In 'Dracula', what is the name of the vampire hunter?

In 'Dracula', the vampire hunter is Abraham Van Helsing. Bram Stoker’s 1897 novel introduces him as Professor Abraham Van Helsing, a Dutch polymath whose expertise spans medicine, philosophy, science, and the supernatural. He is summoned by Dr. John Seward when Lucy Westenra suffers a mysterious illness and the doctors cannot explain her worsening condition.

Van Helsing recognizes that Lucy is being attacked by a vampire and organizes the effort to protect her and later confront Count Dracula. He uses practical and religious defenses associated with vampire folklore, including garlic, crucifixes, sacred wafers, and a wooden stake. His knowledge allows the group to interpret evidence that initially appears irrational or impossible.

Several other characters can be confused with him. Jonathan Harker is the solicitor who first encounters Dracula in Transylvania, Arthur Holmwood is one of Lucy’s suitors, and Renfield is a patient whose behavior is connected to Dracula. Later films often portray Van Helsing primarily as an action-oriented vampire slayer, but Stoker’s original character is chiefly a learned doctor and investigator.