AHEAD: The ultimate list of sun-inspired baby names for girls.

If you’re looking for beautiful names that mean sun, you’re in the right place!

Below, you’ll find a huge list of over 100 sun-related names for girls along with their meanings and current popularity.

I’ve even included a whole bunch of middle name ideas!

This all-encompassing list has sunny names ranging from trendy to traditional.

Some of them literally mean “sun” and others have related meanings like “sunrise”, “star”, and “light”.

Towards, the end, you’ll find lists of names having to do with the sky. (Plus two bonus lists of names with outer space names and seasonal names, respectively).

There’s a huge variety of names to choose from!

Feel free to use the Table of Contents to jump to a specific category, or keep on scrolling and view all of these “hot” girl names that mean sun.

Popular sun-inspired girls’ names

All of these sunny names are ranking in the top 150 baby names for girls, according to data from the SSA.

Aurora

• Name meaning: Dawn.
• Popularity: #36

Claire

• Name meaning: Clear or bright.
• Popularity: Claire ranks #57 and Clare ranks #823.

Clara

• Name meaning: Clear and bright.
• Popularity: #103

Eleanor

• Name meaning: Shining one.
• Popularity: #22

Elena

• Name meaning: Shining light.
• Popularity: Elena ranks #55 and Elaina is #249.

Ellie

• Name meaning: Shining one.
• Popularity: #29

Lucy

• Name meaning: Light.
• Popularity: Lucy ranks #49 and Lucie isn’t ranking.

Nora

• Name meaning: Light.
• Popularity: Nora ranks #30 and Norah ranks #151.

Nova

• Name meaning: New. A star that suddenly and dramatically increases in brightness and then slowly returns to its original state.
• Popularity: Nova ranks #38 and Novah ranks #569.

Reese

• Name meaning: Fiery.
• Popularity: This nonbinary name ranks #144 for girls and #731 for boys.

Stella

• Name meaning: Star.
• Popularity: #42

Summer

• Name meaning: A sunny and hot season.
• Popularity: #149

If you like these popular sun names for girls you might also like this list of middle names for Reese or these modern names.

Girls’ names that literally mean “sun”

There are very few cool [hot] sun names for girls that actually mean “sun”. Here are all of the ones I could find!

Halina

• Name meaning: Sunray or shining light.
• Popularity: This unique H name isn’t in the top 1000.

Lina

• Name meaning: Sunlight.
• Popularity: #684

Solana

• Name meaning: Sunshine or eastern wind.
• Popularity: This pretty S name is not ranking.

Solara

• Name meaning: Of the sun.
• Popularity: This 3-syllable sun name is not ranking.

Soleil

• Name meaning: French word for sun.
• Popularity: This ‘hot’ sun name is not ranking.

Sunny

• Name meaning: Sunshine. Cheerful temperament.
• Popularity: Sunny ranks #696 for girls. (Sonny with an O ranks #536 for boys).

If you like these girl names that mean sun you might also like this list of hippie names.

Names that mean sunrise

All of these girls’ names mean dawn, which is the first appearance of sunlight before sunrise.

Dawn

• Name meaning: Daybreak.
• Popularity: This one-syllable girls’ name hasn’t ranked since 2000.

Oriana or Orianna

• Name meaning: Sunrise.
• Popularity: This pretty O name isn’t ranking.

Roxy

• Name meaning: Dawn.
• Popularity: This 4-letter girls’ name isn’t ranking.

Zora

• Name meaning: Dawn.
• Popularity: #877

Zori or Zorina

• Name meaning: Golden dawn.
• Popularity: Neither of these cute Z names is ranking.

Zyra or Zyrah

• Name meaning: Dawn or messenger.
• Popularity: This two-syllable sun name isn’t ranking.

If you like these names that mean sun you might also like this list of nature girl names.

Names that mean star

The sun, after all, is a star!

Here are some glowing girls’ names with starry meanings.

Ara

• Name meaning: A constellation meaning ‘altar’, where in ancient Greek mythology, the gods made offerings.
• Popularity: This great 3-letter name isn’t ranking.

Danica

• Name meaning: Morning star.
• Popularity: This D name hasn’t ranked since 2018

Estelle or Estella

• Name meaning: Star.
• Popularity: Estelle ranks #799 and Estella ranks #731.

Esther

• Name meaning: Star.
• Popularity: #153

Starr

• Name meaning: An astronomical object such as Earth’s sun.
• Popularity: This unique name isn’t ranking.

Tana

• Name meaning: Star or fire goddess.
• Popularity: This unusual T name isn’t ranking.

If you like these starry sun-inspired girl names you should check out this huge list of space names.

Names that mean bright + shining

These pretty girls’ names are perfect for a little girl whose personality will shine bright like the sun!

Blake

• Name meaning: Bright and shining.
• Popularity: #219

Kenzie

• Name meaning: Bright one.
• Popularity: #369

Kiara

• Name meaning: Bright or clear.
• Popularity: #308

Naya

• Name meaning: Bright. Purpose.
• Popularity: #758

Nia

• Name meaning: Bright. Purpose.
• Popularity: #494

Phoebe

• Name meaning: Shining one.
• Popularity: #256

Zara or Zahra

• Name meaning: Radiance, blooming flower, or God remembers.
• Popularity: Zara ranks #215 and Zahra is #589.

Zariah or Zariyah or Zaria

• Name meaning: Radiance, blooming flower, or God remembers.
• Popularity: Zariah ranks #460, Zariyah is #697, and Zaria is #861.

If you like these bright and shining sun names for girls you might also like this list of edgy names.

Names that mean light

The main source of natural light is the sun. All of these illuminated baby names have light-inspired meanings!

Alena

• Name meaning: Light.
• Popularity: #679

Elina

• Name meaning: Shining light.
• Popularity: #971

Lainey

• Name meaning: Bright or shining light.
• Popularity: #364

Lana

• Name meaning: Light, gracious, or little rock. In Hawaiian, it means ‘calm as still waters’ or ‘afloat’.
• Popularity: #390

Lena

• Name meaning: Ray of light.
• Popularity: #270

Leonora or Leonore

• Name meaning: Light.
• Popularity: This Victorian girls’ name is not currently ranking.

Lucia

• Name meaning: Light.
• Popularity: #163

Luciana

• Name meaning: Light.
• Popularity: #408

Lucille

• Name meaning: Light.
• Popularity: #271

Mazie

• Name meaning: Child of light.
• Popularity: This friendly M name isn’t ranking.

Nellie

• Name meaning: Light.
• Popularity: #837

Nira or Nyra

• Name meaning: Light. Symbolic name given to girls born on TuB’Shevat, the New Year of the Trees.
• Popularity: This tree name isn’t ranking.

Rayleigh

• Name meaning: Scattering of light.
• Popularity: This science-y R name isn’t ranking.

Sia

• Name meaning: Unknown meaning. Possibly means light, glow, victory, six, bringer of joy.
• Popularity: This rare short name is not ranking.

Yahira

• Name meaning: To light or shine.
• Popularity: This sun-inspired name isn’t ranking.

Zia

• Name meaning: Light or aunt.
• Popularity: This mini name isn’t ranking.

A few more names that mean light (that IMHO are past their prime): Aileen, Ayleen, Elaine, Halo, Helen, Helena, Ilene, Noor, and Yalena.

If you like these sunny names that mean light you might also like this list of elegant girl names.

Names related to the sky + air

All of these sun-related baby names have to do with the sky and the air.

Araceli

• Name meaning: Altar of the sky.
• Popularity: #992

Aria

• Name meaning: Air or melody.
• Popularity: Aria ranks #26. Arya is #112, Ariyah is #379, Ariah is #401, Ariya is #579, and Aarya is #989.

Dalary

• Name meaning: Of the air.
• Popularity: #943

Kehlani or Kailani or Kaylani

• Name meaning: Sea and sky.
• Popularity: Kehlani ranks #168, Kailani ranks #282, and Kaylani ranks #340.

Nalani

• Name meaning: Calm skies. The heavens.
• Popularity: #593

Skye or Sky

• Name meaning: The atmosphere above.
• Popularity: Skye ranks #467 and Sky ranks #801.

Sumaya

• Name meaning: High above, heaven, sky, wise, having great plans. (Many possible other meanings).
• Popularity: This rare sun-related 6-letter name is not ranking.

Tyndall

• Name meaning: The Tyndall Effect refers to the light scattering by particles such that blue light is scattered much more strongly than red light.
• Popularity: This science-y name isn’t ranking.

Zenith

• Name meaning: The point in the sky or celestial sphere directly above an observer.
• Popularity: This badass sun name isn’t ranking.

If you like these sky and air-related baby names you might also like these badass girl names or these bird-inspired names.

Names that mean golden

Oh mister sun, sun, mister golden sun, please shine down on me!

All of these perfect sun names mean gold.

Aurelia

• Name meaning: Golden one. Also a type of jellyfish.
• Popularity: #528

Dior

• Name meaning: Golden.
• Popularity: #499

Gilda

• Name meaning: Golden.
• Popularity: This old-fashioned G name isn’t ranking.

Goldie

• Name meaning: Gold.
• Popularity: This sunny girls’ name is not in the top 1000.

Nubia

• Name meaning: Gold. A region of Africa.
• Popularity: This 5-letter girls’ name isn’t ranking.

Orinda

• Name meaning: Pine trees or gold. (True meaning unknown).
• Popularity: This unique city name isn’t ranking.

Orla

• Name meaning: Golden princess.
• Popularity: This royal girls’ name is not popular in the United States, but is quite popular in England and Scotland.

Yari

• Name meaning: Gold. Straight spear.
• Popularity: This cute Y name isn’t ranking.

If you like these golden names that mean sun you might also like this list of names for rainbow babies.

Names that mean fire

All of these sun-related baby names are perfect for a fiery little girl!

Aden

• Name meaning: Little fire.
• Popularity: Aden is not ranking for girls and ranks #664 for boys.

Brandi

• Name meaning: Fiery. Warm and comforting.
• Popularity: This B name isn’t ranking.

Ember

• Name meaning: Spark.
• Popularity: #187

Emberly

• Name meaning: Spark.
• Popularity: #554

Enya

• Name meaning: Grain or fire.
• Popularity: This unusual E name isn’t ranking.

Serafina or Seraphina

• Name meaning: Fiery.
• Popularity: Neither spelling of this beautiful long name is in the top 1000.

If you like these fiery names related to the sun you might also like this list of southern girl names.

BONUS LIST #1: Friends of the sun

All of these girls’ names have meanings related to other celestial objects.

Ayla or Aila

• Name meaning: Moon halo. Oak tree. Blessed. Beautiful.
• Popularity: Ayla ranks #131 and Aila is #906.

Aylin

• Name meaning: Moon halo. The one that belongs to the moon.
• Popularity: #387

Halley

• Name meaning: Halley’s Comet can be seen twice in one person’s lifetime.
• Popularity: This space name is not ranking.

Leva

• Name meaning: Moon or white.
• Popularity: This cute L name isn’t ranking.

Luna

• Name meaning: Moon.
• Popularity: #14

Meri

• Name meaning: Sea. Meri is also a god of the sun in the mythology of the Brazillian Bororó people.
• Popularity: This cute mermaid name is not ranking.

Nilani

• Name meaning: Enchanting moon.
• Popularity: This celestial N name isn’t ranking.

Selena

• Name meaning: Moon goddess.
• Popularity: #241

Venus

• Name meaning: The second planet from the sun. Goddess of love and beauty.
• Popularity: This V name isn’t ranking.

If you like these sky-related baby names you might also like this list of names similar to Luna.

BONUS LIST #2: Names inspired by weather, months, and seasons

I figured I’d give you one last bonus list. All of these names are loosely related to the sun, in one way or another!

Amiyah

• Name meaning: Night rain.
• Popularity: #318

April

• Name meaning: The fourth month.
• Popularity: #521

Autumn

• Name meaning: Fall.
• Popularity: #82

Avril

• Name meaning: April in French.
• Popularity: This A name isn’t ranking.

Indra

• Name meaning: Possessing drops of rain.
• Popularity: This boho I name isn’t ranking.

Iris

• Name meaning: Means rainbow in Greek. Also a flower.
• Popularity: #127

June

• Name meaning: The Sixth month.
• Popularity: #182

May or Mae

• Name meaning: Bitter or pearl. The 5th month.
• Popularity: May is not currently popular but Mae ranks #576.

Neva

• Name meaning: Snow.
• Popularity: This chilly name ending in A isn’t ranking.

Rayne or Rain

• Name meaning: Precipitation.
• Popularity: Rayne ranks #775 and Rain is not ranking.

Reva

• Name meaning: Rain.
• Popularity: This weather-themed baby name isn’t ranking.

Stormi

• Name meaning: Weather event.
• Popularity: #951

Tyra

• Name meaning: Thunder warrior, thunder goddess, or god of battle.
• Popularity: This Banks-inspired name hasn’t ranked since 2007.

Winter or Wynter

• Name meaning: The coldest season.
• Popularity: Winter ranks #315 and Wynter is #375.

More baby names for girls:

• 57 Gorgeous Girl’s Names that Mean Graceful
• 50 Amazing Girl Names that Start with J
• The Ultimate List of Nature Girl Names

Middle names for sunny first names

Here is a consolidation of first + middle name combinations (as seen in the graphics throughout) for a first name that means sun.

• Aden Solana
• Alena Hazel
• Ara Victoria
• Araceli Mae
• Aria Jade
• Aurelia Sage
• Aurora Brooke
• Blake Everleigh
• Brandi Reese

• Claire Blakely
• Clara Penelope
• Dalary Reese
• Danica Lily
• Dawn Hartley
• Dior Blakely
• Eleanor Madelyn
• Elena Hart
• Elina Blake
• Ellie Lane

• Ember Rose
• Emberly Brooke
• Enya Lark
• Estelle Marie
• Esther Claire
• Gilda Mackenzie
• Goldie Mirabella
• Halina Rose
• Kehlani Scarlett
• Kenzie Sophia
• Kiara Hazel

• Lainey Jade
• Lana Sophie
• Lena Rose
• Leonora Dawn
• Lina Madelyn
• Lucia Everly
• Lucian June
• Lucille Abigail
• Lucy Paige
• Mazie Lennon

• Nalani Sierra
• Naya Aubrey
• Nellie Hart
• Nia Hadley
• Nira Mackenzie
• Nora Everleigh
• Nova Violet
• Nubia Rayne
• Orianna Piper

• Orinda May
• Orla Magnolia
• Phoebe Harlow
• Rayleigh Violet
• Reese Mirabella
• Roxy Madison
• Serafina Belle
• Sia Lennox

• Skye Lennox
• Solana Hailey
• Solara Juliet
• Soleil Emmeline
• Starr Lennox
• Stella Magnolia
• Sumaya Phoenix
• Summer Luna
• Sunny Harper
• Tana Soleil
• Tyndall Rae

• Yahira Ruby
• Zara Lennox
• Zariah Jade
• Zenith Embry
• Zia Rylan
• Zora Lavender
• Zori Scarlett
• Zorina Ruby
• Zyra Avery

Final thoughts on girl names that mean sun

As you can see, many of these girl names that mean sun are as radiant and bright as the sun itself!

Now, the tricky part is narrowing down your list of favorites!

My best advice to you is to save them all on a list on your phone. Read the list over every day. One by one, erase any name that doesn’t shine as much as the others. If you do this enough times, eventually you’ll get to ‘the one’!

Congratulations and good luck choosing the perfect sun-related baby name for your daughter!

100+ Girl Names that Mean Sun