As the days grow shorter and the wind turns colder, our thoughts drift toward dark, mysterious things. Ghosts are Halloween favorites, whether they're friendly little sheet-covered spirits (the kind my family and I affectionately call "ghosties") or the sort that make you sleep with the lights on.
And even though October is perfect for thinking about ghostly names, this list is fun to consider year-round. Some names offer a subtle wink and a nod to the phantoms you admire, while others have more spirited associations. (See what I did there?)
From literary phantoms to legendary spirits, these names have a supernatural side. You'll find everything from actual ghosts to supposedly haunted figures, characters who return from the dead, and mythological beings with an eerie reputation. Some names are as unmistakably spooky as Casper, the name actor Jason Lee and his wife, Ceren Alkaç, chose for their daughter. Others, like Sam, are everyday names with a haunting connection.
Whether you prefer a friendly ghost or something a little more sinister, these names offer a few hauntingly fun possibilities.
Brom: In Washington Irving's The Legend of Sleepy Hollow, Brom Bones is the likely culprit behind the Headless Horseman scare. A rugged, old-fashioned name with a mischievous side.
Casper: The famous friendly ghost of comic books, cartoons, and movies made this name synonymous with a gentler sort of spookiness. And thanks to Jason Lee's daughter, Casper has a real-life celebrity baby connection, too.
Colt: Denny Colt is the alter ego of The Spirit, a comic-book crimefighter who returns after being presumed dead (though perhaps not technically a ghost). Colt is a brisk, modern-sounding name with a supernatural backstory.
Draven: In The Crow, Eric Draven returns from the dead to avenge the murders of himself and his fiancée. Dark, dramatic, and unmistakably tied to gothic pop culture.
Erik: He's not really a ghost, but don't tell the patrons of the Paris Opera House! The mysterious Phantom of the Opera, from Gaston Leroux's novel and its famous musical adaptation forever haunts my musical dreams rather than nightmares (it's my favorite musical). Erik offers a subtle ghostly association wrapped in a familiar, enduring name.
Helena: The Grey Lady of Harry Potter gives this classic name a spooky connection. And with Helena Bonham Carter lending the name an extra dash of gothic glamour, what's not to love?
Homer: Before Stan Lee helped make Spider-Man a household name, he wrote stories about Homer the Happy Ghost, a cheerful comic-book character who debuted in 1955. Who knew this old-fashioned name had such a spirited history?
Maria: In some versions of the Latin American legend of La Llorona, or the Weeping Woman, the ghost is a woman named Maria who wanders in search of her lost children. The story is haunting, tragic, and deeply rooted in folklore.
Marley: Jacob Marley, the ghostly visitor in Charles Dickens' A Christmas Carol, gives this fashionable surname a spooky literary connection. He's not exactly the friendliest spirit, but he certainly makes an impression.
Melody: A gorgeous, lyrical name with vintage roots and a surprisingly modern following, Melody is also the name of a ghost in Ghostbusters: Frozen Empire. With the name enjoying a new wave of popularity, this is one ghost who isn't fading away!
Morrigan: The Morrígan is a powerful figure in Irish mythology associated with war, fate, and death. She isn't a ghost in the usual sense, but her dark and mysterious associations make this an intriguing choice for lovers of mythological names.
Myrtle: Moaning Myrtle of Harry Potter fame gives us a name that's delightfully spooky and old-fashioned. I adore this botanical name, which feels just right for those with Victorian gothic sensibilities.
Sam: In the movie Ghost, Patrick Swayze plays Sam Wheat, a man who returns as a spirit after his murder. Sam is proof that a perfectly familiar name can have a supernatural side.
Thackery: Ah, yes, one of the most beloved black cats in Halloween movie history! Thackery Binx is the young man cursed to live forever as a feline in Hocus Pocus. His story has a ghostly ending, and the name itself is to die for in my book.
Walker: The Phantom, the legendary comic-strip hero known as the “Ghost Who Walks,” carries the surname Walker. Though Kit isn't literally immortal, his identity and reputation have endured across generations.
What are your favorite ghost names? Would you choose a name with a spooky story behind it, or would you rather keep the supernatural inspiration as your little secret? Tell me in the comments!
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