The sisters Annie and Bailey's names when read together sounds similar to "Annabel Lee", the Edgar Allan Poe poem the title of the film is taken from.
The characters Virginia and Clementine are named after Virginia Eliza Clemm Poe, Edgar Allan Poe's wife.
The character Mira is named after Sarah Elmira Royster Shelton, Edgar Allan Poe's adolescent sweetheart who he was twice engaged to, and who was possibly the inspiration for "The Raven" and "Annabel Lee".
The character Rufus is named after Rufus Wilmot Griswold, Edgar Allan Poe's literary executor and rival.
The character of Tom is named after the initials TOM of Thomas Ollive Mabbott, foremost researcher and expert on the works of Edgar Allan Poe.