December 21, 2024, marks the winter solstice — aka the first official day of winter. And if you have a baby conceived or born around the solstice, or the day just means a lot to your family, it could be really cool to give the child a name with connections to solstice.
According to The Old Farmer’s Almanac, the winter solstice marks the day of the year when there’s the least amount of daylight. It also signals that the following days will start to finally grow longer and also that winter is officially here. Sure, it feels like winter has been happening already since it’s freezing in many parts of the country, but the season’s official start comes midway through December. The date changes every year, but it’s usually around the 21st or 22nd.
And now you can mark the special date with these fitting baby names.
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Solstice
Wynn
Wynn, a play on the word “winter,” would be a fun and unique baby name for either boys or girls. It has a subtle connection to the idea of the winter solstice, but it stands on its own as well. Wynn comes from Old English, meaning “joy” or “delight,” which a new baby certainly is.
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Luke
The name Luke (or, alternatively Lucas, Luca, or Lucius) come from the Latin word for “light.” Although the winter solstice is the shortest day of the year, it does mark the turning point of when the days grow to be lighter. That makes the name Luke a positive manifestation of what’s to come.
Nora
A girls’ name that carries a similar meaning as Luke is Nora, from the Arabic word “noor,” which also means “light.” According to the Social Security Administration data, Nora was the 25th most popular girls’ name in 2023, with nearly 6,000 children being given the name.
Dawn
When the sun rises again after the winter solstice, it’ll be a new dawn of longer and longer days. Dawn is a gorgeous baby girl name that has fallen in popularity in recent years. According to the Social Security Administration, the last year it made the top 1,000 list was 2000. But all that means is that your daughter won’t have to share her moniker with a bunch of her other classmates.
Phoebe
The girls’ name Phoebe is derived from the Greek word phoibos meaning “bright one.” And although the winter solstice has the longest night, that really just means that the days following will be brighter. Plus, if you’re a Friends fan, this name is extra fun.
Ellie
In Greek, the name Helen symbolized “light.” But if Helen feels perhaps a little old fashioned for your new baby, there are a ton of name variations. There’s Ellie, Elaina, Eleanor, Helena, and more. Anything in that realm will be both a cute and meaningful moniker.
