Choosing a name for a baby girl can be both exciting and challenging. Some parents want a name that carries deep meanings, even if those meanings are intense. Names that symbolize despair can reflect a poignant story or an emotional journey. These names may serve as a reminder of resilience or the beauty found within sorrow.
Today, we will look at a selection of girl names that mean despair. Each name comes with its unique background and significance, allowing you to understand the weight of their meanings. Whether you seek a name with a rich history or simply appreciate the depth of these meanings, this list has something for everyone.
Girl Names That Mean Despair
1. Mara
Mara is a Hebrew name that means ‘bitter’. It reflects the deep sense of sorrow and despair, making it a potent choice for parents who appreciate names with profound meanings.
2. Jabez
While traditionally a boy’s name, Jabez can also be used for girls. It means ‘sorrow’ in Hebrew and symbolizes the pain experienced in life.
3. Brenna
Brenna is an Irish name meaning ‘descendant of Braonán’, which can translate to ‘sorrow’ or ‘descendant of the sad one’. This gives a unique angle to despair in its historical context.
4. Niamh
Niamh, an Irish name meaning ‘bright’, has a deeper connection to the myth of a tragic love story, representing the sorrow embedded in beautiful tales.
5. Alayna
Alayna takes root from the Celtic word ‘a leanbh’, meaning ‘little child’, but it can evoke feelings of loss and despair in its usage.
6. Asha
Asha means ‘hope’ in Sanskrit, but is often used in contexts that remind us of despair when hope feels out of reach.
7. Rhea
The name Rhea comes from Greek mythology and is associated with the mother of the gods, but also connects with the sorrow of lost opportunities and struggles.
8. Dolores
Dolores is a Spanish name meaning ‘sorrows’, which explicitly reflects despair and the emotional weight it carries.
9. Melaina
Melaina is of Greek origin, signifying ‘dark’ and can connect with the feelings of hopelessness and despair.
10. Zara
Zara, while meaning ‘princess’ in Arabic, is also interpreted in some contexts to represent a name associated with despair from literary tale.
11. Ines
Ines translates to ‘pure’, yet in its historical context, it also represents the beauty found in sadness.
12. Lachlan
This name, while typically masculine, can be used for girls. Lachlan means ‘from the land of lakes’ and in dark tales can symbolize deep sorrow.
13. Caia
Caia carries a meaning of ‘rejoice’, but often lies in the shadow of the despair one may feel when joy is fleeting.
14. Bellatrix
Bellatrix is Latin for ‘female warrior’, but many tales surrounding it delve into battles characterized by loss and despair.
15. Zephyra
Zephyra, meaning ‘west wind’, holds both beauty and a reminder of the sadness that can come as one day fades into the next with no promise of the morrow.
16. Nyx
Named after the Greek goddess of night, Nyx carries weight as a symbol of the darkness and despair found within the night.
17. Evangeline
Evangeline means ‘bearer of good news’, but its tale encapsulates the sadness of lost love underlining such hopeful meanings.
18. Errin
Errin, while meaning ‘from the earth’, can connect with themes of despair when tied with the struggles of existence.
19. Seraphine
Seraphine means ‘fiery’, yet much of its connotation involves the fire of emotional turmoil leading to despair.
20. Acheron
Acheron represents the river of pain in Greek mythology, making it a haunting name filled with the resonance of despair.
21. Talia
Talia means ‘dew from heaven’, yet is often associated with sorrowful tales of longing and loss.
22. Aine
Aine means ‘brightness’, yet is also connected to tales of love and despair in Irish mythology.
23. Susan
While Susan means ‘lily’, it often symbolizes having one’s heart torn in tales representing despair and emotional fragility.
24. Ashling
This Irish name means ‘dream’ or ‘vision’, yet often reminds us of dreams shattered, echoing despair in its background.
25. Ramona
Ramona means ‘wise protector’, yet many stories entwine it with themes of a tragic heroine, speaking to despair.
26. Desdemona
Desdemona is a name that directly signifies ‘unlucky’, known for its connection to tragedy and despair in literature.
27. Keren
Keren, meaning ‘horn’, can symbolize the power of despair ringing through life’s struggles.
28. Cordelia
Cordelia means ‘heart’ or ‘daughter of the sea’, often illustrating feelings of loneliness and despair through its stories.
29. Melina
While meaning ‘honey’, Melina is often tied with narratives of loss and heartbreak, linking to despair.
30. Lucretia
Lucretia holds the meaning of ‘profit’, but references in history often reflect despair and the tragic tales of individuals.
31. Sylvia
Sylvia means ‘of the forest’, where many dark tales of sorrow and loss are told, creating a mystical essence of despair.
32. Lyra
Lyra refers to the lyre, yet is often associated with tales of lost music and failed hopes, tied to despair.
33. Farah
While meaning ‘joy’, Farah intertwines with stories of bittersweet realities and deep emotions linked with despair.
34. Melisande
Melisande means ‘strong in work’, but her tragic narrative links her character deeply to despair.
35. Calista
Calista means ‘most beautiful’ yet speaks to the hidden sorrow that can accompany true beauty, resonating with despair.
36. Angela
Angela means ‘messenger’, often linked to delivering bittersweet news carrying despair.
37. Eilis
Eilis is a form of Elizabeth, meaning ‘pledged to God’, often connecting to sorrow for those lost in devotion.
38. Mira
Mira means ‘peace’, yet it often conveys a longing that can only be met with despair in challenging situations.
39. Elara
Elara, a name meaning ‘bright’, reflects on the contrast to the darkness and despair sometimes faced in life’s journey.
40. Calantha
This name means ‘beautiful flower’, but can elicit thoughts of fleeting beauty and the sadness of loss.
41. Ona
Ona means ‘grace’, but often reflects the underlying sadness and despair of a life well-lived but aching.
42. Zarina
Zarina means ‘golden’, with stories that unravel into despair and responsibility, creating a layered meaning.
43. Lela
Lela, meaning ‘black night’, evokes the feeling of despair found in solitude amidst darkness.
44. Devi
In Sanskrit, Devi means ‘goddess’, but tales surrounding deities often delve into suffering and despair.
45. Indigo
Named after the deep blue color, Indigo often symbolizes the depths of sorrow and despair in its associations.
46. Ophelia
Ophelia, symbolizing ‘help’, is known for her tragic fate in literature which underscores despair at love and loss.
47. Aislinn
Aislinn translates to ‘dream’, often associated with nightmares or things gone wrong, tying back to despair.
48. Sonya
Sonya means ‘wisdom’, yet many tales feature wise characters resulting in tragic endings filled with despair.
49. Vespera
Vespera, meaning ‘evening star’, often reflects on the melancholy and despair as night falls.
50. Xiomara
Xiomara means ‘ready for battle’, yet it can represent the struggles with fighting despair in life.
51. Isolde
Isolde offers the meaning ‘ice ruler’ and embodies the sadness of tragic romance, echoing despair.
52. Zaira
Zaira integrates the meaning of ‘blooming flower’, but narratively speaks to the delicate balance of joy and despair.
53. Nerissa
Nerissa means ‘sea nymph’ but often carries a weight of loneliness leading towards despair in myths.
54. Griselda
Griselda means ‘gray battle maid’, holding a story of endurance through grief and despair.
55. Moriah
Moriah invokes the biblical Mount Moriah, often tied to sacrifice which can lead to despair.
56. Sarai
Sarai means ‘my princess’, but can also embody the longing and despair found in royal tales.
57. Tamsin
Tamsin is a variation of Thomasina, meaning ‘twin’, where some associations delve into the sorrows of duality.
58. Naomi
Naomi means ‘pleasantness’, but is equal parts tragedy as in the biblical context of loss and despair.
59. Althea
Althea means ‘healing’, yet often reflects on the heartaches one must endure to heal, invoking despair.
60. Selene
Selene, meaning ‘moon’, connects to the melancholy that can come when dreams fade away into despair.
61. Liora
Liora signifies ‘light’, yet can symbolize the flickering hope amidst overwhelming despair.
62. Astrid
Astrid means ‘divine strength’ but carries with it tales of trials and despair when strength fades.
63. Violette
Violette signifies ‘deep purple’, often connected with sad themes and the beauty of sorrow.
64. Agatha
Agatha means ‘good’, yet many stories intertwine it with the complexities of loss leading to despair.
65. Isadora
Isadora means ‘gift of Isis’, known for its tragic associations that resonate with despair.
66. Hecate
Hecate is a name based on the ancient goddess, often linked with mystery and the sorrows of the night.
67. Thalassa
Thalassa means ‘sea’, often entwined with the despair found in its depths and secrets.
68. Zara
Zara may mean ‘blooming flower’, but its connotations can also reflect the transient nature of life leading to despair.
69. Aisling
Aisling translates to ‘dream’, representing despair as dreams devolve into reality.
70. Keira
Keira means ‘little dark one’, capturing the essence of despair in darkness.
71. Ondine
Ondine means ‘little wave’, but can imply the turbulence and despair found within life’s storms.
72. Tori
Tori means ‘bird’, often symbolizing freedom alongside the despair of captivity.
73. Xanthe
Xanthe translates to ‘yellow’ but holds deeper meanings often underscored by loss.
74. Hespera
Hespera means ‘evening star’ and evokes reflections of darkness and the sorrow found therein.
75. Noelia
Noelia means ‘born on Christmas’, but intertwines with tales of longing and despair amid joy.
76. Tessa
Tessa, often believed to mean ‘to harvest’, symbolizes the sorrow that comes with gaining after loss.
77. Jolie
Even though Jolie means ‘pretty’, many tales that use this name tie into stories filled with sorrow and despair.
78. Felicity
While Felicity means ‘happiness’, it can also highlight the bittersweet nature of joy amidst despair.
79. Lavinia
Lavinia carries an air of loss, wrapped in the tragic narratives surrounding it.
80. Calypso
Calypso, from Greek tragedy, can signify the sorrow of love lost and the weight of despair.
81. Wendy
Wendy, while meaning ‘friend’, can also hint towards loss and longing in its stories.
82. Pandora
Pandora, known from mythology, means ‘all-giving’, yet signifies the sorrow found in what was unleashed into the world.
83. Astraea
Astraea means “starry night,” embracing the beauty of sadness veiled in despair.
84. Xena
Xena is known for its meaning ‘guest’, intertwined with tragic tales that evoke despair.
85. Elena
Elena means ‘shining light’, but often connects with dark narratives resonating with despair.
86. Alva
Alva, meaning ‘elf’, often appears in dark stories reflecting despair in much mystical lore.
87. Lucinda
While Lucinda means ‘light’, it can also symbolize the struggle between light and darkness reflective of despair.
88. Tilda
Tilda means ‘battle maiden’, captured in tales that often find heroines in sorrowful trials.
89. Vale
Vale means ‘valley’, often reflecting solitude and despair found within deep valleys.
90. Niamh
Niamh translates to ‘radiance’, but the tales surrounding it often carry deep tragic despair.
91. Fenella
Fenella means ‘white/bright’, yet resonates with the darker tales of love lost, indicating despair.
92. Aelyx
Aelyx, a modern adaptation, symbolizes the internal struggle many face leading to despair.
93. Arwen
Arwen translates to ‘noble maiden’, representing resilience amidst despair in classic literature.
94. Lux
Lux signifies light but in narratives corresponds with the despair one feels in darkness.
95. Esme
Esme means ‘esteemed’, reflecting both admiration and the sorrow connected to lost esteem.
96. Nysa
Nysa bridges the meaning of ‘new beginning’ while often hinting at the despair seen in such transitions.
97. Leta
Leta, meaning ‘glad’, often has undercurrents of sadness, reflecting life’s duality.
98. Thea
Thea means ‘goddess’, yet many tales of deities open doors to despair, adding layers to its meaning.
99. Antigone
Antigone means ‘against birth’, often tied to sorrow and moral dilemmas encased in despair.
100. Juno
Juno means ‘queen of heaven’, surrounded by tales of loss and despair, adding depth to her regal nature.
101. Helene
Helene translates to ‘torch’, which can symbolize the light within darkness, often associated with despair.
102. Amara
While Amara means ‘eternal’, it often links to the despair of yearning and unattainable love.
103. Zara
Zara signifies ‘blossom’, but many stories intertwine her beauty with melancholic tales of despair.
104. Kaiya
While not directly linked to despair, Kaiya means ‘forgiveness’, often reflecting the pain that leads to healing from despair.
105. Mira
Mira means ‘ocean’, often associating it with deep feelings of despair as the tides of the sea ebbed and flowed.
106. Linnea
Linnea means ‘lime tree’, and carries a subtle undertone of sorrow tied to fleeting seasons.
107. Tamsin
Tamsin is often said to mean ‘twin’, which can highlight the duality of joy and despair.
108. Rhiannon
Rhiannon means ‘great queen’, but her stories often tell of loss and the despair that accompanies responsibility.
109. Siobhan
Siobhan, meaning ‘God is gracious’, can reflect stories of despair amidst these blessings.
110. Viatrix
Viatrix means ‘voyager’, symbolizing the travels where despair often arises.
111. Aisling
Aisling means ‘dream’ in Irish, often illustrating the loss of dreams and the despair that follows.
112. Amaya
While Amaya means ‘night rain’, it imbues feelings of sorrow and murky despair found in nighttime.
113. Navya
Navya implies ‘new’ but can connect to the despair of needed changes.
114. Nyssa
Nyssa translates to ‘beginning’, also reflecting the worry of potential despair that accompanies new journeys.
115. Sabel
Sabel means ‘morning star’, often associated with the change from despair to hope at dawn.
116. Isolde
Isolde reminds of ‘ice ruler’, paralleling the icy grip of despair within tale themes.
117. Fiorella
Fiorella means ‘little flower’, reminiscent of the beauty that often masks underlying despair.
118. Liberty
Liberty symbolizes freedom but holds despair through tales of those fighting for it.
119. Anwen
Anwen means ‘very beautiful’, yet the tales of such beauty often thread through sorrow and despair.
120. Ffion
Ffion is a Welsh name meaning ‘foxglove’, often symbolizing beauty amid tales filled with lament.
121. Elowen
Elowen means ‘elm tree’, embodying the stories embedded with cycles of life, loss, and despair.
122. Cassia
Cassia, often linked to the spice, sometimes reflects sweeter tales tainted with sorrow and despair.
123. Mirabel
Mirabel means ‘wonderful’, yet often tied to narratives steeped in despair where wonder feels out of reach.
124. Thalia
Thalia means ‘to flourish’, yet intertwined with despair it reveals the beauty that comes with struggle.
125. Amethyst
Amethyst, a type of quartz, symbolizes protection against despair through its historical value.
126. Mairead
Mairead means ‘pearl’, and pearls often reflect sorrow through pain endured to create beauty.
127. Yasmin
Yasmin means ‘jasmine flower’, often reflecting the paradox of beauty shrouded in endings filled with despair.
128. Lira
Lira, as in the lyre, carries melodies that can evoke both beauty and the depths of despair.
129. Roisin
Roisin means ‘little rose’, symbolizing the beauty found alongside sorrowful stories and despair.
130. Nevaeh
Nevaeh, or ‘heaven’ spelled backward, can signify the longing tied to despair for those passed away.
131. Lilith
Lilith, often linked with darkness and despair, reflects many narratives that traverse sorrow.
132. Verena
Verena means ‘to bring news’, representing the weight of news that can bring about despair as well.
133. Clarity
Clarity conveys transparency, yet sometimes illuminates the sadness someone holds beneath.
134. Sable
Sable means ‘black’, often representing the depths of sorrow and despair intertwined within its color.
135. Medina
Medina means ‘city’, often symbolizing the stories of lost dreams and despair within urban life.
136. Esme
Esme, with meanings rooted in ‘loved’, often reflects the complexity of love entwined with despair.
137. Elira
Elira carries a meaning of ‘freedom’, yet can symbolize the longing that is often tinged with despair.
138. Alethea
Alethea, meaning ‘truth’, illustrates how truth can be both liberating and filled with despair.
139. Camila
Camila means ‘young ceremonial attendant’, often reflecting the weight of expectation and unfulfilled desires leading to despair.
140. Carys
Carys means ‘to love’, yet often denotes the heartache that love can bring, connecting to despair.
141. Bria
Bria means ‘strong’, but the strength often comes from overcoming despair.
142. Zephyra
Zephyra means ‘west wind’, carrying tales that are light yet filled with despair.
143. Livia
Livia means ‘bluish’, resembling deep waters often tied to sorrow.
144. Solene
Solene means ‘sunshine’, speaks beautifully but is often contrasted by despair when sunlight wanes.
145. Morwenna
Morwenna means ‘waves of the sea’, directly connecting to the profound depths of despair found in legends.
146. Althea
Althea translates to ‘healer’, often encountering the sadness of wounds leading to despair.
147. Therese
Therese means ‘harvest’, but often tells stories of loss experienced through the journey of nurturing growth through despair.
148. Amalthea
Amalthea means ‘tender goddess’, yet connects to tales of bitter trials reflecting despair.
149. Sybil
Sybil, meaning ‘prophetess’, often implies the unsettling nature of foresight, reflecting on despair.
150. Rhiannon
Rhiannon translates to ‘great queen’, intertwining with tales of loss leading to despair.
Final Thoughts
Choosing a name with deep meaning, especially one connected to despair, can resonate uniquely with your values and experiences. While these names may symbolize sadness, they also reflect resilience, beauty, and the strength found in confronting sorrowful tales. Each name listed carries its own story, often echoing the complexities of human emotions.
Names that signify despair can remind us of life’s trials and the bittersweet beauty that arises from them. Therefore, while searching for the perfect name for your baby girl, consider the powerful meanings these names hold. They can offer a poignant reminder of the strength of overcoming life’s darkest moments.
If you are intrigued by profound names, you may also want to explore female names that mean death or check out names that mean death for further inspiration. There’s an entire world of naming that intertwines with human emotions ready to be discovered.