Welcome to the world of last names that mean light! If you’re a writer looking for inspiration for your characters’ last names, you’ve come to the right place.
We’ve got a wide variety of last names that all have one thing in common: they all symbolize light in some way.
So whether you’re looking for a last name representing hope, purity, or enlightenment, you’re sure to find something that catches your eye (and your scroll) here.
So grab a notebook, and let’s dive in!
Last Names That Mean Light
1- Abner
Abner is a Hebrew last name that means “father of light.”
2- Anwar
This distinguished last name comes from the Arabic language and means “brighter” or “light.”
3- Beam
Beam is an English last name that is on the unusual side. It is straightforward and means “beam of light.”
4- Bhasin
If you’re looking for an Indian surname, Bhasin is derived from the Sanskrit word bhanu, which means “ray of light” or “sun.”
5- Blixt
Blixt is an interesting last name that comes from Swedish culture. It means “lightning” or “flash.”
6- Blunt
While the word blunt does have some negative connotations regarding one’s intellectual ability, this last name is also a nickname for a person with fair hair or light skin from the Old French word meaning “blond.”
English actress Emily Blunt is a notable bearer of this surname.
7- Branco
Branco is a Portuguese last name that means “white.” It can refer to someone with light skin or hair.
8- Cahayag
This last name originates from Filipino culture. It comes from the Cebuano word meaning “light” or “splendor.”
9- Cakmak
Cakmak is a last name that can be found in Turkish culture. It translates to “lighter,” which is a tool that is used to ignite a fire.
10- Calingasan
Calingasan is a long last name that is of Filipino origin. In Tagalog, this last name means the “luster of a surface which reflects light.”
11- Callaghan
Callaghan is an Irish last name that means “descendant of ceallachan.” This term is derived from the word cen, which means “head,” and lach, which means “light.”
12- Da Luz
This name has a background in religious culture. It comes from Portuguese and means “of the light.” It is often used as the end term for religious figures.
13- Dahill
This surname comes from Irish culture and means “descendant of dathal.” This means “fair” or “light colored.”
14- Daou
Daou is an Arabic last name that simply means “light.”
15- Fair
Fair is a last name that originates from Scottish culture. It means “light in complexion.”
There are many variants of this name. Some include Fairbeard, Fairchild, and Fairbairn.
15- Faria
Faria is a sweet Portuguese last name that is derived from the word pharos and means “lighthouse.”
16- Faro
Similarly, Faro is a Portuguese last name that means “beacon” or “lighthouse.”
17- Hanlon
This name originates from Irish culture and means “descendant of anluan.” This term comes from luan, which means “light” or “radiance.”
This is the last name of Mike Hanlon, one of the protagonists from Steven King’s novel IT.
18- Haq
Haq is an Arabic last name that means “light of the truth.”
19- Hiramitsu
If you’re looking for a last name that comes from the Japanese language, Hiramitsu means “flat light.”
20- Khashba
This is an uncommon last name that comes from the Abkhaz language. It means “light.”
21- Kuldeep
Kuldeep is an Indian last name that means “light of the family.”
22- Licht
In German, this last name translates to “light.”
23- Light
Light is an English last name that originated as a nickname for a happy and cheerful person from Middle English.
Some variants of this name are Lighthill, Lightbody, and Lighter.
24- Lightyear
Lightyear is a unique English surname that you would have heard before. This last name comes from a unit of length used to measure space distances.
This is the last name of Buzz Lightyear, the lovable toy astronaut from Pixar’s animated film series Toy Story.
25- Liwanag
This Filipino last name means “radiance” and “light.”
26- Loughrey
Loughrey is a last name that originates from Irish culture and means “descendant of Luachra.” The name Luachra was derived from the word luachair, which means “light.”
27- Luce
In French, this last name means “light.”
28- Lucius
This Latin last name is derived from the name Lux which means “light.”
29- Mesbah
Mesbah is an Arabic last name that means “lamp” or “light.”
30- Micelli
Micelli translates to “beacon” or ‘light” in Italian.
31- Noori
Noori is a Muslim surname that means “full of light.”
32- Nur
Similarly, Nur is a Muslim surname that means “light.”
33- Nuristani
Nuristani is an Afghani name that comes from the name of an Afghanistan province called Nuristan, which means “land of light.”
34- Or
Or comes from Hebrew culture. It means “light” and is used as both a first and last name in Israel.
35- Orpaz
In Hebrew, Orpaz translates to “golden light.”
36- Photiou
Photiou is a Greek surname that is derived from the word photos, meaning “light.”
37- Prabhakar
This surname is derived from Sanskrit and means “light maker.”
38- Prakash
Prakash is an Indian surname that comes from Sanskrit. It translates to “light.”
39- Sinag
Sinag means “ray of light” in Filipino culture.
40- Siraj
Siraj is an Indian surname that means “light.”
41- Valo
Valo is a unique Finnish surname that means “light.”
42- Zia
This elegant Muslim surname that begins with the letter Z means “light.”
43- Zoha
Zoha is an Arabic last name that means “morning light.”
44- Zohar
Zohar is a surname that comes from the Hebrew language and means “light” or “brilliance.”
Last Names That Mean Bright
45- Alegre
Alegre is a Spanish surname that means “bright.”
46- Apaydin
Apaydin is a last name that originates from Turkish culture. It means “very bright.”
47- Bertwig
Bertwig is a rare Swedish last name that is derived from beraht, meaning “bright,” and wig, meaning “war.”
49- Bright
Bright is an English surname that simply means “bright” or “fair.” It comes from the Old English word beorht.
50- Clairmont
If you’re looking for a posh-sounding English last name, Clairmont means “bright hill.”
51- Huy
Huy is a Vietnamese last name that expresses the sentiment of “brightness.”
52- Leclair
This classy surname comes from the French language. The word Clair means “bright.
53- Minh
The last name Minh translates to “bright” in Vietnamese.
54- Sherwood
Sherwood is a last name that originates from the English language. It means “bright forest.”
55- Shirley
Shirley is a last name that is of English origins. It is derived from the words shir, which means “bright,” and Leah, which means “woodland” or “clearing.”
Overall, this name means “bright woodland.”
Wrapping up Light Last Names
And there you have it, folks!
A wide selection of last names that all mean light in some way.
We hope this list has sparked your creativity and given you some new ideas for your characters’ last names.
Remember, the right surname can add depth and meaning to your characters, so choose wisely!
And remember to come back and revisit us for more inspiration like yellow baby names.
Happy writing!