The name Carmilla is taken from an 1872 Gothic novel by Irish author Sheridan Le Fanu, and one of the early works of Vampire Fiction.

It predates Bram Stoker’s Dracula by 26 years, with the story being narrated by a young woman preyed upon by a female vampire named Carmilla, later revealed to be Mircalla, a Countess.

The character is a prototypical example of the Lesbian Vampire, expressing romantic desires toward the protagonist. LeFanu Road in Dublin, named after the author, is close to where several members of the band first met.