What are some traditional baby girl names that have stood the test of time?

There are many traditional and classic girl names that are popular all over the world. They include Alice (noble), Amelia (hardworking), Abigail (my father is joy), Gwyneth (happiness), Edith (wealth), and Sussanah (lily).

How do I make sure the baby girl name I choose is easy to pronounce and spell?

Names that are easy to spell are also easy to pronounce. These consist of a few syllables that are very short. You can choose from some common options like Mia (friendly), Ella (beautiful), Emily (eager or laborious), Grace (goodness), Jess (God exists), Lucy (light), Jen (fair one), and Molly (star of the sea).

What are some baby girl names that work well in multiple languages/cultures?

There are many international girl names that have been popular for many decades. These multilingual names usually have Hebrew, Latin, or English origins. Some good examples are Dana (the most beautiful pearl), Cassidy (clever or curly-haired), Chloe (young green shoot), Demi (earth mother), and Diana (divine).

Should I consider the popularity of a baby girl’s name when choosing one for my child?

It would be best to start your baby name search by looking at the popularity of different names. This will be helpful if you desire a trendy name for your child. However, avoid overly popular names as they lack individuality and impact. Your child may prefer an easy-to-pronounce yet unique name when they grow up.

What are some rare girl names?

Rare names allow your child to stand out as they cannot be mistaken for popular and overused names. Very few parents have taken such names over the decades. You can choose from Zendaya (to give thanks), Chantria (moonlight), Yamileth (beautiful), Saanvi (one who will be followed), and Monserrat (jagged mountain).

Home • Baby Names

161 Baby Girl Names That Mean Dark

A collection of names that is bold and mysterious, like the darkness of the night.

Written by Praggya Joshi, MA, BEd Specialty: Child education & activitiesExperience: 2 years

Praggya Joshi holds a bachelor's degree in Education and a master's in Ancient Indian History from University of Delhi. She has a robust knowledge of literature, society, and ethics. Praggya has been a content writer since 2021, researching and writing on education, health and wellness, and travel.

Read full bio of Praggya Joshi

Edited by Aneesha Amonz, MSc Specialty: Health and WellnessExperience: 2 years

Aneesha holds a Bachelor's degree in Biotechnology from USTM, Meghalaya and Master’s degree in Applied Microbiology from VIT, Vellore. With two years of experience, she has worked on different research projects in the field of Food Sciences.

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Fact-checked by Nida Shaikh, BSc, PG Dip. Specialty: Health & WellnessExperience: 2 years

Nida holds a bachelor's degree in Zoology and a postgraduate diploma in Clinical Genetics and Medical Laboratory Techniques from Goa University. Before joining MomJunction, she worked as a laboratory technician. She began content writing during her college years and has been featured as a co-author in a children's short story compilation book.

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Last Updated on Jul 24, 2024

Illustration: MomJunction Design Team

Darkness, in its literal sense, refers to the absence of light. However, metaphorically, it symbolizes illumination, mystery, and introspection. Baby girl names that mean dark evoke intrigue, depth, and fortitude. If you are looking for an appealing name that captures the true essence of darkness, keep reading this post.

Throughout history, darkness has been linked with different concepts, including the night sky and shadows. Although darkness is often associated with negativity, many ancient cultures worshiped darkness and saw it as a source of strength and transformation. This historical significance mirrors the naming practices surrounding baby girls with names that signify darkness (1).

Different cultures interpret darkness and its symbolism in diverse ways. In Celtic cultures, darkness was associated with life's magical and otherworldly aspects. On the other hand, many indigenous cultures viewed darkness as an integral part of the natural cycle. It is also seen as the time for rest and renewal and is associated with celestial bodies and the spiritual realm. Certain cultures have deities or mythical characters linked with the darkness that inspire their traditional baby girl names.

This diversity in interpretation gives dark-inspired baby girl names a wide range of traits and meanings, including inner power, mystery, wisdom, resilience, and elegance. Moreover, these names often convey the fascination and intriguing aspects associated with darkness.

Parents frequently seek out unique and meaningful names for their babies. Baby names that mean dark hold significance as they stand out and represent individuality. The exhaustive list of baby girl names below includes names with diverse meanings that reflect the various interpretations of darkness in different cultures. Whether rooted in regional variants, or contemporary trends, these names harbor depth and strength. So, plunge and explore!

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Name	Gender	Meaning
Layla	Girl	Night; Dark
Melanie	Girl	Black; Dark; Dark-skinned
Blakely	Girl	Black; Dark; Woodland clearing
Leila	Girl	Night time; Dark
Lila	Girl	Playful; Dark beauty
Keira	Girl	Little dark-haired one
Lylah	Girl	A dark beauty
Melany	Girl	Black; Dark
Kiera	Girl	Little dark one
Melani	Girl	Dark; Black

Darcy	Girl	Dark-haired
Ciara	Girl	Dark haired; Dark complexioned
Lailah	Girl	Dark; Night
Melania	Girl	Obscure; Dwells in the dark places; Invisibleness
Blakelyn	Girl	A dark-complexioned man who shines
Ela	Girl	Tree; Dark; God is my vow
Nila	Girl	Dark blue; Sapphire; God is my judge
Mahogany	Girl	Dark Red Wood
Adria	Girl	Women from Hadria or the Adriatic sea region; Dark one; A variant of Adriana
Blakeley	Girl	Pale-skinned; Dark

Leylah	Girl	Night; Dark
Esmeray	Girl	Dark moon
Adrielle	Girl	Women from Hadria or the Adriatic sea region; Dark one; A variant of Adriel
Leighla	Girl	The dark-haired beauty of the night
Kierra	Girl	Dark; Lord
Laela	Girl	A woman who is dark-haired and beautiful
Anisha	Girl	Continuous; Without darkness; Light; Unceasing
Fia	Girl	One who makes a dark peace; Daughter in Italian
Layal	Girl	Dark hours of the day; Night
Kiarah	Girl	Dark-haired princess

Darcie	Girl	Dark-haired; From the fortress; Descendant of the dark
Mela	Girl	Darkness; The one who always cannot see anything; Gloomy and shady
Meila	Girl	Variation of Melanie which means Black or Dark
Lamya	Girl	One who has dark lips
Devlin	Girl	Dark-haired, brave, valiant
Darci	Girl	A stubborn, dark person
Melonie	Girl	A black or dark-skinned individual from a special racial group
Rinoa	Girl	One who is a tourch of light in the darkness
Melony	Girl	Black; Dark
Eleena	Girl	The one who shines even during darkness

Lejla	Girl	A dark-haired beautiful woman who is born at night
Keyara	Girl	The small one with dark hair
Darcelle	Girl	Dark; determined
Ciera	Girl	A messenger of god; Dark-haired one; Black
Kiora	Girl	A little and dark loved one
Lamiya	Girl	Dark-lipped woman
Kimimila	Girl	Dark-skinned
Mellie	Girl	Black; Dark
Adreana	Girl	Women from Hadria or the Adriatic sea region; Dark one; A variant of Adriana
Melanee	Girl	Dark or olive-skinned person

Lama	Girl	A person with dark lips
Eboney	Girl	Deep black wood; Dark beauty
Ciarra	Girl	Dark; not fair; dim; dusk
Mauri	Girl	Swarthy; Dark-skinned; Moor; Beloved of Amun; A variant of Maura
Melaney	Girl	Black or dark; A variant of Melanie, which means dark-skinned
Adriane	Girl	Women from Hadria, the Adriatic sea region; Dark one; A variant of Adria and Adriana
Dorsey	Girl	A dark-colored individual; In need of freedom
Gara	Girl	Height; Dark
Charlynn	Girl	The dark one who is manly, strong and filled with virility
Charna	Girl	Dark

Kieara	Girl	Dark-haired; Dark
Hadrien	Girl	Dark; Mysterious
Narine	Girl	Dark-skinned person; Black
Liala	Girl	Night; Dark beauty
Mauricia	Girl	She who has dark skin
Meloni	Girl	The person belonging to a racial group with dark skin
Malania	Girl	Black; Dark
Samra	Girl	One who is dark or dark-skinned
Ceira	Girl	Dark -haired; Black
Adrionna	Girl	Dark one

Morrell	Girl	Dark-skinned one
Merlina	Girl	Dark haired; Blackbird
Keiran	Girl	Dark-haired
Adrienna	Girl	Women from Hadria, the Adriatic sea region; Dark one; A variant of Adria and Adriana
Dee	Girl	Dark and sacred Goddess
Darcia	Girl	The dark one
Donella	Girl	Elfin Girl who has Dark haired
Maurine	Girl	Dark-skinned; Moorish
Keir	Girl	Dark; Thicket
Lajla	Girl	Beauty of the night; Dark haired beauty

Leilyn	Girl	A dark beauty that is born in the nighttime
Neesha	Girl	Dark night or dusky period
Grissel	Girl	Dark battle; Gray-haired
Tamela	Girl	One who is dark in a sweet way
Adriene	Girl	Women from Hadria, the Adriatic sea region; Dark one; A variant of Adria and Adriana
Blakeney	Girl	Pale-skinned; Dark
Humairah	Girl	Dark red color
Keaira	Girl	The little and dark one
Kieryn	Girl	Black; Dark
Keirra	Girl	Dark-haired; Dark

Melana	Girl	Black; Dark
Melayna	Girl	Black; Dark; Noble
Mellany	Girl	Black; Dark
Neelam	Girl	One has dark blue color eyes
Nishitha	Girl	Night, darkness, diligent
Shirina	Girl	A woman dark as a night
Kerin	Girl	Dark-haired; Pure
Kiyrah	Girl	The black and dark person
Sauda	Girl	Dark and beautiful
Morrisa	Girl	A dark-colored girl

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In a world that often celebrates light, girl names meaning dark comes= as an intriguing and captivating choice. These names defy conventional norms and acknowledge mysterious aspects of life. They embrace the beauty of shadows and secrets. Parents find these names alluring as they stand for strength and resilience. These names are a reminder that even darkness has its beauty and charm.

Infographic: Beautiful Girl Names That Mean Dark

Parents do a lot of research looking for a meaningful and uncommon name for their child. At times they even opt for names that have unconventional meanings. Baby names that mean ‘dark’ are often considered a rare yet interesting choice for a baby girl's name. This infographic will help you discover some beautiful girl names that mean ‘dark’ for your precious one.

elegant girl names that mean dark (infographic)

Frequently Asked Questions

1. What is the origin of the name Dark?

The name Dark originated from the English word 'dark,' which originated from the Germanic term 'derk,' meaning 'dark' or 'absence of light.' Generally, the name is associated with mystery, sophistication, and unique abilities. However, it is vital to note that name interpretations can vary across cultures and religions, influencing parents' naming choices.

2. What are some famous people or characters with names that mean ‘Dark’?

Melanie, derived from the Greek name melaina, means 'black' or 'dark.' Melanie Griffith is a famous American actress known for her roles in movies such as 'Working Girl' and 'Something Wild.' Nyx means 'night' in Greek and is the name of the Greek Goddess and personification of the night. Darkstar from Marvel Comics is another notable character with a name that means 'night.'

3. What girl's name means 'dark rose' or 'dark flower'?

Melantha is a rare and unique name of Greek and English origin that means 'dark flower.' It is derived from a combination of the English name Melanie meaning 'dark' or 'black,' and the Greek word ethos, meaning 'flower.'

References

MomJunction's articles are written after analyzing the research works of expert authors and institutions. Our references consist of resources established by authorities in their respective fields. You can learn more about the authenticity of the information we present in our editorial policy.

Boutsikas, Efrosyni et al.; (2017); The Role of Darkness in Ancient Greek Religion and Religious Practice; Research Gate.
https://www.researchgate.net/publication/322508265_The_role_of_Darkness_in_ancient_Greek_religion_and_religious_practice

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