Last updated on September 9th, 2024 at 05:42 pm
Names meaning dark capture the essence of the night and the allure of the unknown, perfect for those who embrace mystery and depth. Names that mean “dark,” “darkness,” or “black” have a timeless allure, often associated with mystery, strength, and elegance. These names draw inspiration from mythology, nature, celestial bodies, and even modern culture, each carrying deep and symbolic meanings.
Whether you’re looking for a name that represents the beauty of the night, the power of shadow, or the enigma of dark elements, this collection of names offers a wide variety of captivating choices. From ancient legends to modern interpretations, these names embody the mysterious charm of darkness and its many layers.
Names with “Dark” Meanings from Mythology and Legend
- Erebus
- Meaning: Darkness
- Name Origin: Greek
- Popularity: Rare
- Associated Meanings: Represents primordial darkness in Greek mythology.
- Nyx
- Meaning: Night
- Name Origin: Greek
- Popularity: Rare
- Associated Meanings: Goddess of the night in Greek mythology.
- Kali
- Meaning: Dark; black
- Name Origin: Sanskrit
- Popularity: Popular
- Associated Meanings: Hindu goddess associated with destruction and darkness.
- Hades
- Meaning: The unseen
- Name Origin: Greek
- Popularity: Rare
- Associated Meanings: God of the underworld in Greek mythology.
- Melaina
- Meaning: Black; dark
- Name Origin: Greek
- Popularity: Rare
- Associated Meanings: Represents a goddess of darkness.
- Nox
- Meaning: Night
- Name Origin: Latin
- Popularity: Rare
- Associated Meanings: Roman goddess of the night.
- Luna
- Meaning: Moon; light in darkness
- Name Origin: Latin
- Popularity: Popular
- Associated Meanings: Represents the light of the moon amidst darkness.
- Ereba
- Meaning: Darkness
- Name Origin: Greek
- Popularity: Rare
- Associated Meanings: A name signifying deep, mysterious darkness.
- Atra
- Meaning: Dark
- Name Origin: Latin
- Popularity: Rare
- Associated Meanings: Represents the concept of deep darkness.
- Zeme
- Meaning: Darkness
- Name Origin: Old Slavic
- Popularity: Rare
- Associated Meanings: A name denoting dark or shadowy qualities.
Names Meaning “Dark” in Various Languages
- Dara
- Meaning: Dark
- Name Origin: Irish
- Popularity: Popular
- Associated Meanings: Represents darkness and strength.
- Morgana
- Meaning: Sea-born; dark
- Name Origin: Welsh
- Popularity: Popular
- Associated Meanings: Associated with dark enchantments in Arthurian legend.
- Sable
- Meaning: Black; dark
- Name Origin: English
- Popularity: Rare
- Associated Meanings: Represents the black fur of the sable animal.
- Raven
- Meaning: Dark-haired; black
- Name Origin: English
- Popularity: Popular
- Associated Meanings: Symbolizes darkness and mystery.
- Kiera
- Meaning: Dark-haired
- Name Origin: Irish
- Popularity: Popular
- Associated Meanings: Represents dark beauty.
- Sirius
- Meaning: Glowing; bright star (in darkness)
- Name Origin: Greek
- Popularity: Rare
- Associated Meanings: The brightest star visible in the night sky.
- Ciaran
- Meaning: Dark-haired
- Name Origin: Irish
- Popularity: Popular
- Associated Meanings: Represents someone with dark features.
- Darian
- Meaning: Dark; rich
- Name Origin: Persian
- Popularity: Popular
- Associated Meanings: Signifies richness and depth of character.
- Morwenna
- Meaning: Maiden of the sea; dark
- Name Origin: Welsh
- Popularity: Rare
- Associated Meanings: Represents a dark, mysterious beauty.
- Nyssa
- Meaning: Night; dark
- Name Origin: Greek
- Popularity: Rare
- Associated Meanings: A name that evokes the quiet mystery of the night.
Names Associated with Darkness in Literature and Culture
- Lilith
- Meaning: Night monster; dark
- Name Origin: Hebrew
- Popularity: Rare
- Associated Meanings: Represents a dark, mythological figure.
- Rhiannon
- Meaning: Great queen; dark
- Name Origin: Welsh
- Popularity: Popular
- Associated Meanings: Known for her mysterious and dark aspects in mythology.
- Vesper
- Meaning: Evening star; dark
- Name Origin: Latin
- Popularity: Rare
- Associated Meanings: Represents the dark beauty of the evening star.
- Noctis
- Meaning: Night
- Name Origin: Latin
- Popularity: Rare
- Associated Meanings: Represents the concept of night and darkness.
- Acheron
- Meaning: River of sorrow; dark
- Name Origin: Greek
- Popularity: Rare
- Associated Meanings: Represents the dark river in Greek mythology.
- Seraphina
- Meaning: Fiery; dark
- Name Origin: Hebrew
- Popularity: Rare
- Associated Meanings: Represents both light and dark aspects.
- Zephyr
- Meaning: West wind; dark
- Name Origin: Greek
- Popularity: Rare
- Associated Meanings: Represents the dark winds of the evening.
- Astraea
- Meaning: Star-maiden; dark
- Name Origin: Greek
- Popularity: Rare
- Associated Meanings: Represents a celestial figure associated with darkness.
- Dusk
- Meaning: Twilight; dark
- Name Origin: English
- Popularity: Rare
- Associated Meanings: Represents the transition from light to darkness.
- Selene
- Meaning: Moon; dark
- Name Origin: Greek
- Popularity: Popular
- Associated Meanings: Represents the moon’s light in the darkness of night.
Modern Names with Dark Connotations
- Onyx
- Meaning: Black gemstone
- Name Origin: Greek
- Popularity: Popular
- Associated Meanings: Represents a deep, dark gemstone.
- Jet
- Meaning: Black gemstone
- Name Origin: English
- Popularity: Rare
- Associated Meanings: Signifies a dark, glossy black stone.
- Gotham
- Meaning: Village of goats; dark
- Name Origin: Old English
- Popularity: Rare
- Associated Meanings: Represents a dark, mysterious place.
- Ravenna
- Meaning: Raven; dark
- Name Origin: Italian
- Popularity: Rare
- Associated Meanings: Named after the dark, mysterious raven.
- Shade
- Meaning: Shadow; dark
- Name Origin: English
- Popularity: Rare
- Associated Meanings: Represents a shadowy, dark presence.
- Obsidian
- Meaning: Black volcanic glass
- Name Origin: Latin
- Popularity: Rare
- Associated Meanings: Signifies a dark, reflective material.
- Ravenna
- Meaning: Raven; dark
- Name Origin: Italian
- Popularity: Rare
- Associated Meanings: Represents the dark beauty of the raven.
- Shadow
- Meaning: Dark shape
- Name Origin: English
- Popularity: Rare
- Associated Meanings: Represents the concept of darkness and concealment.
- Umbra
- Meaning: Shadow; dark
- Name Origin: Latin
- Popularity: Rare
- Associated Meanings: Represents the darkest part of a shadow.
- Ebon
- Meaning: Black
- Name Origin: English
- Popularity: Rare
- Associated Meanings: Represents deep, dark blackness.
Names Signifying “Dark” Attributes in Historical Contexts
- Melantha
- Meaning: Dark flower
- Name Origin: Greek
- Popularity: Rare
- Associated Meanings: Represents a flower that thrives in the dark.
- Cassandra
- Meaning: Shining upon man; dark
- Name Origin: Greek
- Popularity: Popular
- Associated Meanings: Represents a figure with a dark prophecy.
- Dorian
- Meaning: Dark-skinned
- Name Origin: Greek
- Popularity: Popular
- Associated Meanings: Represents someone with a dark complexion.
- Anubis
- Meaning: God of the dead; dark
- Name Origin: Egyptian
- Popularity: Rare
- Associated Meanings: Represents the god associated with funerary rites.
- Hecate
- Meaning: Dark goddess
- Name Origin: Greek
- Popularity: Rare
- Associated Meanings: Represents the goddess of magic and the night.
- Hel
- Meaning: Goddess of the underworld; dark
- Name Origin: Norse
- Popularity: Rare
- Associated Meanings: Represents the ruler of the Norse underworld.
- Vespera
- Meaning: Evening; dark
- Name Origin: Latin
- Popularity: Rare
- Associated Meanings: Represents the evening darkness.
- Yin
- Meaning: Shadow; dark
- Name Origin: Chinese
- Popularity: Rare
- Associated Meanings: Represents the dark, feminine aspect of duality.
- Adela
- Meaning: Noble; dark
- Name Origin: German
- Popularity: Popular
- Associated Meanings: Represents nobility with dark undertones.
- Druantia
- Meaning: Tree goddess; dark
- Name Origin: Celtic
- Popularity: Rare
- Associated Meanings: Represents the dark aspects of nature.
Names Meaning “Dark” in Nature and the Elements
- Storm
- Meaning: Tempest; dark clouds
- Name Origin: English
- Popularity: Popular
- Associated Meanings: Represents the dark and powerful forces of nature.
- Tempest
- Meaning: Violent storm; dark skies
- Name Origin: English
- Popularity: Rare
- Associated Meanings: Signifies the darkness and chaos of a storm.
- Thunder
- Meaning: Dark stormy weather
- Name Origin: English
- Popularity: Rare
- Associated Meanings: Represents the powerful, dark sound of thunder.
- Ash
- Meaning: Dark residue from fire
- Name Origin: English
- Popularity: Popular
- Associated Meanings: Represents the aftermath of fire, a symbol of dark transformation.
- Ebony
- Meaning: Dark wood
- Name Origin: English
- Popularity: Popular
- Associated Meanings: Represents rich, dark wood used in crafting.
- Coal
- Meaning: Dark fuel
- Name Origin: English
- Popularity: Rare
- Associated Meanings: Signifies deep, dark black material used for energy.
- Garnet
- Meaning: Dark red gemstone
- Name Origin: Latin
- Popularity: Popular
- Associated Meanings: Represents a dark and valuable stone.
- Slate
- Meaning: Dark stone
- Name Origin: English
- Popularity: Rare
- Associated Meanings: A name inspired by the smooth, dark material used in building.
- Nightshade
- Meaning: Poisonous dark plant
- Name Origin: English
- Popularity: Rare
- Associated Meanings: Represents the danger and darkness associated with certain plants.
- Frost
- Meaning: Cold, dark winter
- Name Origin: English
- Popularity: Rare
- Associated Meanings: Represents the cold, dark beauty of frost in winter.
Names Representing “Darkness” in Modern Pop Culture
- Draven
- Meaning: Dark one
- Name Origin: English
- Popularity: Popular
- Associated Meanings: Represents a dark, mysterious figure, often linked with villains.
- Bellatrix
- Meaning: Female warrior; dark
- Name Origin: Latin
- Popularity: Popular
- Associated Meanings: Associated with darkness and rebellion through popular culture.
- Lucius
- Meaning: Light; paradoxically dark
- Name Origin: Latin
- Popularity: Popular
- Associated Meanings: Known as a dark character in popular literature and film.
- Morticia
- Meaning: Death; dark
- Name Origin: Latin
- Popularity: Rare
- Associated Meanings: Represents a dark, gothic personality.
- Damien
- Meaning: To tame; dark
- Name Origin: Greek
- Popularity: Popular
- Associated Meanings: Known for its dark connotations in popular horror films.
- Vader
- Meaning: Father; dark
- Name Origin: Dutch
- Popularity: Rare
- Associated Meanings: Associated with the infamous dark figure from popular sci-fi culture.
- Sable
- Meaning: Dark fur
- Name Origin: English
- Popularity: Rare
- Associated Meanings: Represents a luxurious and dark-colored animal pelt.
- Elvira
- Meaning: Truth; dark
- Name Origin: Spanish
- Popularity: Popular
- Associated Meanings: Known as a dark, gothic figure in modern entertainment.
- Lestat
- Meaning: Unknown; dark
- Name Origin: French
- Popularity: Rare
- Associated Meanings: Represents darkness and immortality in popular vampire literature.
- Zelda
- Meaning: Dark battle
- Name Origin: German
- Popularity: Popular
- Associated Meanings: A name linked with dark fantasy and mystery.
Names Meaning “Dark” in Global Mythology
- Thanatos
- Meaning: Death; dark
- Name Origin: Greek
- Popularity: Rare
- Associated Meanings: Represents the personification of death in Greek mythology.
- Set
- Meaning: Desert; dark
- Name Origin: Egyptian
- Popularity: Rare
- Associated Meanings: God of chaos and darkness in Egyptian mythology.
- Morrigan
- Meaning: Phantom queen; dark
- Name Origin: Irish
- Popularity: Rare
- Associated Meanings: Represents the goddess of war, associated with darkness.
- Osiris
- Meaning: God of the underworld
- Name Origin: Egyptian
- Popularity: Rare
- Associated Meanings: Represents death, resurrection, and the dark underworld.
- Fenrir
- Meaning: Monster wolf; dark
- Name Origin: Norse
- Popularity: Rare
- Associated Meanings: Represents a dark, destructive wolf in Norse mythology.
- Jett
- Meaning: Dark gemstone
- Name Origin: English
- Popularity: Popular
- Associated Meanings: Represents a dark, glossy black gemstone.
- Apollyon
- Meaning: Destroyer; dark
- Name Origin: Greek
- Popularity: Rare
- Associated Meanings: Represents the angel of the abyss in Christian mythology.
- Persephone
- Meaning: Bringer of destruction; dark
- Name Origin: Greek
- Popularity: Popular
- Associated Meanings: Represents both life and the dark underworld.
- Chandra
- Meaning: Moon; dark
- Name Origin: Sanskrit
- Popularity: Popular
- Associated Meanings: Represents the moon’s light against the dark night sky.
- Loki
- Meaning: Trickster; dark
- Name Origin: Norse
- Popularity: Popular
- Associated Meanings: Known for creating darkness and chaos in Norse mythology.
Names Denoting “Dark” in Modern Usage
- Blake
- Meaning: Dark; black
- Name Origin: English
- Popularity: Popular
- Associated Meanings: Represents dark hair or complexion.
- Cohen
- Meaning: Priest; dark tones
- Name Origin: Hebrew
- Popularity: Popular
- Associated Meanings: Represents authority, with a subtle dark interpretation.
- Salem
- Meaning: Peace; dark associations
- Name Origin: Hebrew
- Popularity: Popular
- Associated Meanings: Darkly associated with witch trials and mystery.
- Darcel
- Meaning: Dark
- Name Origin: French
- Popularity: Rare
- Associated Meanings: A soft, romantic name with dark connotations.
- Colby
- Meaning: Dark village
- Name Origin: English
- Popularity: Popular
- Associated Meanings: Represents a village hidden in the shadows.
- Orpheus
- Meaning: Darkness of night
- Name Origin: Greek
- Popularity: Rare
- Associated Meanings: Represents the mythical poet who descended into the underworld.
- Maura
- Meaning: Dark-skinned
- Name Origin: Irish
- Popularity: Popular
- Associated Meanings: Represents dark features and beauty.
- Keir
- Meaning: Dark; swarthy
- Name Origin: Gaelic
- Popularity: Rare
- Associated Meanings: Represents a person with dark hair or complexion.
- Leila
- Meaning: Night; dark
- Name Origin: Arabic
- Popularity: Popular
- Associated Meanings: Represents the beauty and mystery of the night.
- Doyle
- Meaning: Dark stranger
- Name Origin: Irish
- Popularity: Popular
- Associated Meanings: Represents mystery and intrigue.
Names Inspired by “Dark” Night Skies and Celestial Bodies
- Orion
- Meaning: Night sky
- Name Origin: Greek
- Popularity: Popular
- Associated Meanings: Represents the constellation that dominates the dark sky.
- Lyra
- Meaning: Harp; dark constellation
- Name Origin: Greek
- Popularity: Popular
- Associated Meanings: Represents a musical instrument and the constellation seen in the night sky.
- Andromeda
- Meaning: Ruler of men; dark space
- Name Origin: Greek
- Popularity: Popular
- Associated Meanings: Represents a galaxy far from earth, often associated with mystery.
- Phoenix
- Meaning: Dark rebirth
- Name Origin: Greek
- Popularity: Popular
- Associated Meanings: Represents a bird reborn from dark ashes.
- Nova
- Meaning: New star; dark space
- Name Origin: Latin
- Popularity: Popular
- Associated Meanings: Represents a bright star emerging from the darkness.
- Cassiopeia
- Meaning: Vain; dark constellation
- Name Origin: Greek
- Popularity: Popular
- Associated Meanings: Represents a constellation shaped like a queen in the night sky.
- Vega
- Meaning: Falling eagle; dark star
- Name Origin: Arabic
- Popularity: Rare
- Associated Meanings: Represents one of the brightest stars in the dark sky.
- Arcturus
- Meaning: Guardian of the bear; dark star
- Name Origin: Greek
- Popularity: Rare
- Associated Meanings: Represents a prominent star seen during dark nights.
- Selene
- Meaning: Moon; dark
- Name Origin: Greek
- Popularity: Popular
- Associated Meanings: Represents the goddess of the moon, a symbol of the dark night.
- Cressida
- Meaning: Gold; dark moon
- Name Origin: Greek
- Popularity: Rare
- Associated Meanings: Represents one of the moons of Uranus, often associated with darkness.
Conclusion
Names that embody darkness, black, or dark elements carry a sense of mystery, depth, and intrigue. From the ancient mythologies of various cultures to modern interpretations in pop culture and nature, these names evoke powerful imagery.
Whether inspired by the night sky, celestial bodies, dark forces of nature, or even revered figures from mythology, each name brings with it a sense of elegance, strength, and timelessness. For those looking to capture the enigmatic essence of darkness, these names offer a meaningful and captivating choice.
Emily Johnson has a keen eye for detail and a deep love for linguistics. Her work at NamesOrigins.com unearths the hidden gems in names, making each exploration a journey through time, culture, and language that leaves readers enlightened and inspired.
