Part gothic, part prep, dark academia is an aesthetic subculture trend in recent years that heavily emphasizes literature, education, and mystery. It's moody, endlessly cool, and has a traditional academic vibe with a gothic edge—picture Gothic architecture, vintage tweed, a leather satchel full of books, and historical libraries. So if you find yourself drawn to the preppy New England look with a touch of goth, dark academia may be a subgenre for you to draw baby name inspiration. Check out our list of dark academia names for baby girls and boys to find the perfect name.
[irp posts="326656" name="100 Hauntingly Gorgeous Dark and Romantic Goth Baby Names"]
Adeline
Girl. French origin, meaning: Noble
Adira
Girl. Hebrew origin, meaning: Strong
Aeneas
Boy. Greek origin, meaning: Praiseworthy
Agatha
Girl. Greek origin, meaning: Good, honorable
Agnes
Girl. Greek origin, meaning: Pure, holy
Alastair
Boy. Scottish origin, meaning: Defender of the people
Alban
Boy. Latin origin, meaning: White
Alice
Girl. French and English origin, meaning: Noble
Alienor
Girl. French origin, meaning: Other or foreign
Ambrose
Boy. English origin, meaning: Immortal
Amorette
Girl. French, literary name
Arabelle
Girl. Latin and French origin, meaning: Yielding to prayer
Arcadia
Girl. Greek origin, meaning: Place of peace and contentment
Arden
Gender-neutral. English origin, meaning: Eagle Valley
Astoria
Girl. English origin, meaning: Place name
Azrael
Boy. Hebrew origin, meaning: Help of God
Bellatrix
Girl. Latin origin, meaning: Female warrior
Beowulf
Boy. English origin, meaning: Beewolf
Blair
Gender-neutral. Scottish origin, meaning: Plain or field
Briar
Gender-neutral. English origin, meaning: Thorn
Bronte
Girl. Greek origin, meaning: Thunder
Bronwyn
Girl. Irish origin, meaning: White breast
Calanthe
Girl. Greek origin, meaning: Christmas orchid, beautiful flower
Calliope
Girl. Greek origin, meaning: Beautiful voice
Callista
Girl. Greek and Latin origin, meaning: Fairest, most beautiful, chalice
Caspian
Boy. English origin, meaning: Place name
Cassander
Boy. Greek origin, meaning: Shining or excelling man
Cassandra
Girl. Greek origin, meaning: Prophetess
Circe
Girl. Greek origin, meaning: Bird
Constantine
Boy. Latin origin, meaning: Constant
Coraline
Girl. Literary name, diminutive of Caroline
Cordelia
Girl. Latin and Celtic origin, meaning: Heart, Jewel of the sea
Corisande
Girl. Greek origin, meaning: Chorus-singer
Cressida
Girl. Greek origin, meaning: Golden
Damiana
Girl. Latin origin, meaning: Tamed, domesticated
Demeter
Girl. Greek origin, meaning: Earth mother
Dorian
Gender-neutral. Greek origin, meaning: Tribe
Dorothea
Girl. Greek origin, meaning: Gift of God
Edward
Boy. English origin, meaning: Wealthy guardian
Elwin
Boy. English origin, meaning: Elf
Emilian
Boy. Latin origin, meaning: Rival
Eponine
Girl. French literary name
Esme
Girl. French and Persian origin, meaning: Esteemed, beloved; emerald
Evander
Boy. Latin origin, meaning: Good man
Evangeline
Girl. Latin origin, meaning: Gospel
Fabian
Boy. Latin origin, meaning: Bean grower
Faustine
Girl. French origin, meaning: Fortunate one
Florian
Boy. German origin, meaning: Flowery
Gabriel
Boy. Hebrew origin, meaning: Strength from God
Gideon
Boy. Hebrew origin, meaning: Hewer
Griffin
Boy. Welsh origin, meaning: Strong lord
Guinevere
Girl. Welsh origin, meaning: White fairy; fair one
Hawthorne
Boy. English origin, meaning: Lives near the hedge
Hermione
Girl. Greek origin, meaning: Messanger of God
Honora
Girl. Latin origin, meaning: Honor
Hugo
Boy. German origin, meaning: Bright in mind
Immanuel
Boy. Hebrew origin, meaning: God is with us
Isadora
Girl. Greek origin, meaning: Gift of Isis
Isidore
Boy. English origin, meaning: Gift of Isis
Julian
Boy. English, Latin origin, meaning: Youthful, downy-bearded, or sky father
Keats
Boy. English origin, meaning: Kite
Killian
Boy. Gaelic origin, meaning: Little church
Lavinia
Girl. Latin origin, meaning: From Lavinium
Leander
Boy. Latin origin, meaning: Lion man
Leontine
Girl. French origin, meaning: Lion
Lilith
Girl. Hebrew origin, meaning: Of the night, demon in Hebrew mythology
Lucian
Boy. Latin origin, meaning: Light
Lysandra
Girl. Greek origin, meaning: Liberator
Malachi
Boy. Hebrew origin, meaning: My messenger
Mallory
Gender-neutral. English via French origin, meaning: Unfortunate
Maude
Girl. German origin, meaning: Battle mighty
Melusine
Girl. French origin, folkloric name meaning: Strong in work, the female spirit of fresh water
Mordecai
Boy. Persian origin, meaning: Servant of Marduk
Morwenna
Girl. Cornish and Welsh origin, meaning: Maiden
Nigel
Boy. Irish origin, meaning: Champion, dark, black-haired
Octavia
Girl. Latin origin, meaning: Eighth
Octavian
Boy. English via Latin origin, meaning: Eighth
Oliver
Boy. Latin origin, meaning: Olve tree
Onyx
Gender-neutral. Greek origin, meaning: Gemstone, claw, fingernail
Ophelia
Girl. Greek origin, meaning: Help
Othello
Boy. The name of a Shakespearian tragedy. Italian diminutive of OTHO.
Penrose
Gender-neutral. Cornish origin, meaning: Top of the heath
Persephone
Girl. Greek mythology origin, meaning: Bringer of destruction
Phaedra
Girl. Greek origin, meaning: Bright
Poe
Gender neutral. English origin, meaning: Peacock
Prudence
Girl. English origin, meaning: Provident
Quenby
Gender neutral. Norse origin, meaning: Queen's settlement
Raphael
Boy. Hebrew name, meaning: God has healed
Rosenwyn
Girl. Cornish origin, a combination of Rosen and wyn meaning: White rose
Stellan
Boy. Swedish origin, meaning: Calm, or peaceful one
Sylvester
Boy. Latin origin, meaning: Woodland
Theodoric
Boy. Germanic origin, meaning: People's ruler
Theodosia
Girl. Greek origin, meaning: God's gift
Thoreau
Boy. French origin, meaning: Tower
Thorin
Boy. Norse origin, meaning: Brave, daring one
Valentine
Boy. English origin, meaning: Healthy, strong
Valeria
Girl. Latin origin, meaning: Strength, valor
Venetia
Girl. Italian place name
Vesper
Gender-neutral. Latin origin, meaning: Evening star
Victor
Boy. Latin origin, meaning: Conquer
Xavier
Boy. Baque origin, meaning: New house
Zenobia
Girl. Greek origin, meaning: Life of Zeus