Life
Saying someone has a fiery personality can, depending on the context, either be an insult or a compliment. But maybe that "fiery" personality can't be helped. Every astrological sign is associated with one of the four natural elements: earth, air, water, and, you guessed it, fire. So if your child is an Aries (March 21 to April 19), a Leo (July 23 to August 22) or a Sagittarius (November 22 to December 21) get ready for a lively baby. Thankfully, there are more than a few fire-themed baby names that will fit their spitfire personality perfectly.
Every sign of the Zodiac is different and, of course, every individual is unique. But the three fire signs have certain personality traits in common — they're all passionate, warm-hearted, generous, and adventurous. They're not easily intimidated and don't shirk from having the spotlight on them (though some may seek it more than others). These signs, as you can imagine, also have a tendency to be temperamental, and may be a bit prone to being too honest and saying the wrong thing or not especially caring if they're hurting your feelings — they're fire signs. Fire doesn't discriminate what it burns down: once it gets going it just kinda tears on through.
Fire may seem scary (and, I won't lie, it can be), but a good blaze is sometimes necessary for life to come forth stronger and more powerful. Moreover, fire represents light, creativity, and inspiration... and has inspired some truly excellent baby names:
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Soleil
Soleil is the French word for sun and is pronounced "so-lay." It is also the real name of Punky Brewster star Soleil Moon Frye if you want an '80s throwback. I love how punchy the name is, and how it can work for a variety of surnames. There's something so darling about it.
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Ember
Ember is, you know, an ember! A smoldering piece of coal or fire. It's a more modern name and a cool spin on the more popular Amber, and it makes me think of cold winters and those bright little red glows in the bottom of your fireplace. Just all the sweet vibes.
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Aster
Aster comes from modern Greek asteri meaning star. (Aster is also a flower, and is incidentally the birth flower for the month of September.) I love that it's unique enough to stand out in a playdate or a classroom, but isn't so wacky that people will stumble over the spelling or pronunciation.
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Drake
Old English (draca) by way of Old Norse (draki), Drake means "dragon." There was a lot of Nordic/English overlap what with those Vikings setting up colonies and pillaging and stuff. But dragon. I mean, how much will your kid love you when they find out their name literally means dragon?
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Apollo
Apollo was the sun god of Greek mythology. OK, hear me out, folks: this name would be especially great if your baby was a Leo (since Leo is ruled by the sun) and you had a daughter who was a Cancer (ruled by the moon) and then you could name her Artemis, for Apollo's twin sister. So literary, you guys.
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Enya
The origin of this Irish girl's name is unclear. It could mean "seed" or it could be of the same origin as Aidan, and therefore mean "fiery." (Sidebar: lots of Irish names that mean fiery.) It could also make you think of the Enya, which is also some hardcore inspiration.
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Luz
Luz is the Spanish word meaning "light." It comes from the same Latin root that gives us names like Lucia, Lucy, and Lucille, among others. So glowy! So sweet and bright and happy — like the fiery sun shining down on your little babe. (Also: unique. So, so unique and special.)
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Elio
Elio is an Italian and Spanish version of Helios, the Greek god of the sun. You don't have to be a mythology expert to appreciate the connection, and I think Elio can give you some sweet nicknames. Eli is an obvious one, but Lio is so cute, too. I just love it.
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Aditya
This Hindu name means "of Aditi," Aditi being the mother of the gods. So the Adityas are specific Hindu gods born of Aditi. As a singular "Aditya," however, the name refers to the sun god, Surya. (So you could certainly also go for Surya as well!) I really love the diversity of it.
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Anshul
Anshul is a Hindi boy's name meaning "sunbeam," and, frankly, I think that is just lovely. If you're not going to sing "You Are My Sunshine" every time you hold your little Anshul, you're missing out on a golden (golden!) opportunity. Again, this one has some sweet nicknames, too if you want a less-formal moniker.
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Eliana
The meaning of Eliana is a little up in the air. In Hebrew, it means "God has answered," but this name could also be another reference to Helios, the sun god, so Eliana would then mean "daughter of the sun." I love how bright and happy it sounds, and it could go well with any kind of last name.
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Aonani
Aonani is a Hawaiian name meaning "beautiful light," and is so unique that it doesn't even come up on some popular baby name websites. I believe this name could also work for a little boy or a little girl, so don't feel cornered by any gender norms with this one.
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Brigit
Brigit is a variation of Brighid, who was the Irish goddess of fire and poetry, which is quite the combination. The Irish sure loved to get fiery, didn't they? Brigit can also be spelled a ton of different ways if you're looking for some variety, and I love the sweet nicknames you can make with it.
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Alina
Alina is a Slavic name meaning "bright and beautiful." I'm imagining bright, white snow-capped mountains, a white fur coat, basically anything Slavic that can be coated in white. Alina is just darling, but still fairly popular — Nameberry reported that it was #157 in 2018 for most popular baby names.
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Anwar
This Arabic name changes slightly depending on whether it's traditionally given to boys or girls. As a boy's name, Anwar means "luminous." As a girl's name, it means "a collection of lights." I think both are super sweet and perfect for your bright, beaming baby full of sunshine. (I'm leaning hard into this fire thing, guys.)
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Kiran
Not to be confused with the Celtic Ciaran, meaning "little dark-haired one," Kiran is a Sanskrit name meaning "ray of light." The variation on spelling means your little one will probably be the only Kiran in their kindergarten class. Bonus: it's a short and easy name for them to learn how to spell.
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Lucian
Lucian is a French name meaning "light." Feminized, it is Lucienne. So many nicknames abound here, but I really love the formal versions of both of these. There's something about a strong L-name, especially one with multiple syllables, that gives it some pizazz. And light is the perfect meaning for a baby name.
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Damini
This is an Indian girl's name that means "lightning." OMG, you could have a little Damini and Barak and they would be The Lightning Twins and someone do this so I can live vicariously through you, please and thank you. Think of all the power! The strength! The beauty in The Lightning Twins.
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Loki
He's not just the favorite antagonist of the Marvel Comic Universe. Loki is the ancient Norse god of mischief and fire. His name, in fact, is argued to come from logi, the Old Norse word for "flame." Your baby may have a lot to live up to with Tom Hiddleston, but I think they can handle it.
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Ilona
Ilona is a name common throughout Eastern Europe that means "beauty and light." It comes from the Greek name Elena, and is a unique variation on the moniker. I love the three-syllable sound, and I think it could work well with just about any last name. Sometimes fire isn't fiery — it's a subtle glow.
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Kalama
Kalama is a Hawaiian name that means "flaming torch," and I feel like if your name means "flaming torch" you're going to grow up to be a magical hero... or you're going to spend a lot of time trying to kill Frankenstein's monster with the other villagers. Either way, sort of a win?
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Nura
This Quaranic name is a variation of the name Nur and means "light and radiance." Again, a fire-inspired name doesn't mean it has to be some hardcore passionate red-lined name. Sometimes it's about the glow and brightness of a fire, and Nura is the perfect way to honor that subtlety.
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Catalina
It's the Catalina Wine Mixer! And it's also a sweet baby name. Catalina means "pure," which I think connects well with fire as fire is often the burn you need to make a pure space. It's also the Spanish version of the name Catherine if you're looking for a way to honor a classic name.
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