Names by Meaning
A name’s meaning is the story that comes with it. Parents choose Lucia for light, Amara for grace or Ivy for faithfulness; writers pick a villain whose name secretly means “darkness.” This section gathers our lists of name meanings — names that mean moon, love, strength, hope and dozens more — together with our guide to color names, from crimson to cerulean.
Below is a sampler of names grouped by the ideas people search for most, with real etymologies. Follow the links to the full lists, or jump straight to favorites like names that mean moon and names that mean love.
Meaning: browse all lists
Names that mean light, sun, moon and stars
The sky is the most popular source of name meanings. Explore our full lists of names that mean light, names that mean sun and names that mean star.
| Name | Meaning | Origin |
|---|---|---|
| Lucia | “Light” | Latin |
| Nora | “Light” (as a short form of Eleanor, possibly) | Irish / Greek |
| Elio | “Sun” | Italian, from Greek Helios |
| Soleil | “Sun” | French |
| Luna | “Moon” | Latin |
| Selene | “Moon” | Greek |
| Stella | “Star” | Latin |
| Tara | “Star” | Sanskrit |
| Seren | “Star” | Welsh |
| Orion | The hunter constellation | Greek |
Names that mean love, joy and happiness
Warm, feel-good meanings are a favorite for baby names. See names that mean love, names that mean happy and names that mean joy.
| Name | Meaning | Origin |
|---|---|---|
| Amara | “Grace” (Igbo) or “eternal” (Greek) | Igbo / Greek |
| Amy | “Beloved” | French |
| Esme | “Esteemed” or “loved” | French |
| Carys | “Love” | Welsh |
| Philip | “Lover of horses” | Greek |
| Beatrice | “She who brings happiness” | Latin |
| Felix | “Lucky, happy” | Latin |
| Hilary | “Cheerful” | Latin |
| Isaac | “He will laugh” | Hebrew |
| Joy | “Joy” | English |
Names that mean strength, bravery and protection
Bold names with bold meanings. Browse names that mean strength, names that mean warrior and names that mean brave.
| Name | Meaning | Origin |
|---|---|---|
| Leo | “Lion” | Latin |
| Andrew | “Manly, brave” | Greek |
| Ethan | “Strong, firm” | Hebrew |
| Valentina | “Strong, healthy” | Latin |
| Matilda | “Mighty in battle” | Germanic |
| Bridget | “Strength, exalted one” | Irish |
| Louis | “Famous warrior” | Germanic |
| Alexander | “Defender of the people” | Greek |
| Gabriel | “God is my strength” | Hebrew |
| Everett | “Brave as a wild boar” | English / Germanic |
Names that mean water, earth and sky
Elemental meanings for nature lovers — try names that mean water, names that mean ocean and names that mean sky.
| Name | Meaning | Origin |
|---|---|---|
| Marina | “Of the sea” | Latin |
| Dylan | “Son of the sea” | Welsh |
| Kai | “Sea” | Hawaiian |
| Adam | “Earth” or “red earth” | Hebrew |
| Haneul | “Sky, heaven” | Korean |
| Celeste | “Heavenly” | Latin |
| Brooke | “Small stream” | English |
| Rain | Rain | English |
Names that come from colors
Many beloved first names are really color words in disguise. For shades rather than names, explore our full guide to color names and lists like red color names.
| Name | Color meaning | Origin |
|---|---|---|
| Scarlett | “Scarlet red” | English |
| Rory | “Red king” | Irish |
| Flynn | “Son of the red-haired one” | Irish |
| Russell | “Little red one” | Norman French |
| Kieran | “Little dark one” | Irish |
| Douglas | “Dark water” | Scottish Gaelic |
| Blake | “Black” or “pale” — both are possible | English |
| Fionn | “Fair, white” | Irish |
| Gwen | “White, blessed” | Welsh |
| Bianca | “White” | Italian |
| Alba | “White, dawn” | Latin |
| Violet | The purple flower and color | English |
How to use name meanings when choosing a name
- Start with a value. Decide what you want the name to stand for — light, strength, hope — then browse lists like names that mean hope.
- Check more than one source. Many names have disputed or multiple meanings. Good sources give the original language and root word, not just a one-word translation.
- Look across languages. The same meaning appears in many cultures: “light” is Lucia in Latin, Noor in Arabic and Ohr in Hebrew.
- Use meaning as a tiebreaker. Sound and fit matter most day to day; a lovely meaning is a great way to choose between two favorites.
- Borrow color meanings for pets and characters. A ginger cat named Rory (“red king”) is a hidden joke you’ll enjoy for years.
Frequently asked questions
How do I find the meaning of a name?
Look for the name’s original language and root word. Reliable name dictionaries and etymology references trace names like Lucia back to Latin lux, “light.”
What name means light?
Lucia, Lucy, Lucas, Nora, Noor, Eleanor (possibly), Ohr and Kiran all carry meanings related to light. See our full list of names that mean light.
What name means moon?
Luna (Latin) and Selene (Greek) are the best-known moon names, along with Chandra (Sanskrit), Qamar (Arabic) and Mahina (Hawaiian).
Which names come from colors?
Scarlett, Violet, Rory (“red king”), Fionn (“fair”), Bianca (“white”) and Kieran (“little dark one”) all come from color words.
Do name meanings matter?
They don’t change who someone becomes, but many parents enjoy choosing a name with a meaning that reflects their hopes, heritage or family story.