Interesting & Unique Names Related to Death & Morality

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Find a dark & mysterious last name for yourself or a character

Co-authored by Dev Murphy, MA

Last Updated: January 21, 2026 Fact Checked

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Unique

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Rare

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Mysterious

Looking for a surname with a gothic aura? Or maybe just a last name that's grimly poetic? We've got you covered! We've compiled a list of last names that mean death (or that carry meanings related to death, darkness, and mortality), so whether you're in need of a surname for yourself or a fictional character (especially if they're a vampire), you're in the right place. Keep reading for the most interesting and morbid death-related last names and their meanings.

Death-Related Last Names

Mortimer: (French) "dead sea"
Deville: (French) "of the town," often linked to the devil
Mara: (Slavic) "death" or "nightmare"
Kuro: (Japanese) "black"
Todesco: (Italian) "deathly"

Section 1 of 4:

Unique Last Names Associated with Death

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Surnames like "Grimm" and "Deville" aren't unheard of, but they're super unique, and automatically associated with darkness, death, and despair. Keep reading for more one-of-a-kind last names that evoke death and mortality:
- Morton: (English) from "mor" (moor) and "tun" (settlement), also associated with "mort," meaning "death"
- Mortimer: (French) "dead sea"
- Deville: (French) "of the town," often linked to the devil
- Grimm: (German) "fierce," "grim"
- Mara: (Slavic) "death" or "nightmare"
- Drake: (English) "dragon"
- Thorne: (English) "thorn bush"; thorn bushes were often associated with death, mortality, and darkness
- D’Arcy: (French) associated with nobility as well as death and mortality
- Caligo: (Latin) "dark mist"
- Mortensen: (Scandinavian) "son of Mort" ("Mort" meaning "death")
- Todesco: (Italian) "deathly"
- Raven: (English) allusion to the bird, which is associated with mortality, death, and omens
- Graves: (English) inspired by burial sites
- Duskwood: (English) reference to dark woods
- Sable: (English, French) "black"
- Dolion: (Origin unknown) associated with darkness and mystery
- Mortayne: (French) associated with mortality
- Crowell: (English) associated with crows
- Nerezza: (Italian) "darkness"
- Morano: (Italian) associated with mortality
- Obscura: (Latin) "hidden" or "dark"
- Bourreau: (French) an executioner or torturer
- Hepburn: (English, Scottish) "high burial mound"
- Kellogg: (English) "pig butcher"
- Liu: (Chinese) "kill, destroy"
- Sexton: (English) a caretaker for a church or graveyard
- Tornincasa: (Italian) a name given to a child born following the death of a previous one, stemming from Italian ritorna in casa, or "come back home"

Section 2 of 4:

Rare Last Names Associated with Death

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We bet you haven't ever met someone with the last name "Hades" or "Reaper." If you want another surname that's both dark and spooky and totally original, keep reading this list:
- Mortaine: (French) associated with mortality
- Lazar: (Hebrew) from "Lazarus," associated with death and resurrection
- Shade: (English) "shadow"
- Danvers: (French) "of Antwerp"; Danvers is the name of a Salem town following the Salem witch trials
- Darkwater: (English) "murky"
- Darnell: (English, French) "shadowed"
- Grayson: (English) "son of the grey-haired one"
- Lockwood: (English) means "enclosed forest"
- Knox: (Scottish, English) "round hill"
- Lilith: (Hebrew) "night monster"
- Morgana: (Gaelic) "sea-born"
- Morana: (Slavic) mythological name associated with the goddess of death and winter
- Crowe: (English) inspired by the bird, a symbol of death and omens
- Hades: (Greek) associated with the mythological ruler of the underworld
- Harker: (English) means "shepherd"
- DeMort: (French) "of death"
- Noir: (French) "black"
- D’Artois: (French) associated with nobility, as well as death
- Morven: (Scottish) "dark peak"
- DeLacroix: (French) "of the cross"
- Thanis: (Greek) associated with death and destiny
- Mordane: (English, French) "deadly"
- Morier: (French) associated with mortality
- Grimoire: (French) a mystical book of magic and spells
- Reaper: (English) associated with the Grim Reaper, the harvester of souls
- Mortel: (French) "mortal"
- Kuro: (Japanese) "black"^{[1]
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- Darque: (French, English) "dark"
- Mortara: (Italian) "of the dead"
- Want more creepy and unsettling last names? Check out "160+ Creepy Surnames to Give You Chills."

Section 3 of 4:

Dark Last Names Associated with Death

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Surnames like "Ebonvale" or "Nocturne" evoke nothing but gothic dread and gloominess. Consider these other last names inspired by darkness and the dead of night:
- Morgrin: (Unknown origins) associated with power and death
- Ebonvale: (English) "black valley"
- Vesper: (Latin) "evening star"
- Nocturne: (French) an evening lullaby, associated with night and darkness
- DeMortain: (French) "of death"
- Darion: (Greek) associated with darkness
- Shadebourne: (English) "shadowy stream"
- Ravenhurst: (English) associated with ravens and darkness
- Morgrave: (English) "dark grave"
- Tarnis: (Unknown origins) associated with darkness and shadows
- Mortane: (French, English) associated with death and mortality
- Dreaden: (English) associated with dread and darkness
- Torrin: (Celtic) associated with dark hills and endings
- Morvenne: (Scottish, French) associated with darkness and mortality
- Ebonshire: (English) "black land"
- Shadewell: (English) "shadowed spring"
- Whitmore: (English) means "white moor"
- Mortell: (French) "mortal"
- Vesperin: (Latin) "of evening"
- Tenebrae: (Latin) "darkness"
- Mordrake: (English, French) associated with fate and darkness
- Grimmond: (German) "grim protector"
- Grimshaw: (English) "dark wood"
- Velasco: (Spanish) associated with mystery and darkness

Section 4 of 4:

Mysterious Last Names Associated with Death

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These surnames are gloomy and evocative of a foggy wood by a cemetery. You can't name a fictional character "Blackwell" or "Crowbane" and not have them be some sort of vampire, Byronic hero, or other dark and gloomy figure. Check out these other mysterious surnames associated with death, darkness, and mortality:
- Blackwell: (English) "dark spring"
- Mortelini: (Italian) "little mortal"
- Nightbane: (English) "bane of night"
- Ebonheart: (English) "black-hearted"
- Morthal: (English, Scottish) "dead valley"
- Mortayne: (French) associated with mortality
- Daegon: (Hebrew) "shadow"
- Darkmore: (English) "shadowy moor"
- Garnet: (Latin) "dark red gem"
- Kerrigan: (Gaelic) dark and dusky
- Mortensen: (English) "son of death"
- Nightfall: (English) "evening darkness"
- Deathrider: (English) "bringer of death"
- Eldritch: (Scottish, English) "otherworldly"
- Ravencroft: (English) "raven’s field"
- Shadowmere: (English) "shadowy lake"
- Tombstone: (English) "grave marker"
- Ravenor: (English) associated with ravens
- Kurobane: (Japanese) "black wing"
- Grimwood: (English) "dark wood"
- Need a first name to pair with your creepy surname? Check out "90 Best Creepy & Scary Names for Characters."