Names That Mean Red (85 Fiery Ideas for Boys and Girls)
Red is a very popular color with multiple connotations, including love, aggression, excitement, violence, and even war. It is one of the most vivid and exciting colors and a favorite tone for many people. If you love red and want to name something in your life after it, there are a myriad of options that you can choose from around the world, each with a fascinating cultural history.
In this article, we’ll take a look at some of the most popular “red” names from around the world, discuss where they originated, and provide context for each. This information can provide you with the insight that you need to choose a great name. In addition, we’ll highlight masculine, feminine, and unisex options for your child, pet, character, or even yourself if you change your name.
Boy Names That Mean Red
Cultures from around the world have been fascinated with red due to its sharp tone and its connection with blood. Ancient tribes used to hunting and warfare found red connected heavily with the blood of their slain enemies or prey and often gave “red” names connotations of violence, aggression, or combat. However, other male red names have milder meanings that make them useful for your naming needs. Here are several of the most popular options from around the world.
Adam
Adam is one of the most commonly used names in the world and derives from the Hebrew word for “man.” However, it drew this meaning initially from the term “to be red,” as men were Biblically created from clay.
Altan
Altan is a popular Turkish name that means “red dawn.” This connotation gives it a more positive meaning than some more violent name definitions.
Barbarossa
A once trendy Italian name, Barbarossa means “red beard” in Italian and was also the name of the Holy Roman Emperor Frederick I, who ruled from 1122 to 1190.
Carminius
A Late Roman name that likely comes from the Latin word for “song” or “poem,” it also holds connotations with “red” and various tints of this color.
Carnistir
J.R.R. Tolkien invented many names throughout his many wonderful fantasy stories. This name means “red-faced” in Quenya and is the name of an essential character in his mythology.
Edom
Though similar phonetically to “Adam” and also coming from the Bible, this name refers to Esau and his nation Edom. Esau has red skin, which is where the connection originates.
Ekundu
Swahili names often have many complex meanings, but Ekundu is pretty simple: it means “red.” However, it remains a popular option throughout areas that speak this language.
Ereuthalion
Ereuthalion refers to a Greek mythological character who fights against the Pylians. This name means “reddish” and “ruddy,” which refers to this warrior’s complexion.
Éše’hȯhma’aestse
This gorgeous Cheyenne name means “red moon,” which gives it a reasonably complex meaning in Native American religion. Red moons were both a sign of danger and positive action in many tribes.
Fidelio
Fidelio is a masculine name that means “red,” which was heavily popularized after the success of Beethoven’s only opera, “Fidelio,” which features a woman pretending to be a man to save her husband.
Mekaisto
Mekaisto comes from the Blackfoot tribe and means “red crow” when combining two different Native words. Red Crow was a legendary Kainai chief who ruled from 1830 to 1900.
Miltiades
This Ancient Greek name means “red earth” and is also the name of an important real-life general who led Greece to victory against the Persians in the Battle of Marathon to help preserve their independence.
Pyrrhus
A Latinized version of the Greek name Πύρρος, Pyrrhus means “flame-colored” and “red” and was the name of an important mythological character: the son of the warrior Achilles.
Radcliff
Radcliff is technically an Old English surname that means “red cliff,” but it has been used occasionally as a first name in English literature to indicate a ruddy or dangerous person.
Red
Though originally a nickname for someone with red hair or a ruddy face, it is also a variation on the Old English “Read,” “Reid,” and “Reed,” which all also mean “red” or “red-haired.”
Rohit
This Indian name is prevalent throughout the sub-continent and means “red” in Sanskrit. It is popularly used for first-born sons, especially after the success of Rohit Sharma, an Indian cricket player.
Ruadh
This Irish and Scottish name means “red” and is a common nickname for someone with red hair. It is connected to the word “ruddy” in English.
Rubens
A Portuguese name that means “being red” or “to be red” may also be connected to the painter Peter Paul Rubens, who heavily used red colors.
Russell
Though used heavily as a surname, Russell is also a popular first name that means “the little red one.” It is one of the most popular English names in the world.
Sohrab
Coming from the ancient Persian epic, the Shahnameh, Shohrab means both “red” and “water” and refers to a warrior accidentally slain by his father in battle.
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Girl Names That Mean Red
Fewer girl names mean red because, in ancient times, women did not hunt or fight nearly as often as men. However, as times changed and women proved to be just as capable of providing for the tribe, more and more “red” names emerged. Many old-fashioned “red” female names focus on the color’s beauty, mirroring the more sexist views of older cultures. Nevertheless, these names are still great and can provide you with an option that fits your needs.
Afra
Afra is a beautiful Arabic female name that means “whitish red.” It shouldn’t be confused with the term “Afar,” which refers to a unique Afro-Asiatic tribe in the Horn of Africa.
Akane
This Japanese name means “deep red” but also refers to a red dye from the rubia plant, which is very popular in Japan. It is one of the most popular names in Japan thanks to a connection to various Anime and manga characters.
Akari
Meaning “vermilion red” and “bright,” this name also has connotations with terms like “village” and “white Jasmine.” This unique complexity highlights the fascinating meanings Japanese names can hold.
Boragane
Rarely used outside of Tswana, this gorgeous name means “small red-billed quelea” in Setswana, which refers to a common bird throughout that region. It has a very positive connotation in the Setswana religion.
Coahoma
Coahoma is a Choctaw name that combines words meaning “puma” and “red” to indicate a red cougar. Often, this name applied to spirit animals throughout Native American religions.
Erytheia
Erytheia comes from the Greek word ἐρῠθρός and means “reddish, red.” It is also the name of a mythical island in ancient Greece that was on the “sunrise side” and near the underworld of Hades.
Fangtong
A popular Chinese female name with many meanings, including “same,” “fragrant,” and “vermilion red.” It comes from combining multiple Chinese characters, with “tong” providing the “red” meaning.
Feihong
Like Fangton, this name takes a Chinese letter for red (hong in this case) to provide the meaning of “vermilion red” to this name. It can also mean “rainbow” and “luxuriant.”
Flanna
Flanna is the feminized version of “Flann” and means “red-haired.” Despite the similarities, it is not connected to the name “Hanna,” which is a Hebrew name that means “favor” or “grace.”
Humayra
This Arabic name means “red” and is a very popular name in Islamic nations. That’s because it was a name given by the Prophet Muhammad to his wife, Aisha, which makes it a holy name.
Ma’evehpota’e
Coming from the indigenous American language of the Cheyenne tribe, it means “red leaf woman” and is a variation of a masculine name with a similar name. It is commonly used for female leaders in Native American tribes.
Rossa
Though this one popular Italian female name is now rare, it means “red” and plays off the masculine “Rosso,” which also means red. It is more commonly spelled “Rosa” in modern times.
Rudīte
Rudite comes from the Latvian word “ruds,” which means “red” or “red-haired.” It shares a common meaning with the word “ruddy,” which comes from multiple different cultures.
Rumena
This Bulgarian name is the female form of “Rumen,” which means “red-cheeked or ruddy.” It is often used to indicate drunken characters in Bulgarian literature due to the deep red cheeks caused by heavy alcohol consumption.
Sandraudiga
Sandraudiga comes from ancient Germanic mythology and refers to a goddess described in a slab found in the Netherlands. It has multiple meanings, including “red” and “fortunate.”
Related post: Names that mean Blood
Unisex Names That Mean Red
While the word provides fewer unisex names that mean red than it does male or female, there are still plenty of unique options that may fit your needs. These can be used for either sex, though some might be more commonly used for one than the other. Choosing the best options for your needs requires examining their unique meanings, gauging how they fit your culture, and selecting one that sounds great. They work particularly well for mysterious characters in fictional stories.
Flann
This old Irish name means “blood red” and is one of the most common names in Irish history. It was also the name of a ninth-century king in Ireland and connected heavily to the red hair common throughout the island.
Hong
Hong is a Chinese name with multiple meanings, including “enlarge, expand, great” when used in masculine form. It also means “rainbow,” which in Chinese culture has a heavy connotation with red and similar tones.
Kamala
Kamala is a popular Indian name that means “lotus” or “pale red” in Sanskrit. Though typically used as a feminine name in modern times, old Indian documents show it used with men, particularly religious leaders.
Quỳnh
A Vietnamese name, Quynh, means “deep red” and is also the name of a plant in Vietnam with a sharp red color. It can be used as both a male and female name.
Shani
Shani is a Hebrew name that means “red” or “scarlet” and has historically been used for both male and female names. It is used in the Bible when referring to two women in Jesus’ genealogy.
Related post: Names that mean Anger
More names meaning Red
These red-inspired names come from all sorts of red sources:
- Alizarin
- Apple
- Auburn
- Blush
- Brick
- Burgundy
- Cardinal
- Carmine
- Carnation
- Cedar
- Cerise
- Cherry
- Chestnut
- Claret
- Copper
- Coral
- Cranberry
- Crimson
- Flame
- Fox
- Fuchsia
- Garnet
- Geranium
- Ladybug
- Magenta
- Mahogany
- Maple
- Maroon
- Mars
- Pepper
- Persimmon
- Raspberry
- Rose
- Ruby
- Russet
- Rust
- Salmon
- Salsa
- Sanguine
- Scarlet
- Strawberry
- Sunset
- Tomato
- Vermillion
- Wine
Wrap up – Names That Mean Red
We hope you are tickled pink with our rosy list of name that mean red! Share your favorite in the comments!