Choosing a name for a baby boy can be a meaningful journey. Some parents look for names that carry deep significance, including those related to death or the afterlife. These names can symbolize strength, resilience, or a connection to heritage. They often reflect cultural beliefs and stories that have been passed down through generations.
Today, we’ll share a list of boy names that mean “dead” or have related meanings. These unique names can carry powerful messages and may inspire a sense of mystery or history. Whether you want a name with a notable background or simply appreciate its significance, there’s a name on this list that could be perfect for your little one.
Boy Names That Mean Dead
1. Abaddon
Abaddon is a name derived from Hebrew, meaning ‘destruction’ or ‘the angel of the bottomless pit’. This name carries a strong connotation related to death and the afterlife in various religious texts.
2. Azrael
Azrael is a name of Hebrew origin, meaning ‘help of God’. In various cultures, Azrael is known as the angel of death, making it a powerful choice for those reflecting on themes of life and death.
3. Mortez
Mortez is a name that comes from Persian origins and translates to ‘dead’ or ‘deceased’. It directly conveys the theme of death, making it deeply significant.
4. Jabez
Jabez has a biblical origin and means ‘sorrow’ or ‘pain’. It acknowledges the harsh realities of life, including death, making it a poignant choice.
5. Koa
Koa means ‘warrior’ in Hawaiian. While not directly meaning dead, it connects to the aftermath of battle, linking it to death and valor in a more abstract way.
6. Mortimer
Mortimer is an English name meaning ‘dead sea’. This name directly links to the concept of being deceased while also suggesting a cluster of stories associated with bodies of water.
7. Baruch
Baruch is a Hebrew name meaning ‘blessed’. This name is often associated with mourning, representing the contrast between life and death.
8. Betrayal
This name carries a strong and complex meaning, often tied to death in literature and history. Choosing this name can reflect dramatic themes of loss and deception.
9. Darius
Darius has roots in Persian history and means ‘maintainer’. The connection to historical figures often involves struggles and battles, indirectly relating to death.
10. Nadir
Nadir means ‘the lowest point’. In context, this can refer to death as the ultimate low point of life, adding depth to its meaning.
11. Desmond
This name is of Irish origin, meaning ‘from the land of the dead’. With such a direct connection to death, it serves as a unique choice for parents.
12. Moris
Moris means ‘dark-skinned’ and also relates to death in different cultures, touching upon themes of life and the afterlife.
13. Malachi
Malachi is a Hebrew name meaning ‘my messenger’. It is sometimes associated with angels sent to guide souls after death, making it significant in that regard.
14. Roan
Roan refers to a color often associated with fall, a season symbolically connected to the end of life and the beginning of another cycle.
15. Orpheus
Orpheus from Greek mythology is known for his journey to the underworld, symbolizing the connection between life and death through music and love.
16. Wynne
Meaning ‘fair or blessed’, this name also resonates with themes of mortality, reflecting the beauty in life as it relates to death.
17. Raven
Raven is a name inspired by the bird often linked in folklore and cultural tales to death and the transition of souls.
18. Sorrow
The name Sorrow explicitly connects with the feelings surrounding death and loss, making it poignant and emotional.
19. Jett
Jett, meaning ‘black’, embodies the color of mourning and loss, indirectly linking it to the themes of death.
20. Lynx
Lynx symbolizes the unseen and mystery, often touching upon themes of life and death within its nature.
21. Zarek
Zarek means ‘God protects’, indirectly connecting to matters of life and death through the spiritual lens.
22. Talan
Talan means ‘a smaller version of the bat’, known for its associations with the nocturnal, death-related imagery.
23. Balthazar
Balthazar is one of the three wise men and means ‘Baal protects the king’. The connections to religious themes often circle back to mortality and death.
24. Callum
Callum means ‘dove’, a symbol of peace, often seen in the context of loss, reflecting on themes of the afterlife.
25. Lachlan
Lachlan is Scottish in origin, meaning ‘from the fjord-land’. Traditionally, fjords are viewed as gateways between realms, including life and death.
26. Ptolemy
Ptolemy of Greek origin means ‘warrior’, often associated with themes of loss in battle and the consequences of death.
27. Cadman
Cadman is an English name meaning ‘battle man’, tying it to the themes surrounding death on the battlefield.
28. Breasail
Breasail is an Irish name meaning ‘a great warrior’, linked to death through valor and honor in combat.
29. Ciaran
Ciaran means ‘dark-haired’, a color often associated with loss, but it also reflects the understanding of duality in life and death.
30. Alaric
Alaric means ‘ruler of all’, linked to historical figures who faced death and legacy directly.
31. Morty
Morty is a shortened form of Mortimer and holds the same meaning, directly relating to ‘dead sea’.
32. Yara
Yara means ‘small butterfly’, symbolizing transformation, often connected to death and rebirth in spiritual contexts.
33. Goran
Goran means ‘mountain man’, with the symbolic interpretations of life, death, and nature.
34. Thane
Thane originates from a Scottish title meaning ‘landholder’, with ties to historical battles that resulted in death.
35. Rufus
Rufus means ‘red-haired’, often representing the color of blood, introduced in contexts of life and death.
36. Silas
Silas is a biblical name meaning ‘wood’ or ‘forest’, ethereally tied to decay and the cycle of life and death.
37. Jareth
Jareth is a modern name often associated with mystical themes, including life, death, and the afterlife.
38. Piers
Piers means ‘rock’, symbolizing endurance, which can relate to the enduring nature of legacy after death.
39. Enoch
Enoch is a biblical name that represents ‘dedicated’, often connected to stories about the afterlife.
40. Azriel
Azriel means ‘God is my help’, often related to spiritual assistance at the time of death.
41. Stetson
Stetson is an English name meaning ‘Stephen’s town’, which carries historical narratives often tied to themes of loss.
42. Orson
Orson means ‘bear cub’, often symbolizing mortality and the nature of life cycles.
43. Cross
Cross carries strong religious connotations, often associating it with the themes of life, death, and resurrection.
44. Draven
Draven means ‘hunter’, which can be tied metaphorically to death and survival in nature.
45. Barrow
Barrow means ‘a hill’, often associated with burial sites, linking directly to death themes.
46. Hugo
Hugo signifies ‘mind or spirit’, connecting to the notions surrounding life beyond death.
47. Theron
Theron means ‘hunter’, reflecting the cycle of life and death through nourishment and survival.
48. Edrick
Edrick means ‘wealthy ruler’, often associated with kings who faced mortality.
49. Vale
Vale means ‘a valley’, symbolizing a descent that can relate to life’s end and afterlife narratives.
50. Kenzo
Kenzo means ‘strong and healthy’, yet connects to a cultural understanding of mortality and strength after passing.
51. Keller
Keller means ‘cellar’, historically associated with burial places, thus connecting to death.
52. Thorn
Thorn embodies the hardships of life, often reflecting pain associated with loss and death.
53. Omari
Omari is of Swahili origin meaning ‘God the highest’, connecting themes of divinity at death.
54. Caelum
Caelum means ‘sky or heaven’, which can evoke feelings of afterlife and spiritual journeys.
55. Aspen
Aspen is tied to the aspen tree, associated with resilience through life and the concept of one’s mortality.
56. Koen
Koen means ‘brave’, often symbolizing the warrior spirit facing death in battle.
57. Quinlan
Quinlan means ‘descendant of Caoinlean’, connecting to the lineage of those who have passed on.
58. Raiden
Raiden means ‘thunder and lightning’, often symbolizing the forces of nature related to destruction and death.
59. Aldous
Aldous means ‘old’, a gentle nod to themes of aging and the inevitability of death.
60. Orion
Orion is a figure in mythology, representing the fight against mortality and the search for immortality.
61. Ash
Ash refers to the remains of something after it’s burned, capturing the essence of death and renewal.
62. Corwin
Corwin means ‘friend of the heart’, often reflecting on bonds that endure beyond death.
63. Ewan
Ewan means ‘young warrior’, which can relate to those lost too soon in battle.
64. Malachai
Malachai is a name related to angels, often those that guide souls after death.
65. Doran
Doran means ‘gift’, a thought-provoking take on the gifts of life that eventually link to death.
66. Kairos
Kairos means ‘the right moment’, which can encapsulate the fleeting nature of life before transitioning to death.
67. Hartigan
Hartigan blends the nuances of life and death through its Irish roots, reflecting on past events and legacies.
68. Darion
Darion means ‘gift’, a connection to the mourning of loss and the recognition of what remains.
69. Nocturne
Nocturne represents the night, a time commonly linked to themes of death and the fear of the unknown.
70. Killian
Killian means ‘little warrior’, a nod towards battles that respect life and death.
71. Murdo
Murdo means ‘sea warrior’, resonating feelings of loss and remembrance after battles at sea.
72. Jaren
Jaren means ‘to be a stranger’, often linked to the feelings surrounding loss and those who have departed.
73. Jettison
This name metaphorically relates to casting off, symbolizing the release of life and potential death.
74. Eirikur
Eirikur translates to ‘ever-ruler’, linking to dynasties that remember their past and struggles with mortality.
75. Sully
Sully is a name meaning ‘personal name’ and often reminds us of personal stories of loss and mourning.
76. Tinley
Tinley means ‘a place of Tinna’, often enveloping histories that touch upon life, death, and what is remembered.
77. Dillon
Dillon means ‘loyal’ or ‘faithful’, a name that embodies the bonds of friendship that endure after death.
78. Galen
Galen means ‘calm’ or ‘healer’, representing the balance between life and death within spiritual beliefs.
79. Thorne
Thorne symbolizes protection and strength, often reminding us of battles faced in life and in death.
80. Ilan
Ilan means ‘tree’, a direct symbol of life, growth, and the reminders of those who have passed.
81. Tavish
Tavish is derived from the Gaelic word for ‘twin’, often connecting to the idea of duality in life and death.
82. Rune
Rune signifies mystery, often relating to the symbolic nature of death in older traditions.
83. Vaughn
Vaughn translates to ‘small’, touching lightly on the fragility of life and the depth of death.
84. Onyx
Onyx is a stone traditionally connected to protection, but also touches on themes of life and mortality.
85. Keller
Keller means ‘cellar’, traditionally associated with places of storage, including the keeping of the deceased.
86. Ronan
Ronan means ‘little seal’, creatures often tied to folklore involving the afterlife.
87. Stellan
Stellan means ‘calm’, often reflecting the peace that follows a state of death.
88. Ragnar
Ragnar means ‘warrior’ and evokes themes of valor in the face of death during battles.
89. Apollo
Apollo is the Greek god representing knowledge and truth, often associated with diverse stories about life and death.
90. Uri
Uri means ‘my light’, often symbolizing the guiding light found after life has passed into death.
91. Colt
Colt references youth and energy, but can also symbolize the transience of life before death occurs.
92. Faelan
Faelan means ‘little wolf’, which connects to notions of survival, loss, and the cycle of life and death.
93. Raoul
Raoul means ‘wolf’, a creature steeped in cultural folklore often involving themes surrounding death.
94. Breckin
Breckin signifies ‘freckled’, but metaphorically can touch upon the marks of life that reflect eventual death.
95. Zoltan
Zoltan is a Hungarian name meaning ‘life’ but conversely points towards the understanding of life leading to death.
96. Drystan
Drystan means ‘tumult’, which can connect with life’s chaos leading to untimely ends.
97. Hollis
Hollis means ‘dweller by the holy trees’, symbolizing some of life’s most profound realizations surrounding death.
98. Lawson
Lawson means ‘son of Lawrence’, pointed to legacy, which ties loosely to the reflections on death.
99. Keane
Keane means ‘fighter’, while wrestling with the concepts of mortality and what it means to face one’s end.
100. Cormac
Cormac means ‘son of the charioteer’, again touching upon stories of valor against death.
101. Eamon
Eamon means ‘wealthy protector’, often attuned to legacy and remembrance that follows death.
102. Brice
Brice means ‘speckled’, tied to the notion of remembering those lost while reflecting on life.
103. Ransome
Ransome means ‘bird of the seashore’, which connects to life, the sea, and eventual death.
104. Bane
Bane means ‘a cause of misery or death’, making it a straightforward and powerful name.
105. Hades
Hades is the Greek god of the underworld, directly related to themes of death and the afterlife.
106. Morty
Morty is a derivative of the name Mortimer, meaning ‘from the dead sea’, closely related to the concept of death.
107. Nevan
Nevan means ‘little saint’, often depicting the span between mortal life and spiritual death.
108. Ripley
Ripley means ‘strip of land by a river’, alluding to the transitional spaces often associated with life and death.
109. Samir
Samir means ‘breeze’ but reflects on the quiet after a life has passed, symbolizing stillness in death.
110. Thorne
Thorne symbolizes protection, often reminding us of life cycles and inevitable death.
111. Quillon
Quillon is of Latin origin, meaning ‘crossed swords’, representing battle and the connection to death.
112. Sadler
Sadler means ‘saddler’, touching on life’s fleeting moments tied to loss and death.
113. Kirin
Kirin means ‘pure’ and often reflects on life’s narrative through mortality.
114. Yorick
Yorick represents an iconic character from Shakespeare, associated with life’s ephemeral nature and death.
115. Calder
Calder signifies ‘rocky water’, mirroring both the fluidity of life and the stillness of death.
116. Adair
Adair signifies ‘oak tree’, closely linked to nature’s cycle of life, loss, and renewal.
117. Jonan
Jonan is a version of Jonah, who faced mortality in a tale of revival, linking life and death themes.
118. Larkin
Larkin means ‘fierce’, often binding life and death under daring circumstances.
119. Merrick
Merrick means ‘fame’, a reminder of those who live on in legacy after death.
120. Charon
Charon is the Greek mythological figure who ferries souls across the river Styx, a direct representation of death.
121. Vesper
Vesper refers to evening star and twilight, a gentle representation of transition relating to death.
122. Acheron
Acheron is a river in Greek mythology, often seen as the river of woe, associated directly with the journey of death.
123. Zaccai
Zaccai in Hebrew relates to ‘righteous’, touching subtly upon the spiritual journeys after death.
124. Inigo
Inigo means ‘fiery’, evoking the energy surrounding battles that lead to death.
125. Moth
Moth symbolizes transformation through death into new forms of existence.
126. Umair
Umair means ‘builder’, which can directly extend to the structures built in memory of those who have passed.
127. Wellington
Wellington means ‘from the wealthy estate’, symbolizing the legacies left behind after passing.
128. Graves
Graves is a straightforward name pointing to burial places, central to the theme of death.
129. Thane
Thane means ‘warrior’, connecting bravely to the life and loss experienced in battle.
130. Declan
Declan means ‘full of goodness’, offering a sense of appreciation for those lost.
131. Gannett
Gannett means ‘goose’, a creature often linked to the cycles of life and death in the natural world.
132. Tanner
Tanner means ‘leather worker’, representing the humanity and life we often revere in memory.
133. Odhran
Odhran means ‘pale green’, touching on both the growth aspects and suffering in life that often leads to death.
134. Devlin
Devlin means ‘unlucky one’, often referring to the fragility of life.
135. Teilo
Teilo means ‘to be whole’, reflecting on the unification of life and death within conceptions of wholeness.
136. Hollister
Hollister means ‘holy place’, encapsulating the themes of respect and memories tied to loss.
137. Vardon
Vardon means ‘from the boar’s valley’, suggesting ties to the rugged terrain where life and death often clash.
138. Remus
Remus is linked to Roman mythology with themes surrounding abandonment and survival, touching on death’s presence.
139. Lychgate
Lychgate refers to the gate leading to a graveyard, nodding directly to themes of death.
140. Delmar
Delmar means ‘of the sea’, and often symbolizes the calm after storms, resonating with the feelings surrounding death.
141. Bertie
Bertie, derived from Bertram, means ‘bright raven’, and connects to the imagery often surrounding death and mourning.
142. Larkin
Larkin means ‘sorrow’, succinctly covering the emotions surrounding death.
143. Aldrich
Aldrich means ‘old ruler’, linking to legacies and stories associated with death.
144. Keelan
Keelan means ‘slender’, stretching metaphorically into thoughts of life and eventual loss.
145. Orrin
Orrin means ‘pale’, symbolizing the fading of life and transition into death.
146. Gwendolyn
Gwendolyn, while typically feminine, means ‘white circle’, often touching on themes of rebirth through death.
147. Wyatt
Wyatt means ‘brave in war’, portraying a warrior that faces death bravely.
148. Vernard
Vernard means ‘the brave warrior’, linking to the narratives of valor in the wake of death.
149. Alain
Alain means ‘handsome’, with references often leading into stories of loss and reflection.
150. Padrig
Padrig means ‘noble’, connecting one’s nobility often in matters of loss and the respect of the deceased.
Final Thoughts
Choosing a name for your baby boy can emphasize unique meanings, especially when considering names that relate to death and the afterlife. The names shared above offer rich histories and powerful significance that connect to mortality, loss, and the reflective nature of life. Each name can serve as a reminder of resilience, strength, and respect for the cycle of life and death.
As you navigate through this meaningful journey of finding the perfect name, consider exploring more about cultural perspectives on mortality through names like Japanese names that mean death or simply diving deeper into the meanings behind names that encapsulate such profound themes.
It’s always beautiful to choose a name with a story, so take your time in discovering the right one that resonates with you and your family’s beliefs.