Evil Spirit Name Generator

Malevolent spirit names from folklore and nightmare

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Generate evil spirit names for hauntings, horror stories and tabletop games: real malevolent spirits from world folklore (Lamashtu, Pazuzu, Churel, Pontianak, Nachzehrer), original demonic-sounding names, and descriptive haunt-names like The Hollow Tenant or the Wraith of Cinder Row.

About evil spirit names

Every culture has names for the things that knock in the night, and the best evil spirit names borrow from that shared vocabulary. Mesopotamia gave us Lamashtu, Pazuzu and the Gallu; Jewish and Christian demonology the Dybbuk, Lilith and the spirits of the Testament of Solomon such as Ornias and Onoskelis; Slavic villages the Kikimora, Nocnitsa and Poludnitsa; South and Southeast Asia the Churel, Pishacha, Pontianak and Toyol; Japan the Onryo and Jikininki; the Americas the Wendigo, Baykok and Soucouyant. Read aloud, they share a texture: hard stops, sibilants and a sense of great age.

Original evil spirit names tend to follow one of three patterns. The first is a folkloric-sounding proper name built from harsh clusters (Malgrith, Vezzrakh, Orzhagul). The second is the epithet, where the spirit is known only by what it does or where it lurks: The Hollow Tenant, the Wraith of Cinder Row, Mother of Flies, the Thing Behind the Wainscot. The third is the homely nickname people use to avoid saying a real name at all, like Old Scratch, Jenny Greenteeth or Mister Whistle; these are often the creepiest because of how ordinary they sound.

This generator mixes all three, plus named ghosts of the hanged and drowned, for poltergeists, possessing spirits, cursed places and campaign villains.

How to choose evil spirit names

  • Match the name to how the spirit is encountered: a formal demon name for something summoned or exorcised, an epithet like The Stairwell Knocker for something that haunts a house and is never fully seen.
  • Use a folk nickname (Goodman Gallows, Auntie Ashes) when villagers in your story would be afraid to speak the real name; the contrast between cozy and cruel does a lot of work.
  • Anchor place-based spirits to a specific, small location (the Weeping Bridge, the Seventh Pew, the Blue Room); vagueness is less frightening than precision.
  • If you borrow a real folkloric spirit such as the Churel or Pontianak, keep its traditional behavior and origin; readers from that culture will notice when it is treated as a generic monster.
  • Say the name out loud. Evil spirit names work best with hard consonants (k, g, th, zh) and a single stressed syllable; if it sounds pretty, it belongs to a different kind of spirit.

Frequently asked questions

What are some real evil spirit names from mythology?

Well-documented examples include Lamashtu and Pazuzu from Mesopotamia, Lilith and Abyzou from Jewish tradition, the Kikimora and Nocnitsa from Slavic folklore, the Churel and Pishacha from South Asia, the Pontianak and Toyol from the Malay world, the Onryo from Japan and the Wendigo from Algonquian belief. All of these appear in the generator.

What is the difference between an evil spirit, a demon and a ghost?

A ghost is usually the lingering soul of a dead person; a demon is a non-human being from a religious cosmology; 'evil spirit' is the broad category covering both plus nature spirits, curses with a will and things that were never alive. This generator includes all of them, so the list runs from vengeful ghosts to nameless presences under the floor.

Can I use these names for a D&D or horror RPG campaign?

Yes. Descriptive names like the Revenant of Ashcombe or the Mouth Under the Floor work well as quest hooks, while the proper-name style (Shaarmoth, Nythura) suits a recurring villain or a bound spirit the party must name to banish.

Are the folkloric spirits in this list safe to use in fiction?

Names from mythology and folklore are public domain. Some, such as the Wendigo, are part of living Indigenous belief, so research how the spirit is traditionally understood before building a story around it rather than treating it as a generic monster.

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All 500 evil spirit names

This is the complete list the generator above draws its random batches from, sorted A to Z and grouped by first letter.

Plain text, one name per line.

A: 20 names

  • Abaddon
  • Abel Graveknock
  • Absalom Dread
  • Abyzou
  • Agnes Wetstone
  • Aka Manto
  • Alastor
  • Alecto
  • Alp
  • Alû
  • Ardemoth
  • Asag
  • Ashdravven
  • Ashkavith
  • Ashmoriel
  • Asmodeus
  • Aufhocker
  • Auntie Ashes
  • Azazel
  • Azgarroth

B: 26 names

  • Baalberith
  • Bael
  • Baital
  • Bakru
  • Batibat
  • Baykok
  • Bean Nighe
  • Belcrasse
  • Beleth
  • Belgrimmon
  • Belial
  • Belphegor
  • Belshuvar
  • Belzhukar
  • Bess Hollowbone
  • Bhaskaroth
  • Bhuta
  • Black Annis
  • Breather in the Dark Pantry
  • Bride of the Black Well
  • Brother Mildew
  • Brother of the Broken Neck
  • Buer
  • Bukavac
  • Bungisngis
  • Buwaya

C: 9 names

  • Caleb Sallow
  • Captain Drownwater
  • Carrowgrim
  • Cheonyeo Gwisin
  • Churel
  • Con Tinh
  • Corvenhollow
  • Crawler in the Crawlspace
  • Cthaxa

D: 18 names

  • Daevrakh
  • Daitya
  • Dalmoreth
  • Dantalion
  • Dhuvrakash
  • Dimmerhael
  • Doctor Hollow
  • Dorcas Wail
  • Drathimor
  • Dravvenghast
  • Dreghuul
  • Drekavac
  • Drossmaur
  • Drude
  • Dulkhrest
  • Dullahan
  • Duppy
  • Dybbuk

E: 14 names

  • Ebongrasp
  • Ebravuun
  • Egui
  • Ekek
  • Ekimmu
  • Empusa
  • Enoch Gallowglass
  • Ereskhavar
  • Erlking
  • Esquivel the Pale
  • Esztravain
  • Eurynomos
  • Eye in the Knot-Hole
  • Ezra Nightlatch

F: 10 names

  • Face in the Flue
  • Face in the Frost
  • Father of Empty Chairs
  • Father of Locked Doors
  • Fear Dorcha
  • Fear Liath
  • Fennmargh
  • Fetch
  • Footsteps in the Attic
  • Funayurei

G: 22 names

  • Gallu
  • Garrowmoth
  • Gashadokuro
  • Gello
  • Ghast of the Kelp Beds
  • Ghast of the Lime Kiln
  • Ghaszvaar
  • Ghaulvyre
  • Ghesmirrah
  • Ghorvalin
  • Ghul
  • Gideon Rot
  • Gnarrvosk
  • Goodman Gallows
  • Goodwife Vinegar
  • Gorrathane
  • Goryo
  • Grandfather Wither
  • Grandmother Teeth
  • Grausek
  • Gravemurra
  • Grishnaveth

H: 17 names

  • Hadrithoss
  • Hag of the Mire
  • Halgreth
  • Hand Beneath the Bed
  • Hand in the Well
  • Hantu Raya
  • Hashihime
  • Haskvorrem
  • Haunt of Gallows Lane
  • Haunt of the Tin Chapel
  • Haunt of Widow's Ford
  • Helvorrask
  • Hester Pale
  • Hestravok
  • Hexamoor
  • Hiddenmaw
  • Hollowreth

I: 9 names

  • Ichabod Thresh
  • Ikhthurel
  • Ilkhorva
  • Ilthrune
  • Ilvreth
  • Ilzhaurek
  • Imrekhal
  • Irrhavok
  • Ishgrath

J: 8 names

  • Jack-in-the-Dark
  • Jedediah Snuff
  • Jenglot
  • Jenny Greenteeth
  • Jiangshi
  • Jikininki
  • Jory Soot
  • Jumbee

K: 17 names

  • Kaldrueth
  • Kasha
  • Kelvrash
  • Keziah Mourn
  • Khuvrael
  • Kikimora
  • Kishmorrah
  • Kit Scratchwall
  • Knocker of the Third Landing
  • Kraisthel
  • Krasue
  • Kravvanesh
  • Krummelgast
  • Kuchisake-onna
  • Kuntilanak
  • Kurvosheth
  • Kyrghast

L: 15 names

  • La Diablesse
  • Lagahoo
  • Lamashtu
  • Lamia
  • Langsuir
  • Laugher in the Chimney
  • Lettice Cold
  • Likho
  • Lilith
  • Lilitu
  • Little Miss Cinders
  • Lorsveth
  • Lucius Crawl
  • Lurrakhai
  • Lymraith

M: 34 names

  • Ma Lai
  • Maledrith
  • Malgrith
  • Mammon
  • Mangkukulam
  • Mara
  • Mare
  • Master Keyhole
  • Mazzikin
  • Megaera
  • Melchavar
  • Mercy Smother
  • Mhorrenvael
  • Mirrakhan
  • Missus Needles
  • Mister Slant
  • Mister Whistle
  • Mistress Fingers
  • Mogwai
  • Molly Gravesend
  • Mordrial
  • Mormo
  • Mormolyke
  • Moroi
  • Morrvethis
  • Mortheska
  • Mother Gravel
  • Mother of Cold Cradles
  • Mother of Flies
  • Mother of Maggots
  • Mourhadra
  • Mulgrevain
  • Murnhagen
  • Muskethrone

N: 23 names

  • Naamah
  • Nachtgrau
  • Nachtmahr
  • Nachzehrer
  • Nahkresh
  • Nakhorrel
  • Nan Blackwater
  • Nasnas
  • Nebulcar
  • Nesshaur
  • Nethrazha
  • Ngathrem
  • Nhemathra
  • Nocnitsa
  • Noszharrow
  • Nüba
  • Nuckelavee
  • Nure-onna
  • Nurse Agony
  • Nybbas
  • Nyrraskh
  • Nythura
  • Nyxaroth

O: 19 names

  • Obadiah Creak
  • Obrivane
  • Oghrumosh
  • Olbroth
  • Old Nick of the Crossroads
  • Old Scratch
  • Old Tallow-Hands
  • Onoskelis
  • Onryo
  • Ornias
  • Orphengast
  • Orrovesk
  • Orzhagul
  • Oshtemmar
  • Oskverrin
  • Ossmaroth
  • Othrazul
  • Ozhulme
  • Ozmorrow

P: 25 names

  • Pazuzu
  • Peg Powler
  • Pellgrimoth
  • Penanggal
  • Peter Coldsheet
  • Phaegrim
  • Phantom of Gutter Street
  • Phantom of the Nail Works
  • Phi Am
  • Phi Pop
  • Phi Tai Hong
  • Phineas Wormwood
  • Phoskaroth
  • Pishacha
  • Pocong
  • Poltergeist of the Blue Room
  • Poludnitsa
  • Pontianak
  • Pravenskar
  • Presence at the Foot of the Bed
  • Presence in the Root Cellar
  • Presence Under the Ice
  • Preta
  • Prudence Knell
  • Pyrrhazek

Q: 5 names

  • Qareen
  • Quaskryn
  • Quelldrith
  • Quivvensoth
  • Quorravesh

R: 13 names

  • Rabdos
  • Rakshasi
  • Ravekhul
  • Redcap
  • Rethkavane
  • Revenant of Ashcombe
  • Revenant of the Seventh Pew
  • Reverend Soot
  • Rhaskavel
  • Rheskathra
  • Rusalka
  • Ruth Sorrowell
  • Ruuzhgar

S: 46 names

  • Sam Rattlechain
  • Samael
  • Sarakhune
  • Sarvanox
  • Saulvreth
  • Scaithe
  • Schrat
  • Scratcher of the Nursery Wall
  • Scrievane
  • Seviroth
  • Shaarmoth
  • Shade of the Long Corridor
  • Shade of the Sunken Chapel
  • Shade of Thornback Moor
  • Shaitan
  • Shedim
  • Si'lat
  • Sigbin
  • Silas Groan
  • Singer in the Dry Well
  • Sister of Sleepless Hours
  • Sister Sallow
  • Skadegamutc

S, continued

  • Skarvothe
  • Skethrin
  • Sluagh
  • Sollvakar
  • Sorthane
  • Soucouyant
  • Specter of Mourning Tor
  • Specter of the Wet Nursery
  • Spirit of the Black Stair
  • Spirit of the Broken Bell
  • Spirit of the Burned Granary
  • Spirit of the Drowned Mill
  • Spirit of the Frost Barrow
  • Spirit of the Nine-Times Hanged
  • Spirit of the Plague Pit
  • Spirit of the Salt Flats
  • Strigoi
  • Strix
  • Stryggoth
  • Sundel Bolong
  • Susannah Weep
  • Sythraven
  • Szorvath

T: 85 names

  • Tabitha Mold
  • Tamsin Hollowfield
  • Tarrakhesh
  • Teke Teke
  • Tenebrach
  • Tharrowmere
  • Thavrodyne
  • The Ash-Eater
  • The Barn Hanger
  • The Beckoning Chill
  • The Bent Shepherd
  • The Bitter Lodger
  • The Bone-Counter
  • The Borrowed Face
  • The Candle Snuffer
  • The Cellar Breath
  • The Cradle Thief
  • The Crawling Hush
  • The Crooked Nurse
  • The Deep-Well Singer
  • The Doll with Wet Eyes
  • The Faceless Midwife
  • The Flayed Choirboy
  • The Fog Bridegroom
  • The Gallows Tenant
  • The Gaunt Collector
  • The Grey Sleeper
  • The Grinning Vacancy

T, continued

  • The Gutter Prophet
  • The Hanged Reckoner
  • The Hollow Tenant
  • The Hungry Window
  • The Kneeling Shadow
  • The Knuckle at the Door
  • The Lantern-Eyed Watcher
  • The Last Lodger of Hollin House
  • The Latchlifter
  • The Lurker at the Threshold
  • The Marrow Mother
  • The Mirror Tenant
  • The Moth-Eaten King
  • The Mouth Under the Floor
  • The Nail-Biter of Cold Hall
  • The Pallid Fiddler
  • The Plague Whisperer
  • The Ragged Sexton
  • The Rattling Mother
  • The Root-Cellar Bride
  • The Sallow Man
  • The Scarecrow That Turned
  • The Shuttered Eye
  • The Slack-Jawed Visitor
  • The Slow Drip
  • The Smiling Absence
  • The Soot-Faced Child
  • The Stairwell Knocker

T, continued

  • The Stillborn Laugh
  • The Stolen Hymn
  • The Tallow Bride
  • The Thing in the Walls
  • The Thirteenth Mourner
  • The Thrice-Buried
  • The Tideless Drowned
  • The Unbidden Stitcher
  • The Unburied Tongue
  • The Unlit Guest
  • The Unlit Lamp-Lighter
  • The Wall-Eyed Weaver
  • The Wall-Scratcher
  • The Wax Widow
  • The Wet Footstep
  • The Whispering Rot
  • Thesmarrek
  • Thessavane
  • Thing Behind the Wainscot
  • Thing in the Cistern
  • Thornmoral
  • Thrumvane
  • Thulgrave
  • Tisiphone
  • Tiyanak
  • Tom Tallowmouth
  • Toyol
  • Tsarrevel
  • Tzuraveth

U: 11 names

  • Ubume
  • Ughmorand
  • Ulthek
  • Ulvarrosk
  • Umbrascath
  • Uncle Rattlebone
  • Unsvarr
  • Upyr
  • Utukku
  • Uvrakhane
  • Uzhrek

V: 22 names

  • Vaelcrux
  • Vandrahul
  • Vanthroskh
  • Vashtoryn
  • Vaurgoth
  • Veilscar
  • Veldrassik
  • Veskaryth
  • Vetala
  • Vezzrakh
  • Vodyanoy
  • Voice in the Chimney
  • Voice Under the Floorboards
  • Vomeriss
  • Vorrisk
  • Voskremmel
  • Vrakkmourne
  • Vrykolakas
  • Vrylnax
  • Vulkhoss
  • Vurmkhel
  • Vyzhrathul

W: 14 names

  • Wanyudo
  • Weeper in the Orchard
  • Wendigo
  • Wewe Gombel
  • Whisperer of the Stairwell
  • Widow of the Drowned Mill
  • Wilhelmina Shriek
  • Wraith of Cinder Row
  • Wraith of Hollin House
  • Wraith of the Weeping Bridge
  • Wrathelm
  • Wrethmoor
  • Wrevenhael
  • Wyldroth

X: 2 names

  • Xarvelis
  • Xhulmarra

Y: 4 names

  • Ylgrath
  • Ymbrose
  • Yuki-onna
  • Yzarrhel

Z: 12 names

  • Zannevoth
  • Zephrakh
  • Zhaurvyn
  • Zhenthrax
  • Zhivotek
  • Zhorrakine
  • Zhulkhaen
  • Zimmerhoul
  • Zirethka
  • Zmora
  • Zorvetchka
  • Zsolvek