Dark Academia Baby Names
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.
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
