130+ Vampire Names for Characters, Games and Costumes

A vampire name has to sound old, a little dangerous and easy to say when someone whispers it in a dark hall. Most of the best ones borrow from Eastern Europe, Latin or old English, or invent a sound that feels right.

These names suit novels, tabletop games, costumes and online characters. They are sorted by type, with a section of names from famous vampire fiction and tips on choosing one.

Male Vampire Names

Names for the elegant, patient and slightly tired immortal.

• Valerian – old Latin ring, sharp and cool.
• Lucian – light by name, dark by habit.
• Cassius – Roman and regal.
• Dorian – a smooth, vain sound.
• Alaric – old Germanic ruler.
• Sebastian – polished and calm.
• Mordecai – old and biblical.
• Lucius – Latin, light.
• Damien – a classic dark name.
• Casimir – Slavic, a noble ring.
• Vladislav – Slavic, glory ruler.
• Radu – Romanian, joyful.
• Matthias – steady and ancient.
• Octavian – Roman, eighth.
• Thaddeus – old and slow to fade.
• Lazarus – returned from the dead.
• Emeric – Germanic, power ruler.
• Corvin – raven-like.
• Lysander – Greek, liberator.
• Silas – old and quiet.
• Gideon – a firm, old name.
• Anselm – medieval, divine helmet.
• Caspian – cool and watery.
• Augustin – imperial and learned.
• Rafe – short and wolfish.
• Ambrose – Greek, immortal.

Female Vampire Names

Names for the charming, dangerous and ageless.

• Seraphina – flowing and angelic, with a sting.
• Lilith – a figure of Jewish folklore.
• Morwenna – Cornish, maiden.
• Isolde – old tragic romance.
• Evangeline – bright, with a dark turn.
• Selene – Greek moon goddess.
• Cordelia – heart-ruled, old English.
• Vespera – evening, in Latin.
• Rosalind – rose, and thorn.
• Ophelia – doomed and lovely.
• Mirabel – wonderful, and a little eerie.
• Elisabeta – Romanian form of Elizabeth.
• Valentina – strong, Latin.
• Anastasia – resurrection, in Greek.
• Ligeia – a siren-like name.
• Delphine – dolphin, flowing.
• Raven – dark and sleek.
• Octavia – Roman, eighth.
• Persephone – queen of the underworld.
• Alessandra – defender, grand.
• Irina – Slavic, peace.
• Camille – Latin, a ceremonial helper.
• Rowena – old English, fame and joy.
• Sabine – Latin, Sabine woman.
• Zinaida – Slavic, of Zeus.

Gothic Surnames

Last names with a castle behind them.

• Blackwood – dark trees.
• Ravenscroft – crow's croft.
• Nightingale – a song after dusk.
• Thornwood – spiked and old.
• Duskmore – evening on the moor.
• Grimwald – stern, old forest.
• Hollowell – a hollow well.
• Wolfsbane – a poisonous plant.
• Drakenhall – dragon hall.
• Crowhurst – crow's wooded hill.
• Ashgrove – ash trees and shadow.
• Montague – steep hill, Norman.
• Van Helm – a Dutch ring, fictional.
• Dracul – Romanian, dragon or devil.
• Valmont – valley mountain, French.
• Delacroix – of the cross, French.
• Morrigan – Irish battle goddess.
• Vandermere – of the lake.
• Winterbourne – cold stream.
• Blackthorn – a spiny shrub.
• Lockhart – Scottish, from a place name.
• Greymoor – grey and bleak.
• Stormhaven – a safe place in a storm.
• Ashcombe – ash tree valley.
• Nocturne – a piece for the night.

Ancient and Old-World Vampire Names

Names that sound like they carry centuries.

• Mihail – Romanian Michael.
• Draven – dark, modern and gothic.
• Kasimir – Slavic, destroyer of peace.
• Aurelian – Roman golden.
• Bartholomew – Aramaic, son of Talmai.
• Nikolai – Slavic Nicholas.
• Magnus – Latin, great.
• Konstantin – steadfast, Slavic.
• Valdemar – Danish, famous ruler.
• Dragomir – Slavic, precious peace.
• Ilarion – cheerful, Eastern.
• Stefan – crown.
• Alexei – Slavic defender.
• Teodor – gift of God.
• Gregor – watchful.
• Bogdan – Slavic, given by God.
• Lazar – Slavic Lazarus.
• Viktor – Latin, victor.
• Ivar – Norse, archer.
• Mircea – Romanian, famous.
• Elisaveta – Slavic Elizabeth.
• Katarina – pure.
• Oksana – Ukrainian, praise.
• Larisa – Greek, from a place name.
• Tatiana – Roman family name.

Modern and Edgy Vampire Names

Names for a city vampire in a leather jacket.

• Jax Moreau – short, sleek, French.
• Nyx – goddess of night.
• Kade – small, sharp.
• Vex – annoying, effective.
• Raine – rain, and reign.
• Ash – burnt and quiet.
• Onyx – black stone.
• Kai Draven – short and dark.
• Roux – red, in French.
• Sable – black fur.
• Lux – light, ironic.
• Wren – small, nocturnal.
• Zane Vale – angular and cool.
• Ember – a low glow.
• Vesper – evening star.
• Cade – round and rough.
• Thorne – a sharp plant.
• Ravyn – the raven, respelled.
• Blaze – bright and quick.
• Phoenix – rises again.
• Luca Morte – death in Italian.
• Nova – new star.
• Ezra Cross – plain and grim.
• Mara Vex – dark and short.
• Soren – stern, Danish.

Vampire Names from Fiction

Famous names from books and film.

• Dracula – Bram Stoker's 1897 novel.
• Carmilla – Sheridan Le Fanu's 1872 novella.
• Lestat – a figure in Anne Rice's novels.
• Nosferatu – the 1922 silent film.
• Count Orlok – the vampire in that film.
• Varney – from the penny dreadful Varney the Vampire.
• Lord Ruthven – from John Polidori's 1819 story.
• Mina Harker – a character in Dracula.
• Lucy Westenra – a character in Dracula.
• Jonathan Harker – a character in Dracula.
• Renfield – Dracula's servant in the novel.
• Louis de Pointe du Lac – from Anne Rice's first novel.
• Claudia – a character in Anne Rice's first novel.

How to Pick a Vampire Name

A good vampire name should sound old and read cleanly. Five tips help.

1. Pick a region

Romanian, Hungarian, Latin and old English names all work. Choosing one gives the character a home.

2. Mind the vowels

Names that end in a, a soft n or a hard k sound read as smooth or sharp. Say it aloud to hear the mood.

3. Pair a plain first name with a gothic last name

Dorian Ravenscroft pairs well. Two ornate halves can feel heavy.

4. Think about the age

A vampire from the 1400s would not be called Kyle. Match the name to the century when they were born.

5. Check that it is yours

Avoid names that are still trademarked in games or films if you plan to publish.

FAQs

What are good vampire names?

Names like Valerian, Seraphina, Cassius and Morwenna read as old and elegant. Add a gothic surname such as Blackwood or Ravenscroft.

Where do vampire names come from?

Many come from Eastern Europe, where vampire folklore is old, plus Latin, Greek and old English. Modern writers also invent new sounds.

Can I use a name from Dracula?

Bram Stoker's novel is in the public domain, so you can use names like Dracula, Mina and Renfield. Later books and films may still be protected.

How do I make my own vampire name?

Join an old first name with a gothic place, plant or animal word, such as Lucian Thornwood. Say it aloud and cut anything that tangles the tongue.

Conclusion: Vampire Names

Choose a name that suits your character's era and mood, say it out loud and cut anything clumsy. A single clear, old-sounding name does more than a crowd of ornaments.

Tags: Vampire Names, Fantasy, Gothic