Interesting Names That Mean Shadow – 91 Ideas For Boys and Girls

Most parents nowadays like to give their newborns a name with a profound meaning. However, looking for such a unique name can very well end up in hours of research with very little to show for it. 

To simplify things for you here is another Nerdy Name Guide where I’ve handpicked names that mean ‘shadow’. All these names come from a plethora of languages and have interesting meanings to them.

Not only do they make great names for your little one, but you can also use them as pet names, online aliases, characters in your story or even an in-game name!

Boy Names That Mean Shadow 

Amalu 

In Tamazight, which is an ancient Afroasiatic language spoken in Algeria, the name Amalu means ‘shadow’.

Betsalel

This name has a certain mysterious ring to it, and its meaning is no different. In Hebrew, Betsalel means ‘in the shadows’. The Anglicized form of this name, Bezalel, also has Biblical affiliations with it being the name of the chief architect of the Tabernacle as well as the Ark of the Covenant. 

Blagdan

Another enigmatic addition to this list is the moniker Blagdan. This English name holds the meaning ‘from the dark valley’, which is rather curious and unique. 

Erebus

For all the Greek myths fanatics, this name has irresistible appeal. The name Erebus stems from the Greek word Erebos, which means ‘nether darkness/ shadow’. In Greek mythology, Erebus was the human manifestation of the eternal darkness. 

Hiei

This four-letter moniker is a combination of two Japanese words and has a rather interesting meaning. Hi means ‘jump’ whereas ei means ‘darkness’ or ‘shadow’. Together, they carry the meaning – the flying shadow.  

Itzal

In the Euskadi region of Spain, this Basque name means ‘shadow, protection’. The name is also perceived as that of a protective figure in an individual’s life. 

Kage

Kage, pronounced ‘kah-ge’ may look like a simple name, but holds a mysterious meaning. The name Kage refers to ‘shadow’ or ‘the other side’, and is very popular in Japanese communities.  

Molimo

You may encounter the name Molimo in the tribal establishments of northern California. In the language of the Miwok tribes residing there, Molimo means ‘taking a walk in the shadow’.

Paolo

The name Paolo, going by Samoan culture, signifies ‘shadow’. However, this name is more common in Italian society, with Paolo meaning ‘humble’. Either way, it is a wonderful name for a boy. [Source]

Senka

In the neighboring countries of Serbia and Croatia where different dialects of the same language are spoken, Senka means ‘shadow’.

Related post: Names that mean No Name

Siwan

In the local language of Kurdistan, the name Siwan means ‘the giver of shade’ or a ‘canopy’. 

Yoshikage

Like many Japanese names, Yoshikage is open to many interpretations. One of these interpretations is ‘graceful shadow’.

Zelophehad

This rather unique name comes from Hebrew. The name Zelophehad means ‘shadow from terror’ or ‘the shadow to be feared’. This name is very bold and has a strong sound. 

Girl Names That Mean Shadow

Chhaya

In Indian mythology, Chhaya is the goddess of darkness and shadows. The name has the same meaning in the primeval language of Sanskrit. 

Dolwethil

J.R.R. Tolkien has also bestowed fantastic names upon us Tolkienites. In the fictional language of Sindarin, also known as the Elven-Tongue, Dolwethil, means the ‘dark shadow’. It is a conjunction of two Sindarin words, doll (meaning: dark, misty) and gwath (meaning: shadow).  (related post- LOTR names)

Eimi

The Japanese name Eimi has a lot of meanings, one of them being ‘ a beautiful shadow’. Other possible meanings include ‘ocean’, ‘sparkle or shining’ and ‘reflection’. 

Hazelelponi

The name Hazelelponi is definitely one-in-a-million and has a very wholesome meaning in Ancient Hebrew. It carries the meaning ‘shade coming upon me’. 

Humbelina

This name is mostly used in Polish societies, with its roots in the Latin word umbria which means shadow. The addition of a feminine sounding ‘-ina’ suffix changes its meaning to ‘the shadow that protects’. 

Ombra

In Italian, Ombra means ‘shadow’ derived from the Latin word umbria. It also may be a distant variant of the English names Amber and Ember. 

Ombretta

This is a variant of the Italian name Ombra, meaning ‘shade/shadow’. The addition of the suffix also changes the meaning to ‘the little shadow/ the little silhouette’ in some dialects

Saaya

In the Indian language Hindi, Saaya is a direct reference to a shadow. This name is also used in Japan, with a different meaning. In Japanese, the meaning of this name becomes ‘sand’. 

Sayagul

The name Sayagul borrows from two languages to mean ‘the shadowy flower’. It is derived from the word saye (shadow) in Persian and gul (flower) in Kazakh.  

Sayeh

Sayeh is a common Persian feminine name that means ‘shadow’.

Shyama

This name holds auspicious meaning in Indian cultures. In Sanskrit, it means ‘dark, dusky’ as well as ‘shade or shadow’. The name also carries the meaning ‘evening’ in Hindi. Shyama is also a Jain Goddess.

Tsillah 

Tsillah hails from the land of the Pharaohs – Egypt. In Ancient Egyptian, it means ‘shadow’. 

Umbria

Umbria is an under-utilized Italian name for girls. It is also the central region of Italy. However, it is also a Latin word that means ‘shadow’. 

Varjo 

Varjo is a very rare name with Finnish roots. It means ‘shadow’. 

Zhansaya

This Kazakh name sounds grand and is very heart-warming in its meaning. It comprises two Kazakh Arabic words, zhan (soul) and saya (shade, comfort), which roughly translates to ‘a comforting shade’. Jansaya is another accepted form of this name. 

Gender Neutral Names That Mean Shadow

Goni

Goni is a unisex name that comes from Hebrew, which means shade or shadow. The name also has a secondary meaning, which is shade (as in of a color).

Kumori

Japanese names are known to be complicated and open to multiple interpretations, but Kumori is an exception. In Kanji Japanese, this gender-neutral name means ‘shadow’.

Poemu

As is apparent, this Japanese name is quite poetic. Although this name can have several different meanings, one of them is ‘a shadow or silhouette that protects’. 

Shade

This name may be an obvious addition to this list, but interestingly, spawns from the Middle English word Schade which means ‘a shadow or a phantom’. 

More Names That Mean Shadow

Still in the dark, looking for names that mean shadow? Here are more ideas for you! 

Related post: Names that mean alone, solitary, or lost

What Is A Name That Means Darkness?

• Colby
• Dougal
• Dunstan
• Itzal
• Krishna
• Krishna
• Melania
• Melanie
• Morena
• Moreno
• Rajani
• Scathach
• Shyamal

Related post: Here are other dark-sounding names you might enjoy.

Names Like Shadow

• Bleak
• Clouded
• Dark
• Darkness
• Dim
• Dull
• Dusk
• Eclipse
• Gloom
• Hazy
• Murky
• Mystery
• Mystique
• Obscure
• Penumbra
• Screened
• Shade
• Twilight
• Umbra
• Veiled

You might also enjoy: Names that mean Forgotten

Names That Mean Shadow In Japanese

• Eimi
• Harikage
• Hiei
• Ieni
• Kageki
• Kumori
• Poemu
• Yoshikage

Last Names That Mean Shadow

• Colby
• Dougal
• Duff

Usernames With Shadow In Them

• Shadowfax
• Shadowwolf
• Shadow-veil
• Overshadow
• In-the-shadows
• EyeShadow
• Shadow-Dance
• 5_o_clock_shadow
• Shadow of Death
• EarthsShadow
• DropShadow
• ValleyofShadow
• Shadow_of_a_doubt
• ShadowChateau
• Pseudo_Shadow

Related post: Names that Mean Wolf

Wrap up- Names That Mean Shadow

We hope you’ve enjoyed staying out of the sun and unearthing these cool names that mean shadow!