One way is to look at old - fashioned or archaic words. Words like 'gloom', 'mire', 'cairn' can be used to create spooky names. For instance, 'The Gloom of the Mire Cairn'. You can also combine spooky concepts. Say you have a story about a vampire in a graveyard. You could name it 'The Vampire of the Graveyard's Shadow'. It combines the spooky elements of the vampire, the graveyard, and the shadow.
Think about spooky locations. For example, 'The Abandoned Asylum' or 'The Lonely Lighthouse'. Also, consider using words related to the supernatural like 'Ghost', 'Wraith' or 'Poltergeist' in the name. Another idea is to use something that is usually positive but make it spooky, like 'The Deadly Garden' instead of just 'The Garden'.
You can think about spooky places like cemeteries, old houses, or dark forests and use those in the name. For example, 'Cemetery Creek'.
One method to come up with fairy - tail names for your stories is to use old - fashioned names. Names like 'Eugene' or 'Agatha' have a vintage feel that can fit well into a fairy - tale setting. You can also mix and match syllables. Take parts of different words you like, like 'Star' and 'Glimmer' to create a new name like 'Starglimmer'. Additionally, think about the story's theme. If it's about magic, names like 'Mystic' or 'Enchantra' could be great.
You can use words related to death, like 'Grim Reaper', or places that are considered spooky, such as 'Haunted Cemetery'.
One way is to focus on the antagonists in your story. If it's a vampire, you could have 'The Vampire's Den'. For a serial killer, 'The Killer's Hideout'. You can also use alliteration to make the name catchy and spooky, like 'The Sinister Silence' or 'The Cursed Cavern'. Additionally, think about things that are generally feared, like the deep sea ('The Deep Sea Dread') or heights ('The Heights of Horror'). And don't forget to play with words that have a double meaning, for example, 'The Doorway to Doom' which can imply both a physical door and a metaphorical entrance to a bad situation.
You can start by looking at the main theme of your story. If it's about friendship, something like 'The Bond of Friends' could work. Also, think about the setting. A story set in a small town might have a name like 'Small - Town Secrets'.
You can start by thinking about words related to the theme of your story. For example, if it's a story about the ocean, names like 'Wavecrest' or 'Seaglass' could work as last names. Another way is to combine common prefixes or suffixes with simple words. For instance, 'Ashford' (combining 'ash' and 'ford'). You can also look at real - life surnames from different cultures and tweak them slightly. Like taking the Irish surname 'O'Connor' and changing it to 'O'Connar' to make it seem more fictional.
You can think about the character's modus operandi. For example, if they use a knife a lot, 'The Knife - Wielding Maniac' could be a name. Or look at their personality. If they're very quiet and sneaky, 'The Stealthy Strangler' might work.
Think about your interests. If you like nature, you could name it 'My Private Garden'.
You could consider using names that have a special meaning to you. For example, the names of your family members or friends. Or think about the theme of your story. If it's a fantasy story, you might use names that sound magical like 'Aria' or 'Zephyr'.