English Girl Names That Mean Sun
If you're drawn to English girl names that mean sun, this list splits into two clear families: plainspoken English words and old Greek names about light.
Names74
OriginEnglish
MeaningSun
GenderGirl
Some names on this list simply say the thing outright — Sunny, Sunshine, and Solar are English words for warmth and brightness, worn directly as names with no translation needed.
Others arrive sideways, through Greek roots that long predate English but were absorbed into it centuries ago. Ellen, Hellen, Nelly, and Nell all trace to Helen, a name Greek speakers connected to helios and to shining light.
Why English girl names that mean sun take two different shapes
English is unusually comfortable turning ordinary words into names, which is why Sunny, its variant Sunnie, and Sunday — literally 'day of the sun' — sit naturally beside older, borrowed names. Halo works similarly: an English word for a ring of light, not the sun itself, but sharing its glow. This word-name habit is distinctly English; it's less common in languages that keep given names and vocabulary in separate boxes.
The Helen family and one Scandinavian outlier
Most of the Greek-rooted names here are really one name in disguise: Nelly and Nell are diminutives of Helen or Eleanor, while Hellen is a spelling variant. Sunniva stands apart as Scandinavian, meaning 'gift of the sun,' and Daizy nods to the sun sideways, through the daisy's 'day's eye.'
Names List
Sunny#390 in the U.S.From the English adjective sunny meaning bright, cheerful, or full of sunshine; used as a given name for Pronounced SUN-ee▶Halo#613 in the U.S.From Greek halos meaning 'disc of the sun or moon,' 'ring of light,' or 'threshing floor'; used in EnglisPronounced HAY-loh▶Sunday#947 in the U.S.From Old English sunnandaeg meaning day of the sun, the first day of the week in English tradition, namedPronounced SUN-day▶Ellen#1028 in the U.S.Bright, shining; an English form of Helen, from Greek helene (possibly related to helios, sun)Pronounced EL-un▶Sunnie#1104 in the U.S.Sunny; a variant spelling of Sunny, from the English word sunny (bright, cheerful, like the sun)Pronounced SUN-ee▶Nelly#1358 in the U.S.Bright, shining, ray of sun; diminutive of HelenPronounced NEL-ee▶Nell#1460 in the U.S.Bright, shining, ray of sun; short form of Eleanor or HelenPronounced NEL▶Hellen#1633 in the U.S.A spelling variant of Helen, from Greek Helene, traditionally associated with helios "sun" or the word foPronounced HEL-uhn▶Sunni#1668 in the U.S.variant of Sunny, from the English word for bright, cheerful weatherPronounced SUN-ee▶Sunshine#2682 in the U.S.Sunshine (the English word).Pronounced SUHN-shyen▶Psalm#2868 in the U.S.A song sung to the harpPronounced SAHM▶Solar#4859 in the U.S.From the word solar — Latin solaris, 'of the sun, relating to the sun'Pronounced SOH-lər▶Daizy#6199 in the U.S.A -z- spelling of Daisy — from Old English daeges eage, 'the day's eye' (the daisy flower, which opens wiPronounced DAY-zee▶Hellon#6443 in the U.S.Hellon is a spelling variant of Helen, from the Greek Helene, usually linked to helios, 'sun,' or to a roPronounced HEL-uhn▶Sonnie#6585 in the U.S.A spelling of Sonny — from the English term of endearment 'sonny' ('a young boy; little son'), and echoinPronounced SUN-ee▶Sunniva#7197 in the U.S.A Scandinavian form of the Old English Sunngifu — 'sun + gift; gift of the sun'Pronounced soo-NEE-vah▶Sundee#8227 in the U.S.Sundee is a phonetic spelling of Sunday, or of the pet form Sundi, from the Old English Sunnandaeg, 'day Pronounced SUN-dee▶Sundai#8339 in the U.S.A spelling of Sunday — from the Old English Sunnandaeg, 'the sun's day'; a day/word-name; we note the worPronounced SUN-day▶Eastlyn#9061 in the U.S.A modern name, joining East ('the direction of sunrise', echoing Easton, 'the east town') with a -lyn endPronounced EEST-lin▶Sunflower#9455 in the U.S.From the word sunflower — the tall, golden flower that turns toward the sun; a flower/word-name, connotinPronounced SUN-flow-er▶Sundi#10113 in the U.S.Sundi is a modern American girl's name read as a soft form of Sunday, the day-name, and as a cousin of SaPronounced SUN-dee▶Raveen#10262 in the U.S.Raveen is an uncommon name of uncertain route: it may draw on Raveena, an Indian name (linked to a sunny Pronounced rah-VEEN▶Daisee#10434 in the U.S.A spelling of Daisy, from the Old English daeges eage, 'day's eye' (the flower that opens with the sun)Pronounced DAY-zee▶Eastlynn#10469 in the U.S.A modern given name blending the English 'east' (the direction of sunrise) with the popular -lynn ending;Pronounced EEST-lin▶Keilee#10733 in the U.S.Keilee is one of many spellings of Kaylee, a late-twentieth-century blend of the sounds Kay and Lee/LeighPronounced KAY-lee▶Psalms#10864 in the U.S.From Psalms, the biblical book of sacred songs and praises (Greek psalmoi, 'songs sung to a harp'), used Pronounced SAHMZ▶Sonni#10949 in the U.S.A cheerful spelling of Sunny/Sonny, 'sunshine; bright; cheerful' — a nickname-name grown into its own. WaPronounced SON-ee▶Summerreign#10959 in the U.S.A modern combo of Summer (the warm season) and Reign ('to rule; sovereignty') — also a homophone of 'rainPronounced SUM-ur-rayn▶Shante#11033 in the U.S.Shante is a modern African-American coinage, commonly heard as an echo of French chanté, 'sung,' from chaPronounced shahn-TAY▶Brightyn#11254 in the U.S.A modern respelling playing on the word bright ('shining; luminous; cheerful') and the place name BrightoPronounced BRY-tin▶Rayetta#11392 in the U.S.Rayetta is a coined American name that dresses Ray in the diminutive-feminine suffix -etta, on the model Pronounced ray-ET-ah▶Dandelion#11416 in the U.S.Dandelion is the English word for the sunny wildflower, from the French 'dent de lion' ('lion's tooth'), Pronounced DAN-duh-ly-un▶Solace#11976 in the U.S.An English word name, 'comfort; consolation; ease after grief,' from Latin solari ('to console'). A gentlPronounced SOL-iss▶Solie#11977 in the U.S.Solie reads as a soft short form of Scandinavian names like Solveig ('sun-strength; sun-path') or as a moPronounced SOH-lee▶Bobi#12030 in the U.S.Bobi is a trimmed, informal spelling of Bobbie, itself a diminutive of Roberta (and sometimes Barbara). RPronounced BOH-bee▶Sunset#12053 in the U.S.Sunset is the plain English word — the moment the sun goes down — used directly as a given name. It belonPronounced SUN-set▶Daizie#12417 in the U.S.A playful respelling of Daisy, from the Old English 'day's eye' (the flower that opens with the sun). ChePronounced DAY-zee▶Dayzie#12444 in the U.S.A playful respelling of Daisy, from the Old English 'day's eye' (the flower that opens with the sun). ChePronounced DAY-zee▶Daysy#12460 in the U.S.Daysy is a sounded-out respelling of Daisy, the flower name that comes from Old English daeges eage, day'Pronounced DAY-zee▶Joellen#12692 in the U.S.Joellen is a compound of Jo (from Joanna/Josephine, tied to 'God is gracious' / 'God will add') and EllenPronounced joh-EL-un▶Joyanna#12701 in the U.S.Joyanna is a modern compound of Joy (English, 'gladness; delight') and Anna (from the Hebrew Hannah, 'graPronounced joy-AN-uh▶Ravin#13113 in the U.S.Ravin is linked to Sanskrit ravi, 'sun', the root behind Ravi and Ravina. In American use the same spelliPronounced RAH-vin▶Somer#13249 in the U.S.Somer is a variant spelling of Summer, the season name, and also exists as an English surname (Somer/SomePronounced SUH-mur▶Sundae#13267 in the U.S.Sundae is the American word for an ice cream dish with syrup and toppings, coined in the late 1800s and pPronounced SUN-day▶Sun#13298 in the U.S.Two honest routes: the English word sun — the star at the heart of our sky, a symbol of warmth and light;Pronounced SUN▶Daislyn#13822 in the U.S.A modern American coinage joining Daisy — from the Old English daeges eage, 'day's eye,' for the flower tPronounced DAYZ-lin▶Daizee#13825 in the U.S.A creative respelling of Daisy, from Old English daegeseage, 'day's eye' — the flower that opens with thePronounced DAY-zee▶Daysie#13855 in the U.S.Daysie is a modern spelling of Daisy, from Old English daeges eage, 'day's eye' — the flower that opens wPronounced DAY-zee▶Eiliana#13900 in the U.S.A modern respelling of Eliana or Elliana. The Hebrew Eliana is usually read as 'God has answered me' (eliPronounced ay-lee-AH-nah▶Eclipse#13905 in the U.S.The English word eclipse, from Greek ekleipsis, 'an abandonment; a failing to appear' — used of the sun oPronounced ee-KLIPS▶Ehliana#13909 in the U.S.A modern respelling of Eliana, itself read either from Hebrew Eliyana ('my God has answered me') or from Pronounced eh-lee-AH-nuh▶Elliahna#13931 in the U.S.A respelling of Eliana, read from Hebrew Eliyana, 'my God has answered me', or on another route as sun-liPronounced el-ee-AH-nuh▶Asianna#14724 in the U.S.Asianna extends Asia, the continent name adopted as a girls' name, with the -anna ending seen in Brianna Pronounced ay-see-AN-uh▶Daisia#15012 in the U.S.Daisia is a modern name that blends Daisy — from the Old English daeges eage, 'day's eye', the flower thaPronounced DAY-zhuh▶Solette#15067 in the U.S.A modern coinage reading as sol — 'sun' in Latin and Spanish — finished with the French diminutive -ette,Pronounced soh-LET▶Ajia#15181 in the U.S.Ajia is a phonetic respelling of Asia, the continent name that became a fashionable girl's name in the laPronounced AY-zhuh▶Shonte#15489 in the U.S.Shonte is a late-century American coinage in the Chante and Shante sound family. These names echo the FrePronounced shahn-TAY▶Daylene#15811 in the U.S.Daylene is a coined American name, joining a Day- or Dale- element with the popular ending -lene (as in DPronounced day-LEEN▶Dayzee#15814 in the U.S.A creative respelling of Daisy, from Old English daegeseage, 'day's eye' — the flower that opens with thePronounced DAY-zee▶Elanora#15906 in the U.S.Elanora is most simply read as a variant of Eleanor/Elanor. It also matches Elanora, a place name in AustPronounced el-uh-NOR-uh▶Haely#16087 in the U.S.Haely is one of the many respellings of Hailey, a name from an Old English place name joining 'hay' to 'lPronounced HAY-lee▶Deisi#16286 in the U.S.Deisi is a Spanish-language phonetic spelling of the English name Daisy, written so that Spanish speakersPronounced DAY-see▶Solash#16288 in the U.S.Solash is an opaque modern coinage with no documented origin. It may draw on 'sol,' the Latin/Spanish worPronounced soh-LASH▶Lainy#16546 in the U.S.A short form of Lainey/Elaine — Elaine being an Old French form of Helen, 'bright; shining light; torch.'Pronounced LAY-nee▶Deysy#16930 in the U.S.Deysy is a Spanish-influenced phonetic spelling of Daisy, the English flower name that comes from the OldPronounced DAY-see▶Shawntay#17288 in the U.S.Shawntay spells out the sound of Shante or Chante, names built on the French 'chante', 'sung' (past partiPronounced shawn-TAY▶Solae#17306 in the U.S.Solae is a modern coinage with no documented etymology. It carries a clear echo of sol — 'sun' in Latin, Pronounced soh-LAY▶Tawny#17377 in the U.S.Tawny is a word-name from the color tawny, a warm golden- or orange-brown, from the Old French tané ('tanPronounced TAW-nee▶Shantae#17603 in the U.S.Shantae is a modern spelling in the Shante/Chante family, from the French chante, 'sung' (the past particPronounced shahn-TAY▶Seville#17738 in the U.S.Seville is the English name of the historic city in southern Spain, called Sevilla in Spanish. The place-Pronounced suh-VIL▶Shauntay#19599 in the U.S.Shauntay is a coined feminine in the Shante and Chante family, joining a Shaun/Shan element to a chic -taPronounced shawn-TAY▶Shataya#20094 in the U.S.Shataya is a modern American coinage joining the popular Sha- prefix with Taya, a short, sunny name in itPronounced shah-TY-uh▶SolaneA modern name close in sound to the French Solene (of debated root, often tied to the sun or to solemnityPronounced soh-LAYN▶SolanieA modern coinage echoing the Spanish sol ('sun') and the name Solana ('sunshine; sunlight'). Warm and sunPronounced soh-LAH-nee▶
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Frequently Asked
What's the difference between Sunny and Sunniva?
Sunny is a plain English word name for cheerfulness and brightness. Sunniva is Scandinavian, meaning 'gift of the sun,' and reads as more formal and lyrical.
Is Ellen really connected to the sun?
Ellen comes from Helen, a Greek name long associated with shining or brightness, and possibly with helios, the sun. Its oldest root is debated, but the sunlit meaning has stuck for centuries.
Which name on this list is the most unexpected?
Halo surprises many parents — it doesn't mean sun directly, but a ring of radiant light, giving it a spiritual, luminous feel distinct from the rest of the list.