60+ Cool & Unique Japanese Boy Names That Mean Dark

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Plus, tips for choosing the perfect name for your baby boy!

Co-authored by Bailey Cho

Last Updated: September 18, 2025 Fact Checked

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Japanese Boy Names That Mean Dark

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Shadow

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Death

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Choosing a Name

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FAQs

In Japanese culture, darkness symbolizes a variety of concepts, including mystery, mythology, and beauty, making it a great source of name inspiration for your child. In this article, we’ve compiled the ultimate list of Japanese boy names that mean dark, shadow, and death. We’ll also explain the meanings and kanji characters of each name, plus provide tips to help you choose the perfect one!

Best Japanese Boy Names Meaning Dark

Yoru (夜) - Means “night.”
Kuro (黒) - Means “black.”
Yami (闇) - Means “darkness.”
Akuma (悪魔) - Means “demon.”
Anko (暗子) - Means “dark child.”
Kurai (暗い) - Means “dark” or “gloomy.”
Mei (冥) - Means “underworld” or “darkness.”

Section 1 of 5:

Japanese Boy Names That Mean Dark

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In Japanese culture, names with dark meanings don’t always represent something negative. In fact, they are often connected to nature, mythology, celestial bodies, dark flowers, and more. Here are our favorite Japanese boy names meaning dark, along with their kanji characters and meanings:^{[1]
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- Akuma (悪魔) - Means “demon.”
- Akurashi (悪らし) - Means a “suggestion of misfortune.”
- An (暗) - Means “dark or dim.”
- Anko (暗子) - Means “dark child.”
- Anshin (暗心) - Means “dark heart” or “deep feelings.”
- Anzai (暗斎) - Means “dark monk.”
- Koku (黒) - Means “blackness.”
- Kurai (暗い) - Means “dark” or “gloomy.”
- Kuran (暗藍) - Means “dark indigo.”
- Kurayami - (暗闇) - Means “darkness.”
- Kuro (黒) - Means “black.”
- Kurogane (黒鉄) - Means “black iron.”
- Kurogiri (黒霧) - Means “black fog.”
- Kuronagi (黒凪) - Means “black calm.”
- Kuronami (黒波) - Means “black wave.”
- Kuronosora (黒乃空) - Means “black sky.”
- Kuronosuke (黒之助) - Means “helper of darkness.”
- Kuronuma (黒沼) - Means “black swamp.”
- Kurosora (黒空) - Means “black sky.”
- Kurotaka (黒鷹) - Means “black hawk.”
- Kurou (玄狼) - Means “mysterious black wolf.”
- Mei (冥) - Means “underworld” or “darkness.”
- Meiji (冥司) - Means “dark + rule.”
- Meikuro (冥黒) - Means “underworld black.”
- Oku (奥) - Means “inner/hidden/deep.”
- Okuyami (奥闇) - Means “inner darkness.”
- Shin (深) - Means “deep/profound.”
- Shin’an (深暗) - Means “deep darkness.”
- Yami (闇) - Means “darkness.”
- Yamihiro (闇広) - Means “wide darkness.”
- Yamiyo (闇夜) - Means “dark night.”
- Yoru (夜) - Means “night.”
- Yoruame (夜雨) - Means “night rain.”
- Yoruichi (夜) - Means “first night.”
- Yorumei (夜冥) - Means “night underworld.”
- Yorutaka (夜鷹) - Means “night hawk.”

Section 2 of 5:

Japanese Boy Names That Mean Shadow

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Shadows symbolize beauty, mystery, and the transient nature of life in Japan, making it a beautiful source of name inspiration.^{[2]
X
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- Ankoku (暗黒) - Means “darkness” or “shadow.”
- Inei (陰影) - Means “shadow and light.”
- Kage (影) - Means “shadow.”
- Kageaki (影明) - Means “bright shadow.”
- Kagehisa (影久) - Means “eternal shadow.”
- Kageko (影子) - Means “shadow child.”
- Kagemaru (影丸) - Means “shadow circle.”
- Kagemi (陰御) - Means “shadow and grace.”
- Kageri (陰) - Means “shade.”
- Kageshiro (影白) - Means “shadow white.”
- Kagetsu (影月) - Means “shadow moon.”
- Kagetsu (影月) - Means “shadow moon (celestial bodies).”
- Kageyama (影山) - Means “shadow mountain.”
- Kageyoshi (影良) - Means “good shadow.”
- Kamikage (神影) - Means “shadow of God.”
- Rikuto (陸人) - Means “land of shadows.”

Section 3 of 5:

Japanese Boy Names That Mean Death

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In Japan, death is seen as a natural part of life, representing the soul’s journey from this world to the next. It’s taken very seriously, requiring purification rituals to cleanse the living and help the deceased’s spirit transition to the afterlife.^{[4]
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- Akeldama (アケルダマ) - Means “place of bloodshed.”
- Hisa (ひさ) - Means “defeated death.”
- Kuronin (黒人) - Means “black person,” symbolizing death or mourning.
- Kyomu (虚無) - Means “nothingness” or “void,” associated with death.
- Mana (愛) - Means “everlasting death.”
- Oiwa (大岩) - Means “angel of death.”
- Sakamoto (坂本) - Means “death escaped person.”
- Senshi (戦士) - Means “die in a battle.”
- Shinigami (死神) - Means “God of death.”
- Shisha (死者) - Means “the deceased” or “those who have died.”

Section 4 of 5:

How to Choose a Baby Name

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Choose a name with a special meaning that complements your surname. There are tons of dark-themed Japanese names, so look up their meanings to find the perfect one. Think of the elements you want to incorporate, such as nature, seasons, mythology, or ancestors, and consider the visual balance of Japanese characters (called kanji). Then, check how it flows with your last name and ensure you and your partner agree on the choice!^{[6]
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- Run the name with native speakers to avoid bad luck or awkward meanings.
- You can always ask your loved ones for suggestions or use a Japanese name generator.

Section 5 of 5:

Frequently Asked Questions

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Why do Japanese parents choose dark-themed names? Names with dark meanings are highly symbolic in Japanese culture, often tied to nature, mythology, ancient wisdom, and emotion. Depending on the kanji characters used, choosing a darker name can reflect strength, mystery, resilience, and other positive traits you want to instill in your child.
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What Japanese last names mean “dark?” Here are some of the top Japanese surnames associated with darkness, shadows, or mystery:^{[7]
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- Anrei (暗霊) - Means “dark spirit.”
- Anzai (暗井) - Means “dark well.”
- Hoshikage (星影) - Means “star shadow.”
- Kuramoto (暗元) - Means “dark origin.”
- Kurayasu (暗安) - Means “peaceful darkness.”
- Kurotani (黒谷) - Means “dark valley.”
- Seikage (静影) - Means “shadow of serenity.”
- Takakage (高影) - Means “tall shadow.”
- Yamihara (闇原) - Means “dark field.”
- Yamizono (闇園) - Means “dark garden.”
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What Japanese girl names mean “dark?” The following female names symbolize darkness, including death, nighttime, and dark flowers. Here are a few of our favorites:^{[8]
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- Amaya (雨夜) - Means “night rain.”
- Anko (暗子) - Means “dark child.”
- Anraku (安楽) - Means “peaceful death.”
- Kurohana (黒花) - Means “black flower.”
- Kurohime (黒姫) - Means “black princess.”
- Kuroyuri (黒百合) - Means “black lily.”
- Mizuki (水月) - Means “water moon.”
- Shi (死) - Means “death.”
- Yamako (闇子) - Means “child of darkness.”
- Yumiko (由美子) - Means “child of beauty and darkness.”