Victorian Gothic Names for Girls: Unusual Uncommon Alternatives

Jun 29, 2010
Christina Gregoire

Brittany Name - photo of my daughter, Christina Gregoire

See cool, indie, and unique girl names that start with A, B, and C from the Gothic Victorian Era. These are names for babies who don't want to be common.

There are many beautiful Victorian Gothic names for girls from the 1800s. These names are unusual and old fashioned but they are great for unique babies. One suggestion is to give a child a somewhat common name for a first name and an indie name for a middle name, or vice versa. That way the little chickadee can use the appropriate name if she wants to be punk rocker or if she wants to run for President.

Gothic Girls' Names

Most names from the Victorian Era sound a bit strange or foreign, but they are making a comeback. Romantic Goth parents may like most of these names, but other people shouldn't worry about the connotation associated with the word “Goth.”

Names From Victorian England

The term Victorian refers to the era when Victoria was Queen of England, or 1837-1901. Actually, the Victorian Era includes a few years prior (Georgian Period) and afterwards (Edwardian Period).

Victorian Names That Start With "A":

Aurelia: This is the name of a Catholic Saint who became a hermitess to escape marriage. Meaning: Golden.
Avelina, Aveline: A cute form of Avis. Meaning: Bird.
Aven: This means mountain or a type of plant with white, yellow, or red flowers.

Victorian Names Starting With the Letter "B":

Belladonna: The first English woman of this name shows up in the London census as born in 1870. Belladonna is an Italian name. Meaning: Beautiful Woman. It is also the name of a toxic plant, known as “deadly nightshade.” Unfortunately, some female exotic actress has taken this name. Hopefully, she will outgrow her profession.
Bettine, Bettina, Betty, Betsey, Bethia, Bethiah: All are cute diminutives of Elizabeth and are also stand-alone Victorian names.
Belinda: This name means beautiful serpent.
Briar: Originally, a man’s name, but later used for women, as in Briar Frances Fuller. Briar Rose is the name given to Sleeping Beauty. It means thorny bush of wild roses.
Brittany: An English surname or male first name until the 1840s. The first female Brittany on the British census was Louisa Brittany Huns, born June 1842 in Norfolk England. This name seems to be derived from English-born royalty, like Athildis, Princess of Brittany, De Britain. (Contrary to popular opinion, this name was not invented in the1980s.) It means "From Great Britain."

Romantic Names That Begin With "C":

Cassandra: Cassandra was a Trojan princess with the gift of prophecy.
Celestria, Celestina: Variants of Celeste. Meaning: Heavens.
Cybil: Variant of Sybil. Meaning: Female prophet, seer.

Catholic Saints and Martyrs

Here are some less common girls' names that start with letters "A," "B," or "C." These names were used in Victorian England.

Agatha: A martyr. (Nickname: Aggie.)
Barbary: A form of Barbara. This name was used in Medieval Britain and the Victorian Era. Also, a cool pirate name.
Beatrice: This means divine. (Nicknames: Bea, Trissa)
Cecelia: Patron Saint of musicians. (Nickname or variant: Celia)
Clarise: Medieval English and French name. Meaning: Clear, bright, distinguished.

Girls' Gothic Names

Here are names for baby girls that are ancient, or old fashioned, and have lovely meanings.

Acantha: This means thorn.
Amaranth: It means immortal, unfading. (Nickname: Mara.)
Autumn: It’s not quite Gothic but it is an “earth” name. This nature, hippie name means harvest season. It makes some people think of an Emily Dickinson Poem that starts, “The name of it is “Autumn” – The hue of it is Blood.
Aura: This is a Latin name that means illumination.
Basilia: This feminine form of the Greek name Basil was quite common in the Middle Ages. It has been used in Italy, Spain, and England. Meaning: regal or royal. Nicknames: Basi, Silla, Lia.
Blessing: Old English name meaning consecration.
Csilla: Hungarian name for star, but also a Hebrew name. Pronounced Sill-uh in English.

This is not an exhaustive list. Every website seems to cover different names. Moms and dads looking for old-fashioned Victorian or Medieval names need to explore the internet to get even more ideas.

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