Names That Mean Dark

Grimes and Elon Musk put this name on the map in 2022, when they revealed their daughter's name was Exa Dark Sideræl. Until that point, Dark had not been recorded as a given name, although it resembles more established names such as Mark and Lark.

Photographer Diane Arbus named her daughter Doon, inspired by the sand dunes she walked among when pregnant. Used this way, Doon might be considered a nature name, a refashioning of the word dune. But Doon might also stem from the familiar Scottish surname Dunn or Dunne, which means brown or dark, originally used for a dark-haired person.

An attractive Irish surname that is used more often among girls — likely due to the feminine associations with Kerry.

Zanzibar is an island region off the coast of Tanzania. It's never been recorded as a baby name, but for those with a connection to Zanzibar, it's an intriguing and unique option chock full of zesty Zs.

Famous violinist-conductor Pinchas Zuckerman is the most famous modern bearer; the biblical Pinchas was the son of Eleazar and the grandson of Aaron -- both preferable name choices.

Blaque is a clever -- or should we say qlever -- spelling variation of either the androgynous surname-name Blake, as in Gossip Girl, Lively, or Black, as in the color name. Either way, we prefer the original. Blaque -- an acronym for believing life achieving quest unity everything -- was also a late '90s R & B group and some people may choose the name Blaque to symbolize those qualities.

The city name Dublin ultimately derived from Irish elements dubh, meaning "dark," and lind, "pool." The dark pool in question was a tidal pool behind Dublin Castle.

Kajol and kajal are terms for the kohl that was used as eyeliner in ancient India. Indian actress Kajol Devgn is the most notable bearer.

Doolish (known as Douglas in English) is the largest town in the Isle of Man. The name is though to derive from a Celtic word "Duboglassio" which means "black river".

Originally an epithet for someone with dark eyebrows, Kolbrún is now in the Icelandic Top 50. Kolbrún Halldórsdóttir is an Icelandic politician.

While the masculine name Shyam is associated with the Hindu god Krishna, the feminine Shyama is sometimes associated as one of the wives of Shiva, or also seen as the name of a Jain goddess. Shyama (single name only) was a famous early Bollywood actress.

The moody and mysterious name Dark could be the perfect name for a couple who embraces the magic of the unknown. Grimes and Elon Musk used it as a middle for their daughter Y, whose given name is Exa Dark Sideræl. Grimes chose it because, "dark matter is the beautiful mystery of our universe."

Blaque is a clever -- or should we say qlever -- spelling variation of either the androgynous surname-name Blake, as in Gossip Girl Lively, or Black, as in the color name. Either way, we prefer the original. Blaque -- an acronym for believing life achieving quest unity everything -- was also a late 90s R & B group and some people may choose the name Blaque to symbolize those qualities.

Along with Shyam, Shyamal is an epithet of the Hindu God Krishna.