Japanese Names That Mean Dark

Welcome to a fascinating exploration into the shadowy recesses of Japanese names that conjure images of night skies and mystic shadows.

Have you ever pondered the allure behind names that whisper tales of darkness and mystery?

Today, we’re venturing into the enchanting world of Japanese names that mean dark. Whether you’re a writer seeking the perfect name for a brooding character, a soon-to-be parent looking for a name with depth, or simply curious.

Join us as we unveil the beauty veiled in darkness.

Ready to explore the names that resonate with nighttime whispers and enigmatic allure?

Popular Japanese Names That Mean Dark

Given the nature of Japanese names and their meanings, which can vary widely due to the kanji characters used.

However, Japanese names often carry deep meanings and can be inspired by nature, emotions, or even abstract concepts, including darkness and shadows.

Boys

• Anzu (安図) – Calm darkness
• Kage (陰) – Shadow
• Kuragari (暗がり) – Darkness
• Yami (闇) – Darkness, night
• Kuro (黒) – Black
• Shikkoku (漆黒) – Jet black
• Meian (明暗) – Light and darkness
• Hikariyami (光闇) – Light within darkness
• Kurayami (暗闇) – Total darkness
• Nagarekage (流れ影) – Flowing shadow

Girls

• Kuroha (黒葉) – Black leaf
• Yoru (夜) – Night
• Tsukikage (月影) – Moonlight shadow
• Kagehana (影花) – Shadow flower
• Kurami (暗美) – Beauty in darkness
• Hoshikage (星影) – Star shadow
• Yumeka (夢影) – Dream shadow
• Kurumi (暗海) – Dark ocean
• Sayaka (夜花) – Night flower
• Anko (暗光) – Dark light

Short Japanese Names With Dark Meanings

These succinct Japanese names carry profound dark meanings, encapsulating the beauty and depth of shadows in just a few syllables. Suitable for both boys and girls, they reflect the multifaceted nature of darkness and mystery.

• Kai (灰) – Ash
• Mei (冥) – Dark
• Rei (霊) – Spirit
• Rin (凛) – Cold
• Yuu (幽) – Secluded
• Sora (空闇) – Dark sky
• Haku (白黒) – White black
• Kuro (黒) – Black
• Shi (死) – Death
• Yami (闇) – Darkness
• Ryou (涼闇) – Cool darkness
• Aki (秋闇) – Autumn darkness
• Kage (影) – Shadow
• Yoru (夜) – Night
• Tsuki (月影) – Moon shadow
• Kiri (霧) – Mist
• Haiku (敗黒) – Defeated black
• Hoshi (星闇) – Star darkness
• Nagi (凪闇) – Calm darkness
• Sumi (墨) – Ink
• Tsumi (罪) – Sin
• Kageki (影気) – Shadow spirit
• Umi (海黒) – Sea black
• Yurei (幽霊) – Ghost
• Hotaru (蛍闇) – Firefly darkness
• Ibara (茨) – Thorn
• Irei (異霊) – Different spirit
• Kawa (川暗) – Dark river
• Mori (森黒) – Dark forest
• Nami (波黒) – Dark wave
• Obake (お化け) – Monster
• Sabi (錆) – Rust
• Shizuku (雫闇) – Drop of darkness
• Tani (谷影) – Valley shadow
• Yubi (指闇) – Finger darkness
• Zetsu (絶) – Extinction
• Ame (雨黒) – Rain black
• Fuyu (冬黒) – Winter black
• Haru (春闇) – Spring darkness
• Iku (逝) – Departure
• Jaki (邪気) – Evil spirit
• Kumo (雲暗) – Cloud darkness
• Mayu (繭闇) – Cocoon darkness
• Noro (呪) – Curse
• Oni (鬼) – Demon
• Yasei (野生闇) – Wild darkness

These names, resonating with the enigmatic and profound, offer a glimpse into the poetic depth of Japanese cultural appreciation for the aesthetics of darkness.

Traditional Japanese Names With Dark Meanings

Boy Names

• Kokuyou (黒夜) – Black night
• Anshin (暗心) – Dark heart
• Yamiyo (闇夜) – Night of darkness
• Kurotsuki (黒月) – Black moon
• Mayonaka (真夜中) – Dead of night
• Shinobi (忍び) – Hidden darkness
• Kuroito (黒糸) – Black thread
• Yaminawa (闇縄) – Dark rope
• Ansui (暗水) – Dark water
• Tenei (天影) – Heavenly shadow
• Kuronami (黒波) – Black wave
• Tokoyami (常闇) – Everlasting darkness
• Makkura (真黒) – Pitch black
• Yomi (黄泉) – The underworld
• Kurogane (黒金) – Black metal
• Anyaku (暗躍) – Move in darkness
• Anmu (暗夢) – Dark dream
• Kuromori (黒森) – Black forest
• Higure (日暮) – Twilight, dusk
• Kageyuki (影雪) – Snow shadow

Girl Names

• Kuroyuri (黒百合) – Black lily
• Yaminohana (闇の花) – Flower of darkness
• Kurorin (黒輪) – Black ring
• Shikkokuka (漆黒花) – Jet-black flower
• Tsukiyomi (月読) – Reading the moon
• Yoru no Hana (夜の花) – Flower of the night
• Kageyuri (影百合) – Shadow lily
• Kurokawa (黒川) – Black river
• Ankokuhime (暗黒姫) – Princess of darkness
• Hitohira (一片) – One fragment (of darkness)
• Kurage (暗下) – Dark descent
• Yami no Joou (闇の女王) – Queen of darkness
• Kuroshio (黒潮) – Black tide
• An’yōna (暗夜奈) – Dark night beauty
• Hoshian (星闇) – Dark star
• Yorugao (夜顔) – Night face (evening primrose)
• Kurousagi (黒兎) – Black rabbit
• Kurenai (紅) – Deep red (implying dark beauty)
• Kagekiyo (影清) – Pure shadow
• Akaneya (暗夜屋) – Dark night shop

Mythological Japanese Names With Dark Meanings

Japanese mythology is rich with tales of gods, goddesses, spirits, and demons that encompass both light and dark aspects of existence.

The names derived from this mythology often carry a profound significance and a deep connection to the mystical and the enigmatic.

Boy Names

• Susanoo (須佐之男) – Storm God of sea and storms, symbolizing chaos.
• Yomi (黄泉) – The underworld in Japanese mythology.
• Izanagi (伊邪那岐) – Descended into Yomi to retrieve his wife.
• Tsukuyomi (月読) – God of moon and night.
• Raijin (雷神) – God of thunder and storms.
• Fujin (風神) – God of the wind with dark storms.
• Ame-no-Uzume (天宇受賣) – Associated with dark magic.
• Sarutahiko (猿田彦) – Deity guiding through darkness.
• Onamuji (大己貴) – Deity of medicine and darkness.
• Kagu-tsuchi (迦具土) – God of fire for destruction and rebirth.
• Mikaboshi (未界星) – Star of the underworld.
• Yamawaro (山童) – Mountain deity in shadowy forests.
• Amatsu-Mikaboshi (天津甕星) – God of evil and chaos.
• Kurama (鞍馬) – Tengu with dark arts.
• Akuma (悪魔) – Demon symbolizing darkness.
• Enma (閻魔) – Judge of the dead.
• Yomotsu-Shikome (黄泉醜女) – Ugly women of the underworld.
• Tengu (天狗) – Mythical creatures with dark magic.
• Jikininki (食人鬼) – Flesh-eating spirits in the dark.
• Bake-kujira (化鯨) – Ghostly skeleton whale in dark nights.

Girl Names

• Ame-no-Mitori (天見鳥) – A goddess observing humanity’s dark sins from shadows.
• Kaguya-hime (かぐや姫) – Radiant beauty returning to Moon’s dark realm.
• Tokoyo-no-Kami (常世の神) – Deities of eternal dark lands beyond sea.
• Yuki-onna (雪女) – Snow woman leading travelers astray in darkness.
• Umibozu (海坊主) – Sea spirit capsizing ships on dark nights.
• Komori-hime (小森姫) – Princess associated with bats and forest darkness.
• Ayakashi (妖) – Broad term for spirits and demons in mysterious areas.
• Izanami (伊邪那美) – Goddess of creation and death in dark realm.
• Yama-uba (山姥) – Witch symbolizing wilderness and untamed nature’s darkness.
• Hoji (保食) – Deity of dark rites and forbidden magic.
• Nure-onna (濡女) – Snake-like woman deceiving travelers in darkness.
• Kubikajiri (首喰い) – Headless ghost searching for head in darkness.
• Onryo (怨霊) – Vengeful spirit bringing dark misfortune.
• Kuchisake-onna (口裂け女) – Slit-mouthed woman embodying darkness’ terror.
• Hanako-san (花子さん) – Ghost whispering from school bathrooms’ dark.
• Majo (魔女) – Witches with dark spells and nocturnal rites.
• Rokurokubi (ろくろ首) – Women with stretching necks preying in darkness.
• Futakuchi-onna (二口女) – Woman with hidden mouth on head’s back, hidden nature’s darkness.
• Jorogumo (絡新婦) – Spider woman luring into dark, inescapable webs.
• Tsuchigumo (土蜘蛛) – Earth spiders in caves, embodying earth’s darkness.
• Amaterasu (天照) – Sun goddess hiding in cave, plunging world into darkness.
• Izanami (伊邪那美) – Goddess of creation and death, underworld queen.
• Kagutsuchi (軻遇突智) – Fire deity causing Izanami’s dark fate.
• Ukemochi (保食神) – Goddess of food meeting dark fate by Tsukuyomi.

Literature-Inspired Japanese Names With Dark Meanings

Literature, rich in narratives of depth and darkness, provides a fertile ground for deriving names with meanings that evoke mystery, intensity, and the ethereal.

Japanese literature, in particular, with its long history spanning from ancient tales to modern narratives, offers a treasure trove of inspiration.

Boy Names

• Gen’an (幻暗) – Illusion of darkness
• Hikarigami (光神蝕) – Eclipse of the light god
• Kageo (影男) – Shadow man
• Yoruishi (夜石) – Nightstone
• Shiseijuu (死生獣) – Beast of life and death
• Meikai (冥界) – Underworld
• Shin’yu (心幽) – Deep heart
• Ankoku (暗黒) – Total darkness
• Yamigen (闇幻) – Dark illusion
• Ken’ja (賢者黒) – Wise man in black
• Kuroneko (黒猫) – Black cat
• Shikabane (屍) – Corpse
• Shinrin’yoku (深淵欲) – Abyssal desire
• Kurohane (黒羽) – Black feathers
• Ayakashi (妖) – Mysterious spirit
• Setsunai (切ない) – Painful darkness
• Kuroyume (黒夢) – Black dream
• Yamikumo (闇雲) – Clouds of darkness
• Shikyo (死去) – Death
• Ankokuken (暗黒剣) – Sword of darkness
• Yugami (歪) – Distortion
• Kageboushi (影法師) – Shadow figure
• Kurogami (黒紙) – Black paper
• Shinobigami (忍神) – God of stealth
• Yamiharuka (闇春歌) – Spring song of darkness

Girl Names

• Kuroniji (黒虹) – Black rainbow
• Yamibara (闇薔薇) – Dark rose
• Kagehime (影姫) – Shadow princess
• Yamineko (闇猫) – Dark cat
• Shirayami (白闇) – White darkness
• Usugurai (薄暗い) – Dimly lit
• Kurohana (黒花) – Black flower
• Yoru no Megami (夜の女神) – Goddess of the night
• Tsukinohikari (月の光) – Moonlight
• Shinpi (神秘) – Mystery
• Yamikawa (闇川) – Dark river
• Kage no Hana (影の花) – Flower of shadows
• Kurotori (黒鳥) – Blackbird
• Yaminoryu (闇の龍) – Dragon of darkness
• Ankoku Hana (暗黒花) – Dark flower
• Yami no Majo (闇の魔女) – Witch of darkness
• Kuroyuki (黒雪) – Black snow
• Aiyoku (愛欲) – Desire in darkness
• Kageyami (影闇) – Shadow and darkness
• Kurorigoe (黒離声) – Voice from the dark
• Shin’yami (深闇) – Deep darkness
• Hoshiyami (星闇) – Star darkness
• Kokuyōsei (黒曜石) – Obsidian
• Kuroumi (黒海) – Black sea
• An’en (暗炎) – Dark flame

Nature-Inspired Japanese Names With Dark Meanings

Nature, with its untamed beauty and mystery, often harbors a darker, more enigmatic side.

This duality is a rich source of inspiration for names that embody both the natural world and its more shadowy nuances.

Boy Names

• Yamikaze (闇風) – Dark wind
• Kurotsuki (黒月) – Black moon
• Arashikage (嵐影) – Storm shadow
• Yamimori (闇森) – Dark forest
• Kuronami (黒波) – Black wave
• Yamizora (闇空) – Dark sky
• Shikkoku (漆黒) – Jet black
• Kageki (影岸) – Shadowy shore
• Yamiumi (闇海) – Dark sea
• Kuroshima (黒島) – Black island
• Yamikumo (闇雲) – Dark cloud
• Kuroike (黒池) – Black pond
• Yamiyama (闇山) – Dark mountain
• Kurokawa (黒川) – Black river
• Yamibara (闇原) – Dark field
• Kagebayashi (影葉柳) – Shadowy willow
• Kuroniji (黒虹) – Black rainbow
• Yaminohana (闇の花) – Flower of darkness
• Yamigumo (闇雲) – Cloud of darkness
• Shinrin’yami (森林闇) – Forest darkness
• Umikage (海影) – Sea shadow
• Kurotsuno (黒角) – Black horn
• Yamikage (闇影) – Shadow of darkness
• Kurotori (黒鳥) – Blackbird
• Yami no Kaze (闇の風) – Wind of darkness

Girl Names

• Kurohana (黒花) – Black flower
• Yoru no Hana (夜の花) – Flower of the night
• Yamitsuki (闇月) – Moon of darkness
• Kageyuri (影百合) – Shadowy lily
• Kuronami (黒波) – Black wave
• Yamiyuki (闇雪) – Snow of darkness
• Shikkoku no Hoshi (漆黒の星) – Jet-black star
• Kuroyama (黒山) – Black mountain
• Yamikawa (闇川) – Dark river
• Kurohana no Kage (黒花の影) – Shadow of the black flower
• Yaminohime (闇の姫) – Princess of darkness
• Kage no Mizuumi (影の湖) – Lake of shadows
• Kurotsuki no Hime (黒月の姫) – Princess of the black moon
• Yaminoike (闇の池) – Pond of darkness
• Kuronami no Joō (黒波の女王) – Queen of the black waves
• Yamizakura (闇桜) – Dark cherry blossom
• Kurorose (黒ローズ) – Black rose
• Yami no Umi (闇の海) – Sea of darkness
• Kurobaranojoō (黒薔薇の女王) – Queen of the black rose
• Yorunikakeru (夜に駆ける) – Galloping in the night
• Kage no Kumo (影の雲) – Cloud of shadows
• Yamikumo Hime (闇雲姫) – Princess of dark clouds
• Kuroyuki Hime (黒雪姫) – Princess of black snow
• Yamimizu (闇水) – Dark water
• Kage no Mori (影の森) – Forest of shadows

Bottom Line

We’ve ventured into the enchanting darkness of Japanese names, each carrying a whisper of mystery, the elegance of night, and the profound tales of lore and nature.

Whether intrigued by the mystical allure of Kuroniji (黒虹) or captivated by the serene depths of Yamimizu (闇水), these names invite us to explore the rich tapestry of meanings and stories they embody. 

So, go forth and discover your own dark gem from this vast landscape of Japanese names.  So, let the darkness guide you to a uniquely beautiful name that speaks to your soul. 

Let it be a reminder of the beauty in all things mysterious and unknown. And most importantly, may it bring you endless joy and inspiration on your journey through life.