A diode-pumped solid-state laser including a short wavelength (e.g., blue, violet, or UV) semiconductor laser that pumps an absorption transition in a rare-earth-doped material. Responsive to this pumping, the rare-earth active ion directly emits laser radiation. A number of different wavelength outputs, including short wavelengths, are achievable dependent upon the material and the pump wavelength. The gain medium may include an active ion selected from Er.sup.3+ Sm.sup.3+, Eu.sup.3+, Tb.sup.3+, Dy.sup.3+, Tm.sup.3+, Ho.sup.3+, and Pr.sup.3+. A laser diode pump source has a wavelength in the range of about 365 nm to 480 nm to excite a laser emission in the range of 370 to 800 nm. The laser diode pump source may comprise a GaN-based semiconductor. In some embodiments, the laser diode pump source supplies a pump beam in a range of 370 380 nm, 400 415 nm, 435 445 nm, or 468 478 nm.