Names That Mean Death

In Greek mythology, Tartarus rules over the depths of the underworld. Probably not the best role model for a little boy.

Proserpine is the Roman equivalent of the goddess Persephone, the Queen of the Underworld in Greek myth.

A beautiful girl name with a melodic sound, Malalai is best known for Malalai of Maiwand, a woman who is considered a national folk hero in Afghanistan. She was a 19th-century freedom fighter, credited for the Afghan victory in the 1880 Battle of Maiwand. The well-known Pakistani activist Malala Yousafzai was named after her, with Malala being a more modern variant of Malalai. Another significant namesake is Afghan activist Malalai Joya.

In Norse mythology, Valhalla was the great hall that welcomes heroes who died in battle. The residents of Valhalla were hand-picked by Odin, for they were to help him during Ragnarök.

Angelos, also called Angelia, is a daughter of Zeus and Hera who angered her mother and went into hiding. She is sometimes identified with the underworld.

Manius is one of the lesser-used Roman forenames, far less popular than Lucius, Marcus et al, both in ancient times and today. Its meaning is actually uncertain: another possible origin is from manes, deities of the underworld.

Tiamat is a goddess of the sea worshipped in ancient Mesopotamia, also seen as the creator goddess in some texts.

This gender-neutral royal name of Tahiti was inspired by the death of a child from a night cough, not the most positive reference especially in the age of Covid.

A rare spelling variation of the Norse mythological name Valhalla — the great hall which housed slain heroes who were to fight the battles of Ragnarök.

In Yoruba mythology from Nigeria, Yewa is a goddess of virginity and death, said to reside in a graveyard.

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.