FamilyEducation by PlayKids: 165 Horror Names With Haunting Meanings for Babies

Horror stories have given us more than a few sleepless nights. They've also introduced names that are mysterious, memorable, and sometimes surprisingly beautiful. Think Lucy from Dracula, Victor from Frankenstein, or Wednesday from The Addams Family.

Of course, a horror-inspired name doesn't have to sound frightening. Some have a dramatic connection to mythology, a character with a fascinating story, or simply a dark, romantic feel. From elegant gothic names to bold choices inspired by supernatural creatures, there's plenty here for parents who enjoy something a little different.

We've gathered 165 horror-inspired names for boys and girls, including a few gender-flexible choices, with their meanings and the stories behind them. You'll also find a handful of fantasy or word-name ideas that aren't commonly used as given names. For more inspiration, explore our gothic girl names and gothic boy names.

Biblical Names and Dark Religious Folklore

Stories of forbidden knowledge, ominous figures, and ancient beliefs have inspired some striking names. Not every figure here is considered evil, and some come from later folklore rather than the Bible.

Boy Names

Abaddon - Hebrew, "destruction." In Revelation, Abaddon is associated with the abyss.
Asmodeus - A demon featured in Jewish and later religious traditions; the precise name origin is debated.
Azrael - Associated with the angel of death in several religious traditions; not inherently an evil figure.
Belial - Hebrew, "worthlessness" or "lawlessness"; later personified as a demonic figure.
Cain - Hebrew, "acquired." Cain is remembered for killing his brother Abel.
Damien - Greek, "to tame." Damien is the name of the child in the horror film The Omen.
Leviathan - A great sea creature described in biblical texts; more a creature name than a traditional first name.
Lucifer - Latin, "light-bearer." Later associated with the fallen angel in Christian tradition.
Malphas - A demon named in later grimoires, sometimes depicted as a raven.
Moloch - A name associated with a deity in ancient Near Eastern and biblical traditions; its interpretation is debated.
Naberius - The name of a demon in the Ars Goetia; not a well-established baby-name meaning.
Samael - A figure in Jewish lore, sometimes associated with death or accusation; often interpreted as "poison of God."

Girl Names

Agrat - Agrat bat Mahlat is a night-demon in later Jewish folklore.
Bathsheba - Hebrew, "daughter of the oath." Bathsheba appears in the story of King David.
Delilah - Hebrew, often interpreted as "delicate." A biblical name with a dramatic story.
Eve - Hebrew, "life." The first woman in the Book of Genesis.
Jezebel - A biblical queen portrayed as an antagonist; the name's literal meaning is disputed.
Lilith - A figure associated with night spirits in later Jewish folklore; commonly linked to "night."
Magdalene - A reference to Magdala, a place name associated with a "tower."
Naamah - Hebrew, "pleasant." Also associated with a figure in later demonological traditions.
Rahab - Hebrew, "broad." A biblical woman's name; a separate mythic Rahab appears in biblical poetry.
Salome - From Hebrew, "peace." Associated with a daughter of Herodias in later Christian tradition.

Names From Classic Gothic Literature

From haunted mansions to doomed romances, gothic books are full of memorable names. These are drawn from authors, literary characters, and classic dark stories.

Boy Names

Adrian - Latin, "from Hadria." An elegant name with a dark, literary feel.
Cassius - A Roman family name of uncertain origin, sometimes interpreted as "hollow."
Dorian - Greek, "of the Dorian people." Famously used for the title character of The Picture of Dorian Gray.
Edgar - Old English, "wealthy spear." Think of gothic writer Edgar Allan Poe.
Heathcliff - English literary name, meaning "cliff near a heath." The brooding hero of Wuthering Heights.
Quincey - French-derived, "estate of the fifth son." Quincey Morris appears in Dracula.
Roderick - Germanic, "famous ruler." Roderick Usher appears in Poe's The Fall of the House of Usher.
Seward - Old English, often interpreted as "sea guardian." Dr. John Seward appears in Dracula.
Abraham - Hebrew, "father of many." Professor Abraham Van Helsing is the vampire hunter in Dracula.
Victor - Latin, "conqueror." Victor Frankenstein is the scientist in Mary Shelley's Frankenstein.

Girl Names

Annabel - A form of Anna and Belle, often associated with grace and beauty. Inspired by Poe's poem "Annabel Lee."
Bertha - Germanic, "bright." Bertha Mason appears in Jane Eyre.
Carmilla - A name associated with the title character of Sheridan Le Fanu's vampire novella Carmilla; the meaning is uncertain.
Catherine - Traditionally associated with "pure." Catherine Earnshaw is central to Wuthering Heights.
Emily - Latin-derived, often interpreted as "rival." Emily St. Aubert is the heroine of The Mysteries of Udolpho.
Evangeline - Greek, "bearer of good news." A romantic, hauntingly beautiful literary choice.
Jane - A feminine form of John, "God is gracious." Jane Eyre is a classic gothic novel.
Justine - Latin, "just" or "righteous." Justine Moritz appears in Mary Shelley's Frankenstein.
Laura - Latin, "laurel." Laura narrates the vampire novella Carmilla.
Lenore - A form of Eleanor, often associated with "light." Lenore appears in Poe's poetry.
Ligeia - The name of a mysterious woman in Poe's short story "Ligeia"; often linked with "clear-voiced."
Lucy - Latin, "light." Lucy Westenra appears in Bram Stoker's Dracula.
Madeline - A form of Magdalene, "woman from Magdala." Madeline Usher appears in Poe's The Fall of the House of Usher.
Mina - Often associated with Wilhelmina, "resolute protector." Mina Harker appears in Dracula.
Ophelia - Greek, "help." Shakespeare's tragic heroine gives the name a melancholy literary association.
Ulalume - A name created for Poe's poem "Ulalume"; it has no securely established literal meaning.

Horror Names Inspired by Movies, TV, and Games

Some of horror's most recognizable characters have surprisingly wearable names, while others are made for parents who love a more dramatic choice.

Boy Names

Chucky - A nickname for Charles, "free man." Chucky is the murderous doll in Child's Play.
Dexter - Latin, "right-handed." Dexter Morgan is the protagonist of Dexter.
Bram - A short form of Abraham, "father of many." Bram Stoker wrote Dracula.
Freddy - A nickname for Frederick, "peaceful ruler." Think Freddy Krueger from A Nightmare on Elm Street.
Hannibal - Punic, commonly interpreted as "grace of Baal." Hannibal Lecter appears in The Silence of the Lambs.
Jason - Greek, "healer." Jason Voorhees is the masked killer from Friday the 13th.
Krueger - A German occupational surname, often associated with making pottery or jugs; Freddy Krueger's last name.
Lestat - A fictional name made famous by Anne Rice's vampire Lestat de Lioncourt; its etymology is uncertain.
Michael - Hebrew, "who is like God?" Michael Myers is the masked killer in Halloween.
Norman - Old English, "man from the north." Norman Bates appears in Psycho.

Girl Names

Alessa - A form related to Alexandra, "defender of men." Alessa Gillespie appears in Silent Hill.
Alma - Latin, "nourishing" or "kind." Alma Wade is a haunting figure from the F.E.A.R. games.
Carrie - A diminutive of Caroline, associated with "free person." Carrie White is the heroine of Stephen King's Carrie.
Clarice - Latin, "bright" or "clear." Clarice Starling investigates Hannibal Lecter in The Silence of the Lambs.
Cordelia - A name of uncertain origin. Cordelia Goode is a witch in American Horror Story: Coven.
Elvira - A name of uncertain Germanic origin, famous for Elvira, Mistress of the Dark.
Laurie - A form of Laura, associated with the laurel tree. Laurie Strode faces Michael Myers in Halloween.
Morticia - A name created for Morticia Addams, with a punning connection to "mortician."
Regan - Irish, often interpreted as "little king." Regan MacNeil is the girl in The Exorcist.
Rosemary - Latin-derived, often interpreted as "dew of the sea." Rosemary is the heroine of Rosemary's Baby.
Samara - A name with several possible origins. Samara Morgan is the ghostly figure in The Ring.
Sidney - An English surname and given name with disputed origins. Sidney Prescott survives the Scream films.
Wednesday - An English weekday name. Wednesday Addams is famous for her morbid sense of humor.
Willow - An English tree name. Willow Rosenberg becomes a powerful witch in Buffy the Vampire Slayer.

Names From Mythology and Folklore

Gods of the underworld, mythological monsters, and supernatural spirits have inspired these dark names. Several are creature names or folklore terms rather than conventional baby names.

Boy Names

Acheron - In Greek mythology, a river of the underworld, often associated with grief.
Cerberus - The three-headed dog that guards the Greek underworld; the name's origin is uncertain.
Hades - In Greek mythology, the god and ruler of the underworld; the name's origin is uncertain.
Erebus - Greek, "darkness." Erebus personifies primordial darkness.
Fenrir - A monstrous wolf from Norse mythology; also used as a distinctive myth-inspired name.
Incubus - A male nightmare spirit in European folklore; a creature term rather than an established given name.
Jormungandr - The enormous world-serpent from Norse mythology, also called Jörmungandr.
Charon - Greek mythology's ferryman who carries souls across the river to the underworld.
Judas - From Hebrew, "praised." Judas Iscariot is remembered for betraying Jesus.
Rakshasa - A class of supernatural beings in Hindu and Buddhist traditions, not a conventional first name.
Osiris - An Egyptian god associated with death, resurrection, and the afterlife.
Thanatos - Greek, "death." Thanatos is the personification of death.

Girl Names

Banshee - A female spirit from Irish folklore whose wail is said to foretell death.
Nemain - An Irish war goddess linked to fear and frenzy in battle.
Stheno - Greek, "strong" or "forceful." One of the three Gorgon sisters.
Hecate - The Greek goddess associated with magic, crossroads, and the night; her name's meaning is uncertain.
Kali - Sanskrit, "black" or "time." Kali is a powerful Hindu goddess, not simply a horror villain.
Lamia - A figure from Greek mythology later depicted as a child-devouring monster; the name's meaning is uncertain.
Morrigan - Irish, often interpreted as "phantom queen." The Morrígan is associated with war and fate.
Nemesis - Greek, "retribution." Nemesis personifies divine justice and vengeance.
Rusalka - A female water spirit in Slavic folklore, sometimes portrayed as restless or dangerous.
Persephone - The Greek queen of the underworld and goddess linked to spring; her name's meaning is disputed.
Striga - A supernatural night-bird or witchlike spirit in European folklore.
Valkyrie - Old Norse, "chooser of the slain." Valkyries carry fallen warriors from battle.

Names From Dark History and Legends

These names evoke notorious historical figures, ghost stories, and mysterious mythological characters. A few have gentler meanings or associations than their reputation suggests.

Girl Names

Agrippina - A Roman name borne by Agrippina the Younger, mother of Emperor Nero.
Arachne - Greek, "spider." In myth, Arachne is transformed into a spider after challenging Athena.
Bathory - The surname of Elizabeth Báthory, a noblewoman surrounded by grisly legends and disputed accusations.
Circe - A sorceress from Greek mythology known for transforming men into animals.
Delphine - French, "dolphin." Also borne by Delphine LaLaurie, linked to notorious historical cruelty.
Elizabeth - Hebrew, "God is my oath." Associated with Elizabeth Báthory in dark historical lore.
Medusa - Greek, a snake-haired Gorgon whose gaze turned people to stone; the name's meaning is uncertain.
Nyx - Greek, "night." Nyx personifies the night in Greek mythology.
Salem - A place name associated with "peace," as well as the Massachusetts town famous for witch trials.
Selene - Greek, "moon." Selene is the moon goddess, making it a haunting but gentle mythological choice.

Boy Names

Amon - Egyptian, "the hidden one." Amun (Amon) was a major Egyptian god.
Borgia - A historic Italian family surname, associated with the influential and controversial Borgias.
Caligula - Latin, "little boot." A nickname of the Roman emperor Gaius, remembered for a notorious reputation.
Dracula - A name made famous by Bram Stoker's vampire; Dracula was also linked to Vlad III's family name.
Gilles - French form of Giles, often interpreted as "young goat." Associated with Gilles de Rais.
Iago - A form of James, "supplanter." Iago is the manipulative villain in Shakespeare's Othello.
Lucius - Latin, "light." Also used for sinister fictional characters such as Lucius Malfoy.
Nero - Often interpreted as "strong" in Latin-derived naming sources. Nero was a Roman emperor with a dark reputation.
Rasputin - Russian surname associated with Grigori Rasputin, whose name became linked to mystery and scandal.
Torquemada - A Spanish place-derived surname associated with inquisitor Tomás de Torquemada.
Vlad - Slavic short form of Vladimir, associated with "rule." Think of Vlad the Impaler.
Wolfgang - Germanic, commonly interpreted as "wolf path." A dramatic name with a gothic feel.

Dark Nature-Inspired Baby Names

Stormy skies, night birds, and beautiful but poisonous plants give nature names an unexpectedly gothic edge.

Boy Names

Ash - An English tree name, also suggestive of the ashes left by a fire.
Blaze - English, "flame" or "fire."
Castor - Greek, "beaver"; Castor is also a figure in Greek mythology. Castor beans come from a separate plant name.
Eclipse - A darkening of the sun or moon when one celestial body blocks the light.
Fog - A thick mist that obscures the view; more a word-name idea than an established baby name.
Hemlock - The poisonous plant famously associated with the death of Socrates.
Kestrel - The name of a small falcon; a striking nature-inspired choice.
Night - The hours of darkness; an unconventional word-name with a mysterious feel.
Raven - An English bird name long associated with omens, mystery, and Poe's poem "The Raven."
Sage - Latin-derived herb name also associated with wisdom.
Shade - English word for shadow or a sheltered place.
Storm - English word for powerful weather; a bold nature-inspired name.
Wormwood - A bitter plant also mentioned symbolically in the Book of Revelation.

Girl Names

Amaryllis - A flowering plant; several varieties are toxic to pets and people.
Belladonna - Italian, "beautiful lady." Also a common name for deadly nightshade.
Datura - A genus of highly poisonous flowering plants, sometimes called thorn apple.
Foxglove - A flowering plant that is poisonous if ingested, despite its delicate appearance.
Iris - Greek, "rainbow." Also the name of a beautiful flower.
Juniper - A hardy evergreen shrub, famous for its blue berry-like cones.
Lavender - An aromatic purple flower often associated with calm.
Lucerne - A name associated with the Swiss city of Lucerne; also an English plant name for alfalfa.
Nightshade - A plant-family name associated with both familiar crops and poisonous species.
Oleander - A flowering shrub whose parts are highly poisonous.
Sable - An animal and color name associated with deep black fur.
Tansy - A yellow-flowered herb with a bitter scent.
Vervain - An aromatic plant also called verbena, traditionally used in folklore.
Yew - An evergreen tree associated with graveyards and remembrance; its seeds are toxic.

Gothic Name Variations and Literary Surnames

Creative spellings, bookish surnames, and unusual word names offer a different approach. Some are stylized inventions, so their meanings are approximate rather than established.

Boy Names

Adams - An English surname meaning "son of Adam," with a nod to the Addams family.
Alexsander - A variant spelling of Alexander, from Greek, "defender of men."
Christofer - A variant of Christopher, from Greek, "bearer of Christ."
Crane - An English bird surname; Ichabod Crane is the protagonist of The Legend of Sleepy Hollow.
Lovecraft - A literary surname honoring horror writer H. P. Lovecraft; not a traditional given name.
Lysander - Greek, "liberator." A name with a mysterious literary sound.
Nikolai - A form of Nicholas, from Greek, "victory of the people."
Poe - A literary surname inspired by horror writer Edgar Allan Poe.
Raphael - Hebrew, "God has healed." A dramatic classic name.
Sebastien - French form of Sebastian, from Greek, "venerable."

Girl Names

Beatryx - An invented spelling of Beatrix, from Latin, "bringer of joy."
Draconia - A fantasy-style invention inspired by Latin draco, meaning "dragon."
Elisabeta - A form of Elizabeth used in several European languages, meaning "God is my oath."
Gabrielle - French feminine form of Gabriel, from Hebrew, "God is my strength."
Isadora - Greek, "gift of Isis." A distinctive mythological name.
Katharina - A form of Katherine, traditionally associated with "pure."
Mikaela - A feminine form of Michael, from Hebrew, "who is like God?"
Theodora - Greek, "gift of God."
Valentina - Latin, "strong" or "healthy."
Xiomara - Often interpreted as "famous in battle"; the name has several proposed origins.

Frequently Asked Questions About Horror Baby Names

What are some beautiful gothic baby names?

Gothic names often feel romantic, literary, and just a little mysterious. Carmilla, Lenore, Ophelia, Dorian, and Victor are all lovely examples. They have strong connections to classic stories, but their appeal goes beyond the darker characters and settings that made them famous.

What are some horror movie-inspired baby names?

Some surprisingly familiar choices come straight from horror films. Laurie is the heroine of Halloween, Sidney is the survivor at the heart of Scream, and Rosemary comes from Rosemary's Baby. For boys, there's Jason from Friday the 13th and Freddy from A Nightmare on Elm Street. The names don't have to be scary just because the films are!

What are some spooky girl names?

Lilith, Morticia, Wednesday, Carmilla, and Selene all have a beautifully eerie feel. Some come from legends and mythology, while others are associated with unforgettable fictional characters. For more ideas, take a look at our 100 gothic girl names.

What are some dark boy names?

Dorian, Edgar, Bram, Lucius, and Victor are all strong choices with gothic or literary connections. If you want something more unusual, names such as Fenrir and Thanatos take inspiration from mythology. You might also like our 75 gothic boy names.

Can horror-inspired baby names be gender-neutral?

Absolutely. Names like Raven, Sage, Storm, Ash, and Salem can work for more than one gender. They offer an atmospheric feel without being tied to a particular horror character, so they can be a little more versatile.

Found Your Favorite Horror-Inspired Baby Name?

And there we have it! From ghostly legends and gothic literature to cult horror favorites, there are so many unexpected places to find a beautiful baby name. Whether you've fallen for a classic like Lucy or prefer something a little more mysterious like Nyx, we hope one of these names has captured your imagination.

Which name gave you the best kind of chills? Happy naming!