82 Baby Names Inspired by Dark Academia

Looking for a baby name inspired by the dark academia aesthetic? Consider one of these monikers that invoke gothic, mysterious, and scholarly vibes.

By Christin Perry

Published on October 31, 2023

Fact checked by Karen Cilli

mother and daughter in a black cabbage field — GETTY IMAGES

Dark moody corridors. Gothic architecture. Ink-spattered parchment paper. College students dressed in tweed and tucked into reading nooks. These images are quintessential of dark academia, a moody aesthetic focused on scholarly pursuits, culture, the arts, and literature.

You can find dark academia mood boards all over the internet today. It's also prevalent in pop culture through books (like Frankenstein and The Secret History), movies (such as Dead Poets Society and the Harry Potter series), and TV shows (think Wednesday and Sherlock). The aesthetic is so popular, in fact, that some parents are seeking dark academia baby names for their little one.

Looking for your own inspiration? Check out our round-up 82 dark academia baby names based on history, movies, books, and more. Choosing one of these monikers won't guarantee your child an Ivy League education, but they'll evoke mysterious and scholarly vibes nonetheless!

Literary Baby Names Inspired by Dark Academia

Many literary baby names fit perfectly with the dark academia theme. Some names listed here come from classic novels or plays; we listed the book title along with the moniker. Others are inspired by authors who happen to have a fitting byline.

Agatha - An homage to mystery writer Agatha Christie, who published renowned works like Murder on the Orient Express
Alice - From Alice's Adventures in Wonderland, a children's novel by Lewis Carroll
Aslan - After the talking lion in The Chronicles of Narnia series by C. S. Lewis
Atticus - Inspired by Atticus Finch in Harper Lee's classic novel To Kill a Mockingbird
Auden - A nod to British-American poet W.H. Auden
Austen - The surname of novelist Jane Austen, who penned classics like Pride and Prejudice
Charlotte - The name Charlotte is perfect for literature fans who enjoy the work of English novelist Charlotte Bronte, author of Jane Eyre
Cordelia - Vintage baby name that makes an appearance in William Shakespeare's play King Lear
Darcy - The moody love interest in Pride and Prejudice
Dorian - From The Picture of Dorian Gray by Oscar Wilde, which is a classic dark academia novel
Holden - The teenage narrator of The Catcher in the Rye by J. D. Salinger
Lysander -A character in A Midsummer Night’s Dream by William Shakespeare

Matilda - The namesake of the classic children's book by Roald Dahl, which is also a movie and Broadway show
Ophelia - Another dark academia name inspired Shakespeare; the name Ophelia comes from Hamlet
Sylvia - After American writer Sylvia Plath, author of The Bell Jar
Tarquin - From The Vampire Chronicles, a series of gothic novels by Anne Rice
Willa - Inspired by American author Willa Cather
Zora - Taken from Zora Neale Hurston, author of Their Eyes Were Watching God and other inspiring novels

Historical Dark Academia Baby Names

Want a tip for finding some of the best dark academia baby names? Simply look through the history books! The names below span the gamut from ancient to modern times. You might recognize historical figures, Greek and Roman gods, and more.

Albert
Athena
Atlas
Bessie
Booker
Clive
Eleanor
Freya
Grover
Harriet
Helen
Hendrix
Julius
Lucien
Ludwig
Malcolm
Octavia
Orion
Persephone

Dark Academia Baby Names from Pop Culture

Remember when the name Arya skyrocketed in popularity thanks to Game of Thrones? There’s something so enticing about giving your baby a beautiful name that’s plucked from pop culture. The dark academia baby names below come from TV shows and films (some of which were originally inspired by books). They surely won't disappoint!

Alastor (Harry Potter series; also consider the similar "Alistair")
Alma (The Queen's Gambit)
Enid (Wednesday)
Enola (Enola Holmes)
Hansen (A Beautiful Mind)
Klaus (A Series Of Unfortunate Events)
Knox (Dead Poets Society)
Lucien (Kill Your Darlings)
Margot (The Royal Tenenbaums)
Minerva (Harry Potter series)
Quentin (The Magicians)
Sabrina (The Chilling Adventures of Sabrina)
Salem (The Chilling Adventures of Sabrina)
Sirius (Harry Potter series)
Theodore (The Goldfinch)
Watson (Sherlock)

Gender Neutral Dark Academia Baby Names

More parents today are opting for gender-neutral baby names, which avoid stereotypes associated with either biological sex. Here we've rounded up some fantastic unisex baby names to consider if you’re hoping to keep the dark academia aesthetic. They're moody, dramatic, and full of character.

Arden
Amari
Blair
Ezra
Finley
Haven
Luca
Quinn
Rowan
Wren

More Dark Academia Names for Babies

In case you still haven’t found the perfect dark academia baby name for your little one, we’ve added several more unique baby names to our list. Consider it a bonus round of beautiful names that evoke a sense of drama and mystique!