Choosing a name is a powerful decision, often reflecting personal stories or cultural heritage. While most opt for names with gentle and positive meanings, there’s a fascinating realm of names that mean evil. These names, steeped in history and mythology, offer a window into ancient beliefs and the human fascination with the darker sides of folklore.
Whether you’re a writer seeking a compelling character name or simply curious about the unusual, exploring these names can be surprisingly intriguing. Let’s dive into the stories behind these captivating choices.
Names That Mean Evil for Girls
- Lilith (Hebrew) – Often depicted in folklore as a night demon or a figure symbolizing seduction and evil, originally thought to be Adam’s first wife.
- Mara (Sanskrit) – Means “death” or “destruction” in Sanskrit; also the demon that tempted Buddha, symbolizing the impediment of spiritual progress.
- Lamia (Greek) – In mythology, Lamia was a queen who became a child-eating demon. She is often depicted as a figure of terror.
- Jezebel (Hebrew) – Although the name means “not exalted,” Jezebel is historically known as an evil queen due to her actions in the Bible.
- Hecate (Greek) – Known as the goddess of witchcraft and necromancy, often associated with ghosts and the underworld.
- Morgan (Welsh) – Associated with Morgan le Fay, who was known in Arthurian legend as a sorceress with malevolent intentions.
- Delilah (Hebrew) – Though her name means “delicate,” Delilah is famously known for betraying Samson in the Bible, leading to her association with treachery.
- Bellatrix (Latin) – Means “female warrior,” but is popularly known as the name of an evil character in the Harry Potter series, Bellatrix Lestrange.
- Levana (Hebrew) – Means “white,” “moon,” or “to rise,” but in ancient Hebrew lore, Levana is associated with the night and sometimes with spirits.
- Carmilla (Fiction) – From Sheridan Le Fanu’s gothic novella, Carmilla is a vampire who preys on young women.
- Desdemona (Greek) – Means “ill-starred,” and though not evil, her name’s meaning and tragic role in Shakespeare’s “Othello” might give it a darker tint.
- Nimue (Arthurian Legend) – Also known as Viviane or Lady of the Lake; sometimes depicted as using her powers to trap Merlin, showing a darker aspect.
- Pandora (Greek) – While her name means “all gifted,” Pandora released all the evils of humanity by opening the forbidden box.
- Medea (Greek) – A sorceress who used her powers to commit dark deeds, including the murder of her own children.
- Erzsebet (Hungarian) – Inspired by Elizabeth Bathory, a countess believed to have murdered hundreds, known in legends as the “Blood Countess.”
- Circe (Greek) – A sorceress in Greek mythology known for turning men into animals, often depicted with dark, magical powers.
- Malicia (Latin origin) – Derived from “malice,” suggesting malevolent intent or the desire to harm.
- Sidero (Greek) – Named after the cruel and evil stepmother of Pelias and Neleus in mythology.
- Alecto (Greek) – One of the Furies, her name means “unceasing anger,” associated with vengeance and the more ruthless aspects of justice.
- Nerezza (Italian) – Means “darkness” in Italian, often associated with evil or malevolent forces.
- Tisiphone (Greek) – Another of the Furies, known for avenging murder, her name symbolizes vengeful destruction.
- Morana (Slavic) – Slavic goddess of winter, death, and rebirth, often depicted as a figure associated with the end of life and the harshness of winter.
- Sethlans (Etruscan) – Female version of the Etruscan god of fire, Vulcan. The fiery aspect can be associated with destruction and dark powers.
- Loviatar (Finnish) – A goddess of death and disease in Finnish mythology, often described as the mother of all evil.
- Keres (Greek) – Spirits of violent or cruel death, the Keres were feared in Greek mythology for their malevolent nature.
- Hela (Norse) – The Norse goddess of death, ruling over the underworld, Helheim. Her association with death and the afterlife gives her a dark allure.
- Morrigan (Celtic) – Known as the “Phantom Queen” in Irish mythology, she is associated with war, fate, and death, often appearing in sinister forms.
- Persephone (Greek) – While primarily known as the queen of the underworld, her story of abduction by Hades gives her name a dual nature of beauty and darkness.
- Lamis (Arabic) – Means “dark-lipped,” often used to describe a mysterious and possibly malevolent woman in Arabic folklore.
- Lilura (Basque) – Means “enchantment,” which can imply a dark, seductive charm often associated with witchcraft or sorcery.
- Strix (Latin) – In ancient Roman mythology, the strix was a bird of ill omen, associated with witchcraft and malevolent acts, often consuming human flesh and blood.
- Tristana (Celtic) – Derived from “triste,” meaning sad or sorrowful, often used in literature to depict tragically fated characters with a dark side.
- Grimalda (Germanic) – Means “dark helmet,” historically used to describe a stern and possibly malevolent female warrior.
- Bathory (Hungarian) – After Elizabeth Báthory, known historically for her cruelty, the name has become synonymous with dark deeds and bloodlust.
- Desdemona (Greek) – Although it means “ill-fated one,” the tragic story of Shakespeare’s character in “Othello” adds layers of darkness and despair to the name.
Names That Mean Evil for Boys
- Arawn (Welsh) – In Welsh mythology, Arawn was the god of the underworld, associated with death and darkness.
- Chernobog (Slavic) – From Slavic mythology, Chernobog is literally “Black God,” a deity associated with darkness, evil, and sorrow.
- Dolokhov (Russian) – Though not directly meaning evil, the name is associated with a cold-hearted and sinister character in Tolstoy’s “War and Peace.”
- Fenris (Norse) – Fenrisulfur, or Fenrir, is a monstrous wolf in Norse mythology, destined to kill the god Odin during the events of Ragnarok.
- Hades (Greek) – The god of the underworld in Greek mythology, often associated with death and the metaphoric concept of evil.
- Iblis (Islamic) – In Islam, Iblis is a jinn who refused to bow to Adam and is often equated with Satan, representing evil and temptation.
- Loki (Norse) – A trickster god in Norse mythology, known for his mischievous and sometimes malevolent actions.
- Mephistopheles (German) – A demon featured in German folklore and famously in Goethe’s “Faust,” representing the evil tempter.
- Sauron (Literary) – The primary antagonist in J.R.R. Tolkien’s Middle-earth legendarium, symbolizing the ultimate embodiment of evil and corruption.
- Typhon (Greek) – A monstrous giant and one of the deadliest creatures in Greek mythology, often associated with storms and volcanic forces, embodying destructive evil.
- Voldemort (Literary) – From J.K. Rowling’s “Harry Potter” series, a name invented to evoke fear and evil, meaning “flight from death” in French.
- Dracula (Literary) – Though technically a title, it has become synonymous with vampirism and evil through Bram Stoker’s novel and its many adaptations.
- Set (Egyptian) – An ancient Egyptian god, identified with chaos, violence, deserts, and storms, often seen as the antagonist to several other gods.
- Angra Mainyu (Zoroastrianism) – The destructive spirit in Zoroastrianism, representing the opposite of good, often interpreted as the embodiment of evil.
- Azazel (Hebrew) – In some traditions, Azazel is considered a fallen angel or demon, associated with the scapegoat rite in which sins were metaphorically placed onto him.
- Belial (Hebrew) – A term used in the Bible, often associated with lawlessness and evil spirits, sometimes personified as the devil.
- Nergal (Babylonian) – A deity of the underworld and a representation of death, pestilence, and plague in ancient Mesopotamian religion.
- Abaddon (Hebrew) – In the Bible, Abaddon is described as “Destruction” and is often identified with the angel of the abyss, linked to the apocalypse.
- Apophis (Egyptian) – Named after an ancient Egyptian demon serpent god of chaos, who was the enemy of the sun god, symbolizing ultimate evil.
- Ravana (Hindu) – The primary antagonist in the Hindu epic Ramayana, depicted as a demon king of Lanka who kidnapped the hero’s wife, representing dark forces.
- Tezcatlipoca (Aztec) – A central deity in Aztec religion, known as the “Smoking Mirror,” associated with night, sorcery, and the malevolent trickery.
- Legion (Christian) – From the New Testament, where Jesus encounters a demon self-described as “Legion,” for they are many, symbolizing overwhelming evil.
- Sutekh (Egyptian) – Another form of the name Set, associated with chaos, storms, and disorder, often depicted as the antagonist of the god Osiris.
- Orthus (Greek) – A two-headed dog in Greek mythology, brother of Cerberus, guarding the cattle of Geryon and associated with deadly force.
- Moloch (Canaanite) – A god associated with child sacrifice, often referred to in biblical texts as a figure of reprehensible worship linked to nefarious practices.
- Aamon (Egyptian) – Also known as Amon, a demon and one of the princes of Hell in demonology, often depicted with the power to know past and future events.
- Damballa (Vodou) – A serpent god in Vodou, often depicted ambiguously but sometimes associated with dark rites and sinister aspects in popular culture.
- Diabolos (Greek) – From the Greek “diabolos” meaning “slanderer” or “accuser”; in Christian theology, it became a title for Satan, embodying evil.
- Erebus (Greek) – In Greek mythology, Erebus is the personification of darkness and shadow, dwelling in the underworld, often symbolizing the dark side of human nature.
- Gorgon (Greek) – Refers to any of the three monstrous sisters in Greek mythology whose appearance was so fearsome it turned observers to stone, associated with dangerous and dark powers.
- Hun-Came (Maya) – One of the two principal lords of Xibalba, the Mayan underworld, whose name means “One Death,” representing fatalistic evil.
- Kur (Sumerian) – In Sumerian mythology, Kur represents the underworld or a mountainous region, sometimes personified as an evil dragon.
- Loki (Norse) – While previously mentioned for mischief, Loki’s role in Norse mythology is deeply complex, involving schemes that lead to chaos and destruction, embodying trickster evil.
- Marbas (Occult) – A demon listed in the Ars Goetia, known for causing disease and transformation, often invoked in historical grimoires.
- Naberius (Occult) – Another demon from the Ars Goetia, known for his crafty and deceitful nature, and considered a marquis of Hell.
- Pazuzu (Assyrian and Babylonian) – A demon of the wind known for bringing famine during dry seasons, and in modern culture often associated with malevolent possession.
- Samael (Jewish) – Although often considered an angel, Samael holds a dual role as an accuser, seducer, and destroyer, embodying both good and evil aspects.
- Vanth (Etruscan) – A chthonic figure in Etruscan mythology, often associated with death and the afterlife, carrying a dark and ominous presence.
- Yama (Hindu) – The god of death, responsible for judging and overseeing the departed, often associated with strict justice and sometimes fearful aspects.
- Zagan (Occult) – A demon king who can make the wise foolish and change things into their opposites, known from demonic lore for deceit and inversion.
Names Associated with Infamous Historical or Fictional Figures
- Attila (Historical) – Named after Attila the Hun, known for his fearsomeness and regarded as one of the most villainous invaders of the Western and Eastern Roman Empires.
- Borgia (Historical) – Reflective of the Borgia family, notorious for their ambitious machinations and corrupt practices in Renaissance Italy.
- Bathory (Historical) – After Elizabeth Bathory, a Hungarian countess and alleged serial killer from the late 16th century, often mythologized as a vampire.
- Bluebeard (Literary) – From Charles Perrault’s tale, a violent nobleman who murders his wives, becoming synonymous with treachery and cruelty.
- Burr (Historical) – Aaron Burr, the third Vice President of the United States, known for killing Alexander Hamilton in a duel and various treasonous schemes.
- Cassius (Historical/Literary) – One of the lead conspirators in Julius Caesar’s assassination, portrayed in Shakespeare’s play as a manipulator and betrayer.
- Dorian (Literary) – From Oscar Wilde’s “The Picture of Dorian Gray,” a character who indulges in every vice and corrupt act, his evil deeds mirrored only by his portrait.
- Grendel (Literary) – A monster from the Old English epic poem “Beowulf,” emblematic of malevolence and destruction.
- Ivan (Historical) – Ivan IV of Russia, commonly known as Ivan the Terrible, whose rule was marked by tyranny, repression, and terror.
- Jekyll (Literary) – From Robert Louis Stevenson’s “Strange Case of Dr Jekyll and Mr Hyde,” representing the dual nature of good and evil within a person.
- Lucrezia (Historical) – Lucrezia Borgia, although a political pawn, her name has been historically associated with the sinister reputation of her family.
- Macbeth (Literary) – A character from Shakespeare’s play, who, driven by ambition and influenced by prophecy, commits regicide and plunges into tyranny and madness.
- Moriarty (Literary) – Professor Moriarty, often known as Sherlock Holmes’ archenemy, a criminal mastermind in Arthur Conan Doyle’s stories.
- Rasputin (Historical) – Grigori Rasputin, a Russian mystic whose influence over the last Russian Tsar’s family made him a figure of manipulation and controversy.
- Salome (Historical/Literary) – Known both historically and through Oscar Wilde’s dramatization for demanding John the Baptist’s head, symbolizing deadly seduction and vengeance.
