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- Parenting Baby Names
- Parenting Baby Names
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Maybe you and your hubs have both always had a deep-seated love of all things vampire -- or maybe you knew he was the one by how all-out he went every October 31st. Whatever the reason, if you're expecting on or around Halloween, there's lots of naming inspiration to draw from this spooky holiday. Just don't get too literal -- these names are best when the allusion is subtle.
Keep the Lights On Think about the books or characters that have stayed with you -- we love the names Poe or Raven which are both light-handed, modern ways to pay hommage to Edgar Allen Poe. Other inspired lit picks: Shelley, after Frankenstein author Mary Shelley, or Bram, after Dracula author Bram Stoker.
Speak in Tongues You can also take inspiration from other languages. Love werewolves? Consider Lupo, the Italian word for wolf. And "spider" actually makes a pretty girl's name when it's in Spanish: Araña.
Screen Screams Looking for something slightly more spooky? Take inspiration from scary movies or shows you love. Maybe you don't want to name your babe after the villian in a slasher film (sorry Freddie, Jason and Michael!), but you can name him after your favorite hero or heroine (think Sidney and Prescott from the Scream series). There's Blair from The Blair Witch Project and Rosemary from Rosemary's Baby. Or consider Bella (after Dracula star Bela Lugosi, or you know, that other Bella). Twilight fans may also be inspired by the hauntingly beautiful, old-fashioned names of vampires like Esme, Jasper and Carlisle. (Or go retro with Bewitched names like Tabitha, Samantha or Darrin.)
Keep in mind that what's scary to some folks may be completely normal to others. In the U.S., many people -- especially those over age 30 -- associate the name Damien with the movie The Omen, but in France, for example, the name Damien has no negative connotations, says BabyNames.com founder Jennifer Moss. (Of course, she adds, kids today won't have a clue what that movie is!)
Want more inspiration? Check out this spooky names list from BabyNames.com.