Names hold special meanings and can carry powerful messages. Some names even relate to deep concepts like death. While this may sound dark, many cultures have names that symbolize endings or the afterlife. These names often have historical or mythological roots and can spark curiosity about their stories.
Today, we’ll look at various first names that mean death. From names used in ancient times to modern interpretations, each has its unique background. You might be surprised by the meanings and the stories behind these names, and how they reflect different views on life and death.
First Names That Mean Death
1. Abaddon
The name Abaddon is of Hebrew origin and means “destruction.” In religious texts, it often refers to the angel of the abyss, symbolizing death and chaos.
2. Achlys
Achlys comes from Greek mythology and signifies “mist” or “darkness,” referring to the personification of death and eternal night.
3. Azrael
This Arabic name refers to the angel of death and signifies the role of guiding souls into the afterlife, embodying the concept of death in various cultures.
4. Devlin
Of Irish origin, Devlin means “unlucky” or “unfortunate,” often connected to demise and a darker side of life, reflecting mortality.
5. Mara
This name is derived from Hebrew and means “bitter.” Mara has associations with death and loss, often seen as a representation of suffering and grief.
6. Mortimer
Mortimer has French roots and translates to “dead sea.” It combines the essence of life with its inevitable end, making it a perfect name related to death.
7. Morticia
The name Morticia derives from the Latin word “mors,” meaning death. It gained popularity through the Addams Family, giving it a playful, yet dark, connotation.
8. Kuro
Kuro is a Japanese name that translates to “black” and can symbolize death or misfortune, making it a strong choice for those fascinated by its deeper meanings.
9. Nyx
In Greek mythology, Nyx is the goddess of night and has associations with death and the underworld, embodying the mystery surrounding mortality.
10. Letha
Letha means “oblivion” or “forgetfulness” in Greek mythology, often linked with the river Lethe, where souls forget their past lives, mirroring themes of death.
11. Orpheus
This legendary Greek figure is known for his journey to the underworld to retrieve his wife. His name symbolizes the intertwining of love and death.
12. Malice
Of English origin, Malice signifies evil intent and has dark undertones often associated with harmful actions, reflecting themes of death.
13. Acheron
Acheron comes from Greek mythology and is known as the river of sorrow, often related to death and the journey one takes after passing away.
14. Kali
Kali is a Hindu goddess known for destruction and transformation, celebrating the cycles of death and rebirth while embracing the darker side of existence.
15. Nox
Nox is derived from Latin, meaning “night,” and is associated with death and all things dark in nature, making it a strong name with thematic depth.
16. Lethe
Lethe is named after the river of forgetfulness in Greek mythology, symbolizing the oblivion that follows death and the cycle of life.
17. Morte
The name Morte comes from Latin meaning “death,” making it a directly related name that reflects the topic very explicitly.
18. Dierdre
Dierdre is an Irish name meaning “sorrow” or “broken-hearted,” often associated with tragic stories, touching themes of loss and death.
19. Thanatos
Thanatos is the personification of death in Greek mythology, the embodiment of mortality, making it a strong name directly linked to death.
20. Banshee
The name Banshee comes from Irish folklore, representing a wailing spirit warning of impending death, intertwining life with its inevitable end.
21. Dullard
Dullard is an English name that translates to someone who brings misfortune, as it implies a connection to darker times and death.
22. Zara
Zara can mean “princess” but is also associated with “to blossom” and “to seed,” reflecting life cycles, including death as part of nature’s processes.
23. Ember
The name Ember relates to the remnants of fire, symbolizing a lingering presence after something has burned out, echoing themes of death and loss.
24. Desdemona
Desdemona is of Greek origin and means “ill-starred,” often associated with tragedy and death in Shakespeare’s works, encapsulating its dark theme.
25. Mina
Mina means “love” or “precious,” but it also carries connotations of “death” through its association with various historical texts.
26. Niamh
Niamh means “radiance” or “brightness” but is also tied to tales of tragedy and loss, aligning it with meanings related to death.
27. Maud
Of French origin, Maud means “battle-mighty,” but its historical context is often laced with themes of death from the battles of old.
28. Sidhe
Sidhe refers to the Irish “fairy mounds,” often associated with the spirits of the dead, directly linking it to themes of death and the afterlife.
29. Caron
Caron is from Welsh heritage meaning “love,” but it also can be linked to the notion of guiding souls across the river, reflecting death-related themes.
30. Hades
In Greek mythology, Hades is the god of the underworld, directly tied to death, making this name bold in its representation of mortality.
31. Lilith
Lilith is often associated with night and darkness, representing themes of death and bad omens in various mythologies.
32. Leila
Leila means “night” in Arabic, linking it to darkness and the conceptual exploration of death within that symbolism.
33. Ashling
Ashling means “dream” or “vision” in Irish but is often coupled with legends of death and the supernatural, bridging life and its end.
34. Elowen
Elowen means “elm tree” in Cornish folklore, often symbolizing strength rooted in the cycle of life and death, reflecting its natural connections.
35. Cettie
Cettie means “battle” but carries undertones of the struggles leading to death, embodying the fight against mortality.
36. Selene
Selene is the Greek goddess of the moon, embodying light in darkness and often linked to the cyclical nature of life and death.
37. Ubel
This German name translates to “evil,” commonly associated with misfortune and darker themes, linking it to death.
38. Kaida
Kaida is a Japanese name meaning “little dragon,” which symbolizes something powerful yet carrying the weight of mortality and endings.
39. Tamsin
Tamsin is a name of English origin meaning “twin,” connected to themes of dichotomy, including life and death.
40. Mireille
Mireille means “to admire” but is often tied to deeper tales involving love and loss, relating to the concept of death.
41. Cordelia
Cordelia can mean “heart” or “daughter of the sea,” but its literary associations often bring it into stories involving tragedy and death.
42. Rama
While Rama can be a revered name in Hinduism signifying “pleasing,” it somewhat reflects on themes of sacrifice and mortality through mythological tales.
43. Damaris
Damaris means “calf” in Greek but is connected with works indicating loss and tragedy, linking it to reflections on death.
44. Isolde
Isolde is tied to tragic love stories and embodies themes of betrayal and death, making it a name that resonates with sorrow.
45. Phaedra
Phaedra comes from Greek mythology as a tragic figure, encapsulating the pain of love and loss, directing attention to themes of death.
46. Keely
Keely means “slender and fair,” but it may also evoke images of hardship, ending in sorrow or death in certain contexts.
47. Elysia
Elysia means “blissful,” often linked to Elysium from Greek myth, representing a paradise for the dead, reflecting a peaceful death.
48. Jabez
Jabez means “he makes sorrowful,” a name that reflects depth in the experience of loss and the contemplation of death.
49. Deva
Deva means “divine” in various cultures, but the recognition of divine powers often connects to the cycle of death and rebirth.
50. Tanith
This name signifies a moon goddess in ancient history, connecting it with darkness and the cyclical nature of death.
51. Riven
The name Riven means “torn apart,” which can symbolize loss or separation, aligning well with themes surrounding death.
52. Keren
Keren means “ray” and carries an association with light piercing darkness, which can reflect themes of death lingering over life.
53. Lirael
Lirael means “song” but is often associated with tales of loss, indirectly relating to themes of death and remembrance.
54. Yara
Yara means “small butterfly,” often symbolizing change and transformation, evoking consciousness of life’s fleeting nature and death.
55. Edda
Edda relates to ancient Norse poetry and mythology, often preserving tales of loss and death through its narratives.
56. Reaper
The name Reaper directly associates with the “grim reaper,” a figure personifying death, making it a bold representation of the topic.
57. Talia
Talia means “dew from heaven,” but can also highlight fragile beauty that often relates to loss or mourning, thus linking to death.
58. Astraea
Astraea is a goddess associated with justice but also symbolizes balance between life and death, embodying the inevitability of mortality.
59. Lysander
Lysander means “liberator,” often intertwined with stories of sacrifice, resonating with the inevitable end of life.
60. Icarus
Icarus is a figure from Greek mythology whose hubris led to his demise, reflecting the thin line between brilliance and death.
61. Ivara
Ivara means “arrows,” symbolizing the pain of warfare and loss, tightly connecting it with themes surrounding death.
62. Draven
The name Draven has modern roots but signifies “hunter,” associated with the cycle of life and death through hunting practices.
63. Tala
Tala is derived from “star” in various cultures but can also mean “morning star,” reflecting on the duality of life, death, and renewal.
64. Caligo
Caligo means “mist” in Latin, relating to the obscurities of existence and the process of death.
65. Lorelei
Lorelei is often viewed as a water spirit leading sailors to their deaths, embodying the enchanting but perilous links to mortality.
66. Ankou
Ankou is a figure from Breton folklore representing death, emphasizing local cultural ties to the concept of mortality.
67. Sybil
Sybil means “prophetess,” often associated with foretelling doom and future events, evoking themes of impending death.
68. Cerys
Cerys in Welsh means “love,” but is sometimes tied with tales and songs reflecting loss and mourning associated with death.
69. Tamsyn
Tamsyn can mean “twin,” but it also subtly alludes to pairings, life, and the inevitable cycle of death.
70. Orlaith
This Irish name translates to “golden princess,” yet stories connected to royalty often lead to fields of conflict and loss of life.
71. Sable
Sable means “black” and is often associated with mourning and death, founding its roots in the symbolism of darkness.
72. Aisling
Aisling refers to a vision or dream in Irish, often linked with tales of ghostly encounters post-death.
73. Nikita
Nikita means “unconquered” in Russian, often reflecting victory over death and the conflicts leading to it.
74. Zara
Zara can signify “radiance,” yet it also touches upon fleeting beauty, often leading to reflections about life and eventual death.
75. Zephyr
Zephyr means “west wind” and symbolizes transitions, which often end in stormy weather or death for some.
76. Gwyneth
Gwyneth means “blessed,” but its historical narrative sometimes delves into loss associated with the fragility of life.
77. Amarantha
Amarantha signifies “unfading” or “eternal flower,” often used to symbolize life intertwined with death in its everlasting nature.
78. Thorne
Thorne is an English name referencing prickly bushes, embodying the challenges and separation often felt around themes of death.
79. Rowena
Rowena means “famous friend,” yet has connections to stories of tragedy and loss, exploring themes associated with death.
80. Vera
Vera means “truth,” and the exploration of truths often leads one to the realities surrounding mortality and death.
81. Corinne
This name means “maiden” but connects through stories with loss and sacrifice, reinforcing themes of death.
82. Amaya
Amaya means “night rain,” which often serves as a metaphor for sadness and loss associated with themes of death.
83. Neoma
Neoma means “new moon,” representing darkness and the quieter transitions often related to death and endings.
84. Sekhmet
In Egyptian mythology, Sekhmet is a lioness goddess associated with war and healing, intertwining aspects of death and rebirth.
85. Rhiannon
Rhiannon in Welsh myth is tied to horses and often carries themes of a journey past death towards the afterlife.
86. Tempest
Tempest literally refers to a violent storm, symbolizing destruction and turmoil, which can connect to endings and death.
87. Morrigan
Morrigan is a figure from Celtic mythology representing death and warfare, directly linking it to the essence of mortality.
88. Stark
Stark means “strong” but can imply harsh realities and confrontations with death, reflecting its darker associations.
89. Nereus
Nereus in Greek mythology is known as the “Old Man of the Sea” and signifies change, including the cycle of death.
90. Damiel
Damiel means “follower of God,” shedding light on the themes of sacrifice and redemption often explored surrounding death.
91. Kali
While Kali often means “black” or “dark,” it also references the goddess of destruction in Hinduism, focusing on death and endings.
92. Orson
Orson means “bear cub,” but historical connections to strength in the face of death lend a deeper meaning to this name.
93. Aradia
Aradia has associations with witchcraft and can symbolize power over life and death, steeping it in themes of mortality.
94. Honora
Honora means “honor,” but the tales connected to revered individuals often grasp themes of demise and sacrifice.
95. Lune
Lune means “moon,” connecting to the ethereal themes surrounding both life and death through its cyclical presence.
96. Venus
Venus signifies a deity associated with love and beauty but often carries darker themes within myth relating to loss and death.
97. Celeste
Celeste means “heavenly,” connecting the notion of the afterlife and reflections on death in celestial terms.
98. Aislin
Aislin means “dream” or “vision,” often aligned with stories that encompass loss and the dreams beyond death.
99. Isla
The name Isla comes from the Scottish word for “island,” embodying themes of separation and isolation tied to death.
100. Cressida
Cressida is associated with Shakespearean tales and reflects on themes of love and loss, directly relating to mortality.
101. Sallie
Sallie means “princess,” but also has ties to “bitter,” reflecting sorrowful connections to themes surrounding death.
102. Thalassa
This name comes from Greek mythology representing the sea, reflecting upon the countless lives synonymous with death in its depths.
103. Azura
Azura means “sky blue,” but can evoke feelings of tranquility after death’s arrival through an ethereal connection.
104. Niam
Niam means “radiance,” often theme-tied to beauty that may evade death, reflecting on cherished memories of those gone.
105. Helon
Helon means “spear,” often associated with battles leading to death and sacrifice, linking it with dark connotations of mortality.
106. Tyria
Tyria can symbolize “goddess of battle,” embodying conflict and its inevitable outcome with death.
107. Davina
This name means “beloved,” yet historical narratives often include themes of loss, closely tied with death.
108. Reyna
Reyna means “queen,” often associated with tales of those who rose and fell, bringing focus to mortality amidst legacy.
109. Jesse
Jesse means “gift” but can also symbolize loss when exploring depths of those longed for, intertwining it with themes of death.
110. Alaric
Alaric means “ruler of all,” often involved in tales of kings and war, linked directly with loss of life and death.
111. Lysandra
Lysandra means “liberator” but relates to themes of life versus death in tales of struggle and sacrifice.
112. Isolde
Isolde links to tales of love and tragedy, framing death within the narrative of emotional connections and destinies intertwined.
113. Raine
Raine means “queen” and evokes beauty and majesty, yet reflects tales of the dark paths leading to death.
114. Nephele
Nephele means “cloud,” linking to the ethereal, fog-like experiences often related to death and sorrowful transitions.
115. Zuberi
Zuberi means “strong,” often that strength must face inevitable endings, echoing tales intertwined with mortality.
116. Fei
Fei means “flying” in Chinese, which can symbolize freedom beyond life and death, exploring transcendence.
117. druid
Druid is associated with ancient wisdom and nature, leading to themes of life, death, and the balance between the two.
118. Calantha
Calantha means “beautiful flower,” but blooms fading into death can symbolize the cycle of life’s impermanence.
119. Xanthe
Xanthe means “yellow” in Greek but connects to themes of fading blossoms and the inevitability of death.
120. Elysian
This name embodies the ideas of bliss and paradise, often coupled with narratives around mortality and the afterlife.
121. Shiloh
Shiloh means “peace,” symbolizing the calm that follows, but historically has ties to tales involving death and loss.
122. Hesperia
Hesperia refers to the evening star, symbolizing endings and reflections on mortality tied to death.
123. Astrid
Astrid means “divine strength,” often held in tales involving battles, once again connecting to mortality and endings.
124. Than
Than is derived from “thanatos,” directly associating it with the concept of death in its clearest form.
125. Requiem
Requiem refers to a mass for the deceased, symbolizing mourning and the connection to death in remembrance.
126. Leona
Leona means “lioness,” representing strength but often connected to struggles involving battles leading to death.
127. Senka
Senka means “moonbeam” but evokes the brightness seen in the night that often has connections to deeper tales of life and death.
128. Galadriel
Galadriel reflects grace and light, yet has associations with sorrow related to loss and passing.
129. Medea
Medea embodies themes of tragedy and revenge, linking it to mortality through intense emotional narratives.
130. Morella
This name connects with themes of death and tragedy often found in stories embracing dark reflections.
131. Farah
Farah means “joy,” yet in certain contexts reflects the bittersweetness of life and death intertwined.
132. Vesper
Vesper means “evening” and symbolizes endings, much like the quiet that often follows death.
133. Azumi
Azumi carries peacefulness while often associated with quiet reflections linked to mortality and passing.
134. Leocadia
Leocadia means “bright,” but also relates to ancient stories involving loss and the sorrows of life that accompany death.
135. Dabria
Dabria means “from the sea,” representing transformations and life cycles, embracing themes involving death.
136. Ptolemy
Ptolemy represents ancient rule and transitions, linking historically with depictions involving mortality.
137. Danica
Danica means “morning star,” representing new life yet connected to the stories involving death and endings.
138. Xiomara
Xiomara means “ready for battle,” often reflecting the life-and-death struggles found in historical tales.
139. Maelstrom
Maelstrom symbolizes turbulent waters, linking the chaos of life and death together within its connotations.
140. Inigo
Inigo means “fiery,” often tied with tales of disaster and death, interweaving stories through its origins.
141. Ygraine
This name links to tragic romance in Arthurian legends, emphasizing the themes of love and loss associated with death.
142. Eowyn
Eowyn symbolizes a brave warrior, tied to narratives involving battles and the hint of mortality.
143. Kael
Kael means “slender,” often resonating themes of fragility surrounding life, concluding in the inevitability of death.
144. Temperance
Temperance symbolizes balance, often hallway through stories leading into discussions of mortality and departure from life.
145. Thelonious
This name means “lord,” intertwined with themes of power and mortality in historical stories telling of battles.
146. Sorrows
Sorrows can symbolize much, touching directly upon the pain of loss and how it interlinks closely with death.
147. Tristian
Tristian means “sorrowful” and carries heavy ties to grief, loss, and the central concepts surrounding death.
148. Isis
Isis represents a protective nature over those lost to mortality, with strong ties to cycles of life and death.
149. Kailani
Kailani translates to “sea and sky,” symbolizing the endless journey after death merging with nature.
150. Olwen
Olwen is associated with beauty and connections to nature but carries the weight of sorrow intertwined within stories of death.
Final Thoughts
Exploring first names that mean death reveals the rich tapestry of meanings and cultural significance tied to mortality. Names like Abaddon and Achlys illustrate the many facets of life, loss, and endings, offering unique insights into various perspectives on death.
Each name contains stories and historical contexts that expand our understanding of how different cultures interpret life’s ultimate conclusion. Whether the names evoke sorrow, strength, or mystery, they serve as constant reminders of the delicate balance between existence and non-existence.
If you are intrigued by these themes, consider delving deeper into the subject of names that represent death on [this page](https://explainnames.com/names-that-mean-death/) or explore [Japanese girl names that mean death](https://explainnames.com/japanese-girl-names-that-mean-death/) for an even broader perspective on this profound topic.