Think crisply-starched, pressed, and pleated school uniforms, tweed and argyle, and the smell of old books. Think marble columns, polished mahogany, and crimson velvet drapes. Think students carrying textbooks in leather satchels and discussing brooding, intellectual poetry and classic Greek literature. Think secret societies that generations of families belong to. If these images conjure up an elite private school rich with history and tradition, infused with a dose of mystery and lore — think Hogwarts or Wednesday Addams’ Nevermore Academy — you’ve nailed the “dark academia” aesthetic.
At its core, dark academia is about a love of learning, a passion for literature and the arts, and an appreciation for the beauty and mystery of the world around us. As with any popular aesthetic vibe (Rococo-era names, anyone?), the dark academia trend can encompass nearly everything — from decor to clothing style to, yes, even baby names. And with maximalist baby names quickly rising in popularity this year, dark academia baby names have that trend nailed down too; many of them are long and sophisticated-sounding, maximalist names in their own right. So while they may well be names you might have heard hundreds of years ago, they’ve been invigorated with a new energy that fits right in with today’s baby naming landscape.
These dark academia baby names are beautiful-but-broody, elegant and edgy, and have just the right amount of “bite” for the future coolest kid in school.
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Minerva
Image Credit: SheKnows/Created with AI This captivating name has been in use since shortly after the Renaissance, but it’s much older than that; Minerva was the name of the Roman goddess of wisdom and war. It is speculated that Minerva comes from the Latin mens, meaning “intellect”.
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Jasper
Image Credit: SheKnows/Created with AI Jasper is a type of stone said to possess metaphysical properties of healing, strength, and endurance. As a name, it means “treasurer”, possibly derived from a Hebrew word; one of the three wise men in the Bible was named Jasper.
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Ezra
Image Credit: SheKnows/Created with AI When it comes to dark academia baby names, anything containing the letter Z gives it an automatic leg up. Maybe it’s because the letter is so bold — or maybe we associate it with words like “wizard”. Either way, its presence makes this short-and-simple name — which is of Hebrew origin and means “help” — pack a punch.
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Ophelia
Image Credit: SheKnows/Created with AI A strong literary name, Ophelia is derived from the Greek opheleia, meaning “advantage”. And the advantage of this name is that it’s gorgeous, dignified, and classic. It even has a tie to the Addams family; Ophelia is the name of Morticia Addams’ sister.
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Bastian
Image Credit: SheKnows/Created with AI A diminutive of Sebastian, derived from the Greek word meaning “venerable,” Bastian is a little less commonly used — but still retains the distinguished sound. Plus, it has a whimsical association with the main character of The Neverending Story.
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Aurora
Image Credit: SheKnows/Created with AI It may be the Latin word for “dawn”, but Aurora fits perfectly into the realm of Dark Academia. In the Harry Potter series, an Auror is a highly-trained wizard or witch who works as a law enforcement official for the Ministry of Magic. And if the full name seems too fancy, Rory is an adorable nickname option.
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Dorian
Image Credit: SheKnows/Created with AI Oscar Wilde’s only novel, 1890’s The Picture of Dorian Gray, has a supernatural plot — a young man named Dorian Gray makes a deal with the devil: he will remain forever young and beautiful, while his portrait will age and bear the marks of his sins. The name was likely taken from an ancient Greek tribe called the Dorians, who probably got the name from the Greek doron, meaning “gift”.
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Lysander
Image Credit: SheKnows/Created with AI With Alexander being a super popular choice — and derivatives like Xander and Zander not far behind — Lysander is a fabulous alternative. In Shakespeare’s A Midsummer Night’s Dream, Lysander is the name of Hermia’s love interest.
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Bellamy
Image Credit: SheKnows/Created with AI This “Dark Academia” name choice combines the mystique of Bellatrix, the familiarity of more common names like Bella and Jeremy, and the distinguished sound of a surname (because that’s what Bellamy originated as). It’s a perfect gender-neutral option, and its meaning couldn’t be better: it comes from the French bel ami, meaning “beautiful friend”.
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Persephone
Image Credit: SheKnows/Created with AI Lyrical Persephone puts the “dark” into dark academia names; according to Greek mythology, Persephone was abducted into hell by Hades himself. But she was allowed to return to the land of the living every six months to usher in spring and summer — so there’s light there, too.
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Severin
Image Credit: SheKnows/Created with AI Like an intimidating headmaster (or the king of dark academia himself, Severus Snape), the name Severin means “stern.” But unlike Severus, its -in ending makes it feel fresher and more modern.
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Lucian
Image Credit: SheKnows/Created with AI Derived from the Latin lux, meaning “light,” the name Lucian has been borne by multiple philosophers, two early Roman kings, and three popes. It can also be spelled with an e instead of an a: Lucien.
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Esme
Image Credit: SheKnows/Created with AI Managing to be both short and sophisticated, Esme (or Esmé, if you want to get fancier with it) is derived from Old French and means “esteemed” or “loved.”
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Tarquin
Image Credit: SheKnows/Created with AI This rarely-seen name comes from the Roman name Tarquinius, which was borne by more than one Roman king. It appears in Anne Rice’s The Vampire Chronicles, via main character Tarquin Blackwood.
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Alice
Image Credit: SheKnows/Created with AI With Germanic roots (it actually stems from the name Adalheidis), the name Alice means “noble.” And thanks to its prominence in Alice’s Adventures in Wonderland, its vibe is proper, with just a little bit of mischief and magic tied in.
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Gideon
Image Credit: SheKnows/Created with AI A name of Hebrew origin, Gideon means “to hew” (or to fell, break, or destroy). It was popular among the Puritans as a biblical name, and is a good choice in modern times to stand out among the other more often-used biblical names like John, Jacob, and Benjamin.
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Amadeus
Image Credit: SheKnows/Created with AI Derived from the Latin ama (to love) and Deus (god), this name famously belonged to Austrian composer Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart.
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Beatrice
Image Credit: SheKnows/Created with AI The Italian form of Beatrix, which means “voyager”, the name Beatrice has a long history in literature — which makes it the perfect dark academia baby name. Beatrice was a character in both Dante’s Divine Comedy and Shakespeare’s Much Ado About Nothing.
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Alistair
Image Credit: SheKnows/Created with AI Distinguished-sounding Alistair is the English version of the Scottish name Alasdair, which itself is the Gaelic form of Alexander — meaning “defender of men.” Who knew Alistair and Alex came from the same root?
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Demetria
Image Credit: SheKnows/Created with AI Demetria is the feminine form of the Greek name Δημήτριος (Demetrios), derived from the goddess Demeter, which means “earth mother” (Demeter was the goddess of agriculture). It’s an ancient name with a classic sound.
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Enola
Image Credit: SheKnows/Created with AI This beauty is a more modern invention, a literary name first seen in Mary Young Ridenbaugh’s 19th-century novel Enola; or her Fatal Mistake (published in 1886).
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Perseus
Image Credit: SheKnows/Created with AI A strong mythological name, Perseus comes from the Greek πέρθω (pertho), meaning “to destroy.” In Greek mythology, Perseus was the heroic founder of the ancient city of Mycenae — and the defeater of the snake-haired Medusa.
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Philippa
Image Credit: SheKnows/Created with AI Philippa sounds aristocratic — like you might run into her at a posh, antiquated boarding school — but the name also has equestrian associations. It comes from Philip, which means “friend of horses.” And Pippa is an adorable potential nickname!
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Agatha
Image Credit: SheKnows/Created with AI You can’t get any more wholesome than the meaning behind the name Agatha: “good.” It has a vintage vibe, and of course calls to mind famous British mystery writer Agatha Christie.
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Cordelia
Image Credit: SheKnows/Created with AI The origins of Cordelia are unclear — some say it stems from the Middle Welsh name Creidylat, while others say it means “daughter of the sea” or even “heart of a lion” (from the French coeur de Lion). Whatever its meaning, the name has a rich history in literature; it’s the name of a character in Shakespeare’s King Lear, and the heroine in Anne of Green Gables famously said, “I would love to be called Cordelia. It’s such a perfectly elegant name.”
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Ginevra
Image Credit: SheKnows/Created with AI The beautiful Ginevra is the Italian version of the name Guinevere, which itself is derived from the Welsh name Gwenhwyfar, meaning “white phantom.” But Harry Potter fans may also recognize Ginevra as the full name of one Ginny Weasley!
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Victor
Image Credit: SheKnows/Created with AI There’s no guessing necessary when it comes to the meaning of this strong and classic name, since Victor is literally a noun meaning “one who defeats the enemy.” But its association with The Hunchback of Notre Dame author Victor Hugo gives it a clear literary vibe too.
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Mallory
The bookish name Mallory is derived from a Norman surname that means “unfortunate” — but if you can look past the less-than-desirable meaning, it’s a pretty name, with characters named Mallory in the ’80s sitcom Family Ties, beloved book series The Baby-Sitters’ Club, and thriller American Horror Story, to name a few.
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Balthazar
Image Credit: SheKnows/Created with AI The name Balthazar is the perfect dark academia combo: one part wizard, one part wise man, and one part old money (thanks to the association with actor and Getty family heir, Balthazar Getty). It stems from the Hebrew name Belshazzar, meaning “Bel protect the king.” In the Bible, specifically the Old Testament Book of Daniel, this name was borne by the last king of Babylon who saw the mystical handwriting on the wall.
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Prudence
Image Credit: SheKnows/Created with AI The name Prudence (and its super-adorable nickname, Prue) comes from the Latin prudens, meaning “prudent, wise, skilled.” Since virtue names are also trendy right now, this could be a cute and lesser-used alternative to traditional virtue names like Faith and Hope.
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Stellan
Image Credit: SheKnows/Created with AI The origin of Stellan is unclear, but it has been popularized thanks to actor Stellan Skarsgård. It may come from the Old Norse word stilling, meaning “calm.”
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Theodosia
Image Credit: SheKnows/Created with AI Stemming from the Greek Θεοδόσιος, meaning “giving to God,” Theodosia is both intellectual and elegant — and if you’re looking for a shorter option, Thea is an adorable nickname.
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