Baby Name Meanings
Names That Mean Death
Across 9 pages
of 9
Dismas
Greek
"sunset"
The name generally given to the "Good Thief" at the crucifixion of Jesus, although he was not actually named in the New Testament. The name Dismas first appeared in the 4th-century Gospel of…
Itachi
Japanese
"weasel"
The Japanese word for "weasel" was chosen as the name of Itachi Uchiha, a character in Naruto . In anime, name meanings often relate to a character's story. Weasels are bad luck in Japanese culture…
Assumpta
Latin
"Assumption"
A highly unusual name in the U.S., Assumpta refers to the Assumption of Mary, the ascent of the Virgin Mary into Heaven before her death in Catholic and Eastern Orthodox doctrine. An intriguing and…
Allani
Persian
Allani, also known as Allatu, was a Hurrian goddess of the underworld worshipped in the Middle East historically. Allani was associated with the determination of fate.
Ives
English variation of Yves
"yew wood"
Smooth and sleek one-syllable name, sometimes suggested for Sagittarius boys.
Desdemona
Greek
"ill-starred"
Desdemona is as Shakespearean as a name can be, but because the beautiful and innocent wife of Othello came to such a tragic end, her name has been avoided for centuries. But at this point in time,…
Iverson
Old Norse
"Ivar's son"
In the 90s, Michael Jordan inspired thousands of parents around the world to name their babies Jordan. Retired NBA star Allen Iverson hasn't yet had anywhere near that impact, but a respectable 64…
Iver
Norwegian variant of Ivar
"yew wood, archer, warrior"
Iver is a popular name in its native Norway, but parents in the U.S. are starting to take note of this rugged yet gentle name. Stemming from the original Norse name Ívarr , it is part of a small…
Deirdre
Irish
"sorrowful"
Sadly, this strong Celtic name often has "of the sorrows" attached to it because of the tragic character in Irish legend. Also a bit drab when compared with newer Irish imports.
Ivo
Germanic, Slavic
"yew wood, archer; God is gracious"
Succinct, stylish, and catchy, Ivo has the energetic impact of other names ending in -o . It is a multicultural choice with two distinct origins, and, as such, is familiar across a variety of…
Ivor
Scottish variation of Welsh Ifor, English form of Norse Ívarr
"lord; yew tree, bow warrior"
Ivor, a favorite choice for upscale characters in Brit Lit novels by authors like P.G. Wodehouse and Evelyn Waugh, is an interesting and unusual name just waiting to be discovered by parents in this…
Kaddish
Literary and word name
The name of the hero of Nathan Englander's The Ministry of Special Cases is also the name of the prayer Jews say for the dead, so be aware that this could definitely be seen as an offensive choice to…
Asriel
Spelling variation of Azriel, Hebrew
"God is my help"
Azriel, also found as Azrael or Asriel, is the name of the Angel of Death in Jewish and Islamic tradition. The Asriel spelling occurs as a Biblical name, notably as the forefather of the Asrielite…
Kali
Sanskrit
"black one"
Kali is a popular girls' name in the US with dark origins: She is the Hindu goddess of death and destruction, though we'd wager many parents see the name as simply a respelling of Callie. About 30…
Kalliroi
Greek
"beautiful flow"
Kalliroi is a modern Greek form of the Classical name Callirrhoe, who in mythology was an ocean nymph who accompanied Persephone to the underworld. If you're looking for unusual names with ocean…
Kellogg
English surname
"pork butcher"
The Kellogg surname — these days associated with cereal and the Northwestern University business school — has rather grotesque origins. It is derived from the Middle English word kellen , meaning "to…
Keres
Greek mythological name
In Greek mythology, the Keres were female death spirits; goddesses who personified violent deaths and were drawn to bloody deaths on battlefields.
Kore
Greek
"maiden"
Kore is the original Greek form of the modern Cora, a name that's heading straight for the top of the charts in the English-speaking world. Kore was an alternate name for Persephone, goddess of the…
Ive
Cornish
"yew"
Angliziced form of the Cornish name Ia. According to legend, the Cornish saint Ia was an Irish princess who sailed across the sea to Cornwall on a leaf. She was martyred and buried at the spot where…
Ivara
German
"yew tree, archer"
Similar to Ivana but less personality-driven.