Gothic Name Generator

Five names a press from Gothic novels and tales, each with its book, its author and its year.

Gothic Name Generator

  1. HeathcliffIn Wuthering Heights by Emily Brontë, 1847.
  2. MegIn Uncle Silas by Sheridan Le Fanu, 1864. Also in The Phantom of the Opera (1910).
  3. GulchenrouzIn Vathek by William Beckford, 1786.
  4. RoderickIn The Fall of the House of Usher by Edgar Allan Poe, 1839.
  5. MircallaIn Carmilla by Sheridan Le Fanu, 1872.

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How it works

This Gothic name generator draws five names per press from 136, every one the name of a character in a Gothic novel or tale first published between 1764 and 1910. Nothing is made up, and each card names the book.

Read the full guide

From Otranto to the opera house

The list starts with The Castle of Otranto of 1764, which gave Manfred and Matilda, and runs through The Monk, Frankenstein, Wuthering Heights, Carmilla and Dracula to The Phantom of the Opera of 1910. A card names the book, its author and its year; Matilda is in two books, and her card lists both.

Narrow the draw

Use the menu under the button for women's or men's names, and More filters for an era: the first Gothic novels to 1820, 1821 to 1889, or 1890 to 1910. From each book the list takes the four names its text prints most, then only names no other name page here held when it was built.

Tips
  • Looking for a goth name generator? Every name here comes from the pages of a Gothic story.
  • Ligeia, Morella, Rowena, Madeline, Roderick and Prospero all come from tales by Edgar Allan Poe.

Questions and answers

What is a Gothic name?

Here it is the name of a character in Gothic fiction, the literature of fear and haunting that began with Horace Walpole's The Castle of Otranto in 1764. Carmilla, Heathcliff, Ambrosio and Ligeia are four of them.

What are some Gothic girl names?

Carmilla, Ligeia, Morella, Mina, Lucy, Matilda, Antonia, Isabella, Madeline and Christine are all women's names on this list, from Carmilla, Poe's tales, Dracula, The Monk, The Castle of Otranto and The Phantom of the Opera.

What are some Gothic boy names?

Heathcliff, Manfred, Ambrosio, Dorian, Victor, Roderick, Prospero, Silas, Erik and Vathek are all men's names on this list. Each card says which book the name is from.

Are these names made up?

No. Every name stands at least twice in the text of its book as Project Gutenberg prints it, where a script found it on 2 October 2026. The author and the year were checked against each work's encyclopedia article.

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All 136 Gothic names

Women's names 74

  • Adèle In Jane Eyre by Charlotte Brontë, 1847.
  • Ailsie In The Bride of Lammermoor by Walter Scott, 1819.
  • Alice In The Bride of Lammermoor by Walter Scott, 1819. Also in The House of the Seven Gables (1851).
  • Anne In The Woman in White by Wilkie Collins, 1860.
  • Annette In The Mysteries of Udolpho by Ann Radcliffe, 1794.
  • Antonia In The Monk by Matthew Gregory Lewis, 1796.
  • Arabella In The Private Memoirs and Confessions of a Justified Sinner by James Hogg, 1824.
  • Beatrice In The Monk by Matthew Gregory Lewis, 1796. Also in Rappaccini's Daughter (1844).
  • Bessie In Jane Eyre by Charlotte Brontë, 1847.
  • Blanche In The Mysteries of Udolpho by Ann Radcliffe, 1794. Also in Jane Eyre (1847).
  • Carathis In Vathek by William Beckford, 1786.
  • Carlotta In The Phantom of the Opera by Gaston Leroux, 1910.
  • Carmilla In Carmilla by Sheridan Le Fanu, 1872.
  • Cassilda In The King in Yellow by Robert W. Chambers, 1895.
  • Catharine In Wieland by Charles Brockden Brown, 1798.
  • Catherine In Wuthering Heights by Emily Brontë, 1847.
  • Christine In The Phantom of the Opera by Gaston Leroux, 1910.
  • Clara In Wieland by Charles Brockden Brown, 1798.
  • Cunegonda In The Monk by Matthew Gregory Lewis, 1796.
Show all 136 Gothic names (117 more)

Women's names, continued

  • Diana In Jane Eyre by Charlotte Brontë, 1847.
  • Dilara In Vathek by William Beckford, 1786.
  • Dora In The Beetle by Richard Marsh, 1897.
  • Dorothée In The Mysteries of Udolpho by Ann Radcliffe, 1794.
  • Elizabeth In Frankenstein by Mary Shelley, 1818.
  • Emilia In A Sicilian Romance by Ann Radcliffe, 1790.
  • Emily In The Mysteries of Udolpho by Ann Radcliffe, 1794.
  • Flora In The Monk by Matthew Gregory Lewis, 1796. Also in The Turn of the Screw (1898).
  • Geneviève In The King in Yellow by Robert W. Chambers, 1895.
  • Helen In Jane Eyre by Charlotte Brontë, 1847. Also in The Great God Pan (1894).
  • Hepzibah In The House of the Seven Gables by Nathaniel Hawthorne, 1851.
  • Hetty In The Picture of Dorian Gray by Oscar Wilde, 1890.
  • Hippolita In The Castle of Otranto by Horace Walpole, 1764.
  • Ianthe In The Vampyre by John William Polidori, 1819.
  • Isabella In The Castle of Otranto by Horace Walpole, 1764. Also in Wuthering Heights (1847).
  • Jacintha In The Monk by Matthew Gregory Lewis, 1796.
  • Jane In Jane Eyre by Charlotte Brontë, 1847.
  • Judith In Wieland by Charles Brockden Brown, 1798.
  • Julia In A Sicilian Romance by Ann Radcliffe, 1790.
  • Justine In Frankenstein by Mary Shelley, 1818.
  • Laura In The Woman in White by Wilkie Collins, 1860. Also in Carmilla (1872).
  • Leonella In The Monk by Matthew Gregory Lewis, 1796.
  • Ligeia In Ligeia by Edgar Allan Poe, 1838.
  • Lisabetta In Rappaccini's Daughter by Nathaniel Hawthorne, 1844.
  • Louisa In A Sicilian Romance by Ann Radcliffe, 1790. Also in Wieland (1798).
  • Lucy In The Bride of Lammermoor by Walter Scott, 1819. Also in Dracula (1897).
  • Maddelina In The Mysteries of Udolpho by Ann Radcliffe, 1794.
  • Madeline In The Fall of the House of Usher by Edgar Allan Poe, 1839.
  • Margaret In Frankenstein by Mary Shelley, 1818. Also in The Jewel of Seven Stars (1903).
  • Marian In The Woman in White by Wilkie Collins, 1860.
  • Marjorie In The Beetle by Richard Marsh, 1897.
  • Mary In The Great God Pan by Arthur Machen, 1894.
  • Matilda In The Castle of Otranto by Horace Walpole, 1764. Also in The Monk (1796).
  • Maud In Uncle Silas by Sheridan Le Fanu, 1864.
  • Meg In Uncle Silas by Sheridan Le Fanu, 1864. Also in The Phantom of the Opera (1910).
  • Millarca In Carmilla by Sheridan Le Fanu, 1872.
  • Milly In Uncle Silas by Sheridan Le Fanu, 1864.
  • Mina In Dracula by Bram Stoker, 1897.
  • Mircalla In Carmilla by Sheridan Le Fanu, 1872.
  • Monica In Uncle Silas by Sheridan Le Fanu, 1864.
  • Morella In Morella by Edgar Allan Poe, 1835.
  • Mysie In The Bride of Lammermoor by Walter Scott, 1819.
  • Nelly In Wuthering Heights by Emily Brontë, 1847.
  • Nouronihar In Vathek by William Beckford, 1786.
  • Phoebe In The House of the Seven Gables by Nathaniel Hawthorne, 1851.
  • Rabina In The Private Memoirs and Confessions of a Justified Sinner by James Hogg, 1824.
  • Rachel In The Great God Pan by Arthur Machen, 1894.
  • Rowena In Ligeia by Edgar Allan Poe, 1838.
  • Safie In Frankenstein by Mary Shelley, 1818.
  • Sibyl In The Picture of Dorian Gray by Oscar Wilde, 1890.
  • Sylvia In The King in Yellow by Robert W. Chambers, 1895.
  • Tera In The Jewel of Seven Stars by Bram Stoker, 1903.
  • Tessie In The King in Yellow by Robert W. Chambers, 1895.
  • Virginia In The Monk by Matthew Gregory Lewis, 1796. Also in The Canterville Ghost (1887).
  • Zillah In Wuthering Heights by Emily Brontë, 1847.

Men's names 62

  • Ambrosio In The Monk by Matthew Gregory Lewis, 1796.
  • Arthur In Dracula by Bram Stoker, 1897.
  • Bababalouk In Vathek by William Beckford, 1786.
  • Basil In The Picture of Dorian Gray by Oscar Wilde, 1890.
  • Boris In The King in Yellow by Robert W. Chambers, 1895.
  • Caleb In The Bride of Lammermoor by Walter Scott, 1819.
  • Cecil In The Canterville Ghost by Oscar Wilde, 1887.
  • Christoval In The Monk by Matthew Gregory Lewis, 1796.
  • Clifford In The House of the Seven Gables by Nathaniel Hawthorne, 1851.
  • Danvers In Strange Case of Dr Jekyll and Mr Hyde by Robert Louis Stevenson, 1886.
  • Dorian In The Picture of Dorian Gray by Oscar Wilde, 1890.
  • Edmund In The Old English Baron by Clara Reeve, 1778.
  • Edward In Jane Eyre by Charlotte Brontë, 1847. Also in Strange Case of Dr Jekyll and Mr Hyde (1886).
  • Erik In The Phantom of the Opera by Gaston Leroux, 1910.
  • Ethelred In The Fall of the House of Usher by Edgar Allan Poe, 1839.
  • Fakreddin In Vathek by William Beckford, 1786.
  • Felix In Frankenstein by Mary Shelley, 1818.
  • Ferdinand In A Sicilian Romance by Ann Radcliffe, 1790.
  • Firmin In The Phantom of the Opera by Gaston Leroux, 1910.
  • Frederick In Metzengerstein by Edgar Allan Poe, 1832. Also in The Woman in White (1860).
  • George In The Private Memoirs and Confessions of a Justified Sinner by James Hogg, 1824.
  • Gervayse In The House of the Seven Gables by Nathaniel Hawthorne, 1851.
  • Giovanni In Rappaccini's Daughter by Nathaniel Hawthorne, 1844.
  • Gulchenrouz In Vathek by William Beckford, 1786.
  • Hareton In Wuthering Heights by Emily Brontë, 1847.
  • Heathcliff In Wuthering Heights by Emily Brontë, 1847.
  • Henry In Frankenstein by Mary Shelley, 1818. Also in Strange Case of Dr Jekyll and Mr Hyde (1886) and The Picture of Dorian Gray (1890).
  • Hildred In The King in Yellow by Robert W. Chambers, 1895.
  • Hindley In Wuthering Heights by Emily Brontë, 1847.
  • Hippolitus In A Sicilian Romance by Ann Radcliffe, 1790.
  • Jaffrey In The House of the Seven Gables by Nathaniel Hawthorne, 1851.
  • Jaquez In The Castle of Otranto by Horace Walpole, 1764.
  • Jonathan In Dracula by Bram Stoker, 1897.
  • Joseph In The Old English Baron by Clara Reeve, 1778. Also in Wuthering Heights (1847).
  • Linton In Wuthering Heights by Emily Brontë, 1847.
  • Lorenzo In The Monk by Matthew Gregory Lewis, 1796.
  • Ludovico In The Mysteries of Udolpho by Ann Radcliffe, 1794.
  • Malcolm In The Jewel of Seven Stars by Bram Stoker, 1903.
  • Manfred In The Castle of Otranto by Horace Walpole, 1764.
  • Miles In The Turn of the Screw by Henry James, 1898.
  • Morakanabad In Vathek by William Beckford, 1786.
  • Oswald In The Old English Baron by Clara Reeve, 1778.
  • Paul In The Beetle by Richard Marsh, 1897.
  • Percival In The Woman in White by Wilkie Collins, 1860.
  • Peter In Dracula by Bram Stoker, 1897. Also in The Turn of the Screw (1898).
  • Philip In The Old English Baron by Clara Reeve, 1778. Also in The Woman in White (1860).
  • Pietro In Rappaccini's Daughter by Nathaniel Hawthorne, 1844.
  • Prospero In The Masque of the Red Death by Edgar Allan Poe, 1842.
  • Quincey In Dracula by Bram Stoker, 1897.
  • Raoul In The Phantom of the Opera by Gaston Leroux, 1910.
  • Richard In Jane Eyre by Charlotte Brontë, 1847. Also in Strange Case of Dr Jekyll and Mr Hyde (1886).
  • Robert In The Private Memoirs and Confessions of a Justified Sinner by James Hogg, 1824. Also in The Beetle (1897).
  • Roderick In The Fall of the House of Usher by Edgar Allan Poe, 1839.
  • Silas In Uncle Silas by Sheridan Le Fanu, 1864.
  • Simon In The Canterville Ghost by Oscar Wilde, 1887.
  • Sydney In The Beetle by Richard Marsh, 1897.
  • Theodore In The Castle of Otranto by Horace Walpole, 1764. Also in The Monk (1796).
  • Ugo In The Mysteries of Udolpho by Ann Radcliffe, 1794.
  • Vathek In Vathek by William Beckford, 1786.
  • Victor In Frankenstein by Mary Shelley, 1818.
  • Washington In The Canterville Ghost by Oscar Wilde, 1887.
  • Wilhelm In Metzengerstein by Edgar Allan Poe, 1832.

How this list was compiled: A list by a written rule, built on 2 October 2026. A name is listed when it is the given name, or the single name, of a character in a work of Gothic fiction first published between 1764 and 1910 whose text Project Gutenberg holds (https://www.gutenberg.org, 31 texts read that day) and the name stands at least twice in that text, found there by script. A work counts as Gothic when English Wikipedia's 'Gothic fiction' article names it or the opening of its own article there calls it Gothic (https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Gothic_fiction, read the same day); nine works first chosen failed that test and were left out with their names, Lenore and Ichabod among them. From each work the list takes the four names its text prints most often, and beyond those only the names that no other name list of this site held when the list was built, so that the list stays this page's own; that leaves out everyday names of minor characters. 33 works by 24 authors give 136 names. The author and the year on a card stand in the opening of the work's Wikipedia article, checked by script. The year is the one that opening gives the work; for a work that first ran in parts or came out earlier in another form (The Old English Baron, The Woman in White, Carmilla, The Great God Pan, The Phantom of the Opera) it is the year the run ended or the book came out, not the year of the first part. The Phantom of the Opera is read in its English translation. Surnames and titles are left out (Dracula, Rochester, Usher), as are narrators without a name. Whether a name is listed for women or for men is the sex of the character in the work, set by us from the text. Where two or three works use the same name the card lists each; the eras group a name under every work that uses it. Which characters to list from a long novel was our choice; no name is made up and none is the full name of a real person. Licence: The works are in the public domain in the United States and are read on Project Gutenberg; authors and years: English Wikipedia, CC BY-SA 4.0 (https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/4.0/). The selection and the groups are our own work.