Names that mean fire are perfect for this time of the year, when (in the northern hemisphere) the nights draw in and fire provides warmth, comfort, and light. It plays a central role in festivals like Diwali, Hanukkah, and Samhain. Sagittarius names, for babies born in late November and early December, are ruled by the element fire.
As an element universal to humans, as powerful as it is warm, it’s no surprise that names that mean fire are present in many languages and cultures. We’ve rounded up our favorite names for boys and girls with fiery meanings and associations.
Apollo
The Greek sun god is one of the fastest-rising mythological baby names today, ranking at Number 388 in the USA in 2022. Its feminine forms, Apollonia and Apolline, are much rarer.
Blaze
Blaise is a saintly name, but spell it Blaze and you get a punchy word name that ranks in the Top 1000 boy names. It could make a powerful unexpected one-syllable middle name for either gender.
Conley
An Irish saint's name — also spelled Conleth — with the unusual meaning "chaste fire". In the US today it's rare and unisex, given to 52 girls and 63 boys in 2022. With its combination of popular sounds, it could go far if more parents knew about it.
Popular Names Meaning Fire
These flaming-hot choices are in the US Top 500 baby names.
Cyrus
Ancient, biblical Cyrus is making a serious comeback: it's in the US Top 500, but is one of the Top 20 most popular names on Nameberry, a sign that it will rise further yet. It follows in the footsteps of similar-sounding Silas, and we're watching other names with that cool "Cy" sound too.
Elio
This sunny Italian and Spanish name is another one to watch. It entered the US Top 1000 in 2021, and with its cross-cultural simplicity and cool O ending, we can see it becoming the next Enzo.
Ember
Amber is fast becoming a mom name, but change one letter and you get a warm, glowing word name that's rising fast. It has the appeal of popular Em- names like Emma, but a distinct sound of its own.
Unique Names that Mean Fire
These rare fiery baby names come from worldwide languages and mythology, but are little-used in the English-speaking world.
Fintan
Meaning "white fire", this Irish name adds a little extra to Finn, but is surprisingly rare: it was given to only 15 boys in 2022.
McCoy
Cool, friendly and with a seal of authenticity, several celebrities including Scott Porter have used this for their children. It entered the US Top 1000 in 2020, and has remained there ever since.
Seraphina
Seraphina has long been a favorite with Nameberry readers, and the rest of the world is starting to catch up. It fits the trend for long, dramatic girl names like Ophelia and Persephone, with the added bonus of angelic, biblical significance.
Shula
Shula is elegant, musical, straightforward... and shockingly rare. In fact, it was given to under 5 babies in the US in 2020, so didn't even make the charts. Shula has roots in several cultures, and in Arabic means "flame".
Got a name story to tell? If you'd like to write about your personal experience with your own name, your child's name, names in your family or your culture, we'd love to consider your story for publication on Nameberry. Email us a sentence or two about your idea at clare@nameberry.com
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