A ray of sunshine after the rain, the beam of heat we feel on the first summer’s day, how we feel when things seem like they might finally be going right — light is what gives us hope and brings us comfort. Many people need to look to the skies to get through the hard times and maintain a positive outlook for the future. There's nothing but blue skies and endless chances for good things to happen when you look towards the light.
Understandably, many people want to channel this kind of energy when they're bringing life into the world. What parent could possibly say that they don't want their child to have every and any possibility open to him? Many parents search high and low for a baby name that evokes a sense of promise, joy, and good fortune. These are also names that convey a sense of enlightenment.
That's why, with a little help from Nameberry, we compiled a list of baby boy names that are all about the good vibes and positive feelings. Here are some of our favorite boy names that mean "light" — the eternal source of happiness, brilliance, and good cheer.
BODHI
The name Bodhi is about upward thinking. It’s the light bulb over our heads that finally illuminates when clarity is achieved. Bodhi is a Sanskrit name that means "awakened" or "enlightenment" and its recently become one of the more popular names for a baby boy in the US.
CALLAHAN
An unusual name that has classic appeal, Callahan isn’t the typical baby name. Some might say that it sounds like a surname, and it definitely evokes strength and masculinity. Callahan is also an Irish name that means "bright-headed."
LUCIUS
Another name with presence, Lucius is borrowed from Latin and is thought to have been derived from the Latin root, lux, meaning “light” or was taken from the Ecclesiastic Greek Loukas, meaning “man from Lucania.”
ROBERT
Has there ever been a time when Robert wasn’t a popular boy's name? We don’t think so. Robert is derived from the Old High German Hruodperht, which is a compound name made of the elements hruod meaning "fame" and perht meaning "bright."
MYER
Myer is a throwback name that has major comeback potential. Myer is a variation of the Hebrew name Meyer or Meir — although it’s often used as a surname. The name means "bright one" or "bringer of light.”
ANWAR
An Arabic name that evokes a sense of joy and positivity, Anwar means “shafts of light.” To bring a little star power into the equation, Anwar is also the name of supermodels Gigi and Bella Hadid’s younger brother.
HERBERT
A “grandpa” name that shouldn't be counted out. Herbert has a lot of presence and history, which might make it appealing. Herbert was derived from the Old English Herebeorht meaning “bright army,” which is made from the elements here meaning “army” and beorht meaning “bright, fair, white.”
KIRAN
Many parents will love that Kiran follows the trend of names ending in -an, but it’s still unusual. Taken from Sanskrit, the name means "ray of light." Another variation is to mix up the spelling — Kyran — which is just as cute!
RAIDEN
A cracking good name. Raiden might be most well known with video game fans, as it was featured in both Mortal Kombat and Metal Gear Solid. Raiden means "God Spirit" or "thunder and lightning."
RUPERT
A little bit of a formal name, Rupert is a form of Robert, which we know was derived from the Old High German Hruodperht, which is made from the elements hruod meaning “fame” and perht meaning “bright.”
XAVIER
Taken from the Spanish surname, the name is believed to be derived from the Basque Etcheberria, meaning “the new house.” However, the name is also believed to mean “bright.”
BARAK
We all are familiar with this name — albeit a slightly different spelling. Barack was the name of the 44th president and Barak is very, very similar, but is a biblical name that means "lightning.”
ABNER
Us '90s kids will immediately connect this name to the Nickelodeon show Hey! Arnold because he had a pet pig with the same moniker. The name is derived from Hebrew and means “father of light.”
JAIRUS
This is a thoughtful baby name. Derived from the Greek, Jair, Jairus has Hebrew roots and means “Yahweh (God) will enlighten.” According to the New Testament, Jairus was the father of a girl who was brought back to life by Jesus.
LUMEN
A name that some might even use for a baby girl, a Lumen will be a bright spot in any household. Taken from the Latin root, lūx, the baby name means “light.”
ORI
Short names are still trending, which makes this name a two-fer. Not only is Ori a Hebrew name that means “my light,” it has that zippy sound that makes it a great first name.
NAOR
A baby name that is sure to take off in 2021. According to Nameberry, Naor is a glowing Hebrew baby boy’s name, which means “cultured and enlightened.”
ALBUS
Some would say we’ve saved the best name for last. Albus is probably most familiar to Harry Potter fans as it was the name of the Headmaster of Hogwarts, Albus Dumbledore. The name has Latin roots and means “white, bright.”
