Names that Mean Red or Redhead

  1. Copper
    • Origin:

      English
    • Meaning:

      "a reddish brown mineral"
    • Description:

      More unique than Cooper, and a favorite among pet parents. Copper was the loveable bloodhound from Disney's Fox and the Hound. Keep in mind that Copper is also slang for a policeman.
  2. Flannery
    • Origin:

      Irish
    • Meaning:

      "descendant of Flannghal"
    • Description:

      Long before the vogue of using Irish surnames for girls, writer Flannery O'Connor gave this one some visibility. It has a warm (flannelly) feel and the currently popular three-syllable ee-ending sound.
  3. Conley
    • Origin:

      Anglicization of Conleth, Irish
    • Meaning:

      "chaste fire"
    • Description:

      Conley has a contemporary surname feel but is actually vintage in its usage. It was used as a masculine given name through the 1940s and peaked in 1905 at Number 709. Ready for revival? Definitely.
  4. Rudyard
    • Origin:

      English
    • Meaning:

      "red enclosure"
    • Description:

      Often thought of as a one-peson name because of Jungle Book writer Kipling, this was actually his middle name. He was middle-named for Rudyard Lake in Staffordshire, the beauty of which inspired his parents to reference it in their first child's name. Trivia tidbit: Actress Kim Raver gave her son Leo the middle name of Kipling.
  5. Aruna
    • Origin:

      Sanskrit, Japanese
    • Meaning:

      "reddish-brown; Asian moon"
    • Description:

      In Hinduism, the god Aruna is the charioteer who drives the sun god Surya across the sky. Aruna is both the traditional masculine form of the name (modernized as Arun) and its feminization.
  6. Clancy
    • Origin:

      Irish
    • Meaning:

      "red-haired warrior"
    • Description:

      Irish surnames are hot, and this one can successfully cross the line to work for girls, replacing the outdated Casey. And only a dozen girls were named Clancy in the US in one recent year (along with 27 boys), making it one of those rare Irish names that are both accessible and distinctive, classic and cool. Clancy is a winner for either gender.
  7. Rusty
    • Origin:

      Short form of Russell
    • Description:

      Though as a formal name Rusty is a little, well, rusty, it spent half a century among the Top 1000, departing only in 1995. Only 45 baby boys received the name in the US in one recent year and it's difficult to imagine it as the winning choice of many modern parents. Whether you want an informal name or a spin on a traditional name or even a word name or a name that means red, there are simply too many better options.
  8. Crimson
    • Origin:

      English color name
    • Meaning:

      "rich deep red"
    • Description:

      Crimson is a rare unisex color name used more frequently among baby girls.
  9. Anala
    • Origin:

      Hindi
    • Meaning:

      "fire"
    • Description:

      Indian choice meaning fire in step with American styles.
  10. Red
    • Origin:

      Color name
    • Description:

      Fiery but slight middle name choice; much more apt to be a redhead's nickname.
  11. Carnelian
    • Origin:

      Gemstone name
    • Description:

      Carnelian is an ochre-colored semi-precious gemstone, named after a type of cherry.
  12. Rowe
    • Origin:

      Variation of Rowan or Rowena
    • Meaning:

      "rowan tree, little redhead; white spear, famous friend"
    • Description:

      Mini names beginning with R are a trend to watch for both sexes. Recently, celebrities have been loving names like Ren, Rue, and Ro(w). The four-letter spelling, complete with a silent E, makes Rowe feel like a complete package despite its single syllable.
  13. Cordovan
    • Origin:

      Spanish
    • Meaning:

      "native of Cordova"
    • Description:

      Leathery, masculine image, complete with user-friendly short form.
  14. Auburn
    • Origin:

      Color name
    • Meaning:

      "deep reddish-brown"
    • Description:

      A strong, warm name and a strong warm color. Would make an excellent alternative to August or Aubrey.
  15. Auburn
    • Origin:

      Color name
    • Meaning:

      "deep reddish-brown"
    • Description:

      With its rich aural relation to names like Aubrey and Audrey, this color name could be the next Amber, or Scarlett.
  16. Roe
    • Origin:

      English, Scottish, Irish, Norwegian, or Korean surname
    • Meaning:

      "roe deer; wise protector; son of Ruadh; red; clearing; ability"
    • Description:

      In the US, the multicultural surname Roe is primarily associated with the landmark Supreme Court case Roe vs. Wade, which granted the federal right to abortion, though elsewhere it might be associated with fish eggs or a small breed of reddish deer.
  17. Alinta
    • Origin:

      Australian Aboriginal
    • Meaning:

      "fire, flame"
    • Description:

      This Noongar girls’ name has a dainty sound that belies its fierce fire meaning and could easily cross over into the American or European context.
  18. Kamal
    • Origin:

      Hindi; Arabic
    • Meaning:

      "lotus; perfect, perfection"
    • Description:

      Kamal carries two positive associations: one of the ninety-nine qualities of Allah listed in the Quran and the evocative lotus flower. Americans might recognize it as the male equivalent of Kamala, as in Vice President Kamala Harris.
  19. Carmine
    • Omaira
      • Origin:

        Arabic
      • Meaning:

        "long life; red"
      • Description:

        Omaira is an intriguing Middle Eastern possibility.