Looking for baby names that are associated with yellow — including baby names that mean “yellow”?
If so, you’ve come to the right place! I’ve collected dozens of options for you in this post.
Before we get to the names, though, let’s take a quick look at what the color yellow represents…
Symbolism of yellow
What does the color yellow signify?
In Western cultures in particular, yellow can be symbolic of:
- Optimism
- Cheer
- Happiness
- Warmth
- Caution
- Energy
- Intellect
The color is primarily identified with the sun, which is the most important source of energy for life on Earth.
Interestingly, the sun’s light is actually white. It only appears yellow (or, sometimes, orange) from our perspective because particles in the Earth’s atmosphere scatter short-wavelength (e.g., blue) light more efficiently than long-wavelength (e.g., red) light.
Baby names associated with yellow
All of the names below have an association with the color yellow. The names range from common to uncommon, and their associations range from strong to slight.
Those that have been popular enough to appear in the U.S. baby name data are linked to their corresponding popularity graphs.
Antu
Antu, the Mapuche word for “sun,” is the name of the Mapuche god of the sun.
Arevik
Arevik is an Armenian feminine name based on the word arev, meaning “sun.” Here’s the popularity graph for Arevik.
Aspen
Aspen trees (in particular the North America species Populus tremuloides) are famous for their golden-yellow autumn foliage. The word aspen is derived from the Old English word for the tree, æspe. Here’s the popularity graph for Aspen.
Beryl
Beryl is a mineral that can be yellow. The name of the stone ultimately comes from the Ancient Greek word beryllos. Here’s the popularity graph for Beryl.
Blaine
Blaine comes from a Scottish surname that can be traced back to the Old Irish word blá, meaning “yellow.” Here’s the popularity graph for Blaine.
Boglárka
Boglárka is the Hungarian word for “buttercup.”
Børka
Børka is a Faroese feminine name based on the word børkuvísa, which refers to the tormentil (a plant with yellow flowers).
Bowie
Bowie comes from a Scottish surname that can be traced back to the Gaelic word buidhe, meaning “yellow.” Here’s the popularity graph for Bowie.
Buff
Buff is a light brownish-yellow color — the hue of buff leather, which was often obtained from the European buffalo. Here’s the popularity graph for Buff.
Buttercup
Buttercup flowers are yellow. “Buttercup” is the common name of several species of flowering plants in the genus Ranunculus.
Canna
Canna flowers are sometimes yellow. The genus name Canna is derived from the Latin word canna, meaning “reed.” Here’s the popularity graph for Canna.
Chrysanthemum
Chrysanthemum flowers are commonly yellow. The genus name Chrysanthemum is derived from a combination of the Ancient Greek words khrysos, meaning “gold,” and anthemon, meaning “blossom, flower.” Here’s the popularity graph for Chrysanthemum.
Citrine
Citrine, a variety of the mineral quartz, is often yellow. The adjective citrine can be traced back to the Latin word citrus. Here’s the popularity graph for Citrine.
Daffodil
Daffodil flowers are frequently yellow. “Daffodil” is the common name of plants in the genus Narcissus.
Dahlia
Dahlia flowers are sometimes yellow. The genus Dahlia was named in honor of Swedish botanist Anders Dahl. Here’s the popularity graph for Dahlia.
Dandelion
Dandelion flowers are yellow. “Dandelion” is the common name of the plant species Taraxacum officinale. The common name is derived from the Latin phrase dens leonis, meaning “lion’s tooth” — a reference to the shape of the leaves. Here’s the popularity graph for Dandelion.
Diell
Diell is an Albanian masculine name based on the word diell, meaning “sun.”
Diellza
Diellza is the feminine form of Diell. Here’s the popularity graph for Diellza.
Dorothy
Dorothy Gale, the main character of the classic film The Wizard of Oz (1939), was told to “follow the yellow brick road.” The movie was based on the novel The Wonderful Wizard of Oz (1900) by L. Frank Baum. The name Dorothy is ultimately derived from a combination of the Ancient Greek words doron, meaning “gift,” and theos, meaning “god.” Here’s the popularity graph for Dorothy.
Fífill
Fífill is the Icelandic word for “dandelion.”
Flavia
Flavia was the feminine form of Flavius. Here’s the popularity graph for Flavia.
Flavian
Flavian was an Ancient Roman name based on Flavius. Here’s the popularity graph for Flavian.
Flavio
Flavio is the modern Spanish and Italian form of Flavius. Here’s the popularity graph for Flavio.
Flavius
Flavius was an Ancient Roman name derived from the Latin word flavus, meaning “yellow, golden.” Here’s the popularity graph for Flavius.
Forsythia
Forsythia (commonly pronounced for-SITH-ee-uh) flowers are yellow. The genus Forsythia was named in honor of Scottish botanist William Forsyth.
Fulvia and Fulvio
Fulvia (feminine) and Fulvio (masculine) are the modern Italian forms of the Roman family name Fulvius, which was based on the Latin word fulvus, meaning “deep yellow, reddish-yellow, gold-colored, tawny.” Here’s the popularity graph for Fulvio.
Ginger
Ginger root (Zingiber officinale) often has yellowish flesh. The word ginger is ultimately derived from the Sanskrit word sringavera. Ginger is also a diminutive form of the name Virginia. Here’s the popularity graph for Ginger.
Gladiola
Gladiola refers to Gladiolus, a genus of plants with flowers that are sometimes yellow. The genus name, meaning “little sword” (a diminutive of the Latin word gladius, “sword”) refers to the shape of the leaves. Here’s the popularity graph for Gladiola.
Günes
Günes (pronounced goo-NESH) is a Turkish feminine name meaning “sun.”
Haetbit
Haetbit is a Korean feminine name meaning “sunlight.”
Haru
Haru is a Japanese gender-neutral name that can mean “sun,” or “sunny,” depending upon the kanji being used to write the name. Here’s the popularity graph for Haru.
Haruki
Haruki is a Japanese name that can include the element Haru. Here’s the popularity graph for Haruki.
Haruna
Haruna is another Japanese name that can include the element Haru. Here’s the popularity graph for Haruna.
Helen
Helen is part of Helenium, a genus of plants with flowers that are sometimes yellow. The genus was named in honor of Helen of Troy. Here’s the popularity graph for Helen.
Helia and Helio
Helia (feminine) and Helio (masculine) are the modern Spanish forms of Helios. Here are the popularity graphs for Helia and Helio.
Helios
Helios, the Ancient Greek word for “sun,” was the name of the Greek god of the sun. Here’s the popularity graph for Helios.
Helius
Helius is the Latinized form of Helios. Here’s the popularity graph for Helius.
Heulwen
Heulwen is the Welsh word for “sunshine.”
Honey
Honey can be yellow. The Old English word for “honey” was hunig. Here’s the popularity graph for Honey.
Inti
Inti, the Quechua word for “sun,” was the name of the Inca god of the sun. Here’s the popularity graph for Inti.
Jonquil
Jonquil flowers (which, like daffodils, are part of the genus Narcissus) are frequently yellow. The species name, jonquilla, means “little rush” (ultimately derived from the Latin word iuncus, meaning “rush, reed”) and refers to the shape of the leaves. Here’s the popularity graph for Jonquil.
Ketut
Ketut is a Balinese gender-neutral name associated with the word kitut, which refers to a small banana.
Khurshid and Khorshid
Khurshid, also spelled Khorshid, is a Persian gender-neutral name derived from the word xorshid, which means “sun.”
Lemon
The word lemon — which can be traced back (via Old French limon and Arabic limun) to the Persian word limu — refers to the citrus fruit of the lemon tree (Citrus limon). By extension, it also refers to the yellow color of this fruit. That said…most of the U.S. babies named Lemon during the 20th century (and earlier) were not named after the fruit. Instead, their names were inspired by the surname Lemon, which was derived from the Middle English word leman, meaning “sweetheart, lover” (from the Old English elements leof, “dear, beloved,” and mann, “person, man”). Here’s the popularity graph for Lemon.
Linden
Linden tree flowers are typically light yellow. The word linden is derived from the Old English word for the tree, lind. Here’s the popularity graph for Linden.
Lillesol
Lillesol is a Swedish feminine name meaning “little sun.”
Marigold
Marigold flowers are sometimes yellow. “Marigold” is the common name of plants in the genera Tagetes and Calendula. Here’s the popularity graph for Marigold.
Mehr
Mehr is a Persian gender-neutral name meaning “sun.” Here’s the popularity graph for Mehr.
Meli
Meli is the Ancient Greek word for “honey.” Here’s the popularity graph for Meli.
Meyer
Meyer lemons are a cross between citron and hybridized mandarin/pomelo. They were named after Dutch-American agricultural explorer Frank N. Meyer (born Frans N. Meijer), who discovered the cultivar while in China in 1907. The occupational surnames Meyer and Meijer are both derived from the Middle High German word meier, meaning “administrator, steward.” Here’s the popularity graph for Meyer.
Mzia
Mzia is a Georgian feminine name meaning “sun.”
Naran
Naran is a Mongolian gender-neutral name meaning “sun.”
Neven
Neven is a masculine name meaning “marigold” in Serbian, Bulgarian, Croatian, Slovene, and other Slavic languages. Here’s the popularity graph for Neven.
Nevena
Nevena is the feminine form of Neven. Here’s the popularity graph for Nevena.
Nou
Nou is a Hmong feminine name meaning “sun.” Here’s the popularity graph for Nou.
Nurit
Nurit (pronounced noo-REET) is a Hebrew feminine name meaning “buttercup.” Here’s the popularity graph for Nurit.
Nyima
Nyima is a Tibetan gender-neutral name meaning “sun.” Here’s the popularity graph for Nyima.
Orchid
Orchid flowers are sometimes yellow. Orchids are all members of the Orchidaceae family of plants. Here’s the popularity graph for Orchid.
Oriole
Oriole is a type of bird that often has yellow plumage. “Oriole” is the common name of birds in the genera Icterus and Oriolidae. The common name is derived from the Latin word aureolus, meaning “golden.” Here’s the popularity graph for Oriole.
Ra
Ra, the Ancient Egyptian word for “sun,” was the name of the Egyptian god of the sun. Here’s the popularity graph for Ra.
Ravi
Ravi, a Sanskrit word for “sun,” is one of the alternate names of Surya, the Hindu god of the sun. Here’s the popularity graph for Ravi.
Samson
Samson is the Biblical (Late Latin) form of Shimshon. Here’s the popularity graph for Samson.
Seqineq
Seqineq is a Greenlandic gender-neutral name meaning “sun.”
Sequssuna
Sequssuna is a Greenlandic masculine name meaning “egg yolk.”
Shams
Shams is an Arabic gender-neutral name meaning “sun.” Here’s the popularity graph for Shams.
Shimshon
Shimshon is a Hebrew masculine name meaning “sun.” Here’s the popularity graph for Shimshon.
Sol
The word sol means “sun” in Latin and in several of the languages that descend from Latin, including Spanish and Portuguese. Sol is also a short form of the name Solomon, which explains why it was a popular choice for baby boys in the early 20th century. Here’s the popularity graph for Sol.
Solar
Solar is a modern word (used in English, German, Portuguese, Spanish, and other languages) based on solaris. Here’s the popularity graph for Solar.
Solara
Solara is an elaboration of Solar. Here’s the popularity graph for Solara.
Solaria
Solaria is another elaboration of Solar. Here’s the popularity graph for Solaria.
Solaris
Solaris comes from the Latin word solaris, meaning “of the sun” or “pertaining to the sun.” Here’s the popularity graph for Solaris.
Soleil
The word soleil (pronounced soh-lay, roughly) means “sun” in French. Here’s the popularity graph for Soleil.
Sóley
Sóley is the Icelandic word for “buttercup.” Here’s the popularity graph for Sóley.
Sunny
The word sunny simply means “having plenty of bright sunlight.” In Middle English, it was spelled sonni. Sunny is also a homophone of the name Sonny, which is based on the English word son. Here’s the popularity graph for Sunny.
Sunflower
Sunflower petals are usually yellow. “Sunflower” is the common name of plants in the genus Helianthus, particularly the species Helianthus annuus. The common name is a reference to the sun-like flower heads. Here’s the popularity graph for Sunflower.
Sunshine
The word sunshine refers to the light (and warmth) of the sun. In Middle English, it was spelled sonne-shin. Here’s the popularity graph for Sunshine.
Surya
Surya, a Sanskrit word for “sun,” is the name of the Hindu god of the sun. Here’s the popularity graph for Surya.
Susan
Susan is part of “black-eyed Susan” — the common name of the plant species Rudbeckia hirta, which has flowers that are typically yellow. Here’s the popularity graph for Susan.
Taeyang
Taeyang is a Korean masculine name meaning “sun.” Here’s the popularity graph for Taeyang.
Tonatiuh
Tonatiuh, the Nahuatl word for “sun,” is the name of the Aztec god of the sun. Here’s the popularity graph for Tonatiuh.
Topaz
Topaz is a mineral that comes in several different colors, most notably golden-yellow. Its name is based on the Middle English word topas, which referred to any yellow-colored gemstone (not just topaz). The earliest known form of the word, the Ancient Greek topazion, referred to a specific yellow gemstone (possibly yellowish olivine). Here’s the popularity graph for Topaz.
Tulip
Tulip flowers are sometimes yellow. The name of the flower can be traced back to the Ottoman Turkish word tülbent, meaning “turban.” Here’s the popularity graph for Tulip.
Xanthe
Xanthe (pronounced ZAN-thee) is a feminine form of Xanthus. Here’s the popularity graph for Xanthe.
Xanthia
Xanthia is an elaboration of Xanthe. Here’s the popularity graph for Xanthia.
Xanthos
Xanthos was an Ancient Greek name derived from the word xanthos, meaning “yellow.”
Xanthus
Xanthus is the Latinized form of Xanthos. Here’s the popularity graph for Xanthus.
Zinnia
Zinnia flowers are sometimes yellow. The genus Zinnia was named in honor of German botanist Johann Gottfried Zinn. Here’s the popularity graph for Zinnia.
Can you think of any other names that have a connection to the color yellow?
P.S. Want to see more color-related baby names? Here are lists of red, orange, green, blue, and purple names.
Sources:
- Color Symbolism – Interaction Design Foundation
- Dutfield, Scott and Natalie Wolchover. “The meaning of colors: How 8 colors became symbolic.” Live Science 28 Jan. 2022.
- Fulvus – Charlton T. Lewis, Charles Short, A Latin Dictionary
- Gunn, Alastair. “What colour is the Sun really? Hint: it’s not yellow.” BBC Science Focus Magazine 20 Nov. 2021.
- Hanks, Patrick. (Ed.) Dictionary of American Family Names. New York: Oxford University Press, 2003.
- Middle English Dictionary
- Nordic Names
- Online Etymology Dictionary
- SSA
- Stone, Daniel. “The Mysterious Life and Death of Frank Meyer, the Man Behind Meyer Lemons.” Vice 25 Apr. 2018.
- Sunny – Britannica Dictionary
- Wikipedia
- Wiktionary
Images:
- Adapted from Palm Sunday Market (2) by Armineaghayan under CC BY-SA 4.0.
- Adapted from Yellow Aspen by Brady Smith/USDA Forest Service, Coconino National Forest under CC BY-SA 2.0.
[Latest update: Nov. 2023]
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