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What is the etymology of the name Aharon? The only serious site I've found that proposes an etymology is this, but I'm hoping for a more classical source, i.e. Chazal or Rishonim.

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Translation: Aaron – Double AA Mar 30 '12 at 2:14
@Double AA - Pure genius :| – Yaakov Kuperman Mar 30 '12 at 2:15
i'll refrain from saying that it means "beloved" know, as in "aharon? aharon chaviv" – Danno Mar 30 '12 at 2:42

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up vote 6 down vote accepted

The source given there, Otzar Midrashim, is an anthology of midrashic works from different periods. In this case, the information comes from a work entitled Divrei ha-Yamim le-Moshe Rabbeinu, which is of unknown date and authorship, but at any rate predates the Aruch (11th century - beginning of the era of the Rishonim), which quotes this etymology (under s.v. אהרן). [Among other Rishonim, Ibn Ezra (to Ex. 2:22 and 4:20) mentions it but dismisses it as a reliable source; Rashbam to Ex. 4:9 refers to it obliquely (as "ספרים החיצוניים") and likewise rejects the story told there about Moshe's speech defect, though to Num. 12:1 (thanks to jake for this reference) he accepts the story from there about Moshe's rule in Cush; and Yalkut Shimoni uses material from it without reservation.]

Kabbalistically, Seder Hadoros quotes a couple of sources who associate the name אהרן with הרן (Avraham's brother), and say that Haran's soul was reincarnated in Aharon.

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