Names can carry powerful meanings, reflecting emotions, stories, and histories. Some girl names are tied to themes of sorrow and hardship. If you’re searching for a unique name that reflects a deeper meaning, you might find yourself drawn to these options. Whether for a character in a story or a special significance, names that mean misery offer a chance to symbolize strength in struggle. Today, we will share some girl names that carry this weighty meaning. From classics to more unusual choices, these names can evoke strong imagery and emotions. Let’s take a closer look at each name and its origin, showcasing the beauty that can be found even in sadder meanings.
Girl Names That Mean Misery
1. Mara
The name Mara means ‘bitter’ or ‘sorrowful’ in Hebrew. It evokes the feeling of deep sadness, making it a poignant choice for those who resonate with the themes of grief and loss.
2. Brenna
Brenna is of Irish origin, meaning ‘descendant of Braonán’, which translates to ‘sorrow’ or ‘sadness’. This name carries a rich, haunting quality that symbolizes melancholy.
3. Tova
The name Tova comes from Hebrew, meaning ‘good’ but can also imply a sense of bittersweet sorrow. It shows that goodness can coexist with sadness.
4. Acheron
Acheron, originating from Greek mythology, is associated with the river of sorrow in the Underworld. This name carries a deep emotional weight and meaning of misery.
5. Dolore
Dolore is derived from the Spanish word for ‘pain’ or ‘sorrow’. It’s a unique name that expresses the rawness of emotional suffering.
6. Hala
The Arabic name Hala means ‘halo’ but can also be connected to the feeling of sadness and loss. It represents the light found in darker times.
7. Lenore
Lenore is a name made famous by Edgar Allan Poe’s poem “The Raven”, where it symbolizes loss and longing. It carries a vintage charm infused with sorrow.
8. Malvina
This Scottish name means ‘smooth brow’ but is often associated with sadness due to historical tales linked to the name, making it hauntingly beautiful.
9. Triste
Directly translating to ‘sad’ in French, Triste embodies sorrow and serves as a reminder of the beauty in melancholy.
10. Keren
The Hebrew meaning of Keren is ‘a ray of light’, yet it can symbolize the sadness that arises even from the brightest moments in life.
11. Aisling
This name, meaning ‘dream’ in Irish, is often connected with visions of sorrow, reflecting the dual nature of dreams and wakefulness.
12. Banshee
Rooted in Irish folklore, the banshee represents a spirit that foretells death. While it carries a dark connotation, it also symbolizes deep sorrow and mourning.
13. Maira
With a meaning linked to ‘bitter’ in Arabic, Maira conveys the complex nature of emotions, blending sweetness with sadness.
14. Jabez
This Hebrew name means ‘sorrowful’ and reflects the story of the biblical Jabez, a character associated with hardship transformed into blessing.
15. Acherona
A female variant of Acheron, it symbolizes deeper sorrow and reflects the human experience of grief and loss.
16. Louisa
Originating from the German name Luitgard meaning ‘famous warrior’, Louisa can also symbolize the sorrow felt through battles and struggles.
17. Astra
Astra means ‘star’, often metaphorically linked with guiding lights amid darkness and despair, representing loss but also hope.
18. Cherith
This Hebrew name signifies ‘a place of separation’, symbolizing the sorrow that comes with being apart from loved ones.
19. Gwendolyn
The name Gwendolyn combines elements that mean ‘fair’ and ‘blessed’, but it also ties to tales of sorrow in Welsh folklore.
20. Alayna
While Alayna carries a meaning of ‘bright’, it can also represent the bittersweet nature of life, hinting at underlying sadness.
21. Melancholia
This name speaks directly to the feeling of deep, pervasive sadness, with roots in ancient Greek concepts of bodily humors.
22. Lament
Directly associated with expressions of grief and sorrow, the name Lament carries the weight of emotional turmoil.
23. Niamh
This Irish name means ‘bright’ and is rooted in tales of tragic beauty, encapsulating the bittersweet essence of life’s challenges.
24. Alvah
Meaning ‘his highness’, Alvah can also be linked to sorrowful tales within biblical narratives, illustrating hardship amidst grace.
25. Rhea
The name Rhea is often linked to the Greek goddess associated with fertility but can also signify loss, especially in mythological contexts.
26. Amelia
Traditionally linked with work, Amelia can also represent the struggle and toil that can lead to sorrowful experiences.
27. Kiara
This name can mean ‘dark’ in Irish, representing the sorrowful aspects entwined with struggle and life’s trials.
28. Phaedra
Phaedra, from Greek mythology, embodies a tale of tragic love and misfortune, making it a name associated with deep sorrow.
29. Belen
The Spanish name Belen means ‘Bethlehem’, a place associated with sorrowful events within biblical narratives, encapsulating the essence of misery.
30. Isolde
This name comes from the tragic heroine of Arthurian legend. Isolde’s story is woven with themes of love and deep sorrow, fitting for anyone drawn to tales of heartache.
31. Aisling
This poetic name often means ‘dream’ in Irish but also can carry hints of sorrowful reflections throughout literary history.
32. Calantha
Calantha means ‘beautiful flower’ but can symbolize the fleeting nature of beauty, which often comes with an underlying sorrow.
33. Deirdre
Originating from Irish mythology, Deirdre is synonymous with tragedy and despair, linking the name closely to themes of suffering.
34. Fenella
This Scottish name means ‘white shoulder’ but is also linked with stories of sorrow that lend it an air of sadness.
35. Nettie
A diminutive of Antoinette, Nettie means ‘grace’, but its historical roots also tell of hardship and despair, reflecting sorrowful narratives.
36. Nihal
Nihal means ‘happy’ in Arabic but can be connected to sorrow, tapping into the complexity of opposites in emotional states.
37. Lakisha
This name has associations with sorrow linked to love and heartache, making it a poetic choice that carries emotion.
38. Mirabel
Meaning ‘wonderful’ in Latin, Mirabel’s contrast with its depth of sadness in some interpretations makes it a beautiful name with complex meanings.
39. Nadine
Nadine translates to ‘hope’ but can carry associations with feelings of longing and sadness, evoking the struggles surrounding hope.
40. Riven
This name meaning ‘split’ or ‘broken’ encapsulates the essence of sorrow and the feeling of being torn between two worlds.
41. Zephyr
The name Zephyr means ‘west wind’, which carries a poetic connotation of loss in various literary works, making it resonate with themes of sorrow.
42. Selene
This name symbolizes the moon, representing the calm yet persistent sorrow often found in nighttime reflections.
43. Brie
Brie translates to ‘strength’, but its connection to loss in many stories gives it a deeper emotional layer linked to hardship.
44. Hecate
As the goddess of magic and witchcraft, Hecate carries associations of loss and longing in mythological tales.
45. Aveline
Aveline means ‘hazelnut’ but is steeped in legends often linked to themes of hardship and sadness, providing a contrast of nature and sorrow.
46. Ianthe
Meaning ‘violet flower’ in Greek, Ianthe also unearths associations with sorrow and loss, especially in poetic literature.
47. Lorelei
In German folklore, Lorelei is known as a siren who brings both beauty and sorrow, perfectly embodying the theme of misery.
48. Zaria
Zaria means ‘rose’ in some cultures but can also symbolize the painful beauty associated with longing and heartache.
49. Calliope
While traditionally connected with epic poetry, Calliope’s tales can embrace themes of tragedy and sorrow, enriching its meaning.
50. Althea
A Greek name meaning ‘healer’, Althea can also signify healing through pain, representing the intersection of sorrow and comfort.
51. Drusilla
This Latin name translates to ‘strong’, yet its historical stories often revolve around themes of sadness, making it a name full of depth.
52. Lyra
A constellation name that can represent both light and dark, Lyra embodies joy intertwined with sadness, creating a rich narrative.
53. Esme
French for ‘esteemed’ or ‘beloved’, Esme can embody longing, connecting it to a deeper sense of sorrow in some interpretations.
54. Lila
This name means ‘night’ in Arabic and Urdu, often symbolizing a time for reflection and sorrowful beauty.
55. Seraphina
Meaning ‘fiery’, this name can also reference the burning sorrow found in love and loss throughout literature.
56. Vesper
This name means ‘evening star’ and carries connotations of sadness often associated with the ending of day and reflections on loss.
57. Niara
Niara means ‘with utmost purpose’ but can also imply a deep-rooted sense of struggle, capturing the essence of striving amidst sorrow.
58. Elara
The name Elara can suggest brightness while also reflecting the shadows of grief and loss, offering a dual narrative of light and sorrow.
59. Willow
The willow tree is known for its graceful, drooping branches, symbolizing sadness and resilience, perfectly embodying the theme of misery.
60. Juniper
Though Juniper is a lively plant, its beauty and underlying sadness with fleeting life can resonate with themes of loss.
61. Tempest
Symbolizing a turbulent storm, Tempest evokes the chaos of emotion and the sorrow inherent in life’s challenges.
62. Fausta
Of Latin origin, Fausta means ‘fortunate’ but can deepen its meaning through tragedy, reflecting life’s unpredictable nature.
63. Jessamine
This floral name speaks to both beauty and sorrow, as jasmine flowers often signify love lost in poetry and folklore.
64. Ulyana
The name Ulyana can be loosely tied to wanderers often experiencing sorrowful tales in their journeys, making it deeply emotional.
65. Kassandra
A name steeped in Greek mythology, Kassandra lived a tragic life filled with predictions of sorrow, aligning perfectly with themes of hardship.
66. Zinnia
This vibrant flower name can contrast the beauty of life with the pain of mortality, reflecting deeper layers of sorrow.
67. Yseult
Linked to the tragic heroine from the tale of Tristan and Isolde, Yseult symbolizes love intertwined with deep sorrow.
68. Sibyl
The oracle associated with prophecies often foretold sorrowful events, giving the name Sibyl a somber yet profound resonance.
69. Ffion
This name means ‘foxglove’ in Welsh, known for its duality of beauty and toxicity, capturing the essence of happy yet sad moments.
70. Aislinn
An Irish name meaning ‘dream’, Aislinn can evoke both beauty and sorrowful reflections in its stories and connections.
71. Callista
This name means ‘most beautiful’ but can also lead to tales of heartbreaking beauty, making it rich in emotion and depth.
72. Temperance
Though often linked to moderation, this name can also signify the struggle of balancing joy and sorrow, a theme found throughout life.
73. Eudora
Meaning ‘generous gift’, Eudora can hint at the sorrow of loss, as gifts often remind us of what we can no longer have.
74. Zafira
Zafira means ‘to blossom’, but its roots can also connect to the pain of growth through sorrowful experiences.
75. Kalira
This name expresses grace, often intertwined with tales of hardship, making it beautifully poignant.
76. Faustina
Derived from the name Faustus meaning ‘fortunate’, Faustina can carry a contrasting theme of suffering through fate.
77. Eleanora
This name, meaning ‘light’, also captures the idea of losing brightness, making it rich with emotional depth.
78. Selah
This Biblical name means ‘pause’ or ‘reflect’, suggesting moments of contemplative sadness in dealing with life’s trials.
79. Vespera
Meaning ‘evening’, Vespera can symbolize the deep thoughts that accompany loneliness and sorrow after a long day.
80. Davina
With Scottish roots meaning ‘beloved’, Davina can convey the deep sadness of lost love and longing.
81. Joelle
This French name means ‘Yahweh is God’, but in tales of faith, it can evolve into narratives filled with sorrow and struggle.
82. Calista
Another spin on ‘most beautiful’, Calista takes on a deeper layer as beauty often contrasts with sorrow and loss.
83. Thalassa
This Greek name meaning ‘the sea’ evokes emotions of vastness often tied to powerful emotions like longing and sadness.
84. Isabeau
A French variant of Isabel, Isabeau can symbolize purity intertwined with stories of deep heartache found in tales and legends.
85. Linnea
This name, taken from a flower, may carry beauty but often draws connections with sorrow in its fleeting existence as floral beauty fades.
86. Amara
This name means ‘eternal’, yet often signifies eternal sadness, connecting to life’s struggles for those who bear it.
87. Pernille
Pernille means ‘rock’ in Latin but can relate to the emotional turmoil surrounding steadfastness amid sorrow.
88. Hisako
A name of Japanese origin meaning ‘long ago’, Hisako can reflect the nostalgia and sorrow tied to the passage of time.
89. Adira
Adira translates to ‘strong’ but relates to the idea of enduring hardship and sorrow, reflecting resilience through struggle.
90. Tatiana
Of Russian origin, Tatiana hints at nobility but carries stories that often intertwine with themes of hardship and loss.
91. Maeve
This name associated with a warrior queen speaks of bravery in times of loss, embodying strength amid sorrow.
92. Elowen
Meaning ‘elm tree’ in Cornish, Elowen can symbolize both strength and the depth of melancholy that trees can reflect during seasons of change.
93. Thalia
Though meaning ‘to blossom’, tales associated with Thalia can evoke deeper themes of tragic beauty and sorrow.
94. Calantha
With a meaning indicating ‘beautiful flower’, Calantha’s connection to ephemeral emotions reflects the sadness found in beauty.
95. Jovie
This name means ‘joyful’, yet the contrast with deeper emotions can convey a sense of hidden sorrow beneath a cheerful surface.
96. Asherah
This ancient name speaks to a deity associated with both fertility and mourning, blending beauty with sorrowful tales.
97. Fiammetta
With roots in Italian meaning ‘little flame’, Fiammetta can also symbolize the flickering nature of life and dying embers representing lost joy.
98. Celestine
This name means ‘heavenly’, yet the contrast with sorrowful tales makes it resonate with deeper emotional narratives.
99. Noemi
A Hebrew name meaning ‘pleasantness’, Noemi can still represent sorrow, revealing the complexity of sweet and bitter experiences.
100. Elara
Though a name associated with beauty, Elara could reference hidden sorrow found in the sky’s expanse and unknown depths.
101. Sinéad
This Irish name denotes ‘God is gracious’, but can also reflect belief’s connection with hardships and deep sorrows.
102. Tiara
Meaning ‘crown’, Tiara symbolizes not only power and beauty but can also evoke the loneliness that sometimes accompanies such elevation.
103. Pandora
In Greek mythology, this name is associated with the famous box that released sorrows into the world, signifying misery and curiosity combined.
104. Aveline
A floral name that represents fertility can also symbolize the sadness of seasons changing, an inevitable part of life.
105. Tempest
This name encapsulates a turbulent mix of emotions, demonstrating how storms can reflect deeper emotional struggles.
106. Raine
This nature-inspired name connects with the themes of sadness often symbolized by rain, representing a cleansing yet sorrowful experience.
107. Selene
A name connected to the moon, Selene embodies the melancholy beauty of night, often tied to solitude and reflection.
108. Suvi
Of Finnish origin, Suvi means ‘summer’ but evokes the melancholy often felt as seasons transition into the darker months.
109. Cordelia
A name linking to stories filled with hardship and love, Cordelia conveys the rich layers of emotional complexity, embodying sorrow beautifully.
110. Lirael
This name’s origins carry ties to legendary tales of love and sorrow, highlighting the emotional narratives woven around it.
111. Gilda
This name means ‘golden’ but often carries the burden of tales filled with lost prosperity and yearning, infusing it with a bittersweet essence.
112. Cassia
Cassia, derived from a spice, hints at both sweet and bitter, reflecting the combination of flavors intertwined with sadness.
113. Maris
This Latin name meaning ‘of the sea’ evokes emotions tied to the depths and waves of sorrow, representing life’s turbulent journey.
114. Verity
While it means ‘truth’, Verity also encompasses the painful truths that sometimes come with misery and hardship.
115. Eliana
This name conveys optimism but can also symbolize a longing inherent in stories filled with sorrow and perseverance.
116. Nox
Latin for ‘night’, Nox carries symbolic meanings linked to darkness and the sadness of night, embodying quiet despair.
117. Allegra
This name means ‘joyful’ yet may carry undertones of sorrow related to the contrast of joy experienced against loss.
118. Tamsin
This English origin name often means ‘twin’, a journey marked by equivalent joys and sorrows, making it rich in emotional significance.
119. Sable
This name means ‘black’ and connects to deeper shades of sadness often associated with mourning, embodying complexity.
120. Yvette
This name of French origin hints at the yew tree, traditionally associated with mourning, bringing echoes of sorrowfulness.
121. Serafina
Though meaning ‘burning one’, Serafina can reference both warmth and the scorching pain of heartache, symbolizing life’s duality.
122. Dianthe
This name means ‘divine flower’, evoking beauty yet often tied with ephemeral sorrow in nature throughout literature.
123. Zana
The name means ‘trendy’ yet can connect to the lost times and struggles behind a facade of happiness, creating a poetic narrative.
124. Violetta
This name relates to the beauty of violets yet embodies the transience of beauty through seasons, filled with underlying sorrow.
125. Venessa
A variant of Vanessa, reflecting duality suggests beauty wrapped in stories of longing and sorrow, making it a complex name.
126. Kyanne
This modern name implies a blend of strength and sorrow, reflecting the human experience amid hardship.
127. Serendipity
This name evokes the joy of unexpected discoveries but carries the potential of bittersweet experiences marked by loss.
128. Annalise
With a blend of ‘grace’ and ‘promise’, Annalise holds meanings tied to beauty complemented with sadness inherent to expectations of life.
129. Amaya
This name stands for ‘night rain’, symbolizing cleansing and renewal while capturing the mood of sadness often connected with tears.
130. Hollis
The name means ‘dweller at the holly trees’, linking it to the aura of nature that accompanies melancholic imagery and reflection on loss.
131. Loredana
Meaning ‘place of flowers’, Loredana signifies beauty with a sense of loss often depicted through fleeting floral blossoms.
132. Elmira
This name means ‘princess’, yet tales associated with its use often spark themes of sorrow and hardship wrapped in nobility.
133. Lux
This name means ‘light’, both symbolizing brightness and casting shadows of sadness as light fades over time.
134. Sorcha
Of Irish origin, Sorcha translates to ‘brightness’, but can evoke a yearning for light amid darkness, carrying sorrowful tones.
135. Mineko
This Japanese name means ‘child of the beautiful’ yet often reflects the poignancy of beauty intertwined with sadness.
136. Kazumi
This name means ‘harmonious beauty’ but speaks to the struggles often faced to achieve that beauty, linking sorrow and joy.
137. Azalea
A floral name, Azalea is beautiful yet ephemeral, often embodying themes of fleeting beauty accompanied by the inevitability of loss.
138. Priscilla
Often ebbing between traditional significance and notions of mourning, Priscilla carries deep emotional layers reflective of sorrowful stories.
139. Kamila
This name translates to ‘perfection’ but can also symbolize the heartache that comes with unattainable ideals in life.
140. Ophelia
A classic name with strong ties to tragic narratives, Ophelia is often used in literature to symbolize deep sorrow and heartache.
141. Nyssa
This name means ‘starting point’ but reflects the anticipation of loss at the start of any new journey, capturing the theme of sorrow beautifully.
142. Emmaline
With roots meaning ‘universal’ or ‘whole’, Emmaline can highlight the pain of feeling incomplete, intertwining joy with sorrow.
143. Cleo
While this name means ‘glory’ in Greek, it uncovers tales of glorious loss, often encompassing themes of sorrow and beauty.
144. Pandora
This name denotes ‘all gifts’, reflecting beauty but also ties to the sorrows released by Pandora’s box, embodying duality in emotion.
145. Esmeralda
This name meaning ’emerald’ is rich in beauty, often connected to tales of heartbreak and loss in literature.
146. Zidane
Zidane conveys ideas of hard-won strength while hinting at the underlying burdens that come from experiences tied to struggle.
147. Minerva
A name tied to wisdom, Minerva can embody the lifetime of lessons often wrapped in sorrow and emotional depth.
148. Leocadia
Meaning ‘bright’, Leocadia holds dual meanings entangled with hardship, illustrating profound beauty alongside life’s sorrows.
149. Marisol
Meaning ‘sea and sun’, Marisol captures the duality of beauty and sadness seen in nature, reflecting life’s contrasts.
150. Lilith
Often tied to myths of loss and rebellion, Lilith represents the themes of hardship entwined with deep-rooted emotional understanding.
Final Thoughts
Choosing a name carries significant weight, especially when it reflects themes of sorrow, struggle, and resilience. The girl names that mean misery we explored offer a beautiful yet poignant glimpse into the human experience. These names remind us that even in sadness, there’s a chance for strength and deeper understanding. If you’re interested in more deeply meaningful names, consider exploring options that resonate with other emotions, such as names that mean doomed or girl names that mean ghost, as each name carries its exquisite narrative.