Browse Names

Æþelbeorht m Anglo-Saxon
Old English cognate of Adalbert (see Albert). This was the name of a Saxon king of England and two kings of Kent, one of whom was a saint. It became unused after the Normans introduced their form of Adalbert after their invasion.

Akihiko m Japanese
From Japanese 明 (aki) or 昭 (aki) both meaning "bright" combined with 彦 (hiko) meaning "boy, prince". Other combinations of kanji characters can also form this name.

Akihito m Japanese
From Japanese 明 (aki) or 昭 (aki) both meaning "bright" combined with 仁 (hito) meaning "compassionate". Other kanji combinations are possible. Akihito (1933-), name written 明仁, was the emperor of Japan from 1989 to 2019.

Akimitsu m Japanese
From Japanese 昭 (aki) meaning "bright" and 光 (mitsu) meaning "light". Other combinations of kanji can also form this name.

Akio m Japanese
From Japanese 昭 (aki) meaning "bright, luminous" combined with 夫 (o) meaning "man, husband", 男 (o) meaning "male, man" or 雄 (o) meaning "hero, manly". Other kanji combinations are also possible.

Akira m & f Japanese
From Japanese 昭 (akira) meaning "bright", 明 (akira) meaning "bright" or 亮 (akira) meaning "clear". Other kanji with the same pronunciation can also form this name. A famous bearer was the Japanese filmmaker Akira Kurosawa (1910-1998), given name written 明.

Albert m English, German, French, Catalan, Polish, Czech, Russian, Dutch, Swedish, Norwegian, Danish, Icelandic, Finnish, Romanian, Hungarian, Albanian, Germanic
From the Germanic name Adalbert meaning "noble and bright", composed of the elements adal "noble" and beraht "bright". This name was common among medieval German royalty. The Normans introduced it to England, where it replaced the Old English cognate Æþelbeorht. Though it became rare in England by the 17th century, it was repopularized in the 19th century by the German-born Prince Albert, the husband of Queen Victoria.... [more]

Albus m Ancient Roman
Roman cognomen meaning "white, bright" in Latin.

Amalbert m Germanic
Derived from the Old German elements amal possibly meaning "unceasing, vigorous, brave" and beraht meaning "bright".

Andebert m Germanic
From the Old German element anto meaning "zeal" combined with beraht meaning "bright".

Ansbert m Germanic
Composed of the Old German elements ansi "god" and beraht "bright". It is a cognate of Osbert. This name was borne by a 7th-century Frankish saint, a bishop of Rouen.

Areg m Armenian
Means "sun, bright" in Armenian (a poetic word).

Aþalaberhtaz m Old Germanic (Hypothetical)
Proto-Germanic reconstruction of Adalbert and Æþelbeorht.

Aydın m Turkish
Means "bright, clear" in Turkish.

Azhar m Arabic, Urdu, Malay
Means "shining, brilliant, bright" in Arabic, derived from the root زهر (zahara) meaning "to shine".

Belenus m Gaulish Mythology
Latinized form of Gaulish Belenos or Belinos, possibly from Celtic roots meaning either "bright, brilliant" (from Indo-European *bhel-) or "strong" (from Indo-European *bel-). This was the name of a Gaulish god who was often equated with Apollo. He is mostly known from Gallo-Roman inscriptions and was especially venerated in Aquileia in northern Italy.

Beorhtric m Anglo-Saxon
Derived from the Old English elements beorht "bright" and ric "ruler, king".

Beorhtsige m Anglo-Saxon
Derived from the Old English elements beorht "bright" and sige "victory".

Beornræd m Anglo-Saxon
Derived from the Old English elements beorn "warrior, man" and ræd "counsel, advice".

Berahthraban m Germanic
Old German form of Bertram, using an extended form of the second element.

Berthold m German
Means "bright power" from the Old German element beraht "bright" combined with walt "power, authority".

Bertilo m Germanic
Originally a short form of Germanic names beginning with the element beraht meaning "bright, famous".

Bertram m English, German, Germanic
Means "bright raven", derived from the Old German element beraht "bright" combined with hram "raven". This name has long been conflated with Bertrand. The Normans introduced it to England, and Shakespeare used it in his play All's Well That Ends Well (1603).

Bjarte m Norwegian
From the Old Norse byname Bjartr, which meant "bright".

Byeong-Ho m Korean
From Sino-Korean 炳 (byeong) meaning "bright, luminous, glorious" combined with 浩 (ho) meaning "great, numerous, vast" or 昊 (ho) meaning "summer, sky, heaven". Other hanja character combinations are possible.

Ceallach m Irish (Rare)
From Old Irish Cellach, of uncertain origin, traditionally said to mean "bright-headed". Alternatively it could be derived from Old Irish cellach "war, strife" or cell "church". This name was borne by several early Irish kings and by a 12th-century saint, an archbishop of Armagh.

Chiaki f & m Japanese
From Japanese 千 (chi) meaning "thousand" combined with 秋 (aki) meaning "autumn", 晶 (aki) meaning "clear, crystal" or 明 (aki) meaning "bright, light, clear". This name can also be formed from other kanji combinations.

Colobert m Germanic
Old German name composed of (possibly) the element kollo meaning "head, peak" and beraht meaning "bright".

Cuthbert m English (Rare)
Derived from the Old English elements cuþ "known, familiar" and beorht "bright". Saint Cuthbert was a 6th-century hermit who became the bishop of Lindisfarne, an island off the coast of England. He was known as performer of healing miracles. Because of the saint, this name remained in use in England even after the Norman Conquest. It became rare after the Protestant Reformation, but it was (briefly) revived in the 19th century.

Cyneberht m Anglo-Saxon
Derived from the Old English elements cyne "royal" and beorht "bright".

Dagobert m Germanic, German
Means "bright day", derived from Old Frankish dag or Old High German tag meaning "day" combined with Old Frankish berht or Old High German beraht meaning "bright". This was the name of a 7th-century Merovingian king of the Franks.... [more]

Eadberht m Anglo-Saxon
Derived from the Old English elements ead "wealth, fortune" and beorht "bright". This was the name of an 8th-century king of Northumbria and three kings of Kent.

Ealdberht m Anglo-Saxon
Derived from the Old English elements eald "old" and beorht "bright".

Egbert m English, Dutch
Means "bright edge" from the Old English elements ecg "edge, blade" and beorht "bright". This was the name of kings of Kent and Wessex as well as two English saints. The name was rarely used after the Norman Conquest but was revived in the 19th century.

Eirian f & m Welsh
Means "bright, beautiful" in Welsh.

Ekkebert m Germanic
From the Old German elements ekka "edge, blade" and beraht "bright". This is a cognate of the English name Egbert.

Engelbert m German, Germanic
Old German name composed of either the element angil, from the name of the Germanic tribe of the Angles, or engil meaning "angel" combined with beraht meaning "bright". Saint Engelbert was a 13th-century archbishop of Cologne murdered by assassins.

Filibert m Germanic
Means "much brightness" from the Old German elements filu "much" and beraht "bright". This was the name of a 7th-century Frankish saint, commonly called Philibert.

Fulbert m French, Germanic
From the Old German elements folk "people" and beraht "bright". Saint Fulbert was an 11th-century bishop of Chartres.

Gautbert m Germanic
Germanic name derived from the elements *gautaz "Geat" (a North Germanic tribe) and beraht "bright".

Gerelt m & f Mongolian
Means "radiant, bright, shining" in Mongolian.

Gilbert m English, French, Dutch, Germanic
Means "bright pledge", derived from the Old German elements gisal "pledge, hostage" and beraht "bright". The Normans introduced this name to England, where it was common during the Middle Ages. It was borne by a 12th-century English saint, the founder of the religious order known as the Gilbertines.

Giltbert m Germanic
Derived from the Old German elements gelt "payment, tribute, compensation" and beraht "bright".

Glædwine m Anglo-Saxon
Old English name derived from the elements glæd "bright, cheerful, glad" and wine "friend". This name was not actually recorded in the Old English era, though it is attested starting in the 11th century.

Godabert m Germanic
Old German name derived from the elements got "god" and beraht "bright". This was the name of a 7th-century king of the Lombards.

Hadubert m Germanic
Old German name derived from the elements hadu "battle" and beraht "bright".

Harjaberhtaz m Old Germanic (Hypothetical)
Proto-Germanic reconstruction of Haribert.

Herbert m English, German, Dutch, Czech, Swedish, French
Derived from the Old German elements heri "army" and beraht "bright". It was borne by two Merovingian Frankish kings, usually called Charibert. The Normans introduced this name to England, where it replaced an Old English cognate Herebeorht. In the course of the Middle Ages it became rare, but it was revived in the 19th century.... [more]

Hideaki m Japanese
From Japanese 英 (hide) meaning "excellent, fine" and 明 (aki) meaning "bright, light, clear", as well as other combinations of kanji.

Hildebert m German (Rare)
Means "bright battle" from the Old German elements hilt "battle" and beraht "bright". This name was borne by four early Frankish kings, usually called Childebert.

Hildiberhtaz m Old Germanic (Hypothetical)
Proto-Germanic reconstruction of Hildebert.

Hrambert m Germanic
Derived from the Old German elements hram "raven" and beraht "bright".

Hrōþiberhtaz m Old Germanic (Hypothetical)
Proto-Germanic reconstruction of Robert.

Huang m & f Chinese
From Chinese 煌 (huáng) meaning "bright, shining, luminous" (which is usually only masculine) or 凰 (huáng) meaning "phoenix" (usually only feminine). Other Chinese characters are also possible.

Hubert m English, German, Dutch, French, Polish, Czech, Germanic
Means "bright heart", derived from the Old German elements hugu "mind, thought, spirit" and beraht "bright". Saint Hubert was an 8th-century bishop of Maastricht who is considered the patron saint of hunters. The Normans brought the name to England, where it replaced an Old English cognate Hygebeorht. It died out during the Middle Ages but was revived in the 19th century.

Hui f & m Chinese
From Chinese 慧 (huì) meaning "intelligent, wise" (which is usually only feminine), 辉 (huī) meaning "brightness", besides other characters that are pronounced similarly.

Humbert m French, German (Rare), English (Rare), Germanic
Derived from the Old German elements hun "bear cub" and beraht "bright". The Normans introduced this name to England, though it has always been uncommon there. It was the name of a 7th-century Frankish saint who founded Maroilles Abbey. It was also borne by two kings of Italy (called Umberto in Italian), who ruled in the 19th and 20th centuries. A notable fictional bearer is Humbert Humbert from Vladimir Nabokov's novel Lolita (1955).

Hunbeorht m Anglo-Saxon
From the Old English elements hun "bear cub" and beorht "bright", making it a cognate of Humbert. This name was borne by a 9th-century English saint.

Hye m Korean
From Sino-Korean 慧 (hye) meaning "bright, intelligent" or other characters that are pronounced in the same way. Although it does appear rarely as a single-character name, it is more often used in combination with another character. A notable bearer was a 6th-century king of Baekje.

Jeong-Hui f & m Korean
From Sino-Korean 正 (jeong) meaning "right, proper, correct" or 靜 (jeong) meaning "quiet, still, gentle" combined with 姬 (hui) meaning "beauty" or 熙 (hui) meaning "bright, splendid, glorious". Other combinations of hanja characters can form this name as well.

Ji-Ho m Korean
From Sino-Korean 智 (ji) meaning "wisdom, intellect" and 鎬 (ho) meaning "stove, bright" or 昊 (ho) meaning "summer, sky, heaven". This name can also be formed by other hanja character combinations.

Jun-Ho m Korean
From Sino-Korean 俊 (jun) meaning "talented, handsome" combined with 鎬 (ho) meaning "stove, bright" or 昊 (ho) meaning "summer, sky, heaven". This name can be formed by other hanja character combinations as well.

Kei m & f Japanese
From Japanese 慧 (kei) meaning "intelligent", 圭 (kei) meaning "gemstone" or 慶 (kei) meaning "celebration". This name can also be formed from other kanji or kanji combinations.

Kōnane m & f Hawaiian
Means "bright" in Hawaiian.

Kunibert m German (Rare), Germanic
Derived from the Old German element kunni "clan, family" (or the related prefix kuni "royal") and beraht "bright". Saint Kunibert was a 7th-century bishop of Cologne.

Lambert m German, Dutch, French, English, Germanic
Derived from the Old German elements lant "land" and beraht "bright". Saint Lambert of Maastricht was a 7th-century bishop who was martyred after denouncing Pepin II for adultery. The name was also borne by a 9th-century king of Italy who was crowned Holy Roman Emperor.

Leukippos m Ancient Greek, Greek Mythology
Means "white horse", derived from Greek λευκός (leukos) meaning "white, bright" and ἵππος (hippos) meaning "horse". This name was borne by a 5th-century BC Greek philosopher, as well as by several characters in Greek mythology.

Lubbert m Dutch
Dutch form of the Old German name Leutbert, derived from the elements liut "people" and beraht "bright". Liutbert (or Liutpert) was an 8th-century Lombard king.

Lucero f & m Spanish (Mexican), Spanish (Latin American)
Means "light source, bright star, morning star" in Spanish, a derivative of luz "light". It is most common in Mexico and Colombia.

Malo m Breton
Means "bright pledge", derived from Old Breton mach "pledge, hostage" and lou "bright, brilliant". This was the name of a 6th-century Welsh saint, supposedly a companion of Saint Brendan on his trans-Atlantic journey. He later went to Brittany, where he founded the monastic settlement of Saint-Malo.

Ming m & f Chinese
From Chinese 明 (míng) meaning "bright, light, clear" or 铭 (míng) meaning "inscribe, engrave", as well as other characters that are pronounced similarly.

Minh m & f Vietnamese
From Sino-Vietnamese 明 (minh) meaning "bright". This was an adopted name of the communist revolutionary Hồ Chí Minh (1890-1969).

Mitsuaki m Japanese
From Japanese 光 (mitsu) meaning "light" and 昭 (aki) meaning "bright, luminous". Other kanji combinations can also form this name.

Munir m Arabic, Urdu
Means "bright, shining" in Arabic, related to the root نوّر (nawwara) meaning "to illuminate, to light".

Myeong m & f Korean
From Sino-Korean 明 (myeong) meaning "bright, light, clear" or other hanja characters with the same pronunciation. Although it does appear rarely as a single-character name, it is more often used in combination with another character.

Norbert m German, English, Dutch, French, Hungarian, Polish, Slovak, Germanic
Derived from the Old German elements nord meaning "north" and beraht meaning "bright". This was the name of an 11th-century German saint who made many reforms within the Church.

Noriaki m Japanese
From Japanese 憲 (nori) meaning "law" or 典 (nori) meaning "rule, ceremony" combined with 明 (aki) meaning "bright, light, clear". Other kanji combinations can also form this name.

Nurlan m Kazakh, Kyrgyz, Azerbaijani
Means "bright boy" in Kazakh, Kyrgyz and Azerbaijani, ultimately from Arabic نور (nūr) meaning "light" and Turkic oglan meaning "young man, boy".

Osbert m English (Rare)
Derived from the Old English elements os "god" and beorht "bright". After the Norman Conquest, this Old English name was merged with its Norman cognate. It was rare in the Middle Ages, and eventually died out. It was briefly revived in the 19th century.

Phaedrus m Ancient Greek (Latinized)
Latinized form of the Greek name Φαῖδρος (Phaidros), which meant "bright". This was the name of a 5th-century BC Greek philosopher, and also of a 1st-century Roman fabulist who was originally a slave from Thrace.

Phoebus m Greek Mythology (Latinized)
Latinized form of the Greek name Φοῖβος (Phoibos), which meant "bright, pure". This was an epithet of the Greek god Apollo.

Prakash m Hindi, Marathi, Kannada, Tamil, Telugu, Malayalam, Gujarati, Bengali, Odia, Nepali
Derived from Sanskrit प्रकाश (prakāśa) meaning "light, bright, shining".

Prasanna m Tamil, Kannada, Telugu, Odia, Hindi
Means "clear, bright, tranquil" in Sanskrit.

Quang m Vietnamese
From Sino-Vietnamese 光 (quang) meaning "bright, clear".

Raginbert m Germanic
Derived from the Old German elements regin "advice, counsel, decision" and beraht "bright". This was the name of an 8th-century Lombard king.

Robert m English, French, Swedish, Norwegian, Danish, German, Dutch, Finnish, Estonian, Czech, Polish, Russian, Slovene, Croatian, Albanian, Romanian, Catalan, Germanic
From the Germanic name Hrodebert meaning "bright fame", derived from the elements hruod "fame" and beraht "bright". The Normans introduced this name to Britain, where it replaced the rare Old English cognate Hreodbeorht. It has been consistently among the most common English names from the 13th to 20th century. In the United States it was the most popular name for boys between 1924 and 1939 (and again in 1953).... [more]

Roshan m & f Persian, Hindi, Marathi, Nepali
Means "light, bright" in Persian.

Satoru m Japanese
From Japanese 悟 (satoru) meaning "enlightenment" or 聡 (satoru) meaning "intelligent, clever". Other kanji with the same pronunciation can also form this name.

Satoshi m Japanese
From Japanese 聡 (satoshi) meaning "intelligent, clever", 智 (satoshi) meaning "wisdom, intellect", or other kanji and kanji combinations that are read the same way.

Seong-Ho m Korean
From Sino-Korean 成 (seong) meaning "completed, finished, succeeded" or 盛 (seong) meaning "abundant, flourishing" combined with 鎬 (ho) meaning "stove, bright" or 晧 (ho) meaning "daybreak, bright". Many other hanja character combinations are possible.

Sherwood m English
From an English place name (or from a surname that was derived from it) meaning "bright forest". This was the name of the forest in which the legendary outlaw Robin Hood made his home.

Shirley f & m English
From an English surname that was originally derived from a place name meaning "bright clearing" in Old English. This is the name of a main character in Charlotte Brontë's semi-autobiographical novel Shirley (1849). Though the name was already popular in the United States, the child actress Shirley Temple (1928-2014) gave it a further boost. By 1935 it was the second most common name for girls.

Shōji m Japanese
From Japanese 昌 (shō) meaning "flourish, prosper, good" or 昭 (shō) meaning "bright, luminous" combined with 二 (ji) meaning "two". Other combinations of kanji with the same pronunciation can also form this name.

Shubham m Hindi, Marathi
Derived from Sanskrit शुभ (śubha) meaning "splendid, bright, auspicious".

Shukra m Hinduism
From Sanskrit शुक्र (śukra) meaning "clear, bright". This is the name of a Hindu god who presides over the planet Venus.

Siegbert m German
Derived from the Old German elements sigu "victory" and beraht "bright". This was the name of several Frankish kings, including the 7th-century Sigebert III of Austrasia who is regarded as a saint.

Sigeberht m Anglo-Saxon
Means "bright victory", derived from Old English sige "victory" and beorht "bright" (a cognate of Siegbert). This was the name of a king of Wessex. The name fell out of use after the Norman Conquest.

Sigiberhtaz m Old Germanic (Hypothetical)
Proto-Germanic reconstruction of Sigibert and Sigeberht.

Sovanna f & m Khmer
Variant of Sovann.

Swaran m & f Punjabi
Punjabi form of Swarna.

Toshiaki m Japanese
From Japanese 俊 (toshi) meaning "talented, handsome" or 利 (toshi) meaning "benefit, advantage" combined with 明 (aki) meaning "bright, light, clear". Other combinations of kanji characters can also form this name.

Vasu m Hinduism, Kannada, Malayalam, Telugu, Tamil, Hindi
Means "excellent, good, wealthy, bright" in Sanskrit. This is a name for the Hindu gods, in particular the eight elemental deities who are attendants of Indra. It is also borne by several other characters in Hindu legend.

Waldebert m Germanic
Germanic name composed of the elements walt "power, authority" and beraht "bright". This was the name of a 7th-century Frankish saint from Luxeuil (called Valbert or Gaubert in French).

Walhberht m Germanic
Derived from the Old German elements walah "foreigner, Celt, Roman" and beraht "bright".

Wīgaberhtaz m Old Germanic (Hypothetical)
Proto-Germanic reconstruction of Wigberht.

Wigberht m Anglo-Saxon, Germanic
Derived from the Old English elements wig "battle" and beorht "bright". This is also a continental Germanic equivalent, derived from the Old German elements wig and beraht. The name was borne by an 8th-century English saint who did missionary work in Frisia and Germany.

Wilbert m Dutch
Means "bright will", derived from the Old German elements willo "will, desire" and beraht "bright".

Win m & f Burmese
Means "bright, radiant, brilliant" in Burmese.

Yeong-Ho m Korean
From Sino-Korean 英 (yeong) meaning "flower, petal, brave, hero", 映 (yeong) meaning "reflect light" or 泳 (yeong) meaning "dive, swim" combined with 浩 (ho) meaning "great, numerous, vast" or 皓 (ho) meaning "bright, luminous, clear, hoary". Other hanja combinations are possible.

Ziv m & f Hebrew
Means "bright, radiant" in Hebrew. This was the ancient name of the second month of the Jewish calendar.