Names That Mean Cursed

I’ve always been drawn to names with a shadow behind them. A name that means “cursed” feels heavier than an ordinary name — it carries myth, warning, and old fate all in one word.

I put this list together for writers, parents who love unusual meanings, and anyone building a character who needs a name with real weight. I pulled names from folklore, mythology, and languages across the world.

Some of these names are gentle and poetic. Others are sharp, dark, and unforgettable. I think you’ll find the right one here.

Boy Names That Mean Cursed

• Kali – dark fate
• Moros – doom
• Draven – hunted, doomed
• Corvin – raven, omen
• Malachi – messenger of ruin (dark twist)
• Cain – marked, outcast
• Loki – trickster of ruin
• Azrael – angel of death
• Draco – dragon, dark omen
• Vane – vain, ill-fated
• Ronan – little seal, dark legend
• Damon – to tame, spirit of fate
• Malik – dark king
• Reaper – harvester of death
• Grim – fierce, doom-bringer
• Sceadu – shadow (Old English)
• Baleful – harmful fate (used as name)
• Fell – deadly, fierce
• Nero – black, dark
• Set – Egyptian god of chaos
• Hex – spell of misfortune
• Bane – cause of ruin
• Doran – exile, stranger
• Malachai – dark messenger
• Corvus – raven
• Vex – to trouble, curse
• Sinclair – cursed clearing (folk meaning)
• Malvern – bare dark hill
• Kaine – variant of Cain, outcast

Girl Names That Mean Cursed

• Morrigan – phantom queen, war and fate
• Hecate – goddess of witchcraft
• Lilith – night demon
• Persephone – bringer of destruction
• Medea – cunning, sorceress
• Circe – enchantress, bird of prey
• Nyx – night, darkness
• Erys – strife
• Ate – goddess of ruin
• Selene – moon, shadowed fate
• Morrighan – dark fate spirit
• Raven – dark omen bird
• Ombra – shadow (Italian)
• Vesper – evening, dusk of fate
• Scylla – monster, doom
• Alecto – unceasing anger
• Tisiphone – avenger of murder
• Megaera – jealous rage
• Ligeia – shrill, haunting
• Morticia – death-associated
• Mave – intoxicating, dangerous
• Draven (unisex use) – hunted
• Fatima – used loosely for “fated one”
• Ilsevi – means “cursed” in modern coined baby-name lists
• Cassia – bitter fate
• Isolde – ice ruler, fated love
• Fenella – white shoulder, dark legend tie
• Ravenna – raven-like, dark omen
• Sable – black, mourning

Unisex / Gender Neutral Names That Mean Cursed

• Kali – dark fate
• Ash – ruin, remains
• Storm – turbulent fate
• Wraith – ghost, doomed spirit
• Sable – black, mourning
• Corvin – raven omen
• Shadow – used directly as a name
• Blight – ruin, curse on land
• Onyx – dark stone, fate
• Grim – doom-bringer
• Vex – to curse, trouble
• Raven – dark omen
• Fane – temple, fated ground
• Nyx – night
• Doom – used directly (rare/fantasy)
• Wynter – cold fate
• Slate – gray, somber
• Fell – deadly
• Marrow – deep, haunting
• Rook – dark chess piece, omen bird
• Salem – linked to witch trials
• Thorne – painful fate
• Briar – tangled, cursed thicket
• Cinder – burned remains
• Vale – shadowed valley
• Drear – gloomy fate
• Wren (dark folklore ties) – small omen bird

Last Names That Mean Cursed

• Malfoy – bad faith (Old French, popularized in fiction)
• Sinclair – “cursed clearing” (folk etymology)
• Blackwood – dark cursed forest
• Ravensworth – raven’s doomed land
• Corbin – raven, dark omen
• Malory – ill-fated
• Doomsworth – invented, doom estate
• Ashgrove – burned, ruined grove
• Fellstone – deadly stone
• Grimshaw – dark, grim wood
• Wraithe – ghostly, doomed
• Blackthorn – dark cursed plant
• Voss – variant tied to “fox,” folklore trickster
• Nightshade – poisonous, cursed plant
• Deathridge – doom ridge
• Hollowell – cursed hollow
• Malachite – dark stone (surname variant)
• Craven – cowardly, doomed
• Marlowe – driftwood by the lake, dark tie in fiction
• Ombra – shadow surname
• Corvinus – raven family
• Blackbourne – dark stream
• Faust – deal with the devil (German legend)
• Mordant – biting, cursed wit
• Ruthven – Scottish, tied to dark legend
• Wintersblight – invented, cursed winter
• Ashworth – burned estate

Baby Names That Mean Cursed

• Damara – gentle, but folklore ties to fate
• Kaida – little dragon, dark fate
• Rowan – tied to protection from curses (ironic use)
• Corvin – raven omen
• Lior – light against darkness (contrast name)
• Malin – small, strong, tied to dark legend
• Fenn – marsh, fated ground
• Vesper – evening, fate at dusk
• Wren – small omen bird
• Bryony – toxic plant, folklore curse tie
• Alder – tied to old curse-protection trees
• Ivy – clinging, associated with graveyard folklore
• Ondine – water spirit, cursed to lose voice
• Elowen – elm tree, fate spirit (Cornish)
• Rowena – fame and joy, dark legend character
• Corin – spear, dark warrior fate
• Isolde – fated love, tragic curse
• Selkie – seal folklore, bound by curse
• Bramble – thorny, cursed thicket
• Nyssa – goal, ill-fate association
• Fable name Draven – hunted
• Marren – of the sea, dark tale roots
• Cyra – throne, dark queen tie
• Auberon – fairy king, mischievous curse-giver
• Tamsin – twin, cursed-twin folklore

Chinese Names That Mean Cursed

• Huò (祸) – disaster, misfortune
• Zāi (灾) – calamity
• Xiōng (凶) – ominous, inauspicious
• Yīn (阴) – shadow, dark yin energy
• Hēi (黑) – black
• Mò (魔) – demon, evil spirit
• Guǐ (鬼) – ghost
• Yuàn (怨) – grudge, resentment spirit
• Nì (逆) – rebellious fate
• Yè (业) – karma, tied to fated retribution
• Cán (残) – broken, ruined
• Sǐ (死) – death
• Àn (暗) – darkness
• Xié (邪) – evil, wicked
• Wáng (亡) – ruin, perish
• Bēi (悲) – sorrow, tragic fate
• Kū (哭) – weeping fate
• Wú (无) – void, nothingness
• Chóu (仇) – vengeance
• Shā (杀) – kill, doom
• Lì (戾) – perverse fate
• Zhòu (咒) – curse, spell directly
• Mèng (梦, dark dream reading) – haunted dream
• Yīng (影, shadow reading) – shadow
• Diāo (凋) – withered fate
• Cāng (苍, pale reading) – pale, ghostly

English Names That Mean Cursed

• Bane – ruin, poison
• Grimm – dark, fierce
• Blight – ruin
• Malice – ill intent
• Doom – fate, ruin
• Curse – used directly in fantasy naming
• Hex – spell of misfortune
• Fell – deadly
• Dread – fearful fate
• Wraith – doomed ghost
• Sorrow – deep grief
• Requiem – funeral rite, fated end
• Nightshade – poisonous plant
• Vex – to trouble
• Ruin – used directly
• Shade – shadow figure
• Woe – misfortune
• Ashen – burned, ruined
• Gloom – darkness of fate
• Havoc – destruction
• Thorne – painful fate
• Briar – tangled curse
• Marrow – haunting depth
• Craven – cowardly doom
• Malachi (dark reading) – messenger of ruin
• Reaper – death-bringer

Fantasy Names That Mean Cursed

• Malzareth – invented, dark ruler of curses
• Vaelthorn – thorned doom
• Corvathis – raven of ruin
• Nyxaria – night-cursed queen
• Draventh – hunted one, doomed
• Zaruk the Marked – branded by fate
• Shaelgorn – shadow-born
• Ilvenmourn – mourning elf-curse
• Kaelrath – fallen one
• Morvane – shadow of vanity
• Thessarai – witch of woe
• Baelgrim – doom-bearer
• Ravenscar – scarred by omen
• Wraithmoor – ghost-covered land
• Duskveil – veiled in dusk
• Emberfall – falling ruin
• Grimhollow – dark hollow
• Ashvane – burned vanity
• Nocturis – of the night, doomed
• Sable Thorn – dark curse-name
• Malvorne – dark thorn
• Voidmark – marked by emptiness
• Hexwyn – winner of curses
• Doomcaller – direct fantasy title-name
• Fenwraith – marsh ghost
• Cindrath – cursed ember

Greek Names That Mean Cursed

• Moros – doom personified
• Ate – ruin, blind folly
• Nemesis – righteous vengeance
• Erys (Eris) – strife
• Ker – violent death spirit
• Alecto – unceasing anger
• Tisiphone – avenging murder
• Megaera – jealous rage
• Hecate – witchcraft, dark crossroads
• Nyx – night
• Thanatos – death
• Achlys – misery, personified
• Lyssa – rage, madness
• Oizys – misery
• Apate – deceit
• Dolos – trickery
• Momus – blame, fault
• Phobos – fear
• Deimos – dread
• Styx – river of the underworld, oath of doom
• Erebus – deep darkness
• Charon – ferryman of the doomed
• Kakia – vice
• Lethe – forgetfulness, tied to fated death
• Penthos – grief
• Keres – spirits of violent death

Japanese Names That Mean Cursed

• Noroi (呪い) – curse itself
• Yami (闇) – darkness
• Kage (影) – shadow
• Akuma (悪魔) – demon
• Shi (死) – death
• Yūrei (幽霊) – ghost
• Onryō (怨霊) – vengeful spirit
• Kuroi (黒い) – black
• Majo (魔女) – witch
• Wazawai (災い) – disaster
• Kegare (穢れ) – impurity, defilement
• Fukō (不幸) – misfortune
• Tatari (祟り) – divine curse or retribution
• Bakemono (化け物) – monster
• Enma – lord of death/judgment
• Ma (魔) – demon, evil
• Shinigami (死神) – death god
• Kurayami (暗闇) – total darkness
• Higan – “other shore,” death-linked
• Meikai – underworld
• Yōkai – supernatural cursed being
• Hitodama – wandering soul fire
• Zangyaku – cruelty, dark fate
• Kōfuku’s opposite: Fukō – misfortune
• Sadame (dark reading) – fixed fate
• Metsubō – ruin, destruction

Latin Names That Mean Cursed

• Maledictus – cursed one
• Damnatus – condemned
• Fatalis – fated, deadly
• Infelix – unlucky
• Funestus – deadly, mournful
• Sinister – left-handed, ill-omened
• Malus – bad, evil
• Perditus – lost, ruined
• Nox – night
• Mors – death
• Umbra – shadow
• Tenebris – of darkness
• Furor – rage, madness
• Exsecratus – cursed, execrated
• Ater – dark, gloomy
• Miser – wretched
• Vindicta – vengeance
• Luctus – grief, mourning
• Ruina – ruin
• Malefica – witch, evildoer
• Obscurus – dark, hidden
• Damnare (root) – to condemn
• Calamitas – calamity
• Pernicies – destruction
• Vae – “woe” as exclamation-name
• Cladis – disaster, defeat

Russian Names That Mean Cursed

• Prokляtiy (Проклятый) – cursed
• Chyorny (Чёрный) – black
• Zloy (Злой) – evil, wicked
• Tyoma (dark root) – darkness-linked nickname
• Vedьma (Ведьма) – witch
• Chyort (Чёрт) – devil
• Nechist (Нечисть) – unclean spirit
• Bes (Бес) – demon
• Skorbь (Скорбь) – sorrow
• Gore (Горе) – grief, woe
• Mrak (Мрак) – gloom, darkness
• Groza (dark reading) – storm, dread
• Smert (Смерть) – death
• Zloveshiy (Зловещий) – ominous
• Rok (Рок) – fate, doom
• Tyoмный (Тёмный) – dark one
• Muka (Мука) – torment
• Pogibel (Погибель) – doom, ruin
• Prizrak (Призрак) – ghost
• Koshmar (Кошмар) – nightmare
• Yad (Яд) – poison
• Nesчастье (Несчастье) – misfortune
• Byeda (Беда) – trouble, disaster
• Upyr (Упырь) – undead, cursed being
• Volkolak (folklore) – cursed wolf-man
• Chorт (variant) – devilish fate

Spanish Names That Mean Cursed

• Maldito – cursed
• Condenado – condemned
• Oscuro – dark
• Sombra – shadow
• Fatal – deadly, fated
• Desdichado – unfortunate
• Infortunio – misfortune
• Ruina – ruin
• Tinieblas – darkness
• Muerte – death
• Bruja – witch
• Diablo – devil
• Desgracia – disgrace, misfortune
• Nefasto – ill-fated
• Siniestro – sinister
• Fantasma – ghost
• Aciago – ominous
• Perdición – perdition, ruin
• Lúgubre – gloomy
• Amargo – bitter fate
• Angustia – anguish
• Calamidad – calamity
• Penumbra – shadowy dusk
• Rencor – grudge, dark resentment
• Espectro – specter
• Vengador (dark reading) – avenger fate

Egyptian Names That Mean Cursed

• Set (Seth) – god of chaos and storms
• Apep (Apophis) – serpent of chaos
• Ammit – devourer of souls
• Sekhmet – goddess of destruction
• Nekhbet’s shadow reading – vulture of ruin
• Anubis – tied to death and judgment
• Osiris (fallen king) – god of the dead
• Ba (dark reading) – restless spirit
• Akhu – malevolent spirit
• Mut-em-wia (dark tie) – mother of ruin
• Wenut – hare-linked dark omen
• Bes (protective but fierce) – ward against curses
• Serqet – scorpion goddess of poison
• Tawaret (fierce form) – devouring protector
• Nephthys – lady of the house of ruin
• Khnum’s shadow-tie – god of fated creation
• Isfet – chaos and disorder itself
• Heka (dark reading) – magic, curse-casting
• Sobek (fierce form) – devouring crocodile god
• Ra’s enemy Apep – eternal cursed serpent
• Duat-linked names – underworld tied
• Nut’s shadow – swallowing sky, fated cycle
• Geb’s ruin-tie – earth of the buried dead
• Maat’s opposite Isfet – imbalance, curse
• Khepri’s dark twin – decay before rebirth

French Names That Mean Cursed

• Maudit – cursed
• Damné – damned
• Sombre – dark
• Ombre – shadow
• Fatal – deadly, fated
• Ténèbres – darkness
• Malheur – misfortune
• Sinistre – sinister
• Sorcière (fem.) – witch
• Diable – devil
• Perdition – ruin
• Noirceur – blackness
• Deuil – mourning
• Vengeance – direct dark-fate name
• Désastre – disaster
• Fantôme – ghost
• Malédiction – curse itself
• Néfaste – harmful, ill-fated
• Angoisse – anguish
• Ruine – ruin
• Spectre – specter
• Nuit noire (dark night) – deep dark fate
• Ombrage – shade, resentment
• Chagrin – sorrow
• Épouvante – dread
• Ténébreux – shadowy one

Italian Names That Mean Cursed

• Maledetto – cursed
• Dannato – damned
• Oscuro – dark
• Ombra – shadow
• Fatale – fated, deadly
• Sventura – misfortune
• Tenebra – darkness
• Strega (fem.) – witch
• Diavolo – devil
• Rovina – ruin
• Sciagura – calamity
• Lugubre – gloomy
• Spettro – specter
• Angoscia – anguish
• Vendetta – dark-fate vengeance
• Malasorte – bad luck
• Funesto – deadly, mournful
• Malocchio – evil eye, curse itself
• Perdizione – perdition
• Cupo – gloomy, dark
• Amaro (dark reading) – bitter fate
• Notte oscura – dark night
• Ferale – deathly, ominous
• Iattura – misfortune, bad omen
• Sinistro – sinister

Roman Names That Mean Cursed

• Maledictus – cursed
• Damnatus – condemned
• Fatalis – fated, deadly
• Infelix – unlucky one
• Sinister – ill-omened, left-handed
• Ater – black, gloomy
• Nox – night personified
• Mors – death personified
• Furia – rage, one of the Furies
• Ultrix – avenger
• Umbra – shadow
• Perditus – ruined
• Exsecratus – execrated, cursed
• Vindex (dark reading) – avenger of fate
• Funestus – deathly
• Malignus – malicious
• Tenebrosus – shadow-filled
• Cladius (root: cladis) – disaster-tied
• Pernicious (root: pernicies) – destructive
• Obscurus – hidden, dark
• Vae Victis (fate-tied phrase-name) – woe to the doomed
• Discordia – goddess of strife
• Invidia – envy personified
• Luctus – grief personified
• Poena – punishment, penalty

Unique Girl Names That Mean Cursed

• Ilsevri – invented, “born of curses”
• Nyxandra – night’s doom
• Morrighast – shadow of the phantom queen
• Sableen – deep black fate
• Vespera – twilight doom
• Ravendra – raven-omen queen
• Duskira – child of dusk
• Thessaline – witch’s line
• Corvellia – of the raven
• Malorien – ill-fated one
• Ombrielle – little shadow
• Fenlyra – marsh-bound fate
• Ashendra – burned fate
• Wraithe (fem. form) – ghostly
• Zaleria – storm of ruin
• Cindrelle – ember of ruin
• Ilyndra – haunted light
• Morvennah – dark sea-fate
• Sorreline – sorrow’s line
• Naveska – dark-named
• Grimalda – old dark fate
• Wynterah – cold fate
• Devoreth – devouring doom
• Sablyn – small shadow
• Ravyndra – raven queen
• Malorwyn – ill-fated friend

Unique Boy Names That Mean Cursed

• Draventh – hunted, doomed
• Corvane – raven fate
• Malrik – dark ruler
• Fenwraith – marsh ghost
• Ashdane – burned valley
• Voidric – born of the void
• Grimwald – old ruler of doom
• Nyxor – night’s champion
• Baelthorn – doom’s thorn
• Ravengar – raven guardian, dark omen
• Sorrelic – sorrow-touched
• Duskane – dusk’s fate
• Vaelric – thorned fate
• Kaelmourn – mourning warrior
• Wrathkin – kin of wrath
• Sableth – shadow-bound
• Malachor – dark chorus, fate-song
• Cindrick – ember of doom
• Thornevic – painful fate
• Wraithan – ghost-born
• Doomric – direct doom-name
• Zalorin – storm-cursed
• Ilverath – haunted one
• Corvexis – raven fate lord
• Grimshade – dark shadow
• Fellorin – deadly one

Mythological Names That Mean Cursed

• Prometheus – doomed for defiance
• Sisyphus – condemned to eternal toil
• Tantalus – forever cursed with hunger and thirst
• Cassandra – cursed with unbelieved prophecy
• Niobe – cursed with endless grief
• Actaeon – cursed and transformed
• Icarus – doomed by ambition
• Oedipus – cursed by prophecy
• Medusa – cursed into a monster
• Arachne – cursed into a spider
• Pandora – cursed to release all evils
• Echo – cursed to only repeat words
• Phaethon – doomed by his own request
• Erysichthon – cursed with endless hunger
• Marsyas – cursed for his pride
• Ixion – bound to an eternal wheel
• Danaides – cursed to endless labor
• Semele – destroyed by divine curse
• Actis – solar doom-tied figure
• Salmoneus – cursed for mocking the gods

Names That Mean Doomed or Ill-Fated

• Fatum – fate itself (Latin)
• Weird (Old English “wyrd”) – fate, doom
• Kismet – destiny, often fatalistic
• Sina – fated one (varied roots)
• Ananke – necessity, inescapable fate (Greek)
• Heimarmene – fate personified (Greek)
• Norn-linked names – Norse fate-weavers
• Urd – Norse fate of the past
• Skuld – Norse fate, debt, doom
• Verdandi – Norse fate of becoming
• Wyrd – Anglo-Saxon fate
• Chance (ironic dark use) – fate left to luck
• Providence (dark irony use) – fate beyond control

FAQs

Is it bad luck to name a baby something that means cursed?

Many parents see it as symbolic strength rather than literal bad luck, since meanings shift with culture and intention.

What language has the most words for “cursed”?

Greek and Latin have especially rich vocabularies for doom, fate, and ruin, which is why mythology-based names dominate this list.

Are fantasy “cursed” names real words?

No, most fantasy names here are invented or stylized to sound dark and mythic rather than pulled from real dictionaries.

Can a name that means cursed also sound beautiful?

Yes, many of these names — like Isolde, Morrigan, or Ombra — sound elegant despite their heavy meanings.

Why do so many mythological figures have curse-related names?

Ancient storytellers often built a character’s fate directly into their name as a warning or foreshadowing device.

Is Kali always associated with curses?

Not exactly — Kali is primarily a Hindu goddess of time and transformation, though “kali” also translates to “dark” in Sanskrit.