When things seem their darkest, it is our everlasting belief that change will come that sees us through that unclear path. We believe that something will happen to change our circumstances. That is the power of hope. The simple belief that there will be light after darkness, a rainbow after the rain. It is an incredibly powerful thing that can pull us through achingly tough times and those moments when it seems like all the chips are down and all is lost.
It seems clear that we could all use a little hope these days, which is why many parents might be looking to give their children this sense of faith and positive thinking. A good way to ensure that a child will always know that they were the star in a dark sky is by giving a baby name that evokes this sense of optimism. Similarly, some people might look for baby names that mean light. But a baby name that is related to the feeling of hope, specifically, can really cement the message that a child is the promise of better days ahead.
NADINE
This name has a little international flair. Nadine was originally taken from the French form of the Russian name Nadia, which in turn was a diminutive of Nadezhda, which means “hope.”
ESPERANZA
An uncommon name that is on the rise in popularity, Esperanza has a musical quality that has that certain ring to it. Taken from the Spanish word esperanza, it means “hope” and “expectation.”
DAWN
A new day, a fresh start, turning the page — is there any other reason why this name is on our list? Taken from the Middle English dauninge, Dawn means “daybreak, dawn," and it symbolizes the new beginnings that we all need.
AURORA
A name that might be most familiar to people from the Disney movie Sleeping Beauty, Aurora was taken from the Latin aurora, which means “dawn.” Dawn, of course, symbolizes the start of something new.
RABIA
A moniker that has real potential to be a popular baby name in the US, but is currently one of the most popular baby names in Turkey. Rabia is an Arabic name meaning "spring" — which happens to be the season of rebirth and renewal.
LUCY
This is a classic baby name that has always — and will always — have broad appeal. Lucy was derived from the English version of Lucia and taken from the Latin lux, which means “light.” Think Lucille Ball, Lucy Hale, and actress Lucy Lui.
LAINIE
A more modern take on the classic name, Elaine, which was a variant Helen that means “light.” Originally, Elaine was a name created in Arthurian legend and was the name of a woman of Astolat who loved Sir Lancelot.
DOVE
A bird of peace, Dove is both a symbol and a beautiful baby name. Dove might not be a common name, but has recently gotten a boost in popularity from actress Dove Cameron.
ASHLYN
A clear-sighted vision of the future, the name Ashlyn is all about what’s ahead. Taken from the Irish aisling, it means “dream, vision, daydream.” The name has been Anglicized as Esther. Other cute variations of the name are Ashlynn and Aislinn.
HELIA
The light that shines in the darkness, Helia is a version of the Greek Helenē. The root of which is ēlē, which means “light, torch, bright.” A more common variant that people might be familiar with is Helen, but Helia is not at all common.
HOPE
This is clearly the most literal of the names on this list, but there really is no going wrong with the name Hope. That’s probably the reason why the name has only gotten more popular over time.
RAINBOW
For some people, this name might be a little out there, but others will immediately see how Rainbow evokes a sense of promise and hope. That’s because a rainbow can only happen after a rainstorm, when things might seem their darkest.
KIRAN
A gender neutral baby name that is perfect for parents who don’t want anything too feminine, in Sanskrit, the name Kiran means “ray of light,” which fits perfectly with our theme. After all, what seems more hopeful than the light?
LIORA
A beautifully feminine name that has a lyrical quality to it. Liora is a Hebrew name that is the feminine form of the name Lior, which means “my light.” Another spelling variation is Leora, which is equally pretty.
FELICITY
The side effect of hope? Happiness. Which is exactly what the name Felicity is about. Taken from the word felicity, meaning “good fortune, happiness,” Felicity will be the name of a girl who is looking forward to taking on the world.
