- The series title itself, "The Vampire Diaries," is an allusion to the fictional diaries kept by the main characters, Elena Gilbert, and Stefan Salvatore, documenting their supernatural experiences and relationships.
- The town of Mystic Falls, Virginia, where the show takes place, is named after the Connecticut town of Mystic, known for its rich history of witchcraft and spiritualism, further alluding to the supernatural themes of the series.
- The character of Damon Salvatore is loosely based on the vampire character Armand from Anne Rice's "Vampire Chronicles" novel series, known for his charisma and complex personality.
- The doppelgänger storyline, in which Elena is a doppelgänger of Katherine Pierce, is an allusion to the doppelgänger motif found in various mythologies and folklore, symbolizing duality and mirroring.
- The character of Alaric Saltzman is named after the historical figure Alaric I, King of the Visigoths, known for conquering Rome in 410 AD, alluding to his role as a history teacher and later a vampire hunter.
- The Originals, an ancient vampire family introduced in the series, draws inspiration from the myth of the original vampires, found in various vampire folklore, representing the progenitors of all vampires.
- The character of Klaus Mikaelson is loosely based on the character of Klaus from the Norse sagas, known for his cunning and power, further establishing the show's connection to mythological influences.
- The use of the "Gilbert device," a mystical artifact that can control vampires, alludes to the fictional "Vervain" herb commonly associated with vampire lore as an effective tool against vampires.
- The name of the boarding house where Elena, Stefan, and Damon reside, the "Salvatore Boarding House," is an allusion to the famous literary families' houses, such as the March family's house in "Little Women."