witchy and gothic names

The titular character of a tragic poem by Edgar Allen Poe set in a lonesome October. Ulalume may be representative of death itself, making the name feel gothic and otherwordly. The etymology is uncertain, but Poe may have derived it from the Latin ululare meaning wailing or lumen a light symbolizing sorrow.

A perfectly respectable Old Testament name ruined forever through its association with the odious Uriah Heep in David Copperfield. Some people also find this name just too close to the word urine. These negative connotations may be wearing off, however. (Perhaps because people don't read as much Dickens as they used to.)

A saint's name with a noteworthy literary background, including uses by Shakespeare in Two Gentlemen of Verona and Much Ado About Nothing, by Ben Johnson, Walter Scott, Longfellow, D. H. Lawrence and Neil Gaiman. In real life, her two most well known representatives are writer Ursula Le Guin and actress Ursula Andress. In literature, there is also Ursula Iguaran, a key, long-lived character in Gabriel Garcia Marquez's major work, One Hundred Years of Solitude.

A rare member of the popular -iel group of Biblical names, with a powerful sound and meaning.

Effortlessly stylish, with plenty of sweetness and strength, Valentina feels like a fresh alternative to Valerie, Victoria, or Vanessa.

Valentine is an attractive Shakespearean name with romantic associations, but those very ties to the saint and the sentimental holiday have sent it into a decline, one which we think may be about to turn around.

This name of a Roman emperor and of a sedating plant is still used quietly, given to about a dozen baby boys in the US last year. It has a strong, rhythmic sound and could make a modern-feeling honor name for grandma Valerie.

Vanessa was invented by writer Jonathan Swift for a lover named Esther Vanhomrigh—he combined the first syllable of her last name with the initial syllable of her first. Swift used it in the poem Cadenus and Vanessa in 1713. A century later, Johan Christian Fabricius used Vanessa as the name of a genus of butterfly.

Alternative form of Basil that might suit the adventurous.

Vasilisa is the feminine form of Vasili, the Russian translation of Basil.

The same stylish sounds as Vale, but with more secrecy.

Velvet is a name that couldn't possibly be softer or more luxuriant. Many people have fond memories of it via the character of Velvet Brown, played by the young Elizabeth Taylor in National Velvet, an intrepid young woman willing to masquerade as a boy to race her horse in a dangerous steeplechase.

Velvina is a feminine name with unclear origins, possibly derived from the word 'velvet,' suggesting softness and luxury. Alternatively, it may be an elaboration of Velma or an invented name with a pleasant sound. The suffix '-ina' adds a diminutive, feminine quality common in many European naming traditions. Extremely rare in most countries, Velvina offers a distinctive identity with its flowing, melodic sound. The name evokes a sense of softness and elegance through both its potential connection to velvet and its gentle phonetics. Velvina may appeal to parents seeking unique names with an inherently feminine quality and vintage charm, following trends of reviving or reinventing uncommon names from earlier eras.

The name of a heavenly planet and the Roman goddess of beauty and love was an intimidating no-no until tennis champ Venus Williams put an athletic, modern spin on it.

While this is usually thought of as a girls' name because of the Bond Girl connection, its sound is masculine and there's no reason it couldn't work for boys.

Victor is one of the earliest Christian names, borne (as Vittorio) by several saints and popes, symbolizing Christ's victory over death. It has been quietly in the Top 200 since 1880, but just recently has taken on a cool edge by fashionable parents in London and seems ripe for a similar reevaluation here too.

Victoria is the Latin word for "victory" and a feminine form of Victor. It is the name of the ancient Roman goddess of victory, the equivalent of the Greek Nike, and also a popular third century saint.

Victoriana is an elaborate feminine name derived from Victoria, which originated from the Latin word 'victoria' meaning 'victory.' This extended form adds a romantic, vintage quality to the classic name, evoking images of the Victorian era and its ornate aesthetics. While Victoria has been consistently popular throughout history—particularly associated with Queen Victoria of England—Victoriana remains quite rare, appealing to parents seeking something distinctive with historical resonance. The name carries connotations of triumph, dignity, and classic femininity, enhanced by its elaborate suffix. Victoriana might be chosen for its grandeur and vintage charm, offering a more elaborate alternative to the timeless Victoria while maintaining its strong etymological roots of achievement and conquest.

The Viktor form of this classic name is widely used throughout Europe and is rising in the US as well.