Dracula is a Romanian masculine given name and historical nickname meaning "son of Dracul," from the Romanian drac meaning "dragon." The most famous bearer was Vlad III Drăculea (also known as Vlad Țepeș or Vlad the Impaler), the 15th-century Prince of Wallachia. His father, Vlad II, was a member of the chivalric Order of the Dragon (founded by Holy Roman Emperor Sigismund), from which he earned the epithet Dracul ("the Dragon" or "the Devil"). Vlad III consequently became known as Drăculea ("son of the Dragon"). In the modern era, the name Dracula is overwhelmingly associated with the vampiric Count Dracula from Bram Stoker's 1897 Gothic horror novel. Stoker encountered the name in a book about Wallachian history while researching at Whitby's public library; he likely chose it for its sinister connotations, as drac also means "devil" in Romanian. The novel's Count Dracula is a centuries-old Transylvanian vampire who preys on the living, portrayed through letters and diaries. Scholars have debated possible inspirations including Vlad the Impaler and Countess Elizabeth Báthory, though recent scholarship questions direct links. Since Stoker's novel, Dracula has inspired countless films, television shows, stage adaptations, and other media, making the name iconic in horror fiction. The transformed name now exists mainly as a literary figure rather than a viable given name, though the historical Vlad III remains a national symbol in Romania and a subject of historical study. Related Names Draco (Ancient Greek, meaning "dragon" or "serpent") Drakon (Ancient Greek, variant of Draco) Key Facts Meaning: "son of Dracul" (Romanian drac meaning "dragon" or "devil") Origin: Romanian nickname, from the Order of the Dragon Usage: Historical (Vlad III); redefined in literature as a vampire count Associated Regions: Wallachia (historical), Transylvania (fictional), British horror fiction