Choosing a name for a baby girl can be a meaningful journey. Some parents might look for names that carry significant meanings, including those related to themes like death. Names with such meanings can evoke a sense of strength, transformation, or even a connection to cultural histories.
Today, we’ll look at several girl names that mean death. These names come from various cultures and languages, each with its unique story. Whether you’re searching for a name that symbolizes change or simply appreciate the beauty of these meanings, this list has something special for everyone.
Girl Names That Mean Death
1. Mara
Mara is a Hebrew name that means bitterness and is often associated with death in the Bible. It suggests a sense of mourning and transformation.
2. Kali
Kali is a well-known name from Hindu mythology, the goddess of death and destruction. This name symbolizes the cycle of life and the inevitability of death.
3. Morticia
Morticia, made famous by the Addams Family, derives from the Latin word ‘mortis,’ meaning death. It brings a playful, spooky charm with its meaning.
4. Lilith
Lilith is a name rooted in ancient mythology, often associated with darkness and the night. In some legends, she is linked to death and despair, creating an aura of mystery.
5. Niamh
This name from Irish mythology means bright or radiant, but it is also associated with tales of tragic love and death, embodying both beauty and sorrow.
6. Tansy
Tansy is a name derived from a flower known for its medicinal properties but has associations with death, as it has toxic properties too. It reflects the duality of life.
7. Talia
Talia means “dew from God” in Hebrew but is often associated with death in literature. It evokes ideas of renewal and the fleeting nature of life.
8. Ereshkigal
This ancient Sumerian name means “lady of the great below,” referring to the goddess of the underworld. It directly connects to themes of death and the afterlife.
9. Rachel
Rachel means “ewe” in Hebrew, but its biblical story involves deep themes of loss and death, reflecting a mother’s sorrow that adds depth to its meaning.
10. Belladonna
Belladonna, or deadly nightshade, is a plant known for its toxic properties. This name carries a sense of beauty and danger, linked closely to death.
11. Demetra
This name is connected to Demeter, the Greek goddess of the harvest, who also has connections to death through the myth of her daughter Persephone.
12. Nyx
Nyx is a Greek name meaning night, and in mythology, she is a primordial deity representing darkness and chaos, often linked to mortality.
13. Elara
This name is linked to one of Zeus’s lovers who ultimately faced tragic outcomes. The story behind Elara ties mortality and deep emotions, making it meaningful.
14. Acheron
Acheron is a river in Greek mythology known as the river of pain and typically associated with the underworld, making it a powerful name related to death.
15. Keren
Keren means “ray” in Hebrew but has biblical connections to tragedy and death, signifying difficult yet transformative moments.
16. Hecate
Hecate is the Greek goddess of witchcraft and magic, often associated with the afterlife and the mysteries surrounding death.
17. Zelena
Meaning “green” in Slavic culture, Zelena has connections to fertility and death in folklore, embodying life and mortality’s dual nature.
18. Vespera
Vespera means evening in Latin. The evening symbolizes the transition from day to night, akin to life transitioning into death.
19. Semira
Semira means “to lose” or “to waste away.” This name portrays an image linked to mortality and the fragility of life.
20. Althea
Althea comes from the Greek word for “healer,” but its roots also deal with themes of destruction and death in ancient stories.
21. Della
This name means “noble” but also has connotations of despair and mortality in old English literature, creating a somber tone.
22. Erebus
Erebus means darkness in Greek mythology, and while traditionally a male name, its adaptation signifies themes of death and the underworld.
23. Morwenna
Morwenna is a Cornish name meaning “maiden” but often connoted with themes surrounding death in folklore.
24. Aisling
Aisling means “dream” in Irish but is linked to the death of great heroes in Irish myths, creating a poignant connection.
25. Taliah
Taliah means “dew from heaven” but also has connections to tragic tales facing death in various cultures.
26. Blythe
Blythe might mean happiness, but it has also been used amidst tales often associated with death, creating an interesting contrast.
27. Lethe
Lethe is named after the river of forgetfulness in the underworld in Greek mythology. This name directly links to themes of death and afterlife.
28. Nysa
Nysa is often linked to mythological places where characters faced death, representing transformation and endings in various stories.
29. Dhara
Dhara means “earth” in Sanskrit, but it can also symbolize the cycle of life, including death’s inevitability.
30. Moira
Moira means “fate” in Greek and represents the fate of humans, often linked to the themes of life and death.
31. Surya
Surya means “sun” in Sanskrit but in death-related contexts, symbolizes the cycle from life to death with the setting sun.
32. Morgana
Morgana is derived from Morgan le Fay, a powerful figure in Arthurian legends often linked to death and the supernatural.
33. Nox
Nox means night in Latin, signifying the end of a day and thus relating to themes of death and the unknown.
34. Zillah
Zillah means “shade” in Hebrew and is often linked to themes of mourning and memory of the deceased.
35. Cyra
Cyra means “sun” in Persian but represents life and death’s dual nature through its connection to historical tales.
36. Kaia
Kaia is often linked with the earth and its cycles, which include life, death, and rebirth in various cultures.
37. Lilith
Lilith is often connected with dark themes, including death and loss, reflecting a transformation into something new.
38. Cressida
Cressida means “gold,” but its ties to tragedies in Shakespearean lore link it inherently to themes of loss and death.
39. Desdemona
This Greek name means “unlucky” and is associated with tragic stories in literature, symbolizing themes of death and despair.
40. Isolde
Isolde is linked to various tragic tales, including love and death, particularly in Arthurian legends, making it poignant.
41. Thana
Thana is derived from the Arabic word for death. It is direct yet meaningful, reflecting an awareness of mortality.
42. Aureliana
Aureliana carries the meaning “golden” but symbolizes the transience of beauty and life, leading to themes surrounding death.
43. Drusilla
This name has connections to ancient history and figures who faced tumultuous fates, making it resonate with themes of mortality.
44. Lysandra
Lysandra means “liberator” in Greek but is often linked to tragic stories where characters face death or loss.
45. Seren
Seren means “star” in Welsh but is connected to ancient tales where death transforms individuals into something brighter.
46. Niamh
Niamh, though meaning bright, is closely linked to tragic tales of love and loss in Celtic mythology, showing the depth of its meaning.
47. Devina
Devina means “divine” in Latin, representing the divine aspect of life and death and the cycle between both realms.
48. Althaia
Althaia means “to heal” in Greek but has ties to tales of endings and mortality, providing depth to its meaning.
49. Faustina
Faustina is derived from Latin, related to notions of destiny, including fateful deaths in various stories.
50. Acacia
Acacia is a tree linked to immortality and has associations with death in various cultures, symbolizing life’s fleeting nature.
51. Zofe
Slightly obscure, Zofe means “death” in ancient Hebrew, a powerful and direct name that reflects the theme fundamentally.
52. Aura
Aura means “breeze” but can symbolize the ephemeral nature of life, tied closely to death’s gentle arrival.
53. Maureen
Maureen means “great,” but its roots are deeply tied to themes of loss and leaving, relating to mortality indirectly.
54. Bellatrix
Bellatrix means “female warrior” in Latin, but themes of battle often entail loss and death, intertwining with its meaning.
55. Memento
Memento means “reminder” in Latin, often linked to memories of those who have passed, tying it to themes of death and remembrance.
56. Xanthe
Xanthe, meaning “golden” in Greek, is often associated with golden flowers that signify both beauty and mortality.
57. Tempest
Tempest symbolizes a storm, which brings both destruction and rebirth, reflecting the duality of death and life.
58. Juno
Juno is the Roman goddess connected to life and death aspects, symbolizing transformation through its myths.
59. Kaela
Kaela means “pure” or “beloved”; however, stories linked to it often deal with tragic fates and mortality, enriching its meaning.
60. Vesper
Vesper means “evening star,” symbolizing the transition from daylight to darkness, much like life transitioning to death.
61. Elowen
Elowen means “elm tree” in Cornish and is often linked with themes of life cycles, including death, adding depth to its beauty.
62. Alarice
Alarice means “ruler of all,” but its associations in history often lead back to tales of loss, creating resonance with death themes.
63. Janessa
This name can mean “God is gracious,” but its connections to tragic narratives bring an awareness of mortality into the mix.
64. Elysia
Elysia is linked to Elysium, a paradise for the dead in Greek mythology, representing the afterlife and its beauty.
65. Marcella
Marcella means “warlike” but is often linked to themes of love and loss, bringing a strong tone related to death.
66. Thalia
Thalia suggests blooming or abundance but is often tied to poetic themes of love and loss, resonating deeply with mortality.
67. Gloria
Gloria means “glory” but is also associated with remembrance after death, connecting it to themes of life ending.
68. Nova
Nova means “new” but can signify the rebirth after death, emphasizing the cycle of life and reminders of mortality.
69. Esmeralda
Esmeralda means “emerald,” but stories linked to this name often portray themes of tragedy and death, enhancing its beautiful allure.
70. Misty
Misty signifies haziness and obscurity, often associated with lost moments and memories relating to death.
71. Zinnia
Zinnia, a flower that symbolizes endurance, often ties back to stories of life and death, reflecting the cycle of existence.
72. Beryl
Beryl means “precious gem” but links songs and stories that explore themes of mortality and remembrance, deepening its worth.
73. Kalina
Kalina means “viburnum,” often associated with death in folklore, adding a layer of somber beauty to its meaning.
74. Callie
Callie, meaning “beautiful,” sometimes resonates with tales of lost beauty intertwining life and death themes.
75. Lorelei
Lorelei means “murmuring rock” in German folklore, associated with mermaids whose songs lured sailors to their death.
76. Nefertari
Nefertari means “the most beautiful one” but was also associated with ancient Egyptian tales of love and death.
77. Sable
Sable represents a black fur, symbolizing mourning and death, yet is wrapped in elegance and beauty.
78. Verity
Verity means “truth” and can often delve into deeper truths about life and death, resonating with personal experiences.
79. Winter
Winter signifies the cold season where nature seems dead, infusing theme elements of transition and endings.
80. Selene
Selene, the Greek goddess of the moon, often represents time and phases, including the transition from life to death.
81. Sigrid
Sigrid means “victory” in Norse, but it also relates to strong and tragic tales involving death, adding complexity.
82. Deirdre
Deirdre, meaning “sorrowful,” is known from tragic Irish legends where love leads to death, adding a poignant feel.
83. Seraphina
Seraphina means “fiery” but can convey themes of sacrifice and rebirth associated with death in various narratives.
84. Magdalena
Magdalena means “of Magdala,” often linked to stories of love and redemption that intertwine with death’s themes.
85. Marigold
Marigold is a flower symbolizing death in some cultures, reflecting both beauty and the inevitability of life ending.
86. Calista
Calista means “most beautiful,” but its stories often intertwine with themes of love lost and the bittersweet remembrance of death.
87. Harlow
Harlow is associated with hare meadows but is often intertwined with dark themes, including loss and death, enhancing its charm.
88. Meira
Meira means “light” in Hebrew but is often linked to stories of lost light, illuminating connections to death.
89. Almina
Almina means “noble” but can also represent tales of noble sacrifices linking to death in cultural lore.
90. Zara
Zara, meaning “princess,” interlaces stories where royalty faced tragic fates, emphasizing death’s unpredictable impact.
91. Thalassa
Thalassa means “sea” in Greek. The deep sea is often tied to lost lives and death, making it a profound name choice.
92. Calantha
Calantha means “beautiful flower,” but can sometimes symbolize life cut short, adding a layer to its aesthetic appeal.
93. Sapphire
Sapphire, a precious gemstone, carries connotations of wealth and loss, linking back to themes of death and remembrance.
94. Solene
Solene means “solemn,” which captures the essence of grieving and the recognition of mortality in meaningful ways.
95. Yvonne
Yvonne means “yew tree,” known for its associations with death in various folklore due to toxicity.
96. Alanda
Alanda signifies “noble” but reflects themes of loss and remembrance linked to royalty and their fates.
97. Vashti
Vashti means “beautiful,” and her story is often viewed through lenses of power and tragic endings, enriching its narrative depth.
98. Athena
Athena is the Greek goddess of wisdom and warfare, often associated with war’s consequences, including death.
99. Zuri
Zuri means “beautiful” in Swahili but also can delve into themes of fading beauty and loss related to death.
100. Marisol
Marisol means “sea and sun,” embodying life; however, the ocean is a frequent symbol of loss, connecting with themes of death.
101. Rhea
Rhea is a Titan associated with fertility but also intricately connected to loss as she faced the demise of her children.
102. Ishtar
This name derives from the goddess of love and war in Babylonian mythology, often associated with themes of cyclical birth and death.
103. Deva
Deva means “divine” in Sanskrit but can also reflect themes of change through death in stories of transformation.
104. Leila
Leila means “night” and often signifies the end of day, delicately connected to the ever-looming themes of death.
105. Ophelia
Ophelia is a name often linked with tragic love, famously represented in Shakespeare’s work where she meets her demise.
106. Raven
Raven, a symbol of mystery and the supernatural, is traditionally connected to themes surrounding death in folklore.
107. Astra
Astra means “star,” representing the afterlife. Stars are often associated with lost souls and their journeys beyond.
108. Azura
Azura signifies “sky blue” while often alluding to the vast unknown, including the themes of death and what lies beyond.
109. Pandora
Pandora means “all gifts,” but her tale often revolves around the release of evils, including death and despair.
110. Celine
Celine means “heavenly” and is often associated with the afterlife, symbolizing a connection between life and death.
111. Sabine
Sabine has connections to ancient histories where wars led to loss of lives, reflecting on the fatal consequences of conflict.
112. Liora
Liora means “my light,” and often symbolizes what remains after someone’s passing, highlighting themes of remembrance.
113. Thais
Thais means “savior” or “to thrive,” but traditionally linked to tragic tales where characters face unfortunate ends.
114. Temira
Temira means “high”, representing a peak before a downfall, emphasizing themes of life preceding death.
115. Xenia
Xenia means “hospitality,” but is often associated with stories in Greek mythology where hospitality leads to wrath and death.
116. Neri
Neri is a Hebrew name linked closely to themes of light but also echoes stories where light is snuffed out, connecting to mortality.
117. Calista
Calista means “most beautiful” but similarly echoes tales where beauty fades, intertwining its meaning with death.
118. Serene
Serene means “calm” and often signifies peace after life, resonating with the tranquility surrounding death.
119. Winona
Winona means “firstborn” but often ties to narratives of loss within familial contexts, connecting it to themes of death.
120. Verna
Verna means “spring,” symbolizing rebirth; the balance between life and death embodies transformations in nature.
121. Mischa
Mischa means “who is like God,” but its ties to stories wherein characters meet tragic ends lend it a bittersweet significance.
122. Kaida
Kaida means “little dragon,” often portrayed in tales where dragons symbolize the barrier between life and death.
123. Acacia
Acacia represents longevity but is also associated with the mourning of life lost in various traditions, balancing meanings.
124. Elira
Elira comes from Albanian roots meaning “free” or “released,” often tying to notions of rebirth through death.
125. Liora
Liora means “light” but is often connected to remembrance after loss, highlighting the balance between life and death.
126. Zadine
Zadine relates to the Arabic term for “hermit,” which symbolizes isolation often seen in death contexts.
127. Mariska
Mariska means “of the sea,” often tied to lost sailors, weaving connections between the ocean and mortality.
128. Felicity
Felicity signifies happiness, but tales where this happiness leads to loss create a juxtaposition linking back to death.
129. Calantha
Calantha means “beautiful flower,” but with blooms representing the fragility of life, they echo mortality themes.
130. Astraea
Astraea means “star maiden” and is linked to concepts of destiny and endings, emphasizing the cycle through death.
131. Vivienne
Vivienne means “alive” but relates closely to stories where life faces ultimate endings through death.
132. Melinoe
Melinoe is connected to Greek mythology, known as a goddess of ghosts, emphasizing ties with death and spirits.
133. Cressida
Cressida means “gold,” often related to stories where wealth leads to loss, reflecting on death’s consequences.
134. Isolde
Isolde is known from Celtic legends where her love story ends tragically, embedding themes of mortality into her meaning.
135. Nyssa
Nyssa means “beginning,” directly relating back to the theme of birth and its inevitable end in death.
136. Vesperina
Vesperina signifies “of the evening,” linking to themes of death as it transitions from day to night.
137. Tullia
Tullia means “peaceful,” often connected to the peace found after life’s end, thereby relating to death.
138. Xiomara
Xiomara means “ready for battle,” connecting the struggles faced in life that often lead toward mortality.
139. Viviana
Viviana means “alive” but holds connections to mortality, emphasizing life’s delicate nature before the end.
140. Emmerentia
Emmerentia means “strength,” which often emerges from facing death and loss, emphasizing resilience amidst sorrow.
141. Hevelyn
Hevelyn can mean “breath,” reflecting life and its loss, reminding us of the briefness of existence leading to death.
142. Yvaine
Yvaine means “evening star,” connecting it to transitions of day to darkness, akin to life transitioning into death.
143. Meliara
Meliara evokes “honey,” but its sweetness also hints at tales where it leads to loss, enhancing its themes of mortality.
144. Edessa
Edessa signifies “a wealthy place,” often linking it to narratives of lost wealth, creating connections to death.
145. Tamsin
Tamsin translates to “twin,” often stitching narratives in mythology where twins face peril, revealing mortality themes.
146. Zinnia
Zinnia is a flower that signifies endurance, intertwining life, beauty, and mortality intricately in its foundations.
147. Nerissa
Nerissa connects to the sea and has stories linked to tragic love, emphasizing deep connections with mortality.
148. Celeste
Celeste means “heavenly,” often representing the afterlife, carrying rich meanings linked to death.
149. Selene
Selene represents the moon and is often associated with the cycles of life and death in mythology.
150. Aislinn
Aislinn means “dream” in Irish and can symbolize the fleeting nature of life, tying depth to the theme of death.
Final Thoughts
Choosing a name that means death can be a poignant reflection of life, transformation, and cultural history. Each name has its own story, representing various connections to mortality depending on cultural or personal significance. Whether you’re drawn to powerful mythological figures, lyrical meanings, or contemporary associations, the names mentioned here each hold unique weight.
As you explore these names, consider their deeper meanings and resonance in both life and loss. They can serve as a reminder of the cycle of existence, cherishing both the fleeting moments and profound legacies left behind.
For more inspiration related to names revolving around death, check out additional resources covering names that mean death or delve into female names that mean death for a deeper understanding of this evocative theme.