Choosing a name for a girl is an important decision for parents. Some names carry deep meanings that can reflect emotions and experiences. Some names even relate to feelings of sadness or depression. Understanding these meanings can help in choosing a name with a thoughtful message.
Today, we will look at girl names that symbolize depression. These names can represent a variety of feelings, from sorrow to introspection. Whether you’re looking for a unique name or want to find something meaningful, this list will provide some options to consider.
Girl Names That Mean Depression
1. Mara
The name Mara means “bitter” in Hebrew, often associated with feelings of sadness and loss, making it a poignant choice that encapsulates depression.
2. Lenore
Lenore is traditionally related to the concept of light but is often associated with sadness due to Edgar Allan Poe’s poem “The Raven,” symbolizing grief and despair.
3. Brenna
Coming from Irish roots, Brenna means “descendant of Braonán,” which translates to “sorrow” or “sadness,” making it a reflection of melancholy.
4. Acheron
Acheron is named after one of the rivers in Greek mythology that flows through the underworld, often associated with fate and sorrow; it symbolizes deep grief.
5. Jabez
Although Jabez is more commonly a boy’s name, it means “sorrow” in Hebrew. For a girl, this name could embody a powerful narrative of overcoming pain.
6. Alayna
This name can mean “dark” or “light” but is often associated with a sense of melancholic beauty, relating to themes of sadness and introspection.
7. Aspen
Aspen trees are known for their beautiful and trembling leaves that can symbolize emotional fragility, making it a name connected to feelings of sorrow.
8. Rue
Rue is both a name and a plant often associated with regret and sorrow, signifying a heartfelt connection to sadness.
9. Devlin
This name, of Irish origin, means “unlucky” or “unfortunate,” linking it to themes of depression and troubled emotions.
10. Calla
The Calla lily is a flower symbolizing beauty but is often associated with funerals, reflecting feelings of loss and melancholic beauty.
11. Lila
The name Lila means “night” in Arabic and can evoke feelings of sadness as night often symbolizes despair and mystery.
12. Mabel
Mabel means “lovable,” but it can feel ironic and deeper when viewed through the lens of sadness and yearning for affection.
13. Azura
This name, meaning “blue,” can be interpreted as a representation of the melancholy often associated with the color blue.
14. Briony
Briony is a plant name that symbolizes bitterness and can be deepened to represent the struggles of overcoming emotional pain.
15. Leila
Leila means “night” in Arabic and can symbolize darker emotional undercurrents, making it a reflective name.
16. Dolores
Dolores means “sorrows” in Spanish and is directly tied to the experience of sadness and mourning, connecting deeply with depression.
17. Jinx
With a name that suggests bad luck, Jinx can embody the feelings of hopelessness related to depression.
18. Acacia
Acacia trees are symbolic of mourning in several cultures, making it a name associated with sadness and sorrow.
19. Althea
Althea means “healer” but comes from roots associated with grief and suffering, symbolizing rebirth from sorrow.
20. Cressida
With ties to tragedy through literature, Cressida symbolizes unrequited love and emotional conflict.
21. Shiloh
Although it signifies peace, Shiloh can evoke feelings of loss and introspection often associated with depression.
22. Moriah
This name can mean “frustration” or “bitterness”, linking it closely to themes surrounding depression.
23. Vesper
Meaning “evening star”, Vesper can symbolize the darker times often associated with sadness.
24. Melancholy
A direct representation of sadness, Melancholy captures the very essence of depression in its name.
25. Esme
Though it means “esteemed” or “beloved,” it can play a paradoxical role regarding melancholy and longing.
26. Ava
Ava means “life,” but it can allude to the struggles and the bittersweet nature of living through darkness while seeking joy.
27. Calista
Calista means “most beautiful,” but it can imply layers of sadness behind that beauty.
28. Livia
Livia comes from “livor” meaning “bluish,” often connected with emotions tied to sadness.
29. Zilla
This unique name suggests “shadow” or “darkness,” alluding to depression and emotional challenges.
30. Thistle
Thistle flowers can represent both beauty and pain, symbolizing emotional struggles.
31. Sable
Sable refers to a dark color and is often associated with mourning, connecting to sadness and depression.
32. Viatrix
This name means “voyager” but also carries a sense of longing for something that may never be attained, reflecting on emotional depth.
33. Aisling
Aisling means “dream” and often features in Irish folklore regarding loss and nostalgia, tying it beautifully to depression.
34. Flavia
Flavia means “yellow” or “blonde,” typically associated with lightness but can also connect to the fleeting nature of happiness.
35. Vespera
This name can relate to evening or dusk, times often associated with reflection and deeper emotions surrounding sadness.
36. Minerva
Minerva is the name of the Roman goddess of wisdom but often carries the weight of sorrowful insight and introspection.
37. Beryl
Beryl is a stone that can carry a meaning of clarity, yet it can also symbolize emotional struggles.
38. Selene
Selene, the moon goddess, often embodies feelings of loneliness and melancholy.
39. Isolde
Associated with tragic love in Arthurian legend, Isolde brings with it themes of loss and despair.
40. Aditi
Derived from Sanskrit, Aditi means “boundless” but can reflect an emptiness leading to feelings of sadness.
41. Elowen
The name Elowen means “elm tree” and can represent rootedness, combined with the struggles of emotional storms.
42. Sadira
This unique name means “delicate” but brings to mind the fragility often associated with depression.
43. Iris
Iris means “rainbow” but is often linked with tears and sorrow, making it a dual-natured name.
44. Arabella
Arabella is often linked to beauty and desire but can also hint at the sadness of unfulfilled dreams.
45. Orlaith
This Irish name means “golden princess” but can symbolize the contrast between beauty and deeper emotional burdens.
46. Una
This name means “one” and can reflect feelings of loneliness and the emotional journey through solitude.
47. Tempest
Tempest evokes images of storms, symbolizing the emotional turmoil related to depression.
48. Cleo
Cleo means “glory” but carries an undertone of sadness related to the pressures of societal expectations.
49. Lyra
Meaning “lyre,” Lyra is often associated with the sorrowful music depicting melancholy and introspection.
50. Orin
This name means “light,” yet it can represent the absence of that light, relating it to feelings of depression.
51. Zenith
While it means “highest point,” it can reflect the journey to reach that height from emotional depths.
52. Even
This name links to balance but can reflect the struggle to maintain emotional equilibrium during times of depression.
53. Vanya
Vanya, meaning “gracious gift,” has deeper ties to loneliness and longing.
54. Mireille
This name means “to admire” and can involve a longing that comes with sadness.
55. Lowri
Lowri means “laurel” and can symbolize recognition but may hint at burdens carried too.
56. Sibyl
Sibyl is a name often associated with prophetic women, thus implying the depth of emotion linked with foresight and melancholy.
57. Tirzah
This Hebrew name means “delight” but can carry a deeper narrative related to finding joy amid sadness.
58. Ffion
This Welsh name means “foxglove” and can represent finding beauty despite darkness, relating to feelings of sadness.
59. Anwen
Though Anwen means “very beautiful,” it can reflect a sadness found in unrealized potential and longing.
60. Hela
Hela is the goddess of death in Norse mythology, embodying themes of loss and melancholy.
61. Mairead
This name, a Scottish variant of Margaret, translates to “pearl,” often linked with rarity and sadness.
62. Sorrow
As a direct representation of the emotion itself, Sorrow is a name that powerfully embodies feelings associated with depression.
63. Vale
The name Vale represents a valley, often a place of quiet reflection, associated with introspection and emotional depth.
64. Errin
Meaning “of great sorrow,” Errin directly connects to experiences of depression.
65. Tamsin
This name, meaning “twin,” can reflect feelings of missing one half, tying it to loneliness and sadness.
66. Nevaeh
Nevaeh, being “heaven” spelled backward, can symbolize the longing to escape emotional pain.
67. Lorna
Lorna is thought to mean “the laurel tree” but is often recognized as a symbol of emotional trials.
68. Keren
This Hebrew name means “ray,” linking light to a contrast of deeper sadness, reflecting emotional struggles.
69. Gale
Gale means “stormy,” which can symbolize emotional turbulence associated with depression.
70. Gwendolyn
This name combines beauty with deeper feelings of complexity, often tied to sadness and reflection.
71. Yara
Yara means “small butterfly,” symbolizing transformation but also reflecting fragility and emotional lived experiences.
72. Morticia
This name evokes imagery of mourning, directly linking it to feelings of sadness and loss.
73. Devona
This name is connected with the idea of “devoid,” reflecting emotional emptiness often associated with depression.
74. Astraea
Astraea, the goddess of justice, evokes the balance between beauty and sadness in her narrative.
75. Lethe
Lethe is the river of forgetfulness in Greek mythology, representing the desire to escape pain and grief.
76. Serene
While it means “calm,” it can represent a longing for peace amid emotional chaos.
77. Cleora
Cleora means “glory” but can represent the struggles faced in achieving one’s emotional prominence.
78. Esmeralda
Esmeralda translates to “emerald,” a reminder of beauty often associated with something that feels untouchable.
79. Nyssa
This name means “beginning,” often linking to renewal from sorrow and the beginning of emotional processes.
80. Lirael
Lirael, a creation from fantasy literature, touches on themes of loneliness and searching for purpose amid sadness.
81. Kaia
This name means “the sea,” which can symbolize the depths of emotions and the eroding effects of sadness.
82. Indigo
Indigo is associated with deep colors, imbuing it with a sense of emotional intensity connected to melancholy.
83. Xanthe
Xanthe means “golden,” but the softness behind its meaning can relate to hidden pathos.
84. Maris
Maris means “of the sea,” which can connect to deeper themes of sadness and emotional wandering.
85. Saffron
Saffron is a precious spice, often linked with high value, but its rarity can symbolize loss and longing.
86. Niamh
Niamh means “bright” but often ties to fables where beauty is marked by despair.
87. Lenya
Lenya means “to shine,” reflecting the contrasts of light and dark, joy and sadness.
88. Baerbel
This unique name relates to “the stranger,” suggesting loneliness and the quest for emotional connection.
89. Jesenia
Jesenia means “flower,” which can symbolize vulnerability and the fragility of emotional wellbeing.
90. Freya
Freya is a goddess of love and beauty, often depicted experiencing sorrow, tying her directly to themes of depression.
91. Aislinn
Aislinn means “dream” in Irish but can relate to the sadness of lost visions and aspirations.
92. Corinne
Corinne means “maiden” but can reflect the deeper emotional struggles women often endure.
93. Talia
This name means “dew from God,” but it connects to the sadness of fleeting moments.
94. Nita
Nita means “bear,” which can relate to emotional burdens associated with depression.
95. Lavender
Lavender symbolizes calmness but also evokes feelings of nostalgia and mourning.
96. Liora
Liora translates to “light” but can symbolize the dimming of joy often felt during depressive periods.
97. Niamh
Niamh means “bright,” reflecting the layers of complexity underlying personal sadness.
98. Cassia
This name means “cinnamon” but evokes sadness through its resonance with sorrowful memories.
99. Tegan
Tegan means “beautiful” but can also symbolize the struggle for acceptance and the associated sadness.
100. Carys
This Welsh name means “love,” which can allude to the bittersweet elements often experienced during heartbreak.
101. Aria
Though it means “air” or “song,” it can represent the silences following a song of grief.
102. Ashling
Ashling means “dream,” reflecting an emotional struggle connected to lost aspirations.
103. Kia
Kia means “to arise,” but carries feelings of yearning associated with despair.
104. Raven
Ravens are often linked to omens, representing themes of loss and the darker sides of emotions.
105. Daxton
Though more commonly a boy’s name, it suggests dark, emotional undertones linked with struggles and sorrow.
106. Timara
This name has musical implications but can also signify an inner struggle filled with sorrow.
107. Sorrel
As a name associated with bitterness, Sorrel invokes feelings of emotional turmoil.
108. Tenley
Tenley can relate to an emotional journey often filled with sadness as it implies “from the land of the overseer.”
109. Noemi
Noemi means “pleasantness,” contrasting with a deeper sense of underlying sorrow present in people.
110. Kirra
This name means “the sea” and evokes the sometimes tumultuous relationship with emotional depths.
111. Elara
Elara has mythological roots and symbolizes a complex mix of melancholy and beauty.
112. Avani
This name means “earth,” linking it to grounding feelings often laced with hidden sadness.
113. Daria
Daria means “possessor of goodness,” reflecting the struggle to find joy amid hardships.
114. Vana
This name symbolizes “earth,” suggesting a strong connection to grounding melancholy feelings.
115. Cambria
Cambria represents “wales” but links to themes of journey and loss that resonate with emotional depth.
116. Mischa
Mischa means “who is like God?” often reflecting deep inner conflicts and emotional struggles.
117. Yvette
This name means “yew,” a tree often associated with mourning, symbolizing sadness and reflection.
118. Elowyn
Elowyn means “elm tree” and suggests rootedness that can link to deep emotional undertones.
119. Sylvia
Though it means “from the forest,” Sylvia can symbolize a longing for escape from one’s inner darkness.
120. Helene
Helene means “torch,” which can symbolize searching for hope amid despair.
121. Fara
This name is linked to joy but speaks of a complex emotional landscape often tied to sadness.
122. Mina
This name means “love,” linking closely with themes of longing and past emotional wounds.
123. Celine
Celine means “heavenly,” often contrasting an unachievable ideal with present sorrow.
124. Rowan
Rowan trees symbolize protection and healing but can also represent struggles with loss.
125. Taliah
This variation of Talia translates to “dew,” evoking subtle feelings of sadness and emotional reflections.
126. Liora
This name means “light,” representing the duality of bright moments amid deeper sadness.
127. Diva
Diva means “goddess,” often linked to the emotional struggles of maintaining grace amid inner turmoil.
128. Amaris
Amaris means “child of the moon,” symbolizing complex emotional journeys and introspection associated with sadness.
129. Sera
Meaning “evening,” Sera evokes the calm that follows emotional storms, often tinged with melancholy.
130. Shira
This name means “song,” reflected in the longing for emotional expression through music.
131. Vela
Vela means “sail” and can symbolize navigating the turbulent seas of emotional storms.
132. Taupe
Taupe, being a color name, can symbolize dullness often linked with feelings of despondence.
133. Elara
Elara symbolizes feelings of being loved and the accompanying sadness of longing for it.
134. Thalassa
This name means “the sea,” reflecting a deep emotional journey connected to sadness.
135. Aina
This name means “joyful,” but can contrast with a deeper sadness intertwined with experiences of joy.
136. Isha
Isha means “woman,” but can tie to the emotional complexities often faced in womanhood.
137. Tania
Tania means “fairy queen,” reflecting deeper narratives of beauty and hidden sorrow.
138. Briar
Briar can symbolize hidden beauty amidst emotional pain, embodying struggles tied to depression.
139. Callie
From “beautiful,” Callie’s beauty could mask layers of emotional complexity tied to sadness.
140. Justine
This offer of “justice” can imply the struggles to find peace within oneself, often linked to emotions of sadness.
141. Sonya
Sonya means “wisdom,” intertwined often with deeper feelings of sorrow and reflection.
142. Oceane
This name means “ocean,” invoking grand emotional depths often linked to sobering sorrows.
143. Zuna
Though it means “knowledge,” it reflects the emotional journey filled with sad realizations.
144. Alina
Alina means “light” but often symbolizes the constant battle against darkness.
145. Emory
This name, meaning “brave,” hints at emotional struggles people face in their battles with depression.
146. Liora
The name derives from light and joy but can symbolize the struggle for happiness amid dark times.
147. Marlowe
Marlowe can mean “driftwood,” suggesting emotional journeying through sadness.
148. Arin
Meaning “a place of courage,” this name acknowledges the emotional turmoil faced and the strength to overcome.
149. Jessamine
This name means “jasmine flower,” often symbolizing beauty but can connect with the pain of emotional fragility.
150. Zafira
This name means “victorious” and can also represent someone striving to overcome hardships related to deep feelings.
Final Thoughts
Choosing a name that represents emotional experiences can be a unique and meaningful way to honor feelings of sorrow. Many names reveal beautiful yet poignant connections to the complexity of depression.
Whether it’s through literature, mythology, or nature, each name tells a story and highlights the journey of navigating through tough emotions. Engaging with names that reflect such themes can foster lasting understandings of deep emotions and shared stories.
For more names associated with sadness, be sure to check out this list of girl names that mean sad or explore key themes through names that mean emotional struggles at this resource on names that mean sadness.