When most people start thinking about baby names, the last thing they consider is a name that means death. The fact is, however, that names associated with death have actually been popular in many cultures throughout history. Some common names today have associations with death, though many people do not realize it.
If you are thinking about honoring the tradition of choosing a name for your child that is associated in some way with the concept of death, you are in good company. This is becoming increasingly popular in recent years.
There are many different options for this type of name. One beautiful example is naming your child Abiba, which is an African name traditionally given to the first child who is born after the death of a grandmother.
Another option is Dabria, which is a unique name that means an angel of death. Many people will love the balance of beauty and morbidity with that one. Loralie is becoming popular for girls, and is the name of a siren whose song lured sailors to their deaths. Morana is the name of a goddess of winter and death, as well as a beautiful modern name.
There are dozens of additional names pulled from many cultures, each reflecting on death in their own unique way. Take a look at this list for inspiration when choosing your next child’s name.
Abdulbaith
Meaning: Servant of resurrect or slave of one who raises death
Origin: Arabic,Urdu
Gender: Boy
Abiba
Meaning: The Beloved One
Origin: African
Gender: Girl
Achmetha
Meaning: Brother of death
Origin: Biblical
Gender: Boy
Adaliah
Meaning: One that draws water, poverty, cloud, death
Origin: Biblical
Gender: Boy
Ajal
Meaning: Specified term or period, hour of death; death; fate, destiny
Origin: Arabic
Gender: Boy
Amara
Meaning: Immortal Being; one who is blessed without end or death
Origin: Italian
Gender: Girl
Anpu
Meaning: God of death
Origin: Ancient Egyptian
Gender: Boy
Arius
Meaning: Deathless; name of a settlement
Origin: Latin
Gender: Boy
Azmaveth
Meaning: Strong death; a he-goat
Origin: Biblical
Gender: Boy
Azrail
Meaning: The Angel of Death
Origin: Arabic
Gender: Boy
Bashemath
Meaning: Perfumed; confusion of death; in desolation
Origin: Biblical
Gender: Girl
Bhishak
Meaning: The Healer; Vishnu; Who Cures the Disease of Birth and Death Cycles
Origin: Sanskrit
Gender: Boy
Claeg
Meaning: One who is subjected to death; mortal
Origin: Welsh
Gender: Boy
Clay
Meaning: Mortal; one who is subjected to death any moment of his life
Origin: Old English
Gender: Boy
Dabria
Meaning: Angel
Origin: Latin
Gender: Girl
Dearil
Meaning: Call of death; red haired
Origin: Scottish
Gender: Boy
Ernaline
Meaning: Capable or serious or battle to the death
Origin: Norse
Gender: Girl
Ernesha
Meaning: Serious; battle to the death
Origin: Old German
Gender: Girl
Ernest
Meaning: Serious business; battle to the death
Origin: Old German
Gender: Boy
Erysichthon
Meaning: Cursed with an insatiable hunger that caused his death
Origin: Greek
Gender: Boy
Freyja
Meaning: A name given to the lady of love, beauty and death
Origin: Norse
Gender: Girl
Gifflet
Meaning: Gifflet throws the Excalibur sword into the lake after King Arthur’s death
Origin: Arthurian legend
Gender: Girl
Hazarmaveth
Meaning: Dwelling of death
Origin: Biblical
Gender: Boy
Hippolytus
Meaning: In Greek legend, the son of Theseus and Hippolyta, who was dragged to his death by stampeding horses
Origin: Greek
Gender: Boy
Ilamatecuhtli
Meaning: Name of Aztec fertility and death goddess
Origin: Aztec
Gender: Girl
Javaraya
Meaning: God of Death; A name used by tribe community in State of Karnataka
Origin: Indian
Gender: Girl
Jeremoth
Meaning: Eminences, one that fears death
Origin: Biblical
Gender: Boy
Kalakuta
Meaning: God of Death; A name used by tribe community in State of Karnataka
Origin: Indian
Gender: Boy
Kaliya
Meaning: Of Time; Of Death; Name of mythological serpent which was fought by Lord Krishna
Origin: Indian
Gender: Boy
Khaalida
Meaning: Deathless, She is Immortal
Origin: Arabic
Gender: Girl
Kritanta
Meaning: God of death
Origin: Indian
Gender: Boy
Lilith
Meaning: Belonging to the night
Origin: Babylonian
Gender: Girl
Loralie
Meaning: Luring rock
Origin: German
Gender: Girl
Mabuz
Meaning: Ruler of Death Castle
Origin: Arthurian Legend
Gender: Boy
Mara
Meaning: Bitter. In the Bible, Naomi adopted the name Mara after the death of her husband and two sons
Origin: Hebrew
Gender: Girl
Meremoth
Meaning: Bitterness, myrrh of death
Origin: Biblical
Gender: Boy
Methusael
Meaning: Who demands his death
Origin: Biblical
Gender: Boy
Morana
Meaning: Death, Illness
Origin: Slavic
Gender: Girl
Nathan
Meaning: God has given
Origin: Hebrew
Gender: Boy
Odon
Meaning: The person of enduring fame, not subject to death, who is the personofication of a force
Origin: Old English
Gender: Boy
Omisha
Meaning: Spirit of birth and death
Origin: Sanskrit
Gender: Girl
Persephone
Meaning: Bringer of death
Origin: Greek
Gender: Girl
Phyllis
Meaning: Leafy foliage; green bough. In Greek legend, Phyllis was changed to an almond tree after her death, and bore no leaves until her lover returned
Origin: Greek
Gender: Girl
Saul
Meaning: Asked, lent, a grave. Demanded, lent, ditch, death
Origin: Biblical
Gender: Boy
Seth
Meaning: Set, appointed. Egyptian God
Origin: Hebrew
Gender: Boy
Tanda
Meaning: The seer of life and death
Origin: Native American
Gender: Girl
Thanatos
Meaning: Death
Origin: Greek
Gender: Boy
Tuwile
Meaning: Death is invincible
Origin: Kenyan
Gender: Boy
Yama
Meaning: God of death
Origin: Hindi
Gender: Boy
Yamajit
Meaning: One of many names of Lord Shiva signifying him as conqueror of death
Origin: Hindi
Gender: Boy
