Every baby is special, every new human deserving of recognition. A rainbow baby is a term that refers to a healthy infant born after the parents lose their baby or have miscarriaged. This represents a long-awaited opportunity.
Rainbow babies are just like rainbows that appear after a stormy time. Their births serve as a reminder that life is still possible, and that while the damage of the “storm” can never (and should never) be forgotten, there can still be beauty in its wake. If you’d like to honor the miracle of having a rainbow baby, and pay tribute to the joy that triumphs despite the pain, these baby names hold particular significance for your little one. It should offer solace in how large your community of support is, as you’re not alone in searching for a rainbow baby name. This query is searched almost 3,000 times per month, according to the most recent search data.
1. Esme
An Old French name meaning “beloved,” which encompasses both your rainbow baby and the one(s) you hold only in your heart. It can also be spelled Esmée.
2. Asha
This name has a twofold meaning; when derived from the Sanskrit word आशा it means “hope,” and in Swahili it means “life.” Could there be a more perfect sentiment?! (For boys, a similar sound can be found in Asher, which means “happy, fortunate, and blessed.”)
3. Aveline
Another name that’s French in origin, this one means “desired.” And our runner-up is an equally beautiful French name with the same meaning: Desiree.
4. Iris
Aside from naming your child Rainbow (which could also be a great choice, given the current trend toward nature names), this one is the next-best thing; in Greek mythology, Iris was the goddess of the rainbow, her name taken from the Greek word for rainbow.
5. Carys
This is a modern Welsh name derived from “caru,” which means “love” — the emotion that perseveres through every challenge of parenthood, or the journey toward it. It’s technically pronounced KAH-riss; if you want to pronounce it KEH-riss, you can spell it Cerys, which is a variation that still means the same thing.
6. Imani
Derived from an Arabic word meaning “faith.” And faith, whether religious or nonreligious, plays a huge part of parents’ journey to a rainbow baby.
7. Vera
Also meaning “faith,” this time in Russian — although it can also come from the Latin word “verus,” meaning “true.”
8. Nadia
A derivative of the Slavic name Nadezhda, which means “hope.” And when it seems like all is dark — as it sometimes does for parents who have suffered through a devastating loss — hope is the beacon that can cut through the gloom.
9. Shay
This name is a transcription of the Hebrew word “shai,” meaning “gift.” It’s unisex, so even if you’re opting for your gift to be a surprise, you can still feel comfortable deciding on Shay no matter what.
10. Von
Derived from an Old Norse word, “ván,” which means “hope” or “expectation” — perfect for a baby who embodies both. Not to be confused with the soundalike Vaughn, which means “little” or “short” … that would work, too, just not for paying homage to your little one’s rainbow baby status.
11. Bennett
This one comes from the Latin name Benedictus, meaning “blessed.” If you’d like to stay more true to the name’s roots, there’s always the option of using Benedict. Benny would make a cute nickname for either of them.
12. Gerard
With Germanic roots, this name means “brave.” And bravery in the face of adversity is something that all parents of rainbow babies are intimately familiar with.
13. Atlas
In Greek mythology, Atlas literally supported the weight of the world on his shoulders, but his name means “enduring.” The loss of a child comes crushing down on you, but like Atlas, you endure — and so does your baby’s memory, through your rainbow baby’s name.
14. Jesse
This stems from the Hebrew name Yishai, which means “gift.” It can be made a bit more unisex by spelling it Jessie.
15. Kai
The name Kai has meanings in many different languages (Hawaiian, Swedish, Basque, and Thai among them), but the most fitting for a rainbow baby is its meaning when written in Chinese: “triumph.”
16. Arman
A Persian name meaning “wish” or “hope,” both significant to a child born after a loss.
17. Thaddeus
This name has several possible meanings, as its exact etymology is unclear — but all the meanings, “heart,” “gift of God,” and “thanks” — are perfectly fitting for a rainbow baby. Plus, it’s got the option of the cute nicknames Thad and Tad, an alternative to the more often-used Theodore (which means “gift of God,” and could also be a great choice).
18. Gwyneth
This is a Welsh girl’s name meaning “blessed,” which is perfect for parents who have been blessed by a bouncing baby girl. Gwyneth paltrow is a more well-known actress.
19. Mirai
This Basque name means “miracle,” making it an appropriate name for your miracle baby.
20. Barack
This is a Swahili boy name meaning “blessing,” making it an appropriate name for a rainbow baby. It is well-recognized because of the 44th President.
21. Ayah
This pretty Arabic name means “miracle” or a “sign from God.” Not only does it have a beautiful meaning, it sounds melodic, too.
22. Dorothy
This is an Anglicized version of the Greek name Dorothea. It means “gift of God,” so it’s a lovely name to give your miraculous gift.
23. Áine
This is an Irish girl name meaning “brightness,” “radiant” or “splendor.” It’s the perfect name for your little bright light amongst the darker clouds. It is pronounced Awnyah and sounds just as beautiful as the meaning.
24. Tikvah
Tikvah is a Hebrew girl’s name meaning hope, and what a perfect name that would be.
Parents can feel mixed emotions when they lose a child. Rainbow babies are the embodiment of hope, faith and triumph. Giving them a special name is one way to remember how loved they are.
25. Hope
Speaking of hope, what better name to give your bundle of joy, your ray of sunshine after a storm, than…Hope. Your happiness, strength, and renewed hope for what’s to come can be found between those four letters.
26. Anais
Rooted in the name Anna, meaning “grace” or “favor” this pronunciation comes from the French and Catalan diction. This version, as well as the one we have chosen, is our favorite, and just like your special little baby.
Need some help with naming? Scary Mommy has thousands of names and fun lists to inspire you.
