How popular is the baby name Helen in the United States right now? How popular was it historically? Use the popularity graph and data table below to find out! Plus, see all the blog posts that mention the name Helen.
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From a recent Daily Mail article about an Englishman named Pele Johnson (who was born in September of 1970 — not long after the 1970 World Cup took place in Mexico):
“[M]y whole life has been shaped by the fact that I’m called Pele. Everywhere I’ve gone, it’s always been about my name first.
“It’s never hindered me in my career or anything, it’s a wonderful thing.”
[…]
His father Anthony Johnson wanted to name him after all the forwards and midfield of the Brazilian team in tribute to them winning the Jules Rimet trophy for the third time three months earlier.
It would have made him Pele Jairzinho Tostao Rivelino Clodoaldo Gerson Johnson.
[…]
Instead, the couple compromised on using two of the team’s names, meaning he was christened Pele Jairzinho Johnson.
From the 2004 book I’m a Believer: My Life of Monkees, Music, and Madness by Mickey Dolenz:
I have three younger sisters. The oldest of the three is “Coco.” Her real name is Gemma Marie, but somewhere along the line I nicknamed her “Coco Sunshine” and it stuck. I don’t think she has ever forgiven me.
Carroll McComas has done her best to make up to her father, Judge C. C. McComas, for the disappointment she caused him in failing to be born a boy. When he insisted upon going through with his prepared program, notwithstanding her sex, and named her Charles Carroll McComas, her family history records that she dimpled sweetly and never whimpered.
[Stage actress Charles Carroll McComas (1886-1962) and her like-named father were descendants of Charles Carroll, one of the signers of the Declaration of Independence. Her three older sisters were named Helen, Alice, and Clare.]
The National Elections Tribunal (TNE) has announced that it will introduce an initiative to the legislature to prohibit the absurd, obscene or grotesque names of people in Honduras. The measure has been taken because in that country the law does not allow Hondurans to change their names.
The president of the TNE, the liberal Lisandro Quezada, has indicated that “the height of the situation is that there are strange names such as Cruz de Cardán, Silvín, Llanta del Milagro, Bujía and Motor Martínez that, without a doubt, cause annoyance to those who owe them take your whole life.”
[Those five names were inspired by automotive parts: Cruz de Cardán means “Cardan cross,” Silvín (created from the English words sealed beam) means “headlamp,” Llanta del Milagro means “miracle tire,” and Bujía means “spark plug.”]
Finally, here’s what Sports Illustrated learned from Maye Musk last year about the names of the Musk children:
Elon (b. 1971) “was named after his mother’s grandfather, John Elon Haldeman.”
Kimbal (b. 1972) “was named after the book titled Kim by Nobel Prize-winning author Rudyard Kipling.”
During his 2018 Reddit AMA, Kimbal said: “My name means Warrior Chief. It is the name of an english orphan in Rudyard Kipling’s book called Kim (short for Kimball). My parents mispelled [sic] my name on my birth certificate, so I’m Kimbal, not ‘Kimball’.”
Tosca (b. 1974) “was named after a girl that Musk’s ex-husband [Errol] had a crush on in high school.”
Maye noted: “I didn’t care. I thought the name was pretty. And I liked it and it suited her.”
Looking for baby names that are associated with the color red — including baby names that mean “red”?
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 red represents…
Symbolism of red
What does the color red signify?
In Western cultures in particular, red can be symbolic of:
Love
Passion
Strength
Power
Danger
Excitement
Energy
The link between the color red and emotionally-charged situations may be attributable to the fact that we blush involuntarily when we experience intense feelings (such as anger, lust, or embarrassment).
Baby names associated with red
All of the names below have an association with the color red. The names range from traditional to unusual, 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.
Ahmar Ahmar is an Arabic masculine name meaning “red.” Here’s the popularity graph for Ahmar.
Akane Akane is a Japanese feminine name that — depending upon the kanji being used to write the name — can refer to the madder plant (genus Rubia), the dye made from the root of the madder plant, or the purplish-red color of that dye. Here’s the popularity graph for Akane.
Amaranth Amaranth flowers are frequently red. The genus name Amaranthus is derived from a combination of the Ancient Greek words amarantos, meaning “unfading,” and anthos, meaning “flower.” Here’s the popularity graph for Amaranth.
Amaryllis Amaryllis flowers are often red. The genus name Amaryllis is derived from the Ancient Greek word amarysso, meaning “to sparkle.” Here’s the popularity graph for Amaryllis.
Anara Anara is a Kazakh and Kyrgyz feminine name based on the word anar, meaning “pomegranate.” Here’s the popularity graph for Anara.
Azalea Azalea (pronounced uh-ZAY-lee-uh) flowers are sometimes red. The (obsolete) genus name Azalea is derived from the Ancient Greek word azaleos, meaning “dry.” Here’s the popularity graph for Azalea.
Berry Berry fruits are frequently red. The Old English word for “berry” was berie. Here’s the popularity graph for Berry.
Brick Brick is commonly red. In fact, the term “brick red” refers to the brownish-red color of red clay bricks. Here’s the popularity graph for Brick.
Burgundy Burgundy is a purplish-red color. The name of the shade was inspired by red wine from the region of Burgundy in France. Here’s the popularity graph for Burgundy.
Camellia Camellia flowers are often red. The genus Camellia is was named in honor of Moravian botanist Georg Joseph Kamel. Here’s the popularity graph for Camellia.
Canna Canna flowers are sometimes red. The genus name Canna is derived from the Latin word canna, meaning “reed.” Here’s the popularity graph for Canna.
Cardinal Cardinal is a type of bird, the males of which have red plumage. Cardinals (birds of the genus Cardinalis) were named with the red robes of Roman Catholic cardinals in mind. The common name is ultimately derived from the Latin word cardinalis, meaning “principal, chief.” Here’s the popularity graph for Cardinal.
Carmine The vocabulary word carmine (pronounced KAHR-mien) refers to the pigment made from the cochineal insect, which lives on prickly pear cacti. By extension, it also refers to the purplish-red color of this pigment. Spanish explorers, who learned of the pigment through the Nahuas (Aztecs), began exporting it to Europe in the early 16th century. Its name (in Europe) is based on the Medieval Latin word carminium — a form of the Arabic word qirmiz, meaning “crimson,” influenced by the Latin word minium, meaning “cinnabar.” The word also happens to be a homograph of the personal name Carmine (pronounced KAHR-mee-neh), which is the Italian masculine form of Carmen. Here’s the popularity graph for Carmine.
Carnelian Carnelian, a variety of the mineral chalcedony, is often red. The name of the stone ultimately comes from the Latin word cornus, which refers to a type of berry, altered by the influence of the Latin word carneus, meaning “flesh-colored.”
Cerise Cerise (pronounced su-reez) is the French word for “cherry.” Here’s the popularity graph for Cerise.
Cherry Cherry fruits are typically red. Cherry trees are part of the genus Prunus. Here’s the popularity graph for Cherry.
Chrysanthemum Chrysanthemum flowers are sometimes red. 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.
Coral Coral is a pink-orange shade of red. The name of the shade refers to the color of precious coral, which was first discovered in the Mediterranean Sea. Here’s the popularity graph for Coral.
Crimson Crimson is a deep shade of red. Crimson pigment was originally made from the kermes insect, which lives on evergreen oaks. (The pigment fell out of favor in Europe after the introduction of carmine from the New World in the early 1500s.) Here’s the popularity graph for Crimson.
Dahlia Dahlia flowers are sometimes red. The genus Dahlia was named in honor of Swedish botanist Anders Dahl. Here’s the popularity graph for Dahlia.
Delima Delima is an Indonesian feminine name meaning “pomegranate.” Here’s the popularity graph for Delima.
Edom Edom is a Biblical masculine name based on the Hebrew word ‘adom, meaning “red.” Here’s the popularity graph for Edom.
Erythia Erythia, based on the Ancient Greek word eruthrós, meaning “red,” was the name of several figures in Greek mythology.
Eztli Eztli is the Nahuatl word for blood. (Fun fact: The red pigment made from cochineal that Europeans called carmine was called nocheztli, or “prickly pear blood,” by the Nahuas.) Here’s the popularity graph for Eztli.
Flann Flann is an Irish masculine name meaning “blood red.”
Flannán Flannán is a diminutive form of Flann.
Garnet Garnet is a gemstone that is typically dark red. The name of the stone ultimately comes from the Latin word granatum, meaning “pomegranate” (literally, “having many seeds”) — a reference to the resemblance between garnets and pomegranate seeds. Here’s the popularity graph for Garnet.
Garance Garance is a French feminine name that refers to the madder plant (genus Rubia), the dye made from the root of the madder plant, or the purplish-red color of that dye.
Gladiola Gladiola refers to Gladiolus, a genus of plants with flowers that are sometimes red. 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.
Gül Gül (pronounced gool) is a Turkish feminine name meaning “rose.” Here’s the popularity graph for Gül.
Helen Helen is part of Helenium, a genus of plants with flowers that are sometimes red. The genus was named in honor of Helen of Troy. Here’s the popularity graph for Helen.
Jagoda Jagoda (pronounced YAH-goh-dah) is a feminine name meaning “strawberry” in Serbian, Croatian, Macedonian, Slovene, and other South Slavic languages.
Jasper Jasper, an opaque type of microcrystalline quartz, is commonly red. The name of the stone ultimately comes from the Ancient Greek word iaspis. Here’s the popularity graph for Jasper.
Kamala Kamala is a Hindi feminine name based on the Sanskrit word kamala, meaning “pale red.” Here’s the popularity graph for Kamala.
Kimmernaq Kimmernaq is a Greenlandic feminine name meaning “lingonberry.”
Kiraz Kiraz is the Turkish word for “cherry.”
Kirsikka Kirsikka is the Finnish word for “cherry.”
Lali Lali is a Georgian feminine name meaning “ruby.” Here’s the popularity graph for Lali.
Lohit Lohit is a Hindi masculine name based on the Sanskrit word lóhita, meaning “red.”
Mars The pronoun Mars initially referred to the Roman god of war. Later, when the Ancient Romans chose names for the five visible planets of the solar system, they named the one with the reddish color — which is reminiscent of blood — after the god of war. (The surface of Mars appears reddish due to the presence of iron oxide in the planet’s soil.) Here’s the popularity graph for Mars.
Orchid Orchid flowers are sometimes red. Orchids are all members of the Orchidaceae family of plants. Here’s the popularity graph for Orchid.
Phoenix Phoenix refers to the mythical bird, but the name of that bird was based on the Ancient Greek word phoinix, meaning “purple” or “crimson.” Here’s the popularity graph for Phoenix.
Poinsettia Poinsettia bracts are usually red. “Poinsettia” is the common name of the plant species Euphorbia pulcherrima. The common name commemorates U.S. politician Joel Roberts Poinsett, who introduced the plant to the U.S. (from Mexico) in the 1820s.
Poppy Poppy flowers are commonly red. The Old English word for “poppy” was popig. Here’s the popularity graph for Poppy.
Raktima Raktima is the Sanskrit word for “redness.”
Red Red, of course, refers to the color red. :) Here’s the popularity graph for Red.
Reed and Reid Reed, also spelled Reid, comes from an English and Scottish surname that can be traced back to the Middle English word for “red.” Here are the popularity graphs for Reed and Reid.
Rimmon Rimmon is a Hebrew gender-neutral name meaning “pomegranate.”
Rohit Rohit is a Hindi masculine name based on the Sanskrit word róhita, meaning “red.” Here’s the popularity graph for Rohit.
Rose The word rose refers to any flowering plant of the genus Rosa, the name of which ultimately derives from the Greek word for the plant, rhodon. Roses come in various colors, but shades of red have long been favored — so much so that the word rose, by extension, has also referred to a pinkish-red or purplish-red color since the early 16th century. Here’s the popularity graph for Rose.
Roth Roth comes from a German surname that can be traced back to the Middle High German word rot, meaning “red.” It was originally a nickname for a red-haired person. Here’s the popularity graph for Roth.
Rowan Rowan is an Anglicized form of Ruadhán. Here’s the popularity graph for Rowan.
Roy Roy is an Anglicized form of Ruadh. Here’s the popularity graph for Roy.
Ruadh Ruadh (pronounced roo-ah) means “red” or “red-haired” in Irish and Scottish Gaelic.
Ruadhán Ruadhán is a diminutive form of Ruadh.
Rubina Rubina is a Portuguese and Italian and feminine name meaning “ruby.” Here’s the popularity graph for Rubina.
Ruby The word ruby refers to the red variety of the mineral corundum. By extension, it also refers to the red color of these crystals. The name of the stone can be traced back to the Medieval Latin term lapis rubinus, meaning “red stone” (from rubeus, meaning “red,” and lapis, meaning “stone”). Here’s the popularity graph for Ruby.
Rufus Rufus derives from the Latin word rufus, meaning “red” or “red-haired.” Here’s the popularity graph for Rufus.
Rufina and Rufino Rufina (feminine) and Rufino (masculine) are the modern Spanish forms of the Roman family name Rufinus, which was based on Rufus. Here are the popularity graphs for Rufina and Rufino.
Russell Russell comes from a surname that can be traced back to the Old French word rous, meaning “red.” Here’s the popularity graph for Russell.
Scarlet and Scarlett Scarlet is a bright shade of red. The name of the color comes from the Medieval Latin word scarlata (or scarlatum), which referred to a type of woolen cloth that was often, though not always, dyed red. The more popular spelling of the name, Scarlett, comes from the English surname. The surname Scarlett originally referred to a person who sold or worked with the cloth. Here are the popularity graphs for Scarlet and Scarlett.
Shani Shani is a Hebrew gender-neutral name meaning “scarlet, red.” Here’s the popularity graph for Shani.
Strawberry Strawberry fruits are red. Strawberry plants are part of the genus Fragaria. Here’s the popularity graph for Strawberry.
Tulip Tulip flowers are often red. The name of the flower can be traced back to the Ottoman Turkish word tülbent, meaning “turban.” Here’s the popularity graph for Tulip.
Ulaan Ulaan is a Mongolian gender-neutral name meaning “red.”
Vadelma Vadelma is a Finnish feminine name meaning “raspberry.”
Vardan Vardan is an Albanian masculine name meaning “rose.” Here’s the popularity graph for Vardan.
Verbena Verbena flowers are sometimes red. The genus name Verbena is derived from the Latin word verbena, which referred to the leaves, twigs, and branches of specific plants (like laurel, olive, and myrtle) that were used during religious ceremonies. Here’s the popularity graph for Verbena.
Vered Vered is a Hebrew feminine name meaning “rose.” Here’s the popularity graph for Vered.
Vermilion Vermilion is an orange-red color. Vermilion pigment was originally made from the mineral cinnabar.
Warda Warda is an Arabic feminine name meaning “rose.” Here’s the popularity graph for Warda.
Zinnia Zinnia flowers are sometimes red. 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 red?
P.S. Want to see more color-related baby names? Here are lists of orange, yellow, green, blue, and purple names.
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.
Aspen trees in autumn
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.
Looking for baby names that are associated with the color orange — including baby names that mean “orange”?
If so, you’re in luck — I’ve collected dozens of ideas for you in this post.
But, before we get to the names, let’s take a look at what the color orange represents…
Symbolism of orange
What does the color orange signify?
In Western cultures in particular, orange can be symbolic of:
Warmth
Creativity
Adventure
Freshness
Happiness
Attraction
Success
It can also be associated with safety. A vivid reddish-orange — one that contrasts well with the blue of the sky — is used to make clothing and equipment highly visible in certain circumstances (e.g., at construction sites, during hunting season).
In Eastern cultures, orange is considered a sacred color. In Hinduism, for example, orange represents fire and, thereby, purity (as impurities are burned away by fire).
Baby names associated with orange
All of the names below have an association with the color orange. 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.
Aethon and Aithon Aethon, also spelled Aithon, is derived from the Ancient Greek word aithon, which means “burning, blazing.”
Aki Aki is a Japanese name that can mean “autumn,” depending upon the kanji being used to write the name. Here’s the popularity graph for Aki.
Alba Alba is a feminine name meaning “dawn” in Spanish, Portuguese, Italian, Romanian, and other Romance languages. Here’s the popularity graph for Alba.
Amber The word amber refers to fossilized tree resin that is commonly used as a gemstone. By extension, the word also refers to the yellowish-orange color of this material. The fossilized resin, which washes up on the seashore in the Baltic region, came to be called “amber” during the Middle Ages — likely due to an association with ambergris (a material produced by sperm whales that also washes up on the shore). Here’s the popularity graph for Amber.
Anatole Anatole is the modern French masculine form of Anatolius. Here’s the popularity graph for Anatole.
Anatolia Anatolia is a feminine form of Anatolius. Here’s the popularity graph for Anatolia.
Anatolios Anatolios was an Ancient Greek name derived from the word anatole, meaning “sunrise.”
Anatolius Anatolius is the Latinized form of Anatolios.
Anatoliy Anatoliy is the modern Russian and Ukrainian masculine form of Anatolius. Here’s the popularity graph for Anatoliy.
Apricot Apricot fruits are yellowish-orange. Apricot trees are part of the genus Prunus.
Aurora Aurora, the Latin word for “dawn,” was the name of the Roman goddess of dawn. Here’s the popularity graph for Aurora.
Autumn The word autumn refers to the season during which the leaves of deciduous trees turn various colors, including orange. Halloween — a holiday strongly associated with the color orange — is also celebrated during Autumn (at least in the Northern Hemisphere). Here’s the popularity graph for Autumn.
Azar Azar is a Persian gender-neutral name meaning “fire.” Here’s the popularity graph for Azar.
Blaze The vocabulary word blaze refers to a fire, particularly one that’s burning intensely. Blaze is also a homophone of the (more traditional) name Blaise, which ultimately derives from the Latin word blaesus, meaning “lisping.” Here’s the popularity graph for Blaze.
Canna Canna flowers are sometimes orange. The genus name Canna is derived from the Latin word canna, meaning “reed.” Here’s the popularity graph for Canna.
Carnelian Carnelian, a variety of the mineral chalcedony, is frequently orange. The name of the stone ultimately comes from the Latin word cornus, which refers to a type of berry, altered by the influence of the Latin word carneus, meaning “flesh-colored.”
Chrysanthemum Chrysanthemum (pronounced krih-SAN-thuh-muhm) flowers are often orange. 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 usually orange. The adjective citrine can be traced back to the Latin word citrus. Here’s the popularity graph for Citrine.
Clementine Clementine fruits are a cross between mandarin orange and sweet orange. They were named after French priest Clément Rodier, who discovered the cultivar while in Algeria. The name Clément is derived from the Latin word clemens, meaning “merciful.” Here’s the popularity graph for Clementine.
Copper Copper is a metallic element with a lustrous orange-brown color. Here’s the popularity graph for Copper.
Dahlia Dahlia flowers are sometimes orange. The genus Dahlia was named in honor of Swedish botanist Anders Dahl. Here’s the popularity graph for Dahlia.
Dawn Dawn refers to the period of time in the early morning (before sunrise) when the sky begins to brighten with daylight. This light at dawn tends to have an orange hue. The word dawn can be traced back to the Old English verb dagian, meaning “to become day.” Here’s the popularity graph for Dawn.
Dysis Dysis, the Ancient Greek word for “sunset,” was the name of the Greek goddess of the hour of sunset.
Ember The word ember refers a glowing, slowly burning piece of solid fuel (like wood or coal). It’s often used in the plural to refer to the smoldering remains of a fire. Here’s the popularity graph for Ember.
Eos Eos, the Ancient Greek word for “dawn,” was the name of the Greek goddess of dawn.
Fajr Fajr is an Arabic feminine name meaning “dawn.” Here’s the popularity graph for Fajr.
Fiamma Fiamma (pronounced FYAM-ma) is an Italian feminine name meaning “flame.” Here’s the popularity graph for Fiamma.
Fox Fox fur, if you’re talking about the red fox (Vulpes vulpes), is largely orange. The word fox is ultimately derived from a Proto-Indo-European word meaning “tail.” Here’s the popularity graph for Fox.
Gaeul Gaeul is a Korean gender-neutral name meaning “autumn.”
Gladiola Gladiola refers to Gladiolus, a genus of plants with flowers that are sometimes orange. 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.
Helen Helen is a form of the Ancient Greek name Helene, which is likely based on the word helene, meaning “torch.” Also, plants of the genus Helenium have flowers that are sometimes orange. The genus was named in honor of Helen of Troy. Here’s the popularity graph for Helen.
Honey Honey can be orange. The Old English word for “honey” was hunig. Here’s the popularity graph for Honey.
Iskra Iskra is a feminine name meaning “spark” in Russian, Serbian, Croatian, Bulgarian, and other Slavic languages. Here’s the popularity graph for Iskra.
Jack Jack is part of “Jack-o’-Lantern” — a term that, since the 1800s, has referred to a carved pumpkin used as a lantern during Halloween. It originated as “Jack of the lantern” in 17th-century England, where it was used as a generic term for any lantern-carrying night watchman. Here’s the popularity graph for Jack.
“Flaming June”
June June (besides being a month) is part of “Flaming June” — the name of the 1895 painting by Frederic Leighton. “Flaming June” features a red-headed woman wearing a diaphanous orange dress and sleeping by the sea (which reflects the golden rays of the setting sun). Here’s the popularity graph for June.
Keahi Keahi is a Hawaiian gender-neutral name meaning “the fire.” Here’s the popularity graph for Keahi.
Kealaula Kealaula is a Hawaiian gender-neutral name that means “the light of early dawn” or “the sunset glow.” The literal definition is “the flaming road” (ala means “path, road,” and ula means “to flame”).
Marigold The word marigold refers to any flowering plant of either the New World genus Tagetes or the Old World genus Calendula. By extension, it also refers to the yellowish-orange color of these flowers. Here’s the popularity graph for Marigold.
Meli Meli was the Ancient Greek word for “honey.” Here’s the popularity graph for Meli.
Monarch Monarch butterflies (Danaus plexippus) have wings that are largely orange. They were named “monarch” in the 1800s, possibly in honor of England’s King William III, who was also the Prince of Orange. The word is derived from a combination of the Ancient Greek words monos, meaning “alone,” and arkhos, meaning “ruler.” Here’s the popularity graph for Monarch.
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.
Orange Orange, of course, refers to the color orange. :) Orange fruits were introduced to Europe by the Moors in the 10th century. The word for the fruit, which can be traced back to Sanskrit, entered the English language (via French) in the late 14th century. The first recorded use of “orange” as a color name in English didn’t come along until the early 16th century. (This explains why many things that are clearly orange — like red hair, red foxes, and the robin redbreast — are called “red”: They were named long before the color-word “orange” entered the English language!) Here’s the popularity graph for Orange.
Orchid Orchid flowers are sometimes orange. 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 orange 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.
Peach Peach fruits are typically orange. Peach trees are part of the genus Prunus. Here’s the popularity graph for Peach.
Pele Pele, the Hawaiian word for “lava flow, volcano, eruption,” was the name of the Hawaiian goddess of volcanoes. Here’s the popularity graph for Pele.
Pyrrha Pyrrha is the feminine form of Pyrrhus. Here’s the popularity graph for Pyrrha.
Pyrrhos Pyrrhos, meaning “flame-colored,” was an Ancient Greek name derived from the word pyr, meaning “fire.”
Pyrrhus Pyrrhus is the Latinized form of Pyrrhos.
Robin Robin redbreast originally referred to the Old World songbird Erithacus rubecula, which has orange plumage on the face and breast. “Robin” is a Middle English diminutive of the name Robert. Here’s the popularity graph for Robin.
Roth Roth comes from a German surname that can be traced back to the Middle High German word rot, meaning “red.” It was originally a nickname for a red-haired person. Here’s the popularity graph for Roth.
Rowan Rowan is an Anglicized form of Ruadhán. Here’s the popularity graph for Rowan.
Roy Roy is an Anglicized form of Ruadh. Here’s the popularity graph for Roy.
Ruadh Ruadh (pronounced roo-ah) means “red” or “red-haired” in Irish and Scottish Gaelic.
Ruadhán Ruadhán is a diminutive form of Ruadh.
Rufina and Rufino Rufina (feminine) and Rufino (masculine) are the modern Spanish forms of the Roman family name Rufinus, which was based on Rufus. Here are the popularity graphs for Rufina and Rufino.
Rufus Rufus derives from the Latin word rufus, meaning “red” or “red-haired.” Here’s the popularity graph for Rufus.
Rusty Rusty is an adjective referring to rust (iron oxide), which tends to be orange-brown. Here’s the popularity graph for Rusty.
Saffron Saffron is a spice made from the styles and stigmas of Crocus sativus flowers. By extension, the word — which can be traced back to the Arabic name for the spice, za’faran — also refers to the deep yellowish-orange color of fabrics dyed with saffron. Here’s the popularity graph for Saffron.
Seville Seville orange is a variety of bitter orange named after the Spanish city of Sevilla. Here’s the popularity graph for Seville.
Shachar Shachar is a Hebrew gender-neutral name meaning “dawn.”
Shraga Shraga is an Aramaic masculine name meaning “candle.” Here’s the popularity graph for Shraga.
Shula Shula is an Arabic feminine name meaning “flame.” Here’s the popularity graph for Shula.
Smith Smith comes from a surname that originally referred to a metalworker, such as a blacksmith or a farrier. When heated metal (like iron) comes out of a fire to be forged, it’s often glowing a yellowish-orange color. The smith in “blacksmith” is likely derived from the Old English verb smitan, meaning “to smite” or “to strike” (as with a hammer). Here’s the popularity graph for Smith.
Sunrise and Sunset Sunrise and Sunset are times at which the sun appears reddish-orange. Particles in the Earth’s atmosphere scatter more short-wavelength light than long-wavelength light, so when the sun is low on the horizon — and its light is traveling a longer distance through the atmosphere to reach your eyes — you’ll end up seeing less violet and blue, and more red and orange. Here are the popularity graphs for Sunrise and Sunset
Tangerine Tangerine fruits are orange. Tangerine trees are part of the genus Citrus. Here’s the popularity graph for Tangerine.
Tawny Tawny is an adjective that refers to a brownish-orange color. Here’s the popularity graph for Tawny.
Tiger Tiger (Panthera tigris), the largest living species of cat, has fur that is mostly orange. Here’s the popularity graph for Tiger.
Tigerlily Tigerlily refers to “tiger lily,” the common name of several species of flowering plant in the genus Lilium — particularly the species Lilium lancifolium — that have showy orange flowers. Here’s the popularity graph for Tigerlily.
Ushas Ushas, the Sanskrit word for “dawn,” was the name of the Vedic (Hindu) goddess of dawn.
Valencia Valencia orange is a cultivar of sweet orange named after the Spanish city of València. Here’s the popularity graph for Valencia.
Zinnia Zinnia flowers are sometimes orange. The genus Zinnia was named in honor of German botanist Johann Gottfried Zinn. Fun fact: An orange zinnia blossomed in space in early 2016! Here’s the popularity graph for Zinnia.
Zora Zora is a feminine name meaning “dawn” in Serbian, Czech, Croatian, Bulgarian, and other Slavic languages. Here’s the popularity graph for Zora.
Can you think of any other names that have a connection to the color orange?
P.S. Want to see more color-related baby names? Here are lists of red, yellow, green, blue, and purple names.
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