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 & 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, & radiant beauty, as well as a blend of tradition & culture. These names, sourced from various countries & languages, offer unique options for yar baby that connect deeply with the symbolism of sunlight – life, energy, & 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, & 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 & 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 & 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 & sun”, evoking the image of the sun shining over the sea.
- Ra: The ancient Egyptian sun god, symbolizing power & 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 & Portuguese, it carries the meaning “sun”.
- Solana: Spanish for “sunlight”, evoking the warmth & 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 Sc&inavian 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 & 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 & meaningful options from a number of cultures & languages.
Gender-Neutral Sun Names
Many sun & sunshine names carry universal appeal, transcending cultural & gender boundaries, & bring a ray of light into the naming convention. Whether ya’re looking for a name that’s soft & gentle or strong & 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, & Swedish, reflecting the brightness & vitality of the sun.
- Solaris: Latin for “of the sun”, evoking the essence of the sun’s radiance & warmth.
- Sunny: Evokes the cheerfulness & brightness associated with sunlight.
- Ravi (रवि): Sanskrit for “sun”, widely used across genders, symbolizing the power & 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 & renewal associated with the sun.
- Samson: Though traditionally male, it’s gaining popularity as a unisex name due to its meaning “sun”, representing strength & brightness.
- Arun (अरुण): Sanskrit for “dawn light”, symbolizing the first rays of the rising sun & new beginnings.
- Cyrus (کوروش): Persian meaning “sun”, becoming more popular for any gender, symbolizing power & radiance.
- Ra: Egyptian sun god, symbolizing power, warmth, & life-giving energy.
choosin’ a gender-neutral sun name offers a modern approach to celebrating the warmth, life, & vitality of the sun. Each name carries the timeless allure & 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 & 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 & 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, & vitality.
- Aiden: Irish for “fiery,” commonly associated with the sun.
- Elio: Italian & Spanish variant of Helios, the Greek god of the sun.
- Sorin: Romanian for “sun.”
- Martín: Latin for “of Mars, god of war, agriculture, & – 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, & 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 & light of the sun.
- Solano: Spanish for “sunlight” or “sunny,” evoking the warmth & 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 & light, symbolizing power, beauty, & creativity.
- Savitar: (सवितर्) Sanskrit for “one who brings light,” another name for the sun god Surya, symbolizing illumination & enlightenment.
- Belenus: Celtic sun god, symbolizing healing, fertility, & 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, & 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 & radiance.
- Alba: Latin for “dawn” or “sunrise,” symbolizing new beginnings & hope.
- Amaterasu: (天照) Japanese sun goddess, symbolizing light, warmth, & the source of life.
- Aurora: Latin for “dawn,” often associated with the rising sun & new beginnings.
- Aeliana: Derived from the Latin word “aelius,” meaning “sun,” representing brightness & vitality.
- Cyra: A variant of the Persian name “Kira,” meaning “sun” or “throne,” evoking warmth & brightness.
- Elaine: Of Greek origin, meaning “sun ray” or “bright, shining light,” representing warmth & radiance.
- Elin: Derived from the Welsh word “eilio,” meaning “sun,” symbolizing energy & 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 & brightness.
- Kalinda: Hindi & Sanskrit for “the sun,” representing the radiant energy & vitality of sunlight.
- Kyra: Derived from the Persian word “kūr,” meaning “sun,” symbolizing warmth, light, & energy.
- Marisol: Spanish for “sea & sun,” evoking the image of the sun shining over the sea.
- Miray: Turkish for “sunbeam” or “ray of sunlight,” representing the warmth & brightness of the sun.
- Soleil: French for “sun,” symbolizing warmth, light, & energy.
- Solara: Derived from the Latin word “solaris,” meaning “of the sun,” symbolizing warmth & radiance.
- Solene: French for “sun,” evoking the warmth & brightness of sunlight.
- Surya: (सूर्य) Sanskrit for “the sun,” representing the radiant energy & vitality of the sun in Hindu mythology.
- Thea: Greek for “goddess” or “divine,” often associated with the sun & light.
- Oriana: Derived from the Latin word “aurum,” meaning “gold” or “sunrise,” symbolizing warmth, brightness, & 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 & its brightness.
- Arunima (अरुणिमा): Sanskrit for “glowing like the sun,” symbolizing warmth & radiance.
- Circe: Derived from Greek mythology, Circe was a sorceress associated with the sun & magic.
- Eilidh: Scottish Gaelic name meaning “sunlight,” evoking the warmth & brightness of the sun.
- Helia: Derived from the Greek word “helios,” meaning “sun,” symbolizing brightness & vitality.
- Leocadia: From the Greek name “Leokadia,” meaning “bright” or “clear,” often associated with the sun’s clarity & brilliance.
- Marigold: A flower name derived from “Mary’s gold,” symbolizing the sun’s warmth & brightness.
- Oriane: French variant of Oriana, derived from “aurum,” meaning “gold” or “sunrise,” symbolizing warmth & new beginnings.
- Savita (सविता): Sanskrit for “sun,” often associated with the radiance & vitality of sunlight.
- Sunniva: A Sc&inavian name meaning “sun gift” or “sunbeam,” symbolizing the sun’s blessings & radiance.
- Suraya: Arabic for “sun,” representing the radiance & 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, & heritage, weaving stories of ancestry, occupation, & the sun’s legacy into their very sounds.

- Solano: Derived from Spanish or Italian, meaning “sunny” or “sunlight,” evoking warmth & brightness.
- Sole: A surname of Italian origin, meaning “sun,” symbolizing radiance & vitality.
- Solberg: A Danish & 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 & light.
- Surya (सूर्य): A surname of Indian origin, derived from Sanskrit, meaning “sun,” representing the radiant energy & vitality of sunlight.
- Day: A common English surname, signifying the daylight or the period when the sun is shining, representing warmth & 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 & 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, & tradition, reflecting humanity’s enduring fascination with the warmth, light, & vitality the sun shines on the Earth.