Sun names have a built-in warmth. Some are direct translations of “sun.” Others point to sunlight, dawn, rays, gold, or sun gods from different cultures. If you want a name that feels bright without trying too hard, this list gives you plenty to test out loud.
Names that mean sun (popular picks)
- Sol: sun
- Sunny: sunshine
- Soleil: sun
- Helios: sun
- Apollo: destroyer (sun god association)
- Aurora: dawn
- Dawn: dawn
- Elio: sun
- Cyrus: sun
- Ravi: sun
- Surya: sun
- Aditya: sun
- Sampson: sun
- Samson: sun
- Ori: my light
- Lucian: light
- Lucia: light
- Lucas: light-giving
- Elena: shining light
- Nora: light
Boy names that mean sun
- Aditya: sun
- Aftab: sun
- Agim: dawn
- Anatole: sunrise
- Apollo: destroyer (sun god association)
- Arin: mountain of strength (also used as “enlightened” in some contexts)
- Arun: dawn
- Asahi: morning sun
- Aster: star
- Avinash: indestructible
- Cyrus: sun
- Dayan: bright, shining
- Elio: sun
- Helios: sun
- Hikari: light
- Inti: sun
- Kiran: ray of light
- Mitra: friend (sun deity association)
- Orhan: great leader
- Osiris: powerful
- Ravi: sun
- Ray: ray of light
- Samson: sun
- Savitri: of the sun (often feminine)
- Soren: stern
- Suryo: sun
- Surya: sun
- Taiyo: sun
- Zia: light, splendor
Girl names that mean sun
- Alba: dawn
- Amaterasu: shining over heaven (sun goddess)
- Arpina: rising of the sun
- Aurora: dawn
- Calista: most beautiful
- Cyra: sun, throne
- Dawn: dawn
- Eos: dawn
- Goldie: gold
- Hina: sun ray
- Ilona: light
- Iraida: heroine
- Kalinda: sun
- Kira: light
- Leora: light
- Liora: my light
- Luz: light
- Oriana: sunrise, golden
- Roxana: dawn
- Sola: sun
- Solana: sunshine
- Soleil: sun
- Sunniva: sun gift
- Theia: goddess, divine
- Zora: dawn
Unisex sun names (bright, clean, easy to use)
- Aiden: little fire
- Ash: ash tree (also “ash” from fire)
- Blaise: stammering (often tied to flame vibe)
- Elian: my God has answered (also used as “sun” in some modern usage)
- Halo: ring of light
- Haze: light fog (sunlit vibe)
- Lux: light
- Nuri: my light
- Phoenix: dark red
- Rayen: flower
- Sol: sun
- Storm: storm
- Ziv: radiance, brilliance
Mythology and sun-god inspired names
- Amaterasu: shining over heaven
- Apollo: destroyer (sun god association)
- Helios: sun
- Inti: sun
- Mithra: contract, friendship (sun deity association)
- Ra: sun
- Surya: sun
- Sol: sun
More names connected to sun, light, and sunshine
- Aileen: bright, shining one
- Ainara: swallow (often linked to light, joy)
- Aiyana: eternal blossom
- Anwar: luminous
- Arnav: ocean
- Bhanu: sun, shine
- Chiara: light, clear
- Clarissa: bright, clear
- Dawnelle: dawn
- Dipak: lamp, light
- Elaine: shining light
- Eileen: bright, shining one
- Eleanor: shining light
- Enver: bright
- Farah: joy
- Fulgencio: shining, brilliant
- Gwen: white, blessed
- Hoshiko: star child
- Inara: ray of light
- Jyoti: light
- Lani: heaven
- Lior: my light
- Meira: giving light
- Niamh: bright
- Noor: light
- Or: light
- Orli: my light
- Prakash: light
- Roshan: bright, light
- Shams: sun
- Sitara: star
- Sudarshan: handsome, good-looking
- Taner: born with the dawn
- Uriel: God is my light
- Veda: knowledge
- Xanthe: golden, yellow
- Ziya: light, glow
If you want the most direct meaning, names like Sol, Soleil, Helios, Surya, Ravi, and Aftab get straight to the point. If you prefer something softer, lean toward dawn and light names like Aurora, Eos, Alba, Oriana, Noor, and Liora. Pick a short list, say each one in a normal sentence, and the one that feels sunny without feeling forced is usually the winner.