Ever wondered how to give your child a name with a touch of mystery and depth? Names with shadow meanings offer a perfect blend of uniqueness and symbolic power.
This collection of several names spans boys’, girls’, and gender-neutral options, drawing from cultures and languages around the world.
Perfect for parents seeking names with deeper meaning, mythology enthusiasts, or anyone looking for something distinctive for their baby. These names range from subtle nods to shadow themes to more direct references.
Browse by gender or origin – either way; you’ll find names with rich histories and beautiful sounds that stand out from common choices.
Ready to find a shadow-inspired name for your little one? Let’s begin!
What is the Cultural Relevance of Shadow-Inspired Names?
Shadow-inspired names have deep meanings in many cultures, often representing mystery, protection, or even change.
In ancient myths, shadows were sometimes seen as symbols of the unknown or the unseen, adding an air of magic or power.
For example, in Greek mythology, the underworld was associated with shadows, and many names related to darkness or shadows reflected power and mystery.
In other cultures, shadows are connected with spiritual meanings. For some, they represent a protective force, watching over someone or something from the unseen world.
In some African traditions, shadows were thought to carry the spirit of a person, offering them guidance and strength.
In modern times, these names continue to hold value, with people drawn to them because they sound strong and evoke images of mystery.
Boys’ Names that Mean Shadow
1. Achilles
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Pronunciation: uh-KIL-eez
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Origin: Greek
2. Alastair
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Pronunciation: AL-uh-stair
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Origin: Scottish
3. Aziel
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Pronunciation: AH-zee-el
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Origin: Hebrew
4. Dimitri
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Pronunciation: dih-MEE-tree
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Origin: Russian
5. Duscha
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Pronunciation: DOO-sha
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Origin: Slavic
6. Dorian
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Pronunciation: DOH-ree-an
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Origin: Greek
7. Gideon
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Pronunciation: GID-ee-un
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Origin: Hebrew
8. Gloom
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Pronunciation: GLOOM
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Origin: English
9. Grim
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Pronunciation: GRIM
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Origin: English
10. Jarek
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Pronunciation: YAR-ek
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Origin: Slavic
11. Mikhail
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Pronunciation: mih-KHAIL
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Origin: Russian
12. Morwenna
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Pronunciation: mor-WEN-ah
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Origin: Welsh
13. Shade
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Pronunciation: SHAYD
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Origin: English
14. Rael
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Pronunciation: RAY-el
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Origin: Hebrew
15. Raven
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Pronunciation: RAY-ven
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Origin: English
16. Marduk
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Pronunciation: MAR-dook
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Origin: Babylonian
17. Nyx
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Pronunciation: NIKS
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Origin: Greek
18. Dante
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Pronunciation: DAHN-teh
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Origin: Italian
19. Onyx
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Pronunciation: OH-niks
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Origin: Greek
20. Oberon
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Pronunciation: OH-ber-on
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Origin: Shakespearean
21. Sable
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Pronunciation: SAY-bul
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Origin: English
22. Vesper
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Pronunciation: VES-per
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Origin: Latin
23. Orpheus
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Pronunciation: OR-fee-us
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Origin: Greek
24. Erebos
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Pronunciation: ER-eh-bos
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Origin: Greek
25. Phantom
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Pronunciation: FAN-tum
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Origin: Greek
26. Noctis
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Pronunciation: NOK-tis
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Origin: Latin
27. Ciaran
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Pronunciation: KEE-uh-ran
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Origin: Irish
28. Hades
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Pronunciation: HAY-deez
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Origin: Greek
29. Mordecai
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Pronunciation: MOR-deh-kai
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Origin: Hebrew
30. Nox
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Pronunciation: NOKS
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Origin: Latin
31. Ember
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Pronunciation: EM-bur
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Origin: English
32. Vega
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Pronunciation: VAY-guh
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Origin: Arabic
33. Acheron
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Pronunciation: AK-er-on
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Origin: Greek
34. Zephyr
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Pronunciation: ZEF-er
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Origin: Greek
35. Sterling
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Pronunciation: STUR-ling
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Origin: English
36. Uriah
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Pronunciation: yoo-RYE-uh
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Origin: Hebrew
37. Draven
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Pronunciation: DRAY-vuhn
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Origin: American
38. Thornton
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Pronunciation: THORN-ton
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Origin: English
39. Loki
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Pronunciation: LOH-kee
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Origin: Norse
40. Kane
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Pronunciation: KAYN
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Origin: Hebrew
41. Malachi
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Pronunciation: MAL-uh-kai
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Origin: Hebrew
42. Farris
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Pronunciation: FAIR-is
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Origin: English
43. Zane
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Pronunciation: ZAYN
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Origin: Hebrew
44. Zakir
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Pronunciation: ZAH-keer
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Origin: Arabic
45. Grayson
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Pronunciation: GRAY-suhn
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Origin: English
46. Ryder
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Pronunciation: RY-der
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Origin: English
47. Kieron
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Pronunciation: KEE-uh-ron
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Origin: Irish
48. Valerian
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Pronunciation: vah-LEER-ee-uhn
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Origin: Latin
49. Garrick
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Pronunciation: GAIR-ick
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Origin: German
50. Soren
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Pronunciation: SAWR-en
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Origin: Danish
51. Azrael
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Pronunciation: AZ-ray-el
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Origin: Hebrew
52. Balthazar
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Pronunciation: BAL-thuh-zar
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Origin: Babylonian
53. Briar
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Pronunciation: BRY-er
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Origin: English
54. Blake
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Pronunciation: BLAKE
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Origin: English
55. Caden
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Pronunciation: KAY-den
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Origin: Welsh
56. Corbin
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Pronunciation: KOR-bin
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Origin: Latin
57. Erebus
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Pronunciation: ER-eh-bus
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Origin: Greek
58. Faelan
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Pronunciation: FAY-lan
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Origin: Irish
59. Lysander
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Pronunciation: lie-SAN-der
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Origin: Greek
60. Lucius
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Pronunciation: LOO-shus
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Origin: Latin
61. Orion
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Pronunciation: oh-RYE-un
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Origin: Greek
62. Peregrine
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Pronunciation: PER-uh-grin
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Origin: Latin
63. Ronan
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Pronunciation: ROH-nan
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Origin: Irish
64. Salem
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Pronunciation: SAY-lum
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Origin: Hebrew
65. Styx
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Pronunciation: STIKS
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Origin: Greek
66. Talon
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Pronunciation: TAL-un
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Origin: French
67. Vaughn
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Pronunciation: VAWN
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Origin: Welsh
68. Voltaire
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Pronunciation: vol-TAIR
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Origin: French
69. Ziv
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Pronunciation: ZEEV
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Origin: Hebrew
70. Galen
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Pronunciation: GAY-len
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Origin: Greek
71. Wyatt
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Pronunciation: WYE-ut
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Origin: English
72. Xander
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Pronunciation: ZAN-der
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Origin: Greek
73. Vance
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Pronunciation: VANTS
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Origin: English
74. Juno
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Pronunciation: JOO-noh
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Origin: Latin
Girls Names that Mean Shadow
75. Selene
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Pronunciation: seh-LEEN
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Origin: Greek
76. Umbra
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Pronunciation: UHM-brah
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Origin: Latin
77. Leila
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Pronunciation: LAY-lah
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Origin: Arabic
78. Chandra
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Pronunciation: CHAN-drah
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Origin: Sanskrit
79. Luna
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Pronunciation: LOO-nah
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Origin: Latin
80. Ravenna
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Pronunciation: rah-VEN-nah
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Origin: Italian
81. Mira
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Pronunciation: MEE-rah
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Origin: Latin
82. Eira
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Pronunciation: AY-rah
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Origin: Welsh
83. Sombra
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Pronunciation: SOM-brah
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Origin: Spanish
84. Vespera
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Pronunciation: VES-per-uh
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Origin: Latin
85. Ayla
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Pronunciation: AY-lah
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Origin: Hebrew
86. Zara
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Pronunciation: ZAH-rah
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Origin: Arabic
87. Liora
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Pronunciation: LEE-or-ah
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Origin: Hebrew
88. Seraphina
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Pronunciation: ser-ah-FEE-nah
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Origin: Hebrew
89. Zephyrine
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Pronunciation: ZEF-er-een
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Origin: Greek
90. Rhea
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Pronunciation: REE-ah
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Origin: Greek
91. Daphne
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Pronunciation: DAF-nee
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Origin: Greek
92. Lira
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Pronunciation: LEE-rah
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Origin: Latin
93. Cassiopeia
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Pronunciation: kass-ee-oh-PEE-ah
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Origin: Greek
94. Nisha
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Pronunciation: NEE-shah
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Origin: Sanskrit
95. Asha
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Pronunciation: AH-shah
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Origin: Sanskrit
96. Talia
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Pronunciation: TAL-ee-ah
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Origin: Hebrew
97. Maia
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Pronunciation: MY-ah
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Origin: Greek
98. Fiora
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Pronunciation: FEE-oh-rah
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Origin: Italian
99. Elara
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Pronunciation: eh-LAH-rah
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Origin: Greek
100. Calypso
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Pronunciation: kuh-LIP-soh
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Origin: Greek
101. Eos
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Pronunciation: EE-ohs
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Origin: Greek
102. Kiera
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Pronunciation: KEE-er-ah
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Origin: Irish
103. Isha
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Pronunciation: EE-shah
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Origin: Sanskrit
104. Calista
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Pronunciation: kah-LISS-tah
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Origin: Greek
105. Alecto
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Pronunciation: uh-LEK-toh
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Origin: Greek
106. Thalia
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Pronunciation: THAL-ee-ah
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Origin: Greek
107. Nocturna
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Pronunciation: nok-TER-nah
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Origin: Latin
108. Zora
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Pronunciation: ZOR-ah
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Origin: Slavic
109. Elysia
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Pronunciation: eh-LEE-see-ah
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Origin: Greek
110. Morgana
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Pronunciation: mor-GAH-nah
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Origin: Welsh
111. Shadia
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Pronunciation: SHA-dee-ah
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Origin: Arabic
112. Ravena
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Pronunciation: rah-VEE-nah
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Origin: Latin
113. Lily
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Pronunciation: LIL-ee
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Origin: English
114. Velia
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Pronunciation: VEH-lee-ah
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Origin: Italian
115. Celeste
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Pronunciation: seh-LEST
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Origin: Latin
116. Elvira
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Pronunciation: el-VEE-rah
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Origin: Spanish
117. Tansy
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Pronunciation: TAN-zee
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Origin: English
118. Phoebe
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Pronunciation: FEE-bee
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Origin: Greek
119. Arachne
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Pronunciation: ah-RAK-nee
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Origin: Greek
120. Phaedra
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Pronunciation: FAY-drah
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Origin: Greek
121. Alina
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Pronunciation: AH-lee-nah
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Origin: Slavic
122. Morrigan
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Pronunciation: MOR-ih-guhn
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Origin: Irish
123. Shadow
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Pronunciation: SHAD-oh
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Origin: English
124. Bellatrix
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Pronunciation: BEH-lah-trix
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Origin: Latin
125. Selena
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Pronunciation: seh-LEE-nah
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Origin: Greek
126. Dahlia
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Pronunciation: DAHL-yah
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Origin: Swedish
127. Isla
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Pronunciation: EYE-lah
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Origin: Scottish
128. Lynx
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Pronunciation: LINKS
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Origin: Greek
129. Indira
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Pronunciation: in-DEER-ah
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Origin: Sanskrit
130. Nyssa
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Pronunciation: NISS-ah
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Origin: Greek
131. Ravenelle
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Pronunciation: RAY-ven-ell
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Origin: French
132. Astraea
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Pronunciation: ah-STRAY-ah
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Origin: Greek
133. Ophelia
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Pronunciation: oh-FEE-lee-ah
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Origin: Greek
134. Vela
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Pronunciation: VEH-lah
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Origin: Latin
135. Emberly
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Pronunciation: EM-bur-lee
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Origin: American
136. Astrid
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Pronunciation: AS-trid
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Origin: Scandinavian
Gender-Neutral Names that Mean Shadow
137. Ash
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Pronunciation: ASH
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Origin: English
138. Twilight
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Pronunciation: TWY-light
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Origin: English
139. Echo
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Pronunciation: EK-oh
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Origin: Greek
140. Storm
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Pronunciation: STORM
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Origin: English
141. Phoenix
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Pronunciation: FEE-niks
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Origin: Greek
142. Sol
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Pronunciation: SAWL
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Origin: Latin
143. Rogue
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Pronunciation: ROHG
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Origin: English
144. Cinder
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Pronunciation: SIN-der
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Origin: English
145. Blaise
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Pronunciation: BLAZE
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Origin: French
146. Luxe
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Pronunciation: LUHKS
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Origin: Latin
147. Ghost
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Pronunciation: GHOST
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Origin: English
148. Bane
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Pronunciation: BAYN
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Origin: Old English
149. Ciel
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Pronunciation: SEE-el
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Origin: French
150. Shad
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Pronunciation: SHAD
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Origin: English
151. Ashlyn
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Pronunciation: ASH-lin
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Origin: English
152. Sora
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Pronunciation: SOH-rah
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Origin: Japanese
153. Omri
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Pronunciation: OHM-ree
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Origin: Hebrew
154. Lumen
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Pronunciation: LOO-men
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Origin: Latin
155. Indigo
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Pronunciation: IN-di-goh
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Origin: Greek
156. Winter
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Pronunciation: WIN-ter
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Origin: English
157. Gale
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Pronunciation: GAYL
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Origin: English
158. Dusk
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Pronunciation: DUSK
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Origin: English
159. Lux
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Pronunciation: LUX
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Origin: Latin
160. Frost
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Pronunciation: FROST
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Origin: Old English
161. Dust
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Pronunciation: DUHST
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Origin: English
162. Tempest
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Pronunciation: TEM-pest
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Origin: Latin
163. Blaze
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Pronunciation: BLAYZ
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Origin: English
164. Cloud
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Pronunciation: KLOWD
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Origin: English
165. Rowan
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Pronunciation: ROH-an
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Origin: Gaelic
166. Lark
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Pronunciation: LARK
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Origin: English
167. Ashen
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Pronunciation: ASH-en
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Origin: English
168. Quinn
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Pronunciation: KWIN
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Origin: Irish
169. Rory
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Pronunciation: ROH-ree
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Origin: Irish
170. Flare
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Pronunciation: FLARE
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Origin: English
171. Cove
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Pronunciation: KOHV
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Origin: English
172. Fenix
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Pronunciation: FEN-iks
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Origin: Greek
173. Kai
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Pronunciation: KAI
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Origin: Hawaiian
174. Valen
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Pronunciation: VAY-len
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Origin: Latin
175. Mika
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Pronunciation: MEE-kah
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Origin: Japanese
176. Slate
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Pronunciation: SLATE
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Origin: English
177. Cyrus
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Pronunciation: SIGH-rus
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Origin: Persian
178. Nova
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Pronunciation: NOH-vah
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Origin: Latin
179. Rune
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Pronunciation: ROON
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Origin: Old Norse
180. Ari
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Pronunciation: AH-ree
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Origin: Hebrew
181. Riven
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Pronunciation: RIV-en
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Origin: English
182. Ashby
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Pronunciation: ASH-bee
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Origin: English
183. Ashwin
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Pronunciation: ASH-win
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Origin: Indian
184. Sapphire
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Pronunciation: SAF-ire
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Origin: Greek
185. Fox
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Pronunciation: FOKS
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Origin: English
186. Merle
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Pronunciation: MERL
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Origin: French
187. Nocturne
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Pronunciation: NOK-turn
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Origin: French
188. Solace
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Pronunciation: SAH-liss
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Origin: Latin
189. Lucian
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Pronunciation: LOO-shun
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Origin: Latin
190. Night
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Pronunciation: NITE
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Origin: English
191. Kieran
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Pronunciation: KEER-an
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Origin: Irish
192. Nebula
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Pronunciation: NEB-yoo-lah
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Origin: Latin
193. Elder
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Pronunciation: EL-der
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Origin: English
194. Ashling
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Pronunciation: ASH-ling
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Origin: Irish
195. Stormy
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Pronunciation: STOR-mee
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Origin: English
196. Merlin
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Pronunciation: MER-lin
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Origin: Welsh
197. Fury
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Pronunciation: FYOOR-ee
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Origin: Latin
198. Wraith
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Pronunciation: RAYTH
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Origin: Scottish
199. Drake
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Pronunciation: DRAYK
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Origin: English
200. Wolf
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Pronunciation: WULF
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Origin: Old English
201. Wren
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Pronunciation: REN
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Origin: English
202. Dew
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Pronunciation: DYOO
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Origin: English
203. Eros
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Pronunciation: AIR-oss
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Origin: Greek
204. Azura
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Pronunciation: ah-ZUR-ah
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Origin: Spanish
205. Jasper
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Pronunciation: JAS-per
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Origin: Persian
206. Shadya
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Pronunciation: SHAD-yah
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Origin: Arabic
207. Kairos
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Pronunciation: KAI-ros
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Origin: Greek
208. Zeke
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Pronunciation: ZEEK
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Origin: Hebrew
209. Lennox
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Pronunciation: LEN-icks
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Origin: Scottish
210. Alistair
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Pronunciation: AL-uh-stair
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Origin: Scottish
211. Zev
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Pronunciation: ZEV
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Origin: Hebrew
212. Nimbus
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Pronunciation: NIM-bus
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Origin: Latin
213. Eon
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Pronunciation: EE-on
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Origin: Greek
214. Roux
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Pronunciation: ROO
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Origin: French
215. Ashlan
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Pronunciation: ASH-lan
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Origin: English
216. Rye
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Pronunciation: RYE
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Origin: English
217. Noir
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Pronunciation: NWAR
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Origin: French
218. Severin
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Pronunciation: SEV-er-in
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Origin: Latin
219. Thorne
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Pronunciation: THORN
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Origin: English
220. Raze
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Pronunciation: RAYZ
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Origin: English
221. Valkyrie
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Pronunciation: VAL-kee-ree
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Origin: Norse
222. Midnight
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Pronunciation: MID-nite
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Origin: English
223. Sirius
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Pronunciation: SIR-ee-us
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Origin: Greek
224. Blizzard
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Pronunciation: BLIZ-ard
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Origin: English
225. Dagger
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Pronunciation: DAG-er
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Origin: English
226. Storme
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Pronunciation: STORM
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Origin: English
227. Ebon
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Pronunciation: EB-on
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Origin: English
228. Zale
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Pronunciation: ZAYL
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Origin: Greek
229. Grave
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Pronunciation: GRAYV
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Origin: English
230. Vail
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Pronunciation: VAYL
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Origin: English
231. Ender
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Pronunciation: EN-der
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Origin: English
232. Vale
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Pronunciation: VAYL
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Origin: English
Conclusion
We hope this collection of shadow-inspired names has sparked your imagination and perhaps helped you find the perfect name for your little one.
Choosing a name with meaning adds a special layer to your child’s identity – one they can carry with pride and discover more about as they grow.
No matter if you prefer ancient origins like Greek and Hebrew or modern creations, there’s something powerful about a name that connects to the concept of shadow.
Remember that whatever name you choose, it’s your love and care that will truly shape your child’s character. The perfect name is one that resonates with you and feels right for the new life you’re welcoming into the world.
Thank you for exploring these shadow-themed names with us. Share your thoughts if you have any more name ideas with us in the comment section below.