Names hold power. They shape identities, carry histories, and sometimes, bear profound philosophical meanings. Names that mean “empty” often symbolize potential, new beginnings, or the Zen concept of emptiness as fullness. These names can represent a blank canvas, ready for life’s experiences to paint upon.
In this guide, we’ll explore 150+ names across three categories: girl names, boy names, and unisex names. Each name is presented with its pronunciation, origin, and specific meaning related to emptiness. Let’s dive into this fascinating world of nomenclature.
150+ Names that Mean Empty
Explore our curated list of names from various cultures, each embodying the concept of emptiness, void, or nothingness.
50 Girl Names that Mean Empty
1. Aria
Pronunciation: AR-ee-uh
Origin: Italian
Meaning: “Air” or “song,” symbolizing the emptiness of open air
2. Nirvana
Pronunciation: neer-VAH-nuh
Origin: Sanskrit
Meaning: “Extinction” or “emptiness,” referring to freedom from suffering
3. Shunya
Pronunciation: SHOON-yuh
Origin: Sanskrit
Meaning: “Zero” or “void,” representing emptiness in Hindu philosophy
4. Vanessa
Pronunciation: vuh-NESS-uh
Origin: Greek
Meaning: “Butterfly,” symbolizing transformation and the emptiness of cocoon
5. Celeste
Pronunciation: suh-LEST
Origin: Latin
Meaning: “Heavenly,” evoking the vast emptiness of space
6. Kara
Pronunciation: KAR-uh
Origin: Turkish
Meaning: “Empty” or “uninhabited”
7. Amaya
Pronunciation: uh-MY-uh
Origin: Japanese
Meaning: “Night rain,” suggesting empty, quiet moments
8. Ziva
Pronunciation: ZEE-vuh
Origin: Hebrew
Meaning: “Brightness,” implying the clarity of emptiness
9. Luna
Pronunciation: LOO-nuh
Origin: Latin
Meaning: “Moon,” representing the void of space
10. Nyssa
Pronunciation: NIH-suh
Origin: Greek
Meaning: “Beginning,” symbolizing a fresh, empty start
11. Ava
Pronunciation: AY-vuh
Origin: Latin
Meaning: “Life” or “bird,” representing freedom and open skies
12. Sunya
Pronunciation: SOON-yuh
Origin: Sanskrit
Meaning: “Zero” or “void,” similar to Shunya but with a feminine twist
13. Cleo
Pronunciation: KLEE-oh
Origin: Greek
Meaning: “Glory,” implying the potential of emptiness
14. Nada
Pronunciation: NAH-duh
Origin: Arabic
Meaning: “Dew,” symbolizing the emptiness before dawn
15. Ebba
Pronunciation: EB-buh
Origin: Old English
Meaning: “Flowing tide,” representing the ebb or emptiness between tides
16. Zera
Pronunciation: ZEH-ruh
Origin: Hebrew
Meaning: “Seed,” symbolizing potential within emptiness
17.Mira
Pronunciation: MEE-ruh
Origin: Sanskrit
Meaning: “Ocean,” evoking vast, empty expanses
18. Kenna
Pronunciation: KEN-uh
Origin: Scottish
Meaning: “Born of fire,” suggesting the emptiness after destruction
19. Aura
Pronunciation: OR-uh
Origin: Greek
Meaning: “Breeze,” representing intangible emptiness
20. Nova
Pronunciation: NOH-vuh
Origin: Latin
Meaning: “New,” implying an empty slate
21. Zephyr
Pronunciation: ZEF-er
Origin: Greek
Meaning: “West wind,” symbolizing empty, open spaces
22. Hana
Pronunciation: HAH-nuh
Origin: Japanese
Meaning: “Flower,” representing the emptiness before blooming
23. Yuki
Pronunciation: YOO-kee
Origin: Japanese
Meaning: “Snow,” evoking blank, white landscapes
24. Aether
Pronunciation: EE-ther
Origin: Greek
Meaning: “Upper air,” symbolizing the void of space
25. Lila
Pronunciation: LEE-luh
Origin: Sanskrit
Meaning: “Play,” suggesting the emptiness of illusion
26. Nyx
Pronunciation: NIKS
Origin: Greek
Meaning: “Night,” representing the darkness and emptiness of night
27. Sora
Pronunciation: SOH-ruh
Origin: Japanese
Meaning: “Sky,” evoking vast, empty expanses
28. Vada
Pronunciation: VAH-duh
Origin: Sanskrit
Meaning: “Speaking,” implying the emptiness between words
29. Enya
Pronunciation: EN-yuh
Origin: Irish
Meaning: “Kernel,” symbolizing potential within emptiness
30. Kala
Pronunciation: KAH-luh
Origin: Sanskrit
Meaning: “Time,” representing the emptiness between moments
31. Rumi
Pronunciation: ROO-mee
Origin: Japanese
Meaning: “Flow,” “beauty,” suggesting the flow through emptiness
32. Tara
Pronunciation: TAR-uh
Origin: Sanskrit
Meaning: “Star,” evoking the vastness of space
33. Vega
Pronunciation: VEE-guh
Origin: Arabic
Meaning: “Falling eagle,” suggesting descent into emptiness
34. Wynn
Pronunciation: WIN
Origin: Welsh
Meaning: “Fair,” “pure,” implying clarity and emptiness
35. Zora
Pronunciation: ZOR-uh
Origin: Slavic
Meaning: “Dawn,” representing the emptiness before daybreak
36. Aura
Pronunciation: AW-ruh
Origin: Latin
Meaning: “Breeze,” symbolizing intangible emptiness
37. Bina
Pronunciation: BEE-nuh
Origin: Hebrew
Meaning: “Understanding,” suggesting clarity through emptiness
38. Chandra
Pronunciation: CHAN-druh
Origin: Sanskrit
Meaning: “Moon,” evoking the void of night sky
39. Dara
Pronunciation: DAR-uh
Origin: Hebrew
Meaning: “Pearl of wisdom,” implying clarity through emptiness
40. Eira
Pronunciation: AY-ruh
Origin: Welsh
Meaning: “Snow,” representing blank, white landscapes
41. Faye
Pronunciation: FAY
Origin: French
Meaning: “Fairy,” suggesting ethereal emptiness
42. Gaia
Pronunciation: GUY-uh
Origin: Greek
Meaning: “Earth,” symbolizing potential within emptiness
43. Hestia
Pronunciation: HES-tee-uh
Origin: Greek
Meaning: “Hearth,” representing the empty center of home
44. Iris
Pronunciation: EYE-ris
Origin: Greek
Meaning: “Rainbow,” symbolizing the emptiness after rain
45. Jora
Pronunciation: JOR-uh
Origin: Hebrew
Meaning: “Autumn rain,” suggesting the emptiness of fall
46. Kira
Pronunciation: KEE-ruh
Origin: Russian
Meaning: “Sun,” evoking the vastness of space
47. Lyra
Pronunciation: LY-ruh
Origin: Greek
Meaning: “Lyre,” symbolizing the silence between notes
48. Maia
Pronunciation: MY-uh
Origin: Greek
Meaning: “Mother,” representing potential within emptiness
49. Nisha
Pronunciation: NEE-shuh
Origin: Sanskrit
Meaning: “Night,” evoking darkness and emptiness
50. Opal
Pronunciation: OH-pul
Origin: Sanskrit
Meaning: “Gem,” symbolizing potential within emptiness
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50 Boy Names that Mean Empty
1. Akash
Pronunciation: uh-KAHSH
Origin: Sanskrit
Meaning: “Sky” or “space,” representing vast emptiness
2. Cipher
Pronunciation: SY-fur
Origin: English
Meaning: “Zero” or “empty,” derived from Arabic sifr
3. Zen
Pronunciation: ZEN
Origin: Japanese
Meaning: “Meditation,” implying emptiness of mind
4. Aether
Pronunciation: EE-ther
Origin: Greek
Meaning: “Upper air,” symbolizing the void of space
5. Kha
Pronunciation: KAH
Origin: Sanskrit
Meaning: “Sky” or “zero,” representing emptiness
6. Aram
Pronunciation: uh-RAHM
Origin: Armenian
Meaning: “Peaceful,” suggesting quiet emptiness
7. Bodhi
Pronunciation: BOH-dee
Origin: Sanskrit
Meaning: “Enlightenment,” implying clarity through emptiness
8. Caelum
Pronunciation: KAY-lum
Origin: Latin
Meaning: “Heaven,” evoking vast, empty spaces
9. Dane
Pronunciation: DAYN
Origin: English
Meaning: “From Denmark,” but also associated with open, empty plains
10. Ether
Pronunciation: EE-ther
Origin: Greek
Meaning: “Upper air,” symbolizing the void of space
11. Finn
Pronunciation: FIN
Origin: Irish
Meaning: “Fair” or “white,” suggesting blank slates
12. Goku
Pronunciation: GOH-koo
Origin: Japanese
Meaning: “Empty” or “sky”
13. Helios
Pronunciation: HEE-lee-os
Origin: Greek
Meaning: “Sun,” evoking the vastness of space
14. Idir
Pronunciation: EE-deer
Origin: Irish
Meaning: “Between,” suggesting the space between things
15. Janus
Pronunciation: JAY-nus
Origin: Roman
Meaning: God of beginnings and transitions, implying empty potential
16. Keanu
Pronunciation: kee-AH-noo
Origin: Hawaiian
Meaning: “Cool breeze,” suggesting empty, open spaces
17. Lev
Pronunciation: LEV
Origin: Russian
Meaning: “Lion,” but also associated with the heart’s emptiness in some contexts
18. Moku
Pronunciation: MOH-koo
Origin: Japanese
Meaning: “Silent” or “empty”
19. Nemo
Pronunciation: NEE-moh
Origin: Latin
Meaning: “Nobody,” implying emptiness or absence
20. Orion
Pronunciation: oh-RY-un
Origin: Greek
Meaning: Hunter constellation, evoking empty space
21. Phoenix
Pronunciation: FEE-niks
Origin: Greek
Meaning: Bird reborn from ashes, symbolizing emptiness after destruction
22. Qadim
Pronunciation: kah-DEEM
Origin: Arabic
Meaning: “Ancient,” suggesting emptiness of time
23. Raven
Pronunciation: RAY-ven
Origin: English
Meaning: Bird associated with emptiness and void in some cultures
24. Shiva
Pronunciation: SHEE-vuh
Origin: Sanskrit
Meaning: “Auspicious One,” associated with destruction and resulting emptiness
25. Tohu
Pronunciation: TOH-hoo
Origin: Hebrew
Meaning: “Chaos” or “emptiness” from biblical creation story
26. Uranus
Pronunciation: YOOR-uh-nus
Origin: Greek
Meaning: Sky god, representing vast emptiness
27. Void
Pronunciation: VOYD
Origin: English
Meaning: “Empty space” or “vacuum”
28. Wuya
Pronunciation: WOO-yah
Origin: Chinese
Meaning: “Crow,” associated with emptiness in some contexts
29. Xero
Pronunciation: ZEE-roh
Origin: Greek
Meaning: “Dry,” suggesting emptiness of moisture
30. Ymir
Pronunciation: EE-meer
Origin: Norse
Meaning: Primordial giant born from empty space
31. Zeno
Pronunciation: ZEE-noh
Origin: Greek
Meaning: Philosopher associated with paradoxes of emptiness
32. Altair
Pronunciation: al-TAIR
Origin: Arabic
Meaning: “The flying eagle,” evoking empty skies
33. Bardo
Pronunciation: BAR-doh
Origin: Tibetan
Meaning: “Intermediate state,” suggesting emptiness between states
34. Caspian
Pronunciation: KAS-pee-un
Origin: Persian
Meaning: Inspired by the vast, “empty” Caspian Sea
35. Dion
Pronunciation: DYE-on
Origin: Greek
Meaning: “Of Zeus,” associated with sky and emptiness
36. Echo
Pronunciation: EK-oh
Origin: Greek
Meaning: Sound reflection, implying emptiness between sounds
37. Fathom
Pronunciation: FA-thum
Origin: English
Meaning: “To understand,” but also a measure of empty depths
38. Galen
Pronunciation: GAY-len
Origin: Greek
Meaning: “Calm,” suggesting quiet emptiness
39. Hugo
Pronunciation: HYOO-goh
Origin: Germanic
Meaning: “Mind” or “intellect,” implying potential emptiness
40. Isamu
Pronunciation: ee-SAH-moo
Origin: Japanese
Meaning: “Courage,” suggesting facing emptiness bravely
41. Jett
Pronunciation: JET
Origin: English
Meaning: “Black gemstone,” evoking dark, empty space
42. Koan
Pronunciation: KOH-an
Origin: Japanese
Meaning: Paradoxical anecdote in Zen Buddhism, implying emptiness of mind
43. Laszlo
Pronunciation: LAHZ-loh
Origin: Hungarian
Meaning: “Rule with glory,” suggesting potential within emptiness
44. Morpheus
Pronunciation: MOR-fee-us
Origin: Greek
Meaning: God of dreams, implying the emptiness of sleep
45. Nereus
Pronunciation: NEER-ee-us
Origin: Greek
Meaning: Sea god, evoking vast, empty oceans
46. Oberon
Pronunciation: OH-ber-on
Origin: German
Meaning: “Noble bear,” associated with fairy emptiness
47. Pax
Pronunciation: PAKS
Origin: Latin
Meaning: “Peace,” suggesting quiet emptiness
48. Quillon
Pronunciation: KWIL-on
Origin: French
Meaning: “Crossing sword guard,” implying space between
49. Ryo
Pronunciation: ree-OH
Origin: Japanese
Meaning: “Cool,” “refreshing,” suggesting empty, clear spaces
50. Sable
Pronunciation: SAY-bul
Origin: English
Meaning: “Black,” evoking dark, empty spaces
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50 Unisex Names that Mean Empty
1. Sky
Pronunciation: SKY
Origin: English
Meaning: Represents vast, empty expanses
2. Null
Pronunciation: NUL
Origin: English/Computer Science
Meaning: “Zero” or “nothing”
3. Ayin
Pronunciation: AY-in
Origin: Hebrew
Meaning: “Nothingness” or “non-existence”
4. Ether
Pronunciation: EE-ther
Origin: Greek
Meaning: “Upper air,” symbolizing the void of space
5. Void
Pronunciation: VOYD
Origin: English
Meaning: “Empty space” or “vacuum”
6. Zephyr
Pronunciation: ZEF-er
Origin: Greek
Meaning: “West wind,” symbolizing empty, open spaces
7. Shunya
Pronunciation: SHOON-yah
Origin: Sanskrit
Meaning: “Zero” or “void”
8. Raine
Pronunciation: RAYN
Origin: French
Meaning: “Queen,” but associated with cleansing emptiness of rain
9. Vesper
Pronunciation: VES-per
Origin: Latin
Meaning: “Evening star,” evoking empty night skies
10. Echo
Pronunciation: EK-oh
Origin: Greek
Meaning: Sound reflection, implying emptiness between sounds
11. Nox
Pronunciation: NOKS
Origin: Latin
Meaning: “Night,” representing darkness and emptiness
12. Aria
Pronunciation: AR-ee-uh
Origin: Italian
Meaning: “Air” or “song,” symbolizing the emptiness of open air
13. Kaze
Pronunciation: KAH-zeh
Origin: Japanese
Meaning: “Wind,” suggesting empty, open spaces
14. Nova
Pronunciation: NOH-vuh
Origin: Latin
Meaning: “New,” implying an empty slate
15. Ren
Pronunciation: REN
Origin: Japanese
Meaning: “Lotus,” symbolizing purity and emptiness in Buddhism
16. Aether
Pronunciation: EE-ther
Origin: Greek
Meaning: “Upper air,” symbolizing the void of space
17. Sora
Pronunciation: SOH-ruh
Origin: Japanese
Meaning: “Sky,” evoking vast, empty expanses
18. Kuu
Pronunciation: KOO
Origin: Finnish
Meaning: “Moon,” representing the void of space
19. Cipher
Pronunciation: SY-fer
Origin: Arabic
Meaning: “Zero” or “empty”
20. Nebula
Pronunciation: NEB-yuh-luh
Origin: Latin
Meaning: “Cloud,” evoking vast, empty space
21. Yū
Pronunciation: YOO
Origin: Japanese
Meaning: “Gentle,” suggesting calm emptiness
22. Aura
Pronunciation: OR-uh
Origin: Latin
Meaning: “Breeze,” representing intangible emptiness
23. Kala
Pronunciation: KAH-luh
Origin: Sanskrit
Meaning: “Time,” representing the emptiness between moments
24. Nada
Pronunciation: NAH-duh
Origin: Spanish
Meaning: “Nothing”
25. Zen
Pronunciation: ZEN
Origin: Japanese
Meaning: “Meditation,” implying emptiness of mind
26. Lux
Pronunciation: LUKS
Origin: Latin
Meaning: “Light,” suggesting clarity and emptiness
27. Kara
Pronunciation: KAR-uh
Origin: Turkish
Meaning: “Empty” or “uninhabited”
28. Vega
Pronunciation: VEE-guh
Origin: Arabic
Meaning: “Falling eagle,” suggesting descent into emptiness
29. Akash
Pronunciation: uh-KAHSH
Origin: Sanskrit
Meaning: “Sky” or “space,” representing vast emptiness
30. Nyxe
Pronunciation: NIKS
Origin: Greek
Meaning: Derived from Nyx, goddess of night, representing darkness and emptiness
31. Sunya
Pronunciation: SOON-yuh
Origin: Sanskrit
Meaning: “Zero” or “void”
32. Keanu
Pronunciation: kee-AH-noo
Origin: Hawaiian
Meaning: “Cool breeze,” suggesting empty, open spaces
33. Aether
Pronunciation: EE-ther
Origin: Greek
Meaning: “Upper air,” symbolizing the void of space
34. Fathom
Pronunciation: FA-thum
Origin: English
Meaning: “To understand,” but also a measure of empty depths
35. Raven
Pronunciation: RAY-ven
Origin: English
Meaning: Bird associated with emptiness and void in some cultures
36. Nirvana
Pronunciation: neer-VAH-nuh
Origin: Sanskrit
Meaning: “Extinction” or “emptiness,” referring to freedom from suffering
37. Jora
Pronunciation: JOR-uh
Origin: Hebrew
Meaning: “Autumn rain,” suggesting the emptiness of fall
38. Tohu
Pronunciation: TOH-hoo
Origin: Hebrew
Meaning: “Chaos” or “emptiness” from biblical creation story
39. Caelum
Pronunciation: KAY-lum
Origin: Latin
Meaning: “Heaven,” evoking vast, empty spaces
40. Yuki
Pronunciation: YOO-kee
Origin: Japanese
Meaning: “Snow,” evoking blank, white landscapes
41. Ether
Pronunciation: EE-ther
Origin: Greek
Meaning: “Upper air,” symbolizing the void of space
42. Wynn
Pronunciation: WIN
Origin: Welsh
Meaning: “Fair,” “pure,” implying clarity and emptiness
43. Bodhi
Pronunciation: BOH-dee
Origin: Sanskrit
Meaning: “Enlightenment,” implying clarity through emptiness
44. Lumi
Pronunciation: LOO-mee
Origin: Finnish
Meaning: “Snow,” representing blank, white landscapes
45. Qadim
Pronunciation: kah-DEEM
Origin: Arabic
Meaning: “Ancient,” suggesting emptiness of time
46. Hana
Pronunciation: HAH-nuh
Origin: Japanese
Meaning: “Flower,” representing the emptiness before blooming
47. Xero
Pronunciation: ZEE-roh
Origin: Greek
Meaning: “Dry,” suggesting emptiness of moisture
48. Moku
Pronunciation: MOH-koo
Origin: Japanese
Meaning: “Silent” or “empty”
49. Bardo
Pronunciation: BAR-doh
Origin: Tibetan
Meaning: “Intermediate state,” suggesting emptiness between states
50. Ayin
Pronunciation: AY-in
Origin: Hebrew
Meaning: “Nothingness” or “non-existence”
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Names that Have No Meaning
While we’ve explored names that specifically mean “empty,” it’s worth noting that some names have no inherent meaning. These names, often created for aesthetic reasons or personal significance, can also represent a form of emptiness or a blank slate. Here are a few examples:
- Nevaeh: A popular name created by spelling “Heaven” backwards.
- Renesmee: A name created by combining Renee and Esme, popularized by the Twilight series.
- Jahzara: A made-up name with no specific meaning.
- Zyon: A variant spelling of Zion, but without the biblical connotations.
- Brylee: A modern invented name with no inherent meaning.
These names, while not explicitly meaning “empty,” can represent the concept of a blank canvas, ready to be filled with meaning by the individual who bears the name.
How and Why to Choose the Right Name Meaning Empty?
Choosing a name that means “empty” or “void” can be a profound decision. Here are some reasons why you might consider such a name and tips on how to choose the right one:
Why Choose a Name Meaning Empty?
- Philosophical significance: Names meaning empty can represent Buddhist concepts of emptiness as fullness, or the potential for anything to arise.
- New beginnings: These names can symbolize a clean slate or fresh start.
- Uniqueness: Many of these names are uncommon, making them stand out.
- Cultural appreciation: Choosing a name from a different culture can be a way to honor that heritage or philosophy.
- Literary or artistic inspiration: Many of these names have poetic qualities or connections to mythology and literature.
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How to Choose the Right Name?
- Consider the sound: While meaning is important, the name should also be pleasing to the ear and easy to pronounce.
- Think about nicknames: Consider potential shortened versions or nicknames derived from your chosen name.
- Check the initials: Ensure the initials don’t spell out anything unintended.
- Cultural appropriateness: If choosing a name from a culture not your own, research its usage and any potential sensitivities.
- Meaning variations: Some names have multiple meanings or connotations. Research thoroughly to understand all aspects of the name.
- Family traditions: Consider if there are any naming traditions in your family you’d like to honor.
- Future considerations: Think about how the name might serve the person throughout their life, from childhood to adulthood.
- Pair with middle and last names: Ensure the full name flows well together.
Remember, while a name’s meaning is significant, it’s also important that you and your child (if you’re naming a baby) connect with and love the name itself.
Final Thoughts
Names that mean “empty,” “void,” or “nothingness” offer a unique perspective on identity and existence. From the vast emptiness of space represented by names like Akash and Caelum, to the philosophical emptiness of Zen and Nirvana, these names carry profound meanings and cultural significance.
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