I’m thinking more sunshine than just the sun, but I suppose the sun could work, as well. Or even something that emanates joy and/or hope. Many of you, I think, may have heard in my last post (about [name_f]Lillian[/name_f]) about a little friend of mine who has only been given a couple weeks to live. I’ve been trying out [name_f]Elena[/name_f] in her honor, but the only combo I really love with [name_f]Elena[/name_f] is [name_f]Penelope[/name_f] [name_f]Elena[/name_f], and I don’t really love [name_f]Penelope[/name_f] enough (yet, anyhow!) to use it up front. She’s this beautiful ray of sunshine and hope and joy, though, so I thought something with strong imagery/connections to that sort of theme might be enough to tie to her for me.
All I can really think of right now is [name_f]Eliana[/name_f] (which I like, but I’d like other options), and [name_f]Soleil[/name_f] (which I definitely don’t want to use. I’ve taken [name_m]French[/name_m] off and on for the past 7 or so years–to me, [name_f]Soleil[/name_f] isn’t a name, it’s the word for sun). Oh, and also [name_f]Sunshine[/name_f] (which is way to hippy-dippy for me!). Any other ideas?
I’m thinking of using her initials (DL), but I like the sunshine idea a little bit more, so I figured I’d pursue that before I settled on just using her initials.
[name_f]Elena[/name_f] is a gorgeous name! You should use it! And, if not, then use other variations of [name_f]Helen[/name_f]. Most all mean “bright, shining one.”
Oh, I forgot other suggestions! There’s [name_f]Eilidh[/name_f] (pronounced ay-lee) that means “sun, radiant one.” [name_f]Noor[/name_f] means “light.” [name_f]Eleanor[/name_f] is a variation of [name_f]Helen[/name_f] that means “bright, shining one.”
[name_f]Esperance[/name_f]–[name_m]French[/name_m] for ‘hope’. One of my [name_m]French[/name_m]-Canadian ancestors used it for a ‘dit’ name. A lot of them had nicknames, many of which became surnames for future generations. This one is my favorite.
Or, instead of using names that mean “sun, sunshine,” etc, you could use variations of [name_f]Lillian[/name_f]. [name_f]Lillia[/name_f], [name_f]Lilac[/name_f], [name_f]Lilly[/name_f]/ [name_f]Lily[/name_f], [name_f]Lilliana[/name_f], [name_f]Liana[/name_f], [name_f]Lana[/name_f], [name_f]Lara[/name_f], [name_f]Leila[/name_f], [name_f]Layla[/name_f], the list goes on and on.
@rainierloner - her name is actually [name_u]Delaney[/name_u]. So [name_f]Elena[/name_f] (eh-[name_m]LAY[/name_m]-nah) is already fairly removed from her actual name–the only tie is the nn [name_u]Laney[/name_u] that they share. [name_f]Lillian[/name_f] is just a name I really love (that also has ties to my grandmother. [name_f]Lillian[/name_f]'s not changing. I’m not sure I even need the name to honor [name_u]Laney[/name_u] to be with [name_f]Lillian[/name_f]–I had just mentioned [name_u]Laney[/name_u] in my [name_f]Lillian[/name_f] thread.). While I love [name_f]Eilidh[/name_f] and [name_f]Helena[/name_f] and [name_f]Eleni[/name_f], they just don’t have any tie to [name_u]Laney[/name_u], really. They have ties to my sister, and I’ve considered all four in her honor, but [name_f]Elena[/name_f] is really the only one that directly ties to [name_u]Laney[/name_u] herself.
@rkrd - [name_f]Esperance[/name_f] is lovely, and I do love [name_m]French[/name_m] names! It also seems sort of heavy, too, though. I like the sound of “l’espoir” and “esperer” much more, personally. It is pretty fun to say, though!
What about [name_f]Delicia[/name_f]?! Too out there for you? It has a tie to [name_u]Delaney[/name_u] with the [name_u]Del[/name_u] beginning and has the Latin meaning delight, which seems to go along with the bright, joyous imagery you were thinking of.
[name_f]Lucy[/name_f] and [name_f]Lucia[/name_f] might be obvious but I didn’t see them so I thought I’d mention them.
[name_f]Phoebe[/name_f] has been mentioned and I really like it. [name_f]Roxana[/name_f] means light or dawn. [name_f]Nadia[/name_f] is a bit far-fetched; it means hope.
Here is a list of names using all the keywords I could think of. If you want to change anything, just click Refine Search: Browse Names - Behind the Name
Arusi – sun
Drisa – daughter of the sun
Drisana – daughter of the sun
[name_f]Elanor[/name_f] – sun-star, bright one, shining one
Eleodora – she who came from the sun
[name_f]Elidi[/name_f] – gift of the sun
[name_f]Helia[/name_f] – sun – hee-lee-ah
Helina – light from the sun
Heliodora – gift from the sun
[name_f]Kalinda[/name_f] – the sun
[name_f]Levana[/name_f] – the rising sun
Levania – the rising sun
Maleda – born with the rising sun
Raveena – beauty of the sun
Sulwen – white sun
Sunna – sun
[name_f]Sunniva[/name_f] – gift
Helicia – sunshine
[name_f]Solana[/name_f] – sunshine
Shining/bright :
Canika – a woman shining with grace
[name_f]Eleanor[/name_f] – bright one, shining one
[name_f]Ellen[/name_f] – bright one, shining one
Esthelia – shining woman
[name_f]Helen[/name_f] – bright one, shining one
Llewella – shining one
[name_f]Sana[/name_f] – radiantly shining
[name_f]Alina[/name_f] – bright, beautiful
[name_f]Blanche[/name_f] – white, bright, beautiful
[name_f]Claribel[/name_f] – clear, bright, famous
[name_f]Clarinda[/name_f] – clear, bright, famous
[name_f]Jemima[/name_f] – dove, bright as day
Kalia – clear and bright, crowned with laurel, who is like God?
[name_f]Phaedra[/name_f] – bright
[name_f]Phoebe[/name_f] – bright, pure
[name_f]Roxana[/name_f] – bright, dawn, light
[name_f]Sorcha[/name_f] – bright, radiant
[name_m]Light[/name_m]:
Callula – light
Dinorah – light, fire
[name_f]Fana[/name_f] – one who provides light
Kiziah – light of heart
[name_f]Lucina[/name_f] – she who brings children into light
Luminita – little light
Rasana – beam of light
[name_u]Zia[/name_u] – light, splendor, glow
[name_f]Hope[/name_f]/joy:
[name_f]Asha[/name_f] – life, hopeful
Abeo – I bring joy
Agalia – brightness, joy
[name_f]Alisa[/name_f] – [name_f]Joy[/name_f], of a noble kind
Eufrasia – she who is full of joy
[name_f]Gilada[/name_f] – my joy is eternal
