SPIDERS, CHARMS & GREAT PUMPKINS
I’m not sure Halloween is the sort of holiday parents are inspired by when name-hunting, but then, why not? A friend of mine went to a wedding at a cemetery not too long ago. If there are couples who find love at a cemetery, there are probably couples who would love ideas inspired by October’s biggest holiday.
For inspiration, I reached back into some of my favorite childhood memories and to a few key chapters in BABY NAMES MADE EASY – chiefly, Magic and Animals & Insects. A few of my picks are from the spookier side of Halloween and some of them are from the sweeter side of the day.
Here are my 13 Halloween-inspired names:
GIRLS’ BABY NAMES
GOSSAMER
When I think Halloween, I think spiders. Gossamer means “light cobweb.” It’s more commonly known as a type of fabric, but for Halloween, consider it the sweeter, less spooky option to the next spider name on my list.
ARACHNE
Arachnophobia is the fear of spiders. Arachnodactyly is a medical condition where a person has uncharacteristically long, spidery fingers. Arachne is a figure from Greek mythology and, perhaps, the inspiration behind your daughter’s name. It means “spider, spider’s web.” Perfectly spooky for Halloween.
LILITH
Lilith means “night monster; screech owl” and I don’t think there’s any explanation needed for why it made my list. The name Lilith may call to mind the character from Cheers and Frasier, but that works because I think she was kind of scary herself.
CHARM
I don’t know much about witches, but this name means “incantation” and seems like the perfect fit parents who really want to get into the holiday spirit. If you think it’s too whimsical as a first name, it could be a cute middle name.
ELLA
Ella means “fairy maiden” and is perfectly sweet. What little girl wasn’t a fairy maiden for Halloween at least once?
KENDA
Halloween is nothing without a little magic. Kenda means “magical power.” I actually had a few names with similar definitions to choose from in my Magic chapter. I chose Kenda because I thought it was unique and pretty.
BOYS’ BABY NAMES
RUNE
I had a “charm” for the girls and I have one for the boys, too – Rune. Rune means “magic charm; ancient alphabet.” Halloween and magic charms go hand in hand. If you like unisex names, Rune is a unique one to consider.
ICHABOD
Who can forget Ichabod Crane from the classic The Legend of Sleepy Hallow? I’m not sure if I can wholeheartedly recommend the name Ichabod, but it certainly makes a bold statement.
WEBB
In keeping with the spider theme, I chose Webb for my list. It means “weaver” and is an obvious reference to one of my favorite Halloween decorations – spider webs. It also fits into the cool last-name-first trend we’ve been seeing so much these days.
JACK
Jack Skellington is the King of Halloweentown and the lead character in Tim Burton’s The Nightmare Before Christmas. The King of Halloweentown simply had to make the list. Plus, Jack is a great name and, at the risk of insulting my earlier pick, a more inspiring choice than Ichabod.
LINUS
As a kid, one of my favorite Halloween rituals was watching It’s the Great Pumpkin, Charlie Brown. Linus is the adorable Peanut hoping to see the Great Pumpkin. That sort of youthful enthusiasm and hopefulness embodies the spirit of Halloween, so Linus made my list.
MAGUS
Magus is part Harry Potter and part Halloween, mostly because it means “magician, wizard.” Magus is definitely walking that fine line between unique and unusual. Which side it falls on is definitely a matter of taste.
DROGO
Where would Halloween be without an apparition or two? Drogo means “ghost, phantom.” You could also consider Casper…
Follow me on Twitter for my list of Halloween-inspired pet names. I always have the best time coming up with my pet name lists! Send me any names I should add. Here’s a preview…in honor of Sabrina, the Teenage Witch, Salem (Sabrina’s cat).
TRICK OR TREAT?
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Happy naming,
♥ Amanda
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BABY NAMES MADE EASY: THE COMPLETE REVERSE-DICTIONARY OF BABY NAMES
