Rainbow Baby Names: Gentle and Meaningful Names for a Baby Born After Loss

There are no words tender enough to describe the journey of a parent who has experienced pregnancy or infant loss. It’s a road lined with grief, courage, hope, and—if and when the time is right—healing. For many families, the arrival of a baby after such a loss is often called a “rainbow baby.”

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The term “rainbow baby” represents the beauty that follows a storm. Just as a rainbow appears after the rain, a rainbow baby brings light and color after a season of deep sadness. It doesn’t replace the loss or erase the sorrow, but it is a symbol of new beginnings, unconditional love, and resilience.

Naming a rainbow baby is an emotional and meaningful experience. Many parents look for names that carry special symbolism—names that reflect peace, hope, joy, strength, or even a tribute to the sibling who came before.

This list includes thoughtful and heartfelt rainbow baby names for boys and girls, gently broken into themes to help you find a name that holds special meaning for your family.

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Rainbow Baby Names

Below you’ll find a collection of rainbow baby names, thoughtfully grouped into meaningful categories to help you find the perfect fit for your little one. From names that mean hope or light, to those inspired by nature, joy, peace, or love—each one was chosen with care and deep compassion.

You’ll also find a section of unisex names that work beautifully for any baby. My hope is that as you read through these names, you feel surrounded by tenderness, understanding, and the gentle reminder that there is beauty after the storm.

🌈 Names That Mean Hope

Hope is at the heart of every rainbow baby story—hope that things will be okay, that love will bloom again, and that joy can follow sorrow.

Girl Names

• Nadia – A Slavic name meaning “hope.”
• Asha – This beautiful Sanskrit name means “hope” or “wish.”
• Esperanza – A Spanish name meaning “hope.”
• Zita – A unique name with Italian roots, meaning “little hope.”
• Tikvah – A lovely Hebrew name that means “hope.”

Boy Names

• Von – Of Norse origin, meaning “hope.”
• Elpidio – A rare name with Greek and Spanish roots meaning “hope.”
• Umed – A sweet Hindi name meaning “hope.”
• Toivo – A Finnish name that also means “hope.”
• Raza – A Persian name meaning “hope” or “consent.”

☀️ Names That Mean Light

After darkness, light has a way of reminding us that we can begin again. These names reflect brightness, clarity, and the illumination a new baby brings to a family’s life.

Girl Names

• Lucia – A radiant name meaning “light” in Latin.
• Nora – Short and sweet, this name also means “light.”
• Elena – A gentle name that means “shining light.”
• Chiara – An Italian name that means “clear” or “bright.”
• Ziazan – A unique Armenian name meaning “rainbow.”

Boy Names

• Lior – A Hebrew name meaning “my light.”
• Oran – Irish in origin, meaning “light” or “pale green.”
• Lucian – A Latin name meaning “light.”
• Neriah – A Hebrew name meaning “lamp of God.”
• Abner – This biblical name means “father of light.”

🕊️ Names That Mean Peace

After loss, peace can feel distant, but it is something many families long for and eventually find in the quiet presence of their rainbow baby. These names reflect calm, serenity, and healing.

Girl Names

• Salome – A biblical name meaning “peace.”
• Freya – Norse goddess of love and peace.
• Irene – A Greek name that means “peace.”
• Paloma – Spanish for “dove,” a universal symbol of peace.
• Winifred – A charming old-fashioned name meaning “blessed peace.”

Boy Names

• Shiloh – A gentle, unisex biblical name meaning “peace.”
• Paxton – Of Latin origin, meaning “peaceful town.”
• Axel – Scandinavian name derived from Absalom, meaning “father of peace.”
• Callum – Scottish name meaning “dove.”
• Solomon – Hebrew for “peaceful,” also a tribute to wisdom.

💛 Names That Mean Joy

The joy of welcoming a rainbow baby is often bittersweet—pure joy wrapped in remembrance. These names are vibrant and full of heart, capturing the happiness that comes with new life.

Girl Names

• Felicity – A joyful name meaning “happiness.”
• Aliza – Hebrew for “joyful.”
• Letitia – Latin for “gladness” or “delight.”
• Blythe – An old English name meaning “free spirit” or “joyous.”
• Abigail – A biblical name meaning “father’s joy.”

Boy Names

• Asher – A popular Hebrew name meaning “happy” or “blessed.”
• Isaac – A strong and classic name meaning “laughter.”
• Gale – A soft, vintage name meaning “joyful.”
• Simcha – A rare Hebrew name meaning “joy.”
• Tate – Short and cheerful, it means “cheerful.”

🌦️ Nature-Inspired Rainbow Names

Nature reminds us of life’s rhythms—sun and rain, joy and sorrow. These names are inspired by rainbows, skies, storms, and the natural world, reflecting beauty and strength.

Girl Names

• Aurora – Latin for “dawn,” and the name of the colorful northern lights.
• Skye – A poetic and nature-infused name.
• Iris – A flower name and Greek goddess of the rainbow.
• Rain – A modern, gentle name that acknowledges both storm and renewal.
• Araceli – A Spanish name meaning “altar of the sky.”

Boy Names

• Phoenix – A symbol of rebirth and rising from ashes.
• Zephyr – A Greek name meaning “west wind.”
• Storm – Bold and powerful, honoring the storm that came before.
• Caius – Latin, meaning “rejoice,” also sounds strong and grounded.
• Rowan – A nature name inspired by the rowan tree, also means “little redhead.”

🌺 Names That Honor Love

Love is the thread that runs through every chapter of a family’s story—from sorrow to healing to new beginnings. These names honor the love between parent and child, past and present.

Girl Names

• Amara – A name with many meanings, including “grace” and “lovely.”
• Esme – Of French origin, meaning “beloved.”
• Milena – A Slavic name meaning “gracious, dear.”
• Carys – A gentle Welsh name meaning “love.”
• Davina – A feminine form of David, meaning “beloved.”

Boy Names

• Jedidiah – Hebrew for “beloved of the Lord.”
• Amado – A Spanish name meaning “loved.”
• Leif – Scandinavian name meaning “heir” or “beloved descendant.”
• Rhys – A charming Welsh name meaning “enthusiasm” or “affection.”
• Darien – Often interpreted as “gift,” with a soft, loving feel.

🌈 Unisex and Gender-Neutral Rainbow Baby Names

Some names are soft, open-ended, and perfect for any child. These unisex names allow for flexibility and carry meanings tied to hope, light, and renewal.

• Noa – A Hebrew name meaning “movement,” often used for girls, but unisex.
• Hollis – A sweet name meaning “from the holly trees.”
• Shai – Hebrew for “gift.”
• Eden – A peaceful and hopeful name inspired by paradise.
• Ocean – A calming, vast, and beautiful nature name.
• True – A modern virtue name, full of honesty and heart.
• River – A name that flows beautifully for boys or girls, symbolizing life and renewal.
• Sunny – A cheerful name full of light and optimism.
• Ray – A short, strong name that nods to a ray of sunshine.
• Sage – Evokes wisdom, healing, and nature.

A Loving Reminder

Choosing a name for your rainbow baby is deeply personal. You may want to honor the baby you lost, celebrate the hope that followed, or simply pick a name that feels like a fresh beginning. There’s no “right” way—only what feels right for your heart and your family.

For some parents, using a middle name to honor their loss while giving their child a first name that represents hope or joy is a beautiful balance. Others choose names with layered meanings that encompass sorrow, healing, and new beginnings all in one. However you choose, your love will shine through.

Final Thoughts

A rainbow baby doesn’t erase the storm, but they are a precious reminder that beauty can grow alongside grief. The name you choose is a tribute not only to this new life but to your strength, your love, and your story.

May these names bring you inspiration, healing, and peace as you choose something beautiful for your little one. No matter what you decide, your baby’s name will always be wrapped in the kind of love that only a rainbow family understands.

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