Names That Mean Sun

The Akan people of Ghana and the Ivory Coast frequently name their children after the day of the week they were born and the order in which they were born. Most Ghanaians have a name using this system (think Kofi Annan, whose name means born on a Friday). Kwasi is the name for boys born on a Sunday. (The name for girls born on a Sunday is Akosua).

Sunna was a mythological goddess of the sun. As a mythology name that easily translated into English yet is unique and uplifting, Sunna feels like an all-around winner.

Since it's also Spanish for "nothing," this name wouldn't be great for a girl's self-esteem.

Sunny Italian surname name for a little girl. Solari was the name of a character on Xena: Warrior Princess.

The graceful Indian Suria or Surya may remind Americans more of little Miss Suri Cruise than of the pantheon of Hindi gods and goddesses.

Would undoubtedly be confused with the geographical Syria.

A traditional possibility for a Japanese or Japanese-American child born in April or May.

Sóley is the Icelandic word for the buttercup flower, derived from the words meaning "sun" and "island." It is also used on the Faroe Islands as a short form of Sólja.

Strong and rhythmic Italian form of Samson

Kalindi is a lovely, rhythmic name refers to one of the seven sacred rivers of India.

There's no shortage of quirky ways to get to hip nickname Oz -- Ozias, Osborne, Ozymandias -- but this one may appeal to parents looking for a full name with some religious significance. It was originally a name for Palm Sunday, which came from the Latin word for "hosanna."

Solana has been trending up the Nameberry popularity charts, perhaps thanks to a legion of SZA fans. And it's poised to enter the US Top 1000 too, given to over 225 baby girls last year.

This name is very wearable in English-speaking countries and has a lovely meaning.

Midcentury macramé-maker.