95 Scary Names for Babies Perfect for Halloween

If you’re expecting a baby during the autumn months, you might be in the Halloween spirit and want to choose a creepy, “scary” name to match! 

From recognizable characters from horror movies to lesser known gothic names, there are many options for everyone who loves chills and thrills. Below, we rounded up our favorite creepy, “scary” names that are perfect for Halloween lovers. Of course, there’s nothing bad or evil about any of these names—this list is all in good fun for the ghostly and witchy among us! Here, you’ll find names for girls and boys, and gender-neutral monikers, too, to help you make this important decision.

“Scary” Names for Baby Girls

From recognizable names like Morticia and more subtle names like Morgana, there are plenty of spooky girl names for fans of Halloween.

Ravenna

Originally the name of a town in Italy, Ravenna has become a lovely choice for those who want to nod to the dark-leaning anthropomorphic name “raven.”

• Origin: English, Icelandic
• Meaning: Raven
• Alternative Spellings & Variations: Hrefna

Hecate

This name is associated with the Greek goddess of witchcraft and the underworld, perfect for Halloween fans.

• Origin: Greek
• Meaning: Far off
• Alternative Spellings & Variations: Hekate

Wednesday

From The Addam’s Family, this was the name of the daughter, whose name was inspired by a popular nursery rhyme, reading, “Wednesday’s child is full of woe.”

• Origin: Old English
• Meaning: Woden’s Day

Elektra

A popular tragic character from ancient Greek theater, Elektra carries a spark all its own.

• Origin: Greek
• Meaning: Amber
• Alternative Spellings & Variations: Electra, Elettra

Morticia

This name hails from The Addam’s Family, created for the mother of the family.

• Origin: English
• Meaning: Mortician, undertaker

Autumn

This seasonal, nature-inspired name has only been in general use since the 1960s.

• Origin: Latin
• Meaning: Autumn season

Ophelia

This dark academia sounding name was used by Shakespeare for one of his most tragic characters in Hamlet.

• Origin: Greek
• Meaning: Help, advantage
• Alternative Spellings & Variations: Ofelia, Ofeliya

Clarice

Horror movie buffs will recognize this name from the main character in Silence of the Lambs and Hannibal.

• Origin: Latin
• Meaning: Clear, bright, favorite
• Alternative Spellings & Variations: Clarissa, Clarisse

Melisandre

This is the name of the Red Priestess in George R.R. Martin’s series, A Song of Ice and Fire.

• Origin: French
• Meaning: Strong
• Alternative Spellings & Variations: Mélisande

Carmilla

Carmilla is the title character in Sheridan Le Fanu’s Carmilla, which is thought to be the very first vampire novel, predating even Dracula.

• Origin: Irish, Hebrew
• Meaning: Garden
• Alternative Spellings & Variations: Carmella, Carme, Karmela

More “Scary” Names for Baby Girls

• Dolores: Spanish for “sorrows,” this name feels perfectly gothic.
• Lilith: This Arabic name means ‘of the night,’ and is also the name of a biblical demon.
• Willow: The name Willow, which is derived from Old English, was the name of a fictional character in cult classic, Buffy the Vampire Slayer.
• Antoinette: A classic French name, it was borne by Marie Antoinette, the queen of France who was executed during the French Revolution.
• Desdemona: This was the name of the wife of Othello in Shakespeare’s great tragedy, Othello.
• Ursula: Disney fans may recognize this Latin name from The Little Mermaid’s villain.
• Agatha: This Greek name meaning “good” was the moniker for famous mystery novelist, Agatha Christie.
• Elvira: With Spanish roots and meaning “true,” Elvira shares a name with the Stygian goddess of dark magic.
• Rosemary: Horror superfans will recognize this iconic name from the film Rosemary’s Baby.
• Mara: This pretty name which means “bitter” is also the title of 2018 horror film, Mara.
• Arachne: In Greek mythology, Arachne was turned into a spider by Athena.
• Samara: Samara, which means winged seeds, is the name of the main character in The Ring.
• Cruella: A name that means “cruel,” Cruella was popularized by 101 Dalmatians.
• Morgana: A lovely gothic French name, Morgana was the name of an enchantress in Arthurian Legend.
• Isolde: A Celtic name meaning “ice battle,” it is found in the tragic Arthurian story, Tristan and Isolde.
• Beatrix: Movie buffs will recognize this name from the character Beatrix Kiddo in Kill Bill.
• Buffy: A name as iconic as it is cute, Buffy was the lead character in the show Buffy the Vampire Slayer.
• Gretel: This pretty German name that means “pearl” comes from the famous fairy tale, Hansel und Gretel. 
• Sybil: In ancient Greece, Sybils were witchy prophetesses.
• Daphne: Fans of Scooby Doo will recognize this Greek name meaning “laurel.”
• Carrie: An iconic horror name, Carrie was the antihero of Stephen King’s novel, Carrie.
• Maleficent: A Latin name with a sense of grandeur, Maleficent was the evil fairy in Sleeping Beauty.
• Odile: A classic French name, Odile was the evil swan in Swan Lake.
• Naenia: Latin for “incantation,” Naenia was the Roman goddess of funerals.
• Perdita: This Latin name that means “lost” was the name of the daughter in William Shakespeare’s The Winter’s Tale.

“Scary” Names for Baby Boys

From Gothic names like Bram to Hebrew names like Cain, this list of creepy, “scary” boy names will help you find the perfect moniker for your little one.

Ichabod

Horror buffs will recognize this name from the main character of The Legend of Sleepy Hollow.

• Origin: Hebrew
• Meaning: No glory
• Alternative Spellings & Variations: Ikhavod

Edgar

This is the moniker of famed Gothic writer, Edgar Allen Poe.

• Origin: Old English
• Meaning: Fortunate spear
• Alternative Spellings & Variations: Edgard, Eadgar, Edgardo

Bram

This name was borne by Bram Stoker, who wrote Dracula.

• Origin: Hebrew
• Meaning: Father of many
• Alternative Spellings & Variations: Abram, Abraham

Cain

Cain was the name of the first son of Adam and Eve, who killed his brother Abel.

• Origin: Hebrew
• Meaning: Acquired
• Alternative Spellings & Variations: Kain, Kayin, Kane

Damien

Horror fans may remember this name from The Exorcist.

• Origin: Greek
• Meaning: To tame
• Alternative Spellings & Variations: Damian

Vlad

From Vlad the Impaler to Vlad Dracula, this name has been used by horror artists across history.

• Origin: Romanian, Russian, Ukrainian
• Meaning: To rule, to control
• Alternative Spellings & Variations: Vladislav

Igor

The name Igor was Bela Lugosi’s character in Son of Frankenstein.

• Origin: Russian
• Meaning: Army, warrior
• Alternative Spellings & Variations: Ingvar, Ihar, Ihor

Edward

From Edward Scissorhands to Edward from Twilight, this classic name enjoys pride of place in horror canon.

• Origin: Old English
• Meaning: Rich guard
• Alternative Spellings & Variations: Ed, Eddie, Eduart, Eduard, Edoardo

Banquo

Banquo was the name of a character in Shakespeare’s tragedy, Macbeth.

• Origin: Scottish, Gaelic
• Meaning: White hound

Freddy

You don’t need to be a horror fan to recognize this name from A Nightmare on Elm Street!

• Origin: Danish, Dutch
• Meaning: Peaceful ruler
• Alternative Spellings & Variations: Frederick, Frederik

More “Scary” Names for Baby Boys

• Draco: This Greek name means dragon or serpent.
• Dante: The Italian writer Dante wrote The Divine Comedy, containing an in-depth examination of the circles of hell.
• Mordecai: Modern horror fans will recognize this Hebrew name from The Cabin in the Woods.
• Malachi: A name that means “my messenger,” it was the moniker of a character in The Children of the Corn.
• Orpheus: A Greek name which means “the darkness of night,” Orpheus attempted the rescue of Eurydice from Hades.
• Zuriel: Zuriel was a fictional vampire and key antagonist in 30 Days of Night.
• Azriel: Azrael, another form of Azriel, was the titular character in the horror movie, Azrael.
• Mortimer: Mortimer is an old English name that carries a double whammy–it means “dead water” but when shortened, ‘Mort’ is French for ‘dead.’
• Cerberus: Cerberus was the three headed dog who guarded the entrance to Hades in Greek mythology.
• Casimir: Casimir is a Polish name that means “to destroy peace.”
• Corbin: An old French name that means “raven,” this will surely lend your little one an eerie vibe.
• Duncan: Duncan was the name of one of the two kings of Scotland in Macbeth.
• Loki: Recognizable because of Marvel, Loki was a Norse trickster god.
• Odysseus: Made famous through The Odyssey, Odysseus suffered many horrors before returning home.
• Odin: A Norse name, Odin was the leader of the Nordic pantheon.
• Perseus: Perseus killed famed monster Medusa in Greek mythology.
• Wily: Wile E. Coyote was the famed antagonist of kids’ show, Wile E. Coyote and Roadrunner.
• Tynan: Tynan is an old Gaelic name meaning ‘dark.’
• Alaric: Fans might recognize this name from The Vampire Diaries.
• Merlin: Merlin was a key sorcerer in Arthurian Romance.
• Silas: Silas is the name of the main character in The Da Vinci Code by Dan Brown.

Gender-Neutral “Scary” Names for Babies

Whether you’re looking for a vintage name or one that feels gothic, this list of gender-neutral “scary” baby names will help you find the right one for your baby.

Aeron

Illustrator Aeron Alfrey has illustrated multiple horror and fantasy novels for authors like HP Lovecraft and Stephen King.

• Origin: Welsh
• Meaning: Berries
• Alternative Spellings & Variations: Aerona, Aeronwy

Poe

Poe is the last name of famed horror author Edgar Allen Poe.

Delaney

Horror fans may recognize this name from The Amityville Horror.

• Origin: English, Irish
• Meaning: From the alder grove
• Alternative Spellings & Variations: Delany

Faun

A faun is a kind of mythical creature found in Pan’s Labyrinth.

• Origin: English
• Meaning: Young deer
• Alternative Spellings & Variations: Fawn

Thomasin

Thomasin is the name of Anya Taylor-Joy’s character in The Witch.

• Origin: English, Cornish, Greek
• Meaning: Twin
• Alternative Spellings & Variations: Tamzin, Tasen, Tamsin, Tamsyn

Rogue

Rogue is the name used by Anna Marie LeBeau in X-Men films and comics.

• Origin: British
• Meaning: Unpredictable, mischievous

Crow

In Middle English, “crawa” was used as a nickname for someone with dark hair.

• Origin: Middle English
• Meaning: Dark hair, dark bird

Raven

Invoking both the type of bird and the Edgar Allan Poe poem of the same name, Raven is a trending name in the United States.

• Origin: Old English
• Meaning: Raven
• Alternative Spellings & Variations: Ravenna, Roan, Ronne, Hrafn, Hrefna

Bela

Bela Lugosi was a famed horror actor.

• Origin: Hungarian, Czech
• Meaning: White
• Alternative Spellings & Variations: Běla, Béla

More Gender-Neutral “Scary” Names

• Valdis: This Old Norse name derives from the Norse goddess of death.
• Ambrose: Meaning “immortal,” Ambrose was the name of the town in horror movie House of Wax.
• Nyx: Nyx is a Greek name meaning “night.”
• Salem: Both a town in Massachusetts with a history of witch trials and the name of the cat in Sabrina the Teenage Witch, Salem is the perfect Halloween choice for your little one.
• Thorn: This sharp name calls to mind fairy tale thorn bushes.
• Storm: A name popularized by Marvel, Storm has German and Dutch roots.
• Onyx: A kind of black or red chalcedony, Onyx carries a dark connotation while being nature-related.
• Wilder: The Wilder Girls by Rory Power was a young adult horror novel that inspires this free-spirited, spooky name.
• Shadow: Shadow has its roots in Old English for “shade.”
• Tarot: Tarot is a kind of cartomancy purported to divine the future.
• Piper: This English name which means “a person who plays on a flute,” is also the name of a 2023 horror movie.
• Regan: Regan is the name of a daughter in Shakespeare’s tragedy, King Lear. 
• Blair: Horror buffs will recognize this name as a nod to The Blair Witch Project.
• Hallow: Potentially the perfect Halloween name!
• Zephyr: This Greek name meaning “west wind” is also the name of a horror movie production company. 
• Dusk: A name that means “darkening,” Dusk is also the name of a 2008 horror movie.
• Noir: French for “black,” Noir is a mysterious gender-neutral name calling to mind dark nights. 
• Aster: Greek for “star,” Aster is the surname of famed Hollywood horror movie filmmaker, Ari Aster.
• Jett: An old British name meaning “black stone,” this is a great choice for parents seeking a nature-related eerie name.
• Darcy: Though many people might think of this as a literary name thanks to Pride and Prejudice, Darcy actually means “descendent of the dark one.”