What does Solange mean? Tina Knowles reveals that her younger daughter was conceived on the Nile River in Egypt

Tina Knowles, renowned businesswoman, fashion designer, and mother to Beyoncé and Solange Knowles, recently revealed a fascinating nugget about her younger daughter.

On May 23, 2024, in an episode of Vogue's The Run-Through podcast, the mother of two revealed that her younger daughter was conceived on the Nile River in Egypt.

Knowles suggested that she initially believed she was expecting a baby boy and had already chosen the name "Niles" for him. However, upon the baby's birth, Solange, discovered that the child was a girl.

"But actually, Solange was conceived on the Nile in Egypt. I thought I was having a boy and wanted to name him Niles. But little did I know, here came this girl, and so yeah, that's where I got her name," Knowles said.

As per Only My Health, Solange means "sunshine." The revelation ensued during a conversation between the host and the mother, during which they deliberated on the distinctive names of her daughters.

Solange Knowles, born on June 24, 1986, is a Grammy Award-winning R&B singer-songwriter and the younger sister of Beyoncé. Her 2016 album, A Seat at the Table, led to her first Grammy win, and it reached the top of the Billboard chart.

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Uncovering the meaning behind Solange

Solange is a French name. It is believed to have roots in the Latin term "sol," which shares the meaning of "sun."

It is commonly believed that individuals bearing the name "Solange" exhibit high intelligence levels and a refined sense of humor. Furthermore, individuals with this name are often remarked to exude cheerfulness, optimism, and amiability.

This name is primarily utilized within the Christian faith and is predominantly associated with females.

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Tina Knowles opens up about Solange's conception of the Nile River.

Knowles revealed the inspiration behind her daughter's unique names (Image via Getty)

Tina Knowles shared the intimate detail while reflecting on the profound influence of Egyptian culture and history on her family. In a podcast with Vogue last week, the 70-year-old businesswoman revealed that Mad singer was conceived on the Nile River and shared her inspiration for her younger daughter's name.

Knowles revealed that she had bought a baby name book in Paris for her girlfriend, who had a baby then. Later, when she had to deliver her second child, she pulled that old book out. She shared:

"I went to Paris when I was about 32, well, when I got pregnant with her. I bought a baby name book in Paris for my girlfriend, and she was going to have a baby, and then the next year, I wound up having a baby, so I pulled that old book out."

In an interview with The Standard in 2017, the Sound of Rain artist also reflected on her conception and influence of Egypt and felt a connection to the constellation Orion, which aligns with Giza. Solange shared:

"I had some revelations, in terms of my parents finding out they conceived me in Egypt after visiting the Giza pyramids, and connecting to that and the constellation of Orion that aligns with Giza."

Later, in 2017, Solange named her tour Orion's Rise. Additionally, the Don't Touch My Hair artist collaborated with Kendrick Lamar to create a song titled Nile for the 2019 soundtrack of Beyoncé's album The Lion King: The Gift.

Moreover, in the Vogue podcast, Tina Knowles also shed light on the inspiration behind her elder daughter's unique name, Beyoncé. The mother revealed that the name is derived from her maiden name, which evolved from Boyoncé and Beyincé. Knowles revealed that she thought it was essential to keep the name because there were very few boys in the family.

Knowles' daughters are from her first husband, Mathew Knowles, whom she married in 1980 and parted ways in 2011. He is an American record executive, businessman, and university lecturer best known for managing Destiny's Child.

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Solange's last album, When I Get Home, was released in March 2019. She collaborated with heavyweights for the album, including Gucci Mane, Playboi Carti, Metro Boomin, and Tyler, the Creator. As per Billboard, the album debuted at No. 3 on the Billboard 200, sold 43,000 album units in the first week, and was ranked No. 27 on the Best 50 Albums of 2019 list of Billboard.