FamilyEducation by PlayKids: 75 Halloween-Inspired Names for Little Ghouls

There's more to Halloween than costumes and candy. Behind the holiday's ghost stories, beloved witches, and moonlit legends are names that feel surprising, beautiful, and full of character. Sabrina brings to mind a young witch, Casper a friendly ghost, and Coraline a little girl with an extraordinary adventure.

For parents drawn to something a bit different, Halloween can be a wonderful source of baby name inspiration. Some names are familiar favorites with spooky pop culture connections, while others come from centuries-old mythology, folklore, and literature. Our horror-inspired baby names and Gothic girl names offer even more inspiration for those who love the mysterious and unusual.

We've rounded up 75 Halloween-inspired baby names for girls and boys, complete with their origins, meanings, and connections to the season. Whether you love something quietly mysterious or a name with a darker twist, there's plenty to discover!

Halloween-Inspired Names for Girls

From famous witches and magical creatures to beautiful names inspired by the moon and stars, Halloween offers plenty of inspiration for baby girls. Some of these names have a distinctly spooky feel, while others have fascinating stories behind them that you might not have known about.

Agatha - Greek, meaning "good" or "honorable." A lovely vintage name with a witchy connection thanks to Agatha Harkness from Marvel's WandaVision and Agatha All Along.
Ara - Arabic, meaning "embellishing," according to FamilyEducation's name database. Ara is also the name of a constellation, giving it a celestial connection.
Artemis - Greek, the goddess of the hunt, wilderness, and wild animals. Artemis is also associated with the moon in Greek mythology.
Aurora - Latin, meaning "dawn." Aurora is also the princess placed under a sleeping curse in Disney's Sleeping Beauty.
Bellatrix - Latin, meaning "female warrior." Harry Potter fans will recognize Bellatrix Lestrange, one of the series' most notorious witches.
Buffy - English, a nickname for Elizabeth, meaning "God is my oath." Of course, Buffy Summers is the fearless heroine of Buffy the Vampire Slayer.
Celeste - Latin, meaning "heavenly." A beautiful celestial name that brings to mind starry skies and mysterious nights.
Circe - Greek, the name of a powerful enchantress in Greek mythology. Circe was famous for her ability to transform people into animals.
Clarice - Latin, meaning "bright" or "clear." Clarice Starling is the determined FBI trainee from The Silence of the Lambs.
Coraline - Latin, meaning "rock," according to FamilyEducation's name database. Coraline is the adventurous heroine of Neil Gaiman's wonderfully eerie novel and its animated film adaptation.
Elvira - A name with Spanish and Germanic connections and an uncertain original meaning. Elvira, Mistress of the Dark, is one of horror's most recognizable personalities.
Evangeline - Greek, meaning "bearer of good news." Its romantic, old-fashioned sound makes it a beautiful choice for parents who love Gothic literature.
Esme - French, meaning "esteemed" or "beloved." Esme Cullen is the compassionate vampire matriarch from the Twilight series.
Fiona - Gaelic, meaning "fair" or "white." Fiona Goode is the powerful Supreme witch from American Horror Story: Coven.
Gwendolyn - Welsh, commonly interpreted as "white ring" or "fair and blessed." An elegant name with an enchanting, old-world feel.
Isolde - A medieval name of uncertain origin, famous for the tragic legend of Tristan and Isolde. Its romantic history gives it a haunting quality.
Lenore - A form of Eleanor, traditionally associated with "light." The name appears in Edgar Allan Poe's famous poem The Raven.
Lilith - A name associated with night spirits in ancient folklore and later Jewish traditions. Lilith has become a popular choice for those drawn to dark, mythological names.
Luna - Latin, meaning "moon." A beautiful choice inspired by moonlit nights and celestial magic.
Miranda - Latin, meaning "worthy of admiration." Miranda is also the name of a character in Shakespeare's magical play The Tempest.
Morgana - Welsh, associated with the sea and the legendary enchantress Morgan le Fay. A mysterious name with strong connections to Arthurian magic.
Morticia - A fictional name associated with the Latin word for "death." Morticia Addams is the elegant and delightfully macabre mother from The Addams Family.
Mystery - An English word name referring to something unknown or unexplained. A rare and unusual choice for parents who love a little intrigue.
Nora - A name associated with "honor" or "light," depending on its origin. Nora is a softer, more subtle choice for parents drawn to vintage names.
Nyx - Greek, meaning "night." Nyx is the powerful goddess and personification of night in Greek mythology.
Ravenna - Italian, inspired by the historic city of Ravenna. Queen Ravenna is also the dark sorceress from Snow White and the Huntsman.
Regina - Latin, meaning "queen." Regina Mills is the Evil Queen from the fantasy television series Once Upon a Time.
Sabrina - A name associated with the River Severn in ancient legend. Sabrina Spellman is the beloved teenage witch from Sabrina the Teenage Witch and Chilling Adventures of Sabrina.
Selene - Greek, meaning "moon." Selene was the goddess of the moon in Greek mythology and is also the vampire heroine of the Underworld films.
Serafina - Hebrew and Latin roots, meaning "fiery" or "burning one." Serafina Pekkala is a witch queen in Philip Pullman's His Dark Materials.
Tempest - English, meaning "storm." A dramatic name inspired by wild weather, dark skies, and Shakespeare's magical play The Tempest.
Vivienne - French, from Latin roots meaning "alive" or "lively." Its elegant sound makes it a lovely choice for parents who love romantic, mysterious names.
Wednesday - Old English, meaning "Woden's day." Wednesday Addams is famous for her dark humor, gothic style, and fascination with all things spooky.
Winifred - Welsh, often interpreted as "blessed peace." Winifred Sanderson is the memorable leader of the three witches in Disney's Hocus Pocus.
Zelda - German, meaning "gray warrior" or "woman warrior." Zelda Spellman is Sabrina's witchy aunt in Sabrina the Teenage Witch.

Halloween-Inspired Names for Boys

From legendary monsters and powerful wizards to familiar names with spooky connections, there are plenty of Halloween baby names for boys to explore.

Some are inspired by ancient mythology, while others belong to unforgettable characters from classic horror movies, Gothic novels, and popular fantasy stories.

Acheron - Greek, associated with a river of sorrow or woe in the underworld. In Greek mythology, Acheron is one of the rivers associated with the realm of the dead.
Alaric - Gothic, meaning "ruler of all." Alaric was also the name of a famous Visigothic king.
Blair - Scottish Gaelic, meaning "plain" or "field." Horror fans may recognize the name from the cult film The Blair Witch Project.
Bram - Often used as a short form of Abraham, meaning "father of many." Bram Stoker was the author of the famous Gothic horror novel Dracula.
Casper - Persian, meaning "treasurer." Casper is also the name of the friendly ghost from the classic cartoons and films.
Crow - Old English, referring to the black bird. Crows have long been associated with mystery, folklore, and supernatural tales.
Damien - French form of Damian, from Greek roots meaning "to tame." Damien Thorn is the sinister child from the horror film The Omen.
Dante - Italian, meaning "enduring." Dante Alighieri famously described a journey through Hell in The Divine Comedy.
Dorian - Greek, meaning "of the Dorian people." Dorian Gray is the mysterious protagonist of Oscar Wilde's Gothic novel The Picture of Dorian Gray.
Draco - Latin, meaning "dragon." Draco is also the name of a constellation and a character from the Harry Potter series.
Edgar - Old English, meaning "wealthy spear." Edgar Allan Poe is one of the most famous writers of Gothic horror and mystery.
Eli - Hebrew, meaning "high" or "ascended." A short, traditional name with a mysterious sound.
Emrys - Welsh, meaning "immortal." Emrys is also associated with the legendary wizard Merlin.
Felix - Latin, meaning "happy" or "fortunate." A classic name that also brings to mind black cats, a familiar symbol of Halloween.
Fenrir - Old Norse, associated with a monstrous wolf in Norse mythology. Fenrir is destined to play a major role in the events of Ragnarök.
Freddy - Germanic, meaning "peaceful ruler." Freddy Krueger is the terrifying villain from A Nightmare on Elm Street.
Gideon - Hebrew, meaning "hewer" or "one who cuts down." A traditional name with a strong, mysterious feel.
Gunner - Scandinavian, meaning "bold warrior." A strong choice with the sort of adventurous feel often found in dark fantasy stories.
Hades - Greek, traditionally associated with "the unseen." Hades was the god and ruler of the underworld in Greek mythology.
Ichabod - Hebrew, meaning "the glory has departed." Ichabod Crane is the main character of Washington Irving's The Legend of Sleepy Hollow.
Jack - English, derived from John, meaning "God is gracious." A perfect Halloween-inspired choice thanks to jack-o'-lanterns and Jack Skellington from The Nightmare Before Christmas.
Jasper - Persian, meaning "treasurer." Jasper Hale is a vampire from the Twilight series.
Leon - Greek, meaning "lion." Leon S. Kennedy is a familiar hero to fans of the Resident Evil horror video games.
Lucian - Latin, meaning "light." Lucian is also the name of a powerful werewolf leader in the Underworld films.
Lestat - A name associated with French origins and the vampire Lestat de Lioncourt from Anne Rice's The Vampire Chronicles. Its precise meaning is uncertain.
Malcolm - Scottish Gaelic, meaning "disciple of Saint Columba." Malcolm Crowe is the child psychologist from the supernatural thriller The Sixth Sense.
Merlin - Welsh, often associated with "sea fortress." Merlin is the legendary wizard and adviser to King Arthur.
Mordecai - Hebrew, often interpreted as "warrior." A distinctive biblical name with ancient origins.
Norman - Old Germanic, meaning "northern man." Norman Bates is the disturbed motel owner from Alfred Hitchcock's Psycho.
Orion - Greek, commonly interpreted as "rising in the sky." Orion was a legendary hunter in Greek mythology and is also the name of a prominent constellation.
Raven - English, referring to the black bird. Ravens are often associated with mystery and omens, and feature in Edgar Allan Poe's famous poem The Raven.
Rowan - Irish, meaning "little red one." The rowan tree also has a long history of being associated with magical protection in folklore.
Salem - Hebrew, associated with "peace." Salem, Massachusetts, is famous for its historic witch trials, making this an especially fitting Halloween name.
Silas - Latin, meaning "wood" or "forest." A classic name with a mysterious, old-fashioned sound.
Sirius - Greek, meaning "glowing" or "scorching." Sirius Black is also a beloved wizard from the Harry Potter series.
Theodore - Greek, meaning "gift of God." A timeless name with plenty of vintage charm.
Thorne - Old English, meaning "thorn bush." A nature-inspired name with a dark, Gothic feel.
Victor - Latin, meaning "conqueror." Victor Frankenstein is the scientist who creates the famous monster in Mary Shelley's Frankenstein.
Vincent - Latin, meaning "conquering" or "prevailing." Vincent Price was a celebrated actor known for his roles in classic horror films.
Vladimir - Slavic, commonly interpreted as "great ruler." The name brings to mind Vlad the Impaler, the historical ruler often associated with the Dracula legend.

Tips for Choosing a Halloween-Inspired Baby Name

Halloween names can be fun, mysterious, and wonderfully unusual, but it's worth thinking about how your favorite choice will feel long after October 31.

A name like Sabrina, Luna, or Vincent has a subtle connection to the season without immediately making people think of Halloween. Others, like Morticia, Bellatrix, and Hades, have much stronger associations with particular characters or mythology.

It's also worth considering the story behind the name. Some Halloween-inspired names are associated with villains or frightening figures, while others belong to heroes, magical creatures, and beloved characters.

And, of course, say your favorite names aloud! A name might look beautiful on paper but sound quite different when paired with your last name.

Found Your Favorite Halloween Baby Name?

And there we have it! From magical names inspired by witches and mythology to spooky favorites from books and movies, Halloween offers some surprisingly beautiful baby name inspiration.

Whether you've fallen in love with a classic like Sabrina or something more unusual like Bellatrix or Ichabod, we hope you've discovered a name that captures your imagination.

Which one is your favorite? Happy naming!

Halloween Baby Names - FAQ's

What are some beautiful Halloween-inspired girl names?

There are plenty of lovely choices that capture the magic of Halloween without sounding too spooky. Luna, Selene, Sabrina, and Aurora are some of our favorites. Each has a connection to the moon, magic, or fantasy, making them wonderful choices for parents who love the season.

What are some spooky boy names?

Damien, Dorian, Ichabod, and Bram are all great choices for horror fans. Damien is associated with The Omen, while Dorian comes from Oscar Wilde's Gothic novel The Picture of Dorian Gray. Bram is a more subtle choice, inspired by Dracula author Bram Stoker.

What are some witch-inspired baby names?

Sabrina, Winifred, Morgana, and Circe are all beautiful names with connections to witches and enchantresses. Sabrina and Winifred are familiar from popular movies and television, while Circe and Morgana have roots in mythology and legend. For more inspiration, explore our Gothic girl names.

What are some Halloween baby names that aren't too obvious?

A Halloween-inspired name doesn't have to be dark or unusual. Casper, Felix, Luna, and Vincent all have connections to spooky stories, famous characters, or symbols of the season without feeling overly themed. They're great choices if you love Halloween but want something more traditional.

Can Halloween-inspired baby names be gender-neutral?

Absolutely! Raven, Blair, Rowan, and Salem are all names that can work for boys or girls. Each has a connection to nature, folklore, or spooky stories, making them versatile choices with a little extra character.