21 Names That Mean Sun: Boy, Girl, and Radiant Picks

Cyrus comes from Persian and translates to sun, a meaning tied to the ancient king Cyrus the Great. It has quietly held a spot in the US Top 1000 for years, so it reads as strong without feeling overused. The short, punchy sound works well next to a longer middle name.

Ravi means sun in Sanskrit and stays common across India, where it has been a steady favorite for generations. It sounds easy to say in almost any language, and it carries a bright, confident feel without trying too hard. Parents drawn to shorter names tend to land here.

→ Read more: 21 Names That Mean Moon for a matching pick if you are naming a pair.

Aditya also means sun in Sanskrit, drawn from the Aditya deities in Hindu mythology tied to light and the sky. It has stayed popular in India for decades and is slowly showing up more often elsewhere. The name has a formal, grounded weight to it.

Elio is the Italian and Spanish form of sun, close cousin to the Greek Helios. It has been rising fast outside Italy thanks to its easy sound and warm feel. If you want something that feels current rather than classic, Elio fits that gap.

→ Read more: 21 Names That Mean Star for more myth-based picks with the same romantic weight.

Kiran means ray of light in Sanskrit and works as a unisex name across South Asia, though it leans slightly more common for boys. It points to a single beam rather than the whole sun, which gives it a softer, more specific meaning than most on this list.

Inti was the Incan sun god, worshipped as one of the most important deities in Incan mythology. The name is still used in parts of Peru and Bolivia today, and it stands out here as one of the rarer, more distinct choices. Short and easy to pronounce, it carries real weight behind it.

→ Read more: You Are My Sunshine quotes

Sulien is Welsh and roughly translates to born of the sun, blending sul, the Welsh word for sun, with a common name ending. It is genuinely rare outside Wales, which makes it a strong option if you want a sun name almost nobody else will have.

Eliana blends Hebrew and Latin roots and carries two layered meanings, my God has answered and sun. It has landed in the US Top 10 in recent years and stays popular across the UK, Canada, and the Netherlands too. Few sun names hit that level of mainstream love.

→ Read more: Thoughtful Gifts for The Zodiac Obsessed

Aurora is Latin for dawn, the moment the sun first breaks the horizon. It has stayed a steady favorite for decades, boosted further by the Disney princess tie-in, and it works well shortened to Rory or Ora.

Marisol combines the Spanish words for sea and sun into one name, painting a full picture rather than a single image. It carries real popularity in Spanish-speaking communities and has crossed over well into wider use. The rhythm of the name makes it easy to say out loud.

Solana is Spanish for sunshine or a sunny place, and it has a fresh, modern feel next to older sun names. It is still fairly rare, though it has picked up steam as parents look for something bright without going with Sunny directly.

Sunniva is Norwegian and translates to sun gift, tied to a medieval Norwegian saint of the same name. It is rare outside Scandinavia, which makes it a strong pick for parents who want a name with real history behind it and almost no chance of a classroom repeat.

Áine was an Irish sun and fertility goddess, and her name is often translated as radiance or brightness. It is pronounced AWN-ya and remains uncommon outside Ireland, giving it a quiet, folklore-rich feel that few other names on this list share.

Soleil is simply the French word for sun. It got a boost in visibility through a well-known actress who carries the name, but it has stayed lightly used overall, so it reads as recognizable without being common.

Apollo was the Greek god of the sun, music, and light, one of the most recognized figures in Greek mythology. The name has grown fast in the US over the past decade, now landing solidly in the Top 100 for boys. It carries strength without feeling harsh.

Helios was the Greek personification of the sun itself, often pictured driving a chariot across the sky. The name has stayed less common than Apollo despite the shared mythology, which makes it a strong pick for a couple who wants something recognizable but not overused.

Sol means sun in Latin, Spanish, and Norwegian alike, showing up across several unrelated language families with the same simple meaning. It works as a full name or a nickname for something longer like Soleil or Solana, and its short length makes it easy to embroider or print.

Amaterasu is the Japanese sun goddess, considered the most important deity in Shinto belief and the mythological ancestor of the imperial family. The name is rarely used outside Japan, so it stands out as one of the most distinct, meaning-rich options on this whole list.

Ra was the ancient Egyptian sun god, often ranked as the most powerful deity in the Egyptian pantheon. The name is about as short as they come, just two letters, which gives it an almost symbol-like quality when used as a couple's nickname or a middle name.

Aurelio comes from Latin and means golden, a meaning closely tied to sunlight and warmth rather than the sun itself. It stays fairly rare in English-speaking countries while remaining a familiar choice across Italy and Spain, giving it a distinct, worldly feel.

Sunny works as a standalone name or a nickname for Sunniva, Solana, or nearly any name on this list. It reads as warm and upbeat without leaning on mythology or ancient language, and it has picked up steady, casual popularity as a first name in its own right.