Sunbeam
A sunbeam, in meteorological optics, is a beam of sunlight that appears to radiate from the position of the Sun. Shining through openings in clouds or between other objects such as mountains and buildings, these beams of particle-scattered sunlight are essentially parallel shafts separated by darker shadowed volumes.
Meaning & Origin of Sunbeam
What this name means, where it came from, and how it has traveled across cultures.
A sunbeam, in meteorological optics, is a beam of sunlight that appears to radiate from the position of the Sun. Shining through openings in clouds or between other objects such as mountains and buildings, these beams of particle-scattered sunlight are essentially parallel shafts separated by darker shadowed volumes.
Source: Wikipedia (CC BY-SA 3.0). Read more →
The Story of Sunbeam
Sunbeam first appeared in U.S. Social Security Administration records as a baby girl name in 1919, with 6 babies given the name that year. Its peak popularity came in 1919, when 6 Sunbeams were born — ranking #4,251 that year. As of 2026, Sunbeam ranks #4,251 for baby girls with 6 births, with steady use. In total, more than 6 Sunbeams have been born in the U.S. since records began in 1880, spanning the 1910s through the 2020s.
Popularity Over Time
Popularity by State
Names that sound like Sunbeam
Phonetically similar names — useful when Sunbeam is the vibe but a different syllable count or letter feel might suit better. Linked entries have a profile on Peek a Name.
Source: Datamuse . Phonetic similarity ranking, not curated.
Frequently Asked Questions about Sunbeam
What does the name Sunbeam mean?
How popular is Sunbeam in 2026?
When was Sunbeam most popular?
Is Sunbeam a unisex name?
What names go well with Sunbeam?
About the name Sunbeam
Sunbeam is a girl baby name tracked by the U.S. Social Security Administration. It first appeared in SSA records in 1919 and has accumulated 6 births in the dataset. Sunbeam's peak popularity came in 1919 when it ranked #4,251. Use the chart and map above to compare Sunbeam's trajectory across years and U.S. states, or browse the related names section to discover similar choices.
Continue exploring
- Top names of 1919 →
- Names of the 1910s →
- Names starting with "S" →
- Browse all girl names →
- Top names of 2026 →
Data sources
- Birth statistics (counts, ranks, years 1880–2026) — U.S. Social Security Administration . Predictions for years not yet released by SSA are computed by Peek a Name from historical trends; we update with official data as soon as it ships.
- Etymology, cultural origins, and related forms — Behind the Name (used under their public API terms).
- Meaning prose and editorial summary — Wikipedia article extracts, licensed under CC BY-SA 3.0 .
- Predicted nationality distribution — Nationalize.io .
- Phonetically similar names — Datamuse .
Peek a Name aggregates and presents the above data for informational purposes. Statistical predictions and external attributions are clearly labelled where shown; we make no guarantee of accuracy beyond what each source provides.