If you’re looking for a vampire name for yourself or need to name some vampire characters in a story you’re writing, there are some things to take into consideration. Whether you choose something with vampiric roots or something more popular, make sure it reflects your personality or that of the character you’re creating.
There are some shows and books you can take inspiration from, or you might want to look at history when choosing your vampire names! Below, you’ll find some of the most appropriate names for vampires.
Traditional Ideas for Vampire Names
According to legend, vampires usually trace their roots to both Italian and Greek culture. As such, traditional and historical vampire names have typically been of either Greek or Italian origin.
This is the case for all genders, although male vampire names are most often of Italian origin while female vampire names are most often of Greek origin. Below, you can find and learn about some of the most common traditional names for vampires.
Traditional Female Vampire Names
If you’re looking for some inspiration, you might want to consider some of the names below. These are some of the most well-known traditional vampire names for female vampires, as well as their original meanings and cultural background.
Throughout history, the names of female vampires have been, for the most part, Greek. However, there is a slew of feminine vampire names that originate in other cultures, including:
- Italian
- Biblical (Aramaic, Babylonian, etc.)
- Irish
- French
- Latin
Achlys
In the Greek language, “Achlys” means “death-mist” or “mist-over eyes.” According to behindthename, this references the Greek goddess of the same name who symbolizes the “mist of death,” or the clouding that occurs in the eyes right before somebody dies.
Because of the close association to death, many choose to name their darker vampire characters Achlys.
Adrasteia
Adrasteia is another vampire name that originates from Greek mythology. It means “inescapable” and is also sometimes written as:
- Adrastia
- Adrastea
- Adrestea
- Adastreia
Because Adrasteia means “inescapable,” many female vampires choose this as their traditional name. It has a generally neutral meaning, so it’s appropriate for both “evil” and “good” vampires.
Akeldama
This name, originating in Aramaic culture, means “field of blood.” It references a field in the Hinnom Valley, located in Jerusalem. This site is where Judas is believed to have died, as well as where numerous child sacrifices occurred. Because of its dark history, many people who are writing about “darker” female vampires choose this as their name.
Ambrosia
Ambrosia is most well-known in Greek mythology as “the food of the gods,” and was thought to be what gave gods and goddesses their immortal powers. Because of this, it probably won’t surprise you to learn that the name “Ambrosia” also means “immortal!”
Ambrosia is the feminine form of the names “Ambrose” and “Ambrogio,” which are popular male vampire names and have a rich vampiric heritage behind them. Because of its strong connection to immortality, it has remained a popular vampire name throughout history and popular culture.
Lilith
The name “Lilith” originates in Jewish folklore. It’s usually translated as either “of the night” or “night monster,” which is appropriate as Lilith represented a demonic figure in legend.
Lilith is thought by some to be the first ever vampire in history. The Book of Genesis suggests that Lilith was the first wife of Adam but left him when he claimed that she was lesser of a person than him. She later became the wife of Ashmadai, the king of demons, and as such, became a blood-sucking demon herself. In Jewish culture, she’s also believed to be a succubus.
Although this name has a pretty dark origin, it’s remained a popular name for vampires in popular culture. There are characters named Lilith in both The Vampire Diaries and True Blood, the latter of which is known as the “progenitor of the vampire race.”
Melaina
Melaina, a Greek goddess known as “the black one,” is a goddess known for bringing about nightmares. She’s said to be the “under-earth” or “chthonic” features of other Greek goddesses and is traditionally portrayed as an underworld goddess and epithet of Demeter.
Although it’s not one of the more popular female vampire names, there are still some vampires in popular culture with this name.
Selene
In early Greek mythology, Selene was known as “the moonlight goddess.” According to legend, her true love Ambrogio became the first vampire, and as such, became immortal. Selene, however, was not an immortal being, and as a “virgin goddess,” never had any children with Ambrogio.
On Selene’s deathbed, Artemis, the moon goddess, allowed Ambrogio to drink Selene’s blood. Their combined blood gave Ambrogio the ability to turn any human who drank the blood into a vampire, giving the couple “children” in essence. Selene then became the moonlight goddess and was able to reach down and touch Ambrogio and their children every night.
Today, many people choose to honor her legend by choosing “Selene” as their vampire name. She’s even considered by some to be the “mother of all vampires.”
Traditional Male Vampire Names
Historically, most of the popular male vampire names have been of Italian origin. However, there are also many popular vampire names that are rooted in other cultures, most notably Russian and Greek. If you’re trying to choose the perfect masculine vampire name, read below. These are some of the most widely used male vampire names.
Ambrogio
The use of the name “Ambrogio” dates back to around 450 B.C. According to some mythologies, Ambrogio was the first human, formerly an Italian hunter, to become a vampire.
Upon drinking his dying lover Lilith’s blood, she became the goddess of moonlight. He was granted the ability to turn any living human into a vampire as long as the human drank Ambrogio and Lilith’s combined vampire blood.
Many people choose the vampire name “Ambrogio” to honor this alleged “first vampire.” “Ambrogio” means “immortal” in Italian, but some people also choose to go with “Ambrogino,” which means “the immortal one.”
Athan
Athan is a Greek name that means “eternal life” or “immortal.” Because of its meaning and connection to Greek vampiric culture, it is a popular choice for a vampire name. It’s not incredibly widely used in popular culture, but there is a minor immortal character in The Vampire Diaries with the name.
Cerberus
“Cerberus” is a Latin name derived from the Greek name “Kerberos.” In Greek mythology, Cerberus was the name of the three-headed dog that belonged to Hades, the god of the underworld, and guarded the entrance to the underworld.
According to vampiric mythology, the underworld holds the soul of all the vampires in the surface world. Under Hades’ rule, vampires are allowed to enter the underworld if they wish but can never leave once they arrive.
To honor this deal made by (who is believed to be) the first vampire, some choose “Cerberus” as a vampire name.
Kieran
Kieran is the Celtic form of the Gaelic name “Ciaran,” derived from the word “ciar” which means “black” or “dark.” Although it doesn’t sound like too much of a vampire name, it is relatively popular in modern vampire media. For example, Kieran is the name of a character in the C.W. series The Originals, a show that focuses on vampires.
Lefu
“Lefu” is a name that originates in Africa. It can be either masculine or feminine and means “death.” Because of its dark origin, it’s another popular choice for a vampire name, especially for vampires with dark, murderous tendencies.
Markandeya
This is a name that can be traced back to Sanskrit origin. It means “conquers over death” or “courageous over death.” It’s one of the most popular vampire names in Hindi speaking countries, and is a popular choice for a vampire name because of how well the meaning fits with the culture!
Orpheus
Orpheus is another name that derives from early Greek culture. In Greek mythology, Orpheus was a musician, poet, and prophet whose name meant “darkness of the night” or “darkness of the nether world.”
According to legend, Orpheus traveled to the underworld to retrieve his wife, Eurydice, who had recently died. He made a deal with Hades that allowed them both to leave, on the condition that he did not look back at her until they reached the surface. Unfortunately, he did not have the willpower to succeed, and she was drawn back to the underworld.
Because of this connection to darkness and the underworld, “Orpheus,” as well as the shortened version “Orfeo,” is a popular choice for male vampires.
Vladimir
“Vladimir,” along with the pet form of the name “Vlad,” is possibly one of the most well-known vampire names. The novel Dracula, written by Bram Stoker and credited as one of the first examples of vampirism in widespread popular culture, is even believed to be based on a Romanian ruler called “Vlad the Impaler.”
Although it is kind of an obvious choice for a vampire name, as it has been so widely used and parodied over the years, it’s still one of the most recognizable vampire names out there. In modern times, some people still like to pay homage to this classic vampire by using the name Vlad.
The Different Kinds of Vampire Names
In older media, like the novel Dracula and its movie adaptation, vampires were often given traditional names, originating in cultures such as:
- Russian
- Romanian
- Italian
- Greek
In modern forms of media about vampires, however, there’s often a mix of characters with ancient, traditional vampire names and those with more popular names. Some movies and T.V. shows that have become popular in recent years include:
- The Vampire Diaries
- Twilight
- True Blood
In all of these shows and movies, most of the vampire characters have typical “human” names.
Since vampires typically start out as humans, many (both in real life and in popular culture) tend to keep their “human” names after they’ve been turned.
However, some ancient vampires have a more traditionally vampiric name, and some authors choose to write their vampire characters with more traditional names, as well. In real life, some people who identify as traditional and “energy” vampires choose to adopt a traditional vampire name to feel closer to their roots.
Real Life Vampires
Throughout the course of history, there have been several suspected cases of real life vampirism. Some modern day vampires and authors who write about vampires choose to take their names after the people recorded in these famous cases to pay homage. Below, you’ll find some of the most well-known stories of vampires in real life.
Vlad the Impaler
Vlad the Impaler, also known as Vlad III, was a Romanian ruler during the 15th century. He is well-known for impaling his enemies or anyone who challenged his power. It is estimated that he killed up to 80,000 people throughout his reign, and it was rumored that he would sometimes dine on the blood and bodies of those he had killed.
Vlad the Impaler is believed to be the real life inspiration for Bram Stoker’s 1897 novel Dracula, which has put him at the forefront of vampiric culture. While it’ll never be known if the book was truly based on him, most people connect this ruler to vampirism.
Mercy Brown
Mercy Brown was a nineteen-year-old woman from Exeter, Rhode Island, who died of tuberculosis, along with several of her family members, in 1892. During this time, tuberculosis was not well understood and became subject to superstition. Because so many people in her family died of this disease so close to the same time, people thought that one of the deceased family members had been resurrected as a vampire.
Eventually, her corpse was exhumed, along with her family members. The townspeople realized that her body specifically was in surprisingly good shape. According to witnesses, her face seemed flush, and there was blood in her heart and veins, even though she had died eight weeks prior.
Human decomposition was not very well understood at the time, so the villagers were shocked to see how well-preserved her body still was. Because of this, they deemed her the culprit and assumed she had become a vampire. In an attempt to remedy the situation, they cut out her heart and burned it.
Arnold Paole
Arnold Paole, also known as Arnold Paul, was a member of the Serbian militia who returned home in 1727. Although he was generally regarded as a good natured, honest man, people who knew him noted a certain “gloom” in his personality after returning from his militia service.
He claimed that this gloom came from a vampire attack. He was able to kill the vampire, and thought he could dodge the curse by eating dirt from its tomb and washing his wounds with its blood.
A few weeks after, he died after a tragic accident. Shortly after his death, some people reported seeing Arnold around. Shortly after, these same people died. Panic ensued, and eventually, his grave was exhumed. Despite him dying over a month prior, there seemed to be a layer of fresh skin over the dead skin, which led people to the conclusion that he was a vampire.
After this, he was staked, decapitated, and his body was burned. The people who had encountered him and later died had the same done to their bodies to prevent further attacks.
Countess Elizabeth Bathory
Some people believe that Dracula was actually inspired by Countess Elizabeth Bathory, and not Vlad the Impaler. She was a Countess from Hungary who lived in the 1600s and became notorious for her “barbaric tendencies.”
She would inflict violent torture on her female servants, and at one point, noticed her skin “tightening” after being splashed with blood. After this, she began bathing in the blood of young female virgins and even started biting into her victims, especially in the facial area.
Eventually, her crimes were noticed by the Hungarian king who tried and punished her for 80 counts of murder. She was sentenced to solitary confinement in a room with no windows or doors and remained there until her death three years later.
Richard Trenton Chase
Richard Trenton Chase was a serial killer in the 1970s who became known as the “Vampire Killer of Sacramento.” He is known to have killed at least six victims, drank their blood, and cannibalized their body parts.
Before his serial killing rampage began, he would perform similar rituals on animals. Due to heavy drug and alcohol abuse, he developed severe mental health issues that caused him to believe his heart would stop beating and that his blood was turning to powder.
Choosing the Perfect Vampire Name
Although these are some of the most popular traditional vampire names, the choice is ultimately up to you. If you’re giving yourself a vampire name, choose one that fits your personality and values well. If you’re writing a vampire character, on the other hand, choose one that reflects the personality and background you’re creating for them.