Names That Mean Bright
- Roberta
Origin:
EnglishMeaning:
"bright fame"Description:
Roberta has been one of the most successful feminization names, up at #64 in 1936. It's a name that's found all over children's lit, often nicknamed Bobbie or Robbie, though Bertie is another possibility. Notable bearers have included singers Roberta Flack and Roberta Peters--plus it's the birth name of Joni Mitchell.
- Avira
Origin:
TamilMeaning:
"bright"Description:
A rare girls' name with cross-cultural appeal to burn, Avira might be a good option for parents interested in Ava but put off by its huge popularity.
- Brighton
Origin:
English, place name meaning "bright town"Meaning:
"bright town"Description:
Brighton has long been known as a holiday resort town on the south coast of England. A cheery unisex name, it was used for his daughter by Jon Favreau, but was a boy on the TV show The Nanny.
- Bob
Origin:
English, diminutive of RobertMeaning:
"bright fame"Description:
Kids love Bob the Builder, but do they want to be Bob the Builder? Bob and Bobby have been out of style since the 1960s, but as vintage nickname-names -- Fred, Archie -- come back into vogue, Bob may tag along. Charlie Sheen used it for one of his twin sons.
- Laney
Origin:
Diminutive of ElaineMeaning:
"bright shining one"Description:
A kind of old-fashioned nickname name that's enjoying some fresh life thanks to trendy brother Lane. Lainie is a more old-school spelling.
- Koki
Origin:
JapaneseMeaning:
"bright light; hopeful fortune"Description:
A Japanese name with lovely meanings.
- Cyane
Origin:
GreekMeaning:
"bright blue enamel"Description:
Cyane is a mythological Sicilian nymph who lived in a pool and whose name is an intriguing twist on the color name trend.
- Akiko
Origin:
JapaneseMeaning:
"bright child"Description:
This popular Japanese name has many various meanings (bright, clear, autumn), depending on the combination of kanji used to spell it. The final element is the character ko, meaning "child", which features in many Japanese feminine names. Akiko is one of the best unique names for autumn babies.
- Elettra
Origin:
Italian variation of Latin ElectraMeaning:
"shining, bright"Description:
Less electric and melodramatic, more serene, than Electra. Isabella Rossellini's daughter (and Ingrid Bernman's granddaughter) is named Elettra Rossellini Wiedemann.
- Bertram
Origin:
GermanMeaning:
"bright raven"Description:
Old Norman name last current in the 1930s, and firmly in our 'so far out it will always be out' category – despite its appearance as a Hogwarts student in Harry Potter. This is the full first name of P.G. Wodehouse's inimitable Bertie Wooster.
- Thanh
Origin:
VietnameseMeaning:
"bright blue; brilliant"Description:
A common Vietnamese name heard evenly for boys and girls in the U.S. Sounds like tahn or tong, depending on what part of Vietnam you come from.
- Bertie
Origin:
Diminutive of Albertine or Alberta, English or GermanicMeaning:
"noble, bright"Description:
So uncool it's cool! Bertie makes for a boyish nickname for Alberta, Roberta, Bertille, Albertine... or just use it on its own, à la Billie or Frankie. Old school unisex nickname names are back in and Bertie has an undeniable vintage charm; particularly given soundalike Birdie rising in the ranks.
- Alberta
Origin:
English, feminine variation of AlbertMeaning:
"noble, bright"Description:
This jazzy old name could make a comeback, the way Josephine and Ella have. In England the name was popularized by Queen Victoria's daughter Princess Louise Caroline Alberta, after whom her governor general of Canada husband named the North American province. Jazz singer Alberta Hunter was a noted bearer.
- Solas
Origin:
Invented name, or Norwegian or Spanish surnameMeaning:
"pride; light, bright"Description:
Solas is a surname name in both Norwegian (as Solås) and Spanish (as Solás), but it was introduced as a first name via the video game franchise Dragon Age. In the series, Solas is an Elven mage whose name is derived from the Elven word for "pride".
- Egbert
Origin:
Anglo-SaxonMeaning:
"bright edge of a sword"Description:
Egbert still suffers somewhat from being used as a stereotypical name for nerds and aristocrats. It would be a surprising choice, but with its edgy meaning and dusty charm, possibly it's so beyond cool that it's...actually kind of cool?
- Zariza
Origin:
HebrewMeaning:
"gold, brilliantly bright"Description:
Zariza is a unique name sure to appeal to Z lovers.
- Neave
Origin:
IrishMeaning:
"bright"Description:
Anglicized variant of Niamh.
- Lainie
Origin:
Diminutive of ElaineMeaning:
"bright shining one"Description:
Lainie is a nickname for Elaine that has been in the public eye via Lainie Kazan (that was her full given name), who was a popular singer in the 1960s and 1970s (she was Barbra Streisand's understudy in "Funny Girl"), and then became a motherly character actress. We still find Lainie a bit flimsy for a full first name.
- Bobbie
Origin:
Diminutive of Roberta or Barbara, EnglishMeaning:
"bright fame; stranger"Description:
Vintage nickname for Roberta or Barbara, most famously borne by Roberta "Bobbie" in Edith Nesbit's classic The Railway Children. Bobbie is one of the adorable boyish nicknames newly fashionable for girls, with all the appeal of Billie but without the popularity (yet!).
- Aili
Origin:
Finnish and Sami variation of Helga, diminutive of Aileen, Anglicization of EilidhMeaning:
"holy, blessed; bright and shining light"Description:
An attractive Scandinavian take on Helga, or a potential Helen nickname.