54 Baby Names That Mean Death
An eccentric collection of names symbolizing liberation from the cycle of life.
Baby names are usually chosen based on their unique meanings or positive connotations that they carry. These baby names meaning death are for those parents who prefer to choose a more enigmatic and mysterious route. Death can have several associations and connotations in various cultures. Some cultures associate grim feelings with the event, while others perceive death to be a new beginning and even associate it with transformation, rebirth, and the cycle of life. Irrespective of its perception, death is an inevitable occurrence similar to birth. Death is often deeply enmeshed with spirituality, rendering it a positive image in many parts of the world.
Hinduism is one such culture that views death as a part of rebirth, reincarnation, or as a process of transition to another state of being. It is the end of the physical body but not of the soul. After the death of the physical body, the soul moves on to live in the ‘astral body,’ and at the right time, the soul will once again be reborn into a body made of flesh (1). Similarly, Buddhism holds the same belief, life is impermanent, but death is not the end of life. According to Buddha, death is ‘the greatest of all teachers,’ ‘the sickness,’ and ‘the most important manifestation of impermanence’ (2).
Picking the name is a significant event after your baby’s birth. Depending on your beliefs and family traditions, you may wish to avoid names that mean death or embrace it by bestowing the baby with such a name. Some parents believe choosing a name signifying death will not bring any malevolence upon the baby. They may see it as a way to accept death’s imminence. The decision to name a child based on ‘death’ should be carefully considered since some may find it too unsettling. However, if you want to give your baby a name meaning death, check out this post for a myriad of options.
Name | Gender | Meaning | |
---|---|---|---|
Abdulbaith | Boy | Servant of resurrect or slave of one who raises death | |
Abiba | Girl | The first child born after death of grandmother; Abeaba and Abeabah are the variant spellings of Abiba | |
Ajal | Boy | Specified term or period; Hour of death; Death; Fate; Destiny | |
Ajuni | Unisex | Eternal; Beyond birth or death | |
Anpu | Boy | God of death | |
Azrail | Boy | The Angel of Death | |
Azreal | Unisex | Angel of death | |
Bhishak | Boy | The Healer; Vishnu; Who Cures the Disease of Birth and Death Cycles | |
Claeg | Boy | One who is subjected to death; mortal | |
Dabria | Girl | An angel of death | |
Dearil | Boy | Call of death; red haired | |
Ernaline | Girl | Capable; Serious; Battle to the death | |
Ernesh | Boy | Sincere; Battle to the death; Determined; Honest | |
Erysichthon | Boy | Someone who has been cursed with an insatiable hunger which finally leads to his death | |
Freyja | Girl | Lady of love, beauty and death | |
Iku | Unisex | Death; To live | |
Ilamatecuhtli | Girl | Aztec goddess of fertility and death | |
Janardan | Boy | Liberator from the cycle of birth and death | |
Javaraya | Boy | God of Death; A name used by tribe community in State of Karnataka | |
Jeevak | Boy | Refers to the period from the present until death | |
Kalabhiti | Boy | Of whom death is afraid; Long Lived; Immortal; Eternal; Forever | |
Kalakuta | Boy | Potion of death | |
Kalaraja | Boy | Lord of death | |
Kalayavan | Boy | As horrible as death | |
Kaliya | Boy | Of time; Of death; Name of a mythological serpent which was fought by Lord Krishna | |
Keres | Unisex | Female death-spirits; Death; Terror; Destruction | |
Khaalida | Girl | Deathless, She is immortal | |
Khalida | Girl | Deathless | |
Kritanta | Unisex | God of death | |
Lawliet | Boy | A character in the Japanese series Death Note | |
Libitina | Girl | Roman Goddes of funerals and death | |
Loralai | Girl | Name of the Siren of German legends, who sat on the rock and lured sailors to their deaths. | |
Loreley | Girl | A song of the beautiful woman that leads a man to death | |
Marzanna | Girl | Goddess of winter and death | |
Menahem | Boy | One who consoles or provides comfort; A name given to a child born after an older sibling's death | |
Morana | Girl | A Goddess of winter and death | |
Morrigan | Girl | A great emperor queen; The Goddess of death and war | |
Mrithun | Boy | Made Of Earth; Lord of Death | |
Mritunjay | Boy | One of the many names of Lord Shiva; One who can conquer death; Victory over death | |
Mritunjoy | Boy | One who wins over the death | |
Mrityuanjaya | Boy | One who is victorious over death | |
Mrityunjai | Boy | The one who is never defeated by death | |
Nagsri | Boy | Death of snakes | |
Nex | Unisex | Death; Violent end | |
Nirnasha | Boy | One who can never die; deathless | |
Odon | Boy | Person of enduring fame, not subject to death, and who is the personification of force | |
Omisha | Girl | Spirit of birth and death | |
Persefoni | Girl | Bringer of death; A variant of Persephone | |
Ryuk | Boy | Death God | |
Tanda | Girl | The seer of life and death | |
Thanatos | Boy | He who brings death | |
Tuwile | Boy | Death is invincible | |
Wraith | Unisex | A ghost or ghostlike image of someone, especially one seen shortly before or after their death | |
Yamajit | Boy | One of many names of Lord Shiva signifying him as the conqueror of death |
Choosing baby names meaning death may be a path less traveled; however, some parents may be enticed by the uniqueness of this option. Death is a universal phenomenon that holds diverse and contrasting associations in different cultures. It can be the start of something new for some, while others have a more somber understanding of death. Ultimately, choosing a name is a deeply personal process and the intention behind the choice is what matters most.
Frequently Asked Questions
1. Are there any famous people with names that mean ‘death’?
Although there are no famous individuals whose names directly imply death, there are a few with names that may have meanings related to the concept of death. Janardan is an Indian name that is used to refer to Lord Krishna, which also means ‘One who helps people,’ and ‘Liberator from the cycle of birth and death.’ Janardan Swami is an Indian Hindu scholar, statesman, poet, and saint. The name Khaleda means ‘Immortal,’ ‘Deathless,’ and ‘Abiding.’ Khaleda Zia is the first female prime minister of Bangladesh.
2. What is the Egyptian name that means ‘death’?
Nephthys is a name of Egyptian origin, derived from the Greek form of the Egyptian name Nebet-Hut. It translates to ‘lady of the house,’ combining the elements "nbt," meaning ‘lady,’ and "ḥwt," meaning ‘house.’ In Egyptian mythology, Nephthys was a goddess associated with the air, death, and mourning.
References
- Karma and Reincarnation.
https://hindu.org/basics/karma-and-reincarnation/ - Buddhism and Death.
https://www.samyeling.org/buddhism-and-meditation/teaching-archive-2/dharmacharya-ken-holmes/buddhism-and-death/
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