Choosing the perfect name is a big decision, especially if you’re drawn to dark, mystical, and powerful meanings. A name that means death can feel mysterious, bold, and full of history. Whether you’re looking for a unique baby name, a hauntingly beautiful character name, or something fitting for a pet, this list has over 175 names meaning death to explore. Each name carries deep roots in mythology, folklore, or ancient languages, making them rich with meaning.
Names tied to death aren’t just about darkness—they often symbolize transformation, fate, or the cycle of life and rebirth. Many cultures have gods, spirits, and legendary figures connected to the afterlife, giving these names an air of mystery and strength. From the gods of the underworld to names that mean shadow, night, or doom, these choices have a haunting beauty that stands out.
To make it easy, this guide organizes names into male, female, gender-neutral, modern, and fantasy-inspired categories. Each section includes 35 carefully selected names along with their meanings and origins. Whether you’re looking for something rare, eerie, or gothic, you’ll find the perfect name meaning death right here. Let’s dive in!
Boy Names That Mean Death (35 Names)
- Achlys – Greek goddess of eternal night
- Ankou – Breton folklore’s spirit of death
- Azrael – Angel of death in Islam and Judaism
- Beliar – A name associated with destruction and death
- Charon – Ferryman of the dead in Greek mythology
- Ereshkigal – Sumerian goddess ruling the underworld
- Hades – Greek god of the underworld
- Jahi – Persian demoness associated with death
- Kali – Hindu goddess of destruction and time
- Libitina – Roman goddess of funerals
- Mictlantecuhtli – Aztec god of the dead
- Morrigan – Celtic goddess of war and death
- Mot – Canaanite god of death
- Namtar – Mesopotamian god of fate and death
- Nergal – Mesopotamian god of war and plague
- Oizys – Greek goddess of misery and suffering
- Orpheus – Greek musician who journeyed to the underworld
- Pluto – Roman counterpart of Hades
- Samael – Archangel of death in Jewish mysticism
- Sedna – Inuit goddess of the underworld
- Thanatos – Greek god of death
- Valkoinen – Finnish word for ‘white death’
- Yama – Hindu god of death
- Abaddon – Biblical angel of destruction
- Alastor – Greek spirit of retribution and death
- Arawn – Welsh god of the underworld
- Balor – Irish giant associated with death and darkness
- Chimalman – Aztec death deity
- Despoina – Greek goddess of death and winter
- Dullahan – Irish headless rider, a death omen
- Hekate – Goddess of witchcraft and death
- Keres – Greek spirits of violent death
- Maveth – Hebrew name meaning ‘death’
- Shinigami – Japanese spirits of death
- Tezcatlipoca – Aztec deity associated with death and fate
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Girl Names That Mean Death (35 Names)
- Acheron – Greek river of the underworld
- Ammit – Egyptian devourer of the dead
- Anubis – Egyptian god of mummification and the afterlife
- Azra – Derived from Azrael, the angel of death
- Belladonna – A plant with deadly properties
- Calypso – Greek nymph associated with mystery and death
- Desdemona – Shakespearean name meaning ‘ill-fated’
- Eresh – Short for Ereshkigal, the Sumerian goddess of death
- Hela – Norse goddess of the underworld
- Jezebel – Historical name often linked to dark myths
- Keaira – Irish name meaning ‘dark one’
- Lamashtu – Mesopotamian demoness of death
- Lenore – Inspired by Edgar Allan Poe’s poem “The Raven”
- Lilith – Demon figure from Jewish folklore
- Mara – Sanskrit name meaning ‘death’
- Melaina – Greek name meaning ‘dark’
- Morgana – Arthurian sorceress linked to fate and death
- Morwenna – Cornish name meaning ‘waves of death’
- Nebthet – Egyptian protector of the dead
- Nixie – Germanic water spirit sometimes associated with death
- Nyx – Greek primordial goddess of the night
- Persephone – Queen of the underworld in Greek mythology
- Phoenix – Symbolizing rebirth from death
- Rahu – Hindu demon associated with eclipses and darkness
- Selene – Moon goddess often linked to the dead
- Styx – River that separates the living and dead
- Thana – Greek name meaning ‘death’
- Tiamat – Babylonian chaos goddess linked to destruction
- Umay – Turkic goddess of fate and death
- Valdis – Old Norse name meaning ‘goddess of the dead’
- Xi Wangmu – Chinese queen of the underworld
- Yurei – Japanese ghost associated with death
- Zillah – Hebrew name meaning ‘shadow’
- Zephyra – Greek name meaning ‘west wind of death’
- Morana – Slavic goddess of winter and death
Unisex Names That Mean Death (35 Names)
- Abyzou – A demon associated with stillbirth and death in mythology
- Azrael – Angel of death in Islamic and Jewish traditions
- Blight – Symbolizing decay and destruction
- Caligo – Latin for ‘mist’ or ‘darkness’
- Chimera – Mythical creature representing chaos and destruction
- Cinder – Ashes left behind after fire, symbolizing the end
- Dagan – Name linked to the underworld in Semitic mythology
- Daray – Persian name meaning ‘dark’
- Draugr – Norse undead creature that roams after death
- Erebus – Primordial deity of darkness in Greek mythology
- Fenrir – Norse wolf that brings about Ragnarok (end of the world)
- Gossamer – A delicate, eerie name associated with ghosts and spirits
- Grave – Symbolizing the resting place of the dead
- Hallow – Meaning sacred or associated with spirits
- Havoc – Representing chaos and destruction
- Iblis – Islamic figure of destruction and temptation
- Jinx – Supernatural name linked to misfortune
- Kairos – Greek word for ‘time,’ often linked to fate and destiny
- Knell – The sound of a bell rung for death or mourning
- Lazareth – Inspired by Lazarus, who rose from the dead
- Lucien – Meaning ‘light’ but often associated with gothic themes
- Memento – Inspired by ‘memento mori,’ meaning a reminder of death
- Mourn – Representing sorrow and grief
- Nihil – Latin for ‘nothingness’
- Nyx – Greek primordial goddess of the night
- Oblivion – Meaning complete destruction or the void
- Onyx – Dark gemstone often associated with mysticism and the afterlife
- Peril – Meaning danger, linked to death and destruction
- Phantom – A ghostly figure from beyond the grave
- Ruin – Symbolizing destruction and decay
- Salem – Historically linked to the Salem witch trials and dark mysticism
- Shade – A poetic reference to spirits of the dead
- Silas – Name with gothic undertones, meaning ‘wood’ or ‘forest’
- Umbra – Latin for ‘shadow’ or ‘ghost’
- Wraith – A spectral figure or ghostly presence
Dark Fantasy Names Meaning Death (35 Names)
- Aetheris – A mystical name symbolizing the void beyond life
- Asmodius – Inspired by Asmodeus, a demon of destruction
- Banshee – A spirit in Celtic folklore that foretells death
- Blacksoul – Symbolizing a corrupted or darkened spirit
- Caladrius – A mythical bird that absorbs sickness and death
- Cimmerian – Meaning ‘of eternal darkness’
- Crimsonveil – Evoking imagery of blood and mystery
- Doomshadow – A name representing inescapable fate
- Duskbane – Meaning ‘one who opposes the darkness’
- Ebonshade – Inspired by ebony and the shadows of the afterlife
- Fellmourne – A fantasy-inspired name meaning ‘mourning the fallen’
- Grimwarden – A protector of souls in the afterlife
- Harbinger – A name representing a bringer of doom
- Hollowborn – Meaning ‘one born from emptiness’
- Infernum – Latin for ‘hell’
- Kuroshi – A fusion of Japanese words meaning ‘black’ and ‘death’
- Lunacrypt – A mystical name symbolizing the crypts of the moon
- Malakar – A name meaning ‘bringer of misfortune’
- Mortis – Latin for ‘death’
- Necroth – A dark fantasy name symbolizing necromantic power
- Nightbane – ‘The one who opposes the night’
- Nocturnis – Inspired by the night and the unknown
- Oblivionis – A name symbolizing complete destruction and the void
- Palegrin – Meaning ‘the ghostly traveler’
- Ravendeath – A name evoking ravens and their ties to omens
- Requiem – A song for the dead, filled with sorrow
- Sablemourne – A gothic name meaning ‘mourning in black’
- Shadowgrace – A blend of darkness and elegance
- Silvermourn – Representing sorrow wrapped in beauty
- Tenebris – Latin for ‘darkness’
- Thornvale – A name representing a valley of death and sorrow
- Umbrafang – Meaning ‘fang of the shadow’
- Veilrith – A fantasy-inspired name representing the veil between life and death
- Wraithborn – Meaning ‘born of ghosts and shadows’
- Zhavir – A mysterious name linked to dark sorcery
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Modern and Unique Names That Mean Death (35 Names)
- Aetheron – A futuristic twist on ‘Aether,’ symbolizing the afterlife
- Arvani – A modern name inspired by shadows and death
- Azrielle – A unique take on Azrael, the angel of death
- Blayze – Evoking destruction and burning embers
- Caelum – Latin for ‘sky,’ often linked to the afterlife
- Cimmorin – A modern gothic name meaning ‘dark wanderer’
- Daghur – A rare name inspired by the darkness of dusk
- Draxon – A sci-fi-inspired name with a dark, powerful sound
- Elyx – A short, mystical name with an ethereal feel
- Fayren – A ghostly, fantasy-inspired name
- Graviel – A modern variation of ‘Grave’ and ‘Gabriel’
- Hadeon – A fusion of ‘Hades’ and ‘Aeon,’ meaning ‘eternal underworld’
- Ithorien – A soft yet dark name inspired by fantasy realms
- Jhaeros – A futuristic name with a shadowy aura
- Kaelith – A unique blend of ‘Kael’ (slender) and ‘Lilith’ (night)
- Laziel – Inspired by Lazarus, symbolizing death and rebirth
- Mavric – Meaning ‘independent soul,’ often linked to lost wanderers
- Morvain – A dark, poetic name meaning ‘dead mist’
- Nexis – Derived from ‘nex,’ Latin for death
- Nytrix – A futuristic, cyber-gothic take on ‘Nyx’ (night)
- Ophiron – A celestial name with deep, mysterious undertones
- Phaeron – Inspired by ancient pharaohs and the underworld
- Quorix – A sleek, modern name with a haunting edge
- Ravynne – A dark, sophisticated spelling of ‘Raven’
- Sythar – A sci-fi/fantasy name evoking shadow and death
- Tenorix – A mysterious name blending ‘Tenebris’ (darkness) and ‘Phoenix’
- Umbreon – Inspired by ‘Umbra’ (shadow) with a modern twist
- Vaelith – A soft yet eerie name evoking lost souls
- Veyrix – A sleek, futuristic name tied to mystery and fate
- Wrenlyth – A delicate but haunting take on ‘Wren’ and ‘Lilith’
- Xyphos – A rare name inspired by ancient blades and battles
- Yvayne – A mystical name with gothic and celestial vibes
- Zyphir – A unique spelling of ‘Zephyr,’ evoking ghostly winds
- Zyren – A mysterious, one-of-a-kind name with an eerie feel
- Zephiron – A blend of ‘Zephyr’ (wind) and ‘Charon’ (ferryman of the dead)
Final Thoughts
Finding the perfect name that means death can be an exciting journey. Whether you love dark and mystical names or want something rare and meaningful, there are so many options to explore. From ancient mythological names to modern and unique choices, each name carries a story filled with depth and mystery.
Names linked to death aren’t just about darkness—they also symbolize strength, transformation, and the unknown. Many of these names have been used for centuries in legends, literature, and folklore, making them powerful choices. Whether you’re naming a baby, character, pet, or even a gaming avatar, a name with a deep and haunting meaning can make a strong impression.
No matter what name you choose, the most important thing is that it feels right for you. A name should reflect personality, energy, and meaning that resonates with you. Hopefully, this guide has helped you discover the perfect name meaning death that captures exactly what you’re looking for.
