Names that evoke the feeling of flight or the action of flying have a light, airy quality that conveys freedom, grace, and adventure. Whether inspired by birds, celestial bodies, or mythical creatures, these names often hold significant cultural and symbolic meanings across different traditions.
They can be perfect for those who wish to give a name symbolizing liberation, spirituality, or a connection with the sky. This compilation features 120 names from various cultures and origins, each associated with the theme of “flight” or “fly,” inspiring anyone seeking a name with such a beautiful, ethereal quality.
Origins of Names That Mean Flight or Fly
Names with meanings related to flight or flying can be found in various languages and cultures, often derived from nature, mythology, or historical associations.
The origins range from ancient languages like Latin, Greek, and Sanskrit, to more modern languages such as Japanese, French, and English. These names often symbolize freedom, movement, and the connection between the earth and sky, resonating with themes of transcendence and exploration.
Bird-Inspired Names
- Aquila
Meaning: “Eagle”
Origin: Latin - Alouette
Meaning: “Lark”
Origin: French - Aya
Meaning: “To fly swiftly”
Origin: Hebrew - Calandra
Meaning: “Lark”
Origin: Greek - Colm
Meaning: “Dove”
Origin: Irish - Deryn
Meaning: “Bird”
Origin: Welsh - Efron
Meaning: “Bird”
Origin: Hebrew - Faulkner
Meaning: “Falconer”
Origin: English - Javiera
Meaning: “Swift”
Origin: Spanish - Merle
Meaning: “Blackbird”
Origin: French - Oriole
Meaning: “Golden bird”
Origin: Latin - Paloma
Meaning: “Dove”
Origin: Spanish - Phoenix
Meaning: “Mythical bird that rises from ashes”
Origin: Greek - Raven
Meaning: “Large blackbird”
Origin: English - Sephora
Meaning: “Bird”
Origin: Hebrew - Tori
Meaning: “Bird”
Origin: Japanese - Wren
Meaning: “Small bird”
Origin: English - Zippora
Meaning: “Bird”
Origin: Hebrew - Corbin
Meaning: “Raven”
Origin: Latin - Lark
Meaning: “Songbird”
Origin: English
Mythical and Legendary Names
- Pegasus
Meaning: “Winged horse in Greek mythology”
Origin: Greek - Griffin
Meaning: “Mythical creature with the body of a lion and the head of an eagle”
Origin: Greek - Harpy
Meaning: “Winged spirit in Greek mythology”
Origin: Greek - Icarus
Meaning: “Mythical figure who flew too close to the sun”
Origin: Greek - Garuda
Meaning: “Mythical bird in Hindu mythology”
Origin: Sanskrit - Alkonost
Meaning: “Mythical bird with a woman’s head in Slavic mythology”
Origin: Slavic - Roc
Meaning: “Giant bird of prey in Arabian mythology”
Origin: Arabic - Simurgh
Meaning: “Mythical bird in Persian mythology”
Origin: Persian - Fenghuang
Meaning: “Mythical Chinese phoenix”
Origin: Chinese - Huitzilopochtli
Meaning: “Hummingbird god of war”
Origin: Aztec - Benu
Meaning: “Mythical bird in Egyptian mythology”
Origin: Egyptian - Thunderbird
Meaning: “Mythical bird that causes thunder”
Origin: Native American - Sirena
Meaning: “Mythical bird-woman in Filipino folklore”
Origin: Filipino - Anqa
Meaning: “Mythical bird in Arabian folklore”
Origin: Arabic - Minerva
Meaning: “Goddess associated with owls and wisdom”
Origin: Roman - Khwezi
Meaning: “Star, symbolizing the ability to fly or ascend”
Origin: African - Sirin
Meaning: “Mythical bird with a human face”
Origin: Russian - Valkyrie
Meaning: “Choosers of the slain in Norse mythology”
Origin: Norse - Horus
Meaning: “Sky god with a falcon head”
Origin: Egyptian - Horuska
Meaning: “Little Horus, symbolizing flight and the sky”
Origin: Egyptian
Celestial and Sky-Related Names
- Aether
Meaning: “Personification of the sky in Greek mythology”
Origin: Greek - Altair
Meaning: “Flying eagle, a star in the Aquila constellation”
Origin: Arabic - Skye
Meaning: “Sky”
Origin: English - Celeste
Meaning: “Heavenly”
Origin: Latin - Orion
Meaning: “Mighty hunter associated with the sky”
Origin: Greek - Vega
Meaning: “Swooping eagle, a bright star in the Lyra constellation”
Origin: Arabic - Cassiopeia
Meaning: “Queen of the sky in Greek mythology”
Origin: Greek - Stella
Meaning: “Star”
Origin: Latin - Araceli
Meaning: “Altar of the sky”
Origin: Spanish - Neoma
Meaning: “New moon”
Origin: Greek - Aurora
Meaning: “Goddess of dawn”
Origin: Latin - Luna
Meaning: “Moon”
Origin: Latin - Seren
Meaning: “Star”
Origin: Welsh - Jupiter
Meaning: “King of the gods associated with the sky”
Origin: Roman - Nyx
Meaning: “Goddess of the night”
Origin: Greek - Eos
Meaning: “Goddess of the dawn”
Origin: Greek - Hesper
Meaning: “Evening star”
Origin: Greek - Zephyr
Meaning: “West wind”
Origin: Greek - Aquila
Meaning: “Eagle”
Origin: Latin - Cygnus
Meaning: “Swan constellation”
Origin: Latin
Wind-Related Names
- Anemone
Meaning: “Daughter of the wind”
Origin: Greek - Boreas
Meaning: “North wind”
Origin: Greek - Zephyr
Meaning: “West wind”
Origin: Greek - Sirocco
Meaning: “Warm wind”
Origin: Italian - Föhn
Meaning: “Warm mountain wind”
Origin: German - Gale
Meaning: “Strong wind”
Origin: English - Eurus
Meaning: “East wind”
Origin: Greek - Mistral
Meaning: “Cold, northwesterly wind”
Origin: French - Scirocco
Meaning: “Hot wind from the Sahara”
Origin: Italian - Levante
Meaning: “Wind from the east”
Origin: Spanish - Tempest
Meaning: “Stormy wind”
Origin: English - Breeze
Meaning: “Gentle wind”
Origin: English - Trade
Meaning: “Trade winds”
Origin: English - Hurricane
Meaning: “Strong tropical wind”
Origin: Spanish - Typhoon
Meaning: “Violent tropical wind”
Origin: Chinese - Chinook
Meaning: “Warm wind”
Origin: Native American - Santa Ana
Meaning: “Hot, dry wind in Southern California”
Origin: Spanish - Blizzard
Meaning: “Snowstorm with strong wind”
Origin: English - Cyclone
Meaning: “Rotating storm”
Origin: Greek - Monsoon
Meaning: “Seasonal wind”
Origin: Arabic
Butterfly-Related Names That Mean Flight
- Vanessa
Meaning: “Type of butterfly”
Origin: Greek - Danaus
Meaning: “Monarch butterfly”
Origin: Greek - Monarch
Meaning: “Type of butterfly known for its migration”
Origin: English - Heliconia
Meaning: “Named after Heliconius butterflies”
Origin: Latin - Morpho
Meaning: “A species of bright blue butterfly”
Origin: Greek - Apatura
Meaning: “A genus of butterflies known as emperors”
Origin: Latin - Lepidoptera
Meaning: “Scientific order of butterflies and moths”
Origin: Greek - Argynnis
Meaning: “A genus of butterflies known as fritillaries”
Origin: Greek - Pieris
Meaning: “Genus of small butterflies”
Origin: Greek - Papilio
Meaning: “Genus of large swallowtail butterflies”
Origin: Latin - Saturnia
Meaning: “Genus of giant silk moths”
Origin: Latin - Lycaena
Meaning: “Genus of butterflies known as coppers”
Origin: Greek - Ariadne
Meaning: “Butterfly species named after the mythological figure”
Origin: Greek - Cynthia
Meaning: “Butterfly species named after the moon goddess”
Origin: Greek - Delias
Meaning: “Genus of butterflies known as Jezebels”
Origin: Greek - Nymphalidae
Meaning: “Family of butterflies known as brush-footed”
Origin: Greek - Euphydryas
Meaning: “Genus of checkerspot butterflies”
Origin: Greek - Troides
Meaning: “Genus of birdwing butterflies”
Origin: Greek - Caligo
Meaning: “Genus of butterflies known as owl butterflies”
Origin: Latin - Melitaea
Meaning: “Genus of checkerspot butterflies”
Origin: Greek
Names Associated with Birds of Prey
- Hawk
Meaning: “Bird of prey known for its sharp vision”
Origin: English - Falcon
Meaning: “Bird of prey known for its speed”
Origin: English - Kite
Meaning: “Bird of prey with soaring flight”
Origin: English - Goshawk
Meaning: “Powerful bird of prey”
Origin: English - Harrier
Meaning: “Bird of prey known for its low-flying hunting style”
Origin: English - Osprey
Meaning: “Fish-eating bird of prey”
Origin: English - Peregrine
Meaning: “Type of falcon, known for its speed”
Origin: Latin - Buzzard
Meaning: “Bird of prey”
Origin: English - Condor
Meaning: “Large bird of prey found in South America”
Origin: Spanish - Eagle
Meaning: “Powerful bird of prey with a wide wingspan”
Origin: English - Merlin
Meaning: “Small bird of prey”
Origin: English - Caracara
Meaning: “Tropical bird of prey”
Origin: Spanish - Saker
Meaning: “Type of falcon”
Origin: Arabic - Vulture
Meaning: “Bird of prey that feeds on carrion”
Origin: Latin - Kestrel
Meaning: “Small bird of prey known for hovering”
Origin: English - Harpy
Meaning: “Powerful bird of prey”
Origin: Greek - Jerfalcon
Meaning: “Type of large falcon”
Origin: Old Norse - Sparrowhawk
Meaning: “Small bird of prey that hunts smaller birds”
Origin: English - Buteo
Meaning: “Genus of medium to large birds of prey”
Origin: Latin - Gyrfalcon
Meaning: “Largest of the falcon species”
Origin: Old Norse
Air-Elemental Names
- Aerial
Meaning: “Relating to the air”
Origin: Latin - Ventus
Meaning: “Wind”
Origin: Latin - Borealis
Meaning: “Northern, as in the Aurora Borealis”
Origin: Latin - Aer
Meaning: “Air”
Origin: Greek - Caelum
Meaning: “Sky”
Origin: Latin - Nebula
Meaning: “Cloud of gas in space”
Origin: Latin - Altus
Meaning: “High, elevated”
Origin: Latin - Cirrus
Meaning: “High-altitude cloud”
Origin: Latin - Stratos
Meaning: “Layer of the atmosphere”
Origin: Greek - Zephyrus
Meaning: “West wind”
Origin: Greek - Aura
Meaning: “Breeze, air”
Origin: Greek - Galeo
Meaning: “Strong wind”
Origin: Greek - Ozone
Meaning: “Layer of the atmosphere”
Origin: Greek - Aetherius
Meaning: “Heavenly, of the upper sky”
Origin: Greek - Aeolian
Meaning: “Relating to the wind”
Origin: Greek - Mistralus
Meaning: “Relating to the Mistral wind”
Origin: Latin - Cyclonus
Meaning: “Relating to cyclones or rotating winds”
Origin: Greek - Breezus
Meaning: “Inspired by breeze”
Origin: English - Stratocirrus
Meaning: “Combination of cloud layers”
Origin: Latin - Nimbus
Meaning: “Rain-bearing cloud”
Origin: Latin
Angelic and Spiritual Names That Mean Flight
- Gabriel
Meaning: “God is my strength”
Origin: Hebrew - Raphael
Meaning: “God has healed”
Origin: Hebrew - Seraphina
Meaning: “Fiery, angelic”
Origin: Hebrew - Uriel
Meaning: “God is my light”
Origin: Hebrew - Michael
Meaning: “Who is like God?”
Origin: Hebrew - Azrael
Meaning: “Angel of death”
Origin: Hebrew - Metatron
Meaning: “Angel of the Presence”
Origin: Hebrew - Anael
Meaning: “Angel of love”
Origin: Hebrew - Jophiel
Meaning: “Beauty of God”
Origin: Hebrew - Raguel
Meaning: “Friend of God”
Origin: Hebrew - Zadkiel
Meaning: “Righteousness of God”
Origin: Hebrew - Cassiel
Meaning: “Angel of tears”
Origin: Hebrew - Camael
Meaning: “He who sees God”
Origin: Hebrew - Chamuel
Meaning: “One who seeks God”
Origin: Hebrew - Sachiel
Meaning: “Angel of wealth”
Origin: Hebrew - Sariel
Meaning: “Prince of the moon”
Origin: Hebrew - Raziel
Meaning: “Secrets of God”
Origin: Hebrew - Tzadkiel
Meaning: “Angel of benevolence”
Origin: Hebrew - Ariel
Meaning: “Lion of God”
Origin: Hebrew - Eloa
Meaning: “Spirit of the heavens”
Origin: Hebrew
Names Inspired by Winged Creatures
- Phoenix
Meaning: “Mythical bird reborn from ashes”
Origin: Greek - Sylph
Meaning: “Air spirit”
Origin: Latin - Cherub
Meaning: “Winged angel”
Origin: Hebrew - Beetle
Meaning: “Winged insect”
Origin: English - Swallow
Meaning: “Small, fast-flying bird”
Origin: English - Robin
Meaning: “Bird is known for its red chest”
Origin: English - Hummingbird
Meaning: “Small bird that hovers while feeding”
Origin: English - Dragonfly
Meaning: “Insect is known for agile flying”
Origin: English - Beetle
Meaning: “Winged insect”
Origin: English - Bat
Meaning: “Nocturnal flying mammal”
Origin: English - Moth
Meaning: “Night-flying insect”
Origin: English - Crow
Meaning: “Blackbird associated with mystery”
Origin: English - Swallowtail
Meaning: “Type of butterfly”
Origin: English - Lark
Meaning: “Songbird that soars in flight”
Origin: English - Hornet
Meaning: “Flying insect”
Origin: English - Gannet
Meaning: “Seabird known for diving”
Origin: English - Goldfinch
Meaning: “Brightly colored songbird”
Origin: English - Swift
Meaning: “Fast-flying bird”
Origin: English - Albatross
Meaning: “Large seabird known for long flights”
Origin: English - Parakeet
Meaning: “Colorful, small parrot”
Origin: English
Conclusion
The names inspired by flight come from a variety of sources: birds, insects, mythology, elements, and even spiritual beings. Each name brings a unique story and background, symbolizing freedom, transcendence, and the magic of taking to the sky.
These names can evoke a sense of wonder and inspire people to dream big and soar high, just like the creatures they are named after. Whether you’re looking for a meaningful baby name or seeking to rename a pet, the list offers a blend of culture, history, and symbolism associated with the beauty of flight.
David Price is a name aficionado and creative writer at NamezVibe. He delves into the fascinating world of names, exploring their meanings and histories. Outside of writing, David loves engaging with readers and discovering unique names that tell powerful stories.
