Names with positive meanings have been a popular trend throughout history. The significance of names that mean bright or light can be traced back to ancient cultures, where they were used to honor deities associated with light and enlightenment. In many cultures, these names are considered auspicious and are believed to bring good luck and happiness to the child.
Moreover, names with positive meanings have been found to have a psychological impact on the individual’s personality. And people with positive-sounding names were perceived to be more likable and competent than those with negative-sounding names. Therefore, it’s not just about the meaning of the name, but also about the impression it creates in others.
In this article, we have compiled a list of baby names that mean bright or light, based on their origins and meanings. We hope that this list will help new parents find the perfect name for their little one and inspire them to choose a name that reflects their child’s bright future. So, without further ado, let’s take a look at some of the most beautiful names that mean bright or light.
Table of Contents
Boy names that mean light
- Oron – This Hebrew name means “light” or “enlightenment,” making it an excellent choice for parents who want to give their son a strong, meaningful moniker.
- Cillian – With Irish origins, this name means “little church” and is often linked to St. Kilian, an apostle and missionary from Ireland.
- Bertram – Roots in Old German and often translated as “shining raven” or “raven-brilliance.”
- Lambert – Bright land, it originated from Germanic roots and has been used as both a first name and surname throughout history.
- Siraj – A Quranic name meaning “lamp,” Siraj carries an important spiritual and symbolic significance. It’s a particularly fitting name choice for families looking for something meaningful and resonant with their religious beliefs.
- Nikko – Japanese origins and means both “sunshine” and “daylight.”
- Killian – Bright-headed, it is an Irish name that symbolizes leadership and creativity.
- Herbert – Shining warrior, it originated from Germanic roots and has been a popular name throughout history.
- Uriah – “my light” in Hebrew and was the name of a soldier mentioned in the Old Testament.
- Delvin – Another variation of Delbert with an Irish heritage is interpreted as both “swan,” or else may mean ‘friend,’ ‘faithful,’ or ‘lively.’
- Harbin – Although it originated as a place-name meaning “place behind the hill,” it could be interpreted to mean “clear” due to the connection between clear skies and sunlight in some cultures.
- Brighton – A name with an English origin meaning “the town by the bright stream” and gained popularity in the 19th century.
- Berwin – Berwin comes from Old English meaning “bright friend” or “shining friend”.
- Engelbert – A Germanic name that combines elements for both angel and bright, meaning “bright as an angel.”
- Nahir – An Arabic name that means “radiant,” “luminous,” or “vivid.”
- Dayton – A boy’s given name which means “bright and sunny town,” favored since the 19th century by parents who prefer cheerful meanings for their child’s names
- Jairo – He shines or he enlightens, it is a Hebrew name that represents wisdom and illumination.
- Rupert – This Germanic name has multiple meanings including “famous brilliance” or “shining fame.” Rupert would make an interesting pick given it’s used less commonly these days compared to earlier times but still possesses charm and feels vintage at its best.
- Lucian – Also of Latin origin and means “light” or “illumination.”
- Jomei – Bright light or shining star, it is a Japanese name that represents hope and inspiration.
- Avner – Avner comes from Hebrew and means “Father-of-light.”
- Lucifer – Lucifer comes from the Latin word for “light-bearer,” but has taken on negative connotations.
- Kiran – Ray of light or sunbeam, it originated from Sanskrit roots and is considered to be a unisex name in some cultures.
- Albert – Of Germanic origin, means “noble bright” or “brightly famous.”
- Fynn – Short for Finnian or Finley, this Irish name can mean “fair-haired” or simply carry connotations of brightness and clarity.
- Akihiro – A Japanese name that means “great brightness,” usually given to baby boys born during the daytime.
- Burch – Meaning “birch tree” in German, it’s a rare name with a natural significance.
- Norbert – Norbert comes from Germanic roots and means something like “bright north star,” with connotations of guidance and protection.
- Sirius – A star in the constellation Canis Major and means “glowing” or “bright.”
- Diya – A popular name in India, derived from the Sanskrit word for light or lamp.
- Ebby – An English name that is short for Ebenezer, meaning “stone of help” and used synonymously with light.
- Javi – Bright or clear, it is a shortened version of the Spanish name Javier which also means bright.
- Myer – Myer can be a variant spelling of Mayer, but it may also be derived from the Old English word for marshland.
- Philbert – A Germanic name that means “bright in spirit,” Philbert is an excellent choice for parents seeking a classic yet unique name with plenty of character.
- Mayer – A Hebrew name meaning “bringer of light.”
- Prabhat – An Indian name that means “morning,” Prabhat is the ideal moniker for parents who want to give their son a bright and optimistic start in life.
- Dipak – A traditionally Sanskrit male first-name which refers to a flame lamp used for religious rituals in Hinduism; therefore its meaning can also associated with light and brightness
- Tarek – An Arabic name that translates to “morning star,” symbolizing brightness and hope.
- Sherlock – An English surname-turned-first-name made popular by the famous detective known as Sherlock Holmes created by Sir Arthur Conan Doyle would be an unconventional pick but can suit well if you’re looking for something distinctive yet smart-sounding which might offer some interesting nicknames possibilities like Sheryl or Locke if preferred.
- Clinton – Unrelated to the former US president, this Old English name means “settlement on a hill” and has been used widely since the 1800s.
- Nuriel – A Hebrew name that means “fire of God,” Nuriel is a unique and meaningful choice for parents seeking a name that conveys brightness, strength, and divine power.
- Dag – A Norwegian moniker with classical Viking roots and translates to either “day” or “brightness” as well be translated as dawn.
- Lucius – “light” or “shining” in Latin and was a common name among early Christians.
- Pradeep – Another Indian name with bright connotations, Pradeep means “lamp” or “light.” It’s an excellent choice for parents who want to convey intelligence, introspection, and spiritual understanding.
- Callahan – An Irish name that means “bright-headed” or “descendant of Ceallachán,” popularized by professional football player Dan Callahan.
- Havier – Bright and radiant, it is a Spanish name that is often associated with intelligence and creative thinking.
- Yang – “light” in Chinese and can also represent positivity, good fortune, and masculinity.
- Wilber – “bright will” in Old German and can also be spelled as Wilbur or Wilder.
- Xavier – Xavier comes from Basque origins and means “new house,” signifying a bright new beginning for a baby boy.
- Abner – A Hebrew name that means “father of light” or “my father is a light.”
- Eilo – A unique name with possible origins in Welsh or Finnish, thought to mean “light-bearer” or “shining one.”
- Oran – A Celtic name that means “pale green,” Oran is a charming and unconventional name choice for parents looking for something light-hearted and fun.
- Xayvion – A unique variation of Xavier, also represents new beginnings but with an added touch of originality.
- Sherwin – An Old English origin meaning ‘swift runner.’ Sherwin makes quite the modern revival now suitable towards more modern families after being lost in time amongst various other archaic names, this name is now ideal for parents seeking something distinctive yet has that classic-vintage touch.
- Elian – With roots in Welsh and Hebrew, Elian means “bright” in Welsh and “my God has answered” in Hebrew.
- Albus – Of Latin origin, means pure white or bright white, often used as the surname for the headmasters in Harry Potter series.
- Aalok – A Hindu name that means “bright” and has roots in Sanskrit.
- Arjun – Of Indian origin, refers to the Hindu god who was known for his shining abilities as an archer.
- Kieron – Dark-haired one with a light spirit, it originated from Celtic roots and has become increasingly popular in recent years.
- Zahir – Zahir comes from Arabic roots meaning “clear” or “radiant,” representing brightness and brilliance for a baby boy’s future.
- Lucas – A popular name of Latin origin meaning “light-giving” or “bright.”
- Uriel – A Hebrew name meaning “God is my light,” often associated with the archangel who watches over humanity.
- Edbert – A Germanic name meaning “bright edge,” combining two elements of bright and sharpness.
- Akio – Another Japanese name that means “bright” or “clear.”
- Humberto – Bright support, it is a Spanish and Portuguese name that symbolizes strength and reliability.
- Luke – Derived from the Greek word for light, and is also the name of one of the four evangelists in the Bible.
- Delbert – This boy’s given name of French/Germanic origin meaning “shining” or “noble brightness.”
- Yury – Derived from Russian origins meaning “light” or “sunrise.”
- Epiphany – This Greek-derived name has been traditionally associated with the manifestation of Christ’s divinity as a shining star or light.
- Gilbert – From Old German meaning “brilliant pledge,” this classic moniker has been around since the Middle Ages.
Girl Names that means light or bright
- Elaina – Greek roots meaning shining light
- Xaviera – Meaning new house but bright, Xaviera describes someone who brings light into darkness and hope where there’s despair.
- Cindy – Cindy originated as a nickname for Cynthia which comes from Greek mythology and means “moon”.
- Alberta – Alberta originated in Old Germanic origin meaning noble bright
- Dawn – Dawn refers to the sunrise, symbolizing new beginnings and hopefulness.
- Quita – A Spanish name that means “the shining one”.
- Nonnie – A diminutive of the Greek name Eudocia, which can mean “good thought,” but could also signify brightness and lightness of mind and spirit.
- Clarissa – Derived from the Latin word for bright, and can also mean clear, famous, or renowned.
- Kiara – “light” or “clear” in Italian, making it an ideal name for parents who want to pay tribute to their family’s Italian heritage.
- Zara – Zara comes from Arabic roots and has various meanings including brightness, princess or flower depending on its context of usage.
- Orly – A Hebrew name that means “my light”.
- Elora – Derived from the Hebrew word for God and means “the Lord is my light”.
- Raelynn – An Americanized version of Rae which originally comes from Hebrew, meaning “ewe”, but also has connotations with light.
- Eileen – Eileen originates from Ireland and translates to mean radiant one which reflects light
- Kalista – Greek origin which mean most beautiful derives from Callisto.It was used in ancient Greece as an attribute if goddess Artemis who was known for her beauty
- Zaria – Zaria comes from Russian origin and means ‘Morning Star’ which was believed to be an ancient Venus deity in Slavic mythology known as Zarya/Ursa/Morning Star maiden etc.,
- Uma – A Sanskrit name that means “bright” or “splendor”. It is also the name of a Hindu goddess.
- Nahara – Arabic word for Daybreak can imply hopefulness /brightness filling hope in dark situations
- Abha – A Sanskrit name that means ‘luminous’ or ‘radiant’.
- Ellie – A shortened form of the name Ellen, which means “light” or “torch”.
- Marjorie – This vintage jewel holds both a romantic aura as well as modernity linked with its shorter variants like Marge, Jori etc., while signifying being born during daylight hours
- Kamari – “moonlight” and is of Swahili origin.
- Liora – Epresents beauty in Hebrew, also spelled Liyora with pronunciations of Lee-O-ra or Lee-yor-a for easy variations.
- Norah – Derived from the Greek word for light, phos, and also shares similarities with the Irish Gaelic word for honor, nóirín.
- Syria – Syria does not have a direct meaning but originates from ancient Syria’s term -“Suraye,’ which symbolizes clearness representing light coming to enlighten anyone’s mood instantly
- Clarine – A French name meaning “bright” or “clear”, often associated with the delicacy of a clarinet.
- Klaire – A modern spelling variation of Claire, which comes from the Latin word clārus meaning “clear”, “bright”, “famous” or “brilliant.”
- Elektra – A Greek name meaning “amber” or “shining”.
- Candi – An English name that means “brilliantly white and shining”.
- Leanna – A modern American name that has been gaining popularity in recent years, and is commonly used as both a first and last name.
- Myong – With Korean origins Myong positions itself as ‘Bright’ in translations being more than just light but glowing grace etc.,
- Arunima – Meaning ‘first rays of sun’, this Indian origin Hindu girl’s name signifies brightness and promise
- Halina – A Polish baby girl name that means light or sunshine. It is a diminutive form of the Greek name Helena, which also means light.
- Urena – A Spanish name that means “light” or “illumination”.
- Norelle – Norelle comes from Australia meaning feminine light/ brightness or something named after someone named Noel
- Meera – An Indian name meaning “light” or “fate”, suggesting illumination or brightness in life prospects.
- Kaylie – “slim and fair” in Irish Gaelic and has been a top choice for baby girls in the US since the 1990s.
- Lana – Roots in several languages including Hebrew (meaning: oak tree), Hawaiian (meaning: calm as still waters) and Bulgarian/Serbian (meaning: moon).
- Lucia – Lucia originates from Italy’s Roman culture that represents light bringing clarity to life- named after Saint Lucy who symbolizes hope after despair.”
- Birdie – A cute nickname that can mean “little bird” or “bright, shining one”.
- Liana – A Latin-inspired name meaning “to bind” or “twist,” often associated with vines and nature.
- Zora – This name has Slavic roots and translates to “dawn” or “sunrise”.
- Febe – Febe originates from Greece and connotes brightness, purity, radiance or clarity- characteristics associated with moon goddesses in Greek mythology
- Eleanor – Of Old French origin and was made popular by Queen Eleanor of Aquitaine.
- Roberta – Roberta comes from Old Germanic elements Hroth and Berhta which meant “fame” and “bright” respectively
- Souline – A rare French girl name that has Greek origins, which signifies light or brightness exuding energy in every aspect.
- Jelena – Jelena comes from Slavic languages and means bright or shining one. This elegant baby girl name was given to Serbian tennis player Jelena Jankovic.
- Lanora – A rare name of American origin that is believed to have been derived from the Gaelic name Elnora.
- Aileen – An Irish name which means ‘light’ or ‘bright shining light’.
- Urith – A Hebrew name that means “brightness” or “enlightenment”.
- Eleora – A Hebrew name meaning “the Lord is my light”.
- Kallie – Kallie originates from Greece meaning most beautiful but it can be associated with brilliance too.The alternative spelling Kaleigh can be interpreted as beauty coming from intelligence
- Gilberta – German origins and is a rare baby girl name meaning bright and shining. It is often used to honor Saint Gilbert of Sempringham.
- Nell – An English name that means “light.”
- Aelin – A name derived from Gaelic language and refers to light and brightness.
- Xavia – A Latin origin name which means “new house”.
- Nelly – A variation of the name Nell and also means “light” in English.
- Anora – A Scottish name meaning “honor, light,” commonly given to baby girls in Scotland
- Anuradha – An Indian Hindu name that means “bright star,” inspired by a constellation in Hindu astronomy
- Akyra – A modern American name with African roots meaning “precious”.
- Aayla – A name of Arabic origin that means ‘halo of light’.
- Margaret – This English name represents pure and bright light; also connotes ‘pearl’. Many famous personalities throughout history have borne this classic moniker including first lady Margaret Thatcher
- Alina – A popular Slavic name that means “bright, beautiful” and has been used in several cultures
- Chiara – An Italian name that means both “clear, bright” and also refers to the saint Clare of Assisi.
- Ashni – Derived from Sanskrit, this rare girl’s name means ‘lightning’ or ‘flash of lightning’, signifying power and energy
- Marla – A Hebrew name meaning “star of the sea” and also refers to someone who is bright and shining.
- Niamh – An Irish name that means “brightness” or “radiance.”
- Yelena – Slavic origins and means bright one or shining one, popularised by the character Elena Gilbert in the Vampire Diaries series.
- Phoebe – A Greek name meaning “bright” or “radiant”. In mythology, she was one of the Titans and goddess of the moon.
- Shirleen – An American girl name that has Irish roots, and it means “bright grassy meadow” which gives out bright and cheerful vibes.
- Klara – A Slavic origin name that means “clear, bright”.
- Neve – An Irish name that means “snow,” but can also be interpreted as “bright” or “radiant.”
- Nera – A Hebrew name that means “candle” or “lamp.”
- Analia – A Spanish and Portuguese name that is a combination of Ana and Lia, meaning “graceful light” or “favorable light”
- Aleen – A rare Arabic name meaning “bright, shining” with a simple spelling and pronunciation
- Shyra – A unique girl name derived from the Arabic language, and it means radiance or shining brightly like the sun.
- Lumina – A unique name with Italian origins which means “brilliance” or “light”. It is a perfect fit for parents looking for an uncommon yet meaningful title for their baby girl.
- Mazie – A Greek name meaning “pearl”, symbolizing brightness and radiance.
- Meryl – An English name derived from the Latin word for blackbird, it is associated with being radiant and luminous.
- Luciana – Many variations across different cultures around the world including Brazil, Romania, Portugal- meaning light of grace.”
- Claribel – A unique combination of the names Clara and Belle, meaning “bright and beautiful”.
- Lenora – German roots and was often used in medieval times as an abbreviation for Eleanor.
- Morgana – Of Welsh origin, referring to Morgan le Fay from Arthurian legend said to represent light magic forces of healing instead of evil as depicted in some modern retellings
- Luz – A Spanish name meaning “light”, often given as an honorific title in Catholicism to symbolize spiritual illumination.
- Megan – A Welsh name meaning “pearl”, it represents purity, innocence, and brightness.
- Marlene – A combination of the names Mary and Magdalene, it means “bright star of the sea”.
- Alverta – An English name that means “noble, bright,” which was popular during the 19th century
- Enora – Enora comes from Brittany, France and means “honor bright”, referring to someone who has an honorable character that shines like a bright light.
- Alora – A modern American name that is derived from the Latin word for “light”
- Kashvi – “shining” or “bright” in Sanskrit and is a popular name in India.
- Clarice – “bright” or “clear”, and was popularized by the character Clarice Starling in the novel Silence of the Lambs.
- Svetlana – Svetlana comes from Slavic roots meaning “light” distinguishing itself for shining luminously authenticity with a vibrant outlook on life.
- Lucille – Popularized by Lucille Ball in the 1950s; it originates from France and derives its meaning from Latin words for light (lux) and youthful (illa).
- Elva – Elva originates from the Irish language and means either “fair-browed” or bright light”.
- Zia – Of Arabic origin, it means “splendor” or “light”.
- Bertha – “bright” in German and was a popular name in the early 1900s.
- Noreen – Noreen originates from Ireland meaning both bright and beautiful.
- Bertina – A Latin name meaning “bright like daylight”.
- Charmian – A French name that can mean either “song of joy” or “charming, bright one”.
- Candra – An Indonesian name meaning “moonlight” or “glowing light”.
- Leena – With origins in Arabic and Scandinavian languages, means “softness,” “tenderness” or “serenity.”
- Dianne – Divine light or heavenly messenger.
- Sheera – A Hebrew name that means sweet or song, and it also represents brightness and light.
- Zehra – It is a Turkish name that means “flower in bloom.”
- Aki – A short Japanese name which “bright” or “sparkle”.
- Arunika – Another Indian Hindi name meaning “early morning sunlight,” often seen as a symbol of new beginnings
- Kelise – A variation of Alice meaning “noble kind; light” in Old German.
- Roxanne – Roxanne comes from ancient Greek roots for brightness-“roso” and flower-“anthos”.
- Thea – A Greek name meaning “goddess” or “gift”, and is associated with light and illumination.
- Lucinda – A beautiful name that has Latin origins meaning “of the light”. It is derived from the name Lucius and can be shortened to Lucy or Cindy.
- Ilona – Hungarian roots and means shining light or torch bearer. It is often associated with Queen Ilona Szilágyi, who ruled Hungary in the 15th century.
- Phaedra – A Greek name meaning “bright”. In mythology, she was the wife of Theseus.
- Nelda – A German name that means “bright.”
- Elaine – Elaine comes from Old French and means shining light
- Solana – A Spanish name that means sunshine or bright sunlight, representing the radiance of light.
- Helen – Derived from the Greek word helios, meaning sun or light. This classic and timeless baby girl name has been popular for centuries.
- Kelleen – An Irish Gaelic name that means “bright-haired girl”.
- Elenora – A variant of the name Eleanor, meaning “bright” or “shining one”.
- Roshanara – Roshanara originates in Persian language and referred to something bright or brilliant.
- Olena – A Ukrainian name that means “torch” or “light”.
- Ileana – A Romanian baby girl name meaning bright or torch bearer, made famous by Hollywood actress Ileana Douglas.
- Akemi – A Japanese name meaning ‘bright, beautiful, or clear beauty’
- Sunday – Sunday derives from Old English vocabulary meaning “sun’s day.” It represents hopefulness, happiness, positivity with its joyful essence to brighten up your day.
- Maisie – A Scottish origin that means either pearl or child of light. It makes a lovely choice for parents looking for a classic yet trendy sounding baby girl’s name.
- Lucy – A popular English name that means “light”. Its roots can be traced back to Latin and it is also the name of the main character in the children’s book series, The Lion, The Witch, and The Wardrobe.
- Eliora – “my God is my light” in Hebrew and has gained popularity in recent years.
- Cally – A Scottish name derived from the Gaelic word for “light” or “brightness”.
- Yahaira – Derived from the Hebrew language meaning light from God, closely resembling Ira.
- Lainey – Lainey comes from Lane, which derives from Old English and means “pathway,” but some people have repurposed it as a way to convey brightness because it starts with the positive letter L.
- Misty – An English name that means hazy mist or fog, also indicating lightness and airiness.
- Jelica – Serbian origins meaning pure & bright; halo around moon/sun.The name given to girls are considered exotic & modern yet having traditional roots
- Margaux – Derived from the French vineyards region; represents clarity and radiance but with a much more elegant ring than other names on this list
- Clara – A classic name with Latin origins meaning “bright” or “clear”.
- Leora – “compassion” or “light” and has Biblical origins from the Hebrew word ‘le’or.’
- Saskia – A Dutch girl name that is derived from the word “sas” meaning “knife,” and it means bright or light in nature.
- Margot – Meaning ‘pearl’, originated from Greece; has seen quite a popularity boost in recent years thanks to celebrities using it as their baby’s namesake
- Chandrika – A Sanskrit name meaning “moonbeam” or “silver light”.
- Akiko – Akiko comes from the Japanese language and it means “bright” or “smart child”.
- Helia – Helia originates from Greek mythology and means sun or ray of light. In the myths, Helia was one of the nymphs who served Apollo.
- Tala – Tala denotes ‘star’ in Tagalog giving you shimmering vibes of glow surrounding you to lead you towards new opportunities full of hope and prosperity without losing gracefulness as we move forward
- Akilah – Arabic roots, meaning ‘intelligent’ and ‘bright’.
- Peggy – An English name derived from the Greek word for “pearl”.
- Ziva – Derived from the Hebrew language, it means “brightness” or “brilliance”.
- Mahina – Derived from Hawaiian culture, Mahina means “moon” or “moonlight”, representing brightness in the darkness.
Unisex names meaning light
- Ziya – Ziya comes from Turkish origin meaning “light” which symbolizes hope also making this perfect for either gender..
- Akira – A Japanese unisex name that means bright, clear or intelligent.
- Alba – A Latin origin name given to both boys and girls. It means dawn or sunrise that represents brightness and light.
- Leni – A German unisex name meaning “bright”. It’s a diminutive of the name Helene which means “torch”.
- Bobby – A diminutive of Robert and means bright fame.
- Ziv – Ziv comes from Hebrew origins, meaning “radiance” or “brightness.” It’s simplicity makes it fit well with almost all names thus making it unisex
- Morgan – Morgan is Welsh non-binary baby names that mean “sea dwelling”. Its root words are mor which means sea and gan which means circle”.
- Koren – Koren can be a gender-neutral variation of the Hebrew name Keren, which means ray of light or horn of strength in ancient times; alternatively it may derive from the Korean word for angle/peaceful hills depending on spelling differences in Romanized script
- Birch – A tree-inspired boy’s name that indicates strength, renewal, protection but also has symbolism for being illuminated by the sun’s light on earth!
- Lux – An English unisex name meaning “light” or “enlightenment”. It’s also used as a term in photography to describe the amount of light in an image.
- Orel – A Hebrew name that means “light of God” and can be given to both boys and girls.
- Luca – An Italian unisex name meaning “bringer of light” or “light-giving”. It’s derived from the Latin word “lux”.
- Alva – A Swedish name that means elf with high wisdom; it also refers to daylight in Gaelic origin.
- Robin – Robin comes from the Old English word for “bright fame” and can be used as a unisex name in modern times.
- Noor – An Arabic name that means “light” and is a popular unisex name in Muslim communities.
- Ceallach – An Irish name meaning bright-headed or having many companions.
- Lumi – A Finnish unisex name meaning “snowy” or “bright”. It’s derived from the Finnish word for snow, lumi.
- Arin – Usually used as an English girl’s name that relates to the end of the day or sunset indicating brightness slowly fading away.
- Delwyn – A Welsh name meaning pretty and fair-haired, sometimes associated with sunshine and light.
- Ariel – Ariel can be used as an English unisex name and Hebrew origin meaning Lion of God – representing strength, courage, and brilliant leader qualities.
- Zuhrah – An Arabic name. Its popularity increased in the 2010s and The name is associated with the planet Venus in Islamic astrology.
- Mishal – An Arabic unisex name that means “torch”, “lamp” or light bearer”
- Lior – A Hebrew unisex name meaning “my light” or “I have light”. It’s also used as a surname in Israel.
- Shirley – Shirley originally meant “clearing by a brook,” but has taken on associations with shining, shimmering light over time, making it an iconic unisex choice.
- Ailbhe – An Irish name commonly given to both boys and girls, meaning bright or radiant.
- Kendall – Kendall originated as an English surname that meant valley of the River Kent, but now more commonly used as a unisex baby name that suggests brightness and fairness.
- Rashmi – A Sanskrit name that means “ray of light” and is commonly used as a unisex name in India.
- Kayley – Kayley comes from the Irish surname Kelly, which derives from the Gaelic word for warrior or aggressive, but also can be interpreted as bright-headed.
- Kalan – A Hawaiian name meaning strong and bright, often given to babies born at dawn or during sunny weather.
- Arwyn – Arwyn can be used for either gender; this Welsh-origin name signifies “fair” or “blessed” – indicating someone who emanates inner radiance even in dark times.
- Minh – A Vietnamese unisex name meaning “brightness” or “clearness”.
- Luce – A French unisex name meaning “light”. It can also be used as a nickname for Lucius or Lucinda.
- Shashi – An Indian name meaning “moonbeam” or “of the moon,” giving it connotations of lightness for both genders.
- Meriel – A Welsh unisex name meaning “(of) the sea and brightness (or clarity)”. It can also be spelled Meryl.
- Berty – Berty can be used as both male and female versions originating from German word Berta – typically referring to radiant shining fame or glory
- Claire – A French name meaning clear or bright.
- Jin – A Korean name that can mean treasure or precious, but also has associations with brightness and illumination.
- Anh – A Vietnamese origin unisex name which means bright or intellectual.
- Zerah – Zerah symbolizes dawn or arising light, which gives it meanings of brightness, with the Biblical figure of Zerah being male makes this also common for boys names
- Roshan – A Persian name that means “bright” or “illuminated” and can be used for both boys and girls.
- Kelly – Another Irish surname-turned-first-name that has multiple meanings including warrior or soldier, but also can be interpreted as bright-headed or fierce bravery.
In conclusion, choosing a name for your baby boy that means bright or light is a beautiful way to inspire and motivate him throughout his life. Whether you’re looking for a traditional or unique name, we hope this article has provided you with inspiration for finding the perfect name for your little one.