Names That Mean Death and Their Dark Origins

Names have power—and some hold darker, more mysterious meanings than others. Across cultures and mythologies, names associated with death, darkness, or the afterlife often symbolize transformation, strength, mystery, or a deep connection to the unknown. Whether you’re crafting a story, designing a fantasy world, or simply intrigued by the symbolism behind certain names, exploring those that mean or represent death offers insight into humanity’s oldest and most powerful themes.

In this list, you’ll discover male, female, and unisex names from around the world that are linked to death—either through literal meaning, mythological roles, or cultural symbolism.

Male Names That Mean or Symbolize Death

Thanatos (Greek) – The personification of death

Mara (Slavic) – A spirit associated with death and nightmares

Azrael (Arabic/Hebrew) – Angel of death

Jabez (Hebrew) – “Sorrow” or “borne in pain”

Achilles (Greek) – Associated with death in war and fatal weakness

Keres (Greek) – Female death spirits, often used in male form in fiction

Mictlantecuhtli (Aztec) – God of the underworld

Moros (Greek) – Doom, fate of death

Shinigami (Japanese) – “Death god”; spirit that invites death

Tamas (Sanskrit) – “Darkness,” often linked to death and inertia

Female Names That Mean or Symbolize Death

Persephone (Greek) – Queen of the underworld

Hecate (Greek) – Goddess of magic, ghosts, and the underworld

Lilith (Hebrew) – A night spirit often associated with death and darkness

Morrigan (Celtic) – Goddess of battle, fate, and death

Desdemona (Greek) – “Ill-fated”

Kali (Sanskrit) – Goddess of destruction and death

Ereshkigal (Sumerian) – Queen of the dead

Chaya (Hebrew) – Ironically means “life,” but sometimes used in contrast to death in literature

Levana (Latin variant) – Sounds gentle but often used in dark themes in fiction

Melinoe (Greek) – Nymph associated with ghosts and deathly apparitions

Unisex or Ambiguous Names Linked to Death or Darkness

Nocturne – “Night song”; associated with darkness and silence

Onyx – A dark gemstone often used in gothic or shadow-themed names

Reven – Inspired by “revenant,” meaning returned spirit or ghost

Shadow – Symbolic of darkness, mystery, or hidden death

Raven – A bird often seen as a symbol of death and bad omens

Nox (Latin) – “Night”

Acheron – A river in the underworld in Greek mythology

Zephyrine – A soft wind, sometimes used in contrast to final breath

Umbra – Latin for “shadow,” associated with ghosts or spirits

Nyx (Greek) – Goddess of the night, often linked to death

Names associated with death can be haunting, elegant, fierce, or poetic. They capture the essence of endings and beginnings, power and silence, mortality and myth. Whether you’re drawn to these names for their mythological roots, gothic aesthetic, or symbolic depth, each one carries a story as timeless as death itself.

We hope this collection of names that mean or symbolize death offers inspiration—whether for writing, naming a character, or exploring the deeper meanings behind names from around the world.