Hey there! Are you a fan of the dark academia genre? If you’re anything like me, you love creating characters and finding the perfect names for them. That’s why I’ve put together a list of 100 dark academia names to inspire your writing.
What do we mean by dark academia-inspired names?
But first, let’s define what we mean by “dark academia.” This subgenre is known for its gothic or Victorian atmosphere, as well as its focus on intellectual pursuits. The names on this list reflect those themes, with many coming from Latin, Greek, and other languages associated with academia and classical literature. The names chosen for characters can be just as important as the plot and setting. After all, a name can set the tone for a character’s personality and role in the story.
So without further ado, let’s dive into the list!
- Adria – This name means “dark one” or “from Adria,” a region in northern Italy.
- Alaric – This name means “ruler of all,” and was famously borne by a king of the Visigoths.
- Alexander – This name means “defender of the people,” and has been popular for centuries.
- Amara – This name means “eternal” or “unfading,” making it a beautiful choice for a dark academia character.
- Amelia – This name means “industrious” or “striving,” and has a sophisticated, old-fashioned vibe.
- Anastasia – This name means “resurrection,” and has a regal feel to it.
- Andraste – This name means “invincible” or “unconquered,” making it a strong choice for a female character.
- Andromeda – This name refers to a princess from Greek mythology who was chained to a rock as a sacrifice to a sea monster.
- Ariadne – This name means “most holy,” and was famously borne by a princess in Greek mythology who helped Theseus defeat the Minotaur.
- Athanasius – This name means “immortal,” and has a scholarly feel to it.
- Aurora – This name means “dawn,” and is a beautiful choice for a dark academia character.
- Beatrice – This name means “blessed,” and has a literary history thanks to its use in Dante’s Divine Comedy.
- Bellatrix – This name means “female warrior,” and has a strong and fierce feel to it.
- Benedict – This name means “blessed,” and has a classic, sophisticated vibe.
- Calliope – This name means “beautiful voice,” and was the name of the muse of epic poetry in Greek mythology.
- Cassius – This name means “empty” or “hollow,” and has a slightly ominous feel to it.
- Cecily – This name means “blind,” and has a quaint and old-fashioned feel to it.
- Ceres – This name refers to the Roman goddess of agriculture and grain, making it a unique choice for a dark academia character.
- Chloe – This name means “green shoot” or “blooming,” and has a fresh and youthful feel to it.
- Clara – This name means “bright” or “clear,” and has a classic, elegant feel to it.
- Cordelia – This name means “heart,” and has a romantic and sentimental feel to it.
- Corin – This name means “spear” or “spear bearer,” and has a strong and brave feel to it.
- Cosimo – This name means “order” or “universe,” and has a sophisticated and intellectual feel to it.
- Cybele – This name refers to the mother of the gods in Phrygian and Greek mythology, making it a unique and intriguing choice.
- Damara – This name means “gentle” or “one who tames,” and has a soft and
- Dante – This name means “steadfast,” and is famous thanks to the Italian poet Dante Alighieri.
- Deirdre – This name means “sorrowful,” and has a tragic and romantic feel to it.
- Delilah – This name means “delicate” or “temptress,” and was famously borne by a woman who betrayed Samson in the Bible.
- Desdemona – This name means “ill-fated,” and was famously borne by the tragic heroine in Shakespeare’s Othello.
- Dominic – This name means “belonging to the Lord,” and has a classic and sophisticated feel to it.
- Dorian – This name means “of the Dorian people,” and has a literary history thanks to Oscar Wilde’s The Picture of Dorian Gray.
- Ebony – This name refers to a type of dark wood, and has a sleek and sophisticated feel to it.
- Edgar – This name means “wealthy spear,” and has a classic and sophisticated feel to it.
- Edith – This name means “rich in war,” and has a strong and fierce feel to it.
- Eliza – This name means “pledged to God,” and has a classic and elegant feel to it.
- Emilia – This name means “eager” or “striving,” and has a strong and determined feel to it.
- Eustace – This name means “fruitful” or “abundant,” and has a scholarly and intellectual feel to it.
- Evelyn – This name means “wanted” or “desired,” and has a romantic and sentimental feel to it.
- Felix – This name means “happy” or “lucky,” and has a cheerful and upbeat feel to it.
- Fiona – This name means “fair” or “white,” and has a sophisticated and elegant feel to it.
- Frances – This name means “free” or “liberal,” and has a classic and elegant feel to it.
- Genevieve – This name means “tribe woman,” and has a strong and fierce feel to it.
- Georgiana – This name means “farmer,” and has a down-to-earth and practical feel to it.
- Gideon – This name means “hewer” or “mighty warrior,” and has a strong and brave feel to it.
- Gwen – This name means “fair” or “white,” and has a pure and innocent feel to it. It is often associated with the Welsh version of the name Guinevere, and has a regal and sophisticated feel to it.
- Hamlet – This name has a literary history thanks to Shakespeare’s tragic prince, and means “home” or “dwelling.”
- Hermione – This name means “well-born” or “exalted,” and has a sophisticated and intellectual feel to it.
- Hugo – This name means “mind” or “intelligence,” and has a scholarly and intellectual feel to it.
- Imogen – This name means “maiden” or “virgin,” and has a pure and innocent feel to it.
- Isadora – This name means “gift of Isis,” and has a classical and elegant feel to it.
- Jasper – This name means “treasurer,” and has a wealthy and sophisticated feel to it.
- Jocasta – This name means “shining moon,” and has a mysterious and ethereal feel to it.
- Jude – This name means “praised,” and has a classic and sophisticated feel to it.
- Julia – This name means “youthful,” and has a fresh and youthful feel to it.
- Juno – This name refers to the queen of the gods in Roman mythology, and has a regal and powerful feel to it.
- Keats – This name has a literary history thanks to the famous poet John Keats, and means “from the rocky place.”
- Lavinia – This name means “purity,” and has a pure and innocent feel to it.
- Leo – This name means “lion,” and has a strong and fierce feel to it.
- Lysander – This name means “liberator,” and has a strong and brave feel to it.
- Maeve – This name means “intoxicating,”
- Marcus – This name means “dedicated to Mars,” and has a strong and brave feel to it.
- Marlowe – This name has a literary history thanks to the playwright Christopher Marlowe, and means “driftwood.”
- Matilda – This name means “mighty in battle,” and has a strong and fierce feel to it.
- Minerva – This name refers to the Roman goddess of wisdom, and has a sophisticated and intellectual feel to it.
- Mirabelle – This name means “wonderful” or “admirable,” and has a charming and delightful feel to it.
- Nathaniel – This name means “gift of God,” and has a classic and sophisticated feel to it.
- Nicodemus – This name means “victory of the people,” and has a strong and brave feel to it.
- Octavia – This name means “eighth,” and has a classic and elegant feel to it.
- Ophelia – This name means “help,” and has a tragic and romantic feel to it.
- Orville – This name means “golden city,” and has a wealthy and sophisticated feel to it.
- Penelope – This name means “weaver,” and has a clever and resourceful feel to it.
- Persephone – This name refers to the Greek goddess of the underworld, and has a mysterious and ethereal feel to it.
- Phineas – This name means “oracle,” and has a scholarly and intellectual feel to it.
- Portia – This name means “pig,” and has a strong and determined feel to it.
- Prudence – This name means “good judgement,” and has a wise and thoughtful feel to it.
- Quentin – This name means “fifth,” and has a classic and elegant feel to it.
- Rhea – This name refers to the Greek mother of the gods, and has a powerful and regal feel to it.
- Rufus – This name means “red-headed,” and has a distinctive and unique feel to it.
- Rupert – This name means “bright fame,” and has a prestigious and accomplished feel to it.
- Sabrina – This name means “from the river Severn,” and has a watery and ethereal feel to it.
- Salem – This name means “peace,” and has a calm and serene feel to it.
- Sappho – This name refers to the ancient Greek poet, and has a literary and artistic feel to it.
- Selene – This name means “moon,” and has a celestial and ethereal feel to it.
- Sephora – This name means “bird,” and has a graceful and elegant feel to it.
- Sebastian – This name means “venerable,” and has a classic and sophisticated feel to it.
- Seraphina – This name means “fiery one,” and has a passionate and fiery feel to it.
- Shakespeare – This name has a literary history thanks to the famous playwright, and means “shallow river.”
- Sophia – This name means “wisdom,” and has a wise and thoughtful feel to it.
- Sybil – This name means “prophetess,” and has a mystical and ethereal feel to it.
- Theo – This name means “gift of God,” and has a classic and sophisticated feel to it.
- Thorne – This name means “thorn,” and has a sharp and dangerous feel to it.
- Tristan – This name means “tumult,” and has a strong and brave feel to it.
- Ursula – This name means “little bear,” and has a cute and playful feel to it.
- Valerius – This name means “strong,” and has a strong and brave feel to it.
- Veronica – This name means “true image,” and has a truthful and honest feel to it.
- Violet – This name means “purple,” and has a regal and sophisticated feel to it.
- Virginia – This name means “chaste,” and has a pure and innocent feel to it.
- Willow – This name refers to the type of tree, and has a graceful and elegant feel to it.
- Wyatt – This name means “brave in war,” and has a strong and fearless feel to it.
- Zephyr – This name means “west wind,” and has a gentle and peaceful feel to it.
Conclusion
But dark academia names aren’t just for characters in books or movies. Many people have chosen to adopt these names as part of their own personal style or pseudonym. Whether you’re a writer, artist, or simply someone who loves the aesthetic, dark academia names can be a fun and unique way to express yourself.
So if you’re a fan of the dark academia genre, don’t be afraid to embrace your love for these names. Whether you’re looking for inspiration for your next character or simply want to find a name that speaks to you personally, the dark academia genre has a lot to offer.
And if you have a favorite dark academia name that you don’t see on this list, we’d love to hear from you!
