Historic and Vintage Names
By Sophie Kihm · Updated September 2026
Across 6 pages
of 6
Lechitic
"to fade, disappear"
Niya is an alternative name for Lilith, a demon or goddess in mythology. Niya is still worshipped today in a cult located in parts of Eastern Europe.
Greek mythological name
The name of the god of death and the underworld in Greek mythology is definitely a dark and daring choice. The Roman version Pluto is more associated with the used-to-be planet or Mickey Mouse's…
Hebrew
"twisted, coiled; in modern Hebrew - whale"
Leviathan was a name given to 76 boys in the USA in 2021. It makes a rather unusual Biblical choice, being the name not of a man or angel, but of a sea monster. In literature and popular culture, the…
"scapegoat"
In the Hebrew bible, Azazel is the name of the place where the scapegoat bearing the Jews' sins during Yom Kippur,was sacrificed. In Christian and Islamic traditions, Azazel is the name of a fallen…
Hebrew, Arabic, Greek from Egyptian
"the hidden one; invisible"
In Egyptian mythology, Amon is a major god associated with creation and the air. He was later fused with the Sun god, Ra, and became Amun-Ra. In the US, Amon is occasionally used as a variation of…
"poison of God"
Samael is an archangel in Talmudic lore — a figure who is the accuser, seducer, and destroyer. He is often made to resemble Satan, although his jobs are not all necessarily evil (such as destroying…
Aztec mythological name, Nahuatl
"moon"
In Aztec mythology, Metztli, also called Meztli and Metzi, was the goddess (or god) of the moon, the night, and farmers. Some other interpretations of Metztli view her as a demon.
Latin
"light-bearer"
Lucifer is the name of the archangel cast into hell and while theologians disagree on whether he and Satan are separate beings, it long been on the list of forbidden names for religious and…
Igbo, Polish, diminutive of Alicja
"nobility"
Ala is the Igbo earth goddess whose symbol is the crescent moon. In a very different vein, Ala can be a diminutive for Alicja or Alexandra or really any other name with an A at both ends and an L in…
Japanese
"red bean child"
This demon name from the anime Demon Slayer: Kimetsu no Yaiba , was one of the highest debuts of 2021, when it was given to 20 baby girls. It rose to 29 girls in 2022.
Norse
"fen-dweller"
The name of a monstrous wolf in Norse legend, who kills the god Odin and is then killed himself by one of Odin’s sons. Harry Potter author J.K. Rowling used the name for one of her most terrifying…
Greek
"rich"
The Roman god of the underworld, the former ninth planet, a cartoon dog...but not a baby.
Persian mythology name
Abraxas is a sci-fi-sounding name with earthly possibilities, but some playground challenges. Abraxas has a long and convoluted history, dating back to ancient Egyptian mythology and the Gnostics who…
Egyptian
"the hidden one"
In Egyptian mythology, Amun was a major god who later merged with Ra, becoming Amun-Ra. He is the creator deity and was worshiped as Ammon by the Greeks.
Greek, Hebrew
"demon of wrath"
Asmodeus is a prince of demons and hell according to Judeo-Islamic lore.
Irish
"descendant of the hardy warrior"
Although it looks like an English placename, the surname Crowley is an anglicization of the Irish O Cruadhlaoich. A famous bearer was the occultist Aleister Crowley, and it also appears on characters…
Arabic, Greek
"shining, radiant; throat"
Lamia is a name with two very different images: from its Arabic roots, it is a bright yet gentle choice with a glowing meaning. As a Greek name however, Lamia appears in mythology as a child-eating…
Mesopotamian
"lady of heaven"
An ancient Mesopotamian goddess of love, war and justice, with a name that fits modern tastes. In recent years it has become a rare but steady fixture near the bottom of the charts, and feels full of…
Phoenician
"Baal protects the King"
This evocative name of one of the Three Wise Men of the Orient, also spelled Balthasar, may finally be ready for prime time. Balthazar, Melchior and Caspar were the Magi who brought gifts of gold,…
"spacious"
Biblical woman from the Old Testament whose unique name is largely unknown in the modern world.
