As soon as a baby is welcomed into the family, the quest for meaningful and unique names begins, as this is the first big decision that a man and woman make together as parents.
Because they’ve been rediscovered, while some others have stayed as popular names even for years, some sound new.
It’s pronounced as “AWN-ya,” and it’s still a commonly used name in Ireland, giving it a very modern feel despite its ancient roots. A name is something a child carries for life, so people naturally look for one with a story behind it and a meaning they would be proud to say out loud. For thousands of years, people used stories to explain the world, like why the sun rises, why the moon glows, why some people seem to light up any room they walk into. Those stories gave us gods, goddesses and heroes, and their names have stayed with us since times immemorial. Here are some ancient yet modern baby names from mythology that mean brilliance and light Photos: Canva Aglaia was one of the three Graces in Greek mythology, and the name means to describe splendour or brilliance. It’s a unique, graceful choice for a girl that sounds soft but carries a bright, glittering meaning. Áine is the name of an Irish goddess linked to summer and the Sun, and her name means radiance. Ushas is the goddess of dawn in the Rigveda, and her name comes from the Sanskrit word for dawn. The shorter form, Usha, is easy to say and carries the message of light and new beginnings. Phoebe comes from the Greek word for bright or shining. In mythology, she was one of the original Titans, and her name was also given to moon goddesses.
Many of these names have travelled a long way, from ancient texts and temples to school registers and birth announcements today. It is a classical name that still resonates with modernity today.
Her name is linked to the ancient word selas, which means light or brightness.
This girl name is like “splendor personified as a deity,” and one of the Saptarshis (the seven sages) under a Manu bears the name. Arjuna is the great archer-hero of the Mahabharata, and his name means bright, shining, or silvery in Sanskrit. The shorter form, Arjun, is quite a loved boy’s name across Hindu families and suits a child you hope will grow up bold. Tejas is a Sanskrit name meaning radiance, brilliance or splendour. In Vedic thought, tejas is also one of the five bhutas, the basic elements of life, so the name carries a philosophical side to it. Selene is the Greek moon goddess. It’s a gentle, silvery choice for a girl, and the variant Selena is more common in the US. Aurora was the Roman goddess of the dawn. The word name represents dawn, and it traces back to an ancient root meaning “to shine. It’s the perfect name pick for parents who want a name that feels like a fresh start. Electra comes from a Greek word for amber, the glowing golden resin, and means shining. Several women in Greek mythology carry the name, including Agamemnon’s daughter and one of the Pleiades. Dyuti comes from the Sanskrit word for splendour, brightness and brilliance.
