Vampire Names From History, Fantasy, And Fiction That Still Bite

Let’s talk vampire names. You know, the kind that give you chills, sound super elegant… or just plain creepy. Some of these names feel like they belong in dusty, old castles. Others? More like edgy teens with bad sleep schedules and great eyeliner.

I remember watching my first vampire movie at age 10 (bad idea). Couldn’t sleep for days. Thought every shadow was Dracula himself. Turns out it was just my dad’s coat on a chair. Whoops.

Anyway, we’re going full gothic with this one — but casual, friendly, and just a little unhinged. Buckle up. It’s gonna be bitey.

Real-Life Vampire Names (Yeah, Actual People)

Believe it or not, vampire names aren’t just made up in books. There were real folks with creepy reputations long before Hollywood got involved. Some of these names still echo like haunted whispers. Okay, that was dramatic. But still.

🩸 Vlad the Impaler

Dracula’s blueprint
Liked… impaling people (hence the name, duh)
Wasn’t actually a vampire, just terrifying enough to inspire one
I once tried to dress like him for Halloween — ended up looking like a confused pirate

🩸 Elizabeth Báthory

Countess from Hungary
Rumored to bathe in virgin blood to stay young
Historians say it’s exaggerated, but honestly, who even starts that rumor casually?

🩸 Jure Grando

Croat peasant (yeah, not a count or anything)
Died and came back, allegedly, to terrorize villagers
First documented vampire in Europe (spooky milestone!)

These vampire names weren’t just dramatic — they freaked people out for centuries. Literally.

And here’s a quick list of lesser-known, but still cool (and creepy) names:

Mercy Brown (America’s “real” vampire girl)
Arnold Paole (Serbian soldier who supposedly came back thirsty)
Petar Blagojevich (Balkan menace)

Honestly, if I ever see someone named “Blagojevich” walking at night… I’m crossing the street.

Classic Vampire Names That Made Pop Culture What It Is

These are the names that built the vampire mythos. From old literature to silent films, they shaped the vibe. And trust me, the vibe is 90% velvet cloaks and brooding stares.

🧛 Dracula

The OG of vampire names. Bram Stoker gave us a real icon here. I mean:

Sleeps in coffins
Has that Transylvanian real estate swag
Can’t go out in the sun — same
I still say “I vant to suck your blood” when brushing my teeth sometimes. It’s a problem.

🧛 Carmilla

Predates Dracula by 25 years
Lesbian vampire vibes before it was cool
Elegant, mysterious, and totally gothic
Reminds me of that kid in class who always wore black and knew Latin

🧛 Nosferatu

Max Schreck’s version of Dracula, but creepier and balder
That shadow-on-the-wall scene? NIGHTMARES.
I once saw a guy at Comic Con dressed as Nosferatu. He didn’t blink for 10 minutes. Respect.

These vampire names live rent-free in pop culture’s castle. And yeah, they still bite.

Vampire Names From Movies That Slayed (Pun Fully Intended)

Let’s get into movie territory. These aren’t dusty old legends — these names have soundtracks.

🦇 Louis & Lestat (Interview with the Vampire)

Louis = emo vampire
Lestat = rockstar vampire
Together = drama
Honestly, if Louis had a Tumblr, it’d be 99% sad poetry and moon pics

🦇 Selene (Underworld)

Leather. Guns. Fangs.
She basically rebranded vampire names into action-hero status
Kind of wanted to be her when I was 13. Still kinda do.

🦇 Blade

Half-human, half-vampire, all badass
Daywalker — he gets the sun and the shade
I once tried his sword move with a broomstick… broke a lamp. Not worth it.

You get it — these vampire names weren’t just spooky. They were cool. Way cooler than any of us in high school.

Fictional Vampire Names That Deserve More Hype

Now here’s the juicy part: the underrated fangs. The names you hear and go, wait, why don’t more people talk about this one?

🧃 Marceline (Adventure Time)

Vampire queen AND bass player
I mean come on
Her song “I’m Just Your Problem” lowkey slaps harder than my mom’s sandal

🧃 Alucard (Hellsing, Castlevania, etc.)

Dracula spelled backwards — classy move
Guns, teleportation, and endless sass
Sounds like he drinks blood and espresso

🧃 Claudia (Interview with the Vampire)

Turned as a child — stuck with big feelings in a little body
Lowkey terrifying when angry
Probably would’ve grown up to host a true crime podcast

Underrated vampire names like these keep the mythos alive. Not every bloodsucker needs a cape.

Modern-Day Vampire Names From YA Books and Shows

Okay, I’m not ashamed to admit I had a Twilight phase. (Okay, maybe a little ashamed.)

🧛 Edward Cullen

Sparkles in sunlight
Hangs out with high schoolers for some reason
Still one of the most famous vampire names ever
I once tried the “brooding stare” in front of a mirror. Just looked constipated.

🧛 Damon & Stefan Salvatore (The Vampire Diaries)

One’s a heartthrob. The other’s… also a heartthrob.
Lots of shirtless angst
Their names still trend on Halloween, and that says a lot

🧛 Simon Lewis (The Mortal Instruments)

Nerd turned vampire — finally, some representation!
Honestly relatable. I too want powers without giving up snacks.

These vampire names might be newer, but they bite just as hard.

Fantasy Vampire Names That Sound Straight-Up Royal

You ever hear a name so fancy, it sounds like it comes with a castle and a goblet of… well, red stuff?

Here’s a few fantasy-born vampire names that make you want to curtsey:

Valentina Duskthorn – I made this one up but it sounds legit, right?
Lucien Nightshade – Probably owns a dark horse and reads poetry
Isolde Sanguis – Her voice echoes through catacombs, for sure
Thorne Ravencroft – Ugh. I want this name. So dramatic.

Honestly, if I ever write a novel (maybe, who knows), I’m using at least two of these vampire names. Wrote them on a napkin once. Lost the napkin. Classic.

Funny or Weird Vampire Names You Never Expected

Let’s not pretend every vampire has a cool name. Some are… well, kind of goofy.

😂 Count Duckula

A literal cartoon duck
Vegetarian vampire
My brain still short-circuits thinking about this

😂 Count Chocula

Cereal box vampire
Only drinks chocolate milk (probably)
Somehow still part of the vampire names canon. Wild.

😂 Vladislaw Dragomir von Kravenstein (made-up, but admit it — sounds real)

Sounds like he’d invite you to tea, then lecture you about blood temperature

We all need some light-hearted vampire names in the mix. Keeps the night from getting too dark.

How to Come Up With Your Own Vampire Name

You can wait for some ancient book to give you a name. Or… you can just make one up. It’s more fun, anyway.

Here’s a formula I made (after drinking too much coffee):

Pick a moody first name: Lucien, Selene, Thorne, Raven, Isolde
Add a dramatic last name: Nightshade, Bloodrose, Darkmoor, Duskthorn
Optional: throw in a middle name for flair — bonus points if it sounds like Latin

Example vampire names I love:

Selene Duskthorn
Lucien Virellis
Isolde Nightbloom
Damon Bloodmoor

Give it a shot. Honestly, I’d love to meet someone named “Raven Bloodmilk.” Wait—maybe not.

Why Vampire Names Still Bite (And Why We Love Them)

There’s something timeless about these names. Maybe it’s the drama. Maybe the mystery. Maybe it’s just fun to pretend you live in a castle and say things like “I vant to be alone.”

Whatever it is, vampire names still bite. Hard.

They give you instant personality
They’re a little spooky, a little sexy
They make Halloween 10x cooler
They’re just… fun, okay?

Even if you don’t wear black velvet and sleep in a coffin, part of you gets the appeal. We all want to be a little ageless and mysterious sometimes. Or maybe that’s just me binge-watching vampire shows again instead of sleeping. Whoops.

Anyway, here’s a final list for your naming inspiration: