Greek Girl Names That Mean Sun
Greek girl names that mean sun trace to one root, Helen, whose meaning has echoed through Western naming for three thousand years.
Names55
OriginGreek
MeaningSun
GenderGirl
Look closely at this list and you will notice the same name wearing a dozen different outfits. Eleni, Ellen, Nelly, Elayna, Nell, and Hellen are all descendants of Helen, the name long linked to Greek helios and glossed simply as bright or shining.
A few names get at sun in a different way. Halo is the Greek word itself for a ring of light. Kyra carries a throne or sun meaning from Old Persian, echoing Cyrus, while Kira is a brighter international cousin with roots in Persian, Greek, and Irish tradition. Ellie works as a bright shorthand for several of them at once.
What Makes Greek Girl Names That Mean Sun So Common
Helen is one of the oldest names in Western storytelling, carried by the legendary beauty of the Trojan War, its meaning long heard as bright or shining and tied to the Greek word for sun. Its direct descendant, Eleni, is still spoken across Greece, while Ellen, Nell, Nelly, and Elayna carry the same sunlit meaning through English and modern spellings. Even Hellen admits its oldest root is genuinely uncertain.
The Light Names That Are Not From Helen
Not every name here needs a Greek root to fit the theme. Halo comes straight from the Greek word for a ring of light, the glow around angels and saints. Kyra leans Persian rather than Greek, tracing to Cyrus and meaning throne or sun, while Kira draws on Persian, Greek, and Irish roots for a lighter, general brightness. Ellie ties the group together as the friendly nickname parents actually use.
Names List
Ellie#24 in the U.S.Bright shining one; sun ray; from Greek HelenePronounced EL-ee▶Kira#385 in the U.S.Feminine form of Cyrus from Persian Kurush meaning sun or lord; also used as a feminine form of Irish CiaPronounced KEER-ah▶Helen#462 in the U.S.From Greek 'Helene,' possibly derived from 'helios' (sun) or from the root 'hele' (torch, bright light); Pronounced HEL-en▶Analeia#514 in the U.S.Modern American blend combining Ana (from Hebrew Hannah meaning 'grace' or 'favor') and Leia (from Greek Pronounced ah-nah-LAY-ah▶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▶Kyra#830 in the U.S.Feminine form of Cyrus, from Old Persian Kourosh meaning 'throne' or 'sun', borne by Cyrus the Great of PPronounced KY-ruh▶Eleni#1003 in the U.S.Bright, shining; modern Greek form of Helen, from Greek helene, possibly related to helios (sun) or selasPronounced eh-LEH-nee▶Ellen#1028 in the U.S.Bright, shining; an English form of Helen, from Greek helene (possibly related to helios, sun)Pronounced EL-un▶Nelly#1358 in the U.S.Bright, shining, ray of sun; diminutive of HelenPronounced NEL-ee▶Elayna#1423 in the U.S.Bright, shining, ray of sunPronounced eh-LAY-nah▶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▶Asia#1689 in the U.S.A place name from the continent Asia, ultimately from a Greek/Akkadian root associated with 'east' or 'suPronounced AY-zhuh▶Illiana#2309 in the U.S.sunshine, of the sunPronounced il-ee-AH-nuh▶Ileana#2406 in the U.S.sunshine, bright one, of the sunPronounced ih-lee-AH-nuh▶Ilyana#2407 in the U.S.sunshine, of the sunPronounced il-ee-AH-nuh▶Kyrah#2987 in the U.S.Variant of Kyra, from the Persian Cyrus root meaning sun or throne.Pronounced KY-rah▶Cyra#3511 in the U.S.Feminine of Cyrus, from Persian Kurush — traditionally linked to 'sun', 'lord', or 'far-sighted'Pronounced SY-rə▶Ilianna#4133 in the U.S.Elaboration of Iliana/Eliana — linked to Greek Helios, 'sun', or Hebrew 'God has answered'; routes layerePronounced il-ee-AH-nah▶Ilyanna#4802 in the U.S.Spelling of Iliana/Eliana — from Hebrew, 'my God has answered', or Greek 'sun/ray of light'; routes layerPronounced il-ee-AH-nah▶Eily#5326 in the U.S.Irish pet form of Eileen/Aileen (Eibhlin) — linked to 'light, sun, shining' (via Helen) or 'desired'; rouPronounced AY-lee▶Clytie#5387 in the U.S.Clytie (Greek Klytie) is the name of an Oceanid nymph in Greek mythology who loved the sun god Helios; spPronounced KLY-tee▶Jakyra#5668 in the U.S.A modern blend of a Ja- opening with Kyra ('lady; lord; sun', Greek/Persian); no single fixed root; routePronounced jə-KEER-ah▶Aelia#5782 in the U.S.From the Roman family name Aelia/Aelius — possibly from Greek helios, 'the sun'; the origin is debatedPronounced ay-EE-lee-ah▶Azia#5961 in the U.S.A Z-spelling of Asia — from Greek, possibly from Akkadian asu, 'to rise, the east, the sunrise'; the placPronounced AY-zhah▶Helaena#6229 in the U.S.A spelling of Helena — from Greek, variously 'a torch; light; the bright one' (linked to helene, 'a torchPronounced hel-AY-nah▶Eleanna#6436 in the U.S.A Greek name blending Eleni/Eleanor ('a torch; light; a sun ray') and Anna ('grace'); routes layeredPronounced el-ee-AH-nah▶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▶Helia#6461 in the U.S.A feminine of Helios — from Greek helios, 'the sun' (the sun god); 'of the sun'Pronounced HEE-lee-ah▶Helayne#6935 in the U.S.Helayne is a decorative spelling that blends Helen and Elaine, both of which descend from Greek Helene. TPronounced huh-LAYN▶Apolonia#6942 in the U.S.A Spanish/Polish form of Apollonia — from Greek, 'belonging to Apollo' (the god of light, music, and the Pronounced ah-poh-LOH-nee-ah▶Elleana#6995 in the U.S.A spelling of Eliana — variously from Hebrew, 'my God has answered', and from Greek/Latin, linked to 'thePronounced el-ee-AH-nah▶Elyna#6999 in the U.S.A spelling of Elina/Elena — from Greek, 'a light; bright; a torch; a ray of sun'; routes layeredPronounced eh-LEE-nah▶Keyra#7065 in the U.S.A spelling of Keira/Kyra — variously 'dark; dark-haired; the little dark one' (Irish) and 'a lady; the suPronounced KEER-ah▶Idaly#8106 in the U.S.A form of Idalia/Idaly — variously 'behold the sun' (Spanish folk reading) and 'of Idalion' (a Cypriot toPronounced ee-DAH-lee▶Apolline#8464 in the U.S.A French feminine form of Apollo — from the Greek god Apollo (of light, music and the sun); 'of Apollo'; Pronounced ah-poh-LEEN▶Illyanna#9866 in the U.S.A spelling of Iliana, itself linked to Helen ('bright; shining; sun ray') and to the Eliana family ('my GPronounced il-ee-AH-nah▶Khyra#9885 in the U.S.A spelling of Kyra — variously from the Greek kyria, 'lady/lord', and the Persian, 'the sun; a throne'; rPronounced KY-rah▶Kyriaki#9990 in the U.S.Kyriaki is Greek, 'of the Lord; belonging to the Lord,' and also the Greek word for 'Sunday' (the Lord's Pronounced kee-ree-AH-kee▶Qira#10060 in the U.S.A spelling of Kira/Kyra — variously 'a lady; mistress' (Greek kyria) and 'the sun; a throne' (Persian, fePronounced KEE-rah▶Antalya#12243 in the U.S.Antalya is the name of a sun-soaked resort city on Turkey's Mediterranean coast, founded in antiquity as Pronounced an-TAHL-yuh▶Idaliah#12633 in the U.S.A form of Idalia, a Greek name tied to Mount Idalium in Cyprus, a place sacred to Aphrodite - so 'from IdPronounced ih-DAH-lee-ah▶Heliana#12964 in the U.S.From the Greek helios ('sun'), a flowing name meaning 'of the sun; sunlike.' Radiant and warm.Pronounced hee-lee-AH-nuh▶Appolonia#13607 in the U.S.Appolonia is a variant spelling of Apollonia, a feminine name derived from Apollo, the Greek god of the sPronounced ap-uh-LOH-nee-uh▶Appollonia#13607 in the U.S.Appollonia is a spelling variant of Apollonia, a Greek name meaning 'of Apollo' or 'belonging to Apollo',Pronounced ap-uh-LOH-nee-ah▶Anatalia#13726 in the U.S.A compound of Ana ('grace') and Talia ('dew of God'; also 'blooming'), which also echoes Anatolia, Greek Pronounced ah-nuh-TAH-lee-uh▶Cyrah#13817 in the U.S.A modern spelling of Cyra or Kyra, read either from the Greek kyria ('lady; mistress') or as a feminine oPronounced SY-ruh▶Yliana#15162 in the U.S.Yliana is a Spanish-flavored spelling of Iliana (also Eliana), a name that draws on two threads: the GreePronounced ee-lee-AH-nuh▶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▶Sundra#15477 in the U.S.Sundra is a respelling of Sondra or Saundra, themselves streamlined forms of Sandra. Sandra is a short foPronounced SUN-drah▶Asiana#15584 in the U.S.Asiana extends the girl's name Asia with a Latin-style -ana ending, giving a sense of 'belonging to Asia'Pronounced ah-see-AH-nah▶Kyrra#16502 in the U.S.Kyrra is a doubled-r spelling of Kyra. That name is read either as a feminine of Cyrus, from the Persian Pronounced KEER-uh▶Europa#16631 in the U.S.From the Greek Europa, variously 'wide face; broad' (eurys, 'wide', + ops, 'face') or from a Semitic rootPronounced yoo-ROH-puh▶Sunya#20211 in the U.S.Sunya has two honest readings. In its early-twentieth-century American use it is most likely a spelling oPronounced SOON-yuh▶IlyanahA spelling of Iliana, tied to Helen ('bright; shining; sun ray') and the Eliana family ('my God has answePronounced il-ee-AH-nah▶
More Greek Meaning Guides
Girl Names That Mean the SkyBoy Names That Mean LoveBoy Names That Mean RockBoy Names That Mean LionGirl Names That Mean GraceGirl Names That Mean LifeGirl Names That Mean BraveryGirl Names That Mean TruthBoy Names That Mean HonorGirl Names That Mean YouthGirl Names That Mean StrengthGirl Names That Mean Rock
Frequently Asked
Do all Greek girl names that mean sun come from the same root?
Most do. Eleni, Ellen, Nell, Nelly, Elayna, and Hellen all descend from Helen, popularly linked to Greek helios. A few, like Kyra, arrive at a similar meaning through Persian rather than Greek roots.
Is Helen definitely Greek for sun?
Not definitively. Helen is usually glossed as bright or shining and popularly tied to helios, the Greek word for sun, but as the Hellen entry notes, its oldest root is genuinely uncertain.