning "white, blessed". This was the name of the mother of Saint Énna of Aran. It was also borne by the daughter of the 10th-century Irish high king Donnchad Donn.
Apolena f Czech, Slovak
Czech and Slovak form of Apollonia.
Apolline f French
French form of Apollonia.
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.
Apollonia f Ancient Greek, Italian
Feminine form of Apollonios. This was the name of a 3rd-century saint and martyr from Alexandria.
Apolónia f Portuguese (European, Rare)
European Portuguese form of Apollonia.
Apolônia f Portuguese (Brazilian, Rare)
Brazilian Portuguese form of Apollonia.
Apolonia f Spanish, Polish
Spanish and Polish form of Apollonia.
Apolonija f Slovene, Lithuanian, Latvian
Slovene, Lithuanian and Latvian form of Apollonia.
Arash m Persian, Persian Mythology
From Avestan 𐬆𐬭𐬆𐬑𐬱𐬀 (Ərəxsha), of uncertain meaning, possibly from a root meaning "bear". In Iranian legend Arash was an archer who was ordered by the Turans to shoot an arrow, the landing place of which would determine the new location of the Iran-Turan border. Arash climbed a mountain and fired his arrow with such strength that it flew for several hours and landed on the banks of the far-away Oxus River.
Areg m Armenian
Means "sun, bright" in Armenian (a poetic word).
Argi m Basque
Means "light" in Basque.
Argider m Basque
Derived from Basque argi "light" and eder "beautiful".
Argos m Greek Mythology
Greek form of Argus.
Argus m Greek Mythology (Latinized)
From the Greek Ἄργος (Argos), derived from ἀργός (argos) meaning "glistening, shining". This name was borne by several characters from Greek myth, including the man who built the Argo and a giant with one hundred eyes.
Arjuna m Hinduism
Means "white, clear" in Sanskrit. In the Hindu epic the Mahabharata this is the name of one of the five Pandavas, the sons of Pandu. He was actually fathered by the god Indra and Pandu's wife Kunti. Arjuna was known as a skilled archer.... [more]
Arpi f Armenian
Means "sun, ether" in Armenian (a poetic word).
Arushi f Hinduism, Hindi
From Sanskrit अरुष (aruṣa) meaning "reddish, dawn", a word used in the Rigveda to describe the red horses of Agni. According to some traditions this was the name of the wife of the legendary sage Chyavana.
Ashraqat f Arabic
Means "brightness, splendour, dawn" in Arabic, derived from the root شرق (sharaqa) meaning "to radiate, to shine, to rise".
Ashwin m Hindi, Marathi, Tamil, Telugu, Kannada
From Sanskrit अश्विन् (aśvin) meaning "possessed of horses". The Ashvins are twin Hindu gods of the sunrise and sunset.
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.
Astrophel m Literature
Probably intended to mean "star lover", from Greek ἀστήρ (aster) meaning "star" and φίλος (philos) meaning "lover, friend". This name was first used by the 16th-century poet Philip Sidney in his collection of sonnets Astrophel and Stella.
Aubin m French
French form of Albinus.
Aura f English, Italian, Spanish, Finnish
From the word aura (derived from Latin, ultimately from Greek αὔρα meaning "breeze") for a distinctive atmosphere or illumination.
Aureole f English (Rare)
From the English word meaning "radiant halo", ultimately derived from Latin aureolus "golden".
Aurora f Italian, Spanish, Portuguese, English, Romanian, Finnish, Norwegian, Swedish, Roman Mythology
Means "dawn" in Latin. Aurora was the Roman goddess of the morning. It has occasionally been used as a given name since the Renaissance.
Aurore f French
French form of Aurora.
Aušra f Lithuanian
Means "dawn" in Lithuanian.
Austra f Latvian
Latvian cognate of Aušra.
Avenir m Russian (Rare)
Russian form of Abner.
Avrora f Russian, Ukrainian
Russian and Ukrainian form of Aurora.
Avtandil m Georgian, Literature
Created by the Georgian poet Shota Rustaveli for his 12th-century epic The Knight in the Panther's Skin. Rustaveli based it on Persian آفتاب (āftāb) meaning "sunshine" and دل (del) meaning "heart". In the poem Avtandil is a knight who is sent by Tinatin to search for the mysterious knight of the title.
Aydın m Turkish
Means "bright, clear" in Turkish.
Ayelet f Hebrew
Means "doe, female deer, gazelle". It is taken from the Hebrew phrase אַיֶלֶת הַשַׁחַר (ʾayeleṯ hashaḥar), literally "gazelle of dawn", which is a name of the morning star.
Ayfer f Turkish
Derived from Turkish ay meaning "moon" and Persian فر (far) meaning "brilliance, splendour".
Ayla 2 f Turkish, Azerbaijani
Means "moonlight, halo" in Turkish.
Aylin f Turkish, Azerbaijani, Kazakh
Elaborated form of Turkish or Azerbaijani ay meaning "moon".
Aýna f Turkmen
Means "mirror" in Turkmen, ultimately from Persian آینه (āyneh).
Ayna f Kazakh
Alternate transcription of Kazakh Айна (see Aina 5).
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".
Azahara f Spanish
Variant of Azahar. It can also be given in reference to the ruined Moorish city of Medina Azahara in Córdoba, which derives from the related Arabic root زهر (zahara) meaning "to shine".
Azhar m Arabic, Urdu, Malay
Means "shining, brilliant, bright" in Arabic, derived from the root زهر (zahara) meaning "to shine".
Babis m Greek
Diminutive of Charalampos.
Baer m Limburgish
Short form of Albaer and other Limburgish names ending in baer, often derived from the Germanic element beraht meaning "bright".
Bast f Egyptian Mythology
Variant reading of Bastet.
Bastet f Egyptian Mythology
From Egyptian bꜣstt, which was possibly derived from bꜣs meaning "ointment jar" and a feminine t suffix. In Egyptian mythology Bastet was a goddess of cats, fertility and the sun who was considered a protector of Lower Egypt. In early times she was typically depicted with the head of a lioness. By the New Kingdom period she was more associated with domestic cats, while the similar cat goddess Sekhmet took on the fierce lioness aspect.
Belenus m Gaulish Mythology
Latinized form of Gaulish Belenos or Belinos, possibly from Celtic roots meaning either "bright, brilliant" (from Indo-European *bhel-) or "strong" (from Indo-European *bel-). This was the name of a Gaulish god who was often equated with Apollo. He is mostly known from Gallo-Roman inscriptions and was especially venerated in Aquileia in northern Italy.
Belinay f Turkish (Modern)
Means "reflection of the moon on a lake" in Turkish.
Belphoebe f Literature
Combination of Old French bele "beautiful" and the name Phoebe. This name was first used by Edmund Spenser in his poem The Faerie Queene (1590).
Beorhtric m Anglo-Saxon
Derived from the Old English elements beorht "bright" and ric "ruler, king".
Beorhtsige m Anglo-Saxon
Derived from the Old English elements beorht "bright" and sige "victory".
Berahthraban m Germanic
Old German form of Bertram, using an extended form of the second element.
Berahthram m Germanic
Old German form of Bertram.
Bergljót f Old Norse, Icelandic
Old Norse and Icelandic form of Bergljot.
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.
Berhta f Germanic
Old German form of Bertha.
Berhtoald m Germanic
Old German form of Berthold.
Berrak f Turkish
Means "clear" in Turkish.
Bert m English, German, Dutch
Short form of Albert and other names containing the element bert, often derived from the Old German element beraht meaning "bright".
Berta f Polish, Czech, Hungarian, German, Spanish, Catalan, Italian, Slovene
Form of Bertha in several languages.
Bertha f German, English, Germanic
Originally a short form of Germanic names beginning with the Old Frankish or Old Saxon element berht, Old High German beraht meaning "bright" (Proto-Germanic *berhtaz). This was the name of a few early saints, including a 6th-century Frankish princess who married and eventually converted King Æþelbeorht of Kent. It was also borne by the mother of Charlemagne in the 8th century (also called Bertrada), and it was popularized in England by the Normans. It died out as an English name after the Middle Ages, but was revived in the 19th century.... [more]
Berthe f French
French form of Bertha.
Berthild f Germanic
Derived from the Old German elements beraht "bright" and hilt "battle". This was the name of a 7th-century saint, an abbess of Chelles in France.
Berthold m German
Means "bright power" from the Old German element beraht "bright" combined with walt "power, authority".
Bertilo m Germanic
Originally a short form of Germanic names beginning with the element beraht meaning "bright, famous".
Bertoldo m Italian (Rare)
Italian form of Berthold.
Bertram m English, German, Germanic
Means "bright raven", derived from the Old German element beraht "bright" combined with hram "raven". This name has long been conflated with Bertrand. The Normans introduced it to England, and Shakespeare used it in his play All's Well That Ends Well (1603).
Bertrand m French, English, Germanic
Derived from the Old German elements beraht meaning "bright" and rant meaning "rim (of a shield)". From an early date it has been confused with Bertram and the two names have merged to some degree. Saint Bertrand was an 11th-century bishop of Comminges in France. Another famous bearer was the English philosopher Bertrand Russell (1872-1970).
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.
Bituin f Tagalog
Means "star" in Tagalog.
Bjarte m Norwegian
From the Old Norse byname Bjartr, which meant "bright".
Bolortuyaa f Mongolian
From Mongolian болор (bolor) meaning "crystal" and туяа (tuyaa) meaning "ray, beam".
Brecht m Dutch
Short form of names containing brecht, often derived from the Old German element beraht meaning "bright".
Brechtje f Dutch
Feminine form of Brecht.
Byeong-Ho m Korean
From Sino-Korean (byeong) meaning "bright, luminous, glorious" combined with (ho) meaning "great, numerous, vast" or (ho) meaning "summer, sky, heaven". Other hanja character combinations are possible.
Byung-Ho m Korean
Alternate transcription of Korean Hangul 병호 (see Byeong-Ho).
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.
Cande f & m Spanish
Short form of Candelaria or Candelario.
Candela f Spanish
Short form of Candelaria.
Candelaria f Spanish
Means "Candlemas" in Spanish, ultimately derived from Spanish candela "candle". This name is given in honour of the church festival of Candlemas, which commemorates the presentation of Christ in the temple and the purification of the Virgin Mary.
Candelario m Spanish
Masculine form of Candelaria.
Candelas f Spanish
Diminutive of Candelaria.
Candida f Late Roman, English
Late Latin name derived from candidus meaning "white". This was the name of several early saints, including a woman supposedly healed by Saint Peter. As an English name, it came into use after George Bernard Shaw's play Candida (1898).
Cassandra f English, French, Greek Mythology (Latinized)
From the Greek name Κασσάνδρα (Kassandra), possibly derived from κέκασμαι (kekasmai) meaning "to excel, to shine" and ἀνήρ (aner) meaning "man" (genitive ἀνδρός). In Greek myth Cassandra was a Trojan princess, the daughter of Priam and Hecuba. She was given the gift of prophecy by Apollo, but when she spurned his advances he cursed her so nobody would believe her prophecies.... [more]
Cassandre f French
French variant of Cassandra.
Castor m Greek Mythology (Latinized)
From the Greek name Κάστωρ (Kastor), possibly related to κέκασμαι (kekasmai) meaning "to excel, to shine" (pluperfect κέκαστο). Alternatively it could be derived from the Greek word κάστωρ (kastor) meaning "beaver", though the legends about Castor do not mention beavers, which were foreign animals to the Greeks. In Greek myth Castor was a son of Zeus and the twin brother of Pollux. The constellation Gemini, which represents the two brothers, contains a star by this name.
Ceallach m Irish (Rare)
From Old Irish Cellach, of uncertain origin, traditionally said to mean "bright-headed". Alternatively it could be derived from Old Irish cellach "war, strife" or cell "church". This name was borne by several early Irish kings and by a 12th-century saint, an archbishop of Armagh.
Chander m Hindi
Alternate transcription of Hindi चन्द्र or चन्द्रा (see Chandra).
Chandler m & f English
From an occupational surname that meant "candle seller" or "candle maker" in Middle English, ultimately from Latin candela via Old French. It surged in popularity after the 1994 debut of the American sitcom Friends, featuring a character by this name.
Chandra m & f Hinduism, Bengali, Assamese, Hindi, Marathi, Telugu, Tamil, Kannada, Nepali
Means "moon" in Sanskrit, derived from चन्द (cand) meaning "to shine". This is a transcription of both the masculine form चण्ड (the god of the moon personified) as well as the feminine form चण्डा (spelled with a long final vowel).
Chang m & f Chinese
From Chinese (chāng) meaning "flourish, prosper, good, sunlight" (which is usually only masculine), (chàng) meaning "smooth, free, unrestrained" or (cháng) meaning "long". Other Chinese characters are also possible.
Chantrea f & m Khmer
Means "moonlight" in Khmer.
Charalampos m Greek
Means "to shine from happiness" from Greek χαρά (chara) meaning "happiness" combined with λάμπω (lampo) meaning "to shine".
Charibert m Germanic
Old German (Frankish) variant of Haribert. This name was borne by two Merovingian kings of the Franks (6th and 7th centuries).
Charon m Greek Mythology
Possibly means "fierce brightness" in Greek. In Greek mythology Charon was the operator of the ferry that brought the newly dead over the River Acheron into Hades.
Chiara f Italian
Italian form of Clara. Saint Chiara (commonly called Clare in English) was a follower of Saint Francis of Assisi.
Chirag m Hindi, Marathi, Gujarati
Means "lamp, light" in Hindi and other Indian languages, ultimately from Persian چراغ (cherāgh).
Cinda f English
Short form of Lucinda.
Cindy f English
Diminutive of Cynthia or Lucinda. Like Cynthia, it peaked in popularity in the United States in 1957.
Clair m French, English
French form of Clarus (see Clara).
Claire f French, English
French form of Clara. This was a common name in France throughout the 20th century, though it has since been eclipsed there by Clara. It was also very popular in the United Kingdom, especially in the 1970s.
Clara f German, Spanish, Portuguese, Italian, French, Catalan, Romanian, English, Swedish, Danish, Late Roman
Feminine form of the Late Latin name Clarus, which meant "clear, bright, famous". The name Clarus was borne by a few early saints. The feminine form was popularized by the 13th-century Saint Clare of Assisi (called Chiara in Italian), a friend and follower of Saint Francis, who left her wealthy family to found the order of nuns known as the Poor Clares.... [more]
Clarice f English
Medieval vernacular form of the Late Latin name Claritia, which was a derivative of Clara.
Clarisa f Spanish
Spanish form of Clarissa.
Clarissa f English, Italian
Latinate form of Clarice. This is the name of the title character in a 1748 novel by Samuel Richardson. In the novel Clarissa Harlowe is a virtuous woman who is tragically exploited by her family and her lover. Another literary character by this name is Clarissa Dalloway from the novel Mrs. Dalloway (1925) by Virginia Woolf.
Clarisse f French
French form of Clarice.
Claritia f Late Roman
Possibly a derivative of Clara.
Clarus m Late Roman
Masculine Latin form of Clara. This was the name of several early saints.
Colbert m English
From an English surname that was derived from a Norman form of the Old German name Colobert.
Colobert m Germanic
Old German name composed of (possibly) the element kollo meaning "head, peak" and beraht meaning "bright".
Corona f Late Roman, Italian (Rare), Spanish (Rare)
Means "crown" in Latin, as well as Italian and Spanish. This was the name of a 2nd-century saint who was martyred with her companion Victor.
Cuthberht m Anglo-Saxon
Old English form of Cuthbert.
Cuthbert m English (Rare)
Derived from the Old English elements cuþ "known, familiar" and beorht "bright". Saint Cuthbert was a 6th-century hermit who became the bishop of Lindisfarne, an island off the coast of England. He was known as performer of healing miracles. Because of the saint, this name remained in use in England even after the Norman Conquest. It became rare after the Protestant Reformation, but it was (briefly) revived in the 19th century.
Cymbeline m Literature
Form of Cunobelinus used by Shakespeare in his play Cymbeline (1609).
Cyneberht m Anglo-Saxon
Derived from the Old English elements cyne "royal" and beorht "bright".
Dagobert m Germanic, German
Means "bright day", derived from Old Frankish dag or Old High German tag meaning "day" combined with Old Frankish berht or Old High German beraht meaning "bright". This was the name of a 7th-century Merovingian king of the Franks.... [more]
Dagoberto m Spanish
Spanish form of Dagobert.
Dai m Welsh
Welsh diminutive of Dafydd.
Daiki m Japanese
From Japanese (dai) meaning "big, great" combined with (ki) meaning "brightness", (ki) meaning "tree" or (ki) meaning "valuable". Other combinations of kanji can also form this name.
Dara 2 m & f Khmer
Means "star" in Khmer, ultimately from Sanskrit तारा (tārā).
Dawn f English
From the English word dawn, ultimately derived from Old English dagung.
Deepa f Hindi, Marathi, Punjabi, Bengali, Malayalam, Tamil
Alternate transcription of Hindi/Marathi दीपा, Gurmukhi ਦੀਪਾ, Bengali দীপা, Malayalam ദീപ or Tamil தீபா (see Dipa).
Deepali f Hindi, Marathi
Alternate transcription of Hindi/Marathi दीपाली (see Dipali).
Deepika f Hindi, Marathi, Kannada, Malayalam, Tamil, Telugu
Alternate transcription of Hindi/Marathi दीपिका, Kannada ದೀಪಿಕಾ, Malayalam ദീപിക, Tamil தீபிகா or Telugu దీపికా (see Dipika).
Delbert m English
Short form of Adelbert. As an American name it was first used in the New York area by people of Dutch ancestry.
Dian m & f Indonesian
Means "candle" in Indonesian.
Dilbert m Popular Culture
Meaning unknown. The ending is probably intended to mimic the common Germanic name element bert meaning "bright" (Old High German beraht). This is the title character in a comic strip by Scott Adams.
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".
Dipaka m Hinduism
Means "inflaming, exciting" in Sanskrit. This is another name of Kama, the Hindu god of love.
Dipali f Hindi, Marathi
From Sanskrit दिपाली (dipālī) meaning "row of lamps".
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".
Duha f & m Arabic
Means "morning" in Arabic.
Duru f & m Turkish
Means "clear, lucid" in Turkish.
Dyaus m Hinduism
From Sanskrit द्यु (dyu) meaning "sky", ultimately connected to the name of the Indo-European god *Dyēws. In the Rigveda he is the sky god, the consort of the earth goddess Prithvi. He is also called Dyaus Pita meaning "father sky". His name is cognate with other Indo-European theonyms such as Greek Zeus and Latin Jupiter.
Eadberht m Anglo-Saxon
Derived from the Old English elements ead "wealth, fortune" and beorht "bright". This was the name of an 8th-century king of Northumbria and three kings of Kent.
Ealdberht m Anglo-Saxon
Derived from the Old English elements eald "old" and beorht "bright".
Ecgberht m Anglo-Saxon
Old English form of Egbert.
Eckbert m German (Rare)
German cognate of Egbert.
Egbert m English, Dutch
Means "bright edge" from the Old English elements ecg "edge, blade" and beorht "bright". This was the name of kings of Kent and Wessex as well as two English saints. The name was rarely used after the Norman Conquest but was revived in the 19th century.
Eguzki m Basque
Means "sun" in Basque.
Eirian f & m Welsh
Means "bright, beautiful" in Welsh.
Ekkebert m Germanic
From the Old German elements ekka "edge, blade" and beraht "bright". This is a cognate of the English name Egbert.
Elaina f English
Variant of Elaine.
Elaine f English, Arthurian Cycle
From an Old French form of Helen. It appears in Arthurian legend; in Thomas Malory's 15th-century compilation Le Morte d'Arthur Elaine was the daughter of Pelles, the lover of Lancelot, and the mother of Galahad. It was not commonly used as an English given name until after the publication of Alfred Tennyson's Arthurian epic Idylls of the King (1859).
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".
Elbert m Dutch
Dutch variant of Adelbert.
Elen f Welsh, Armenian, Czech
Welsh and modern Armenian form of Helen, as well as a Czech variant form. This was the name of a 4th-century Welsh saint, traditionally said to be the wife of the Roman emperor Magnus Maximus. According to the Welsh legend The Dream of Macsen Wledig (Macsen Wledig being the Welsh form of Magnus Maximus), she convinced her husband to build the roads in Wales.
Elena f Italian, Spanish, Romanian, Bulgarian, Macedonian, Slovak, Czech, Lithuanian, Estonian, Finnish, Russian, Greek, German, English
Form of Helen used in various languages, as well as an alternate transcription of Russian Елена (see Yelena).
Elene f Georgian, Sardinian, Basque
Georgian, Sardinian and Basque form of Helen.
Eleni f Greek
Modern Greek form of Helen.
Éliane f French
Probably from Aeliana, the feminine form of the Roman name Aelianus, which was derived from the Roman family name Aelius. This was the name of an obscure early saint and martyr from Amasea.
Eliina f Finnish
Finnish form of Helen.
Elin f Swedish, Norwegian, Danish, Welsh
Scandinavian and Welsh form of Helen.
Elīna f Latvian
Latvian form of Helen.
Elina f Finnish, Estonian, Swedish
Finnish, Estonian and Swedish form of Helen.
Elio m Italian
Italian form of Aelius or Helios.
Elior m Hebrew
Means "my God is my light" in Hebrew.
Eliora f Hebrew
Feminine form of Elior.
Ellen 1 f English, German, Danish, Swedish, Norwegian, Finnish, Estonian
Medieval English form of Helen. This was the usual spelling of the name until the 19th century, when the form Helen also became common.
Elnur m Azerbaijani
Means "light of the people" in Azerbaijani, ultimately derived from Turkic el meaning "country, society" and Arabic نور (nūr) meaning "light".
Eloise f English
From the Old French name Héloïse, which was probably from the Germanic name Helewidis, composed of the elements heil meaning "healthy, whole" and wit meaning "wide". It is sometimes associated with the Greek word ἥλιος (helios) meaning "sun" or the name Louise, though there is no etymological connection. This name was borne by the 12th-century French scholar and philosopher Héloïse. Secretly marrying the theologian Peter Abelard at a young age, she became a nun (and eventually an abbess) after Abelard was violently castrated by order of her uncle Fulbert.... [more]
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.
Elva 1 f Irish
Anglicized form of Ailbhe.
Endrit m Albanian
From Albanian dritë meaning "light".
Enfys f Welsh
Means "rainbow" in Welsh. This name was first used in the 19th century.
Engelbert m German, Germanic
Old German name composed of either the element angil, from the name of the Germanic tribe of the Angles, or engil meaning "angel" combined with beraht meaning "bright". Saint Engelbert was a 13th-century archbishop of Cologne murdered by assassins.
Eos f Greek Mythology
Means "dawn" in Greek. This was the name of the Greek goddess of the dawn.
Erlantz m Basque
Means "glow, shine" in Basque.
Esmanur f Turkish
From the name Esma combined with Arabic نور (nūr) meaning "light".
Estel f Catalan
Catalan cognate of Estelle.
Estelle f English, French
From an Old French name meaning "star", ultimately derived from Latin stella. It was rare in the English-speaking world in the Middle Ages, but it was revived in the 19th century, perhaps due to the character Estella Havisham in Charles Dickens' novel Great Expectations (1860).
Estrella f Spanish
Spanish form of Stella 1, coinciding with the Spanish word meaning "star".
Ethelbert m English (Archaic)
Middle English form of Æþelbeorht. The name was very rare after the Norman Conquest, but it was revived briefly in the 19th century.
Euclid m Ancient Greek (Anglicized)
From the Greek name Εὐκλείδης (Eukleides), derived from Greek εὖ (eu) meaning "good" and κλέος (kleos) meaning "glory" with the patronymic suffix ἴδης (ides). This was the name of a 3rd-century BC Greek mathematician from Alexandria who made numerous contributions to geometry.
Faina f Russian
Meaning unknown, possibly derived from Phaenna.
Fajr f Arabic
Means "dawn, beginning" in Arabic. This is the name of a daily prayer that is recited in the morning by observant Muslims.
Febe f Dutch, Italian, Spanish (Rare), Portuguese (Rare)
Dutch, Italian, Spanish and Portuguese form of Phoebe.
Feray f Turkish
Means "radiance of the moon" in Turkish.
Filbert m Eastern African
Possibly a form of Philibert. It is particularly used in Tanzania due to track star Filbert Bayi (1953-), who set a world record running the 1500 meter in 1974.
Filibert m Germanic
Means "much brightness" from the Old German elements filu "much" and beraht "bright". This was the name of a 7th-century Frankish saint, commonly called Philibert.
Filiberto m Italian, Spanish
Italian and Spanish form of Filibert.
Fioralba f Italian (Rare)
Combination of Italian fiore "flower" (Latin flos) and alba "dawn".
Fotini f Greek
Modern Greek form of Photine.
Fulbert m French, Germanic
From the Old German elements folk "people" and beraht "bright". Saint Fulbert was an 11th-century bishop of Chartres.
Fulgencio m Spanish
Spanish form of the Late Latin name Fulgentius, which meant "shining" from Latin fulgens. Saint Fulgentius was a 6th-century bishop from Tunisia who was a friend of Saint Augustine.
Fulgora f Roman Mythology
From Latin fulgur meaning "lightning", derived from fulgeo "to flash, to shine". In Roman mythology this was the name of a goddess who presided over lightning, equivalent to the Greek goddess Astrape.
Galadriel f Literature
Means "maiden crowned with a radiant garland" in the fictional language Sindarin. Galadriel was a Noldorin elf princess renowned for her beauty and wisdom in J. R. R. Tolkien's novels. The elements are galad "radiant" and riel "garlanded maiden". Alatáriel is the Quenya form of her name.
Gautbert m Germanic
Germanic name derived from the elements *gautaz "Geat" (a North Germanic tribe) and beraht "bright".
Gerel f Mongolian
Means "light" in Mongolian.
Gerelt m & f Mongolian
Means "radiant, bright, shining" in Mongolian.
Giedrius m Lithuanian
Derived from Lithuanian giedras meaning "clear, serene".
Gijsbert m Dutch
Dutch form of Gisbert.
Gijsberta f Dutch
Dutch feminine form of Gisbert.
Gilbert m English, French, Dutch, Germanic
Means "bright pledge", derived from the Old German elements gisal "pledge, hostage" and beraht "bright". The Normans introduced this name to England, where it was common during the Middle Ages. It was borne by a 12th-century English saint, the founder of the religious order known as the Gilbertines.
Gilberte f French
French feminine form of Gilbert.
Gilberto m Italian, Spanish, Portuguese
Italian, Spanish and Portuguese form of Gilbert.
Giltbert m Germanic
Derived from the Old German elements gelt "payment, tribute, compensation" and beraht "bright".
Gisbert m German, Germanic
From a Germanic name in which the second element is beraht "bright". The first element is probably a shortened form of gisal "pledge, hostage" (making it a variant of Gilbert), though it could be related to Gaulish *gaisos "spear" (itself probably of Germanic origin).
Glædwine m Anglo-Saxon
Old English name derived from the elements glæd "bright, cheerful, glad" and wine "friend". This name was not actually recorded in the Old English era, though it is attested starting in the 11th century.
Godabert m Germanic
Old German name derived from the elements got "god" and beraht "bright". This was the name of a 7th-century king of the Lombards.
Goizargi f Basque
Derived from Basque goiz "morning" and argi "light".
Gry f Norwegian, Danish, Swedish
Means "to dawn" in Norwegian, Danish and Swedish.
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.
Gündüz m Turkish, Azerbaijani
Means "daytime" in Turkish and Azerbaijani.
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".
Gwawr f Welsh
Means "dawn" in Welsh.
Gwenddoleu m Welsh Mythology
From Old Welsh Guendoleu, possibly derived from gwyn meaning "white, blessed" and dol (plural dolau) meaning "meadow". This was the name of a semi-legendary 6th-century king of Arfderydd in Cumbria. His defeat at the Battle of Arfderydd caused his bard Myrddin to go mad with grief.
Hadar f & m Hebrew
Means "splendour, glory" in Hebrew.
Hadubert m Germanic
Old German name derived from the elements hadu "battle" and beraht "bright".
Hajna f Hungarian
Shortened form of Hajnal. The Hungarian poet Mihály Vörösmarty used it in his epic poem Zalán Futása (1825).
Hajnal f Hungarian
Means "dawn" in Hungarian.
Hajni f Hungarian
Diminutive of Hajnal or Hajnalka.
Hala f Arabic
Means "halo around the moon" in Arabic. This was the name of a sister-in-law of the Prophet Muhammad.
Halo f English (Modern)
From the English word halo meaning "luminous disc or ring", derived from Greek ἅλως (halos). Haloes often appear in religious art above the heads of holy people.