The sun has captivated humanity since ancient times, symbolizing life, warmth, power, and enlightenment.
Parents seeking names connected to this celestial body discover a rich tapestry of options spanning cultures and traditions.
A sun-inspired name brings radiance and strength to its bearer, making it perfect for bright, energetic children.
These names carry profound meanings – from ancient solar deities to words simply meaning “sunlight” or “sunny.”
Some celebrate the sun’s life-giving energy, while others honor its place in mythology.
Whether you’re drawn to traditional solar names or unique modern interpretations, this comprehensive guide shines light on over 300 brilliant possibilities.
Read about names that mean fire
Boy Names That Mean Sun
- Apollo – Greek origin, the mighty god of sun and light
- Helios – Greek name meaning “sun,” the personification of the sun itself
- Samson – Hebrew origin meaning “sun child” or “bright as the sun”
- Cyrus – Persian name meaning “sun” or “throne”
- Sol – Latin origin, directly meaning “sun”
- Arvin – Persian derivation meaning “companion of the sun”
- Ravi – Sanskrit origin meaning “sun” or “conferring wisdom”
- Aditya – Sanskrit name meaning “son of Aditi,” referring to the sun god
- Niamh – Irish origin meaning “bright as the sun”
- Kiran – Sanskrit origin meaning “ray of sun”
- Soleil – French origin meaning “sun”
- Surya – Sanskrit name of the Hindu sun god
- Elio – Italian variant of Helios, meaning “sun”
- Shamash – Babylonian origin, name of the sun god
- Phoebus – Greek name meaning “bright one,” associated with the sun
Check out names that mean light
Girl Names That Mean Sun
- Solana – Spanish origin meaning “sunshine”
- Alba – Latin origin meaning “dawn” or “sunrise”
- Theia – Greek origin, mother of Helios the sun god
- Siria – Arabic origin meaning “from the sun”
- Kalindi – Sanskrit origin meaning “sun”
- Dawn – English origin referring to sunrise
- Aina – Japanese origin meaning “sun vegetables”
- Sunshine – English origin, directly referring to sunlight
- Idalia – Greek origin meaning “behold the sun”
- Malina – Inuit origin, name of the sun goddess
- Svetlana – Slavic origin meaning “light” or “bright as the sun”
- Soleil – French origin meaning “sun”
- Ela – Hebrew origin meaning “ray of sunlight”
- Akina – Japanese origin meaning “spring sun”
- Cira – Latin origin meaning “sun”
Gender-Neutral Names That Mean Sun
- Sunny – English origin, bright and cheerful like sunlight
- Ray – English origin, meaning “beam of sunlight”
- Haru – Japanese origin meaning “spring sun”
- Sol – Spanish/Latin origin directly meaning “sun”
- Kiara – Irish origin meaning “bright” or “sun-like”
- Phoenix – Greek origin, representing the sun bird
- Arun – Sanskrit origin meaning “dawn sun”
- Solas – Scottish Gaelic meaning “light” or “enlightenment”
- Zon – Dutch origin meaning “sun”
- Arevik – Armenian origin meaning “sun-like”
- Kai – Hawaiian origin meaning “sea and sky brightness”
- Sunniva – Old English origin meaning “sun gift”
- Shahms – Arabic origin meaning “sun”
- Helian – Greek origin meaning “of the sun”
- Luz – Spanish origin meaning “light”
Popular Names That Mean Sun
- Clara – Latin origin meaning “bright” or “clear”
- Niamh – Irish origin meaning “radiance”
- Elena – Greek origin meaning “shining light”
- Aaron – Hebrew origin meaning “high mountain” or “exalted,” associated with light
- Lucy – Latin origin meaning “light”
- Apollo – Greek origin, the celebrated sun god
- Helen – Greek origin meaning “bright one”
- Claire – French origin meaning “bright” or “clear”
- Cyrus – Persian origin meaning “sun”
- Dawn – English origin referring to sunrise
- Robert – Germanic origin meaning “bright fame”
- Lucia – Latin origin meaning “light”
- Albert – Germanic origin meaning “bright nobility”
- Ellen – Greek origin meaning “sun ray”
- Niall – Irish origin meaning “champion” or “bright one”
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Vibrant Names That Mean Sun
- Aurelius – Latin origin meaning “the golden one”
- Solaris – Latin origin meaning “of the sun”
- Apollonia – Greek origin meaning “belonging to Apollo”
- Haruko – Japanese origin meaning “spring sunshine child”
- Sunshine – English origin, bright and cheerful
- Helene – Greek origin meaning “torch” or “bright one”
- Solstice – Latin origin referring to the sun’s position
- Ravindra – Sanskrit origin meaning “sun god”
- Sunna – Norse origin, name of the sun goddess
- Aelius – Latin origin meaning “sun”
- Sulien – Welsh origin meaning “sun born”
- Nahui – Aztec origin meaning “sun”
- Helios – Greek origin meaning “sun”
- Apollodorus – Greek origin meaning “gift of Apollo”
- Solange – French origin meaning “solemn” or “religious,” associated with the sun
Unique Names That Mean Sun
- Aarush – Sanskrit origin meaning “first ray of sun”
- Sunniva – Ancient Norwegian origin meaning “sun gift”
- Malina – Inuit mythology’s sun goddess
- Suryansh – Sanskrit origin meaning “part of the sun”
- Heliana – Greek origin meaning “daughter of the sun”
- Ravisha – Sanskrit origin meaning “king of the sun”
- Solfrid – Norwegian origin meaning “beautiful sun”
- Tamasis – Lithuanian origin meaning “child of darkness turned to light”
- Hesperos – Greek origin meaning “evening sun”
- Einion – Welsh origin meaning “anvil of the sun”
- Ximena – Spanish origin meaning “sun listener”
- Kalinda – Sanskrit origin meaning “sun”
- Oshin – Armenian origin meaning “light of sun”
- Hinata – Japanese origin meaning “sunny place”
- Zohair – Arabic origin meaning “brilliant like the midday sun”
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Beautiful Names That Mean Sun
- Esmeray – Turkish origin meaning “dark sun ray”
- Aeliana – Latin/Greek origin meaning “sun ray”
- Solveig – Scandinavian origin meaning “path of the sun”
- Kyra – Persian origin meaning “throne of the sun”
- Sirius – Greek origin meaning “scorching sun”
- Oriana – Latin origin meaning “golden dawn”
- Heliodoro – Greek origin meaning “gift of the sun”
- Mireia – Catalan origin meaning “admirable sun”
- Solana – Spanish origin meaning “sunshine”
- Apolline – French origin meaning “belonging to Apollo”
- Heloise – Germanic origin meaning “healthy sun”
- Ravinder – Sanskrit origin meaning “sun god”
- Sunitha – Sanskrit origin meaning “well-mannered sun”
- Soleil – French origin meaning “sun”
- Heleni – Greek origin meaning “shining light”
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Top Names That Mean Sun
| Name | Origin | Meaning |
|---|---|---|
| Apollo | Greek | God of sun and light |
| Solana | Spanish | Sunshine |
| Helios | Greek | The sun |
| Aurora | Latin | Dawn |
| Cyrus | Persian | Sun |
| Ravi | Sanskrit | Sun |
| Niamh | Irish | Bright as sun |
| Clara | Latin | Bright, clear |
| Aditya | Sanskrit | Sun god |
| Theia | Greek | Divine, mother of sun |
| Samson | Hebrew | Sun child |
| Alba | Latin | Dawn |
| Arvin | Persian | Sun companion |
| Sunshine | English | Light of sun |
| Soleil | French | Sun |
Creative Names That Mean Sun
- Sundown – English origin meaning “sunset”
- Heliana – Modern blend meaning “sun daughter”
- Solstice – Latin-inspired meaning “sun standing still”
- Ravindra – Sanskrit origin meaning “lord of the sun”
- Sunna – Norse mythology’s sun goddess
- Helian – Greek-inspired meaning “of the sun”
- Solarys – Modern variation meaning “solar”
- Suryakant – Sanskrit origin meaning “beloved of the sun”
- Heliocore – Modern blend meaning “heart of the sun”
- Solshine – Modern combination of sol and shine
- Rayborn – English origin meaning “born of sunlight”
- Heliantha – Greek-inspired meaning “sun flower”
- Sunchild – Modern English meaning “child of the sun”
- Apolonia – Greek origin meaning “belonging to Apollo”
- Dawnstar – Modern English combining dawn and star
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Traditional Names That Mean Sun
| Name | Origin | Detailed Meaning |
|---|---|---|
| Surya | Sanskrit | The divine sun god, bringer of light and life |
| Helios | Greek | The personification of the sun in Greek mythology |
| Apollo | Greek | The mighty god of sun, music, and prophecy |
| Shamash | Babylonian | Ancient sun deity representing justice |
| Ra | Egyptian | Supreme sun god of ancient Egypt |
| Amaterasu | Japanese | The great goddess of the sun and universe |
| Sol | Latin | The classical personification of the sun |
| Horus | Egyptian | Ancient falcon-headed sun god |
| Freyr | Norse | God associated with sun and fertility |
| Arinna | Hittite | The sun goddess of ancient Anatolia |
| Malakbel | Palmyrene | The ancient Syrian sun god |
| Kinich Ahau | Mayan | The Mayan sun god and supreme deity |
| Utu | Sumerian | The ancient Sumerian sun god |
| Inti | Incan | The Incan sun god and patron deity |
| Arinna | Hittite | The sun goddess of the Hittite pantheon |
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Mythological Names That Mean Sun
- Ra – Egyptian supreme sun god, ruler of the sky and divine king
- Amaterasu – Japanese sun goddess, ruler of the heavens
- Huitzilopochtli – Aztec sun and war god, meaning “southern hummingbird”
- Freyr – Norse god associated with sunlight and fertility
- Malakbel – Palmyrene sun god, guardian of the morning light
- Arinna – Hittite sun goddess, queen of heaven and earth
- Kinich Ahau – Mayan sun god, ruler of the daytime sky
- Tsohanoai – Navajo sun god, carrier of the sun
- Utu – Sumerian sun god of justice and truth
- Inti – Incan sun god, ancestor of the Incan royal family
- Helios – Greek titan who drove the sun chariot across the sky
- Heimdall – Norse god associated with the rising sun
- Shamash – Mesopotamian sun god of justice
- Horus – Egyptian falcon-headed sun god
- Arinna – Hittite sun goddess of power and sovereignty
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Literature-Inspired Names That Mean Sun
| Name | Literary Source | Meaning/Significance |
|---|---|---|
| Solaris | Novel by Stanisław Lem | Represents the mystical sun-like planet |
| Sunna | Norse Eddas | The personified sun in Norse poetry |
| Hyperion | Keats’s poetry | Titan father of the sun |
| Apollyon | Paradise Lost | Associated with Apollo and light |
| Aurora | Shakespeare’s works | Goddess of dawn |
| Helios | Homer’s Odyssey | The all-seeing sun god |
| Dayton | Modern literature | Means “bright and sunny town” |
| Lucien | Various Gothic novels | Bearer of light |
| Solveig | Peer Gynt | Path of the sun |
| Aurelius | Marcus Aurelius’s works | Golden one |
| Dawn | The Odyssey references | First light of day |
| Sunrise | Native American tales | Beginning of day |
| Phoebus | Classical poetry | Bright and radiant |
| Aethon | Greek mythology texts | Blazing sun |
| Chrysos | Ancient Greek literature | Golden light |
Read about names that mean mirror
Adorable Names That Mean Sun
- Sunny – English origin, bright and cheerful like sunshine
- Solita – Spanish origin meaning “little sun”
- Hinata – Japanese origin meaning “sunny place”, popular in anime
- Rayito – Spanish origin meaning “little ray of sun”
- Sunflower – English origin, inspired by the sun-following flower
- Kiara – Irish origin meaning “little bright one”
- Soleil – French origin, elegant word for sun
- Helki – Finnish origin meaning “sunshine child”
- Sunnie – Modern English variation meaning “filled with light”
- Rayne – French origin meaning “little ray of sunshine”
- Sunniva – Norse origin meaning “sun gift”
- Helaina – Greek origin meaning “small ray of sun”
- Solkin – Russian origin meaning “sun child”
- Dawn – English origin referring to sunrise
- Sunrise – English origin meaning “beginning of day”
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Japanese Names That Mean Sun
- Hinata (ひなた) – “Sunny place” or “facing the sun”
- Akari (あかり) – “Light” or “brightness”
- Haruki (春輝) – “Spring sunshine”
- Asahi (朝日) – “Morning sun”
- Hikari (光) – “Light” or “radiance”
- Taiyo (太陽) – “Sun” or “great yang”
- Akiko (明子) – “Bright child”
- Teruko (照子) – “Shining child”
- Hikaru (光る) – “To shine”
- Nikko (日光) – “Sunlight”
- Himeko (姫子) – “Sun princess”
- Amaterasu (天照) – Named after the sun goddess
- Akane (茜) – “Deep red” (like sunset)
- Haru (晴) – “Clear weather” or “sunny”
- Hinano (ひなの) – “Of the sun”
Names That Mean Sun in Different Languages
Ancient Mediterranean Names
- Helios – Greek, the personification of sun
- Sol – Latin, direct meaning “sun”
- Shamash – Babylonian sun deity
- Aton – Egyptian, disk of the sun
- Phoebus – Greek, bright and radiant
- Ra – Egyptian sun god
- Apollon – Greek form of Apollo
- Cyrene – Greek, associated with sun
- Theia – Greek titan of light
- Hyperion – Greek titan of light
Asian Solar Names
- Ravi – Sanskrit, sun
- Surya – Sanskrit, sun god
- Aditya – Sanskrit, son of Aditi
- Haru – Japanese, spring sun
- Ming – Chinese, bright
- Nikko – Japanese, sunlight
- Aruna – Sanskrit, dawn
- Kiran – Sanskrit, ray of light
- Asahi – Japanese, morning sun
- Yang – Chinese, sun principle
Read about names that mean harmony
European Sun Names
- Solveig – Norse, sun’s path
- Soley – Icelandic, sun island
- Sunniva – Norwegian, sun gift
- Soleil – French, sun
- Sole – Italian, sun
- Solana – Spanish, sunshine
- Svetlana – Slavic, light
- Alba – Latin, dawn
- Danica – Slavic, morning star
- Sonne – German, sun
African Solar Names
- Khurshid – North African, sun
- Enyinnaya – Igbo, father’s sun
- Samawati – Swahili, celestial
- Malika – Ethiopian, queen of light
- Aten – Egyptian, sun disk
- Chausiku – African, born at night
- Limbani – African, be strong like sun
- Oshun – Yoruba, sunlight on water
- Nya – African, sun goddess
- Shams – Arabic, sun
Native American Sun Names
- Hopi – Means “peaceful one,” sun-related
- Kachina – Pueblo sun spirit
- Tsohanoai – Navajo sun bearer
- Inti – Incan sun god
- Kinich – Mayan sun god
- Tonatiuh – Aztec sun god
- Pahana – Hopi lost white brother of the sun
- Hekata – Native American sun watching
- Achak – Native American spirit of light
- Shakuru – Plains tribes’ sun
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Modern International Sun Names
- Sunshine – English
- Solaris – Modern Latin
- Sunna – Modern Norse
- Dawn – English
- Heliana – Modern Greek
- Samson – Modern Hebrew
- Cyrus – Modern Persian
- Aurora – Modern Latin
- Niamh – Modern Irish
- Kalindi – Modern Sanskrit
Names That Mean Sun With Meanings
Celestial Sun Names
- Astrophel – Greek origin, “star lover,” associated with sun worship
- Sirius – Greek origin, “scorching like the sun”
- Helios – Greek origin, “sun god”
- Nova – Latin origin, “new star” or “bright explosion”
- Sampson – Hebrew origin, “sun child”
- Orion – Greek origin, “rising in the sky”
- Phoenix – Greek origin, “dark red,” sun bird
- Solstice – Latin origin, “sun standing still”
- Eclipse – Greek origin, “abandonment of light”
- Corona – Latin origin, “crown of the sun”
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Dawn-Inspired Names
- Aurora – Latin origin, “dawn”
- Roxana – Persian origin, “bright dawn”
- Ushas – Sanskrit origin, “dawn goddess”
- Alba – Latin origin, “white, dawn”
- Zaria – Russian origin, “sunrise”
- Aurelia – Latin origin, “golden dawn”
- Eos – Greek origin, “dawn”
- Dawn – English origin, “daybreak”
- Roxanne – Persian origin, “dawn”
- Arusha – Sanskrit origin, “first light”
Read about names that mean new beginning
Light-Bearer Names
- Lucy – Latin origin, “light”
- Niamh – Irish origin, “bright”
- Clara – Latin origin, “clear, bright”
- Lucia – Latin origin, “light”
- Theia – Greek origin, “goddess of light”
- Lumina – Latin origin, “light”
- Nur – Arabic origin, “light”
- Lux – Latin origin, “light”
- Beacon – English origin, “signal light”
- Illumina – Latin origin, “enlightened one”
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Divine Sun Names
- Apollo – Greek origin, “sun god”
- Ra – Egyptian origin, “sun god”
- Surya – Sanskrit origin, “sun god”
- Amaterasu – Japanese origin, “heavenly illumination”
- Horus – Egyptian origin, “the distant one” (sun god)
- Kinich – Mayan origin, “sun-eyed lord”
- Shamash – Babylonian origin, “sun god”
- Malakbel – Palmyrene origin, “messenger of Bel” (sun god)
- Freyr – Norse origin, “lord” (associated with sun)
- Arinna – Hittite origin, “sun goddess”
Golden Ray Names
- Cyrus – Persian origin, “sun throne”
- Kiran – Sanskrit origin, “ray of light”
- Rayner – Germanic origin, “wise warrior of light”
- Shimmer – English origin, “gleaming light”
- Soleil – French origin, “sun”
- Svetlana – Slavic origin, “light”
- Arvin – Persian origin, “companion of light”
- Heliana – Greek origin, “sun ray”
- Sunny – English origin, “bright, cheerful”
- Xiomar – Persian origin, “ray of the morning sun”
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Solar Nature Names
- Helianthus – Greek origin, “sunflower”
- Citlali – Nahuatl origin, “star”
- Solana – Spanish origin, “sunshine”
- Kalindi – Sanskrit origin, “sun”
- Hinata – Japanese origin, “sunny place”
- Helios – Greek origin, “sun”
- Sunflower – English origin, “flower that follows sun”
- Aditya – Sanskrit origin, “belonging to the sun”
- Ravi – Sanskrit origin, “sun”
- Sunna – Norse origin, “sun”
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Boy Names Meaning Sun
- Apollo (Greek) – The powerful god of sun and light
- Helios (Greek) – The personification of the sun
- Samson (Hebrew) – Strong sun child
- Cyrus (Persian) – Throne of the sun
- Sol (Latin) – Sun
- Arvin (Persian) – Friend of the sun
- Ravi (Sanskrit) – Sun
- Aditya (Sanskrit) – Sun god
- Kiran (Sanskrit) – Ray of sun
- Phoebus (Greek) – Bright one
- Elio (Italian) – Sun
- Surya (Sanskrit) – Sun god
- Shimshon (Hebrew) – Like the sun
- Aten (Egyptian) – Solar disk
- Callum (Scottish) – Dove, associated with sun worship
Read about names that mean warrior
Girl Names Meaning Sun
- Solana (Spanish) – Sunshine, feminine and graceful
- Alba (Latin) – First light of dawn
- Theia (Greek) – Divine mother of sun
- Siria (Arabic) – Radiant sun
- Kalindi (Sanskrit) – Sun’s beloved
- Dawn (English) – First appearance of light
- Aine (Irish) – Radiance and splendor
- Sunshine (English) – Light of the sun
- Idalia (Greek) – Looking at the sun
- Malina (Inuit) – Sun goddess
- Svetlana (Slavic) – Light and radiance
- Soleil (French) – Sun
- Ela (Hebrew) – Ray of sunlight
- Akina (Japanese) – Spring sun
- Cira (Latin) – Sun lady
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Ancient Names That Mean Sun
- Ra (Egyptian) – Supreme sun deity
- Helios (Greek) – Titan of the sun
- Shamash (Babylonian) – God of justice and sun
- Amaterasu (Japanese) – Great divine illuminator
- Arinna (Hittite) – Sun goddess
- Utu (Sumerian) – Sun god
- Kinich Ahau (Mayan) – Sun-faced lord
- Freyr (Norse) – Lord of sunlight
- Malakbel (Palmyrene) – Messenger of the sun
- Horus (Egyptian) – Sky god associated with sun
- Tsohanoai (Navajo) – Sun bearer
- Inti (Incan) – Sun god
- Surya (Vedic) – Solar deity
- Hyperion (Greek) – Titan father of sun
- Arinna (Anatolian) – Sun goddess
Names That Mean Sunset
- Callista (Greek) – Most beautiful, like sunset
- Vesper (Latin) – Evening star
- Amaranth (Greek) – Undying, sunset colored
- Sanseet (Modern) – Beautiful sunset
- Arushi (Sanskrit) – First ray of sunset
- Twilight (English) – Time of sunset
- Zephyr (Greek) – West wind, sunset direction
- Hesper (Greek) – Evening
- Aurora (Latin) – Dawn and dusk
- Dusk (English) – Sunset time
- West (English) – Where sun sets
- Calypso (Greek) – She who conceals (like sunset)
- Vespertine (Latin) – Of the evening
- Crimson (English) – Deep red like sunset
- Horizon (Greek) – Where sun meets earth
Read about names that mean transformation
Names That Mean Sun and Moon
- Artemis (Greek) – Moon goddess, Apollo’s twin
- Hala (Arabic) – Moon halo around sun
- Astraea (Greek) – Star maiden of sun and moon
- Celeste (Latin) – Heavenly, celestial
- Luna Sol (Latin) – Moon and sun combined
- Mahina (Hawaiian) – Moon’s light reflecting sun
- Jaci (Tupi) – Moon and sun
- Ayla (Turkish) – Halo of moon and sun
- Helene (Greek) – Torch of sun and moon
- Theia (Greek) – Mother of sun and moon
- Nova (Latin) – New star, celestial light
- Stella (Latin) – Star between sun and moon
- Selene Helios (Greek) – Moon and sun combined
- Ravi Chandra (Sanskrit) – Sun and moon
- Yue Yang (Chinese) – Moon and sun
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Names That Mean Sunrise
- Aurora (Latin) – Dawn, first light
- Eos (Greek) – Goddess of dawn
- Ushas (Sanskrit) – First light of day
- Dawn (English) – Daybreak
- Roxana (Persian) – Dawn, bright one
- Alba (Latin) – White light of dawn
- Niamh (Irish) – Bright, radiant dawn
- Zaria (Russian) – Rising sun
- Anatole (Greek) – Sunrise, east
- Akatsuki (Japanese) – Dawn, daybreak
- Arusha (Sanskrit) – Morning light
- Earendel (Old English) – Morning star
- Oriens (Latin) – Rising sun
- Asahi (Japanese) – Morning sun
- Roxanne (Persian) – Dawn’s first light
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Final Thoughts
Names meaning sun carry powerful symbolism of light, warmth, and life itself. These names span cultures and centuries, from ancient deities to modern interpretations.
Whether you’re drawn to mythological solar deities like Apollo and Ra, nature-inspired names like Solana and Sunshine, or powerful ancient names like Helios and Surya, there’s a sun-inspired name perfect for every child.
Sun names often represent strength, enlightenment, and divine power. They can symbolize new beginnings, like names meaning sunrise, or the cycle of life, like those representing sunset.
Some blend multiple celestial elements, connecting the sun and moon, while others focus purely on solar energy and light.
When choosing a sun-inspired name, consider its cultural significance, pronunciation, and meaning.
These radiant names can bestow upon their bearers qualities of brightness, warmth, and eternal light – gifts as timeless as the sun itself.