Looking for names that mean rain is not always a straightforward journey. Their meanings are less obvious, so there’s a good chance you’ll miss a bunch along the way. To help you along the way, we’ve gone ahead and gathered the best rain names from across the globe.
From ancient classics to modern inventions, you won’t miss out if you look through our extensive list of unique names meaning rain. You’ll discover different meanings, variations, and pronunciations. The perfect rain-inspired name is waiting, so grab your umbrella to let’s get started!
100 Gentle Names Meaning Rain
These cute names that mean rain are ready for your baby boy or girl to claim for their own.
Adad
In Greek, adad means “storm and flood god” and is the god of storms in Mesopotamian mythology. In Arabic, it means “power” or “victory” for ancient and modern boys.
- Origin: Arabic
- Meaning: Storm god
- Pronunciation: Ah-DAED
- Variations: Addad
- Popularity: Adad is very rare worldwide, mostly used in Nigeria, and ranked 496th in Somaliland in 2014.
Adhira
Adhira means “quick lightning” or “impatient” in India. In Hindu mythology, Adhira is a king and attendant to Siva, but now it’s a unique name for girls.
- Origin: Indian
- Meaning: Lightning
- Pronunciation: Ahd-HIY-Rah
- Popularity: Adhira is very rare worldwide and mainly used in India.
Amaterasu
Amaterasu is a deity in the Japanese Shintō religion known for “shining in heaven.” It uses the Latin “amateru,” meaning “to illuminate,” which lighting always does in a great storm.
- Origin: Japanese
- Meaning: Who illuminates heaven
- Pronunciation: AA-Maa-teh-RAA-Suw
- Popularity: Amaterasu is extremely rare worldwide, with 23 known occurrences in 2014, mostly in Japan.
Amaya
Amaya has multiple meanings in addition to “night rain,” like “the end,” “mother city,” and “heavenly valley.” It appears in the Hebrew Bible as Amya, meaning “close to God.” In Japanese, Amaya is all about the rain falling onto a lunar reflection of the moon in the water.
- Origin: Spanish, Hebrew
- Meaning: Night rain
- Pronunciation: Ah-MAA-Yaa
- Variations: Amaia, Amaiah, Amayah
- Namesakes: Amaya Garbayo, a Spanish swimmer who competed at the 1988 Summer Olympics. Amaya Uranga, a Spanish singer and member of the Basque group Mocedades.
- Popularity: Amaya ranked 1,737th worldwide, is mainly used in Columbia, and ranked 26th in El Salvador in 2014.
Ame
Ame is a distinct variation of Amy, meaning “beloved” in Latin. It also means “rain” in Japanese and is given to certain African babies “born on Saturday.”
- Origin: Japanese
- Meaning: Rain
- Pronunciation: AA-Meh
- Namesakes: Wang Chunyu (known as Ame), a Chinese Dota 2 player for PSG.LGD.
- Popularity: Ame is rare worldwide, primarily used in Ethiopia, and ranked 328th in Togo in 2014.
Asterope
Asterope is made up of the Greek “ástēr,” meaning “star,” and “ops,” meaning “face.” It means “lightning,” “butterfly,” and is the name of an asteroid. In Greek mythology, Asterope was one of the Hesperides, powerful nymphs called the “Daughters of the Evening.”
- Origin: Greek
- Meaning: Lightning
- Pronunciation: As-TEH-roh-Pee
- Popularity: Asterope is extremely rare worldwide, with just one known occurrence in 2014 in South Africa.
Audra
Audra is based on the Lithuanian “audra,” meaning “storm.” It also means “noble strength” in Old English and is a slightly offbeat version of Audrey for your little one.
- Origin: English, Latin
- Meaning: Storm
- Pronunciation: AOD-Rah
- Variations: Audrah
- Namesakes: Audra Mari, an American model crowned Miss World America 2016. Audra Thomas, a Northern Irish TV presenter and newsreader on UTV.
- Popularity: Audra is rare worldwide, primarily used in the U.S., and ranked 426th in Lithuania in 2014.
Aureole
Aureole may mean “golden” in Latin when based on the Latin “aura.” It means “breeze” and “wind,” making Aureole a diminutive meaning “little wind.”
- Origin: Latin, English
- Meaning: Little wind
- Pronunciation: Ao-riy-OWL
- Variations: Auriole
- Popularity: Aureole is very rare worldwide and mainly used in Cameroon.
Barack
Barack means “blessing” in Arabic and is also based on the Swahili “baraka.” Barack is associated with the Hebrew boy’s name Baruch, which celebrates weather with the meaning “lightning.”
- Origin: Arabic, Hebrew
- Meaning: Lightning
- Pronunciation: Baa-RAHK
- Variations: Barak, Barrack, Barrak
- Namesakes: Barack Obama, the 44th President of the U.S. from 2009 to 2017.
- Popularity: Barack is very rare worldwide and primarily used in Kenya, ranking 1,468th in 2014.
Baran
Baran has two very different meanings, including as a Slavic nickname meaning “ram.” It also means “rain” in Persian, but it is one of the oldest names that mean rain, symbolizing God’s mercy.
- Origin: Persian, Slavic
- Meaning: Rain
- Pronunciation: Baa-RAAN
- Namesakes: Baran Kosari, an Iranian actress appearing in Nargess (1991). Baran Süzer, a Turkish businessman whose business group owns The Ritz-Carlton hotel chain in Turkey.
- Popularity: Baran is rare worldwide and mostly used in Turkey, where it ranked 993rd in 2014.
Barkha
Barkha means “life-giving” and also refers to “monsoons.” Barkha is the name of a 1959 Indian Hindi-language film about a monsoon.
- Origin: Indian, Hindi
- Meaning: Rain
- Pronunciation: BAAR-Kah
- Namesakes: Barkha Singh, an Indian actress appearing in Mujhse Dosti Karoge! (2002). Barkha Bisht Sengupta, an Indian actress known for Dui Prithibi (2010).
- Popularity: Barkha is rare worldwide and mainly used in India.
Barsh
Barsh is sometimes considered a Sanskrit name, yet it’s one of the rain names without much explanation. It’s also a village in Bashkortostan, Russia comprising just two streets.
- Origin: Indian, Hindi
- Meaning: Rain
- Pronunciation: BAHRSH
- Popularity: Barsh is very rare worldwide and primarily used in India.
Bengy
Bengy means “overcast” and “threatening rain” in Old English. It’s also a diminutive of Benjamin, meaning “son of the right hand.” In Turkish, Bengy is based on Bengü, known as “a mythical water which gives a person immortal life.” What better rain could you find?
- Origin: Hebrew, English
- Meaning: Threatening rain
- Pronunciation: BEHN-Jhiy
- Variations: Benjy, Benji, Bengi
- Popularity: Bengy is very rare worldwide and mostly used in the U.S.
Bijuli
Bijuli means “rain” and “lightning” when derived from Bijalee. It’s also the name of a western Nepal town and means “electricity.”
- Origin: Hindi
- Meaning: Rain
- Pronunciation: Baey-JUW-liy
- Popularity: Bijuli is rare worldwide, primarily used in India, and ranked 1,999th in Nepal in 2014.
Breeze
Breeze first referred to a “moderate northeast wind” and is also taken from the Spanish “briza.” It also means “brisk, fresh wind from the sea,” but it has been rooted in the English meaning since the 1620s.
- Origin: English, Spanish
- Meaning: Light gentle wind
- Pronunciation: BRIYZ
- Variations: Breezy
- Namesakes: Breeze, an American rapper known for the album T.Y.S.O.N. (The Young Son of No One) in 1989.
- Popularity: Breeze is very rare worldwide and mainly used in the U.S.
Brishen
Brishen is one of the rarest names meaning rain, originating in Romany culture. It’s typically given to babies “born during a rainstorm” since, in Gypsy culture, rain is good luck, especially on a wedding day.
- Origin: Romani
- Meaning: Born during a rainstorm
- Pronunciation: BRIY-Shehn
- Popularity: Brishen is extremely rare worldwide, with 72 known occurrences in 2014, primarily in the U.S.
Bronte
In Greek mythology, Bronte is a goddess of thunder and sister to Astrape. It means “bestower” in Gaelic and is most famous as the surname of the Brontë sisters.
- Origin: Greek, Gaelic
- Meaning: Thunder
- Pronunciation: BRAHN-tee
- Namesakes: Bronte Barratt, an Australian swimmer and gold medallist at the 2008 Olympic Games. Bronte Dooley, an Australian member of the Western Australian Legislative Assembly from 1911 to 1913.
- Popularity: Bronte is very rare worldwide and mostly used in Australia, where it ranked 1,176th in 2014.
Caelus
Caelus derives from the Latin “caelum,” meaning “sky,” “heaven,” or “the abode of the gods.” In Roman mythology, Caelus is the god of the sky, whether it brings rain or shine.
- Origin: Latin
- Meaning: Heavens
- Pronunciation: CAY-luhs
- Popularity: Caelus is extremely rare worldwide, with only one known occurrence in 2014, in Brazil.
Capala
In addition to lightning, Capala also means “swift” and “the wind.” In Sanskrit, it refers to a skull cup used in Buddhist and Hindu rituals.
- Origin: Hindi
- Meaning: Lightning
- Pronunciation: CAH-paa-Lah
- Popularity: Capala is very rare worldwide and mainly used in India.
Chumani
Chumani is of Native American Sioux origin and means “drops of dew.” It’s also considered a South African boy’s name, meaning “prosperity.”
- Origin: Native American
- Meaning: Dewdrops
- Pronunciation: Chuw-MAA-niy
- Variations: Chumanee, Chumaney, Chumanie, Chumany
- Namesakes: Chumani Booi, a South African rugby union player with the Southern Kings. Chumani Pan, a South African actor appearing in Ashes to Ashes.
- Popularity: Chumani is very rare worldwide and primarily used in India.
Cloud
Cloud’s meaning is the same as the word in the non-name form: “visible vapor” or “nebula.” As a surname, it was used for someone living “near an outcrop or hill.” Cloud derives from the Old English “clūd,” meaning “rock,” since clouds were first described as looking like rock formations.
- Origin: English
- Meaning: Visible vapor
- Pronunciation: KLAWD
- Variations: Cloude, Cloudie
- Popularity: Cloud is rare worldwide and mostly used in Zimbabwe, ranking 872nd in 2014.
Corentin
Corentinr is a Breton word meaning “hurricane” that also means “friend.” It’s inspired by the 5th-century Bishop of Quimper in Brittany.
- Origin: Irish
- Meaning: Hurricane
- Pronunciation: KAOR-ehn-Tiyn
- Variations: Corentine
- Namesakes: Corentin Corre, a Breton cyclist who competed at the first Paris–Brest race in 1891. Corentin Moutet, a French tennis player and winner of six ATP Challenger Tours.
- Popularity: Corentin is rare worldwide and mainly used in France, where it ranked 812th in 2014.
Dalphon
Dalphon has meanings in Hebrew from “dripper” and “rainmaker” to “the weeper.” It’s based on the Hebrew “dalap,” meaning “to drip,” and refers to the biblical son of Haman in the Book of Esther. Dalphon means “house of caves” in Persian.
- Origin: Hebrew
- Meaning: Raindrop
- Pronunciation: Daal-FAHN
- Variations: Dalfon
- Popularity: Dalphon is extremely rare worldwide, with 25 known occurrences in 2014, primarily in the U.S.
Damini
Damini means “lightning,” plus “nature” and “beauty” for girls. It’s also a diminutive of the Nigerian boy’s name Olúwadáminí, meaning “God holds my hand.” Damini is a 1993 Indian Hindi crime drama film to boot.
- Origin: Indian, Hindi
- Meaning: Lightning
- Pronunciation: Dah-MIY-niy
- Namesakes: Damini Ebunoluwa Ogulu (known as Burna Boy), a Nigerian singer known for the 2012 single Like to Party.
- Popularity: Damini is rare worldwide, mostly used in India, and ranked 1,429th in Mauritius in 2014.
Dima
Dima may sometimes mean “slow, peaceful rain,” but it refers to “torrential rain” in Arabic. It’s also a Russian boy’s name, short for Demetrius, meaning “strong fighter.” Dima stands for a “powerful warrior” in Slavic cultures.
- Origin: Arabic
- Meaning: Slow peaceful rain
- Pronunciation: DIY-Maa
- Variations: Dema
- Namesakes: Dima Wannous, a Syrian writer for the newspaper Al-Hayat. Dima Trofim, a Romanian singer and member of the LaLa band.
- Popularity: Dima is rare worldwide, mainly used in Ethiopia, and ranked 317th in Jordan in 2014.
Dorrin
Dorrin means “sullen” in Manx, a Celtic language on the Isle of Man. The “sullen” meaning refers to “bad weather,” while Dorrin is also a boy’s name meaning “dark-browed.”
- Origin: Manx, Celtic
- Meaning: Tempest
- Pronunciation: DOHR-en
- Variations: Dorin
- Popularity: Dorrin is very rare worldwide and primarily used in Papua New Guinea.
Ekaitza
Ekaitza is the female equivalent of the male Ekaitz, meaning “storm.” Ekaitza is also a Basque name and means “storm” in Estonian.
- Origin: Arabic
- Meaning: Torrential rain
- Pronunciation: Eh-KAYT-zah
- Popularity: Ekaitza is extremely rare worldwide, with just one known occurrence in 2014 in Brazil.
Enlil
Enlil symbolizes an ancient Mesopotamian god ruling over wind, air, earth, and storms. It’s made up of the Sumerian “en,” meaning “lord,” and “lil,” meaning “contentious winds.” This is why Enlil was known as “Lord Storm.”
- Origin: Mesopotamian
- Meaning: Storm god
- Pronunciation: EHN-Liyl
- Popularity: Enlil is extremely rare worldwide, with 64 known occurrences in 2014, mostly in Mexico.
Esen
Esen is one of the more mysterious names that mean rain, with only the Turkish meaning: “of the wind.” It’s also the name of three villages in Turkey, one in Belgium, and one in Bulgaria.
- Origin: Turkish
- Meaning: Wind
- Pronunciation: EH-Sehn
- Namesakes: Esen, a Mongolian de facto ruler of the Northern Yuan dynasty between 1453 and 1454.
- Popularity: Esen is rare worldwide, mainly used in Turkey, and ranked 296th in Cyprus in 2014.
Freyr
Frey also appears as Frey and Yngvi, representing the Norse god of fertility, rain, sunshine, and fertility. Freyr also means “exalted one” and is Freya for girls.
- Origin: Norse
- Meaning: Rain god
- Pronunciation: FREHR
- Variations: Frey, Frej, Freÿr
- Popularity: Freyr is very rare worldwide and primarily used in Iceland, ranking 495th in 2014.
Gale
Gale is full of unique origins: meaning “a song” in German and “a crow” in Danish. Gale began as an English surname based on the Middle English “gaile,” meaning “jovial.” It peaked for U.S. boys at 245th in 1957.
- Origin: Scandinavian
- Meaning: Violent storm
- Pronunciation: GEYL
- Variations: Gael, Gaile, Gayl
- Namesakes: Gale Sayers, an American football player for the Chicago Bears. Gale Harold, an American actor appearing on the series Deadwood.
- Popularity: Gale is rare worldwide and mostly used in the U.S., where it ranked 863rd in 2014.
Govad
Govad is rooted in the Parsi language of the Zoroastrian faith. It’s given to an angel who rules over the wind and is the name for the 22nd day of the month.
- Origin: Parsi
- Meaning: Wind
- Pronunciation: GOW-Vaad
- Popularity: Govad is extremely rare worldwide, with 75 known occurrences in 2014, mainly in India.
Guntur
Guntur specifically means “thunderstorm” in Indonesia, but also “bold warrior” and “battler” in German. Guntur is a more unusual spelling of the Nordic Gunnar, but Mount Guntur is an active volcano in western Java.
- Origin: Indonesian
- Meaning: Thunder
- Pronunciation: GUHN-towr
- Variations: Gunter
- Popularity: Guntur is rare worldwide and primarily used in Indonesia, ranking 902nd in 2014.
Hadad
Hadad means “thunder” in Hebrew and is one of the most imposing boy names that mean rain. It’s symbolized by the Akkadian god of rain and storms, also called Ba’al.
- Origin: Akkadian, Hebrew
- Meaning: God of storms
- Pronunciation: Haa-DAAD
- Variations: Haddad
- Popularity: Hadad is very rare worldwide and mostly used in Indonesia in 2014.
Hafa
Hafa can also refer to “moderate rain” or “gentle rain” in Arabic. It’s somewhat common in Bosnia but less popular in Arabic-speaking countries.
- Origin: Arabic
- Meaning: Mild rain
- Pronunciation: HAA-fah
- Popularity: Hafa is very rare worldwide and mainly used in Bosnia and Herzegovina, ranking 1,149th in 2014.
Hanish
Hanish dates back to the Epic of Gilgamesh to mean “one who forewarns of storms.” It also means “Lord Shiva,” “ambition,” and the “Hindu god of weather.” Shullat and Hanish were two ancient Mesopotamian gods associated with the weather and being warlike.
- Origin: Hindi
- Meaning: One who forewarns of storms
- Pronunciation: HAE-Nihsh
- Popularity: Hanish is very rare worldwide and primarily used in India.
Harendra
Harendra is made up of the Sanskrit “hari,” meaning “he who takes away,” and “Indra,” meaning “possesses a drop of rain.” It sometimes appears as Harinder and means “Lord Shiva” and “tree.”
- Origin: Hindi
- Meaning: Drops of rain
- Pronunciation: Heh-REHN-drah
- Variations: Harindra
- Namesakes: Harendra Kumar Sur, a Bengali representative of East Pakistan, to the Constituent Assembly of Pakistan. Harendra Singh, an Indian field hockey coach given the Dronacharya Award in 2012.
- Popularity: Harendra is uncommon worldwide and mostly used in India, where it ranked 639th in 2014.
Hurricane
Hurricane is a super-powerful storm from the Mayan/Taino “hurakán,” meaning “evil spirits of the wind.” Hurakan was a god who “blew his breath across the water and brought forth dry land” – otherwise known as a bringer of storms.
- Origin: Mayan
- Meaning: Evil spirit of the wind
- Pronunciation: HUHR-ih-Kaeyn
- Popularity: Hurricane is very rare worldwide and mainly used in Malawi.
Huyana
Huyana is a Native American Miwok-Sioux word that describes “falling rain.” The Miwok are located in the American Sierra Nevada, while Huayna Picchu is a mountain in Peru.
- Origin: Native American
- Meaning: Falling rain
- Pronunciation: Huw-YAA-nah
- Variations: Hyuna
- Popularity: Huyana is extremely rare worldwide, with only 12 known occurrences in 2014, primarily in the U.S.
Ilma
Ilma means “weather” and “starlight” in Finnish and comes from the Finnish word for “air.” In Finnish mythology, the Iman Impi were spirits of the air, while Ilma also means “peace” in Arabic.
- Origin: Finnish
- Meaning: Air
- Pronunciation: IHL-Mah
- Popularity: Ilma is rare worldwide and mostly used in Brazil, ranking 818th in 2014.
Indra
In Sanskrit, Indra is the god of the thunderstorm and is known as the king of heaven and the gods. He is linked to all things relating to the sky, lightning, and rain, which is why Indra means “possessing drops of rain.”
- Origin: Indian, Sanskrit
- Meaning: Possessing rain
- Pronunciation: IHN-Drah
- Variations: Indrah
- Namesakes: Indra Bahadur Rai, an Indian writer who won the first Sahitya Akademi Award for the Nepali language in 1977. Indra Putra Mahayuddin, a Malaysian footballer for Kelantan United.
- Popularity: Indra ranked 1,029th worldwide, is mainly used in India, and ranked 20th in Nepal in 2014.
Iravat
Iravat also means “filled with water” and “ocean.” In Hindu mythology, Iravati is the son of Arjuna, associated with the sacred Iravati river, now the Ravi River.
- Origin: Hindi
- Meaning: Rain clouds
- Pronunciation: IH-rah-Vaat
- Variations: Iravath
- Popularity: Iravat is extremely rare, with 24 known occurrences in 2014, in India.
Jora
Jora means both “autumn rain” and “early rain,” but is also a Swedish girl’s name meaning “queen.” In Hebrew, Jora means “he teaches,” made up of “yará,” meaning “to teach” and “to rain.” It’s one of those boy names that mean rain which is officially gender-neutral.
- Origin: Hebrew
- Meaning: Autumn rain
- Pronunciation: JOH-raa
- Namesakes: Jora Singh, an Indian track and field athlete who held the Indian National record from 2006 to 2011.
- Popularity: Jora is rare worldwide, primarily used in India, and ranked 482nd in Moldova in 2014.
Jupiter
Jupiter means “heaven,” “sky,” and “air.” In Roman mythology, Jupiter was the god of the sky, also called the ”sky father,” whose name is used for the planet Jupiter.
- Origin: Latin
- Meaning: God of the sky
- Pronunciation: JHUW-pih-Tahr
- Variations: Juppiter, Juppyter, Jupyter
- Namesakes: Flávio Basso (known as Júpiter Maçã), a Brazilian singer and founding member of the band TNT. Jupiter Hammon, an African-American writer and the first to have a poem published in 1761.
- Popularity: Jupiter is rare worldwide, mostly used in the Philippines, and ranked 1,207th in Uruguay in 2014.
Kapheira
In Greek mythology, Kapheira was an Oceanid and the daughter of Oceanus, a sea titan. It means “stormy breath,” made up of “eir” and “kaphos.” Kapheira has no popularity statistics, so it’s ready to be reawakened for the next storm to arrive.
- Origin: Greek
- Meaning: Stormy breath
- Pronunciation: Kahf-IY-rah
- Variations: Capheira, Kefira
Keanu
Keanu refers to a “cool breeze over the mountains” in Hawaiian and Polynesian. It’s composed of the Hawaiian “ke,” meaning “the” or “a” and “anu,” meaning “coolness.” Keanu is mostly known due to Keanu Reeves, but your Keanu can star in his own hit movie one day.
- Origin: Hawaiian
- Meaning: Cool breeze
- Pronunciation: Kiy-AH-nuw
- Variations: Keahnu, Keanou, Keanue, Kianou, Kianue
- Namesakes: Keanu Reeves, a Canadian actor best known for the John Wick film series. Keanu Neal, an American football player for the Pittsburgh Steelers.
- Popularity: Keanu is very rare worldwide, mainly used in the Philippines, and ranked 1,637th in Namibia in 2014.
Kisa
Kisa means “rain” in Bosnian but is more common in Russia, where it means “kitten.” It’s also the name of a tribe in Kenya, where it means “kindness.” Kisa is a place name in both Sweden and Japan.
- Origin: Bosnian, Russian
- Meaning: Rain
- Pronunciation: KIY-Saa
- Variations: Kissa
- Popularity: Kisa is rare worldwide, primarily used in Tanzania, and ranked 1,216th in Russia in 2014.
Levina
Levina is one of the most old-fashioned girl names that mean rain in the form of a “lightning bolt.” It’s also a female version of the Russian Levin and a Jewish name meaning lion.
- Origin: Latin, German
- Meaning: Lightning bolt
- Pronunciation: Leh-VIY-naa
- Namesakes: Levina Teerlinc, a Flemish Renaissance painter to the English court of Elizabeth I. Isabella Levina Lueen (known as Levina), a German singer-songwriter who competed at the 2017 Eurovision Song Contest.
- Popularity: Levina is rare worldwide and mostly used in Tanzania, where it ranked 442nd in 2014.
Lluvia
Lluvia derives from the Latin “pluvia.” It’s more typical in Mexico than in other Spanish-speaking countries, probably due to the famous female wrestler who took the name.
- Origin: Spanish
- Meaning: Rain
- Pronunciation: YUW-viy-Ah
- Namesakes: Lluvia, a Mexican wrestler for Consejo Mundial de Lucha Libre.
- Popularity: Lluvia is rare worldwide and mainly used in Mexico, ranking 1,003rd in 2014.
Lokni
Lokni comes from the Native American Miwok tribe and refers to “rain falling through the roof.” Its meaning only slightly changes sometimes to “rain dripping from the roof hole.”
- Origin: Native American
- Meaning: Rain coming through a hole in the roof
- Pronunciation: LOWK-Niy
- Variations: Loknee, Lokney, Loknie, Lokny
- Popularity: Lokni is very rare worldwide and primarily used in India.
Marka
Marka may refer to “a people in Western Africa” based in Mali. It’s also used for girls in Slavic cultures as a feminine form of Mark, meaning “warlike.”
- Origin: African, Latin
- Meaning: Steady rain
- Pronunciation: MAARK-ah
- Variations: Marca
- Namesakes: Marka Gjoni, a Northern Albanian chieftain named the Kaymakam of Mirdita by the Ottoman Empire. Serge Van Laeken (known as Marka), a Belgian singer, made a Knight of the Order of Leopold II in 2005.
- Popularity: Marka is rare worldwide, mostly used in Nigeria, and ranked 1,218th in 2014.
Matuu
In Polynesian mythology, Matuu or Matu is the god of the north wind and the second wind to be controlled by Maui. It’s also the name of a town in Kenya and isn’t as common in other countries.
- Origin: Polynesian
- Meaning: God of wind
- Pronunciation: Mah-TUW
- Popularity: Matuu is very rare worldwide and mainly used in Kenya.
Maushmi
Mushmi also means “beauty” in Hindi and a “monsoon.” It’s one of many obscure Indian girl names that mean rain which is still sometimes in use.
- Origin: Hindi
- Meaning: Monsoon wind
- Pronunciation: MAWSH-miy
- Variations: Moushmi
- Popularity: Maushmi is very rare worldwide and primarily used in India.
Mehul
Mehul comes from the Sanskrit “meh,” meaning “rain.” It also means “cloud” to round out the imagery that pops up anytime a storm arrives.
- Origin: Sanskrit
- Meaning: Rain, cloud
- Pronunciation: Meh-HHHUWL
- Variations: Mehule
- Namesakes: Mehul Kumar, an Indian filmmaker known for Tirangaa (1992). Mehul Shah, an American actor appearing in the series Homeland.
- Popularity: Mehul is rare worldwide, mostly used in India, and ranked 1,414th in the United Arab Emirates in 2014.
Mellan
Although Mellan means “lightning” in Gaelic, it also appeared as the Old Irish surname Mellán. It uses the Gaelic root “mell,” meaning “pleasant” or “delightful.”
- Origin: Gaelic, Irish
- Meaning: Lightning
- Pronunciation: MEHL-ahn
- Variations: Mellen
- Popularity: Mellan is very rare worldwide and mainly used in Kenya.
Mistral
Mistral is one of the more specific rain names with French origins. It refers to the “cold, northwesterly wind” that travels from the South of France to the northern Mediterranean. Mistral derives from the French-Languedoc “d’oc,” meaning “masterful.”
- Origin: French
- Meaning: Masterly wind
- Pronunciation: MIHS-Trahl
- Popularity: Mistral is very rare and primarily used in the U.S.
Munja
Munja is hardly heard anywhere in Croatia or elsewhere. It means “lightning bolt” and “thunder,” which often indicates a rainbow isn’t far behind!
- Origin: Croatian
- Meaning: Lightning bolt
- Pronunciation: MOON-yah
- Popularity: Munja is very rare worldwide and mostly used in India.
Neeraj
Neeraj is based on the Sanskrit “nīraja,” made up of “nīra,” meaning “water,” and “-ja,” meaning “born.” It also means “to illuminate” and “to irradiate.” Neeraj may also mean “free from dust,” which is true when a rainstorm occurs.
- Origin: Sanskrit
- Meaning: Lotus flower
- Pronunciation: NIH-er-AAZH
- Variations: Nearaj, Neiraj, Nieraj, Niraj
- Namesakes: Neeraj Chopra, an Indian track and field athlete, and gold medalist at the 2018 Commonwealth Games. Neeraj Pandey, an Indian film director known for Baby (2015).
- Popularity: Neeraj is rare worldwide, mainly used in India, and ranked 550th in the United Arab Emirates in 2014.
Nefele
Nefele derives from the Greek “naútēs,” meaning “sailor.” In Greek mythology, Nephele is the cloud nymph created by Zeus in the image of Hera. It may not be well-known among girl names that mean rain, but it’s ideal for a cool middle name.
- Origin: Greek
- Meaning: Goddess of clouds
- Pronunciation: Neh-FEHL-ey
- Variations: Nephele
- Popularity: Nefele is extremely rare worldwide, with only five known occurrences in 2014, highest ranked in Moldova, where it’s still rare.
Neha
In addition to a “rain downpour,” Neha means “love” and “affection.” It sometimes means “beautiful eyes,” but also stands for “comfort” and “solace” in Hebrew.
- Origin: Hindi
- Meaning: Downpour of rain
- Pronunciation: NEY-HHaa
- Variations: Nehah
- Namesakes: Neha Kapur, an Indian model who won Femina Miss India in 2006. Neha Ahuja, an Indian alpine skier who competed at the 2006 Winter Olympics.
- Popularity: Neha ranked 1,959th worldwide and is primarily used in India, where it ranked 248th in 2014.
Neifion
Neifion also means “god of the seas” in Welsh. It dates back to the Latin Neptūnus, based on Neptune, the Roman god of water and the sea. His hard work eventually turns into rainfall.
- Origin: Welsh
- Meaning: Moist wet clouds
- Pronunciation: NIH-fiy-Ahn
- Popularity: Neifion is extremely rare worldwide, with just two known occurrences in 2014, in England.
Noelani
Noelani means “heavenly dew” and “heavenly rain.” It’s made up of the Hawaiian “now,” meaning “mist,” and “lani,” meaning “heavenly,” for the most divine of rainstorms.
- Origin: Hawaiian
- Meaning: Mist of heaven
- Pronunciation: Noweh-LAA-niy
- Variations: Noelanee, Noelaney, Noelanie, Noelany
- Namesakes: Noelani Goodyear-Kaʻōpua, a Kanaka Maoli scholar focused on Native Hawaiian social movements. Noelani Pantastico, an American ballet dancer at the Pacific Northwest Ballet.
- Popularity: Noelani is very rare worldwide, mostly used in the U.S., and ranked 712th in Samoa in 2014.
Pekham
Pekham sometimes simply refers to a “peacock’s feathers.” As an English surname spelled Peckham, it refers to the “village of the Peck River.”
- Origin: Hindi
- Meaning: Peacock feathers while it dances during rain
- Pronunciation: PEK-haam
- Popularity: Pekham is very rare worldwide and mainly used in India.
Perun
In Slavic mythology, Perun is the god of the sky. He reigns over thunder, lightning, storms, and rain, while his sacred tree is the oak. Perun is also a Marvel Comics character based on this Slavic deity.
- Origin: Slavic
- Meaning: Thunder
- Pronunciation: PEH-ruhn
- Popularity: Perun is very rare worldwide and primarily used in India.
Phirun
Phirun means “rain” in Khmer, the official language of Cambodia. It’s one of many rain names used for deities who rule over the rainy sky during the day and night.
- Origin: Khmer
- Meaning: Rain
- Pronunciation: FIY-Rahm
- Popularity: Phirun is rare worldwide and mainly used in Cambodia, ranking 605th in 2014.
Pravarsha
Pravarsha is one of many Hindi words meaning “rain” that also means “queen.” It’s sometimes meant for a particularly “heavy downpour” that your little queen will bring on.
- Origin: Hindi
- Meaning: Rain
- Pronunciation: Prah-VAAR-sha
- Popularity: Pravarsha is extremely rare worldwide, with only nine known occurrences in 2014, primarily in India.
Puleng
Puleng means “in the rain” in the Sotho language found in Botswana, Lesotho, and northern South Africa. It also refers to “dirt or debris” when it gets stuck in the eye.
- Origin: South African
- Meaning: Out in the rain
- Pronunciation: Puw-LAHNG
- Namesakes: Puleng Lange-Stewart, a South African writer whose film Until the Silence Comes, was selected for the 2017 Cape Town International Film Festival.
- Popularity: Puleng is rare worldwide, mostly used in South Africa, and ranked 34th in Lesotho in 2014.
Rai
In addition to “lightning” and “thunder,” Rai means “trust.” It’s inspired by Raiden, the god of thunder and lightning in Japanese mythology. Rai is also a title for a king used by Hindu rulers and is a Spanish nickname for Raimundo.
- Origin: Japanese
- Meaning: Lightning and thunder
- Pronunciation: RAEY
- Namesakes: Rai Purdy, a Canadian TV director and member of the Canadian Association of Broadcasters Hall of Fame. Rai Vloet, a Dutch footballer for Ural Yekaterinburg.
- Popularity: Rai is rare worldwide, mainly used in India, and ranked 1,535th in Brazil in 2014.
Rainbow
Rainbow is based on the Old English “renboga,” composed of “regn,” meaning “rain,” and “boga,” meaning “anything bent or arched.” It’s also associated with the German Raginbald, meaning “brave counsel.”
- Origin: English, German
- Meaning: Arched rain
- Pronunciation: REYN-Bow
- Variations: Rainbowe, Raynbow, Reinbow, Reinbowe
- Namesakes: Rainbow Rowell, an American YA author known for Carry On (2015). Rainbow Sun Francks, a Canadian actor appearing in the series Stargate Atlantis.
- Popularity: Rainbow is very rare worldwide and primarily used in China.
Rain
Rain was originally a surname for a location in Bavaria. When spelled Rayne, it becomes the Latin form of Regina, meaning “queen.” It derives from the Old English “regn” and is an Estonian boy’s name meaning “counsel.”
- Origin: English, Latin
- Meaning: Abundant blessings from above
- Pronunciation: RAYN
- Variations: Raine, Rein, Rainn, Rayne
- Namesakes: Rain Pryor, an American actress, and daughter of Richard Pryor known for the sitcom Head of the Class. Rain Graves, an American horror author and the 2002 Bram Stoker Award winner for Best Poetry Collection for The Gossamer Eye.
- Popularity: Rain is rare worldwide, mostly used in Afghanistan, and ranked 1,381st for girls in the U.S. in 2018.
Ramiel
Ramiel dates back to the biblical Book of Enoch, where Ramiel was an archangel. As the Hebrew surname Ra’amel, it means “God has thundered.”
- Origin: Hebrew
- Meaning: Thunder of God
- Pronunciation: RAE-miy-Ehl
- Variations: Ramial
- Popularity: Ramial is very rare and mainly used in the Philippines.
Ramman
Ramman is among the most ancient boy names that mean rain, which also means “merriment” in Hindi. It’s the Akkadian name for the Babylonian god of storm and thunder. When spelled Raman, it’s a Belarusian variant of Roman.
- Origin: Indian, Hindi
- Meaning: God of storm
- Pronunciation: RAH-Mahn
- Variations: Raman
- Popularity: Ramman is very rare worldwide and primarily used in India.
Reeham
Reeham sometimes refers to a person who is “like a light rain” or a woman who is like one. If Reeham doesn’t sound poetic enough, it also means “dew on flowers in the morning.”
- Origin: Arabic
- Meaning: Light rain
- Pronunciation: RIY-Haam
- Variations: Reham
- Namesakes: Reeham Sedky, an American squash player ranked 58th worldwide as of 2019.
- Popularity: Reeham is very rare worldwide and mostly used in Egypt.
Regen
Regen means “rain” in Hebrew and “advice” or “counsel” in German. It’s the name of both a town and a river in Germany.
- Origin: Hebrew, German
- Meaning: Rain
- Pronunciation: REH-Gahn
- Variations: Reagan
- Popularity: Regen is very rare worldwide and mainly used in the Philippines.
Reva
Reva means “rain” but also “one who moves” and “full of life.” It refers to a “star” in Latin and is associated with the Narmada River in India, now called the Reva River. Reva peaked at 252nd for U.S. girls in 1921.
- Origin: Indian, Sanskrit
- Meaning: Rain
- Pronunciation: RIY-Vaa
- Variations: Reeva, Revah, Revya
- Namesakes: Reva Unterman, an English-Israeli columnist for The Jewish Advocate. Reva Rose, an American actress known for the 1967 production of You’re a Good Man, Charlie Brown.
- Popularity: Reva is rare worldwide and primarily used in India.
Saar
Saar means “storm” and “tempest” in Hebrew, also known as the surname Sa’ar. It’s also a Dutch girl’s name meaning “princess,” when used as a nickname for Sarah. Saar is predominantly used for boys in Israel.
- Origin: Hebrew, German
- Meaning: Rain, dew
- Pronunciation: SAAHR
- Namesakes: Saar Ganor, an Israeli archaeologist who co-directed excavations at Khirbet Qeiyafa. Saar Klein, an Israeli-American film editor for The Thin Red Line.
- Popularity: Saar is rare worldwide and mostly used in Israel, where it ranked 689th in 2014.
Sade
Sade means “rain” in Finnish, as well as “ray of light.” It means “honor earns a crown” in Nigerian and “spark” in Estonian. Sade also means “plain” and “simple” in Arabic.
- Origin: Nigerian, Finnish
- Meaning: Rain
- Pronunciation: Shah-DAY
- Variations: Sharde
- Namesakes: Helen Adu (known as Sade), a Nigerian-British singer given the Officer of the Order of the British Empire in 2002. Sade Baderinwa, an American broadcast journalist, and news anchor at WABC-TV since 2003.
- Popularity: Sade is rare worldwide and mainly used in Nigeria, ranking 859th in 2014.
Salil
Salil may refer to raindrops in Hindi, but it’s more masculine in Arabic, where it means “descendent” and “son.” Salil also refers to a “sword,” but it isn’t a typical name found in Islamic culture.
- Origin: Hindi, Arabic
- Meaning: Rain, water
- Pronunciation: Sae-LIHL
- Variations: Saleal, Saleel, Saleil, Saliel, Salyl
- Namesakes: Salil Oberoi, an Indian cricketer for Oxford UCCE. Salil Chowdhury, an Indian music composer for more than 75 Hindi films.
- Popularity: Salil is rare worldwide, primarily used in India, and ranked 1,461st in the United Arab Emirates in 2014.
Shaoni
Shaoni not only refers to a “monsoon,” but it seems to be one of the ideal picks among names meaning rain. It also means “born in a monsoon” if you’re ready for a challenge.
- Origin: Indian
- Meaning: Monsoon
- Pronunciation: Shaey-OH-niy
- Popularity: Shaoni is rare worldwide and mostly used in China.
Souta
There is little information to share about the Japanese Souta other than the “sudden sound of the wind” that accompanies rain. It can simply mean “suddenly” and “smoothly” all on its own.
- Origin: Japanese
- Meaning: Sudden sound of wind
- Pronunciation: SOW-Taa
- Variations: Sota
- Namesakes: Souta Sugiyama, a Japanese footballer for Albirex Niigata Singapore FC.
- Popularity: Souta is very rare worldwide and mainly used in India.
Storm
Storm is the best term for a lot of rain all at once. It derives from the Old Norse “stormr,” meaning “gale,” and is the ultimate name for a baby ready for fun.
- Origin: English, Scandinavian
- Meaning: Tempest
- Pronunciation: STAORM
- Variations: Stormm
- Namesakes: Storm Huntley, a Scottish TV presenter for BBC Scotland. Storm Hunter, an Australian tennis player who competed at the 2020 Summer Olympics.
- Popularity: Storm is rare and primarily used in the U.S., ranking 1,868th in 2014.
Stormi
Stormi is based on the Old English “storming” to describe the unique weather event involving rain. It’s slowly catching on as the name of Kylie Jenner’s baby girl.
- Origin: English, Scandinavian
- Meaning: Storm, tempest
- Pronunciation: STAOR-miy
- Variations: Stormee, Stormey, Stormie
- Namesakes: Stormi Henley, an American beauty pageant contestant, crowned Miss Teen USA 2009. Stormi Maya, an American actress known for the series She’s Gotta Have It.
- Popularity: Stormi is very rare and mostly used in the U.S.
Stormur
Stormur comes from the Old Norse “stormr,” meaning “storm” from “(s)tur,” meaning “to rotate,” “swirl,” and “move around.” It’s related to Stymer, which is Icelandic for “storm,” a song by the rock band Sigur Rós.
- Origin: English, Scandinavian
- Meaning: Stormy
- Pronunciation: STOHR-mur
- Variations: Storm
- Popularity: Stormur is extremely rare worldwide, with just one known occurrence in 2014, in Sweden.
Styrmir
Styrmir derives from the Old Norse “styma,” meaning “one who causes storms.” The root means “’to blow hard” and was a celebrated Viking term for “a storm.”
- Origin: Nordic, German
- Meaning: One who causes storms
- Pronunciation: STIHR-mir
- Namesakes: Styrmir Snaer Thrastarson, an Icelandic basketball player for the Icelandic national team.
- Popularity: Styrmir is very rare worldwide and mainly used in Iceland, ranking 524th in 2014.
Tal
Tal is an adorable nickname often used for Tallie or Talia in Hebrew. It’s also used for boys and means “rain” or when referring to the “dew” left on leaves.
- Origin: Hebrew
- Meaning: Rain
- Pronunciation: TAAL
- Variations: Tali
- Namesakes: Tal Karpelesz, an Israeli-Romanian basketball player for Hapoel Kfar Kasem. Talmage “Tal” Bachman, a Canadian singer-songwriter known for the 1999 single She’s So High.
- Popularity: Tal is uncommon worldwide and primarily used in Syria, where it ranked 8th in 2014.
Talia
Talia means “gentle dew from heaven” and “by the water” in Hebrew. It’s made up of “tal,” meaning “dew,” and “yah,” for “God.”
- Origin: Hebrew
- Meaning: Dew of God
- Pronunciation: TAAL-yah
- Variations: Thalia
- Namesakes: Talia Shire, an American actress known for The Godfather films. Talia Chiarelli, a Canadian artistic gymnast and silver medalist at the Canadian Championships.
- Popularity: Talia is rare worldwide, mostly used in Algeria, and ranked 333rd for girls in the U.S. in 2018.
Tempest
As a surname, Tempest was a nickname for someone with a wild temper. It’s associated with the Middle English “tempest(e),” meaning “storm,” and originated from the Latin “tempestas,” for “weather season.”
- Origin: English, Latin
- Meaning: Turbulent, stormy
- Pronunciation: TEHM-Pehst
- Variations: Tempeste, Tempestt
- Namesakes: Tempest Anderson, an English photographer known for the book Volcanic Studies in Many Lands. Tempest Storm (born Annie Banks), an American burlesque star called “The Queen Of Exotic Dancers.”
- Popularity: Tempest is very rare worldwide and mainly used in the U.S.
Thor
Thor is most famous as the Norse god of thunder and rain. It’s less commonly a short form of the given name Hawthorn. It’s now known best as a member of The Avengers due to Marvel Comics.
- Origin: Scandinavian, Norse
- Meaning: Thunder
- Pronunciation: THAOER
- Variations: Tor
- Namesakes: Thor Lund, a Norwegian member of the Norwegian Parliament in 1969. Thor Hushovd, a Norwegian bicycle racer and a three-time Norwegian national road race champion.
- Popularity: Thor is rare worldwide and primarily used in Norway, where it ranked 119th in 2014.
Tlaloc
Tlaloc is among the many names that mean rain which centers around ancient gods. It refers to the Aztec god of rain, whose name also means “the path beneath the earth.” Tlaloc also ruled over fertility and water, which likely inspired Mount Tlaloc, a mountain in central Mexico.
Tornado
The Spanish word Tornado has been around since the 16th century to represent the ultimate thunderstorm. It derives from the Spanish “tronada,” relating to “tornar,” meaning “to turn.”
- Origin: Spanish
- Meaning: Whirlwind
- Pronunciation: Tor-NAY-dow
- Popularity: Tornado is very rare worldwide and mainly used in Indonesia.
Tufani
Tufani means “storm” in Hindi and specifically means “a very strong blowing” in Bengali. It’s also a Swahilli title traditionally given to boys when born. Tufani is also the name of two villages in Romania.
- Origin: Hindi
- Meaning: Storm
- Pronunciation: Tuw-FAA-niy
- Namesakes: Tufani Saroj, an Indian member of the 18th Uttar Pradesh Assembly since 2022.
- Popularity: Tufani is rare worldwide and primarily used in India.
Van
Van has Chinese and Burmese origins, which mean “heaven” or “sky.” Rian isn’t far behind in the blue sky since it also means “cloud.” Van is also a British surname based on Vance, meaning “marshland,” and is used for many Dutch last names.
- Origin: Chinese, English
- Meaning: Sky, heaven
- Pronunciation: VAEN
- Variations: Vann
- Namesakes: Van Green, an American football player for the Cleveland Browns. Van Johnson, an American actor appearing in A Guy Named Joe.
- Popularity: Van ranked 773rd worldwide and is mostly used in Vietnam, ranking 25th in 2014.
Varsha
Varsha derives from Sanskrit and means both “rain” and “sweet girl.” Varsha is also the Hindu name for the annual imposing monsoon season.
- Origin: Hindi, Sanskrit
- Meaning: Rain
- Pronunciation: VAAR-shah
- Variations: Varshah
- Namesakes: Varsha Bhosle, an Indian journalist for The Sunday Observer from 1994 to 1998. Varsha Soni, an Indian hockey player for the Indian women’s hockey team at the 1980 Summer Olympics.
- Popularity: Varsha is uncommon worldwide, mainly used in India, and ranked 222nd in Suriname in 2014.
Vrishti
Vrishti is one of the rarest names meaning rain that’s almost extinct outside India. It has Gujarati origins and sounds adorable for any little girl who loves to play in the raindrops.
- Origin: Indian, Hindi
- Meaning: Rain
- Pronunciation: VRISH-tiy
- Popularity: Vrishti is very rare worldwide and primarily used in India.
Wyndham
Wyndham is more recognizable as an English surname for a “dweller in the windy village.” It also means “Wyman’s Hamlet” and “Hamlet near the winding way.” Either way, you can’t have a rainstorm without a good brisk wind.
- Origin: English
- Meaning: Windy village
- Pronunciation: WIHND-Aem
- Variations: Wyndham, Windham
- Namesakes: Wyndham Robertson, the governor of Virginia from 1836 to 1837. Wyndham Wise, a Canadian publisher who founded the magazine Take One: Film & Television in Canada (1992 to 2006).
- Popularity: Wyndham is very rare worldwide and mostly used in Wales, where it ranked 640th in 2014.
Yağmur
Yağmur is a traditional Turkish girl’s name that also means “rain” in Azerbaijan. It comes from the Turkish “yag,” meaning “to rain,” which was a top 10 name in Turkey from 2005 to 2013.
- Origin: Turkish
- Meaning: Rain
- Pronunciation: YAA-Muhr
- Namesakes: Yağmur Bembeyaz, a Turkish handballer for Konyaaltı BSK. Yağmur Uraz, a Turkish footballer for the Turkish women’s national team.
- Popularity: Yağmur is very rare worldwide, mainly used in Azerbaijan, and ranked 778th in Turkmenistan in 2014.
Yok
Yok is a Native American Hopi word meaning “rain.” The Hopi tribe often used rain dances in their ceremonies, called “rainmaking.” Yok also means “jade” in Thailand.
- Origin: Native American
- Meaning: Rain
- Pronunciation: YOWK
- Namesakes: Yok Mu-ming, the Taiwanese chairperson of the New Party from 2003 to 2020.
- Popularity: Yok is rare worldwide and primarily used in Malaysia, ranking 195th in 2014.
Zenebe
Zenebe is an obscure African word for “raining.” It’s found in the Ethiopian Amharic language, which is why it’s still somewhat popular in Ethiopia today.
- Origin: African
- Meaning: Raining
- Pronunciation: ZEH-neh-bey
- Popularity: Zenebe is rare worldwide and primarily used in Ethiopia, where it ranked 89th in 2014.
Zephyr
Zephyr is based on the Greek Zephyros, meaning “west wind.” In Greek mythology, Zephyrus was the personification of the west wind, controlling how it blew.
- Origin: Greek
- Meaning: West wind
- Pronunciation: ZEHF-ihr
- Variations: Zephyrus
- Namesakes: Zephyr Wright, an African-American personal chef for President Lyndon Johnson. Zephyr Teachout, an American attorney, who ran for governor of New York in 2014.
- Popularity: Zephyr is very rare worldwide and mainly used in Israel, ranking 1,900th in 2014.
Zryan
While Zryan is based in Arabic, it’s mostly a Kurdish boy’s name meaning “storm-like intensity.” It often appears as the somewhat differently spelled Zaryan, which is still as stormy as it gets.
- Origin: Arabic
- Meaning: Storm
- Pronunciation: ZOH-riy-An
- Popularity: Zryan is very rare worldwide and primarily used in Pakistan.
