Few name categories spark as much curiosity — and controversy — as names that mean devil. Whether you are a writer building a deliciously wicked character, a gothic-hearted parent hunting for an edge, or simply fascinated by the folklore behind dark names, this guide walks through the most famous and most obscure devil-linked names with honest, well-researched meanings. A quick note of honesty up front: almost no traditional given name literally translates to “devil.” Instead, these names earned their diabolical reputation through mythology, scripture, literature, and pop culture — and this article tells you exactly which is which, so you never have to guess.
Key Takeaways
– Almost no name literally means “devil” — most devil-linked names come from mythology, religion, or fiction.
– Lucifer means “light-bringer” in Latin; its devilish reputation comes from Christian tradition, not the dictionary.
– Lilith, Samael, Azazel, and Belial have genuine ancient roots tied to demons or dark spirits.
– Names like Kali, Iblis, and Ravana belong to living religions — use them with respect, never casually.
– Writers and gamers have far more freedom here than parents naming a real child.
The Story Behind Names That Mean Devil
To use names that mean devil well — whether on the page or on a birth certificate — it helps to know where they come from and what “devil” has meant across different times and places. The history is richer and stranger than most people expect.
Where Devil Names Come From
The names people associate with the devil come from four main wells: ancient scripture, world mythology, medieval grimoires, and modern fiction. In the Hebrew Bible, figures like Azazel and Belial appear in genuinely dark contexts. Greek and Mesopotamian myth gave us Erebus, Tiamat, and Lamia — primordial darkness personified. The medieval period added the demons of the Ars Goetia, a famous grimoire cataloging 72 spirits with names like Asmodeus, Paimon, and Astaroth. And modern horror gave us Damien (The Omen), Pazuzu (The Exorcist), and a whole generation of gothic baby-name inspiration.
What “Devil” Means Across Cultures
Here is something worth knowing before you fall in love with any name on this list: the concept of “the devil” is not universal. Christianity, Islam, and Judaism each have a chief adversary figure (Satan, Iblis/Shaitan, ha-Satan), but most other traditions do not have a single devil at all. Hindu, Egyptian, Norse, and Greek mythologies have gods of death, chaos, or the underworld — Hades, Anubis, Set, Loki, Hel — but calling them “devils” flattens rich, complex deities into a Christian-shaped box. Good research respects that distinction, and so does this guide.
Who Searches for Devil Names (and Why)
Most people hunting for names that mean devil fall into three camps. Writers and game designers need villain names with authentic menace. Gothic, metal, and Halloween-loving parents want something dark but wearable. And mythology buffs simply enjoy the stories. If you are naming a real child, the stakes are different than naming a Dungeons & Dragons warlock — this guide flags which names are genuinely usable, which are fiction-only, and which belong to living faiths where casual use would be disrespectful.
150 Names That Mean Devil: The Complete List
Below are 150 of the most compelling names that mean devil, grouped so you can shop by vibe: famous, obscure, short, modern, or mythological. Every entry gives the real meaning — literal or associated — so there are no surprises.
Popular Devil Names
| Name | Meaning | Origin | Pronunciation | Parent Tip |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Lucifer | “Light-bringer” (Latin) — the devil by Christian tradition, not by dictionary | Latin | LOO-si-fer | Iconic but heavy; best for fiction or the very bold |
| Damien | “To tame, subdue” (Greek) — devilish via The Omen (1976) | Greek | DAY-mee-en | A real, established name; the movie link is fading with time |
| Lilith | Disputed — possibly from Sumerian lilitu, “night spirit” | Mesopotamian/Hebrew folklore | LIL-ith | Genuinely ancient; now a feminist icon as well as a demoness |
| Mara | “Death” (Sanskrit) — the Buddhist tempter demon | Sanskrit/Buddhist | MAH-rah | Beautiful sound; know the dark myth before using it |
| Azazel | Uncertain — the scapegoat-ritual figure of Leviticus, later a fallen angel | Hebrew | ah-zah-ZEL | Powerful and rare; unmistakably dark |
| Samael | “Poison of God” or “blindness of God” (Hebrew) — angel of death in some traditions | Hebrew | sah-mah-EL | Striking; the “Sam” nickname softens it |
| Raven | The black bird — an omen of mystery and death in folklore, not literally “devil” | English word name | RAY-ven | The most wearable dark name here; hugely popular for girls |
| Dracula | “Son of the dragon” — Romanian dracul means both dragon and devil | Romanian | DRAK-yoo-lah | The vampire name; wearable only for the very bold |
| Beelzebub | “Lord of the flies” (Hebrew) — Philistine god turned prince of demons | Hebrew/Philistine | bee-EL-ze-bub | Fiction-only; immense and unmistakable |
| Satan | “Adversary, accuser” (Hebrew) — the name itself, not used as a given name | Hebrew | SAY-tan | Included for completeness — never a baby name |
| Baal | “Lord, master” (Canaanite) — demonized in the Hebrew Bible | Canaanite | BAH-al | Ancient and heavy; the biblical baggage is the point |
| Astaroth | Corrupted from Astarte — a duke of hell in medieval grimoires | Canaanite (via demonology) | AS-tah-roth | Grand grimoire energy; strictly for fiction |
| Leviathan | “Twisted, coiled serpent” (Hebrew) — sea monster, later demon of envy | Hebrew | le-VY-ah-than | Biblical-scale menace; a writer’s name |
| Behemoth | “Beasts” (Hebrew) — the land monster of Job, later a demon | Hebrew | be-HEE-moth | Massive and archaic; fiction-friendly |
| Diablo | Literally “devil” (Spanish) — a word name | Spanish word name | dee-AH-bloh | One of the few names here that literally means devil |
| Morningstar | Epithet of Lucifer, “light-bringer” — English word name | English word name | MOR-ning-star | Poetic and dramatic; bold as a given name |
| Abaddon | “Destruction, ruin” (Hebrew) — angel of the abyss in Revelation | Hebrew | ah-BAD-on | Darkly biblical; rare and powerful |
| Apollyon | “Destroyer” (Greek) — angel of the bottomless pit in Revelation | Greek | ah-POL-yon | The Greek twin of Abaddon; fiction-ready |
| Azrael | “Whom God helps” (Hebrew/Arabic) — the angel of death | Hebrew/Arabic | AZ-ry-el | Beautiful sound, grave meaning; know the lore |
| Ifrit | A powerful, cunning demon of Arabic folklore | Arabic | if-REET | Fiery and exotic; respect its living folklore roots |
| Cain | “Acquired” (Hebrew) — the first murderer | Hebrew | KAYN | Short and stark; the biblical shadow lingers |
| Judas | “Praised” (Hebrew) — the betrayer of Christ | Hebrew | JOO-das | A real name made unwearable by one man |
| Jezebel | “Not exalted” (Hebrew) — the wicked queen | Hebrew | JEZ-e-bel | Fierce and storied; the villainy is the selling point |
| Delilah | “Delicate, weak” (Hebrew) — who betrayed Samson | Hebrew | de-LY-lah | Lovely sound, treacherous story; widely usable anyway |
| Salome | “Peace” (Hebrew) — of the dance of the seven veils | Hebrew | sah-LOH-may | Elegant and decadent; Oscar Wilde made her immortal |
| Herod | “Hero’s song” (Greek) — the king of the Massacre of the Innocents | Greek | HAIR-od | Regal and ruthless; history did the branding |
| Nimrod | “Rebel” (Hebrew) — the mighty hunter, archetypal tyrant king | Hebrew | NIM-rod | Note: modern slang has dulled its menace in English |
| Faust | “Fortunate” (Latin via German) — the scholar who bargained with the devil | German literary | FOWST | The original deal-with-the-devil name; literary gold |
| Dorian | “Of Doris, from the sea” (Greek) — via Dorian Gray’s Faustian portrait | Greek (via Wilde) | DOR-ee-an | A real name with a decadent secret |
| Frankenstein | “Stone of the Franks” (German) — the modern Prometheus | German literary | FRANK-en-styne | Everyone knows it; nobody names a child this |
Rare and Obscure Devil Names
| Name | Meaning | Origin | Pronunciation | Parent Tip |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Belial | “Worthlessness, wickedness” (Hebrew) — a demon prince in later tradition | Hebrew | bee-LIE-al | Extremely rare as a given name; fiction-friendly |
| Asmodeus | Possibly from Avestan aeshma, “wrath” — demon of lust in the Book of Tobit | Persian/Jewish folklore | az-mo-DAY-us | Grand and archaic; a writer’s dream name |
| Ahriman | The destructive spirit, opponent of Ahura Mazda | Zoroastrian | AH-ri-man | Deep mythological roots; virtually unused as a name |
| Chernobog | “Black god” (Slavic) — largely a modern reconstruction | Slavic | cher-no-BOG | More legend than history; great for fantasy |
| Mephistopheles | Uncertain — the demon of the Faust legend | German literary | mef-is-TOF-e-leez | Fiction-only; far too unwieldy for a birth certificate |
| Abyzou | A child-stealing demoness of ancient Mediterranean folklore | Greek/Jewish folklore | ah-biz-OO | Obscure and genuinely eerie; research the myth first |
| Naamah | “Pleasant” (Hebrew) — ironically, a demoness in Kabbalistic tradition | Hebrew | nah-ah-MAH | The sweet meaning clashes wonderfully with the dark lore |
| Berith | “Covenant” (Hebrew) — a duke of hell in medieval demonology | Hebrew (via demonology) | beh-REETH | Ironic and archaic; a scholar’s demon |
| Dagon | Uncertain — Philistine grain god, later a demon prince | Philistine | DAY-gon | Ancient deity turned demon; Lovecraft fans will know it |
| Belphegor | Uncertain — the demon of sloth in later tradition | Demonology | BEL-fe-gor | Wonderfully grotesque; a writer’s delight |
| Chort | Literally “devil, demon” in Slavic folklore | Slavic | CHORT | One of the few names here that actually means devil |
| Diabolos | “Slanderer, accuser” (Greek) — the root of the English word “devil” | Greek | dee-AH-bo-los | The etymology lesson as a name; scholarly and strange |
| Mastema | “Hostility” (Hebrew) — the satan-figure of the Book of Jubilees | Hebrew | mas-te-MAH | Obscure scripture; genuinely eerie |
| Semjaza | Uncertain — leader of the fallen Watchers in 1 Enoch | Hebrew | sem-YAH-zah | Apocryphal and imposing; research 1 Enoch first |
| Gadreel | “Wall of God” (Hebrew) — the angel who led Eve astray | Hebrew | GAD-ree-el | A fallen angel with a noble-sounding name |
| Kokabel | “Star of God” (Hebrew) — the Watcher who taught astrology to humans | Hebrew | koh-kah-BEL | Celestial and forbidden; beautiful and dark |
| Lamashtu | A lion-headed Mesopotamian demoness | Akkadian | lah-MASH-too | Truly ancient horror; for mythology devotees |
| Namtar | Sumerian demon of fate and the underworld | Sumerian | NAM-tar | Short, stark, and four thousand years old |
| Anzu | The lion-headed eagle demon of Mesopotamian myth | Mesopotamian | AN-zoo | Mythic monster as name; bold and strange |
| Kingu | Consort of Tiamat, keeper of the Tablets of Destiny | Babylonian | KIN-goo | For the deep-cut mythology nerd |
| Humbaba | Guardian demon of the Cedar Forest, slain by Gilgamesh | Mesopotamian | hum-BAH-bah | Epic-scale; the Gilgamesh connection is the appeal |
| Harut | A fallen angel named in the Quran | Arabic | hah-ROOT | Living scripture — treat with respect, not as decoration |
| Marut | Harut’s companion, the second fallen angel of the Quran | Arabic | mah-ROOT | Same caution as Harut; sacred, not spooky |
| Agrat | “Agrat bat Mahlat” — a queen of demons in Jewish folklore | Hebrew folklore | ah-GRAHT | Genuinely obscure; a scholar’s find |
| Eisheth | A demoness of Kabbalistic tradition | Hebrew/Kabbalah | AY-sheth | Esoteric and feminine-dark; research before using |
| Nosferatu | Disputed — popularized as a word for “vampire” from Romanian folklore | Romanian | nos-fe-RAH-too | The vampire word itself; pure gothic theater |
| Varney | English surname — Sir Francis Varney, the 1847 penny-dreadful vampire | English literary | VAR-nee | The original literary vampire; deliciously obscure |
| Ruthven | Scottish surname — Lord Ruthven, the first vampire in English fiction (1819) | English literary | ROOTH-ven | Polidori’s aristocratic bloodsucker; writer candy |
| Melmoth | Irish surname — Melmoth the Wanderer, the Faustian outcast | Irish literary | MEL-moth | Gothic literature’s great damned soul |
| Ambrosio | “Immortal” (Spanish from Greek) — the damned monk of The Monk (1796) | Spanish literary | am-BROH-syoh | The irony is perfect: “immortal,” eternally damned |
Short Devil Names
| Name | Meaning | Origin | Pronunciation | Parent Tip |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Set | The Egyptian god of chaos and storms — “devil” only by loose analogy | Egyptian | SET | Short, strong, and genuinely ancient; respect the living Kemetic faith |
| Loki | Uncertain — the Norse trickster, bound until Ragnarok | Norse | LOH-kee | Playful-dark rather than evil; hugely boosted by pop culture |
| Sam | Short for Samael (“poison of God”) | Hebrew (via Samael) | SAM | The stealth devil name — nobody guesses unless you tell them |
| Az | Short for Azazel | Hebrew (via Azazel) | AZ | Edgy and minimal; works as a nickname |
| Bel | Short for Belial; also from Baal, “lord” (Canaanite) | Hebrew/Canaanite | BEL | Simple; be aware of the Baal association |
| Lil | Short for Lilith | Mesopotamian (via Lilith) | LIL | Sweet-sounding with a dark secret |
| Nyx | “Night” (Greek) — the primordial goddess of night | Greek | NIKS | Three letters, cosmic darkness; hugely usable |
| Styx | “Hateful” (Greek) — the river of the underworld | Greek | STIKS | Oath-binding river as a name; stark and cool |
| Nox | “Night” (Latin) | Latin | NOKS | The Latin twin of Nyx; minimal and fierce |
| Ate | “Ruin, folly” (Greek) — the goddess of mischief | Greek | AH-tee | Tiny and dangerous; a myth in three letters |
| Dis | “Rich one” (Latin) — Roman god of the underworld | Latin | DEES | One syllable of underworld; note the slang collision in English |
| Mot | “Death” (Canaanite) — the god of death and sterility | Canaanite | MOHT | Three letters, absolute finality |
| Ymir | Uncertain — the primordial frost giant | Norse | EE-meer | Mythic frost and doom in four letters |
| Garm | Uncertain — the blood-stained hound of the underworld | Norse | GARM | The hellhound; fierce and guttural |
| Skoll | “Mockery” (Norse) — the wolf that chases the sun | Norse | SKOHL | Apocalyptic wolf; five letters of menace |
| Hati | “Hate” (Norse) — the wolf that chases the moon | Norse | HAH-tee | Skoll’s hateful brother; short and snarling |
| Surtr | “The black one” (Norse) — the fire giant of Ragnarok | Norse | SOOR-tur | The world-burner; elemental and huge |
| Ran | “Theft, robbery” (Norse) — the sea goddess who drowns sailors | Norse | RAHN | Three letters; beware the homophone with “ran” |
| Og | Uncertain — the giant king of Bashan | Hebrew | OHG | The Bible’s giant; two letters, enormous shadow |
| Ahab | “Father’s brother” (Hebrew) — the wicked king of Israel | Hebrew | AY-hab | Four letters; Moby-Dick doubled the menace |
| Ahaz | “He has grasped” (Hebrew) — the idolatrous king of Judah | Hebrew | AH-hahz | Short, harsh, and authentically biblical |
| Ash | The tree; also ashes and ruin — English word name | English word name | ASH | Soft sound, ashen meaning; fully wearable |
| Jet | The black gemstone — English word name | English word name | JET | Sleek, fast, and black as night |
| Bran | “Raven” (Welsh) — also the blessed king of Welsh myth | Welsh | BRAHN | The raven name; mythic without the melodrama |
| Ghoul | “To seize” (Arabic ghul) — the desert grave-demon | Arabic | GOOL | The monster word itself; extreme but real folklore |
| Alp | The German nightmare demon that sits on sleepers’ chests | German folklore | ALP | Three letters of bad dreams; also a mountain word |
| Mare | The nightmare demon (Germanic); also Latin for “sea” | Germanic | MAH-reh | The original “nightmare”; note the horse homophone |
| Bes | A mischievous Slavic demon; also an Egyptian dwarf god | Slavic/Egyptian | BES | Impish-dark rather than evil; cross-cultural |
| Hyde | “Hide” (English surname) — Dr. Jekyll’s dark half | English literary | HYDE | The divided self; four letters of duality |
| Mephisto | Short for Mephistopheles — the Faustian demon | German literary | me-FIS-toh | All the menace, half the syllables |
Modern Gothic Devil Names
| Name | Meaning | Origin | Pronunciation | Parent Tip |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Onyx | The black gemstone — darkness by association | Greek word name | ON-iks | Sleek, modern, and fully wearable |
| Salem | “Peace” (Hebrew) — dark via the witch trials | Hebrew | SAY-lem | The irony is the point; know the history |
| Wednesday | The weekday — dark via Wednesday Addams | English | WENZ-day | Pop-culture goth; bold but increasingly used |
| Carmilla | Invented by Sheridan Le Fanu for his 1872 vampire novella | Literary invention | kar-MIL-ah | Gorgeous and vampiric; a writer favorite |
| Morwen | “Dark maiden” — invented by Tolkien | Literary (Sindarin) | MOR-wen | For Tolkien devotees; authentic within its legendarium |
| Lucius | “Light” (Latin) — devilish via Lucius Malfoy | Latin | LOO-shus | A real Roman name wearing a villain’s cloak |
| Belladonna | “Beautiful lady” (Italian) — also deadly nightshade | Italian word name | bel-ah-DON-ah | Dangerously pretty; the poison link is the appeal |
| Lestat | French surname — the Brat Prince vampire of Anne Rice | French literary | les-TAH | Rock-star vampire; flamboyant and fun |
| Akasha | “Ether, sky” (Sanskrit) — the queen of the damned in Anne Rice | Sanskrit (via Rice) | ah-KAH-shah | A sacred word as a vampire name — use thoughtfully |
| Claudia | “Lame, crippled” (Latin) — the child vampire of Interview with the Vampire | Latin (via Rice) | KLAW-dee-ah | A classic name with fangs; the irony lands softly |
| Armand | “Soldier” (French/Germanic) — the ancient vampire | French literary | ar-MAHN | Elegant and old-souled; works as a real name |
| Sauron | “The abhorred” (Quenya, Tolkien’s Elvish) — the Dark Lord | Literary (Tolkien) | SOW-ron | The ultimate dark lord; fiction-only, obviously |
| Morgoth | “Dark enemy” (Sindarin) — the original Dark Lord of Middle-earth | Literary (Tolkien) | MOR-goth | Even Sauron’s boss; deliciously over the top |
| Saruman | “Man of skill” (Old English) — the corrupted wizard | Literary (Tolkien) | SAR-oo-man | The fall-from-grace name; wizardly and white-turned-black |
| Voldemort | “Flight of death” (invented French) — He-Who-Must-Not-Be-Named | Literary (Rowling) | VOHL-de-mor | Instantly recognizable; strictly for fiction |
| Bellatrix | “Female warrior” (Latin) — the Death Eater | Latin (via Rowling) | bel-AH-triks | Fierce, Latinate, and unhinged; a statement |
| Maleficent | “Doing evil, harmful” (Latin) — the dark fairy | Latin word name | mah-LEF-i-sent | The villainess name; grand and theatrical |
| Cruella | “Cruel” + Ella (invented) — the Disney villainess | English (invented) | kroo-EL-ah | Wickedly stylish; the name is the costume |
| Ursula | “Little bear” (Latin) — the sea witch | Latin (via Disney) | UR-syoo-lah | A real name wearing tentacles; the contrast is the fun |
| Jafar | “Stream, rivulet” (Arabic) — the scheming vizier | Arabic (via Disney) | jah-FAR | A real Arabic name; the villain link is pure Disney |
| Morticia | From “mortician” (invented) — the Addams matriarch | English (invented) | mor-TISH-ah | Death-beautiful; the goth mom archetype |
| Bathory | Hungarian surname — Elizabeth Báthory, the “Blood Countess” | Hungarian | BAH-tor-ee | True-crime aristocracy; darkly glamorous |
| Crowley | “Crow clearing” (English surname) — via occultist Aleister Crowley | English | KROW-lee | Occult-chic; the surname does all the work |
| Jekyll | Scottish/English surname — the divided doctor | English literary | JEK-il | Respectable on the surface; everyone knows the secret |
| Umbra | “Shadow” (Latin) — word name | Latin word name | UM-brah | Softer than Onyx, just as dark |
| Midnight | The darkest hour — English word name | English word name | MID-nyte | Maximum drama; a middle-name marvel |
| Obsidian | The black volcanic glass — English word name | English word name | ob-SID-ee-an | Sharp, black, and geological; very now |
| Eclipse | The darkening of sun or moon — English word name | English word name | ee-KLIPS | Celestial goth; dramatic but pronounceable |
| Thorn | The sharp point — English word name | English word name | THORN | Briar-patch menace; short and wearable |
| Corvus | “Raven” (Latin) — word name | Latin word name | KOR-vus | The raven in Latin; scholarly-dark |
Traditional and Mythological Devil Names
| Name | Meaning | Origin | Pronunciation | Parent Tip |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Hades | “The unseen one” (Greek) — ruler of the underworld, not evil per se | Greek | HAY-deez | A god, not a devil; use with mythological respect |
| Erebus | Primordial darkness, son of Chaos | Greek | ER-e-bus | Cosmic-scale darkness; magnificent for fiction |
| Fenrir | The monstrous bound wolf of Norse myth | Norse | FEN-reer | Apocalyptic power; a bold middle-name candidate |
| Moloch | Uncertain — Canaanite deity linked in the Bible to child sacrifice | Canaanite/Hebrew Bible | MOH-lok | Heavy and disturbing; fiction-only for most people |
| Tiamat | The Mesopotamian chaos-dragon goddess of salt water | Babylonian | tee-ah-MAHT | A primordial goddess — research her with respect, not as a cartoon villain |
| Ravana | “Roaring” (Sanskrit) — the demon king of the Ramayana | Sanskrit/Hindu epic | rah-VAH-nah | Sacred epic figure; revered in some traditions — never casual |
| Mammon | “Wealth” (Aramaic) — personified greed-demon in later tradition | Aramaic | MAM-on | The love-of-money devil; striking and unusual |
| Persephone | Uncertain, possibly “bringer of death” (Greek) — queen of the underworld | Greek | per-SEF-oh-nee | A goddess, not a villain; use with mythic respect |
| Hecate | Uncertain, possibly “far-shooter” — goddess of witchcraft and crossroads | Greek | HEK-ah-tee | The witch-goddess; powerful and increasingly used |
| Thanatos | “Death” (Greek) — death personified, gentle unlike his reputation | Greek | THAN-ah-tos | The quiet one; philosophical darkness |
| Charon | Uncertain — the ferryman of the dead | Greek | KAIR-on | The toll-taker of souls; grim and iconic |
| Pluto | “Rich one” (Greek/Latin) — Roman ruler of the underworld | Greco-Roman | PLOO-toh | A god’s name with a cartoon-dog collision in English |
| Cerberus | Uncertain — the three-headed hound of the underworld | Greek | SUR-ber-us | The guard dog of hell; magnificent for fiction |
| Tartarus | The abyssal prison of the Titans | Greek | TAR-tar-us | Hell before hell had a name; cosmic-scale |
| Acheron | “River of woe” (Greek) — river of the underworld | Greek | AK-er-on | Sorrow you can pronounce; literary and deep |
| Lethe | “Forgetfulness” (Greek) — the river of oblivion | Greek | LEE-thee | Beautiful and melancholic; a poet’s name |
| Typhon | Uncertain, possibly “smoke” — the monstrous father of monsters | Greek | TY-fon | The storm-giant; father of Cerberus and the Hydra |
| Echidna | “Viper” (Greek) — the mother of monsters | Greek | e-KID-nah | Half woman, half serpent; primordial menace |
| Medusa | “Guardian, protectress” (Greek) — ironically, the snake-haired Gorgon | Greek | me-DOO-sah | The irony is the point; now a feminist symbol too |
| Scylla | Uncertain — the many-headed sea monster | Greek | SIL-ah | The rock to Charybdis’s hard place; fierce and female |
| Circe | “Bird” (Greek) — the sorceress of Aeaea | Greek | SUR-see | Enchantress, not demoness; literary and lovely |
| Medea | “Cunning, wise” (Greek) — the sorceress of Colchis | Greek | me-DEE-ah | Brilliant and terrifying; know the whole myth |
| Eris | “Strife” (Greek) — the goddess of discord | Greek | AIR-is | Chaos in four letters; note the “heiress” sound |
| Nemesis | “Retribution” (Greek) — divine vengeance personified | Greek | NEM-e-sis | Justice with teeth; formidable and feminine |
| Zagreus | “Great hunter” (Greek) — the dismembered underworld god | Greek | zah-GREE-us | The original dying-and-rising god; deep-cut myth |
| Nergal | Uncertain — Mesopotamian god of the underworld and plague | Mesopotamian | NER-gal | Ancient Near Eastern dread; virtually unused |
| Ereshkigal | “Queen of the great below” (Sumerian) — queen of the underworld | Sumerian | eh-resh-kee-GAHL | Four thousand years old and still formidable |
| Apophis | Greek form of Apep — the chaos serpent of Egyptian myth | Egyptian | ah-POH-fis | The enemy of the sun itself; cosmic villainy |
| Krampus | Uncertain, possibly “claw” — the horned punisher of Alpine folklore | Germanic folklore | KRAMP-us | Christmas’s dark twin; folkloric, not satanic |
| Grendel | Uncertain — the monster of Beowulf | Old English | GREN-del | The original English monster; literary and guttural |
Devil Names for Boys, Girls, and Everyone
Devil names split interestingly across gender lines, with deep benches for boys and girls alike. Here is how the best names that mean devil break down, plus the unisex options that work for anyone.
Boy Names That Mean Devil
The masculine side of this list is the deepest: Lucifer, Damien, Samael, Azazel, Belial, Asmodeus, Ahriman, Set, Loki, Erebus, Fenrir, Mammon, and Mephistopheles give writers an entire underworld of options. For real-world use, Damien and Loki are the proven survivors — both rank as legitimate given names with the darkness as a whisper rather than a shout. Sam (from Samael) and Lucius offer plausible deniability, reading as classic names to anyone who does not know the lore.
Girl Names That Mean Devil
Feminine devil names lean mythological and literary: Lilith is the queen of the category, joined by Mara, Abyzou, Naamah, Lamia (the Greek child-eating demoness — use with care), Carmilla, Morwen, Belladonna, Raven, and Wednesday. Lilith has genuinely crossed into mainstream use, embraced as a symbol of female independence as much as a demoness. Raven and Onyx work beautifully as modern unisex-leaning picks, while Lil and Salem keep things short and wearable.
Unisex and Gender-Neutral Devil Names
Darkness does not check gender, and several of these names cross the line freely: Raven, Onyx, Salem, Mara (used for boys in some cultures), Az, Sam, and Bel all work for any child. Writers especially love this flexibility — a gender-neutral demon name like Onyx or Salem lets the character, not the name, do the talking. For parents, unisex dark names tend to age better than hyper-gendered ones, since the edge comes from the meaning rather than masculine or feminine coding.
How to Choose Among Names That Mean Devil
Loving a list of names that mean devil is the easy part; choosing one responsibly takes a little more thought. These five checks will keep you honest, respectful, and — if it is a real child — practical.
Match the Darkness to the Purpose
A D&D villain and a newborn have very different naming needs. Writers can go full Mephistopheles; parents should probably stop at Damien or Raven. Ask yourself who will carry this name every day, in classrooms and job interviews, and calibrate the intensity accordingly.
Check Whether the Meaning Is Literal or Borrowed
As this guide keeps stressing, most devil names are devilish by association. Lucifer means “light-bringer.” Damien means “to tame.” Salem means “peace.” There is nothing wrong with association-based names — most name meanings work this way — but you should know the truth before someone at a dinner party corrects you.
Respect Living Religions
This is the big one. Iblis and Shaitan are the Islamic devil — using them casually would deeply offend Muslims. Kali is a revered Hindu goddess, not a demoness, despite her fearsome iconography. Ravana is honored in some Hindu and Buddhist traditions. Set and Anubis matter to modern Kemetic practitioners. Stick to figures from dead mythologies or open folklore when in doubt, and always research before borrowing from a living faith.
Test the Playground and the Resume
Say the full name out loud. Imagine it called across a playground, printed on a diploma, and read by a hiring manager. Damien passes this test; Mephistopheles does not. If you love an extreme name, consider it as a middle name — Azazel as a middle name is a secret thrill rather than a daily burden.
Mind Pronunciation and Spelling
Names like Ahriman, Abyzou, and Erebus will be mispronounced constantly. That is fine for a novel — it is exhausting for a child. If wearability matters, favor names people can say on first sight: Lilith, Raven, Onyx, Loki, Salem, and Damien all clear this bar easily.
Devil Name Pairings
First-and-middle combinations let you balance darkness with wearability — a fierce first name softened by a classic middle, or a safe first name electrified by a hidden-dark middle:
- Lilith Rose — the demoness queen meets timeless floral softness
- Damien Cole — established first name, crisp modern middle
- Raven Elise — dark bird soaring over French elegance
- Lucifer James — maximum drama anchored by the ultimate classic
- Mara Quinn — Sanskrit death-demon with Irish punch
- Onyx Alexander — black gemstone with imperial balance
- Salem Grace — witch-trial edge meets pure virtue
- Loki Bennett — trickster god with surname-style polish
- Azazel Rhys — biblical darkness with Welsh cool
- Belladonna Mae — deadly nightshade with down-home sweetness
For siblings, keep the theme consistent but not cartoonish: Lilith and Raven work as sisters; Damien and Lucius as brothers; Onyx, Salem, and Wren as a gothic trio. Avoid giving every child a maximum-intensity devil name — one dramatic name per family is a statement; four is a theme park.
Mistakes to Avoid With Devil Names
- Assuming Lucifer literally means “devil.” It means “light-bringer” — the irony is delicious, but get the etymology right.
- Using sacred figures casually. Kali, Iblis, Ravana, and Set belong to living religions. Borrowing them as edgy baby names is disrespectful, full stop.
- Forgetting Damien is a movie reference. The name is ancient and legitimate, but many people will think of The Omen first. Make peace with that.
- Thinking Salem means something evil. It means “peace” in Hebrew — its darkness comes entirely from the 1692 witch trials.
- Choosing unpronounceable grimoire names for real children. Asmodeus and Mephistopheles are magnificent on the page and miserable on a roll call.
Frequently Asked Questions About Names That Mean Devil
These are the questions readers ask most about names that mean devil, from literal meanings to cultural respect. Short, straight answers below.
What names literally mean “devil”?
Almost none. Shaitan (Arabic) and Iblis (Islamic tradition) are the closest to literal devil names, but both belong to a living religion and are not used as given names. Everything else on this list means something adjacent — darkness, night, a demon’s name, or a figure associated with evil — rather than the word “devil” itself.
Is Lucifer actually used as a baby name?
Rarely, but yes — a small number of parents choose it each year, and it is legal in most countries (New Zealand notably banned it). Most Lucifers in the wild are fictional characters. Expect strong reactions and a lifetime of explanations.
What are the best girl names that mean devil?
Lilith leads by a wide margin — ancient, storied, and increasingly mainstream. Mara, Raven, Belladonna, Carmilla, and Salem are strong alternatives, while Abyzou and Naamah suit writers wanting genuine obscurity.
Can I use Ars Goetia demon names like Asmodeus or Paimon?
For fiction, absolutely — that is what they are best for. As legal given names they are essentially unused and would raise eyebrows everywhere. Paimon got a pop-culture boost from Hereditary (2018), which only makes it less usable, not more.
What does Lilith mean, exactly?
Her etymology is genuinely disputed. She may derive from Sumerian lilitu (a class of night spirits) or relate to the Hebrew laylah (night). In the Alphabet of Ben Sira, she is Adam’s rebellious first wife; in Kabbalah, a queen of demons; in modern feminism, an icon of independence. All of these layers are real parts of her story.
Is it disrespectful to name a child after a dark god?
It depends entirely on the god. Figures from long-dead mythologies (Hades, Erebus, Fenrir) are generally fair game. Figures from living religions (Kali, Iblis, Set for Kemetic practitioners, Ravana in honoring traditions) demand respect — and usually, restraint.
What are subtle devil names that are not obvious?
Sam (from Samael), Lucius, Raven, Onyx, Salem, and Damien all pass as normal names while carrying dark second meanings. They are the “secret goth” options — edge without announcement.
Do any cultures consider devil-linked names lucky?
Interestingly, yes. In some traditions, frightening names were given to children to ward off evil spirits — the logic being that demons would not bother a child already marked by darkness. Similar apotropaic naming exists across Balkan, West African, and East Asian cultures, though rarely with literally diabolical names.
Final Thoughts on Names That Mean Devil
Names that mean devil occupy a strange and fascinating corner of the naming world — part ancient scripture, part mythology, part horror movie. The best approach is an informed one: know which names are literally dark (Azazel, Belial, Mara), which are dark by association (Damien, Salem, Lucifer), and which are sacred to living faiths and best admired from a distance (Kali, Iblis, Ravana). Whether you are naming a villain who will live for three hundred pages or a child who will live for eighty years, choose with both eyes open. For more walks on the dark side, explore our dark names collection, our mythical names for gods and monsters, and names by meaning to browse every theme from angels to shadows.
