Looking for Japanese names that mean death girl? You’re not alone. Many parents, writers, and anime fans want names with dark, mysterious meanings.
I’ve studied Japanese culture and naming traditions for years, so I can help you understand what these names actually mean.
This guide covers 201 names connected to death, darkness, spirits, and the underworld.
Let’s get into the real meanings.
Understanding Japanese Names With Dark Meanings
Japanese names don’t typically mean “death” in a literal sense. The culture avoids direct death references in naming.
Instead, dark meanings come through symbolism like night, shadows, spirits, and impermanence.
Buddhist philosophy and Shinto mythology contribute layers of meaning. Anime and manga popularized dramatic kanji combinations that real parents would never choose.
Most dark-sounding Japanese names work only in fiction.
Real naming practices focus on positive meanings, even when using nighttime or shadow imagery. Understanding this difference helps you choose respectfully and accurately.
201 Japanese Names That Mean Death Girl
The complete list organized by theme includes literal death references, darkness, spirits, shadows, and melancholic symbolism with authentic meanings.
Names With Literal Death or Underworld References
These names use direct death kanji or underworld imagery. Real Japanese parents never choose these for children. They appear only in horror fiction, dark fantasy, and supernatural stories.
- Shina: Death grace, fictional only with extreme taboo.
- Shiki: Death princess, appears only in horror fiction.
- Shineko: Death child, never used in real life.
- Shiori: Death weaving, only acceptable with different kanji.
- Meiko: Underworld child, fictional character name.
- Meika: Underworld flower, appears in dark fantasy stories.
- Meimi: Underworld Lovely, manga character option.
- Meiyo: Underworld night, purely fictional creation.
- Meina: Underworld name, not used for real children.
- Yomiko: Underworld child, from Shinto mythology context.
- Yomina: Underworld Lovely, fictional spiritual character.
- Yomika: Reading the underworld, literary character name.
- Kurai: Dark death, extremely rare and avoided.
- Kurashi: Dark death, fictional horror character only.
- Ankoku: Complete darkness, never used as a given name.
- Mayoi: Lost in death, symbolic wandering spirit.
- Meido: Path to underworld, Buddhist concept name.
- Jigoku: Hell realm, absolutely never used for children.
- Naraku: Hell depths, famous from fiction only.
- Yami: Pure darkness, too strong for real naming.
Names Meaning Darkness or Night
These names reference nighttime, shadows, and darkness through poetic imagery. Some appear in real life with careful kanji selection. Others work only for fictional characters with dramatic flair.
- Yoru: Night time, poetic and occasionally used.
- Yoruko: Night child, gentle nighttime imagery.
- Yoruka: Night flower, romantic and mysterious.
- Yoruna: Night name, soft nocturnal reference.
- Yoruha: Night leaf, nature-based evening imagery.
- Yami: Darkness itself, avoided in real naming.
- Yamiko: Dark child, fictional character choice.
- Yamina: Dark Lovely, too intense for real use.
- Kurai: Gloomy dark, negative connotation avoided.
- Kurako: Dark child, appears only in fiction.
- Kurami: Dark Lovely, manga character option.
- Kage: Shadow form, artistic but uncommon.
- Kageko: Shadow child, mysterious imagery.
- Kagemi: Shadow Lovely, poetic shadow reference.
- Kageri: Shadow fading, melancholic shadow imagery.
- Kasumi: Mist form, actually popular and acceptable.
- Kasumiko: Mist child, gentle obscurity reference.
- Kiri: Fog itself, simple natural imagery.
- Kiriko: Fog child, soft mysterious quality.
- Kirimi: Fog Lovely, gentle unclear imagery.
- Kurama: Dark gap, fictional character name.
- Kurara: Dizzy darkness, unstable feeling implied.
- An: Dark peace, simple one-syllable option.
- Anko: Dark child, can work with right kanji.
- Anri: Dark reason, philosophical darkness reference.
- Yuuko: Faint child, gentle dimness implied.
- Yuuka: Faint flower, subtle mysterious quality.
- Yuumi: Faint, lovely, soft, unclear imagery.
- Yukage: Evening shadow, transitional time reference.
- Mayoi: Dark confusion, lost wandering spirit.
- Kuroyuki: Dark snow, shadowed winter imagery.
- Kuronami: Dark wave, shadowed ocean reference.
- Kurohana: Dark flower, shadowed bloom imagery.
- Anzu: Dark apricot, nighttime fruit imagery.
- Anyoru: Dark night, layered darkness reference.
- Kuraki: Dark tree, shadowed forest imagery.
- Kurami: Dark sea, shadowed ocean depths.
- Yumiko: Night dream child, nocturnal vision imagery.
- Yoroi: Night armor, protective darkness reference.
- Yamiha: Dark leaf, shadowed nature imagery.
Names Meaning Spirit or Soul
These names connect to spirits, souls, and supernatural beings. Most are acceptable only with specific kanji choices. Many work better in fiction than real-life naming practices.
- Rei: Spirit itself, acceptable with careful kanji.
- Reiko: Spirit child, common name with right characters.
- Reina: Spirit Lovely, popular despite spirit connection.
- Reimi: Spirit Lovely, gentle supernatural reference.
- Reika: Spirit flower, acceptable spiritual imagery.
- Tamashi: Soul itself, too direct for real naming.
- Tamako: Soul child, philosophical reference avoided.
- Ayaka: Colorful spirit, actually acceptable and popular.
- Ayame: Iris spirit, nature-based spiritual reference.
- Mitama: Noble soul, Shinto spiritual concept.
- Tama: Soul jewel, works with proper kanji choice.
- Tamami: Soul Lovely, philosophical concept name.
- Yuurei: Ghost itself, absolutely never used for children.
- Yuuriko: Ghost child, fictional horror character only.
- Mamono: Demon thing, appears only in dark fiction.
- Obake: Shape-shifter ghost, folklore creature name.
- Bourei: Departed spirit, funeral context term.
- Shiryou: Dead spirit, never appropriate for naming.
- Mugen: Infinite void, philosophical Buddhist concept.
- Mushiki: No consciousness, deep Buddhist philosophy.
- Kuu: Emptiness itself, Buddhist void concept.
- Kuuko: Empty child, philosophical concept avoided.
- Kyomu: Nothingness void, too abstract for naming.
- Mizuki: Water spirit, actually popular and acceptable.
- Hotaru: Firefly spirit, gentle supernatural creature.
- Reimei: Spirit name, spiritual identity reference.
- Reihana: Spirit flower, supernatural bloom imagery.
- Tamayuki: Soul snow, philosophical winter reference.
- Tamarei: Soul spirit, layered spiritual concept.
- Ayakana: Colorful spiritual, acceptable poetic name.
- Mitamako: Noble soul child, Shinto concept name.
- Yuurina: Ghost name, horror fiction only.
- Yuurihana: Ghost flower, supernatural bloom reference.
- Reigetsu: Spirit moon, supernatural lunar imagery.
- Tamahana: Soul flower, philosophical bloom reference.
- Reimiko: Spirit Lovely child, supernatural name combination.
- Ayahana: Colorful spirit flower, acceptable poetic imagery.
- Mikotama: Lovely soul, philosophical fair reference.
- Tamasaki: Soul blossom, philosophical bloom imagery.
- Yuuremi: Ghost Lovely, fictional horror character.
Names Meaning Shadow or Emptiness
These names focus on shadows, obscurity, and Buddhist concepts of emptiness. They work symbolically in artistic contexts. Real parents rarely choose these for living children.
- Kagerou: Heat shimmer, ephemeral fleeting imagery.
- Kageka: Shadow flower, mysterious bloom reference.
- Kagena: Shadow name, obscured identity implied.
- Kagetsuki: Shadow moon, hidden celestial body.
- Inei: Shade shadow, protected dark space.
- Hikage: Sun shadow, contrast light-dark imagery.
- Hokage: Sailing shadow, movement in darkness.
- Gekkage: Moon shadow, lunar darkness reference.
- Yuukage: Evening shadow, twilight imagery.
- Kazekage: Wind shadow, invisible movement reference.
- Shiage: Death shadow, fictional ninja character.
- Ankage: Dark shadow, layered darkness imagery.
- Mumei: No name, anonymous existence concept.
- Muon: No sound, silence, emptiness reference.
- Mukou: Nothingness void, Buddhist philosophical term.
- Mugen: No limit, infinite empty space.
- Mugetsu: No moon, darkness without light.
- Musei: No voice, silent emptiness reference.
- Mushiki: No color, void without form.
- Munashi: Empty sad, melancholic void feeling.
- Rei: Zero itself, starting point concept.
- Reika: Zero flower, beginning bloom reference.
- Reiko: Zero child, potential starting point.
- Reimi: Zero prettiness, blank canvas concept.
- Reina: Zero name, nameless beginning reference.
- Kageyuki: Shadow snow, obscured winter imagery.
- Kagemi: Shadow Lovely, mysterious lovely reference.
- Kagera: Shadow silk, obscured fabric imagery.
- Kagehana: Shadow flower, mysterious bloom reference.
- Mumyou: No light, complete darkness concept.
- Mukage: No shadow, absence of imagery concept.
- Muzuki: No moon, darkness absence reference.
- Mutsuki: Empty moon, void lunar imagery.
- Kageaki: Shadow autumn, obscured seasonal imagery.
- Kagenami: Shadow wave, obscured ocean reference.
- Kageyoru: Shadow night, layered darkness imagery.
- Munohana: Empty flower, void bloom concept.
- Mushiro: No white, darkness color reference.
- Mukuro: Empty void, Buddhist emptiness concept.
- Reiyu: Zero reason, starting point concept.
Names With Tragic or Melancholic Symbolism
These names express sorrow, loss, impermanence, and farewell. They represent emotional depth rather than literal death. Most work only in poetry, literature, and fictional contexts.
- Kanashimi: Pure sorrow, emotional depth concept.
- Kanako: Sorrow child, melancholic imagery avoided.
- Kanami: Sorrow Graceful, tragic Graceful reference.
- Hiai: Sad love, melancholic romance reference.
- Aitou: Sad mourning, grief expression concept.
- Nageki: Lamentation itself, sorrow expression term.
- Nagekiko: Lament child, sorrowful existence implied.
- Urei: Sorrow itself, gentle sadness reference.
- Ureiko: Sorrow child, melancholic gentle imagery.
- Yuuutsu: Melancholy itself, depressive sad feeling.
- Sabishii: Loneliness itself, isolated feeling concept.
- Sabiko: Lonely child, isolation imagery avoided.
- Kodoku: Solitude itself, alone existence concept.
- Kodokuna: Lonely one, isolation reference name.
- Sabirei: Lonely spirit, isolated soul reference.
- Hisan: Tragic sorrow, extreme sadness concept.
- Hisako: Tragic child, unfortunate existence avoided.
- Kanashi: Sad itself, simple sorrow reference.
- Aware: Pathos itself, aesthetic sadness concept.
- Awaremi: Pathos Graceful, sad Graceful imagery.
- Mujou: Impermanence itself, Buddhist transience concept.
- Hakanai: Fleeting itself, temporary existence reference.
- Hakanami: Fleeting Graceful, temporary lovely imagery.
- Hakanako: Fleeting child, ephemeral existence concept.
- Tsuyu: Dew itself, morning fleeting moisture.
- Tsuyuko: Dew child, ephemeral water reference.
- Utakata: Foam bubbles, fleeting existence imagery.
- Kagerou: Mayfly itself, one-day life reference.
- Wakare: Farewell itself, parting separation concept.
- Wakaremi: Farewell Graceful, separation sadness reference.
- Saraba: Goodbye itself, permanent departure term.
- Owari: Ending itself, conclusion, finish reference.
- Owariko: Ending child, final existence concept.
- Shuen: Last act, final performance reference.
- Ketsumatsu: Conclusion itself, story ending term.
- Saigo: Final itself, last ultimate reference.
- Makkura: Pitch black, complete darkness reference.
- Shikkoku: Jet black, deepest darkness color.
- Kokutan: Ebony black, dark wood reference.
- Kurotani: Dark valley, shadowed place imagery.
Names Inspired by Night Sky and Moon
These names reference celestial darkness through moon phases, eclipses, and nighttime sky. They carry romantic, mysterious qualities. Some work in real life with poetic imagery.
- Tsukikage: Moon shadow, lunar darkness reference.
- Tsukiyo: Moon night, nocturnal lunar imagery.
- Meigetsu: Dark moon, new moon phase.
- Shingetsu: New moon, lunar darkness cycle.
- Gesshou: Moon fade, waning lunar reference.
- Gesshoku: Lunar eclipse, moon disappearance event.
- Yuzuki: Evening moon, twilight lunar imagery.
- Yoizuki: Night moon, nocturnal celestial body.
- Kurozuki: Dark moon, shadowed lunar reference.
- Ankizuki: Dark rising moon, shadowed moonrise.
- Hoshikage: Star shadow, celestial darkness reference.
- Hoshiyami: Star darkness, nocturnal sky imagery.
- Yamiyo: Dark night, shadowed evening reference.
- Kuroyoru: Black night, deepest darkness time.
- Annya: Dark night, shadowed evening simple.
Names Inspired by Rain, Mist, and Fog & Dark Fictional Names
These names connect to atmospheric conditions and anime-inspired choices. They blend natural imagery with pop culture references.
- Ame: Rain itself, simple water reference.
- Kasumi: Mist itself, gentle fog reference.
- Kurumi: Dark Graceful, fictional character name.
- Mayuri: Spinning dark, fictional character reference.
- Homura: Flame dark, intense fire imagery.
- Rin: Cold dark, chilly shadow reference.
Choosing the Right Japanese Name With Dark Meaning
Selecting from these dark-themed names depends on your purpose. Fiction writers have complete freedom with kanji combinations and meanings.
Real parents need to consider cultural appropriateness carefully.
Some names clearly translate to death-related concepts in Japanese. Others carry subtle darkness through night, shadow, or spirit imagery. The symbolism level matters when choosing.
Consider how the name sounds with your family name. Think about whether people will pronounce it correctly. Cultural significance runs deep in these names and histories.
Your character or child will carry this name throughout their story or life. Take time to research the kanji meanings thoroughly. Understanding the full cultural context shows respect.
Japanese naming involves visual, phonetic, and meaning harmony. All three elements need to work together. Don’t choose based on sound alone without checking the kanji.
Conclusion
When I researched these Japanese names that mean death girl, I realized how differently cultures view darkness.
Japanese naming avoids literal death references but embraces poetic darkness through nature imagery. That balance matters.
Take your time with this choice. Say the names aloud and research their kanji thoroughly. If you’re naming a real child, consult Japanese speakers first.
Which names caught your attention? Drop your favorites in the comments. I’d love to hear what you’re considering.
Share this guide with other parents, writers, or anime fans who need naming inspiration.
Frequently Asked Questions
Do real Japanese parents use names that mean death?
No, Japanese parents avoid direct death meanings completely. The kanji for death (死) and underworld (冥) never appear on birth certificates, as cultural taboos make these characters inappropriate for living children.
Are dark Japanese names only used in anime?
Mostly yes. Anime and manga creators use dramatic dark kanji combinations for visual effect, while real Japanese naming stays positive even when using night or shadow imagery.
What’s the difference between pronunciation and meaning in Japanese names?
Everything. The sound “shi” appears in countless names but only means death with specific kanji (死), as the character determines meaning, not pronunciation.
Can non-Japanese people use these names respectfully?
Yes, with careful research and cultural understanding. Learn the full meaning and implications before choosing, and consult native Japanese speakers for guidance.
Which dark Japanese names work for real children?
Names with night, shadow, or gentle mist imagery work better than death references. Kasumi (mist), Yoru (night), and Kage (shadow) carry poetic darkness without cultural taboos.
