Names That Mean Corruption

Corruption-inspired names have a darker atmosphere than most themes I explore. They make me think of temptation, moral decline, hidden motives, and the way power can slowly change a person over time. That complexity is what makes this theme so intriguing.

I find these names interesting because they often appear in myths, legends, and stories about forbidden choices and consequences. They carry a sense of mystery, danger, and transformation that feels both unsettling and memorable.

In the list below, you will find baby girl and boy names inspired by corruption, temptation, moral decay, dark influence, and shadowy symbolism.

Table of Contents

Boy Names That Mean Corruption

Mephisto

Origin: Greek/German
Meaning: He who does not love light; corruptor
Description: A name rooted in the demonic Mephistopheles, the devil figure who corrupts souls in German legend.

Diablos

Origin: Greek
Meaning: Slanderer, corruptor
Description: From Greek diabolos meaning one who corrupts through slander and moral deception.

Rakshasa

Origin: Sanskrit
Meaning: Demon, corruptor of the pure
Description: A Sanskrit name for a class of demons known for corrupting and destroying purity and righteousness.

Ahriman

Origin: Persian/Avestan
Meaning: Evil spirit, lord of corruption
Description: The Zoroastrian name for the supreme evil being — the source of all corruption and moral decay.

Belial

Origin: Hebrew
Meaning: Worthlessness, corruption
Description: A Hebrew name meaning worthlessness and moral corruption — used in the Bible as a name for the devil.

Asmodeus

Origin: Hebrew/Persian
Meaning: Demon of lust and corruption
Description: A demonic name from Hebrew tradition meaning a spirit of corruption, lust, and destructive wickedness.

Malphas

Origin: Latin/Demonology
Meaning: Corruptor, destroyer
Description: A name from demonology meaning one who corrupts buildings and relationships — a spirit of ruin.

Naberius

Origin: Latin/Demonology
Meaning: Corruptor of virtue
Description: A demonic name meaning one who corrupts virtue and moral dignity through cunning deception.

Phthartos

Origin: Greek
Meaning: Corruptible, subject to decay
Description: From Greek phthora meaning corruption and decay — one who embodies the corruptible nature of things.

Samael

Origin: Hebrew
Meaning: Poison of God, angel of corruption
Description: A Hebrew angelic name meaning the poison or venom of God — associated with corruption and death.

Mundus

Origin: Latin
Meaning: World of corruption and decay
Description: A Latin name meaning the corrupted world — the realm of moral decay and earthly corruption.

Phthoras

Origin: Greek
Meaning: Corruption, ruin, destruction
Description: Directly from the Greek word phthora meaning corruption, ruin, and the destruction of purity.

Maras

Origin: Sanskrit/Buddhist
Meaning: Death, corruption, destroyer of virtue
Description: The Buddhist demon Mara who corrupts and tempts — the personification of moral corruption.

Cadaverus

Origin: Latin
Meaning: Decayed, corrupted corpse
Description: From Latin cadaver meaning a decayed and corrupted body — one who embodies physical and moral rot.

Putriel

Origin: Hebrew-influenced
Meaning: God of decay and corruption
Description: A Hebrew-influenced name meaning decay and corruption at a divine or cosmic level.

Vetitas

Origin: Latin
Meaning: Forbidden, corrupted
Description: From Latin vetitus meaning forbidden and corrupted — that which has been morally defiled.

Nequam

Origin: Latin
Meaning: Worthless, corrupt, wicked
Description: A Latin name meaning worthless and morally corrupt — one of complete depravity and wickedness.

Diabolon

Origin: Greek
Meaning: Little corruptor, small devil
Description: A Greek diminutive of diabolos meaning a small corruptor — one who corrupts through subtle means.

Scelus

Origin: Latin
Meaning: Crime, corruption, wickedness
Description: The Latin word for crime and wickedness — one who embodies moral corruption and criminal depravity.

Pravus

Origin: Latin
Meaning: Crooked, corrupt, depraved
Description: A Latin name meaning crooked and corrupt — one whose character is bent and morally depraved.

Girl Names That Mean Corruption

Lilith

Origin: Hebrew
Meaning: Night demon, corruptor of men
Description: A Hebrew name for Adam’s first wife who became a corrupting demon — a symbol of dark feminine power.

Hecate

Origin: Greek
Meaning: She who corrupts through dark magic
Description: The Greek goddess of witchcraft and dark magic — a figure associated with corruption and night.

Phthorá

Origin: Greek
Meaning: Corruption, ruin, decay
Description: The Greek feminine word for corruption and decay — one who embodies the unraveling of purity.

Lamia

Origin: Greek
Meaning: She who corrupts and devours
Description: A Greek name for a child-devouring monster — one who corrupts and destroys innocent life.

Corruta

Origin: Latin
Meaning: Corrupted woman
Description: From Latin corrupta meaning a woman who has been morally corrupted or who corrupts others.

Morta

Origin: Latin/Roman
Meaning: Death, corruption, decay
Description: The Roman goddess of death — one who presides over the corruption and decay of mortal life.

Vetita

Origin: Latin
Meaning: Forbidden, corrupted woman
Description: A Latin feminine name meaning forbidden and corrupted — one who has crossed moral boundaries.

Pravita

Origin: Latin
Meaning: Crooked, corrupt, depraved woman
Description: A Latin feminine name meaning a crooked and depraved woman — one of corrupted morals.

Malpasa

Origin: Latin-influenced
Meaning: Female corruptor, one who ruins
Description: A feminine name rooted in the demonological tradition of corruption and moral ruin.

Scelerosa

Origin: Latin
Meaning: Wicked, corrupt woman
Description: A Latin feminine name meaning a wicked and corrupt woman — one of deep moral depravity.

Scelesta

Origin: Latin
Meaning: Wicked, corrupt, criminal woman
Description: A Latin feminine name meaning a criminal and corrupt woman — one given to wickedness and depravity.

Ruina

Origin: Latin
Meaning: Ruin, corruption, collapse
Description: The Latin word for ruin and collapse — a name for one who brings corruption and destruction.

Pestis

Origin: Latin
Meaning: Plague, corruption, pestilence
Description: A Latin name meaning plague and pestilence — corruption that spreads and destroys all it touches.

Macula

Origin: Latin
Meaning: Stain, moral corruption
Description: A Latin name meaning a stain or blemish — the moral corruption that marks and defiles purity.

Tabida

Origin: Latin
Meaning: Wasting away, consumed by corruption
Description: From Latin tabidus meaning wasting away — one consumed by the slow corruption of decay.

Nequitia

Origin: Latin
Meaning: Wickedness, corruption
Description: A Latin feminine name meaning wickedness and moral corruption — the state of total depravity.

Vitia

Origin: Latin
Meaning: Vice, moral corruption
Description: From Latin vitium meaning vice and moral defect — the feminine embodiment of corruption.

Corruptela

Origin: Latin
Meaning: Corruption, moral seduction
Description: A Latin name meaning the corruption of morals through seduction and moral decline.

Infamia

Origin: Latin
Meaning: Infamy, corrupted reputation
Description: A Latin feminine name meaning infamy and the corruption of one’s reputation and honor.

Turpitudo

Origin: Latin
Meaning: Baseness, moral corruption
Description: A Latin name meaning baseness and moral corruption — the deepest degradation of character.

Unisex Names That Mean Corruption

Ruin

Origin: English/Latin
Meaning: Corruption, destruction, decay
Description: An English unisex name meaning ruin and corruption — the collapse of what was once whole and pure.

Mara

Origin: Sanskrit/Hebrew
Meaning: Corruption, death, bitterness
Description: A unisex name meaning corruption and bitterness — the Buddhist demon of corruption and death.

Phthora

Origin: Greek
Meaning: Corruption, decay, ruin
Description: The Greek unisex word for corruption and decay — the process of moral and physical unraveling.

Belial

Origin: Hebrew
Meaning: Worthlessness, corruption
Description: A Hebrew unisex name meaning worthlessness and deep moral corruption — a name of complete depravity.

Cadaver

Origin: Latin
Meaning: Decayed, corrupted body
Description: A Latin unisex name meaning a decayed and corrupted form — embodying physical and moral rot.

Scelus

Origin: Latin
Meaning: Crime, corruption
Description: A Latin unisex name meaning crime and corruption — one who embodies wickedness and moral rot.

Pravus

Origin: Latin
Meaning: Crooked, corrupt
Description: A Latin unisex name meaning crooked and corrupt — a character bent away from moral righteousness.

Vitium

Origin: Latin
Meaning: Vice, corruption, defect
Description: A Latin unisex name meaning vice and moral corruption — the defect that unravels purity from within.

Macula

Origin: Latin
Meaning: Stain, corruption
Description: A Latin unisex name meaning a moral stain or corruption — the blemish that marks a defiled soul.

Diabolos

Origin: Greek
Meaning: Corruptor, accuser
Description: The Greek unisex word for one who corrupts through accusation and moral deception.

Nequam

Origin: Latin
Meaning: Worthless, corrupt
Description: A Latin unisex name meaning worthless and morally corrupt — one of total depravity.

Ruina

Origin: Latin
Meaning: Ruin, collapse, corruption
Description: A Latin unisex name meaning ruin and corruption — the collapse of all moral order and purity.

Samael

Origin: Hebrew
Meaning: Poison, corruption
Description: A Hebrew unisex name meaning poison and corruption — one who corrupts through a toxic presence.

Malphas

Origin: Latin/Demonology
Meaning: Corruptor, destroyer
Description: A unisex name from demonology meaning one who corrupts and destroys what is built and cherished.

Pestis

Origin: Latin
Meaning: Plague, spreading corruption
Description: A Latin unisex name meaning plague and spreading corruption — rot that cannot be contained.

Tabidus

Origin: Latin
Meaning: Wasting, consumed by corruption
Description: A Latin unisex name meaning one wasting away — consumed slowly by the rot of corruption.

Ahriman

Origin: Persian
Meaning: Lord of corruption, evil spirit
Description: A Persian unisex name meaning the supreme spirit of corruption and moral evil.

Infamis

Origin: Latin
Meaning: Infamous, morally corrupted
Description: A Latin unisex name meaning infamous and morally corrupted — one of ruined reputation and character.

Turpis

Origin: Latin
Meaning: Base, morally corrupt
Description: A Latin unisex name meaning base and morally corrupt — one of shameful and depraved character.

Corrumpens

Origin: Latin
Meaning: One who corrupts
Description: From Latin corrumpere meaning to corrupt — one who actively corrupts and destroys moral integrity.

Japanese Names That Mean Corruption

Osen (汚染)

Origin: Japanese
Meaning: Corruption, contamination, pollution
Description: The Japanese word for corruption and contamination — the spreading pollution of something once pure.

Fuhai (腐敗)

Origin: Japanese
Meaning: Corruption, decay, rot
Description: The direct Japanese word for corruption and rotting decay — moral and physical deterioration.

Kegare (穢れ)

Origin: Japanese
Meaning: Defilement, corruption, impurity
Description: A Japanese concept of ritual corruption and defilement — the spiritual impurity that corrupts a soul.

Akusei (悪性)

Origin: Japanese
Meaning: Malignant corruption, evil nature
Description: A Japanese name meaning malignant and corrupt nature — an evil that corrupts from the inside out.

Daraku (堕落)

Origin: Japanese
Meaning: Corruption, moral degeneration, fall
Description: The Japanese word for moral corruption and degeneration — the fall from virtue into depravity.

Akuma (悪魔)

Origin: Japanese
Meaning: Devil, demon of corruption
Description: The Japanese word for a devil or demon — a spirit of corruption that tempts and destroys purity.

Kusari (腐り)

Origin: Japanese
Meaning: Rotting, corruption
Description: A Japanese name meaning rotting and corruption — the physical and moral decay of something pure.

Yokoshima (邪)

Origin: Japanese
Meaning: Wicked, corrupt, evil
Description: A Japanese name meaning wicked and corrupt — one whose nature is bent toward evil and depravity.

Jaaku (邪悪)

Origin: Japanese
Meaning: Corruption, wickedness, evil
Description: The Japanese word for evil and wickedness — a name for deep moral corruption and depravity.

Konton (混沌)

Origin: Japanese
Meaning: Chaos, corruption
Description: A Japanese name meaning chaos and disorder — the corruption of order into confusion and decay.

Meiro (迷路)

Origin: Japanese
Meaning: Labyrinth of corruption
Description: A Japanese name meaning labyrinth — the maze of corruption in which one loses their moral path.

Kuroi (黒い)

Origin: Japanese
Meaning: Black, dark corruption
Description: A Japanese name meaning black and dark — the color of corruption, shadow, and moral decay.

Akuji (悪事)

Origin: Japanese
Meaning: Evil deed, corruption
Description: A Japanese name meaning evil deed and corrupt action — one who enacts corruption through wrongdoing.

Osore (恐れ)

Origin: Japanese
Meaning: Dread, corruption of the spirit
Description: A Japanese name meaning dread and fear — the corruption of the spirit through overwhelming terror.

Tatari (祟り)

Origin: Japanese
Meaning: Curse, spiritual corruption
Description: A Japanese name meaning a divine curse — the spiritual corruption visited upon one who has sinned.

Hekireki (霹靂)

Origin: Japanese
Meaning: Thunderbolt, sudden corruption
Description: A Japanese name meaning a sudden thunderbolt — swift and devastating corruption that strikes without warning.

Akudama (悪玉)

Origin: Japanese
Meaning: Villain, embodiment of corruption
Description: A Japanese name meaning villain or bad guy — the embodiment of corruption in traditional storytelling.

Meian (暗い)

Origin: Japanese
Meaning: Darkness, corruption of light
Description: A Japanese name meaning darkness — the corruption and extinguishing of light and moral clarity.

Yami (闇)

Origin: Japanese
Meaning: Darkness, corruption
Description: A Japanese name meaning darkness and the void — the corruption that swallows light and purity.

Oni (鬼)

Origin: Japanese
Meaning: Demon, spirit of corruption
Description: The Japanese word for a demon or ogre — a spirit of corruption, fear, and destruction.

Greek Names That Mean Corruption

Phthora (Φθορά)

Origin: Greek
Meaning: Corruption, decay, destruction
Description: The ancient Greek word for corruption and decay — the process by which purity is destroyed.

Kakos (Κακός)

Origin: Greek
Meaning: Evil, corrupt, bad
Description: The Greek word for evil and corrupt — the root of words like cacophony, meaning something morally bad.

Diaphthora (Διαφθορά)

Origin: Greek
Meaning: Corruption, bribery, moral ruin
Description: A Greek name meaning total corruption and moral ruin — complete destruction of moral character.

Molymos (Μολυσμός)

Origin: Greek
Meaning: Defilement, corruption
Description: A Greek name meaning defilement and corruption — the contamination of something once pure.

Akatharsia (Ἀκαθαρσία)

Origin: Greek
Meaning: Impurity, moral corruption
Description: A New Testament Greek word meaning impurity and moral corruption — filthiness of the soul.

Poneria (Πονηρία)

Origin: Greek
Meaning: Wickedness, corruption, evil
Description: A Greek name meaning wickedness and moral corruption — active evil that corrupts everything it touches.

Miasma (Μίασμα)

Origin: Greek
Meaning: Pollution, corruption, contamination
Description: The Greek word for pollution and corruption — a corrupting contamination that spreads and defiles.

Asebeia (Ἀσέβεια)

Origin: Greek
Meaning: Impiety, corruption of the sacred
Description: A Greek name meaning impiety — the corruption of what is sacred and the violation of divine order.

Anomia (Ἀνομία)

Origin: Greek
Meaning: Lawlessness, moral corruption
Description: A Greek name meaning lawlessness and moral corruption — the rejection of all moral and divine law.

Aischyne (Αἰσχύνη)

Origin: Greek
Meaning: Shame, corruption of honor
Description: A Greek name meaning shame — the corruption of one’s honor and the disgrace of moral failure.

Kakodaimon (Κακοδαίμων)

Origin: Greek
Meaning: Evil spirit, demon of corruption
Description: A Greek name meaning an evil spirit or demon — a corrupting influence from the dark spirit world.

Aporia (Ἀπορία)

Origin: Greek
Meaning: Corruption of understanding, confusion
Description: A Greek name meaning the corruption of clear thinking — the confusion and moral paralysis of the mind.

Thanatos (Θάνατος)

Origin: Greek
Meaning: Death, corruption
Description: The Greek personification of death — the ultimate corruption and dissolution of the living form.

Momos (Μῶμος)

Origin: Greek
Meaning: Blame, corruption through mockery
Description: The Greek god of mockery and blame — one who corrupts reputations and moral standing through scorn.

Eris (Ἔρις)

Origin: Greek
Meaning: Discord, corruption of harmony
Description: The Greek goddess of discord — one who corrupts peace and harmony through strife and conflict.

Mania (Μανία)

Origin: Greek
Meaning: Madness, corruption of the mind
Description: The Greek spirit of madness — the corruption of reason and sanity by overwhelming destructive force.

Lyssa (Λύσσα)

Origin: Greek
Meaning: Rage, corruption of reason
Description: The Greek spirit of rage and madness — corruption of the rational mind through uncontrolled fury.

Ate (Ἄτη)

Origin: Greek
Meaning: Ruin, moral corruption, delusion
Description: The Greek goddess of ruin and moral corruption — she who leads mortals astray into corruption.

Kakurgos (Κακοῦργος)

Origin: Greek
Meaning: Evildoer, one who corrupts
Description: A Greek name meaning a criminal evildoer — one who corrupts society through deliberate wickedness.

Hybris (Ὕβρις)

Origin: Greek
Meaning: Pride, corruption through arrogance
Description: The Greek concept of excessive pride — the corruption of one’s character through arrogance and hubris.

German Names That Mean Corruption

Verderb

Origin: German
Meaning: Corruption, ruin, decay
Description: The German word for corruption and ruin — the process by which something good is destroyed or decayed.

Verderbnis

Origin: German
Meaning: Corruption, depravity
Description: A German name meaning corruption and depravity — the moral rot that destroys character from within.

Verwesung

Origin: German
Meaning: Decay, corruption, putrefaction
Description: The German word for putrefaction and decay — the physical corruption of a body or moral rot.

Fäulnis

Origin: German
Meaning: Rottenness, corruption
Description: The German word for rottenness and corruption — the decay of something once wholesome and pure.

Bestechung

Origin: German
Meaning: Bribery, corruption
Description: The German word for bribery and corruption — the moral decay caused by dishonest gain and deceit.

Sittenverfall

Origin: German
Meaning: Moral corruption, decline of morals
Description: A German compound meaning the decline and corruption of morality in a person or society.

Schlechtigkeit

Origin: German
Meaning: Wickedness, corruption
Description: The German word for wickedness and moral corruption — badness of character and corrupt nature.

Niederträchtigkeit

Origin: German
Meaning: Baseness, corruption, vileness
Description: A German name meaning baseness and corrupt vileness — the lowest form of moral depravity.

Bosheit

Origin: German
Meaning: Malice, corruption, wickedness
Description: The German word for malice and wickedness — a corrupt heart filled with deliberate ill intent.

Lasterhaftigkeit

Origin: German
Meaning: Viciousness, moral corruption
Description: A German name meaning viciousness and moral corruption — a life given over to corrupt vices.

Verworfenheit

Origin: German
Meaning: Depravity, corruption, reprobacy
Description: A German name meaning total depravity and corruption — being completely given over to wickedness.

Entartung

Origin: German
Meaning: Degeneration, corruption
Description: A German word meaning degeneration and corruption — the decay of something into a corrupt and lesser form.

Verkommenheit

Origin: German
Meaning: Depravity, corruption, dissoluteness
Description: A German name meaning utter depravity and corruption — the complete dissolution of moral character.

Schandtat

Origin: German
Meaning: Shameful deed, act of corruption
Description: A German compound meaning a shameful and corrupt deed — an act of disgrace and moral violation.

Laster

Origin: German
Meaning: Vice, corruption, moral failing
Description: The German word for vice and moral corruption — a habitual failing that corrupts character over time.

Schande

Origin: German
Meaning: Shame, corruption of honor
Description: The German word for shame and dishonor — the corruption of one’s moral reputation and standing.

Frevel

Origin: German
Meaning: Sacrilege, corruption of the sacred
Description: A German name meaning sacrilege and impious corruption — the violation of what is sacred and holy.

Verfall

Origin: German
Meaning: Decay, corruption, collapse
Description: The German word for decay and collapse — the corruption and gradual deterioration of all things.

Unrat

Origin: German
Meaning: Filth, corruption, refuse
Description: A German name meaning filth and corruption — the refuse and moral waste of a depraved character.

Sittenlosigkeit

Origin: German
Meaning: Immorality, corruption of morals
Description: A German compound meaning the complete corruption of moral standards — total immorality and depravity.