The sun is often seen as a symbol of light, warmth, and energy, making it a popular choice for names. Whether you’re looking for a name that embodies brightness, life, or joy, this list of names that mean sun is a great place to start.
From traditional names rooted in various cultures to modern and unique options, you’ll find a wide variety of names for both boys and girls. Here are 251+ names inspired by the sun!
Origins of Names That Mean Sun
Names that mean sun can be traced across various cultures and languages, each carrying its unique significance. In many ancient civilizations, the sun was revered as a deity or a life-giving force, leading to names that evoke its brightness and warmth. For example, the name Helios comes from Greek mythology, where Helios was the personification of the sun.
Similarly, Surya in Sanskrit is not just a name but also a representation of the sun god in Hinduism. In modern contexts, names like Soleil (French) and Sol (Spanish) reflect the sun’s vital role in daily life and nature. The diversity in origins showcases how the sun’s symbolism transcends cultures, influencing naming practices worldwide.
Names for Boys That Mean Sun
- Elio
Meaning: Sun
Origin: Italian - Sol
Meaning: Sun
Origin: Spanish - Apollo
Meaning: God of the sun
Origin: Greek - Cyrus
Meaning: Sun
Origin: Persian - Surya
Meaning: Sun
Origin: Sanskrit - Samson
Meaning: Sun
Origin: Hebrew - Aarush
Meaning: First ray of the sun
Origin: Indian - Kiran
Meaning: Ray of light
Origin: Hindi - Ravi
Meaning: Sun
Origin: Indian - Ziv
Meaning: Brightness, radiance
Origin: Hebrew - Anatole
Meaning: Rising sun
Origin: Greek - Soleil
Meaning: Sun
Origin: French - Dai
Meaning: Day; brightness
Origin: Welsh - Horus
Meaning: God of the sun
Origin: Egyptian - Nashik
Meaning: To shine like the sun
Origin: Arabic - Bhanu
Meaning: Sun
Origin: Sanskrit - Rian
Meaning: Little king, sun
Origin: Irish - Kaleo
Meaning: Sound, the voice of the sun
Origin: Hawaiian - Blythe
Meaning: Free spirit; happy
Origin: English - Dimitri
Meaning: Follower of Demeter, goddess of harvest; associated with the sun
Origin: Greek
Names for Girls That Mean Sun
- Soleil
Meaning: Sun
Origin: French - Eliana
Meaning: God has answered; the light of the sun
Origin: Hebrew - Cynthia
Meaning: Moon goddess; associated with the sun
Origin: Greek - Ayla
Meaning: Moonlight; a halo of light
Origin: Turkish - Roxana
Meaning: Dawn; bright
Origin: Persian - Sunniva
Meaning: Sun gift
Origin: Scandinavian - Chandra
Meaning: Moon; shining
Origin: Sanskrit - Dawn
Meaning: Daybreak; the first light of the sun
Origin: English - Luz
Meaning: Light; sunlight
Origin: Spanish - Seren
Meaning: Star; Peaceful
Origin: Welsh - Aine
Meaning: Radiance; joy; brightness
Origin: Irish - Solea
Meaning: Sun
Origin: Spanish - Zaria
Meaning: Blossom; princess; associated with the sun
Origin: Arabic - Rhea
Meaning: Flowing; a goddess associated with the sun
Origin: Greek - Solara
Meaning: Of the sun
Origin: Latin - Kira
Meaning: Sun; shining
Origin: Japanese - Marisol
Meaning: Sea and sun
Origin: Spanish - Soraya
Meaning: Princess; bright star
Origin: Persian - Eliora
Meaning: God is my light
Origin: Hebrew - Dara
Meaning: Star; wealth; light
Origin: Hebrew
Unique Names Meaning Sun
- Aroha
Meaning: Love; Compassion
Origin: Maori - Suraj
Meaning: Sun
Origin: Hindi - Cali
Meaning: Beautiful; associated with sunshine
Origin: Latin - Nuru
Meaning: Light; Brightness
Origin: Swahili - Chaska
Meaning: First born; related to the sun
Origin: Native American - Fynn
Meaning: Fair; bright
Origin: Irish - Raviya
Meaning: Sun
Origin: Hindi - Soleilana
Meaning: Little sun
Origin: French - Helia
Meaning: Of the sun
Origin: Greek - Talia
Meaning: Dew from God; morning dew associated with sunlight
Origin: Hebrew - Solis
Meaning: Sun
Origin: Latin - Vanya
Meaning: God is gracious; sunlight
Origin: Russian - Lucia
Meaning: Light; illumination
Origin: Latin - Sunny
Meaning: Cheerful; sunny
Origin: English - Aelia
Meaning: Sun
Origin: Latin - Shams
Meaning: Sun
Origin: Arabic - Zora
Meaning: Dawn; sunrise
Origin: Slavic - Elena
Meaning: Bright, shining light
Origin: Greek - Oran
Meaning: Light; pale; bright
Origin: Gaelic - Aine
Meaning: Bright; radiant
Origin: Irish
Names Meaning Sun in Different Languages
- Sole
Meaning: Sun
Origin: Italian - Shams
Meaning: Sun
Origin: Arabic - Sunna
Meaning: Sun
Origin: Norse - Helios
Meaning: Sun
Origin: Greek - Hana
Meaning: Flower; sun
Origin: Japanese - Dia
Meaning: Day; sunlight
Origin: Spanish - Aten
Meaning: Disk of the sun
Origin: Egyptian - Mika
Meaning: New moon; sunlight
Origin: Japanese - Rin
Meaning: Bell; light
Origin: Japanese - Niamh
Meaning: Radiance, brightness
Origin: Irish - Leona
Meaning: Lioness; bright
Origin: Latin - Radha
Meaning: Success; prosperity; related to light
Origin: Sanskrit - Zarita
Meaning: Sun
Origin: Spanish - Aine
Meaning: Bright; radiant
Origin: Irish - Cynthia
Meaning: Moon goddess; light
Origin: Greek - Alba
Meaning: Dawn; white
Origin: Latin - Ranya
Meaning: Happy; delighted; associated with sunshine
Origin: Arabic - Vita
Meaning: Life; associated with the sun
Origin: Latin - Chandra
Meaning: Moon; shining
Origin: Sanskrit - Seren
Meaning: Star; light
Origin: Welsh
Nature-Inspired Names Meaning Sun
- Savannah
Meaning: Open plain; sunlight
Origin: Native American - Ray
Meaning: Beam of sunlight
Origin: English - Sunny
Meaning: Bright, cheerful
Origin: English - Aurora
Meaning: Dawn
Origin: Latin - Helia
Meaning: Of the sun
Origin: Greek - Eos
Meaning: Dawn; the rosy-fingered
Origin: Greek - Marisol
Meaning: Sea and sun
Origin: Spanish - Skye
Meaning: Cloud; related to sunlight
Origin: English - Zinnia
Meaning: Flower; bright
Origin: German - Flora
Meaning: Flower; blooming
Origin: Latin - Rayna
Meaning: Queen; light
Origin: Hebrew - Jasmine
Meaning: Fragrant flower; associated with light
Origin: Persian - Dahlia
Meaning: Flower named after botanist Anders Dahl; symbolizes elegance and dignity
Origin: Swedish - Sunflower
Meaning: Flower that turns toward the sun
Origin: English - Marigold
Meaning: Flower; golden
Origin: English - Clara
Meaning: Bright, clear
Origin: Latin - Liora
Meaning: Light; God’s gift of light
Origin: Hebrew - Dawn
Meaning: The first light of day
Origin: English - Raya
Meaning: Flow; a ray of light
Origin: Hebrew - Soleilana
Meaning: Little sun
Origin: French
Mythological Names Meaning Sun
- Helios
Meaning: Sun god
Origin: Greek - Apollo
Meaning: God of the sun and light
Origin: Greek - Sol
Meaning: Sun god
Origin: Roman - Ra
Meaning: Sun god
Origin: Egyptian - Shams
Meaning: Sun; often used to denote the sun god
Origin: Arabic - Surya
Meaning: Sun god
Origin: Sanskrit - Aten
Meaning: Disk of the sun
Origin: Egyptian - Brigid
Meaning: Goddess of fire and the sun
Origin: Irish - Sól
Meaning: Sun goddess
Origin: Norse - Utu
Meaning: Sun god
Origin: Sumerian - Freyr
Meaning: God of fertility, associated with sunlight
Origin: Norse - Chandra
Meaning: Moon god; also associated with light
Origin: Sanskrit - Kagutsuchi
Meaning: God of fire, symbolizing light
Origin: Japanese - Lugh
Meaning: God of the sun; associated with skill and crafts
Origin: Irish - Vesta
Meaning: Goddess of the hearth, often associated with warmth
Origin: Roman - Belenus
Meaning: God of light and the sun
Origin: Celtic - Tammuz
Meaning: God associated with fertility and light
Origin: Babylonian - Horus
Meaning: God of the sky and sun
Origin: Egyptian - Nefertum
Meaning: God of the sun, beauty, and healing
Origin: Egyptian - Hecate
Meaning: Goddess associated with magic and the moon; represents light
Origin: Greek
Short Names That Mean Sun
- Sol
Meaning: Sun
Origin: Spanish - Ray
Meaning: Beam of sunlight
Origin: English - Rio
Meaning: River; associated with light
Origin: Spanish - Kai
Meaning: Sea; ocean; sunlight reflecting on water
Origin: Hawaiian - Eli
Meaning: Ascended; uplifted; associated with brightness
Origin: Hebrew - Zia
Meaning: Light; sun
Origin: Arabic - Lux
Meaning: Light
Origin: Latin - Bea
Meaning: Bringer of joy; brightness
Origin: Latin - Nia
Meaning: Bright; purpose
Origin: Swahili - Ari
Meaning: Lion; light
Origin: Hebrew - Jin
Meaning: Gold; bright
Origin: Chinese - Ira
Meaning: Watchful; alert; related to sunlight
Origin: Sanskrit - Liv
Meaning: Life; related to light
Origin: Scandinavian - Fia
Meaning: Little one; has a radiant meaning
Origin: Irish - Ora
Meaning: Light
Origin: Hebrew - Cai
Meaning: Rejoice; associated with brightness
Origin: Welsh - Ada
Meaning: Noble; happy
Origin: German - Rayne
Meaning: Queen; associated with brightness
Origin: English - Jia
Meaning: Home; family; brightness
Origin: Chinese - Rae
Meaning: Ewe; a beam of light
Origin: English
Vintage Names Meaning Sun
- Alva
Meaning: Bright; white; related to sunlight
Origin: Latin - Clara
Meaning: Bright, clear
Origin: Latin - Felicity
Meaning: Happiness; good fortune; associated with bright feelings
Origin: Latin - Gilda
Meaning: Golden; shining
Origin: Old English - Lavinia
Meaning: Purity; associated with light
Origin: Latin - Phoebe
Meaning: Bright and shining; often associated with the moon
Origin: Greek - Vera
Meaning: Truth; associated with clarity and brightness
Origin: Latin - Daphne
Meaning: The Laurel tree; symbolizes victory and light
Origin: Greek - Beatrix
Meaning: Voyager; blessed; bright
Origin: Latin - Celeste
Meaning: Heavenly; associated with the light of the sky
Origin: Latin - Etta
Meaning: Ruler of the home; brightness
Origin: English - Mabel
Meaning: Lovable; beautiful; associated with light
Origin: Latin - Thea
Meaning: Goddess; light
Origin: Greek - Alba
Meaning: Dawn; bright; white
Origin: Latin - Iris
Meaning: Rainbow; associated with the sun
Origin: Greek - Sable
Meaning: Black; symbolizing depth and contrast with light
Origin: Old French - Goldie
Meaning: Golden; related to sunlight
Origin: English - Estella
Meaning: Star; symbolizing brightness
Origin: Latin - Zelda
Meaning: Happy, blessed; associated with light
Origin: Yiddish - Isolde
Meaning: Ice ruler; associated with clarity
Origin: Old German
Cultural Names Meaning Sun
- Aditi
Meaning: Boundless; mother of gods; symbolizes the sun
Origin: Sanskrit - Amaterasu
Meaning: Goddess of the sun
Origin: Japanese - Soleil
Meaning: Sun
Origin: French - Rahel
Meaning: Ewe; often associated with softness and light
Origin: Hebrew - Yin
Meaning: Shadow; associated with the sun’s counterpart
Origin: Chinese - Luz
Meaning: Light; sun
Origin: Spanish - Elior
Meaning: God is my light
Origin: Hebrew - Seren
Meaning: Star; associated with light
Origin: Welsh - Xolani
Meaning: Peace; light
Origin: Zulu - Hina
Meaning: Goddess of the moon; associated with the sun
Origin: Polynesian - Kale
Meaning: The sun
Origin: Hawaiian - Jiva
Meaning: Living; life, related to sunlight
Origin: Sanskrit - Suraiya
Meaning: The brightest star; symbolizes light
Origin: Arabic - Ayla
Meaning: Moonlight; associated with the sun
Origin: Turkish - Rhiannon
Meaning: Divine queen; associated with brightness
Origin: Welsh - Nyx
Meaning: Night; the counterpart of the sun
Origin: Greek - Darya
Meaning: Sea; sunlight reflecting on water
Origin: Persian - Nina
Meaning: Little girl; light
Origin: Spanish - Savita
Meaning: Sun; bright
Origin: Sanskrit - Lana
Meaning: Light; shining
Origin: Hawaiian
Unique and Modern Names Meaning Sun
- Zuri
Meaning: Beautiful; associated with light
Origin: Swahili - Sunny
Meaning: Bright and cheerful
Origin: English - Cyrus
Meaning: Sun; lord
Origin: Persian - Riven
Meaning: To split or tear; associated with light
Origin: English - Solara
Meaning: Of the sun
Origin: Latin - Davin
Meaning: Beloved; bright
Origin: Hebrew - Soleilene
Meaning: Sunshine
Origin: French - Talia
Meaning: Dew from God; associated with freshness and light
Origin: Hebrew - Aeliana
Meaning: Sunlight; shining
Origin: Latin - Elara
Meaning: Shining; bright
Origin: Greek - Zara
Meaning: Blossom; radiance
Origin: Arabic - Soraya
Meaning: Princess; associated with brightness
Origin: Persian - Kiran
Meaning: Ray of light
Origin: Sanskrit - Liora
Meaning: Light; my light
Origin: Hebrew - Hesper
Meaning: Evening star; associated with light
Origin: Greek - Tanith
Meaning: Goddess of love and the moon; light
Origin: Phoenician - Selene
Meaning: Moon; light
Origin: Greek - Lucian
Meaning: Light; illumination
Origin: Latin - Nira
Meaning: Plowed field; associated with the sun
Origin: Hebrew - Ziv
Meaning: Brightness; radiance
Origin: Hebrew
Conclusion
Choosing names that means “sun” can imbue your child with a sense of warmth, positivity, and brightness. Whether you prefer classic names like Apollo and Cynthia or more unique options like Soleilana and Nuru, there’s a name to fit every personality and style.
The sun has long been a symbol of life and energy, and these names celebrate its beauty and significance. We hope this list inspires you in your search for the perfect name that captures the essence of the sun!
James Anderson is a dedicated writer at NamezVibe, where he dives into the rich meanings and histories of names. With a keen eye for detail, he helps readers discover the perfect names for their stories. When not writing, James enjoys exploring cultural naming traditions around the globe.
