Baby Name of the Day: Halo

The baby name Halo mixes a stylish sound with a spiritual meaning.

Thanks to Hannah for suggesting our Baby Name of the Day.

WHAT DOES THE NAME HALO MEAN?

The Greek word halos refers to a disk or ring of light around the sun or the moon. It’s a little more complicated than that, but it starts out as a shape name and evolved to a religious term later.

We’ve depicted saints and angels wearing halos for ages. But it was until the 17th century, give or take, that the sacred sense of halo evolved.

IS HALO A RELIGIOUS NAME?

Which brings us to the baby name Halo’s religious connection.

Also called a glory or gloria, a nimbus, or something else, the golden disk of light have signals a divine presence in artwork is undeniably spiritual. It’s the kind of religious symbolism everyone recognizes, regardless of worldview. 

In fact, halo rings aren’t exclusively Christian. Plenty of faith traditions encircle their sacred figures with divine light. Flames can signal holiness, especially in Asian art.

But in the Western world, we tend of think of a halo as a golden, silver, or white disk hovering above the religious figure’s head. 

OUTER SPACE

The concept of a halo also exists in astronomy. For example, cosmic imagery has captured this stellar halo around the Milky Way galaxy.

Whether Renaissance art or 21st century deep space exploration, there’s a common sense of awe shared by the word halo.

SUPERHERO

But how did the baby name Halo leap from art and the night sky to given name status?

One reason: Gabrielle Doe was introduced in DC Comics in 1983. Her superhero name? Halo. 

Doe’s power is complicated. She can possess others, and, in fact, her human body is inhabited by an alien power. So far, the character has only made limited appearances. But when it comes to superheroes? Anything is possible.

In 2023, animated series Young Justice introduced a refreshed version of the character Halo. 

VIDEO GAME

Beginning in 2001, the video game series Halo became a major cultural force. 

While it’s easy to give credit to the game for the name’s rise, it’s worth noting that the main characters aren’t named Halo.

In fact, many of the characters answer to titles – Master Chief – or nicknames, like Dutch or the Rookie.

Still, the word became detached from all those saints and familiar to an entire generation.

HOW POPULAR IS THE NAME HALO?

The baby name Halo debuted in US data in the year 2000, with seven births. By 2019, it entered the US Top 1000 as a baby girl name. As of 2024, the name ranks #512 for girls.

It first appears in the boy’s data in the year 2008. It reached a rank of #994 for boys in 2024.

Beyond the pop culture influence, it’s a beautiful name that fits with the trend for O-ending choices, like Willow and Leo.

High profile parents have chosen the name, including:

• Nick Cannon and Alyssa Scott welcomed daughter Halo Marie in 2022
• Halle Bailey and rapper DDG named their son Halo in 2023

In terms of sound, it’s a confident name. It suggests protection by the divine, as well as sharing in a little bit of that glow yourself. As a result, Halo is an increasingly popular choice.

“HALO” IN MUSIC & LYRICS

In 2008, Beyoncé released a single titled “Halo.”

It wasn’t her biggest hit, but it was a success. And all these years later, you might think of it and hear a chorus of “Halo, halo, halo” echo in your head.

Reviewing the lyrics, the singer is describing the warm, enveloping glow of love. Romantic love, maybe – but not exclusively.

It’s a compelling image, and some parents might choose the baby name Halo because of the song. In fact, the biggest bump in the name’s usage? The name more than doubled in use for girls from 2008 to 2009.

SPACE-AGE VIRTUE NAME

Call Halo a space-age virtue name. It’s grounded in a broad sense of spiritual identity. But it also belongs with night sky favorites, from Aurora to Orion. 

There’s a boldness to the baby name Halo, and maybe a sense of resilience, too. It follows names like Bodhi and Chosen into wider use.

For parents seeking something meaningful and modern, the baby name Halo could be the perfect choice.

What do you think of the baby name Halo?