99 Beautiful Choices for a Japanese Name Meaning Darkness

There’s something captivating about names that carry a sense of mystery, elegance, or depth—and that’s exactly what draws people to explore a Japanese name meaning darkness. Whether you’re a writer crafting a character, a parent seeking a unique baby name, or simply someone who appreciates the poetic nature of language, dark-themed Japanese names offer rich symbolism and cultural beauty.

In this article, we’ll look at different categories of names that reflect shadow, night, or deeper emotional tones, each rooted in the language’s rich tradition and expressive style. These names may be dark in theme, but they’re full of meaning.

Male Japanese Names Meaning Darkness

1. Kurai (暗) – Means “dark” or “gloomy”; directly tied to darkness.

2. Genma (幻魔) – “Phantom demon”; used in dark-themed fiction.

3. Kurota (黒田) – “Black field”; from kuro (black) and ta (field).

4. Yamiji (闇路) – “Path of darkness” or “dark road.”

5. Ankoku (暗黒) – Literally “darkness” or “gloom.”

6. Kurogane (黒鉄) – “Black steel”; symbolizes strength and shadow.

7. Anrei (暗霊) – “Dark spirit”; from an (dark) and rei (spirit).

8. Yoruichi (夜一) – Combines yoru (night) with a numerical suffix.

9. Kurou (黒郎) – “Dark man”; masculine form of kuro.

10. Anzan (暗山) – “Dark mountain.”

11. Meiyo (冥夜) – “Dark night”; poetic tone.

12. Gurei (グレイ) – Katakana for “gray”; shadowy or neutral tone.

13. Kurosawa (黒沢) – “Black swamp”; surname with symbolic depth.

14. Tsukumo (九十九) – Poetic term for “dark moon” or old spirits.

15. Kagemaru (影丸) – “Shadow circle”; name used for mysterious figures.

16. Akuma (悪魔) – “Devil” or “demon”; strong dark connotation.

17. Shingetsu (新月) – “New moon”; symbolizes darkness and renewal.

18. Yaminari (闇鳴) – “Dark thunder”; dramatic and rare.

19. Kurozumi (黒隅) – “Black corner” or “dark nook.”

20. Reiichi (霊一) – “Dark spirit one”; from rei (spirit) and ichi (one).

Female Japanese Names Meaning Darkness

1. Kurako (暗子) – “Dark child.”

2. Yamiha (闇葉) – “Dark leaf”; poetic and rare.

3. Kureha (暮葉) – “Twilight leaf.”

4. Anri (暗里) – “Dark village”; with chosen kanji.

5. Kaguya (かぐや / 赫月) – Moon princess from folklore; linked to night.

6. Kuroka (黒香) – “Dark fragrance” or “black scent.”

7. Yozora (夜空) – “Night sky”; elegant and calm.

8. Anei (安闇) – “Peaceful darkness”; an (dark), ei (eternal).

9. Tsukiko (月子) – “Moon child.”

10. Mayonaka (真夜中) – “Midnight”; the darkest hour.

11. Anko (暗紅) – “Dark red”; traditional yet moody.

12. Kurona (黒奈) – Stylized dark-sounding name; modern variant.

13. Yumeko (夢子) – “Dream child”; with nighttime associations.

14. Shizumi (静深) – “Still and deep”; poetic stillness.

15. Kageri (陰り) – “Shade” or “dimness.”

16. Honoka (微香) – “Faint scent”; can symbolize dim light in darkness.

17. Mikage (御影) – “Divine shadow” or “honored reflection.”

18. Rinmu (凛夢) – “Chilly dream”; mysterious and elegant.

19. Aokuro (青黒) – “Blue-black”; evokes deep shadows.

20. Hiyami (冷闇) – “Cold darkness”; hi (cold), yami (dark).

Unisex or Gender-Neutral Japanese Names Meaning Darkness

1. Kage (影) – Means “shadow”; evokes mystery and subtlety.

2. Kuroki (黒木) – “Black tree”; often a surname, rich in symbolism.

3. Yoru (夜) – “Night”; peaceful, elegant, and dark in tone.

4. Rei (霊 / 零) – Can mean “spirit” or “zero”; mysterious and spiritual.

5. Mika (美影 / 深香) – “Beautiful shadow” or “deep scent”; kanji-dependent.

6. Anzu (暗珠) – “Dark jewel”; alternative kanji gives a rare dark twist.

7. Tsuki (月) – “Moon”; associated with darkness and serenity.

8. Shiranai (知らない) – Means “unknown”; abstract, poetic choice.

9. Kuroha (黒葉) – “Black leaf”; calm and shadowy.

10. Kaon (花音 / 歌音) – With darker kanji, can suggest “dark melody.”

11. Raku (楽 / 落) – “Silence” or “fall”; may suggest quiet or decline.

12. Fukami (深海 / 深見) – “Deep sea” or “deep view”; introspective darkness.

13. Hazuki (葉月) – While typically a month name, can use dark kanji like “shadow leaf.”

14. Kuon (久遠) – “Eternity” or “eternal darkness”; philosophical nuance.

15. Aokage (青影) – “Blue shadow”; poetic and visually evocative.

16. Sumire (菫 / 紫) – Typically “violet”; deep purple evokes twilight and mystery.

17. Tsukine (月音) – “Sound of the moon”; calm and darkly lyrical.

18. Ameno (雨乃 / 雨の) – “Of the rain”; evokes stormy or gloomy imagery.

19. Komorebi (木漏れ日) – “Light through trees”; implies interplay of light and shadow.

Mythical and Literary Dark-Themed Names

1. Izanami (伊邪那美) – Goddess of death and the underworld.

2. Tsukuyomi (月読) – Moon god; deity of night.

3. Yasha (夜叉) – Fierce spirit or demon in Buddhist lore.

4. Enma (閻魔) – King of Hell; ruler of the underworld.

5. Mikaboshi (天津甕星) – God of chaos, darkness, and rebellion.

6. Yomi (黄泉) – The land of the dead; underworld.

7. Kurohime (黒姫) – “Black princess”; folklore-based name.

8. Kagutsuchi (軻遇突智) – God of fire; associated with destructive death.

9. Susanoo (須佐之男命) – Storm god; linked with shadows and wild energy.

10. Orochi (大蛇) – Giant serpent; mythical beast of darkness.

11. Raijin (雷神) – Thunder god; has dark aspects in myth.

12. Akuro (悪路) – “Evil path”; dark symbolic connotation.

13. Amanozako (天逆毎) – Fierce goddess of mischief and storms.

14. Noppera (のっぺらぼう) – Faceless ghost; eerie and supernatural.

15. Kamikiri (髪切り) – Yokai that cuts hair at night; unsettling folklore.

16. Shinigami (死神) – Death god or spirit; Japanese grim reaper.

17. Nurarihyon (滑瓢) – Ghostly figure who sneaks into homes.

18. Gashadokuro (餓者髑髏) – Giant skeleton spirit of the dead.

19. Yurei (幽霊) – General term for ghost or spirit.

20. Yatsufusa (八房) – Spirit hound; associated with myth and guardianship of the dead.

Modern and Fictional Names Associated with Darkness

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1. Yami (闇) – Means “darkness”; used across multiple anime series.

2. Kurogiri (黒霧) – “Black fog”; villain name from My Hero Academia.

3. Hiei (飛影) – “Flying shadow”; dark swordsman in Yu Yu Hakusho.

4. Zabuza (ザブザ) – Dark rogue ninja from Naruto.

5. Akaza (猗窩座) – Demon with tragic past in Demon Slayer.

6. Obanai (伊黒) – Serpent-themed demon slayer; dark aura.

7. Itachi (イタチ / 鼬) – Tragic antihero from Naruto; linked to secrecy.

8. Homura (焔) – “Flame”; symbolically used for dark fire in Madoka Magica.

9. Tokoyami (常闇) – “Eternal darkness”; character from My Hero Academia.

10. Shigaraki (死柄木) – “Death handle tree”; name with heavy dark symbolism.

11. Muzan (無惨) – “Cruelty” or “pitiless”; main villain in Demon Slayer.

12. Kurapika (クラピカ) – Driven by revenge and darkness in Hunter x Hunter.

13. Kiryuuin (鬼龍院) – Dark aristocratic name from Kill la Kill.

14. Dazai (太宰) – Troubled genius with dark undertones in Bungou Stray Dogs.

15. Megumi (恵 / 恵夢) – Can mean “blessing,” but has shadow-based attacks in Jujutsu Kaisen.

16. Hibana (火華) – “Fire flower”; destructive beauty in Fire Force.

17. Rukia (朽木) – “Rotten wood”; name associated with death in Bleach.

18. Lain (レイン) – Symbolic of digital darkness and identity in Serial Experiments Lain.

19. Kyoko (杏子) – Tragic character with a dark past in Madoka Magica.

20. Crona (クロナ) – Ambiguous, dark child character from Soul Eater.