Night-themed names have a moody, beautiful pull to them. Some translate directly to “night,” others lean into “midnight,” “darkness,” or “evening.” If you want a name that feels like starlight, quiet skies, and late-night calm, start with these.
Girl Names That Mean Night
- Layla: night (Arabic)
- Laila: night (Arabic)
- Leila: night (Arabic)
- Leyla: night (Arabic, Turkish usage)
- Leylah: night (Arabic variant)
- Lilah: night (Arabic variant)
- Lila: night (Arabic variant)
- Laylah: night (Arabic variant)
- Nisha: night (Sanskrit)
- Nishi: night (Japanese; also used in South Asia as a form of Nisha)
- Ratri: night (Sanskrit)
- Raatri: night (Sanskrit variant)
- Ratree: night (Sanskrit variant)
- Nyx: night (Greek mythology)
- Nox: night (Latin)
- Yoru: night (Japanese)
- Yami: darkness (Japanese)
- Kali: black, dark (Sanskrit)
- Shyama: dark, black (Sanskrit)
- Shyamala: dark-complexioned, dusky (Sanskrit)
- Duskana: dusk (modern-style formation, used as a rare name)
- Vespera: evening (Latin-rooted, modern use)
- Vesper: evening (Latin)
- Hespera: evening (Greek, tied to the evening star)
- Eveleen: evening (modern spelling influenced by “eve”)
Girl Names That Mean Evening, Dusk, or Twilight
- Twila: twilight (English)
- Selene: moon (Greek, strongly night-associated)
- Luna: moon (Latin, night-associated)
- Artemis: Greek goddess linked to the moon
- Diana: Roman goddess linked to the moon
- Chandra: moon (Sanskrit)
- Indu: moon (Sanskrit)
- Soma: moon (Sanskrit)
- Aylin: moon halo (Turkish)
- Ayla: moon halo (Turkish)
- Rhiannon: great queen (Welsh; strong night-sky vibe in modern use)
- Stella: star (Latin)
- Estelle: star (French, Latin root)
- Starla: star (modern English)
- Astra: star (Latin-rooted)
Boy Names That Mean Night
- Nishant: end of night, dawn (Sanskrit)
- Nishith: midnight (Sanskrit)
- Nishit: midnight (Sanskrit variant)
- Nishi: night (Japanese; also used as a given name)
- Layl: night (Arabic)
- Lail: night (Arabic variant)
- Nyx: night (Greek mythology, modern use)
- Nox: night (Latin, modern use)
- Yoru: night (Japanese)
- Kaal: time (Sanskrit; often linked to the night-time aspect in tradition)
- Shyam: dark, black (Sanskrit)
- Krishna: dark, black (Sanskrit)
- Kuro: black (Japanese, night-associated)
- Yami: darkness (Japanese)
- Erebus: darkness (Greek mythology
Boy Names That Mean Darkness, Shadow, or Midnight Vibes
- Ciaran: little dark one (Irish)
- Ciar: dark (Irish)
- Kieran: little dark one (Irish)
- Dougal: dark stranger (Scottish Gaelic)
- Duncan: dark warrior (Scottish Gaelic)
- Darcy: dark one (French, Irish usage)
- Blake: black, dark (Old English)
- Coleman: little dark one (Irish)
- Keir: dark (Scottish)
- Dorian: of Doris (Greek; often associated with a dark, classic vibe)
- Onyx: onyx gemstone (Greek-rooted word, night-associated)
- Jet: black gemstone (English)
- Cobalt: deep blue metal name (color association with night tones)
- Slate: slate stone (night-sky vibe)
- Raven: raven bird (English, night-associated)
Gender-Neutral Names That Mean Night (or Feel Night-Themed)
- Layla: night (Arabic, widely unisex in modern use)
- Laila: night (Arabic, modern unisex use)
- Nisha: night (Sanskrit; modern unisex use)
- Nishi: night (Japanese; also South Asian usage)
- Nyx: night (Greek mythology)
- Nox: night (Latin)
- Yoru: night (Japanese)
- Yami: darkness (Japanese)
- Vesper: evening (Latin)
- Twila: twilight (English, modern unisex use)
- Luna: moon (Latin, modern unisex use)
- Selene: moon (Greek, modern unisex use)
- Chandra: moon (Sanskrit, unisex use)
- Onyx: onyx gemstone (night-associated)
- Raven: raven bird (night-associated)
- Storm: storm (night-sky vibe)
- Skye: sky (night-sky vibe)
- Ocean: ocean (night-ocean vibe)
- Indigo: indigo color (night-sky vibe)
- Midnight: midnight (English word name, modern use)
- Star: star (English word name)
- Astra: star (Latin-rooted)
- Eclipse: eclipse (modern word name)
- Moon: moon (English word name)
- Shadow: shadow (English word name, modern use)
If you want a true “night” meaning, start with picks like Layla, Nisha, Ratri, Nishith, Nyx, and Nox. Then say your top five out loud like you are calling someone across the room. The right one usually sounds natural right away, like it belongs under a sky full of stars.