A new baby represents so much promise of good to come, it’s no wonder there are many names for boys and girls that mean “hope.” Giving your baby a name that reflects this positive future, whether the name means hope, rebirth, new, or dawn, is like putting that wish into their very being.

We could all use a bit of hope and rebirth these days, couldn’t we? For a baby born during or after difficult times, in the spring after a long winter, or after trying hard to conceive, these names represent the wish already come true. Babies are fresh, innocent, and unmarked by all that came before them, and their names can reflect that, too. Their birth is also the dawn of a new generation, one that has a chance to make the world a little better for themselves and all who come after them.