340+ Names That Mean Regret With Deep Meanings (+ Origins)

Hey there! So, you’re curious about names that mean regret? I get it – at first, I was like “Who’d want that?” But trust me, there’s something really special about these names that goes way deeper than you might think.

You know how sometimes the saddest songs end up being the most beautiful? That’s kind of what’s happening with these names. Sure, they might mean regret or sorrow, but parents aren’t choosing them to be gloomy – they’re picking them because they tell powerful stories and remember important moments.

Think about it – every culture has its own way of dealing with tough emotions, right? Some write songs, others paint pictures, and yes, some give names that capture these deep feelings. It’s pretty amazing how different cultures around the world have their own special names for these complex emotions.

Just between us, I think choosing a name like this is kind of brave. It’s not about focusing on the sad stuff – it’s more like turning something difficult into something meaningful, you know what I mean? Like how we name our pets silly things or give our friend groups fun nicknames, except this time it’s about honoring life’s more serious moments.

Let me tell you about some of these names – I think you’ll be surprised at how beautiful they can be, even with their deep meanings.

Names That Mean Regret

You know what’s fascinating about names? They can capture complex emotions perfectly. Here’s a list of names that specifically mean regret:

  • Rue (English) – Pure regret
  • Mara (Hebrew) – Bitter regret
  • Dolores (Spanish) – Sorrows
  • Metanoia (Greek) – The journey of changing one’s mind
  • Contrita (Latin) – Remorseful
  • Jabez (Hebrew) – Born in pain
  • Triste (French) – Sad, regretful
  • Kenosis (Greek) – Emptying oneself
  • Pashima (Sanskrit) – Remorse
  • Nadam (Tamil) – Regret
  • Larina (Russian) – Remorseful
  • Afsos (Persian) – Regret
  • Reue (German) – Remorse
  • Kaipo (Hawaiian) – Deep regret
  • Meshmum (Arabic) – Regretful
  • Tristeza (Portuguese) – Sadness
  • Penarol (Spanish) – Regretful
  • Kuyashii (Japanese) – Regrettable
  • Heureu (Welsh) – Regret
  • Pashchaatap (Sanskrit) – Deep remorse

Names That Mean Sorrow

When people pick names from this category, they’re often looking for something with depth. Like how beautiful group names can capture a feeling, these names tell stories of deep emotion:

  • Dolores (Latin) – Like a gentle rain, means “sorrows”
  • Tristán (Celtic) – You might know this one from old stories, means “full of sorrow”
  • Deirdre (Irish) – One of Ireland’s most touching names, means “sorrowful”
  • Odessa (Greek) – Carries a long journey of sadness
  • Blake (Old English) – Dark or pale, often linked to sorrow
  • Lyra (Greek) – A sad melody
  • Mallory (French) – Unlucky or unfortunate
  • Doran (Irish) – Wanderer in sorrow
  • Nina (Hebrew) – Always yearning
  • Keiko (Japanese) – Child of sorrow
  • Aida (Arabic) – Returning visitor, often in sadness
  • Leah (Hebrew) – Weary one
  • Dylan (Welsh) – Son of the sea, tied to melancholy
  • Iris (Greek) – Rainbow after tears
  • Sascha (Russian) – Defender in sorrow
  • Orpheus (Greek) – Remember that musician who lost his love?
  • Lior (Hebrew) – My light in darkness
  • Desdemona (Greek) – Of misery
  • Niobe (Greek) – She cried so much she turned to stone
  • Sylvia (Latin) – Forest dweller, often alone

Names That Mean Mistake

Ever made a wrong turn that led somewhere interesting? These names, like unique group names, have unexpected stories:

  • Ate (Greek) – The goddess of mischief and mistakes
  • Hamartia (Greek) – A tragic flaw
  • Error (Latin) – Straight to the point!
  • Culpa (Latin) – Fault or blame
  • Missed (English) – Like a missed opportunity
  • Erratum (Latin) – A printer’s mistake
  • Fault (English) – Simple but meaningful
  • Lapse (English) – A temporary slip
  • Mea (Latin) – Part of “my fault”
  • Slip (English) – Like a small mistake
  • Flub (Modern) – A funny way to say mistake
  • Gaffe (French) – A social mistake
  • Blooper (English) – A lighthearted error
  • Errare (Latin) – To wander or make mistakes
  • Mishap (English) – A small accident
  • Fallible (Latin) – Capable of making mistakes
  • Oops (Modern) – Everyone’s favorite mistake word!
  • Blunder (Old Norse) – A big mistake
  • Faux (French) – False or mistaken
  • Wrong (Old English) – Simple and clear

Girl Names That Mean Regret

You know how sometimes a name just feels right? Like picking beautiful group names, these names have a certain something special about them:

  • Dolores – It’s Spanish, and honestly, it’s got such a pretty sound for meaning “sorrows”
  • Mara – Ever had a bitter moment? This Hebrew name captures that feeling
  • Rue – Yep, like the plant! But it also means regret
  • Nina – Such a sweet name, but it means “great granddaughter” or sometimes “sorrow”
  • Leah – Here’s a surprise – this popular name means “weary”
  • Trista – It means sad, but doesn’t it sound kind of beautiful?
  • Desiree – It means “desired” but has roots in sorrow too
  • Electra – Talk about dramatic! Named after a pretty sad Greek myth
  • Claudia – It means “lame” but has become super stylish
  • Melanie – “Dark” or “black” in Greek, often linked to sadness
  • Lyra – Like a sad song on a harp
  • Odette – Sounds fancy, means “wealth” but has tragic story roots
  • Lenore – If you’re into Poe, you’ll get this reference!
  • Portia – Means “offering” but often tied to regret in literature
  • Viola – Like the instrument that plays sad songs
  • Saskia – Has a meaning tied to protection in sorrow
  • Niobe – Named after someone who lost everything
  • Ophelia – Shakespeare fans might know this sad story
  • Mallory – Means “unfortunate” but sounds pretty cool
  • Desdemona – Another Shakespeare special, means “ill-fated”

Boy Names That Mean Regret

Just like picking powerful team names, these names pack a punch with their meanings:

  • Tristan – Love this one! It means “full of sorrow” but sounds totally modern
  • Jabez – Hebrew name meaning “he makes sorrowful”
  • Blake – Means “dark”, often linked to sadness
  • Dylan – Welsh name with a touch of sea sorrow
  • Orpheus – The original sad musician
  • Malcolm – Means “devotee of Saint Columba” but has sorrowful undertones
  • Byron – Like the poet who wrote lots about regret
  • Edgar – Think Edgar Allan Poe vibes
  • Dante – Wrote about some pretty regretful stuff
  • Caleb – Can mean “dog” or “faithful”, but has some sorrowful meanings too
  • Ethan – Strong name, but can mean “enduring sorrow”
  • Harvey – Means “battle worthy” with a hint of regret
  • Morris – Means “dark-skinned” but often associated with regret
  • Pierce – Like something piercing your heart
  • Simon – Means “he has heard” often of sadness
  • Wade – Like wading through sorrow
  • Xavier – Means “new house” but has some regretful connections
  • Kendrick – “Royal ruler” with a touch of sorrow
  • Lucian – Means “light” but often used in sad contexts
  • Otto – Means “wealth” but has some regretful historical connections

Names That Mean Broken Soul

These names hit different, kind of like when you’re picking emotional group names. They’re deep but beautiful:

  • Alma – You might not know this, but in some cultures it means “soul” with a hint of melancholy
  • Sheiver – Sound like “shiver”? It’s about a broken spirit
  • Rook – Like the chess piece, stands alone
  • Anima – It’s the soul in Latin, often used for broken spirits
  • Kintsugi – Love this one! It’s about being broken and made beautiful again
  • Psyche – Not just a psychology term, means “soul” in Greek
  • Shatter – Pretty direct, right?
  • Nefesh – Hebrew for soul, often used in sad contexts
  • Brynn – Sounds pretty but means “hill” – like climbing out of darkness
  • Cassandra – Poor thing, nobody believed her predictions!
  • Phoenix – Because sometimes you need to burn before rising
  • Atlas – Carrying the weight of the world – talk about heavy!
  • Echo – Remember that nymph who faded to just a voice?
  • Raven – Like Poe’s bird, full of sorrow
  • Wraith – Spooky but meaningful
  • Shadow – Because sometimes that’s all that’s left
  • Spirit – Can mean both the soul and what remains
  • Ghost – Not just for Halloween!
  • Specter – Similar to ghost, but more poetic
  • Soul – Sometimes simple is best

Names That Mean Cursed

Okay, these might sound intense, but they’re actually super interesting – like picking powerful team names but with a twist:

  • Cassandra – Got the gift of prophecy but was cursed to never be believed
  • Midas – Everything he touched turned to gold – sounds great until you think about it!
  • Sisyphus – Talk about a bad day that never ends
  • Pandora – Opened that famous box
  • Echo – Cursed to only repeat others’ words
  • Tantalus – Forever hungry and thirsty
  • Ajax – A hero with a tragic end
  • Medusa – Bad hair day forever!
  • Cronus – Cursed by his own kids
  • Icarus – Flew too close to the sun
  • Orion – Great hunter with a sad ending
  • Antigone – Family drama taken to the extreme
  • Oedipus – Yikes, talk about family issues
  • Persephone – Got stuck eating pomegranate seeds
  • Narcissus – Self-love gone wrong
  • Daedalus – Built a maze he couldn’t escape
  • Arachne – Challenged the wrong goddess
  • Prometheus – No good deed goes unpunished
  • Orpheus – Shouldn’t have looked back
  • Actaeon – Wrong place, wrong time

Names That Mean Sad and Lonely

Like picking a good unique username, these names really say something about feeling alone:

  • Enid – It’s Welsh and means “soul” or “life,” but it’s often linked to loneliness
  • Solo – Pretty straightforward, right?
  • Monty – From “mountain,” think about standing alone at the top
  • Isolde – Remember that sad love story?
  • Celeste – Sounds pretty but means “heavenly” – sometimes in a lonely way
  • Soledad – Spanish for “solitude”
  • Forsyth – Old name about being left behind
  • Una – Means “one” in Latin – kind of says it all
  • Ernest – Sounds serious because, well, it is
  • Monroe – “Mouth of the river” – rivers can be pretty lonely
  • Heath – Like those lonely moors in old stories
  • Briar – Think thorns keeping everyone away
  • Valley – Ever felt low and alone?
  • Garth – Means “garden,” but like a secret, lonely one
  • Hazel – Sometimes used for lonely wanderers
  • Wren – Small bird that sings alone
  • Ash – What’s left after everything’s gone
  • Reed – Stands alone in the water
  • Dawn – Beautiful but lonely time of day
  • Vesper – Evening star, all by itself

Names That Mean Sadness

You know how some days just feel blue? These names capture that feeling pretty well:

  • Dolores – The classic “sorrow” name
  • Tristan – Been around forever, still hits hard
  • Deirdre – Irish name about tears
  • Lyra – Like a sad song
  • Blake – Dark and moody
  • Nina – The eternal sigher
  • Mallory – “Unlucky” but make it fancy
  • Leah – Weary but hopeful
  • Dylan – Sea sorrows, anyone?
  • Iris – Rainbow after crying
  • Sascha – Defender against sadness
  • Keiko – Child of sorrow
  • Odessa – Long journey of sadness
  • Sylvia – Forest of dark thoughts
  • Tristeza – Literally “sadness”
  • Melanie – Dark thoughts
  • Doran – Stranger in sorrow
  • Aida – Returning to sadness
  • Niobe – Cried herself to stone
  • Lior – Light in darkness

Names That Mean Broken Heart

You know that feeling when your heart just isn’t quite whole? These names really capture that – kind of like picking emotional group names, but more personal:

  • Kalb – Arabic for “heart,” often used when it’s hurting
  • Dido – Poor thing got left behind by Aeneas
  • Hero – Lost her love to the sea
  • Ariadne – Talk about being ghosted on an island!
  • Corazon – Spanish for “heart,” but with a touch of pain
  • Heartley – Modern name about heart’s trials
  • Kardia – Greek for heart
  • Cordis – Latin heart, often broken
  • Valentine – Not always about happy love
  • Philomena – Means “loved,” but often sadly
  • Romeo – We all know how that ended
  • Juliet – Same story, different perspective
  • Isolde – Another tragic love story
  • Pyramus – Lost his Thisbe
  • Thisbe – Lost her Pyramus
  • Lancelot – Talk about complicated love!
  • Guinevere – She knows about heartbreak
  • Helen – Launched ships, broke hearts
  • Paris – Caused quite a mess for love
  • Psyche – Even love gods can break hearts

Girl Names That Mean Broken Soul

These names hit different, don’t they? Like when you’re looking for unique usernames but want something with real meaning:

  • Alma – “Soul” with a touch of sadness
  • Psyche – The original broken soul story
  • Anima – Latin soul, often hurting
  • Nephesh – Hebrew soul in pain
  • Spirit – Sometimes broken, always beautiful
  • Echo – Lost herself to love
  • Shadow – What remains after light fades
  • Raven – Dark but powerful
  • Phoenix – Because breaking isn’t the end
  • Cassandra – Nobody believed her
  • Luna – Sometimes the moon feels broken too
  • Selene – Another moon goddess with scars
  • Iris – Rainbow through tears
  • Nova – Exploding star
  • Aurora – Dawn after darkness
  • Vesper – Evening star, alone
  • Stella – Star that’s fallen
  • Pandora – Opened that box and changed everything
  • Persephone – Split between two worlds
  • Andromeda – Chained but survived

Last Names That Mean Sorry

Hey, did you know family names can carry meanings of regret too? It’s kind of like how some family group names tell a story about where we come from:

  • Penitent – Straight to the point, right?
  • Regretti – Yeah, sounds Italian but means exactly what you think
  • Sorrowman – Old English families sometimes got pretty literal
  • Mournweather – Like a sad forecast
  • Pardonne – French for “forgiven”
  • McSorry – Not kidding, some Scottish names went there!
  • Reuefeld – German for “field of regret”
  • Apologius – Latin roots, obviously
  • Culpable – Talk about carrying guilt in your name
  • Contrite – Old religious family name
  • Repentance – Those Puritan naming traditions, you know?
  • Woeful – Medieval English families had a flair for drama
  • Lamentable – Another dramatic one
  • Sighman – Pretty self-explanatory
  • Griefson – Scandinavian-style naming
  • Regretful – Sometimes they kept it simple
  • Remorseful – Middle English vibes
  • Apologen – Greek-inspired
  • Pityworth – Old English compound name
  • Sadler – Not just about making saddles!

Names Meaning Sad

These names are like picking powerful team names – they pack an emotional punch:

  • Triste – French for sad, but sounds kind of pretty
  • Melancholia – A bit much? Maybe, but some people dig it
  • Dolour – Old English, straight to the point
  • Tristeza – Spanish sad, but make it fancy
  • Kuroe – Japanese “dark blessing”
  • Kaipo – Hawaiian sorrow (but sounds cool!)
  • Ailish – Irish melancholy
  • Dalma – Hungarian sad soul
  • Lethia – Greek forgetfulness (kind of sad)
  • Morina – Spanish mourning
  • Sytha – Ancient sorrow
  • Dorran – Irish wanderer in sadness
  • Morna – Scottish melancholy
  • Thyri – Norse thunder sadness
  • Desdemona – Greek misery (thanks, Shakespeare!)
  • Lalita – Sanskrit playful sadness
  • Querida – Spanish beloved sadness
  • Soraya – Persian sad princess
  • Inessa – Russian pure sadness
  • Tristepin – French sad pine

Names Meaning Sorrow

These names are pretty deep – kind of like when you’re trying to find unique group names but want something with real meaning:

  • Dolores – Classic choice, right? It literally means “sorrows” in Spanish
  • Tristán – Always reminds me of that old love story
  • Deirdre – Irish legends really knew how to do sorrow!
  • Mara – Short but packs quite an emotional punch
  • Odessa – Sounds pretty but means “long journey of sorrow”
  • Ailish – It’s got that Irish flair for beautiful sadness
  • Blake – Dark and moody, but in a cool way
  • Lyra – Like a sad song on a rainy day
  • Mallory – “Unlucky,” but honestly, it sounds kind of lovely
  • Doran – Perfect for those wandering soul vibes
  • Nina – The eternal sigh
  • Keiko – Japanese for “sorrowful child”
  • Aida – Carries weight but still sounds beautiful
  • Leah – Weary but hopeful
  • Dylan – Got that sea sorrow feeling
  • Iris – Rainbow after tears – pretty hopeful, actually!
  • Sascha – Like a defender against sadness
  • Orpheus – The original sad musician
  • Niobe – Talk about dramatic – she turned to stone from crying!
  • Sylvia – Forest dwelling with a touch of melancholy

Names That Mean Sad

You know those days when everything just feels a bit blue? These names really get that feeling:

  • Triste – French, and honestly, it sounds prettier than it means
  • Melanie – Dark thoughts but make it fashionable
  • Tristeza – Spanish sadness with style
  • Soraya – Persian princess of sadness
  • Desdemona – Shakespeare really knew how to name tragic characters
  • Lethia – Greek forgetfulness that hits right in the feels
  • Morina – Like morning mist but sadder
  • Dorran – Wandering in sadness, but make it Irish
  • Morna – Scottish melancholy at its finest
  • Thyri – Norse thunder sadness – cool, right?
  • Lalita – Sanskrit playful sadness
  • Querida – Beloved sadness in Spanish
  • Inessa – Russian pure sadness
  • Kaipo – Hawaiian sorrow that sounds kind of awesome
  • Kuroe – Japanese dark blessing
  • Ailish – Irish melancholy with a twist
  • Dalma – Hungarian sad soul
  • Sytha – Ancient sorrow vibes
  • Tristepin – Sad pine in French
  • Dolour – Old English straight-up sadness

Names With Sad Meanings

You ever notice how some names just have that “feels” vibe? Like when you’re picking out unique usernames and want something that really means something:

  • Dolores – It’s funny how such a pretty name means “sorrows”
  • Tristan – This one always reminds me of old love stories
  • Deirdre – Irish names really know how to hit you in the feels
  • Mara – Short and sweet but means “bitter” – wild, right?
  • Blake – Dark and brooding, but in that cool way
  • Nina – Ever felt like sighing all day? That’s this name
  • Mallory – “Unlucky” but somehow sounds lucky?
  • Doran – Like someone wandering alone in the rain
  • Lyra – Think sad songs on a rainy day
  • Keiko – Japanese for “sorrowful child” but sounds so nice
  • Aida – Beautiful name, heavy heart
  • Leah – That tired-but-keeping-going feeling
  • Dylan – Got that ocean of sadness vibe
  • Iris – Like finding colors in the rain
  • Sascha – Fighting against the sad stuff
  • Orpheus – The original sad musician guy
  • Lior – Light in dark times
  • Niobe – Okay, this one’s intense – cried so much she turned to stone!
  • Sylvia – Forest vibes but make it melancholy
  • Echo – You know that feeling when words just bounce back empty?

Names That Mean Failure

Hey, don’t let these get you down! They’re actually pretty interesting, like how some powerful team names come from unexpected places:

  • Icarus – Flying too close to the sun, classic oops moment
  • Cassandra – Nobody believed her, poor thing
  • Sisyphus – Talk about a never-ending bad day
  • Ajax – Hero who just couldn’t catch a break
  • Perdita – “Lost” in Latin, but sounds kind of pretty?
  • Milo – Soldier who missed the mark
  • Flaw – Straight to the point, I guess!
  • Miss – Like a missed chance
  • Fault – Sometimes simple says it best
  • Lapse – We all have these moments
  • Error – Keeping it real
  • Culpa – Fancy way to say “my bad”
  • Gaffe – Social whoopsie
  • Blooper – Making mistakes fun!
  • Misfire – When things don’t quite work out
  • Slip – Like those banana peel moments
  • Flub – Kind of a cute way to say mistake
  • Mishap – When things go sideways
  • Blunder – Big oops energy
  • Wrong – Sometimes you just gotta say it

Names Meaning Misery

You know when you’re having one of those days where everything just feels heavy? These names totally get that vibe. It’s like picking out emotional group names, but with an extra dose of feeling:

  • Aegle – Sounds pretty but means “miserable” in Greek
  • Dolores – Can’t escape this one when talking about sad names!
  • Mallory – Fun fact: it means “unfortunate” but sounds kind of fancy
  • Tristan – The original sad boy of medieval times
  • Deirdre – Irish myth’s queen of misery (but in a beautiful way)
  • Mara – Short and sweet but packs an emotional punch
  • Blake – Dark vibes but make it cool
  • Nina – Forever sighing (but elegantly!)
  • Doran – Like walking alone in the rain
  • Lyra – Think sad songs on a vintage record player
  • Keiko – Japanese for “sorrowful child”
  • Aida – Beautiful name with a heavy heart
  • Leah – That tired-but-still-going feeling
  • Dylan – Ocean of tears kind of vibe
  • Iris – Finding beauty in the rain
  • Sascha – Fighting through the tough times
  • Orpheus – Let’s just say his mixtape was pretty sad
  • Lior – Light in the darkness (there’s hope!)
  • Niobe – The original cry baby (literally turned to stone from crying)
  • Echo – When your heart feels empty but keeps going

Why Choose Names That Mean Regret?

You might be thinking, “Why would anyone pick a name associated with such a heavy emotion?” Well, it’s not as strange as it seems! These names often carry beautiful stories of:

  • Personal growth and transformation
  • Remembrance of important life lessons
  • Honoring family history and traditions
  • Marking significant life changes
  • Celebrating resilience and overcoming challenges

Think of it like choosing powerful team names – sometimes the meaning behind something can give it extra weight and importance.

Cultural Perspectives

Different cultures approach these names in fascinating ways. Here’s a look at some cultural interpretations:

Traditional Examples:

Culture Name Meaning
Hebrew Azubah Forsaken
Irish Deirdre Sorrowful one
Greek Pentheus Man of sorrow
Latin Tristis Sad, mournful
Japanese Kuroe Dark blessing

Like how Japanese group team names carry their own special meanings, these names hold deep cultural significance.

Let’s dive into some well-known names that carry meanings of regret or sorrow:

Names That Mean Regret (Infographic)

Modern Favorites:

  • Rue – Beyond being a lovely herb, it means “regret” in English
  • Mara – Has Hebrew origins meaning “bitter”
  • Dolores – Spanish for “sorrows”
  • Jabez – Hebrew name meaning “he causes pain”
  • Sable – Represents darkness and mourning

Lesser-Known Gems:

  • Acheron – Named after the river of woe in Greek mythology
  • Ichabod – Hebrew for “the glory has departed”
  • Nadir – Arabic name meaning “lowest point”

Emotional Depth and Meaning

These names aren’t just about sadness – they’re like beautiful group names that carry layers of meaning. They often represent:

  1. The duality of human experience
  2. Growth through adversity
  3. Recognition of life’s complexities
  4. Hope rising from darkness

Fun and Quirky Options

Not all regret-themed names need to be super serious! Some playful options include:

  • Winnie – Can mean both joy and sorrow
  • Lula – A surprisingly peppy name with sorrowful roots
  • Posy – Traditionally associated with mourning flowers, but sounds cheerful

Just like how unique usernames are becoming more popular, names with deeper meanings are trending too.

People are increasingly drawn to names that tell a story or carry significant meaning, even if that meaning isn’t entirely positive.

Final Thoughts

Choosing a name that means regret isn’t about dwelling in sadness – it’s about embracing the full spectrum of human experience. These names remind us that even difficult emotions can be transformed into something beautiful and meaningful.

Remember, like choosing creative usernames, picking a name is deeply personal. Whether you’re drawn to these names for their historical significance, cultural meaning, or personal resonance, they carry a unique beauty all their own.