25 Bewitching Names for Halloween

All Hallows' Eve

It's one of America's favorite holidays. Bloodthirsty vampires, frightening ghouls, and privately schooled wizards roam the dark neighborhood streets in search of blood errr, candy. I love the creative ideas that this holiday inspires, and I don't just mean decorating and baking. I mean things like going to a costume party as a person who was "blown by the wind." If you're sensing a story here, my costume involved a scarf billowing away from my shoulders, courtesy of a somewhat concealed, disassembled coat hanger. My hair was sprayed into wild submission. In the end, I looked, um, just kinda weird.

But that's part of the fun of Halloween, isn't it? It's a holiday that invites us to embrace the strange, the spooky, and the wonderfully imaginative. And the stories, legends, and traditions surrounding it provide plenty of inspiration for names, too.

So it is with this list, which draws from a variety of places, both quirky and creepy. You might just find something perfect for a fictional character, a pet, or even, yes, a baby. These names have the power to send a shiver down your spine or a confusing breeze through your scarf.

I SAID IT AND I DON'T REGRET IT.

25 Bewitching Names for Halloween

Agatha: Our favorite Marvel witch has an irresistibly old-fashioned name, and she shares it with mystery writer Agatha Christie to boot. Agatha comes from the Greek word meaning good, a surprisingly wholesome meaning for such a wickedly wonderful name.

Ambrose: A gloriously Victorian gothic name used in Chilling Adventures of Sabrina, this name makes me think of the immortal food of the gods, or ambrosia. Ranked #735 for boys in 2025, it's comfortably uncommon, which is right in line with its polarizing charm.

Bellatrix: This beautiful name walks the halls of Hogwarts wearing black leather and lace. With echoes of both beauty and tricks in its sound, Bellatrix seems made for Halloween, though its actual Latin meaning, female warrior, couldn't be more fitting for the Harry Potter character.

Binx: Inspired by the delightfully named Thackery Binx, a boy cursed to live eternally as a black cat in Hocus Pocus. His character's story is tragic, but his name is peak Halloween.

Carmilla: The title vampire of Sheridan Le Fanu's Gothic novella, this name says Gothic elegance and...it's probably just me, but also caramel. Related to names with Hebrew roots associated with a garden or vineyard, Carmilla might make you think of a desperately beautiful vampire or tasty Halloween candy. Either way, it's deliciously dark.

Circe: This name is fit for a Greek goddess...the kind who uses sorcery to turn men into animals, that is. Pronounced SIR-see, Circe isn't a name you encounter often, but she's perfect if you're looking for something with a unique sound and a mythic reputation.

Dante: I love this Italian name, which brings to mind The Divine Comedy, a 14th-century poem famous for describing the imagined nine circles of Hell. His name lives on, ranking in the 300s, which is appropriate, as the meaning is enduring.

Elvira: The Mistress of the Dark is an iconic character created by the actress who portrayed her, Cassandra Peterson. Featuring an unmistakable costume, Elvira's deadpan humor and cheeky wit became a phenomenon. This name will never be fully separated from the horror films Elvira introduced in the 80s.

Endora: If Elvira conjures up too strong of an image for you, look no further than Endora. It has a much gentler witchy vibe by comparison, and a bit of a retro vibe as well, thanks to the supporting character with this name on Bewitched. The writers likely chose this name for its otherworldly sound, perhaps inspired by the biblical witch of Endor.

Ichabod: An easily frightened, superstitious schoolteacher named Ichabod Crane is the main character of Washington Irving's The Legend of Sleepy Hollow. This Hebrew name, meaning no glory or where is the glory?, was somehow the perfect choice for the character.

Jack: According to Irish folklore, Stingy Jack tricked the Devil into promising not to claim his soul, only to discover that heaven wouldn't have him either. Condemned to wander the earth with a glowing coal inside a carved turnip, he became known as Jack of the Lantern, a figure associated with the origins of the jack-o'-lantern. I'd say you can't make this stuff up, but clearly someone did, and it caught on like wildfire.

Leota: The name of the beloved Madame Leota from Disney's Haunted Mansion attraction (and its movie adaptations), Leota is hauntingly beautiful and full of antique charm. Named for Disney Imagineer Leota Toombs Thomas, whose face appears inside the famous crystal ball, Madame Leota has a steely grip on my heart and those of countless fans.

Luna: A moody name bringing to mind a full moon, Luna is the Roman goddess of the Moon. Luna also has some spooky energy thanks to the Harry Potter character Luna Lovegood. America is enchanted with this name, too, as it ranked #27 for girls in 2025.

Morrigan: Another choice brought to you by Irish mythology, the Morrígan, sometimes called the Phantom Queen, has a name that feels more lyrical than frightening. A powerful supernatural figure associated with battle, fate, and ravens, she sometimes appears in the form of a bird.

Morticia: The fabulously dark Morticia reigned supreme as the glamorously spooky matriarch of the Addams Family. This name is the epitome of fictional creations specific to a character. Her name was inspired by the word mortician, which comes from the Latin mortis meaning death.

October: Why beat around the bush? You could always go for the month that chills us to our core in more ways than one. October offers the nicknames Toby or even Obie, while Octavia and Octavius are more traditional alternatives with the same oct- beginning.

Onyx: This name has what Laura Wattenberg (again, not me) would call -x appeal. But it also has the mystique of the -yx ending, plus the imagery of a deep black gemstone to boot. If you're into Halloween names (and something tells me you ARE!) this name is a go-to choice.

Poe: Coming from literary giant, or as the Smithsonian so aptly put it, "doomed genius" Edgar Allan Poe, this name has a perfectly bleak reputation that could easily have modern appeal. It's somehow both macabre and darling at the same time, and it makes my heart go thump-thump-thump from below the floorboards.

Prue: A short form of Prudence, this name harkens back to simpler times, when women could be falsely accused of witchcraft and executed as a result of religiously fueled mass hysteria. Ah, the good old days! Thankfully, our modern association with Prue is considerably more pleasant: the spell-casting Halliwell sister from Charmed, alongside Piper, Phoebe, and Paige.

Rhiannon: In Welsh mythology, Rhiannon is a mysterious woman associated with horses and magical birds whose songs could lull the living to sleep or awaken the dead. Unjustly punished after being accused of harming her baby, she was eventually vindicated. Made famous to modern audiences by Fleetwood Mac, Rhiannon has witchy connotations along with a rich history.

Salem: Famous for being at the center of the witch trials, this Massachusetts town has taken back its tragic, dark story. Now also known for its Halloween celebrations and connections to modern witchcraft, Salem is so much more than a place name.

Stormy: Not only does Stormy describe perfectly appropriate Halloween weather, it also appears in one of the most famous opening lines associated with spooky storytelling. Say it with me: "It was a dark and stormy night." Thank you to author Edward Bulwer-Lytton and the way he started his 1830 novel Paul Clifford.

Vlad: A name borne by several historical rulers, Vlad the Impaler (also known as Vlad Dracula) stands out for his particularly gruesome reputation and association with the fictional Count Dracula. With Slavic roots meaning to rule, this name does just that around Halloween.

Wednesday: I'd be remiss not to include yet another member of the Addams Family. Morticia's daughter Wednesday has a bleak affect and a morbid mind, and audiences love her for it.

Willow: This gorgeous nature name has a magical side thanks to Buffy the Vampire Slayer, where Willow Rosenberg develops into a powerful witch over the course of the series. A caring friend with a complicated and sometimes tragic story, Willow helped give this gentle name an unexpectedly supernatural edge.

Whether you prefer a name that's sweetly supernatural or one that sounds like it belongs on a crumbling tombstone, Halloween offers plenty of inspiration. Some of these names are perfectly at home on a birth certificate, while others might be better suited to a black cat, a fictional villain, or your own delightfully spooky alter ego. Whatever you're naming, I hope you've found a little magic here. And if your favorite Halloween-inspired name didn't make the list, I'd love to hear it in the comments!