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

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

Below, you’ll find hundreds of sun-related names for girls and boys, their meanings, and current popularities.

Start by jumping ahead to your baby’s gender:

🩷 GIRL NAMES

💙 BOY NAMES

Sun-related girl names trending in 2025

These sun-themed names are climbing the charts right now, each making notable gains since last year.

Aurelia 🔥

• Name meaning: Golden one.
• Popularity: #371 (↑117)

Cielo

• Name meaning: Sky in Spanish.
• Popularity: #859 (↑137)

Elaine

• Name meaning: Bright, shining light.
• Popularity: #381 (↑85)

Estelle

• Name meaning: Star.
• Popularity: #710 (↑11)

Goldie 🔥

• Name meaning: Gold.
• Popularity: #685 (↑130)

Helena

• Name meaning: Bright, shining one.
• Popularity: #456 (↑17)

Kiara

• Name meaning: Bright or clear.
• Popularity: #230 (↑21)

Kya

• Name meaning: Diamond in the sky.
• Popularity: #820 (↑479)

Lainey 🔥

• Name meaning: Bright or shining light.
• Popularity: #54 (↑120)

Lucia 🔥

• Name meaning: Light.
• Popularity: #109 (↑17)

Mazie

• Name meaning: Child of light.
• Popularity: #958 (↑105)

Nellie 🔥

• Name meaning: Light.
• Popularity: #611 (↑53)

Phoebe

• Name meaning: Shining one.
• Popularity: #191 (↑23)

Seraphina

• Name meaning: Fiery.
• Popularity: #974 (↑65)

Solana

• Name meaning: Sunshine or eastern wind.
• Popularity: #934 (↑170)

Sunny 🔥

• Name meaning: Sunshine. Cheerful temperament.
• Popularity: #406 (↑147)

Zara or Zahra

• Name meaning: Radiance, blooming flower, or God remembers.
• Popularity: Zara ranks #236 and Zahra ranks #556 (↑50)

Popular sun-inspired girls’ names

These sun-themed baby girl names rank in the top 200.

Aurora

• Name meaning: Dawn, the first appearance of light before sunrise.
• Popularity: #22

Related: Middle Names for Aurora

Alina

• Name meaning: Bright and beautiful.
• Popularity: #150

Claire

• Name meaning: Clear or bright.
• Popularity: Claire ranks #67 and Clare ranks #991.

Clara

• Name meaning: Clear and bright.
• Popularity: #99

Eleanor

• Name meaning: Shining one.
• Popularity: #14

Elena

• Name meaning: Shining light.
• Popularity: Elena ranks #47 and Elaina ranks #272.

Ellie

• Name meaning: Shining one.
• Popularity: #27

Related: Middle Names for Ellie

Esther

• Name meaning: Star.
• Popularity: #138

Lucy

• Name meaning: Light.
• Popularity: Lucy ranks #40 and Lucie isn’t ranking.

Related: Middle Names for Lucy

Nora

• Name meaning: Light.
• Popularity: Nora ranks #25 and Norah ranks #201.

Nova

• Name meaning: A star that suddenly and dramatically increases in brightness and then slowly returns to its original state.
• Popularity: Nova ranks #35 and Novah ranks #704.

Reese

• Name meaning: Fiery.
• Popularity: This nonbinary name ranks #174 for girls and #630 for boys.

Related: Middle Names for Reese

Stella

• Name meaning: Star.
• Popularity: #46

Summer

• Name meaning: A sunny season.
• Popularity: #141

Girl names that mean sun (literally)

There are very few names for girls that directly mean “sun”.

Ari

• Name meaning: Sun-like (in Badaga), eagle, or lion.
• Popularity: #463 for girls and #344 for boys

Cyra

• Name meaning: Sun or throne.
• Popularity: This pretty name isn’t ranking.

Halina

• Name meaning: Sunray or shining light.
• Popularity: This H name isn’t ranking.

Idalia

• Name meaning: Behold the sun.
• Popularity: This elegant name isn’t ranking.

Lina

• Name meaning: Sunlight.
• Popularity: #583

Sol

• Name meaning: Of the sun.
• Popularity: #892

Solara

• Name meaning: Of the sun.
• Popularity: This 3-syllable sun name isn’t ranking.

Soleil

• Name meaning: French word for sun.
• Popularity: #978

Names that mean sunrise

These girls’ names mean dawn, the first appearance of sunlight before sunrise.

Alba

• Name meaning: First light of dawn.
• Popularity: This name isn’t ranking.

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.

Roxana or Roxy

• Name meaning: Dawn.
• Popularity: Neither of these names is ranking.

Zora

• Name meaning: Dawn.
• Popularity: #863

Zori or Zorina

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

Zyra or Zyrah

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

Before we continue with girl names that mean sun, here are some lists to come back to later…

More baby names for girls:

• The Ultimate List of Nature Girl Names
• 200 Exotic Girl Names that are Truly Stunning
• 100+ Space Names for Babies that are Actually Cool

Girl 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 3-letter name isn’t ranking.

Astra

• Name meaning: Of the stars.
• Popularity: This pretty sun-themed name isn’t ranking.

Danica

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

Estella

• Name meaning: Star.
• Popularity: #610

Kenna

• Name meaning: Born of fire.
• Popularity: #751

Starr

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

Tala

• Name meaning: Star or wolf.
• Popularity: This 4-letter name isn’t ranking.

Tana

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

Vespera

• Name meaning: Evening star.
• Popularity: This sun-related name isn’t ranking.

Names that mean bright + shining

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

Akira

• Name meaning: Clear, bright, or intelligent.
• Popularity: This Japanese name isn’t ranking.

Blake

• Name meaning: Bright and shining.
• Popularity: #221

Cassandra

• Name meaning: One who shines upon mankind.
• Popularity: #639

Chiara

• Name meaning: Bright as sunlight.
• Popularity: This sunny name isn’t ranking.

Electra

• Name meaning: Bright and radiant.
• Popularity: This luminous name isn’t ranking.

Kenzie

• Name meaning: Bright one.
• Popularity: #564

Naya

• Name meaning: Bright. Purpose.
• Popularity: #825

Nia

• Name meaning: Bright. Purpose.
• Popularity: #642

Phaedra

• Name meaning: Bright one.
• Popularity: This P name isn’t ranking.

Zariah or Zariyah or Zaria

• Name meaning: Radiance, blooming flower, or God remembers.
• Popularity: Zariah ranks #412, Zariyah ranks #638, and Zaria ranks #756.

Names that mean light

The sun is our main source of natural light. These illuminated baby names have light-inspired meanings!

Alena

• Name meaning: Light.
• Popularity: #679

Eleonara

• Name meaning: Shining light.
• Popularity: This 5-syllable name (wow!) isn’t ranking.

Elina

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

Eliora

• Name meaning: God is my light.
• Popularity: This 4-syllable name isn’t ranking.

Halo 🔥

• Name meaning: Divine light or ring of light.
• Popularity: #567

Helen

• Name meaning: Bright, shining one.
• Popularity: #397

Inara

• Name meaning: Ray of light.
• Popularity: This sun-inspired name isn’t ranking.

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 isn’t ranking.

Leora

• Name meaning: My light.
• Popularity: This baby name isn’t ranking.

Luciana

• Name meaning: Light.
• Popularity: #408

Lucille

• Name meaning: Light.
• Popularity: #271

Mira

• Name meaning: One who illuminates. Rising water. Wonderful, peaceful, prosperous.
• Popularity: #411

Neriah

• Name meaning: Light of the Lord.
• Popularity: #992

Nira or Nyra

• Name meaning: Light.
• Popularity: This tree name isn’t ranking.

Ori or Oria

• Name meaning: Light or illumination.
• Popularity: Neither version of this Hebrew name is ranking.

Rayleigh

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

Sia

• Name meaning: Light, glow, victory, six, bringer of joy.
• Popularity: This 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 short name isn’t ranking.

Names related to the sky + air

These baby names have to do with the sky and would pair nicely with a name that means sun.

Araceli

• Name meaning: Altar of the sky.
• Popularity: #803

Araya

• Name meaning: Fresh as morning dew. Noble. Sounds like “ray” of light!
• Popularity: #993

Aria

• Name meaning: Air or melody.
• Popularity: Aria ranks #24. Arya is #139, Ariyah is #337, and Ariah is #512.

Azure

• Name meaning: Sky blue.
• Popularity: This name, recently given to Elon Musk’s daughter, isn’t ranking yet.

Celia

• Name meaning: Heavenly.
• Popularity: #829

Dalary

• Name meaning: Of the air.
• Popularity: This name ending in y isn’t ranking.

Kehlani or Kailani or Kaylani

• Name meaning: Sea and sky.
• Popularity: Kehlani ranks #156, Kailani ranks #225, and Kaylani ranks #246.

Related: 230 [Actually Cool] Water Names for Babies

Nalani

• Name meaning: Calm skies. The heavens.
• Popularity: #590

Skye or Sky

• Name meaning: The atmosphere above.
• Popularity: Skye ranks #446 and Sky isn’t ranking.

Skyla

• Name meaning: Scholar. Sounds like sky!
• Popularity: #812

Sumaya

• Name meaning: High above, heaven, sky, wise, having great plans. (Many possible other meanings).
• Popularity: This 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.

You might also like a bird-themed middle name.

Names that mean golden

Mister golden sun, please shine down on me!

Cressida

• Name meaning: Golden.
• Popularity: This sun-related C name isn’t ranking.

Dior

• Name meaning: Golden.
• Popularity: #730

Gilda

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

Golda

• Name meaning: Golden.
• Popularity: This sun-related name isn’t ranking.

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 city name isn’t ranking.

Orla

• Name meaning: Golden princess.
• Popularity: This royal girls’ name isn’t ranked in the U.S. but is quite popular in England and Scotland.

Sonali

• Name meaning: Golden.
• Popularity: This S name isn’t ranking.

Yari

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

Xanthe

• Name meaning: Golden or yellow.
• Popularity: This sun-themed name isn’t ranking.

Zahava

• Name meaning: Golden.
• Popularity: This sunny name isn’t ranking.

If you like these golden names that mean sun you’ll like these names for rainbow babies.

International sun-related names for baby girls

These sun-themed names come from across the globe!

Aditya

• Name meaning: Sun.
• Popularity: This Sanskrit name isn’t ranking.

Akari

• Name meaning: Light or brightness.
• Popularity: This Japanese name isn’t ranking.

Apolline

• Name meaning: Of the sun god Apollo.
• Popularity: This Greek-inspired name isn’t ranking.

Hikari

• Name meaning: Light or radiance.
• Popularity: This Japanese name isn’t ranking.

Marisol

• Name meaning: Mary of the solitude. Sounds like “mar y sol”, Spanish for “sea and sun”.
• Popularity: This Spanish name ranks #786.

Munira

• Name meaning: Luminous or shining.
• Popularity: This Arabic name isn’t ranking.

Niamh (pronounced “Neev”)

• Name meaning: Bright or radiant.
• Popularity: This Irish name isn’t ranking.

Niora

• Name meaning: Light or God’s light.
• Popularity: This Hebrew name isn’t ranking.

Noor

• Name meaning: Light.
• Popularity: This Arabic name isn’t ranking.

Nyima

• Name meaning: Sun.
• Popularity: This Tibetan name isn’t ranking.

Roshan

• Name meaning: Bright or light.
• Popularity: This Persian name isn’t ranking.

Roshni

• Name meaning: Light or brightness.
• Popularity: This Sanskrit/Hindi name isn’t ranking.

Samanga

• Name meaning: Sun.
• Popularity: This Shona name isn’t ranking.

Sitara

• Name meaning: Star.
• Popularity: This Hindi/Persian name isn’t ranking.

Surya

• Name meaning: Sun.
• Popularity: This Sanskrit name isn’t ranking.

Svetlana

• Name meaning: Light of the sun.
• Popularity: This Slavic name isn’t ranking.

BONUS LIST #1: Friends of the sun

These girls’ names have meanings related to other celestial objects.

Ayla or Aila

• Name meaning: Moon halo. Oak tree. Blessed. Beautiful.
• Popularity: Ayla ranks #104 and Aila isn’t ranking.

Aylin

• Name meaning: Moon halo. The one that belongs to the moon.
• Popularity: #422

Halley

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

Leva

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

Luna

• Name meaning: Moon.
• Popularity: #10

Related: Names Like Luna

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 isn’t ranking.

Nilani

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

Salana

• Name meaning: Princess of the moon.
• Popularity: This celestial name isn’t ranking.

Selena

• Name meaning: Moon goddess.
• Popularity: #229

Venus

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

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

These names are related to the sun in one way or another!

Amiyah

• Name meaning: Night rain.
• Popularity: #466

April

• Name meaning: The fourth month.
• Popularity: #515

August

• Name meaning: Magnificent. A summer month.
• Popularity: This name ranks #931 for girls and #104 for boys.

Autumn

• Name meaning: Fall.
• Popularity: #75

Aviva

• Name meaning: Spring.
• Popularity: This Hebrew name isn’t ranking.

Avril

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

Indra

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

Iris

• Name meaning: Means rainbow in Greek. Also a flower.
• Popularity: #78

June

• Name meaning: The Sixth month.
• Popularity: #171

May or Mae

• Name meaning: Bitter or pearl. The 5th month.
• Popularity: May isn’t ranking but Mae ranks #506.

Neva

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

Rayne or Rain

• Name meaning: Precipitation.
• Popularity: Rayne ranks #717 and Rain isn’t ranking.

Reva

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

Stormi

• Name meaning: Weather event.
• Popularity: #872

Tyra

• Name meaning: Thunder warrior, thunder goddess, or god of battle.
• Popularity: This Banks-inspired name isn’t ranking.

Winter or Wynter

• Name meaning: The coldest season.
• Popularity: Winter ranks #370 and Wynter ranks #384.

Related: 250+ Winter Names for Girls: Top Picks for 2025

Zephyra

• Name meaning: West wind.
• Popularity: This long name isn’t ranking.

Middle names for sunny first names

Here are some pretty sun-themed first + middle name combinations.

• Aden Solana
• Alena Hazel
• Alina Soleil
• Ara Victoria
• Araceli Mae
• Aria Jade
• Aurelia Rae
• Aurelia Sage
• Aurora Brooke
• Aurora Claire
• Aurora June

• Blake Everleigh
• Brandi Reese
• Claire Blakely
• Clara Penelope
• Clara Solana
• Cressida Daisy
• Cyra Tyndall

• Dalary Reese
• Danica Lily
• Dawn Hartley
• Dior Blakely

• Eleanor Madelyn
• Elena Hart
• Elena Luciana
• Elina Blake
• Ellie Lane
• Ember Rose
• Emberly Brooke
• Enya Lark
• Esther Claire
• Esther Violet

• Gilda Mackenzie
• Goldie Mirella
• Halina Rose

• Idalia Scarlett

• Kehlani Scarlett
• Kenzie Sophia
• Kiara Hazel

• Lainey Jade
• Lainey Reese
• Lana Marigold
• Lana Sophie
• Lena Rose
• Leonora Dawn
• Lina Madelyn
• Lucia Blake
• Lucia Everly
• Lucian June
• Lucille Abigail
• Lucy Paige

• Mazie Lennon
• Mazie Soleil

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

• Orianna Piper
• Orianna Skye
• Orinda May
• Orla Magnolia

• Phoebe Harlow

• Rayleigh Violet
• Reese Mirabella
• Roxy Madison

• Serafina Belle
• Seraphina Ruby
• Sia Lennox
• Sienna Blakely
• Skye Lennox
• Sol Mirabella
• Solana Hailey
• Solana Phoenix
• Solara Azure
• Solara Juliet
• Soleil Emmeline
• Starr Lennox
• Stella Magnolia
• Sumaya Phoenix
• Summer Dawn
• Summer Luna
• Sunny Harper
• Sunny Zephyra

• Tana Soleil
• Tyndall Rae

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

More baby names for girls:

• Girl Names Sorted By Syllable (2025 Edition with 500+ Names)
• 120 Twin Girl Names: Cool Pairings for Modern Babies
• 350+ Totally Charming Southern Girl Names

Girl Names That Mean Sun: Trend Analysis

An astonishing 80+ sun-related girl names rank in the U.S. top 1000 in 2025, reflecting parents’ growing desire for names with both radiant meanings and aesthetic appeal.

Eleanor (“shining light”) leads these luminous choices at #14, while Aurora (“dawn”) shines at #22, demonstrating how celestial and light-themed meanings have captured parents’ imaginations.

The explosive rise of Aurelia (“golden one”) tells a compelling story of perfect timing – after entering the rankings at #1000 in 2012, it engineered a remarkable ascent, catalyzed by Mark Zuckerberg’s choice in 2023 and its aesthetic -lia ending shared with top-ranked Amelia.

Girl names that mean sun are particularly strong in the nickname-style category. Lainey (“shining light”) has made one of the most dramatic rises in recent naming history, jumping from #174 to #54 in a single year – a remarkable 406-spot improvement since 2018.

2023’s standout success was Sunny, which climbed 147 spots to #406, representing its largest single-year gain since entering the rankings in 2017. Its word-name clarity appeals to parents seeking names with transparent meanings.

Vintage sunshine is making a remarkable comeback. Goldie (“golden”) doubled its climb rate with a 130-spot leap in 2023, while Nellie (“bright one”) shows similar momentum to its viral success in England (#97).

International influences are reshaping this category. Zahra (“bright, brilliant”) has climbed 399 spots since 2012 to reach #556, while Lucia (“light”) hit its highest U.S. ranking ever at #109, benefiting from multiple pronunciation options.

Solana (“sunshine”) made a dramatic debut at #934 (from previously unranked), showing the growing appetite for Spanish sun names with melodic sounds. The success of these girl names that mean sun reflects a broader trend toward names that combine beautiful sounds with uplifting meanings.

2025 Predictions:

• Lainey will crack the top 25, continuing its meteoric rise
• Goldie will enter the top 500, riding both the vintage and precious-material trends
• Seraphina (“fiery”) will rise at least 200 spots, benefiting from celestial appeal and media exposure

If you’re considering a girl name that means sun, you’re choosing from an incredibly diverse category that offers both timeless appeal and modern style.

Now, onto boy names that mean sun!

Popular sun-inspired boys’ names

These sun-themed baby boy names rank in the top 300.

Aiden or Ayden or Aidan

• Name meaning: Little fire.
• Popularity: Aiden ranks #40, Ayden ranks #190, Aidan ranks #300, Aden ranks #834, and Aydin isn’t ranking.

Related: Middle Names for Aden

Blake

• Name meaning: Bright and shining.
• Popularity: This one-syllable name ranks #255 for boys and #221 for girls.

Cyrus

• Name meaning: Sun.
• Popularity: #297

Kenneth

• Name meaning: Born of fire.
• Popularity: #262

Luke

• Name meaning: Bright one.
• Popularity: #31

Nash

• Name meaning: From Arabic “An-nash,” meaning “the star”. Also means by the ash tree.
• Popularity: #259

Boy names that mean sun

There are very few names for boys that directly mean “sun”.

Ari

• Name meaning: Sun-like (in Badaga), eagle, or lion.
• Popularity: #344 for boys and #463 for girls

Ciro

• Name meaning: Like the sun.
• Popularity: This Italian name isn’t ranking.

Elio

• Name meaning: Sun.
• Popularity: #646

Helios

• Name meaning: Sun god.
• Popularity: This Greek name isn’t ranking.

Ishaan

• Name meaning: Rising sun.
• Popularity: #869

Ravi

• Name meaning: Sun.
• Popularity: This unique name isn’t ranking.

Samson

• Name meaning: Bright as the sun.
• Popularity: #569

Sorin or Soren

• Name meaning: Sun.
• Popularity: Neither of these S names that mean sun is ranking.

Zoran or Zorin

• Name meaning: Dawn.
• Popularity: Neither of these Z names is ranking.

Boy names that mean star

The sun, after all, is a star!

Here are some glowing boys’ names with starry meanings.

Aster

• Name meaning: Star.
• Popularity: This plant name isn’t ranking.

Izar

• Name meaning: Star.
• Popularity: This short name isn’t ranking.

Nova

• Name meaning: New star.
• Popularity: This edgy name ranks #952 for boys and #35 for girls.

Tarek

• Name meaning: Morning star.
• Popularity: This T name isn’t ranking.

Vesper

• Name meaning: Evening star.
• Popularity: This V name isn’t ranking.

Before we continue with boy names that mean sun, here are some lists to come back to later…

More baby names for boys:

• 380+ Meaningful Boy Names {Deep, Unique & Sentimental}
• 111 Exotic Boy Names that Stand Out (in the best way!)
• 215 Earthy Boy Names for your Outdoorsy Dude

Names that mean light

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

Beacon

• Name meaning: Guiding light.
• Popularity: This B name isn’t ranking.

Elior

• Name meaning: My God is light.
• Popularity: This E name isn’t ranking.

Kiran

• Name meaning: Ray of light.
• Popularity: This K name isn’t ranking.

Lior

• Name meaning: My light.
• Popularity: This L name isn’t ranking.

Lux

• Name meaning: Light.
• Popularity: This 3-letter name isn’t ranking.

Lucian or Lucien

• Name meaning: Light.
• Popularity: Lucian ranks #487 and Lucien is #923.

Luciano

• Name meaning: Light.
• Popularity: #375

Meyer

• Name meaning: Bright one.
• Popularity: This German name isn’t ranking.

Ray

• Name meaning: Beam of light.
• Popularity: #769

Uriel

• Name meaning: God is my light.
• Popularity: #497

Valo

• Name meaning: Light.
• Popularity: This 2-syllable name name isn’t ranking.

Names that mean bright + shining

These handsome boys’ names are perfect for a little boy whose personality will shine bright like the sun!

Albert

• Name meaning: Noble and bright.
• Popularity: #590

Albus

• Name meaning: Bright or white.
• Popularity: This A name isn’t ranking.

Brighton

• Name meaning: Bright town.
• Popularity: This city name isn’t ranking.

Clarence

• Name meaning: Bright.
• Popularity: This fancy name isn’t ranking.

Gilbert

• Name meaning: Bright pledge.
• Popularity: This G name isn’t ranking.

Koren

• Name meaning: Gleaming.
• Popularity: This sun-related name isn’t ranking.

Lambert

• Name meaning: Bright land.
• Popularity: This sun name isn’t ranking.

Robert or Roberto

• Name meaning: Bright fame.
• Popularity: Robert ranks #89 and Roberto isn’t ranking.

Roshan

• Name meaning: Bright and shining.
• Popularity: This R name isn’t ranking.

Sirius

• Name meaning: Bright star.
• Popularity: This badass name isn’t ranking.

Names that mean fire

These sun-related boys’ names are burning hot!

Azar

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

Blaze

• Name meaning: Flame. Could also spell this Blaise!
• Popularity: This modern name isn’t ranking.

Eagan

• Name meaning: Little fire.
• Popularity: This Irish name isn’t ranking.

Ignatius

• Name meaning: Fiery.
• Popularity: This strong name isn’t ranking.

Keegan

• Name meaning: Small flame.
• Popularity: #627

McCoy

• Name meaning: Son of fire.
• Popularity: #974

Phoenix

• Name meaning: Mythological fire bird.
• Popularity: This bird-themed name ranks #269 for boys and #348 for girls.

Reese

• Name meaning: Fiery.
• Popularity: This baby name ranks #630 for boys and #174 for girls.

Related: Middle Names for Reese

Vulcan

• Name meaning: God of fire.
• Popularity: This sun-related name isn’t ranking.

Creative sun-inspired baby boy names

These names pair nicely with boy names that mean sun.

August

• Name meaning: Magnificent. A summer month.
• Popularity: This name ranks #104 for boys and #931 for girls. 

Aurelio or Aurelius

• Name meaning: Golden.
• Popularity: Aurelio ranks #884 and Aurelius isn’t ranking.

Azure

• Name meaning: Sky blue.
• Popularity: This baby name, recently given to Elon Musk’s daughter, isn’t ranking yet.

Beau

• Name meaning: Handsome. Sounds like the second half of the word rainbow.
• Popularity: #79

Blaine

• Name meaning: Yellow.
• Popularity: This sun-describing name isn’t ranking.

Blu or Blue

• Name meaning: Color.
• Popularity: This great rainbow baby name isn’t ranking.

Domingo

• Name meaning: Born on Sunday.
• Popularity: This D name isn’t ranking.

Easton

• Name meaning: East-facing town. The sun rises in the east!
• Popularity: #96

Golden

• Name meaning: The color gold.
• Popularity: This sun-themed name isn’t ranking.

Indigo

• Name meaning: Deep blue color.
• Popularity: This I name isn’t ranking.

Keanu

• Name meaning: Cool breeze.
• Popularity: #536

Oriol

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

Raiden

• Name meaning: Thunder and lightning.
• Popularity: #423

Sonny

• Name meaning: Son, little son. Sounds like sun!
• Popularity: #354

Storm

• Name meaning: Weather event.
• Popularity: This unique name isn’t ranking.

Weston or West

• Name meaning: Western town. The sun sets in the west!
• Popularity: Weston ranks #75 and West isn’t ranking.

Zarin

• Name meaning: Golden.
• Popularity: This sun-related name isn’t ranking.

Zeus

• Name meaning: Sky god.
• Popularity: This royal name isn’t ranking.

You might also like these winter-themed names!

International sun-related baby boy names

These sun-themed names come from across the globe!

Aditya

• Name meaning: Son of the divine sun.
• Popularity: This Sanskrit name isn’t ranking.

Akira

• Name meaning: Clear, bright, or intelligent.
• Popularity: This Japanese name isn’t ranking.

Alev

• Name meaning: Flame.
• Popularity: This Turkish name isn’t ranking.

Anatole or Anatolius

• Name meaning: Sunrise.
• Popularity: Neither version of this Greek name is ranking.

Asa

• Name meaning: One who rises with the dawn.
• Popularity: This Hebrew name ranks #509.

Hoshi

• Name meaning: Star.
• Popularity: This Japanese H name isn’t ranking.

Jair

• Name meaning: He shines or he enlightens.
• Popularity: This Hebrew J name isn’t ranking.

Niraj

• Name meaning: Bright.
• Popularity: This Sanskrit N name isn’t ranking.

Prakash

• Name meaning: Light or brightness.
• Popularity: This Sanskrit P name isn’t ranking.

Samavi

• Name meaning: Celestial or of the stars.
• Popularity: This Arabic name isn’t ranking.

Surya

• Name meaning: Sun god.
• Popularity: This Sanskrit/Indonesian name isn’t ranking.

Tapash

• Name meaning: Heat or warmth.
• Popularity: This Sanskrit/Bengali name isn’t ranking.

Toru

• Name meaning: To shine through.
• Popularity: This Japanese name isn’t ranking.

Vihaan

• Name meaning: Dawn.
• Popularity: This Sanskrit name ranks #856.

Zahav

• Name meaning: Gold.
• Popularity: This Hebrew name isn’t ranking.

Zahir

• Name meaning: Bright and shining.
• Popularity: This Arabic name isn’t ranking.

BONUS LIST #1: Celestial names

These boys’ names have meanings related to other celestial objects.

Apollo

• Name meaning: A NASA spaceflight program that succeeded in landing the first humans on the Moon.
• Popularity: #432

Atlas

• Name meaning: In Greek mythology, Atlas was a Titan forced to hold up the celestial heavens or sky for eternity.
• Popularity: #112

Draco

• Name meaning: A constellation meaning ‘dragon’.
• Popularity: This name isn’t ranking.

Leo

• Name meaning: A constellation meaning lion.
• Popularity: #18

Dorado

• Name meaning: A constellation meaning ‘Swordfish’.
• Popularity: This 3-syllable name isn’t ranking.

Lynx

• Name meaning: A constellation of a wild cat.
• Popularity: This hippie name isn’t ranking.

Mars

• Name meaning: The fourth planet from the Sun, named after the Roman mythology god of war.
• Popularity: This M name isn’t ranking.

Oberon

• Name meaning: The outermost major moon of the planet Uranus. Noble or resembling a bear.
• Popularity: This space name isn’t ranking.

Orion

• Name meaning: A constellation of a hunter.
• Popularity: #373

Pavo

• Name meaning: A constellation of a peacock.
• Popularity: This space name isn’t ranking.

Titan

• Name meaning: The largest moon of the planet Saturn.
• Popularity: #972

BONUS LIST #2: Boys’ names with the “sun” sound

Given the small number of boy names that mean sun, you may want to get creative! These might work as complimentary middle names.

Anderson

• Name meaning: Son of Andrew.
• Popularity: #332

Branson

• Name meaning: Son of Bran.
• Popularity: This name isn’t ranking.

Carson

• Name meaning: Son of Carr.
• Popularity: #111

Dawson

• Name meaning: Son of David.
• Popularity: #149

Denison

• Name meaning: Son of Denis.
• Popularity: This name isn’t ranking.

Edison

• Name meaning: Son of Eda.
• Popularity: #830

Grayson

• Name meaning: Son of the steward.
• Popularity: #44

Related: Middle Names for Grayson

Hanson

• Name meaning: Son of Hans.
• Popularity: This name isn’t ranking.

Harrison

• Name meaning: Son of Harry.
• Popularity: #119

Hudson

• Name meaning: Son of Hugh.
• Popularity: #21

Jackson

• Name meaning: Son of Jack.
• Popularity: #28

Related: Middle Names for Jackson

Jameson

• Name meaning: Son of James.
• Popularity: #103

Jefferson

• Name meaning: Son of Jeffrey.
• Popularity: #762

Larson

• Name meaning: Son of Lars.
• Popularity: This name isn’t ranking.

Mason

• Name meaning: Stone worker.
• Popularity: #30

Nelson

• Name meaning: Son of Neil.
• Popularity: #797

Orson

• Name meaning: Bear cub.
• Popularity: This name isn’t ranking.

Stetson

• Name meaning: Son of Stet.
• Popularity: #182

Tyson

• Name meaning: Son of Ty.
• Popularity: #394

Watson

• Name meaning: Son of Walter.
• Popularity: #804

Wilson

• Name meaning: Son of Will.
• Popularity: #670

Middle names for sunny first names

Here are some fiery sun-themed first + middle name combinations for boys.

Aden Blaine
Aurelio Reese
Ayden Lynx
Blue Apollo
Brighton Hawk
Ciro Falcon
Clarence Edison
Cyrus West

Eagan Ridge
Easton Blaze
Elio Blake
Elior Mars
Helios Blake

Ignatius Storm
Izar Storm
Keegan Drake
Kenneth Meyer
Kiran Storm
Koren Atlas

Lior Vesper
Lucian Azar
Lucien Vesper
Luke Soren
Raiden Grey
Ray Dorado
Roberto Azure
Roshan Drake

Samson Reese
Sirius Orion
Valo Blaise
Weston Brooks

Boy Names That Mean Sun: Trend Analysis

Modern parents are increasingly drawn to boy names that mean sun, seeking names that radiate warmth and positive energy for their children.

This cosmic connection speaks to a broader trend of parents choosing names with powerful natural meanings.

Currently, 24 boy names that mean sun or have strong solar connections rank in the top 1000. This is a relatively small presence in contemporary naming, especially compared to sun-themed girl names which number 80+.

Aiden (#40) leads the pack among boy names that mean sun, with its meaning “little fire” resonating with parents seeking both traditional appeal and elemental power. Its various spellings (Ayden, Aidan, Aden) collectively demonstrate the enduring appeal of this sun-adjacent choice.

The most directly solar names show interesting patterns:

• Cyrus (#297) represents the highest-ranking name that literally means “sun,” suggesting a growing appreciation for ancient names with bold meanings
• Elio (#646) has shown steady growth, riding the wave of Italian popularity while offering a direct solar connection
• Samson (#569) combines biblical heritage with its meaning “bright as the sun,” appealing to parents seeking religious significance with natural power

Fire-themed names create another compelling subcategory:

• Kenneth (#262) proves that traditional “born of fire” names can maintain relevance across generations
• Phoenix (#269) demonstrates the modern appetite for mythological names with solar associations

Among names barely holding on in the rankings, McCoy (#974) and Ishaan (#869) represent opposite ends of the style spectrum – showing that both Western and Eastern sun-inspired names can find their place in American naming.

Sanskrit and other international sun names remain largely unranked but show potential for growth, as multicultural naming becomes increasingly mainstream.

Predictions for 2025:

• Elio will crack the top 500, driven by its perfect blend of accessibility and uniqueness
• At least three currently unranked Sanskrit sun names will enter the top 1000, particularly Surya and Aditya
• Cyrus will continue its steady climb, potentially reaching the top 250

If you’re considering a sun-inspired name for your baby boy, these choices offer a brilliant way to connect your child to one of nature’s most powerful and universal symbols.

More baby names for boys:

• The Ultimate List of Southern Boy Names for 2025
• 88 Cool French Boy Names (with Meanings and Middle Name Ideas)
• 115 Scottish Boy Names for Modern American Babies

The source for popularity data is SSN.

This article was originally published on Feb 1, 2022 and was updated on Mar 6, 2025.

Names that Mean Sun