Emo names carry a sense of intensity, emotion, and aesthetic flair, just like the music and culture they come from. Emo, short for “emotional hardcore,” is a punk music subgenre that rose to popularity in the 1980s and early 2000s, known for its raw lyrics and moody vibes. As a millennial mom, I remember blasting My Chemical Romance and Mayday Parade on my iPod Nano and scribbling lyrics in my notebook. Whether you’re drawn to nostalgic band references, dark romantic characters, or unique emo baby names with meaning, this list has something for every vibe.
Tap into your inner emo and browse 130 carefully curated emo names for girls, boys, and nonbinary babies — plus goth-inspired picks, character names, and cool emo nicknames to match.
Emo Names for Girls and Boys
These emo names for girls, boys, and more are moody, meaningful, and full of personality — perfect for anyone looking for an emotional edge or a name that stands out.
13 Emo Girl Names
Looking for something beautifully dark, mysterious, or moody for your little one? These emo names for girls range from soft and celestial to bold and brooding. Whether inspired by flowers, gemstones, colors, or characters from alternative music and literature, these names are full of emotion and aesthetic edge — perfect for a baby girl with main character energy.
1. Alice — This is a name of German origin meaning “noble” or “exalted.”
2. Amethyst — This is a variety of purple quartz. The name means “not drunk” in Greek.
3. Autumn — A Latin name for “fall” or “season of the harvest.”
4. Cambria — This name means “of the people” in Welsh. It is inspired by the band Coheed and Cambria.
5. Delilah — In Hebrew, this emo name means “delicate.”
6. Ebony — This emo girl’s name is of Latin origin, meaning “deep black wood.”
7. Jade — A Spanish name, Jade means “precious gemstone.” The color of jade is a deep green.
8. Kat — This emo name means “pure” in Greek and is a short form of Katherine.
9. Luna — One of the most popular emo names for girls, Luna is Latin for “moon.”
10. Norah — There are several spellings of this name. It is Hebrew for “light.”
11. Orchid — This is an English name for the flowering plant that symbolizes beauty and strength.
12. Scarlett — This fiery emo name means “red” in French.
13. Willow — Not only is it the same name as the willow tree, but it is also an Old English word for “freedom.”
14 Emo Boy Names
These emo names for boys feel powerful, poetic, and just the right amount of dark. From mythological figures like Osiris and Orion to bold gemstone and color names like Onyx and Grey, each one carries a strong emotional vibe and alternative edge. Whether you’re into unique meanings or just want a name that stands out from the crowd, this list delivers.
1. Atticus — A Greek name meaning “man from Attica.”
2. Axel — This common emo name for boys means “father of peace” in Scandinavian.
3. Bastian — This short form of Sebastian is of German origin and means “venerable.”
4. Dexter — This is a Latin name for someone right-handed.
5. Drake — This is a short and simple emo name meaning “male duck” in English and “dragon” in Old Norse.
6. Ezra — This name means “helper” in Hebrew.
7. Grey — This simple emo name is of English origin and is used for someone with grey hair.
8. Lincoln — An English name for “lake colony.”
9. Onyx — This is the English name for a black gemstone that also means “claw” in Greek.
10. Orion — This emo name from Greek mythology means “rising in the sky.”
11. Osiris — This was the lord of the underworld in Egyptian mythology.
12. Ryland — This old English name means “where rye is grown.”
13. Ryker — This is a unique emo name that means “rich” in German.
14. Trace — Of English and Irish origins, this name means “brave.”
18 Emo Nonbinary Names
Whether soft and ethereal or bold and rebellious, these nonbinary names are full of emo energy and creative spirit. Many of them draw inspiration from nature, emotions, and music culture — think Jet, Echo, and Shadow — while others like Blake and Skyler offer a cool, gender-neutral vibe. These picks are perfect for parents looking for emo baby names that break the mold and embrace individuality.
1. Ash — This nonbinary name is of English origin and means “ash tree.”
2. Blake — This English emo name can mean “dark” or “fair-haired.”
3. Blaze — A Latin name that means “fire.”
4. Cameron — This is a Scottish Gaelic name meaning “crooked nose.”
5. Casey — The meaning of this gender-neutral emo name is “vigilant” in Irish Gaelic.
6. Charlie — Of German origin, meaning “free man.”
7. Dakota — This is a Native American name that originates from the Sioux tribe and means “friend” or “ally.”
8. Dani — The meaning of this emo nonbinary name is “God is my judge” in Hebrew.
9. Devin — An Irish name that means “poet.”
10. Echo — This is a unique nonbinary name that means “reflected sound” in Latin and Greek.
11. Harley — This Old English name means “the long field” or “hare meadow.”
12. Jagger — This name is derived from the Middle English word “jag,” which means “to pack or load.”
13. Jesse — This Hebrew emo name means “God exists.”
14. Jet — This emo name means “black stone” in English.
15. Lennon — An Irish name that means “lover.”
16. Reign — This English emo name means “rule.”
17. Shadow — This English name means “shade from the sun.”
18. Skyler — This English name with origins in German and Dutch can mean “sky” or “scholar.”
17 Emo Nicknames
These emo nicknames are moody, creative, and dripping with early internet nostalgia. Inspired by song lyrics, screen names, and the raw emotion of the emo era, names like Broken Angel, Midnight Riot, and Fallen Tears capture that dramatic, heart-on-your-sleeve energy. Whether you’re naming a baby, a pet, or just want to relive your old AIM days, these emo nicknames are unforgettable.
1. Anonymous
2. Black Rose
3. Broken Angel
4. Darkness
5. Dark Angel
6. Dusk Soul
7. Ember
8. Fallen Tears
9. Helena
10. Ink Heart
11. Mayhem
12. Midnight Riot
13. Nightshade
14. Rave
15. Rebel
16. Star
17. Yoshi
22 Emo Names Inspired by Singers
If you grew up on eyeliner, band tees, and emotional lyrics that got you, these emo baby names inspired by iconic singers will hit home. From Hayley and Gerard to Avril and Brendon, these picks pay tribute to the voices that defined the emo era and still live rent-free in your heart.
1. Ashlee — Ashlee Simpson is a former emo singer from the early 2000s.
2. Avril — Avril Lavigne is a punk rock and emo singer.
3. Ben — Ben Gibbard is the lead singer of the band Death Cab for Cutie.
4. Bert — Lead singer of one of the most popular emo bands, The Used.
5. Chris — For lead singer Chris Carrabba from the band Dashboard Confessional.
6. Brendon — Brendon Urie is known for his solo work and band Panic! At the Disco.
7. Davey — Emo rock band AFI features lead singer Davey Havok.
8. Denis — Asking Alexandria’s most recent lead singer is Denis Stoff.
9. Derek — Mayday Parade was definitely on your emo playlist, and their lead singer is Derek Sanders.
10. Gerard — The lead singer of the band My Chemical Romance is Gerard Way.
11. Hayley — Hayley Williams sings for the band Paramore.
12. Joel — The lead singer of the emo band Good Charlotte is Joel Madden.
13. Jordan — The lead singer of the band New Found Glory is Jordan Pundik.
14. JT — From the lead singer of the early 2000s band Hawthorne Heights, JT Woodruff.
15. Kellin — Kellin Quinn is the lead singer of the emo and hardcore band Sleeping with Sirens.
16. Oli — Singer and songwriter Oli Sykes is the frontman for the band Bring Me the Horizon.
17. Pierre — The emo band Simple Plan recently made a comeback, and their lead singer is Pierre Bouvier.
18. Ronnie — The lead singer of Red Jumpsuit Apparatus is Ronnie Winters.
19. Ryan — Emo singer Ryan Key is the frontman of Yellowcard.
20. Shane — Another trendy band is Silverstein, and the lead singer is Shane Told.
21. Tom — The lead singer for both Angels and Airwaves and Blink 182 is Tom DeLonge.
22. Travis — The frontman Travis Clark is the lead singer for We the Kings.
21 Emo Names from Anime & Manga Characters
Anime has no shortage of intense, emotional characters—and many of them have the perfect vibe for an emo name. From brooding anti-heroes like Sasuke and Zero to tortured souls like Kaneki and Gaara, these names capture the depth, darkness, and drama that define both anime and emo culture. If you’re an anime fan at heart, this list delivers serious feels.
1. Akeno — The emo character Akeno Himejima in the series “High School DxD” is a fallen angel.
2. Crona — The character Crona is the master of the demon sword in the anime “Soul Eater.”
3. Gaara — You can find the character of Gaara in the “Naruto” anime series.
4. Kaneki — Kaneki is one of the emo characters in the dark anime “Tokyo Ghoul.”
5. Light — Light Yagami is the main character of the anime and manga called Death Note.”
6. Mikasa — Mikasa Ackerman is one of the central characters of the series “Attack on Titan.”
7. Nana — The title character of the series “Nana” is the singer of a punk band named Nana Osaki.
8. Otosaka — The main protagonist, Yuu Otosaka, is from the anime series “Charlotte.”
9. Ulquiorra — Ulquiorra Cifer is an antagonist in “Bleach.”
10. Rei — One of the teenagers in “Neon Genesis Evangelion” is Rei Ayanami.
11. Rin — The main character of “Blue Exorcist” is Rin Okumura.
12. Rukia — Another character that can be considered emo is Rukia Kuchiki from “Bleach.”
13. Sam — One of the main characters in the popular series “Danny Phantom” is Sam Manson.
14. Sasuke — In “Naruto,” Sasuke Uchiha is an emo character on a mission to protect his village and avenge his clan’s murder.
15. Touka — Touka Kirishima is a powerful ghoul and an essential character in “Tokyo Ghoul.”
16. Uta — This is an emo and ghoul from “Tokyo Ghoul.”
17. Vegeta — This is a mighty warrior and popular character in the “Dragon Ball” franchise.
18. Vinsmoke — This character is known as Black Leg in “One Piece.”
19. Yumi — In the series “Charlotte,” Yumi Shirayanagi is an emo high school student.
20. Zeref — An emo and evil mage named Zeref Dragneel can be found in the “Fairy Tail” series.
21. Zero — In “Vampire Knight,” Zero Kiryu is a vampire hunter.
12 Emo Names Inspired by Movie Characters
Some of the most unforgettable emo baby names come straight from the big screen. Whether it’s the haunted charm of Edward Scissorhands, the quiet rebellion of Wednesday Addams, or the alt-girl energy of Ramona Flowers and Lydia Deetz, these characters have helped define the emo aesthetic for generations. If you love a moody, cult-classic vibe, this list delivers.
1. Donnie — This name is inspired by the film’s title character “Donnie Darko.”
2. Edward — The emo movie “Edward Scissorhands” title character is very popular.
3. Eric — In “The Crow,” Eric Draven is the main protagonist.
4. Jack — One of the most famous emo animated films is “The Nightmare Before Christmas,” the main character is Jack Skellington.
5. Janis — One of the supporting characters of “Mean Girls” is an emo student named Janis Ian.
6. Jasper — This is one of the members of the Cullen clan in the “Twilight” series of films and books.
7. Lisbeth — In both the novel and film of the same name, Lisbeth Salander is the main character of “The Girl with the Dragon Tattoo” series.
8. Lydia — One of the main characters of the cult classic “Beetlejuice” is Lydia Deetz.
9. Nancy — An emo witch who is a main character of “The Craft” and a minor character in “The Craft: Legacy.”
10. Ramona — An emo character named Ramona Flowers is one of the main characters of the film, manga, and soon-to-be animated series “Scott Pilgrim vs. the World.”
11. Sally — This is Jack Skellington’s love interest in “The Nightmare Before Christmas.”
12. Wednesday — Wednesday Addams of “The Addams Family” is one of the most well-known emo characters.
13 Emo Names from Gothic Literature
If you love a name with dark romance, tragic beauty, or eerie elegance, these literary-inspired picks might speak to your soul. Whether drawn from Shakespearean tragedies, gothic novels, or poetic works like The Raven, each emo name here channels a moody, mysterious energy that stands the test of time.
1. Bellatrix — A character from the “Harry Potter” series is a witch and a Death Eater.
2. Desdemona — This is a character from the play “Othello” by William Shakespeare.
3. Draco — A character and antagonist from the “Harry Potter” series.
4. Dracula — Bram Stoker wrote the novel with the title character “Dracula.”
5. Edgar — One of the most famous poets is Edgar Allen Poe.
6. Guinevere — In Arthurian legend, Queen Guinevere is the wife of King Arthur.
7. Horace — Author Horace Walpole was best known for writing the first example of a Gothic novel called “The Castle of Otranto.”
8. Ophelia — A character in William Shakespeare’s “Hamlet.”
9. Raven — “The Raven” is one of the most famous literary works of Edgar Allen Poe.
10. Rebecca — Daphne de Maurier wrote the gothic novel “Rebecca” in the 1930s.
11. Tempest — This name is inspired by the play “The Tempest” by William Shakespeare.
12. Tristan — This is one of the title characters of the medieval gothic romance novel “Tristan and Isolde.”
13. Victor — For the character of Dr. Victor Frankenstein, created by Mary Shelley.
Whether you’re channeling your inner scene kid or just love names with a little edge, this list of emo names is full of personality, mood, and meaning. From brooding classics to modern emo baby names, there’s something here for every vibe and every generation.
Still looking for the perfect fit? Check out more of our favorites, like badass boy names, badass girl names, hipster baby names, gender-neutral names, cool boy names, cool girl names, and witchy names. Or head to our baby names hub for even more inspiration!
