Picking a name for your little one is complicated, and while you might want to pick something
that's melodic and beautiful, you should also make sure you do some research into just what
your favorite name means.
Some of the most beautiful names out there have pretty dark stories behind them, and
that may or may not be a bad thing.
Thana
Thana has a compelling ring to it, a seldom-heard kind of mysteriousness that sounds like it's
right out of the ancient world.
It is, and even though it might be beautiful and enigmatic, there's a reason it's reminiscent
of Marvel's Thanos: Thana literally means "death."
The name is derived from Thanatos, an entity from Greek mythology who's both a neutral
nature spirit and a demonic representation of death.
If you still love the name, it's not all bad news: It also means "praise" in Arabic.
There's also a bit of cinema infamy associated with the name, as Thana was the avenging feminist
anti-heroine of Abel Ferrara's dark revenge flick Ms .45.
Actress Zoe Lund garnered widespread praise for her role, making Thana a favorite character
among cult classic films.
Bram
Though the name Bram is only a variation of Abraham and means nothing sinister in itself,
it's become permanently associated with Gothic horror over the years.
First and foremost, there's author Bram Stoker and Dracula to consider.
No one will be able to look at your little Bram without thinking of this famous father
of the modern vampire.
Less familiar - although no less creepy - is Ichabod Crane's rival in Washington Irving's
The Legend of Sleepy Hollow, Brom Bones.
And even Abraham has ominous overtones.
In the Bible, Abraham was called on to sacrifice his son Isaac to please God, although God
stopped him from doing so at the last minute.
Depending on your perspective, you may or may not want to pay homage to a man who nearly
sacrificed his own son in the name of God.
Thora
Popularized by actress Thora Birch of American Beauty and Ghost World fame, Thora is a Norse
name meaning "thunder goddess," and it's derived from the name of the male Norse god - and
Marvel character - Thor.
It might refer to one of the sky's most violent phenomenons, but it's also proof that a dark,
powerful name isn't always a bad thing.
It's a wonderful, nature-inspired name, and if you want something even a little more unique,
it has Norwegian, Icelandic, Danish, and Swedish variations.
If you're going to name your baby girl after a goddess, why not choose a strong one who
represents one of Mother Nature's most exhilarating displays of power?
Samael
Samael sounds like a really cool name, but any parent thinking about giving this name
to their bouncing bundle of joy should probably be aware that it actually means "demon."
Samael serves different roles in different religions, but the name is associated with
fallen angels, a demonic creature, and is sometimes said to be the true name of Satan.
That's a lot of baggage, but most people probably aren't going to know any of this and might
just think the name is a version of Samuel.
Does the coolness of the name outweigh the history?
That's something only a parent can decide.
Mara
This lovely Hebrew name is unique and saw a boost in popularity thanks to actress Mara
Wilson, but it has a rather ominous meaning: "bitter."
Mara is a Biblical name from the Book of Ruth, used when Naomi renounced her original name
after tragedy.
Heartbroken after the deaths of her husband and sons, she declared that in deference to
her perpetual sorrow and bitterness, she wanted to be known as "Mara."
Moreover, Mara is also the goddess of death in Hinduism, and a demonic entity in Buddhism.
In Sanskrit, the word literally means "death"... so, there's that to consider.
But take heart: Mara is still a beautiful name, and your baby girl is certainly going
to be an angel, rather than a vengeful entity from the depths.
Probably.
Deyanira
Lovely as it may be, Deyanira is a name that hails from one the epic tragedies of Greek
mythologies, and her name translates to "man-destroyer."
That man happened to be her husband, Hercules, and according to Greek lore, the centaur Nessus
gave Deyanira a shirt soaked with the blood of a poisonous Hydra.
Nessus told her that if her husband were ever unfaithful to her, or fell in love with another
woman, that she should give him the garment to wear.
Years later, Hercules did indeed fall in love with another.
Deyanira gave him the shirt, which he could not take off, and it burned so badly he threw
himself on top of a funeral pyre.
This is the stuff great stories are made of, and if you can look past these dark mythological
tales, it's truly a beautiful name.