A cold-cathode fluorescent lamp having high brightness with long life and an electrode for this lamp are offered. At least one part of the electrode surface is formed by using one material selected from the group consisting of rhodium, palladium, and alloys of these. For example, a surface layer made of the foregoing material is formed on a base. To increase the bonding strength between the surface layer and the base, a bonding layer made of gold or gold alloy is formed on the base. Because a metal such as rhodium is resistant to alloying with mercury and has a high melting point, a cold-cathode fluorescent lamp provided with an electrode made of the foregoing metal can suppress not only the consumption of the mercury due to the formation of an amalgam but also the reduction in brightness due to insufficient discharging. Furthermore, because the lamp can suppress the consumption of the mercury and electrode, the lamp has long life.