100+ Names That Mean “Death” (Female, Male, Unisex & Surnames)

In every culture the concept of death has really profound significance.

It weaves through myths, legends, & daily life. This fascination with the afterlife & what lies beyond has give us lotsa names that capture the essence of death itself.

Wanna name that means (or is associated with death)? Sure, it might seem unconventional or a bit morbid.

But it’s a powerful way to connect w/ the deeper, often overlooked aspects of existence.

It’s also great for naming characters!

Want gothic charm? Want a name with a strong presence?

We gots lotsa names inspired by death.

Female Names That Mean Death

Death is about all things – beauty of transition, transformation, & the profound mystery of the end of life.

And we gots names for girls & women that mean death.

• Morrigan: In Irish mythology, the Morrigan is associated w/ fate & death in battle.
• Morgana: Similar to Morrigan, Morgana is associated w/ fate & often shown as a sorceress w/ powers over life & death.
• Lilith: Roots in Jewish folklore, often linked to the night & seen as a figure who presides over death.
• Kali: from Hindu mythology, Kali is a powerful deity representing time, change, & destruction.
• Persephone: from Greek mythology symbolizing the queen of the underworld, embodying the cycle of life & death.
• Hecate: In ancient Greek mythology, Hecate is associated w/ magic, crossroads, & ghosts.
• Selene: known as the goddess of the moon in Greek mythology, Selene’s embrace is the final sleep, linking her to the domaine of death.
• Freya: linked with love & beauty, Freya in Norse mythology presides over the afterlife domaine of Fólkvangr.
• Izanami: From Japanese mythology, Izanami is a creator goddess who becomes queen of the underworld.
• Octavia: Latin name meaning “eighth,” historically associated w/ omens & the spiritual domaine due to its numeric significance.
• Morticia: Popularized by “The Addams Family” franchise, Morticia is a name from the Latin word “mort,” meaning death.
• Mortana: A variation of Morticia, emphasizing the association w/ death.
• Mortissa: Another variation of Morticia, emphasizing the association w/ death.
• Belladonna: Meaning “beautiful lady” in Italian, Belladonna is also the name of a poisonous plant, reinforcing its association w/ death.
• Ereshkigal: In Mesopotamian mythology, Ereshkigal is the queen of the underworld, governing the domaine of the dead.
• Hel: In Norse mythology, Hel is the goddess who rules over Helheim, the domaine of the dead, where she receives a portion of the dead.
• Macha: In Irish mythology, Macha is a goddess associated w/ war, sovereignty, & fate, including death.
• Melinoe: In Greek mythology, Melinoe is a chthonic nymph associated w/ ghosts & the underworld, often depicted w/ a pale complexion.
• Morana: In Slavic mythology, Morana is a goddess associated w/ winter, death, & rebirth.
• Oya: In Yoruba mythology, Oya is a goddess associated w/ storms, death, & rebirth, often seen as a warrior queen.
• Manea: In Roman mythology, Manea is the goddess of the dead & the underworld, often associated w/ insanity & the restless spirits of the deceased.
• Shinigami: In Japanese folklore, Shinigami are death spirits or gods who guide souls to the afterlife.
• Morta: In Roman mythology, Morta is one of the Parcae, or Fates, associated w/ death & the cutting of the thread of life.
• Pandora: In Greek mythology, Pandora is the first mortal woman created by the gods, whose curiosity unleashed evil into the world, including death.
• Thanathea: from “Thanatos,” the Greek personification of death, Thanathea emphasizes the association w/ mortality.
• Valkyrie: In Norse mythology, Valkyries are female figures who choose those slain in battle to be taken to Valhalla, the hall of Odin, emphasizing their connection to death in warfare.

Male Names That Mean Death

Want male names tied to death, the afterlife, & the mystical?

We gots names that mean death for men and boys –

• Thanatos: Greek mythology presents Thanatos as the personification of death.
• Mort: from the French word for death, “mort.”
• Anubis: The ancient Egyptian god associated w/ mummification & the afterlife.
• Hades: associated with the domaine of the dead rather than death itself, Hades’ name carries a heavy weight in mythology.
• Loki: Norse mythology portrays Loki as a trickster god w/ ties to death & the end of the world.
• Mars: known as the god of war, Mars also has connections to death through the battlefield.
• Osiris: from Egyptian mythology, Osiris rules over the afterlife.
• Pluto: Roman counterpart to Hades, god of the underworld.
• Samael: angel of death in Jewish lore, Samael’s name is profound & mysterious.
• Tyr: god of war in Norse mythology, representing the violent & inevitable end of life.
• Orcus: Roman god punishing oath breakers, often associated w/ the Underworld.
• Vanth: Etruscan mythology describes Vanth as a guide for the souls of the dead.
• Mictlan: In Aztec mythology, Mictlan is the underworld.
• Erebus: In Greek mythology, Erebus is a primordial deity for darkness & the deep shadows of the underworld.
• Cerberus: In Greek mythology, Cerberus is the multi-headed hound that guards the gates of the underworld, preventing the dead from leaving.
• Yamaraja: In Hindu mythology, Yamaraja is the lord of death & the king of Dharma, responsible for overseeing the cycle of death & rebirth.
• Mors: In Roman mythology, Mors is the personification of death shown as a grim reaper figure.
• Nergal: In Mesopotamian mythology, Nergal is the god of war, pestilence, & the underworld, ruling over the land of the dead.
• Lugus: In Celtic mythology, Lugus is a deity associated w/ various domains including death & the afterlife, w/ some interpretations linking him to the transition between life & death.

Unisex Names That Mean Death

Wanna go with names blur the lines between genders?

We gots names that mean death for any gender –

• Ankou: In Breton mythology, Ankou is a personification of death seen as a skeletal figure or a shadowy presence.
• Enma: In Japanese Buddhist mythology, Enma is the ruler of the underworld & judge of the dead, determining their fate in the afterlife.
• Charon: In Greek mythology, Charon is the ferryman who transports the souls of the deceased across the river Styx to the underworld.
• Azrael: In Islamic tradition, Azrael is the angel of death who separates the soul from the body at the time of death.
• Yama: In Hindu mythology, Yama is the god of death.
• Morwen: In Tolkien’s legendarium, Morwen is a character associated w/ loss, grief, & the shadow of death.
• Thana: Meaning “death” in Arabic, Thana carries a stark yet profound connotation with it.
• Nyx: In Greek mythology, Nyx is the primordial goddess of the night, embodying darkness & the unknown often associated w/ the passage into death.
• Arawn: In Welsh mythology, Arawn is the ruler of Annwn, the Welsh underworld.
• Vidar: In Norse mythology, Vidar is a god associated w/ vengeance & silence, who survives Ragnarok (the end of the world) & plays a role in its aftermath.
• Mimir: In Norse mythology, Mimir is a wise being associated w/ knowledge & the underworld, guarding the well of wisdom beneath the world tree Yggdrasil.
• Phoenix: Associated w/ rising from ashes & transcending mortality.

Surnames That Mean Death

It’s not just first names that carry the mark of death, mystery, or the afterlife.

That’s right, surnames (or last names) can also mean death.

Surnames tell stories of lineage, occupation, or traits that were significant enough to stand the test of time.

We gots surnames that mean death –

• Blackwood: Bringing images of dense, shadow-filled forests, a surname associated w/ both mystery & death.
• Cromwell: This name hints at a historical figure known for significant & sometimes grim changes.
• Graves: Directly connected to the final resting places, this surname needs no further explanation.
• Grimm: Reflecting the darker aspects of folklore & fairy tales, suggesting a connection to death & the supernatural.
• Harrow: A name that implies desolation or harvest, both linked to ends & transitions.
• Mortem: from the Latin word for death, it’s as direct as it gets.
• Mortlock: Similar to “Mortem,” this surname directly alludes to death.
• Ravenwood: Combining the portent of ravens w/ the mystery of the woods.
• Sable: A name that symbolizes darkness & mourning.
• Shroud: Referring to the cloth used to wrap the dead, suggests a family with ties to funeral rites or mortality.
• Thorne: Though it speaks more to pain or protection, thorns are often associated w/ death in folklore.
• Vale: Suggesting a valley, often used poetically to refer to the journey to the afterlife.
• Winter: A season often symbolizing the end of life or dormancy, leading to renewal.

Fictional Surnames

Writing a book or creating another fictional property?

We gots fictional last names with deathly meanings:

• Darkwater: Conjuring images of ominous, shadowy waters associated w/ death & mystery.
• Shadowgrave: Combining the concepts of darkness & the final resting place, emphasizing the solemnity of death.
• Draven: Popularized by fictional tales, it suggests a bridge between the living & the spectral.
• Dreadwood: Evoking a sense of fear & foreboding, w/ undertones of death lurking w/i the dense woods.
• Stygian: Named after the River Styx in Greek mythology, whiich serves as the boundary between the world of the living & the domaine of the dead.
• Netherwood: suggesting a connection to the underworld or the shadowy depths of the forest, where spirits may wander.
• Wraith: associated w/ ghostly apparitions or specters, hinting at a connection to death & the supernatural.
• Ebonheart: Symbolizing a heart or center of darkness, alluding to the somber aspects of death & mourning.

That’s it from us.

Did ya find one ya like?