Baby names that mean darkness
213 names with darkness in their meaning: 93 for girls, 88 for boys, 32 used for both. Every one comes with its meaning and the official birth figures for England and Wales and the US. 77 of them are still given to 40 or more babies a year.
Girls' names that mean darkness
Given to at least 40 babies a year in the US or England and Wales.
- Laylanight, dark beauty6,283 a year · the US, 2017
- Melaniedark, black3,232 a year · the US, 2017
- Leilanight, dark beauty1,400 a year · the US, 2017
- Delaneydark challenger; descendant of Dubhshláine1,270 a year · the US, 2017
- Kaliblack; fierce; Hindu goddess of time1,120 a year · the US, 2017
- Keiradark-haired; a form of Ciara984 a year · the US, 2017
- Braelyndark lake; a modern feminine form of Blake724 a year · the US, 2017
- Melanydark, black; variant spelling of Melanie632 a year · the US, 2017
- Darciefrom Arcy; dark one513 a year · England and Wales, 2025
- Kieradark-haired; a form of Ciara356 a year · the US, 2017
- Melaniadark, black283 a year · the US, 2017
- Brennadark raven; fem. of Brennan259 a year · the US, 2017
- Ciaradark or black-haired240 a year · the US, 2017
- Milaniadark, black; a spelling variant of Melania205 a year · the US, 2017
- Mauradark; great; feminine form of Maurus189 a year · the US, 2017
- Melanidark or black; a variant of Melanie164 a year · the US, 2017
- Delaniedark challenger; descendant of Dubhshláine; a form of Delaney145 a year · the US, 2017
- Niladark blue; indigo64 a year · England and Wales, 2025
- Kierradark-haired; variant of Ciara94 a year · the US, 2017
- Rayvendark-haired; from the bird name raven; a respelling of Raven87 a year · the US, 2017
- Blakelyndark lake; a modern feminine form of Blake85 a year · the US, 2017
- Kerrigansmall dark one; from Ó Ciaragáin67 a year · the US, 2017
- Blakeleedark or pale meadow; a modern feminine form of Blakely63 a year · the US, 2017
- Blakelynndark or pale meadow; a modern feminine form of Blakely63 a year · the US, 2017
- Delaineydark challenger; descendant of Dubhshláine; a modern respelling of Delaney57 a year · the US, 2017
- Lamyawith beautiful lips; dark-lipped55 a year · the US, 2017
- Delanydescendant of the dark challenger; from Ó Dubhshláine51 a year · the US, 2017
- Melannydark, black; a modern respelling of Melanie51 a year · the US, 2017
- Ebonydark wood or black wood; ebonos tree40 a year · England and Wales, 2025
- Bronwyndark, blessed; brown breast in Welsh25 a year · England and Wales, 2025
- Kahliathe dark goddess; a modern spelling variant of Kali46 a year · the US, 2017
- Melanniedark, black; a form of Melanie44 a year · the US, 2017
- Maureendark; great; form of Maurin43 a year · the US, 2017
60 rarer names that mean darkness
Fewer than 40 babies a year in either country, which often means a name in wide use somewhere the records do not reach.
- Collynsdark lake; a form of Collin
- Delvinblack-haired or descendant of Delb
- Blakleyblack meadow; modern spelling of Blakeley
- Aadhiramoonless night, darkness
- Adriellaof hadria; dark; a form of Adriana
- Kearavariant of Keira; dark-haired
- Meloniedark song; a form of Melanie
- Darcifrom Arcy; dark; variant of Darcy
- Nishkanight, darkness, evening
- Sableblack; the color sable in heraldry
- Melainablack, dark
- Nithilanight or darkness
- Zillahshadow; shade
- Adryannafrom hadria; dark or rich; a form of Adrian
- Melanadark or black; a form of Melanie
- Mellaniedark or black; a spelling variant of Melanie
- Milaniedark or black; a spelling variant of Melanie
- Keeravariant of Ciara, meaning dark or black
- Malaniedark, black; a form of Melanie
- Melenadark, black; a form of helen or melania
- Melaneyblack or dark; a form of Melanie
- Morwennamaiden; dark sea maiden
- Ramapleasing; dark; a divine hero in hinduism
- Melaneedark; a form of Melanie
- Mellanydark; a form of Melanie
- Zilahshade; shadow
- Morenabrown or dark-haired woman
- Sawdahdark or swarthy
- Melainedark, black; a form of Melania
- Nishikanight; darkness
- Devaneydescendant of deamhán, dark one
- Melaniidark-skinned; a spelling variant of melania
- Melanyedark-skinned; a spelling variant of melania
- Meleniedark-skinned; a spelling variant of melania
- Raveenaof the night or dark
- Zelahshadow or rib; biblical place name
- Brunellabrown, dark; diminutive form of Bruna
- Esmeraydark moonlight; emerald moon
- Kerrisdark-haired; a form of Kerry
- Merlyvariant of Merle; blackbird or dark
- Nikhitanight, darkness
- Nikithanight, darkness; variant spelling of nikhita
- Sawdadark or black; feminine form
- Darci-Maidark haired; combined compound form
- Darcie-Gracedark haired; combined compound form
- Darcie-Leighdark haired; combined compound form
- Darcy-Maedark haired; combined compound form
- Darcy-Rosedark; rose flower; hyphenated combination
- Kiara-Rosedark-haired plus rose flower; hybrid name
- Melaniiadark, black; a form of melania or melanie
- Sumairabrown; dark-skinned
- Darceedark; a modern respelling of Darcy
- Darcey-Leighdark with meadow; hyphenated form of Darcy and Leigh
- Darciadark; feminine form of Darcy
- Darla-Maydark beloved with hawthorn; hyphenated form
- Kaliyah-Rosedark time; combined with rose
- Layla-Gracenight; dark beauty and grace
- Saudadark-skinned, swarthy
- Shyadark; blue-black like krishna
- Maurinedark-skinned; a feminine form of maurice
Boys' names that mean darkness
Given to at least 40 babies a year in the US or England and Wales.
- Adrianfrom Hadria; dark one6,317 a year · the US, 2017
- Coltondark settlement; coal town5,261 a year · the US, 2017
- Coledark, swarthy; charcoal3,458 a year · the US, 2017
- Donovandark brown warrior; surname used as given name1,056 a year · the US, 2017
- Sullivandark-eyed or black-eyed one165 a year · England and Wales, 2025
- Kieranlittle dark one or dark-haired600 a year · the US, 2017
- Mauriciodark-skinned; moorish; spanish form of maurice482 a year · the US, 2017
- Douglasdark stream; from Dubh glas222 a year · England and Wales, 2025
- Mauricedark-skinned; moorish394 a year · the US, 2017
- Coltendark settlement or coal town; a respelling of Colton358 a year · the US, 2017
- Bronsonson of bronc; dark or swollen stream354 a year · the US, 2017
- Colsoncoal-black; son of Cole321 a year · the US, 2017
- Colemancoal miner or dark valley dweller245 a year · the US, 2017
- Dwaynedark, swarthy221 a year · the US, 2017
- Kolbydark settlement; variant of Colby199 a year · the US, 2017
- Krishdark, black; short form of Krishna42 a year · England and Wales, 2025
- Dougiedark stream; a diminutive of Douglas164 a year · England and Wales, 2025
- Nigeldark, black; from Nigellus148 a year · the US, 2017
- Jeta hard black gemstone; the color black138 a year · the US, 2017
- Kyanlittle dark one; a form of Kieran132 a year · the US, 2017
- Phineasdark-skinned; oracle127 a year · the US, 2017
- Kyranlittle dark one; a form of Kieran30 a year · England and Wales, 2025
- Morrisdark-skinned; moorish; a form of Maurice104 a year · the US, 2017
- Colesoncoal-black; son of Cole; a form of Colson102 a year · the US, 2017
- Maurodark-skinned, Moorish96 a year · the US, 2017
- Dewaynedark; dark-haired; variant of duane or dwayne90 a year · the US, 2017
- Donavandark warrior; irish surname as given name90 a year · the US, 2017
- Adryandark one; a respelling of Adrian71 a year · the US, 2017
- Kolbiedark settlement; a variant of Colby67 a year · the US, 2017
- Ciarandark, black; small dark one32 a year · England and Wales, 2025
- Blakeleydark field or pale field; a form of blake54 a year · the US, 2017
- Kolbedark settlement; a modern respelling of Colby53 a year · the US, 2017
- Kageshadow52 a year · the US, 2017
- Aesoncloudy or dark; a figure in Greek mythology49 a year · the US, 2017
54 rarer names that mean darkness
Fewer than 40 babies a year in either country, which often means a name in wide use somewhere the records do not reach.
- Pinchasnubian or dark-skinned; biblical name
- Carymarshy fort or dark stream
- Keiranlittle dark one; a form of Kieran
- Deaglansmall black-haired one; from Deaglán
- Donavindark brown; respelling of Donovan
- Careydark-haired; from the marshland
- Gethindusky or dark-skinned
- Nerodark, powerful, stern
- Adhamdark, black
- Donavondark warrior; a variant of Donovan
- Colvindark friend; a form of Calvin
- Donovindark warrior; a form of Donovan
- Donnovandark-haired chief; a variant of Donovan
- Kerwinsmall dark one; a form of Kervin
- Pinchosoracle or dark-skinned; a form of Phineas
- Betzalelin the shadow of god; a form of Bezalel
- Kishandark one; a form of Krishna
- Deganblack-haired; from Dagan
- Dolandark haired; from dubh lann
- Murdockdark skinned, from Muircheartach
- Orfeasdarkness of the mountains; a form of Orpheus
- Shyamdark; dusky; epithet of Krishna
- Bezaleelin the shadow of God; God is my shade
- Dwaindark or dusky; a form of Dwane
- Kieronlittle dark one; a form of Kieran
- Mauriziodark-skinned; italian form of Maurice
- Bezalelin the shadow of god
- Krishandark, black; form of krishna
- Mauriliodark-skinned; moorish; related to Maurice
- Coaltoncoal settlement; dark coal mining town
- Dawaynedark; a form of Dwayne
- Dwanedark; a form of Duane
- Dwyanedark; a form of Duane
- Moritzdark-skinned moorish; a form of mauritius
- Tynandark, dusky
- Colmandark-complexioned devotee, follower of St Columba
- Duwaynedark; variant spelling of Dwayne
- Kedardark; mighty; a biblical place name
- Raampleasant, charming; dark
- Asmardark-skinned; brown
- Donovondark brown warrior; variant of Donovan
- Dugandark-haired or swarthy
- Dwainedark or dusky; a form of Dwayne
- Keirondark or lord; a form of Ciaran or Kieran
- Kierransmall dark one; a form of Kieran
- Kiersonsmall dark one; a form of Kieran
- Morrelldark-skinned or swarthy
- Nihitnight, darkness
- Orpheusdarkness or orphan; greek mythological musician
- Dougaldark stranger or dark-haired foreigner
- Anshumanthe sun or having no shadow
- Darlingtonsettlement of the dark-haired one
- Docka form of Dougal, dark stranger
- Donnbrown or dark
Unisex names that mean darkness
Given to at least 40 babies a year in the US or England and Wales.
- Blakedark or pale3,782 a year · the US, 2017
- Blakelydark or pale meadow; a place name used as personal name1,244 a year · the US, 2017
- Ravendark-haired; from the bird name742 a year · the US, 2017
- Onyxgemstone; black precious stone254 a year · the US, 2017
- Blaykedark or pale; variant spelling of Blake223 a year · the US, 2017
- Duanedark; a form of Dubhán100 a year · the US, 2017
- Kerrydark-haired; from County Kerry87 a year · the US, 2017
- Krishnadark, black; Hindu deity87 a year · the US, 2017
- Kiernanlittle dark one; descendant of Ciaran79 a year · the US, 2017
- Donnelldark brown ruler; from Domhnall51 a year · the US, 2017
22 rarer names that mean darkness
Fewer than 40 babies a year in either country, which often means a name in wide use somewhere the records do not reach.
- Keridark-haired; variant of kerry
- Kerridark-haired; form of kerry
- Kalatime; black; dark
- Kahlithe dark goddess; a form of Kali or modern spelling variant
- Shadeshadow; shade; darkness
- Doyledark foreigner; descendant of Dubhghall
- Dublindark pool; the city name used as a given name
- Kierenlittle dark one; a form of Kieran
- Kemetblack land; ancient name for Egypt
- Mauriof moorish or mauritian tradition; dark-skinned
- Adriannfrom hadria; dark or rich; a form of Adrian
- Keirdark-skinned or dusky
- Dorandark-haired stranger; a form of Dóirín
- Siyahblack; dark
- Douglassdark stream; a variant of douglas
- Kieryndark-haired; a respelling of Kieran
- Dougdark stream; a form of douglas
- Kierdark-haired one; a form of Kieran
- Nellodark, black; a form of Antonello
- Kerriedark-haired; a form of Kerry
- Kierinsmall dark one; a form of Kieran
- Mauriedark-skinned; a form of Maurice
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Meanings that often turn up in the same names. Each has its own page.
How this page is made. A name is here because its meaning contains dark, darkness, black or raven-haired or one of 2 other words close to them. It is a plain word match, not a claim that the names are related: Adrian and Layla sit together because their meanings say the same thing, not because they share a history. A name with no meaning we can stand behind is left out rather than given one.
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