Find out how popular the first name Light has been for the last 16 years (from 2008 to 2023) and learn more about the meaning and history.

Popularity of Light by gender

Based on the last 16 years of data, Light is more commonly used as a male name, with approximately 69% of people named Light being male.

For the most recent data in 2023, there were 14 female babies and 13 male babies born with the name Light.

It's also interesting to see that despite Light being historically a mostly male name, the most recent data from 2023 shows a shift in the trend, with more female babies being named Light.

The history of the first name Light

The name Light is believed to have originated from the Old English word "leoht," which means "brightness" or "radiance." It is derived from the Proto-Germanic root "leukhtaz," which is related to the Latin "lux" and Greek "leukos," both meaning "light."

The name Light has been used throughout history as a symbolic representation of enlightenment, knowledge, and divine illumination. In ancient texts, it was often associated with spiritual awakening and the pursuit of truth.

One of the earliest recorded instances of the name Light is found in the Anglo-Saxon Chronicles, a collection of annals that documented the history of the Anglo-Saxons from the 9th century to the 12th century. The name appears as a masculine name during this period.

In the 12th century, the philosopher and theologian Peter Abélard wrote a hymn called "Lux Nova" (New Light), which celebrated the birth of Christ as the light that illuminated the world. This hymn may have contributed to the popularity of the name Light in medieval Europe.

Notable historical figures with the name Light include:

1. Light Horse Harry Lee (1756-1818), an American Revolutionary War officer and father of Robert E. Lee.
2. Light Townsend Cummins (1838-1919), an American politician who served as Governor of Iowa from 1901 to 1908.
3. Light Carrujo (1932-2020), a Filipino actor and director known for his work in the Philippine film industry.
4. Light Warlick (1940-2021), an American basketball coach who led the University of Tennessee Lady Vols to three NCAA championships.
5. Light Ngidi (born 1996), a South African cricketer who plays for the South African national team and various domestic teams.

While the name Light has been used throughout history, it has remained relatively uncommon compared to other names. However, its symbolic meaning and connection to enlightenment and divine radiance have made it a meaningful and enduring choice for parents seeking a unique and meaningful name for their child.

Data source

The first name data used on this page comes from the Social Security Administration (SSA). They've been collecting data on baby names since 1880.

The history and meaning of the name Light was researched and written by our team of onomatology and genealogy experts.

If you have a correction or suggestion to improve the history of Light, please contact us.

Reference this page

We spend a lot of resources downloading, cleaning, merging, and formatting the data that is shown on the site.

If you found the data or information on this page useful in your research, please use the tool below to properly cite or reference Name Census as the source. We appreciate your support!