
For parents who have endured the heartbreak of miscarriage, stillbirth, or infant loss, naming a subsequent child – known as a “rainbow baby” – can be a deeply emotional journey. It is often accompanied by a mix of emotions including anxiety, fear, and a renewed sense of gratitude. This concept helps families honor the baby they lost while embracing the new life they have been blessed with.
We’ve compiled a list of name ideas that might start the naming process for a rainbow baby. We have focused on names meaning renewal and hope but have included several names meaning rainbow as well. And remember, if you are looking for names with meanings that specifically signify something else, be sure to search using the BabyNames.com Search by Meaning function.
Aceso
Aceso is a female name of Greek origins and means “curing, healing.”
Amal
Amal is a female name of Arabic origins and means “hope, expectation.” Amal Clooney is a human rights activist and wife of actor George Clooney.
Amali
Amali is a female name of Swahili origins and means “hope.”
Amela
Amela is a female name of Slavic/Bosnian origins and means “hope, expectation”
Amil
Amil is a male name of Arabic origins and means “hopeful.”
Amitola
Amitola is a female name of Native American origins and means “rainbow.”
Arrayah
Arrayah is a female name of American origins and means “ray of hope.”
Arvilas
Arvilas is a male name of Polish origins and means “much hope.”
Asha
Asha is a female name of Indian origins and means “hope or wish.”
Aviv
Aviv is a male name of Hebrew origins and means “spring, renewal.”
Avivit
Avivit is a female name of Hebrew origins and means “spring, renewal.”
Elpida
Elpida is a female name of Greek origins and means “hope.”
Enfys
Enfys is a female name of Welsh origins and means “rainbow.”
Esperanza
Esperanza is a female name of Spanish origins and means “hope.”
Heloise
Heloise is a female name of French origins and means “whole, healthy.”
Hopeton
Hopeton is a gender-neutral name of American origins and means “town of hope.”
Iria
Iria is a female name of Spanish origins and means “colorful, rainbow, peace.”
Irida
Irida is a female name of Greek origins and means “rainbow.”
Iris
Iris is a female name of Greek origins and means “colorful, rainbow.”
Itxaro
Itxaro is a female name of Basque origins and means “hope.”
Itzel
Itzel is a female name of Mayan origins and means “rainbow.”
Kenji
Kenji is a male name of Japanese origins and means “wise, peace, healing.”
Kenta
Kenta is a male name of Japanese origins and means “healthy, strong, thick, big.”
Kouki
Kouki is male name of Japanese origins and means “light, happiness, hope, radiance, sunshine.”
Lycia
Lycia is a female name of Latin origins and means “happy, hopeful.”
Musoke
Musoke is a gender-neutral name of African origins and means “rainbow.”
Nadezhda
Nadezhda is a female name of Russian origins and means “hope.”
Nadia
Nadia is a female name of Slavic origins and means “hope.”
Nadie
Nadie is a female name of English origins and means “hope.”
Nadine
Nadine is a female name of French origins and means “hope.”
Manusoke
Namusoke is a female name of African origins and means “rainbow.”
Naya
Naya is a female name of Indian origins and means “renewal, fresh.”
Nozomi
Nozomi is a female name of Japanese origins and means “hope.”
Rajiya
Rajiya is a female name of Arabic origins and means “hopeful.”
Rapha
Rapha is a male name of Hebrew origins and means “comfort, healing.”
Saki
Saki is a female name of Japanese origins and means “blossom, hope.”
Saleema
Saleema is a female name of Arabic origins and means “healthy, protected.”
Salim
Salim is a male name of Arabic origins and means “healthy, complete, safe.”
Salus
Salus is a male name of Latin origins and means “healthy.”
Shpresa
Shpresa is a female name of Albanian origins and means “hope.”
Sonomi
Sonomi is a female name of Japanese origins and means “garden of hope.”
Suubi
Suubi is a female name of African origins and means “hope.”
Takiko
Takiko is a female name of Japanese origins and means “waterfall, joy, hope.”
Taraji
Taraji is a female name of Swahili origins and means “hope, faith.”
Thamina
Thamina is a female name of Arabic origins and means “healthy.”
Themba
Themba is a gender-neutral name of African origins and means “trust, hope, faith.”
Tikvah
Tikvah is a female name of Hebrew origins and means “hope.”
Toivo
Toivo is a male name of Finnish origins and means “hope.”
Tumaini
Tumaini is a female name of Swahili origins and means “hope.”
Uki
Uki is a female name of Japanese origins and means “air, space, hope, pray.”
Umay
Umay is a female name of Turkish origins and means “hope.”
Umed
Umed is a male name of Indian origins and means “hope.”
Umut
Umut is a gender-neutral name of Turkish origins and means “hope.”
Valeriy
Valeriy is a male name of Russian origins and means “healthy, of good cheer.”
Woape
Woape is a gender-neutral name of Native American origins and means “hope.”
Xiao Hong
Xiao Hong is a female name of Chinese origins and means “morning rainbow.”
Xi-wang
Xi-wang is a gender-neutral name of Chinese origins and means “hope.”
Yuji
Yuji is a male name of Japanese origins and means “abundant, second, healing, peace.”
Zhi
Zhi is a gender-neutral name of Chinese origins and means “wisdom, healing.”
Ziazen
Ziazen is a female name of Armenian origins and means “rainbow.”
Mallory Moss is the co-founder of BabyNames.com and co-host of The Baby Names Podcast. Mallory has a PhD in psychiatric nursing and has written articles for The Huffington Post on names and name trends. She has one grown daughter, Veronica, who lives in Austria.