Are you looking for unique baby names that means shadow or darkness? You’ve come to the right place.
For centuries, parents having been choosing names that have unusual, and often mysterious, meanings. Names meaning ‘shadow’ or ‘darkness’ are no different.
There’s something undeniably intriguing about dark names. They carry an air of mystery and a sense of depth that can’t quite be captured by more conventional choices.
If you’re leaning away from popular names and towards something a bit mysterious, maybe even a little enigmatic, why not consider names inspired by shadows or darkness?
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Names like Raven, Luna, or even Orion are poetic, almost otherworldly, choices – and are a meaningful alternative to a more popular name.
So, what’s the history behind names that mean darkness or shadow? Looking back in time, there’s plenty of instances where names with dark meanings have taken centre stage.
The Gothic revival, for example, was a trend that defined the Victorian era. Medieval allure, classical elegance, biblical tales and curiosity for magic and the occult mingled with the romanticism of the Pre-Raphaelites and the eerie charm of gothic literature to inspire dark and moody baby names.
From the grandeur of castles to the shadows of gothic novels, the Gothic revival permeated every aspect of Victorian life, including the names chosen for their offspring.
These days, different cultures have so much inspiration. Names of Japanese, Latin and Greek origin have all provided monikers that mean dark or shadow.
For example, in Greek mythology, shadows are hugely important. Erebos is a Greek name derived from erōbos, the simple-past participle of the verb erkō, meaning ‘come to light’. Erebus was the God of a dark region of the underworld and the personification of darkness.
Meanwhile, many popular Japanese boy names related to shadow and darkness. The name Kageyama in Japanese actually means ‘shadow-mountain’. Kage means ‘shadow’ and yama means ‘mountain’.
If you are drawn to names of Irish origin, Dubhan is the perfect name for a dark-haired baby, meaning “black”. Meanwhile, Ciara means “little dark one”.
If you’re looking for gender-neutral options, Anila emerges from Indian origin, meaning “wind” or “shadow.” Drawing from biblical roots, Zillah offers a timeless option with a touch of darkness. As the variant spelling of Hebrew Tsillah, it adds a contemporary twist.
Whether it’s turning to moons, stars, celestial bodies, Greek mythology, the Arabic language, Irish roots or top baby name trend predictions, there’s a unique name out there for you.
Check out this list of baby names that mean shadow or darkness.
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Baby names that means shadow or darkness
Adham
Meaning: “Black”
Origin: Arabic origin
Pronunciation: AH-dum
Adrienne
Meaning: “Dark one” or “from Hadria”
Origin: Latin origin
Pronunciation: AY-dree-en
Aka
Meaning: “Shadow” or “glimmer of moonlight”
Origin: Hawaiian origin
Pronunciation: AH-kuh
Alvina
Meaning: “Friend of the elves”
Origin: English origin
Pronunciation: al-VEE-nah
Amaya
Meaning: “Dark one” or “mother city”
Origin: Japanese, Spanish
Pronunciation: ah-MY-ə (Japanese); ah-MAY-ə (Spanish)
Bezalel
Meaning: “In the shadow [protection] of God.” Bezalel is the name of a son of Uri in the Bible.
Origin: Hebrew
Pronunciation: beh-ZAH-lel
Blair
Meaning: “Field or plain”
Origin: Scottish origin
Pronunciation: BLAYR
Blake
Meaning: “Dark”
Origin: English origin
Pronunciation: BLAYK
Ciara
Meaning: “Little dark one”
Origin: Irish origin
Pronunciation: see-AIR-ah or kee-AR-uh
Ciaran
Meaning: “Dark”
Origin: Irish origin
Pronunciation: KEER-uhn
Corbin
Meaning: “Raven”
Origin: English origin
Pronunciation: KOR-bin
Dahlia
Meaning: “Valley”
Origin: Scandinavian origin
Pronunciation: DAL-yah
Darcy
Meaning: “Dark”
Origin: Irish origin
Pronunciation: DAR-see
Darcy
Meaning: “Dark one”
Origin: Irish origin
Pronunciation: DAR-see
Delaney
Meaning: “Dark challenger”
Origin: Irish origin
Pronunciation: DEL-uh-nee
Delaney
Meaning: “Dark challenger”
Origin: Irish origin
Pronunciation: duh-LAY-nee
Dmitri
Meaning: “Earth-lover”
Origin: Russian origin
Pronunciation: d’MEE-tree
Draven
Meaning: “Child of the shadows”
Origin: English origin
Pronunciation: DRAY-vən
Duff
Meaning: “Dark”
Origin: Scottish origin
Pronunciation: DUHF
Duncan
Meaning: “Dark warrior”
Origin: Scottish origin
Pronunciation: DUHN-kin
Dunstan
Meaning: “Dark stone”
Origin: English origin
Pronunciation: DUN-stun
Duana
Meaning: “Little dark one”
Origin: English origin
Pronunciation: DOO-ah-nuh
Ebony
Meaning: “Dark wood” or “black”
Origin: English origin
Pronunciation: EH-buh-nee
Ena
Meaning: “Shade” or “dark object”
Origin: Latvian origin
Pronunciation: EE-nah
Ewan
Meaning: “Born of the yew tree”
Origin: Scottish origin
Pronunciation: YOO-un
Hadar
Meaning: “Splendor, glory”
Origin: Hebrew origin
Pronunciation: HAH-dar
Jett
Meaning: “Black gemstone”
Origin: English origin
Pronunciation: JET
Kage
Meaning: “Shadow”
Origin: Japanese origin
Pronunciation: KAH-geh
Kali
Meaning: “Dark goddess”
Origin: Sanskrit origin
Pronunciation: KAH-lee
Kardama
Meaning: “Shadow”
Origin: Sanskrit origin
Pronunciation: kar-DAH-muh
Keith
Meaning: “Dark forest”
Origin: Celtic origin
Pronunciation: KEETH
Kendrick
Meaning: “Royal ruler”
Origin: English origin
Pronunciation: KEN-drik
Kiera
Meaning: “Dark-haired” or “little dark one”
Origin: Irish origin
Pronunciation: KEER-ah
Kieran
Meaning: “Dark-haired”
Origin: Irish origin
Pronunciation: KEER-uhn
Knox
Meaning: “Round hill”
Origin: Scottish origin
Pronunciation: NOX
Layton
Meaning: “Dark meadow”
Origin: English origin
Pronunciation: LAY-tun
Leila
Meaning: “Night”
Origin: Arabic origin
Pronunciation: LAY-lah
Maura
Meaning: “Dark-skinned”
Origin: Irish origin
Pronunciation: MAWR-ah
Melaina
Meaning: “Shadowy” or “dusky”
Origin: American origin
Pronunciation: MEL-ay-nuh
Melantha
Meaning: “Dark flower”
Origin: Greek origin
Pronunciation: meh-LAN-thuh
Melany
Meaning: Derived from Greek, meaning “black” or “dark.”
Origin: Greek origin
Pronunciation: MEL-ə-nee
Mordred
Meaning: “Dark and renowned”
Origin: Arthurian Legend
Pronunciation: MOR-dred
Morgana
Meaning: “Sea circle”
Origin: Celtic origin
Pronunciation: mor-GAH-nah
Morrigan
Meaning: “Great queen”
Origin: Irish origin
Pronunciation: MOR-uh-gan
Ombra
Meaning: “Shadow”
Origin: Italian, from Latin “umbra”
Pronunciation: OM-bruh
Ombre
Meaning: “Shadow”
Origin: French origin
Pronunciation: OM-bray
Raven
Meaning: “Dark bird”
Origin: English origin
Pronunciation: RAY-vuhn
Rhea
Meaning: “Flowing stream”
Origin: Greek origin
Pronunciation: REE-uh
Rohan
Meaning: “Ascending, growing”
Origin: Sanskrit origin
Pronunciation: RO-han
Sable
Meaning: “Black”
Origin: English origin
Pronunciation: SAY-buhl
Saaya
Meaning: “Shadow” (Indian); “Sand” (Japanese)
Origin: Indian, Japanese
Pronunciation: SAH-yah (Indian); SAH-yah (Japanese)
Saiya
Meaning: “Shadow” or “always with you” (Indian); “Strength” (Japanese)
Origin: Indian, Japanese
Pronunciation: SAI-yah (Indian); SAI-yah (Japanese)
Sayah
Meaning: “Shadow” or “shade”
Origin: Arabic origin
Pronunciation: SAH-yah
Senka
Meaning: “Shadow”
Origin: Serbian origin
Pronunciation: SEN-kah
Shayla
Meaning: “Fairy palace”
Origin: Irish origin
Pronunciation: SHAY-lah
Shyama
Meaning: “Dark as the night”
Origin: Sanskrit origin
Pronunciation: SHYAH-mah
Shyama
Meaning: “Shadow”
Origin: Indian origin
Pronunciation: SHY-uh-muh
Sierra
Meaning: “Dark, black”
Origin: Spanish origin
Pronunciation: see-AIR-ah
Sullivan
Meaning: “Dark-eyed”
Origin: Irish origin
Pronunciation: SUHL-ih-van
Tamsin
Meaning: “Twin”
Origin: Cornish origin
Pronunciation: TAM-zin
Tenebris
Meaning: “Darkness”
Origin: Latin origin
Pronunciation: teh-NEH-brees
Zephyr
Meaning: “Darkness of the west wind”
Origin: Greek origin
Pronunciation: ZEH-fur
Zephyra
Meaning: “Darkness of the west wind”
Origin: Greek origin
Pronunciation: ZEH-fy-rah
Zillah
Meaning: “Shade” or “shadow”
Origin: Hebrew
Pronunciation: ZIL-ah
Zola
Meaning: “Quiet, tranquil”
Origin: Italian origin
Pronunciation: ZOH-lah
This article showed you baby names that mean shadow or darkness.
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