Second Glances with Arabella

As October rolls in, Second Life takes on a special kind of magic. Pumpkins glow on porches, haunted houses appear overnight, parties and special themed DJ events happen, and some residents across the grid embrace a playful tradition—changing their names for Halloween.

From clever puns to spine-chilling monikers, these seasonal names are a way for avatars to slip into the spirit of the holiday without ever changing their look. It’s a community-wide wink and nod, a low-effort but high-impact way to join in the fun. For many, it’s as easy as just changing your display name, which costs nothing and isn’t permanent; for others who don’t mind investing a bit of funds, a permanent Halloween last name can be yours to have and to hold until death do you part or your account gets revoked. Today, Linden Lab unveiled the 2025 batch of last names for the Halloween season, and like pumpkins in the patch, here they are, ripe for the picking.

• Potion
• Misery
• Strange
• Goblin
• Zombie
• Monster
• Ghoul
• Spooky
• Nightfang

Some residents take it as a chance to show off their wit, crafting elaborate screen names that merge horror with tech culture or virtual in-jokes. Others go classic with ghosts, witches, or pumpkin-inspired twists. And just like costumes in the physical world, no two names are ever quite the same—half the fun is spotting them while exploring clubs, trick-or-treat events, or themed roleplay sims.

Halloween in Second Life isn’t just about decorations or costumes—it’s about atmosphere, and a time when creativity, fantasy, horror and humor all collide against the backdrop of autumn and the aroma of virtual pumpkin pie. And nothing sets the tone quite like logging in and being greeted by a room full of “ghouls,” “witches,” and “undead DJs.” Seasonal names are proof that in this virtual world, even the smallest changes can spark a sense of belonging and celebration.