200 Names That Mean Death and Darkness

Names that mean death or darkness carry mystery, strength, and symbolism. Across history, cultures created names linked to shadows, grief, the underworld, and even destruction.

Some parents choose them for unique dark baby names, while writers use them for fantasy, gothic, or mythological characters.

In this guide, we list 200 names that mean death and darkness — including boy, girl, and unisex picks from cultures worldwide.

Male Names That Mean Death and Darkness

Here are boy names that mean death or darkness, perfect for strong and bold characters:

1. Thanatos – Greek god of death.
2. Osiris – Egyptian god of the underworld.
3. Erebus – Greek god of darkness.
4. Hades – Greek ruler of the dead.
5. Chernobog – Slavic “black god.”
6. Yama – Hindu god of death and justice.
7. Pluto – Roman/Greek god of the underworld.
8. Anubis – Egyptian god of death.
9. Tuoni – Finnish god of the underworld.
10. Supay – Incan god of evil death.
11. Kritanta – Hindu god of death.
12. Owuo – African god of death.
13. Charon – Greek ferryman of souls.
14. Smierc – Polish Grim Reaper.
15. Abaddon – Biblical angel of destruction.

Female Names That Symbolize Death and Darkness

Strong girl names that mean death or sorrow from myth, folklore, and gothic roots:

1. Achlys – Greek goddess of misery.
2. Morrigan – Celtic goddess of war and death.
3. Ereshkigal – Sumerian goddess of the underworld.
4. Hel – Norse goddess of the dead.
5. Kali – Hindu goddess of time and destruction.
6. Marzana (Morana) – Slavic death goddess.
7. Lilith – Hebrew folklore, wife of Lucifer.
8. Persephone – Greek queen of the underworld.
9. Hecate – Greek goddess of witchcraft and death.
10. Louhi – Finnish goddess of death.
11. Manea – Roman goddess of the dead.
12. Naenia – Roman goddess of funerals.
13. Agrona – Celtic goddess of war and death.
14. Pana – Inuit underworld goddess.
15. Coatlicue – Aztec goddess of death and rebirth.

Gender-Neutral Names With Dark and Mysterious Meanings

Perfect unisex names meaning darkness or death:

1. Noir – French for “black.”
2. Onyx – Dark gemstone.
3. Raven – Bird linked to omens.
4. Shadow – Symbol of mystery.
5. Obsidian – Volcanic black stone.
6. Ash – Remains of fire.
7. Night – Darkness itself.
8. Storm – Dark and powerful.
9. Salem – Biblical, linked with witch trials.
10. Eclipse – Cosmic shadow.
11. Nova – Dark star explosion.
12. Abyss – Endless dark pit.
13. Grimm – Linked to Grim Reaper.
14. Phantom – Ghostly figure.
15. Vesper – Evening star, tied to night.

Mythological Names Linked to Death and the Underworld

Ancient mythological death names from gods and goddesses:

1. Azrael – Angel of death (Abrahamic).
2. Samael – Archangel of death (Hebrew).
3. Anpu – Original Egyptian name for Anubis.
4. Hapi – Egyptian underworld guardian.
5. Ran – Norse sea goddess linked to death.
6. Atropos – Greek Fate who cuts the thread of life.
7. Clotho – Greek Fate linked with destiny and death.
8. Djall – Albanian demon of death and fire.
9. Arawn – Welsh ruler of the Otherworld.
10. Enma – Buddhist god of hell.
11. Kalma – Finnish goddess of death.
12. Nephthys – Egyptian goddess of mourning.
13. Shinigami – Japanese god of death.
14. Whiro – Maori Lord of Darkness.
15. Tuoni – Finnish death god.

Gothic and Dark Fantasy Names Inspired by Darkness

For gothic baby names and dark fantasy lovers:

1. Draven – Gothic and powerful.
2. Lucius – Dark and regal.
3. Morticia – From The Addams Family.
4. Belladonna – Deadly nightshade plant.
5. Nyx – Greek goddess of night.
6. Damien – “To tame,” tied to dark lore.
7. Salem – Witchcraft and darkness.
8. Noctis – Latin for “night.”
9. Dusk – Evening darkness.
10. Umbra – Shadow in Latin.
11. Malachai – Biblical name with dark roots.
12. Vlad – Inspired by Vlad the Impaler.
13. Luna – Moon, often tied to darkness.
14. Isolde – Tragic Gothic love story.
15. Acheron – River of woe in Greek myth.

Evil-Sounding Names With Powerful Meanings

Here are evil names for babies or characters:

1. Lucifer – Fallen angel of darkness.
2. Azazel – Demon in Jewish folklore.
3. Belial – Biblical spirit of wickedness.
4. Mara – Hindu/Buddhist demon of death.
5. Kek – Egyptian god of darkness.
6. Keket – Egyptian goddess of night.
7. Tamasvi – Hindu name, “darkness within.”
8. Djinn – Islamic spirits, often feared.
9. Baal – Ancient god, linked with destruction.
10. Amon – Demon name from grimoires.
11. Mephisto – From German folklore.
12. Lilith – Dark Hebrew folklore name.
13. Satana – Feminine Satanic name.
14. Ravana – Hindu demon king.
15. Dabria – Angel of death in Latin texts.

Unique Baby Names Meaning Death and Darkness

Creative and rare dark baby names:

1. Zillah – Shadow.
2. Mortem – Death in Latin.
3. Desdemona – “Ill-fated.”
4. Tenebris – Darkness in Latin.
5. Caligo – Mist, shadow.
6. Umbriel – Spirit of the dark.
7. Velkan – Gothic unique name.
8. Moros – Greek doom god.
9. Nox – Night.
10. Bran – Raven in Celtic.
11. Ebon – Black stone.
12. Morwenna – Dark maiden.
13. Dolores – Sorrows.
14. Invidia – Envy, darkness.
15. Vantablack – Inspired by darkest black.

Dark Names From Different Cultures and Languages

Cultural names that mean death or destruction:

1. Owuo – African death god.
2. Mictlantecuhtli – Aztec death god.
3. Coatlicue – Aztec goddess of death.
4. Kalma – Finnish goddess of death.
5. Louhi – Finnish dark goddess.
6. Marzanna – Slavic goddess of death.
7. Yama – Hindu god of death.
8. Shivani – Hindu goddess of life & death.
9. Ereshkigal – Sumerian underworld goddess.
10. Hecate – Greek witchcraft goddess.
11. Persephone – Queen of the underworld.
12. Hel – Norse goddess of death.
13. Tartarus – Greek underworld prison.
14. Pluto – Roman god of death.
15. Ran – Norse goddess linked to drowning.

Cool Nicknames With Death and Darkness Themes

Perfect for gaming, stories, or gothic vibes:

1. ShadowReaper
2. DarkSoul
3. BlackWidow
4. NightFang
5. GrimShade
6. PhantomKing
7. DoomRider
8. BloodRaven
9. GhostVeil
10. DeathWhisper
11. AbyssWalker
12. WraithLord
13. DuskBringer
14. SoulHunter
15. FallenCrown

Fantasy & Anime-Inspired Dark Names

Inspired by anime, fantasy, and dark culture:

1. Shinigami – Japanese death god.
2. Ryuk – Death Note Shinigami.
3. Itachi – Dark crow from Naruto.
4. Sephiroth – Villain from Final Fantasy.
5. Noctis – Final Fantasy name meaning night.
6. Alucard – “Dracula” spelled backwards.
7. Hellsing – Anime vampire family.
8. Kurai – Japanese word for “dark.”
9. Akuma – Japanese for demon.
10. Gokurosu – Japanese for black death.
11. Madara – Dark villain in Naruto.
12. Enma – Buddhist god of hell.
13. Kuro – Japanese for black.
14. Kagami – Shadow-like name.
15. Ayakashi – Spirit from Japanese folklore.

Top Picks: Most Powerful Names That Mean Death

1. Thanatos
2. Morrigan
3. Hades
4. Kali
5. Lucifer
6. Lilith
7. Azrael
8. Persephone
9. Osiris
10. Erebus
11. Hel
12. Abaddon
13. Shinigami
14. Chernobog
15. Yama

Conclusion: Choosing a Dark and Meaningful Name

Names that mean death, sorrow, or darkness hold power and mystery. They are perfect for writers, parents seeking unique dark baby names, or anyone inspired by mythology and gothic beauty.

From boy names that mean death to girl names symbolizing darkness, these 200 options reflect strength, fate, and the unknown.

Whether for a character or baby, these names remind us that even in darkness, meaning lives on.