baby sleeping, lying on a rainbow rug

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 smiling into the camera

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.