Names That Mean Death

This unisex nature name ranks among the most popular girl names in Norway.

The meaning of the place name Berian, in Pembrokeshire, is not known, but it may mean "plain" or "burial place". It would make an interesting -ian ending option for lovers of names like Julian and Adrian who want something a bit more off-the-beaten-track.

Manius is one of the lesser-used Roman forenames, far less popular than Lucius, Marcus et al, both in ancient times and today. Its meaning is actually uncertain: another possible origin is from manes, deities of the underworld.

Gediminas is derived from the Lithuanian elements gedauti, meaning "grieve," and minėti, "to celebrate" or "to mention." The most famous bearer of the name is Gediminas, Grand Duke of Lithuania from 1316–1341. Many consider him the true founder of Lithuania, and baby boys are often named in his honor.

Shiva is one of the principle deities of Hinduism. Shiva is the powerful god of both destruction and resurrection but is also associated as the patron god of yoga, meditation and arts. Shiva's wife is Parvati, the mother goddess of creation.

One mythological name not used for modern babies, Thanatos is the Greek personification of peaceful death.

The Kellogg surname — these days associated with cereal and the Northwestern University business school — has rather grotesque origins. It is derived from the Middle English word kellen, meaning "to kill" or "to slaughter," and hog, "pig." Thus, it was an occupational name for a pork butcher.

Hel, sometimes called Hela, is the Norse goddess of death and the underworld.

Valkyrja is the Old Norse word from which "valkyrie" is derived. In Norse mythology, a valkyrja (or valkyrie) would choose the men who would die in combat. The valkyries (who were always female) would bring the men they had chosen to Odin in Valhalla — the hall of the slain — where they would prepare for the battles of Rangarök.

In Greek mythology, Tartarus rules over the depths of the underworld. Probably not the best role model for a little boy.

The sacred giant tree Yggdrasil or Yggdrasill in Norse mythology is a world tree which supports all else in the universe, including the many different realms. It is said that Odin once hanged himself from the tree as a sacrifice to gain wisdom, which may be where the name comes from – traditionally, gallows were known as the "dead man's horse".

A Ukrainian spirit of mining — usually good, but occasionally wicked. Legends have different stories of the origin of Shubin, some citing him as the ghost of a dead miner, others a mining master from the 19th century who had a gift for predicting collapses.

Hypnos is the personification of sleep in Greek mythology.

When ordering a baby name, hold the mayo.

Yes, Yew is a tree name, but it's similarity to "you" makes it a potentially problematic choice as a first name.

In Yoruba mythology from Nigeria, Yewa is a goddess of virginity and death, said to reside in a graveyard.

Allani, also known as Allatu, was a Hurrian goddess of the underworld worshipped in the Middle East historically. Allani was associated with the determination of fate.