Choosing a name for your child can be a deep and meaningful process, especially when you want a name that conveys mystery, depth, and strength. Names that mean shadow or darkness often hold a mystical allure, symbolising protection, secrecy, or hidden power. These names, which derive from various cultures and languages, can represent not just literal darkness, but also night, dusk, or the unknown. Below is a curated list of 200+ names that mean shadow or darkness for boys and girls, divided by their origins and specific meanings.
Origins of Names That Mean Shadow or Darkness
Names with meanings related to “shadow” or “darkness” originate from a variety of cultures and languages, each with its unique symbolism. In many traditions, darkness is not simply a negative force but represents a powerful element tied to mystery, introspection, and strength. Whether coming from mythologies, ancient languages, or natural phenomena, these names offer profound meanings that resonate across different cultures.
Japanese Names That Mean Shadow or Darkness
- Kage
Meaning: Shadow
Origin: Japanese - Yami
Meaning: Darkness
Origin: Japanese - Kuragari
Meaning: Darkness
Origin: Japanese - Ankoku
Meaning: Gloom, Darkness
Origin: Japanese - Kurai
Meaning: Dark, Gloomy
Origin: Japanese - Shinobu
Meaning: Endurance (also associated with shadow)
Origin: Japanese - Zetsumei
Meaning: Death, Shadow
Origin: Japanese - Tsukiakari
Meaning: Moonlight (shadow of the moon)
Origin: Japanese - Mei
Meaning: Darkness
Origin: Japanese - Kaon
Meaning: Silent Sound, Dark Echo
Origin: Japanese - Yoru
Meaning: Night
Origin: Japanese - Kuro
Meaning: Black
Origin: Japanese - Tokage
Meaning: Shadow of Time
Origin: Japanese - Yamiyo
Meaning: Dark Night
Origin: Japanese - Yoruyami
Meaning: Night and Darkness
Origin: Japanese - Kagehisa
Meaning: Long Shadow
Origin: Japanese - Kuroko
Meaning: Black Child (a stagehand in black, moving in shadows)
Origin: Japanese - Akumu
Meaning: Nightmare
Origin: Japanese - Kurayami
Meaning: Darkness
Origin: Japanese - Kagetsu
Meaning: Shadow of the Moon
Origin: Japanese
Greek Names That Mean Shadow or Darkness
- Skotos
Meaning: Darkness
Origin: Greek - Melaina
Meaning: Black, Dark
Origin: Greek - Erebus
Meaning: Personification of Darkness
Origin: Greek Mythology - Nyx
Meaning: Night
Origin: Greek Mythology - Achlys
Meaning: Mist, Darkness
Origin: Greek Mythology - Zophos
Meaning: Gloom, Darkness
Origin: Greek - Keres
Meaning: Spirits of Death and Darkness
Origin: Greek Mythology - Hades
Meaning: God of the Underworld
Origin: Greek Mythology - Persephone
Meaning: Queen of the Underworld
Origin: Greek Mythology - Melantha
Meaning: Dark Flower
Origin: Greek - Phoebe
Meaning: Bright, but connected to the Moon and Night
Origin: Greek Mythology - Caligo
Meaning: Darkness, Fog
Origin: Greek - Narkissa
Meaning: Black Narcissus
Origin: Greek - Thanatos
Meaning: Death
Origin: Greek Mythology - Ianthe
Meaning: Dark Flower
Origin: Greek - Alecto
Meaning: Unceasing Anger, Darkness
Origin: Greek Mythology - Hemera
Meaning: Day (contrasted with night and darkness)
Origin: Greek Mythology - Chara
Meaning: Joy (associated with contrasting night and day)
Origin: Greek - Letha
Meaning: Forgetfulness, Darkness of Memory
Origin: Greek - Morpheus
Meaning: God of Dreams and Shadows
Origin: Greek Mythology
Norse Names That Mean Shadow or Darkness
- Nott
Meaning: Night
Origin: Norse Mythology - Skaði
Meaning: Shadow
Origin: Norse Mythology - Hel
Meaning: Goddess of the Underworld
Origin: Norse Mythology - Dagr
Meaning: Day (in contrast to night and shadow)
Origin: Norse - Fenrir
Meaning: Mythical Wolf Associated with Destruction and Darkness
Origin: Norse Mythology - Jormungandr
Meaning: Midgard Serpent, Associated with Darkness
Origin: Norse Mythology - Eir
Meaning: Dark, Healing Goddess
Origin: Norse Mythology - Kold
Meaning: Cold, Darkness
Origin: Norse - Björn
Meaning: Bear, Associated with Night Hunting
Origin: Norse - Svartr
Meaning: Black
Origin: Norse - Hrafn
Meaning: Raven, Symbol of Dark Wisdom
Origin: Norse - Gorm
Meaning: Son of the Shadow
Origin: Norse - Mani
Meaning: Moon
Origin: Norse Mythology - Þórólfr
Meaning: Thor’s Wolf, Shadow Guardian
Origin: Norse - Gloóm
Meaning: Gloom
Origin: Norse - Veðr
Meaning: Weather, Storm
Origin: Norse - Kolgrimmr
Meaning: Dark Grim
Origin: Norse - Baldur
Meaning: God of Light (contrasted with darkness)
Origin: Norse Mythology - Niflheim
Meaning: Land of Mist and Shadow
Origin: Norse Mythology - Ulfur
Meaning: Wolf
Origin: Norse
Sanskrit Names That Mean Shadow or Darkness
- Chhaya
Meaning: Shadow
Origin: Sanskrit - Tamas
Meaning: Darkness
Origin: Sanskrit - Ratri
Meaning: Night
Origin: Sanskrit - Kali
Meaning: Dark Goddess
Origin: Sanskrit - Krishna
Meaning: Dark
Origin: Sanskrit - Shyam
Meaning: Dark, Dusky
Origin: Sanskrit - Nisha
Meaning: Night
Origin: Sanskrit - Ratri
Meaning: Night
Origin: Sanskrit - Kalinda
Meaning: Dark Mountain
Origin: Sanskrit - Karun
Meaning: Dark Beauty
Origin: Sanskrit - Rajani
Meaning: Night
Origin: Sanskrit - Megha
Meaning: Cloud
Origin: Sanskrit - Tara
Meaning: Star (light in the darkness)
Origin: Sanskrit - Indra
Meaning: God of Storms
Origin: Sanskrit - Durga
Meaning: Invincible, Goddess of Darkness
Origin: Sanskrit - Asura
Meaning: Demon, Dark Force
Origin: Sanskrit - Niranjan
Meaning: One without Darkness
Origin: Sanskrit - Bhima
Meaning: Tremendous, Dark Force
Origin: Sanskrit - Kshipra
Meaning: Nightfall
Origin: Sanskrit - Maya
Meaning: Illusion, Shadow of Reality
Origin: Sanskrit
Arabic Names That Mean Shadow or Darkness
- Zulfiqar
Meaning: Sword of Shadow
Origin: Arabic - Layla
Meaning: Night
Origin: Arabic - Zilla
Meaning: Shadow
Origin: Arabic - Aswad
Meaning: Black
Origin: Arabic - Shab
Meaning: Nightfall
Origin: Arabic - Qarin
Meaning: Shadow Companion
Origin: Arabic - Ghadir
Meaning: Dark Water
Origin: Arabic - Dahlia
Meaning: Dark Flower
Origin: Arabic - Rahil
Meaning: Traveler of the Night
Origin: Arabic - Zarif
Meaning: Charming, Mysterious
Origin: Arabic - Sahar
Meaning: Dawn (contrast to night)
Origin: Arabic - Rim
Meaning: White Antelope (associated with night)
Origin: Arabic - Lamia
Meaning: Radiant Darkness
Origin: Arabic - Samira
Meaning: Companion in Darkness
Origin: Arabic - Amaya
Meaning: Night Rain
Origin: Arabic - Shabina
Meaning: Night
Origin: Arabic - Muzna
Meaning: Cloud
Origin: Arabic - Zulfikar
Meaning: Sword of Darkness
Origin: Arabic - Gulzar
Meaning: Dark Rose Garden
Origin: Arabic - Saida
Meaning: Huntress of the Night
Origin: Arabic
Celtic Names That Mean Shadow or Darkness
- Dubh
Meaning: Dark
Origin: Celtic - Ciaran
Meaning: Little Dark One
Origin: Irish Gaelic - Morrigan
Meaning: Phantom Queen, Associated with Darkness
Origin: Celtic Mythology - Bran
Meaning: Raven
Origin: Celtic - Duvessa
Meaning: Dark Beauty
Origin: Irish Gaelic - Donovan
Meaning: Dark Warrior
Origin: Irish Gaelic - Erebus
Meaning: Darkness
Origin: Celtic Mythology - Fiachra
Meaning: Raven
Origin: Irish - Gormlaith
Meaning: Blue Princess, Shadowed Queen
Origin: Irish - Blodwedd
Meaning: Flower Born from Darkness
Origin: Welsh Mythology - Keir
Meaning: Dark-Haired
Origin: Scottish Gaelic - Dubhghall
Meaning: Dark Stranger
Origin: Irish Gaelic - Nemain
Meaning: Spirit of Chaos and Darkness
Origin: Irish Mythology - Fiach
Meaning: Raven
Origin: Irish Gaelic - Gwynn
Meaning: White, Fair (contrasted with dark)
Origin: Welsh - Conri
Meaning: King of Wolves, Shadow Warrior
Origin: Irish Gaelic - Donn
Meaning: Dark, Brown
Origin: Irish - Oona
Meaning: Lamb (symbol of night)
Origin: Irish Gaelic - Lugh
Meaning: Shining One (associated with day and night)
Origin: Irish Mythology - Aeron
Meaning: Goddess of War and Shadows
Origin: Welsh Mythology
Slavic Names That Mean Shadow or Darkness
- Veles
Meaning: God of the Underworld
Origin: Slavic Mythology - Morana
Meaning: Goddess of Death and Darkness
Origin: Slavic Mythology - Chernobog
Meaning: Black God
Origin: Slavic Mythology - Zlata
Meaning: Golden Shadow
Origin: Slavic - Darya
Meaning: Dark One
Origin: Slavic - Krasna
Meaning: Dark Beauty
Origin: Slavic - Vladimir
Meaning: Dark Ruler
Origin: Slavic - Dusanka
Meaning: Soul in Darkness
Origin: Slavic - Milena
Meaning: Dark Love
Origin: Slavic - Jadranka
Meaning: Shadow of the Sea
Origin: Slavic - Oleg
Meaning: Holy Shadow
Origin: Slavic - Mira
Meaning: Peace, Night
Origin: Slavic - Zora
Meaning: Dawn (contrast to darkness)
Origin: Slavic - Radomir
Meaning: Happy in the Dark
Origin: Slavic - Zvenimir
Meaning: Sound in Darkness
Origin: Slavic - Dusica
Meaning: Little Soul
Origin: Slavic - Miloje
Meaning: Dark Gentle One
Origin: Slavic - Borislava
Meaning: Glory of the Night
Origin: Slavic - Rusalka
Meaning: Water Nymph, Associated with Night
Origin: Slavic Mythology - Lubomir
Meaning: Peace in Darkness
Origin: Slavic
Native American Names That Mean Shadow or Darkness
- Kele
Meaning: Sparrow, Night Bird
Origin: Hopi - Hania
Meaning: Spirit Warrior
Origin: Hopi - Koko
Meaning: Night Owl
Origin: Blackfoot - Tadewi
Meaning: Wind in the Shadows
Origin: Cheyenne - Doli
Meaning: Bluebird at Night
Origin: Navajo - Awan
Meaning: Somebody Who Lives in Darkness
Origin: Native American - Tyee
Meaning: Chief of the Night
Origin: Chinook - Tala
Meaning: Wolf, Guardian of the Night
Origin: Native American - Sahale
Meaning: High in the Shadows
Origin: Native American - Yuma
Meaning: Son of the Chief, Associated with Night
Origin: Quechan - Maka
Meaning: Earth (often in shadow)
Origin: Sioux - Ahote
Meaning: Restless One at Night
Origin: Hopi - Cholena
Meaning: Bird of the Night
Origin: Native American - Tiva
Meaning: Dance in the Night
Origin: Hopi - Aleshanee
Meaning: She Who Plays in Darkness
Origin: Native American - Onida
Meaning: The Expected One (arrives in the night)
Origin: Sioux - Nashoba
Meaning: Wolf in the Shadows
Origin: Choctaw - Pavati
Meaning: Clear Water at Night
Origin: Hopi - Hototo
Meaning: Warrior Spirit, Shadow in the Wind
Origin: Hopi - Kimi
Meaning: Secret in Darkness
Origin: Algonquin
African Names That Mean Shadow or Darkness
- Zuri
Meaning: Beautiful in the Dark
Origin: Swahili - Kamaria
Meaning: Moonlight
Origin: Swahili - Ekon
Meaning: Strong as Darkness
Origin: Nigerian - Kwame
Meaning: Born in the Night
Origin: Akan - Amadi
Meaning: Free Spirit in Darkness
Origin: Igbo - Ayodele
Meaning: Joy Follows Darkness
Origin: Yoruba - Oba
Meaning: King of Night
Origin: Yoruba - Chipo
Meaning: Gift in the Night
Origin: Shona - Udo
Meaning: Peace in Darkness
Origin: Igbo - Zuberi
Meaning: Strong (like darkness)
Origin: Swahili - Lulama
Meaning: Peace in the Shadows
Origin: Zulu - Nia
Meaning: Purpose in the Night
Origin: Swahili - Eshe
Meaning: Life Born from Darkness
Origin: Swahili - Tariro
Meaning: Hope in Darkness
Origin: Shona - Ifeanyi
Meaning: Nothing is Impossible in Darkness
Origin: Igbo - Sefu
Meaning: Sword of the Night
Origin: Swahili - Ebele
Meaning: Mercy in the Night
Origin: Igbo - Nomvula
Meaning: Mother of Rain (dark clouds)
Origin: Zulu - Njau
Meaning: Bull in the Night
Origin: Kikuyu - Marjani
Meaning: Coral (deep and dark)
Origin: Swahili
Persian Names That Mean Shadow or Darkness
- Shabnam
Meaning: Dew of the Night
Origin: Persian - Roxana
Meaning: Dawn, but Associated with Night
Origin: Persian - Zarvan
Meaning: Time (often contrasted with light and darkness)
Origin: Persian Mythology - Shadi
Meaning: Joy in the Shadows
Origin: Persian - Sahar
Meaning: Early Morning, End of Darkness
Origin: Persian - Navid
Meaning: Good News in Darkness
Origin: Persian - Soraya
Meaning: Princess of the Night Sky
Origin: Persian - Pari
Meaning: Fairy, Often Associated with Night
Origin: Persian - Azar
Meaning: Fire, Light in Darkness
Origin: Persian - Mehr
Meaning: Sun (contrast with darkness)
Origin: Persian - Nika
Meaning: Good in Darkness
Origin: Persian - Bahram
Meaning: Protector of the Night
Origin: Persian Mythology - Homa
Meaning: Legendary Bird, Night Guardian
Origin: Persian - Rana
Meaning: Elegance in the Dark
Origin: Persian - Turan
Meaning: Darkness of Night, Land Beyond the Light
Origin: Persian Mythology - Shirin
Meaning: Sweet, Like the Night
Origin: Persian - Vahid
Meaning: Unique in the Shadows
Origin: Persian - Khosrow
Meaning: King of the Night
Origin: Persian - Farrokh
Meaning: Blessed in Darkness
Origin: Persian - Ramin
Meaning: Rescuer from the Night
Origin: Persian
Hebrew Names That Mean Shadow or Darkness
- Zillah
Meaning: Shadow
Origin: Hebrew - Lilith
Meaning: Night Monster
Origin: Hebrew Mythology - Orpheus
Meaning: Darkness of Night
Origin: Hebrew Mythology - Keren
Meaning: Dark Ray
Origin: Hebrew - Neriah
Meaning: Light of God (contrast with darkness)
Origin: Hebrew - Laila
Meaning: Night
Origin: Hebrew - Shachar
Meaning: Dawn (contrast to darkness)
Origin: Hebrew - Zephyra
Meaning: West Wind, Associated with Night
Origin: Hebrew - Ariel
Meaning: Lion of God, Protector of Darkness
Origin: Hebrew - Malka
Meaning: Queen, Ruler of the Night
Origin: Hebrew - Eliora
Meaning: God’s Light in Darkness
Origin: Hebrew - Yami
Meaning: Darkness
Origin: Hebrew - Shulamit
Meaning: Peace in Darkness
Origin: Hebrew - Zev
Meaning: Wolf, Night Predator
Origin: Hebrew - Tamar
Meaning: Palm Tree (grows in the night)
Origin: Hebrew - Keshet
Meaning: Rainbow After Darkness
Origin: Hebrew - Shai
Meaning: Gift of the Night
Origin: Hebrew - Azriel
Meaning: Helper in Darkness
Origin: Hebrew - Uriel
Meaning: Light of God (contrast to darkness)
Origin: Hebrew - Tzila
Meaning: Shadow of Protection
Origin: Hebrew
Conclusion
Names that mean shadow or darkness are rich in cultural, historical, and mythical significance. Across different regions and languages, these names often reflect themes of mystery, strength, protection, and beauty associated with the night, shadow, and darkness. Whether you’re drawn to the enigmatic appeal of names from Arabic, Celtic, Slavic, or African origins, or prefer the ethereal qualities of Persian, Hebrew, or Native American names, there’s a timeless allure in the balance of light and dark. Choosing a name from this list not only carries deep meaning but also connects your child to the diverse cultural legacies of the world.
David Price is a name aficionado and creative writer at NamezVibe. He delves into the fascinating world of names, exploring their meanings and histories. Outside of writing, David loves engaging with readers and discovering unique names that tell powerful stories.
