100+ Names That Mean “Sun” or “Sunshine” (Female, Male, Unisex & Surnames)

Ever wonder why some names just seem to light up a room? It may be because they’re literally inspired by the brightest thing in our sky – the sun. Names that mean “sun” or “sunshine” carry a warmth and radiance that’s hard to ignore. They’re like a little dose of happiness every time ya say them out loud.

Whether ya’re naming a just-born ray of sunshine or a character in a book, there’s something undeniably magnetic about names that echo this celestial body. That may be why there are so many sun-inspired names from around the world.

Names Inspired by the Sun

Sun-inspired names carry the essence of brightness, vitality, and radiant beauty, as well as a blend of tradition and culture. These names, sourced from various countries and languages, offer unique options for yar baby that connect deeply with the symbolism of sunlight – life, energy, and renewal. Whether ya’re drawn to names that directly mean “sun” or those that evoke the feelings of a bright, sunny day, there’s something incredibly joyful about naming yar child after this ultimate source of light.

• Aarush (आरुष): Rooted in Sanskrit, meaning “the first ray of the sun”.
• Aditya (आदित्य): Sanskrit for “sun” or “sunshine”, often referring to the sun god in Hindu mythology.
• Apollo: From Greek mythology, Apollo was the god of the sun, light, music, and healing.
• Aten: An ancient Egyptian deity representing the sun’s disk, worshipped during the reign of Pharaoh Akhenaten.
• Cyrus (کوروش): Emerging from Persian, carries the meaning “Sun, or one who bestows care”.
• Eleadora: A Spanish and Portuguese name meaning “gift of the sun”.
• Elio (Italiano): Evolved from Italian, it signifies “the sun”.
• Helen (Ἑλένη): Arising from Greek, it carries the meaning “bright, shining light”.
• Helios (Ἥλιος): In Greek mythology, Helios was the personification of the sun.
• Kalinda (कालिन्द): Originating in Hindi and Sanskrit, it means “the sun”.
• Kiran (किरण): Sanskrit for “ray of light” or “sunbeam”.
• Kiranmay (किरणमय): A Sanskrit name meaning “full of rays” or “radiant like the sun”.
• Malina: Emerging from Inuit culture, it signifies “the sun goddess”.
• Marisol: Spanish for “sea and sun”, evoking the image of the sun shining over the sea.
• Ra: The ancient Egyptian sun god, symbolizing power and warmth.
• Ravi (रवि): Sanskrit for “sun”, also a name of the sun god in Hindu mythology.
• Samson (שִׁמְשׁוֹן): Rooted in Hebrew, it means “sun child” or “little sun”.
• Savita (सविता): Sanskrit for “sun”, often associated with the sun goddess in Hindu mythology.
• Sol (Español/Português): Originating from Spanish and Portuguese, it carries the meaning “sun”.
• Solana: Spanish for “sunlight”, evoking the warmth and power of fire.
• Soleil (Français): Derived from French, it simply means “sun”.
• Solene: A French name derived from “soleil”, meaning “sun”.
• Sorin: A Romanian name meaning “sun”.
• Sunniva: A Scandinavian name meaning “sun gift” or “sunbeam”.
• Suraj (सूरज): Sanskrit for “sun”, commonly used as a masculine given name in South Asia.
• Surya (सूर्य): Rooted in Sanskrit, it signifies “the sun God”.
• Suryansh (सूर्यांश): A Hindi name meaning “part of the sun” or “sunbeam”, derived from Sanskrit.
• Tanmay (तन्मय): Sanskrit for “absorbed in the sun”, symbolizing immersion in the radiance of the sun.
• Tanvi (तन्वि): Sanskrit for “beautiful”, often associated with the radiance and warmth of the sun.
• Vivasvan (विवस्वान): Sanskrit for “the sun”, also a name of the sun god in Hindu mythology.

As ya can see, a search for the perfect sun-inspired name opens up a world of exquisite and meaningful options from a number of cultures and languages.

Gender-Neutral Sun Names

Many sun and sunshine names carry universal appeal, transcending cultural and gender boundaries, and bring a ray of light into the naming convention. Whether ya’re looking for a name that’s soft and gentle or strong and vibrant, this list has something for everyone who wants their child to carry a piece of sunlight in their name.

• Sol (Spanish/Norwegian/Swedish): Meaning “sun” in Spanish, Norwegian, and Swedish, reflecting the brightness and vitality of the sun.
• Solaris: Latin for “of the sun”, evoking the essence of the sun’s radiance and warmth.
• Sunny: Evokes the cheerfulness and brightness associated with sunlight.
• Ravi (रवि): Sanskrit for “sun”, widely used across genders, symbolizing the power and brilliance of the sun.
• Kiran (किरण): Sanskrit for “ray of light”, suggesting the sun’s radiant beams.
• Haru (春): Japanese for “sunlight” or “spring”, symbolizing the warmth and renewal associated with the sun.
• Samson: Though traditionally male, it’s gaining popularity as a unisex name due to its meaning “sun”, representing strength and brightness.
• Arun (अरुण): Sanskrit for “dawn light”, symbolizing the first rays of the rising sun and new beginnings.
• Cyrus (کوروش): Persian meaning “sun”, becoming more popular for any gender, symbolizing power and radiance.
• Ra: Egyptian sun god, symbolizing power, warmth, and life-giving energy.

choosin’ a gender-neutral sun name offers a modern approach to celebrating the warmth, life, and vitality of the sun. Each name carries the timeless allure and energy of the sun without gender constraints.

Sunny Names for Boys

If ya’re seeking a name for yar baby boy that’s as bright and cheerful as a sunny day, it’s hard to top a name that actually means or is related to the sun. Derived from cultures around the world, these sun-inspired boy names carry the warmth and power of the sun itself.

• Aditya (आदित्य): Sanskrit for “belonging to Aditi,” often directly translated as “the sun.”
• Helios: (Ἥλιος) Greek god of the sun, representing illumination, truth, and vitality.
• Aiden: Irish for “fiery,” commonly associated with the sun.
• Elio: Italian and Spanish variant of Helios, the Greek god of the sun.
• Sorin: Romanian for “sun.”
• Martín: Latin for “of Mars, god of war, agriculture, and – indirectly – associated with the sun.”
• Rohan (रोहण): Sanskrit for “ascending” or “healing, medicine,” often associated with the sun.
• Anatole (Ἀνατολή): Greek for “sunrise.”
• Aelius: Latin for “sun.”
• Mehran (مهران): Persian for “kindness,” “sun.”
• Phoebus: Greek, another name for Apollo, meaning “bright, shining.”
• Shamash: Akkadian, Babylonian, and Assyrian sun god.
• Diell: Albanian for “sun.”
• Haul: Welsh for “sun.”
• Mane: Māori for “sun.”
• Mithra: Persian god of the sun.
• Yaretzi: A Nahuatl (Aztec language) name meaning “ya will always be loved”, associated with the sun in Aztec mythology.
• Aftab (آفتاب): Persian for “sunshine”, a name representing the warmth and light of the sun.
• Solano: Spanish for “sunlight” or “sunny,” evoking the warmth and brightness of the sun.
• Lucian: Derived from the Latin word “lux,” meaning “light,” often associated with the sun’s radiance.
• Apollo: Greek god of the sun and light, symbolizing power, beauty, and creativity.
• Savitar: (सवितर्) Sanskrit for “one who brings light,” another name for the sun god Surya, symbolizing illumination and enlightenment.
• Belenus: Celtic sun god, symbolizing healing, fertility, and the cycles of nature.

Each of these names brings to life the radiant, powerful essence of the sun, perfect for a baby boy who will no doubt be a beacon of light in yar life.

Sun Names for Girls

When searching for a name for a baby girl with a real internal glow, consider sun-inspired names that embody light, warmth, and positivity. These beautiful sun names carry the eternal radiance of the brightest celestial body, perfect for that little sunshine in yar life.

• Aelia: Meaning “sun” or “sunlight,” evoking warmth and radiance.
• Alba: Latin for “dawn” or “sunrise,” symbolizing new beginnings and hope.
• Amaterasu: (天照) Japanese sun goddess, symbolizing light, warmth, and the source of life.
• Aurora: Latin for “dawn,” often associated with the rising sun and new beginnings.
• Aeliana: Derived from the Latin word “aelius,” meaning “sun,” representing brightness and vitality.
• Cyra: A variant of the Persian name “Kira,” meaning “sun” or “throne,” evoking warmth and brightness.
• Elaine: Of Greek origin, meaning “sun ray” or “bright, shining light,” representing warmth and radiance.
• Elin: Derived from the Welsh word “eilio,” meaning “sun,” symbolizing energy and life-giving warmth.
• Helen: Originating from Greek mythology, meaning “bright, shining light,” associated with the radiance of the sun.
• Idalia: Possibly derived from the Greek word “idalion,” meaning “sunlit,” symbolizing warmth and brightness.
• Kalinda: Hindi and Sanskrit for “the sun,” representing the radiant energy and vitality of sunlight.
• Kyra: Derived from the Persian word “kūr,” meaning “sun,” symbolizing warmth, light, and energy.
• Marisol: Spanish for “sea and sun,” evoking the image of the sun shining over the sea.
• Miray: Turkish for “sunbeam” or “ray of sunlight,” representing the warmth and brightness of the sun.
• Soleil: French for “sun,” symbolizing warmth, light, and energy.
• Solara: Derived from the Latin word “solaris,” meaning “of the sun,” symbolizing warmth and radiance.
• Solene: French for “sun,” evoking the warmth and brightness of sunlight.
• Surya: (सूर्य) Sanskrit for “the sun,” representing the radiant energy and vitality of the sun in Hindu mythology.
• Thea: Greek for “goddess” or “divine,” often associated with the sun and light.
• Oriana: Derived from the Latin word “aurum,” meaning “gold” or “sunrise,” symbolizing warmth, brightness, and new beginnings.
• Ellie: Diminutive of Eleanor or Ellen, meaning “bright, shining light,” often associated with the radiance of the sun.
• Adhithi (अधिती): Sanskrit for “belonging to Aditi,” often interpreted as “the sun.”
• Aine: Irish name meaning “radiance” or “splendor,” associated with the sun and its brightness.
• Arunima (अरुणिमा): Sanskrit for “glowing like the sun,” symbolizing warmth and radiance.
• Circe: Derived from Greek mythology, Circe was a sorceress associated with the sun and magic.
• Eilidh: Scottish Gaelic name meaning “sunlight,” evoking the warmth and brightness of the sun.
• Helia: Derived from the Greek word “helios,” meaning “sun,” symbolizing brightness and vitality.
• Leocadia: From the Greek name “Leokadia,” meaning “bright” or “clear,” often associated with the sun’s clarity and brilliance.
• Marigold: A flower name derived from “Mary’s gold,” symbolizing the sun’s warmth and brightness.
• Oriane: French variant of Oriana, derived from “aurum,” meaning “gold” or “sunrise,” symbolizing warmth and new beginnings.
• Savita (सविता): Sanskrit for “sun,” often associated with the radiance and vitality of sunlight.
• Sunniva: A Scandinavian name meaning “sun gift” or “sunbeam,” symbolizing the sun’s blessings and radiance.
• Suraya: Arabic for “sun,” representing the radiance and warmth of sunlight.
• Dawn:

Each of these names embodies the warm, life-giving essence of the sun, perfect for a baby girl certain to cast a warm glow over yar life.

Last Names That Mean Sun

When it comes to surnames that mean “sun,” they are more than mere identifiers. They are echoes of history, culture, and heritage, weaving stories of ancestry, occupation, and the sun’s legacy into their very sounds.

• Solano: Derived from Spanish or Italian, meaning “sunny” or “sunlight,” evoking warmth and brightness.
• Sole: A surname of Italian origin, meaning “sun,” symbolizing radiance and vitality.
• Solberg: A Danish and Norwegian surname, meaning “sun mountain,” indicating a place associated with the sun’s presence or brightness.
• Sundberg: A Swedish surname, meaning “sun mountain,” similar in meaning to Solberg.
• Solis: A Spanish surname, derived from the Latin word “sol,” meaning “sun,” symbolizing warmth and light.
• Surya (सूर्य): A surname of Indian origin, derived from Sanskrit, meaning “sun,” representing the radiant energy and vitality of sunlight.
• Day: A common English surname, signifying the daylight or the period when the sun is shining, representing warmth and illumination.
• Sunniva: A Norwegian surname, meaning “sun gift” or “sunbeam,” symbolizing blessings or radiant energy from the sun.
• Soler: Catalan for “sun,” derived from the Latin word “sol,” indicating warmth and light.

Each of these names inspired by the sun radiates with the essence of the star’s life-giving energy. From the ancient reverence of “Helios” to the warmth of “Sole,” these names traverse the spectrum of culture, language, and tradition, reflecting humanity’s enduring fascination with the warmth, light, and vitality the sun shines on the Earth.