Japanese Demon Name Generator

Oni, yokai and onryo names from Japanese folklore

Mythology & Religion500 names

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Generate Japanese demon names drawn from folklore and Shinto-Buddhist tradition: legendary oni like Shuten-doji and Ibaraki-doji, yokai such as Nue and Gashadokuro, vengeful onryo, and original oni, kijo and hannya names built from Japanese words for darkness, fire, shadow and the underworld.

About Japanese demon names

Japanese demons are not one thing. The oni is the closest match to the Western idea: a horned, club-wielding ogre with red, blue or black skin, and its most famous individuals carry names ending in -doji ("child"), an old ironic honorific for a monstrous leader such as Shuten-doji of Mount Oe or his lieutenant Ibaraki-doji. Around the oni sit the wider yokai: the spider-woman Jorogumo, the chimera Nue, the skeleton giant Gashadokuro, and hundreds more whose names are simply descriptions (Rokurokubi, "pulley neck"; Futakuchi-onna, "two-mouthed woman"). A third group is the onryo, human ghosts like Oiwa and Okiku whose plain Edo-period names became terrifying precisely because they sound ordinary.

That gives you three registers to work in. Legendary names lean on heavy, voiced syllables and old titles: -doji, -o (king), Gozen, -nyudo, -hime for a kijo or demon princess. Descriptive yokai names fuse a trait with onna, oni, bo or kozo. Character names for an oni OC or anime-style demon usually take real Japanese name structure and swap in dark kanji readings: kuro (black), yami (darkness), kage (shadow), en (flame), yomi (the underworld), ja (wicked), rasetsu (rakshasa).

The list mixes all three: pull a canon yokai for a tabletop encounter, a fresh oni name for a Demon Slayer-style character, or a full surname-plus-given-name combination for a modern horror story.

How to choose Japanese demon names

  • Decide whether the name should sound legendary, descriptive or human. Shuten-doji and Enma Daio read as folklore; Kuchisake-onna reads as a creature type; Onizuka Kagetora reads like a person who happens to be a demon.
  • Use the old titles sparingly and correctly: -doji for an oni leader, Gozen for a powerful woman or kijo, -o for a king of hell, -nyudo for a giant monk-shaped spirit, -maru for a youthful or retainer oni.
  • Build original names from dark kanji readings (kuro, yami, kage, en, yomi, ja, ma) combined with ordinary name endings like -ko, -ya, -hiko or -tora so they still sound Japanese rather than like stacked English adjectives.
  • Keep romanization consistent across a cast: pick either Ryu or Ryuu, Jorogumo or Jorōgumo, and stick with it, because mixed spellings make readers assume two different characters.
  • For ghosts and onryo, a plain period name (Oiwa, Osen, Otsuyu) is scarier than an elaborate one; the horror of those stories comes from the everyday becoming vengeful.

Frequently asked questions

What is the difference between an oni and a yokai?

Yokai is the umbrella term for Japanese supernatural creatures, from harmless tricksters to man-eaters. Oni are one specific kind: horned, humanoid ogres associated with hell, storms and mountains. All oni are yokai, but most yokai, such as kappa, tengu or the Nue, are not oni.

Why do so many famous Japanese demon names end in -doji?

Doji literally means child or boy and was used as a name element for temple acolytes and attendants. Applied to monsters like Shuten-doji, Ibaraki-doji or Kidomaru it is darkly ironic, naming an enormous man-eating oni as if it were a boy. It became the standard way to name an oni chieftain in medieval tales.

Can I use these names for a Demon Slayer OC or a D&D oni?

Yes. The canon yokai names work well as monster stat blocks or bosses, and the original names such as Kurogane, Yamiko or Kagetora follow the same two-kanji structure the Demon Slayer demons use. For D&D, oni, hannya and kijo all map cleanly onto the oni and hag entries in the rules.

Are Japanese demon names male or female?

Most oni in legend are male, while female demons are usually kijo or hannya, often named with -hime, Gozen or an ordinary woman's name like Momiji or Kiyohime. Names with -onna are explicitly female creature types, and -ko or -me endings read as feminine given names; -o, -maru, -hiko and -tora read as masculine.

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All 500 Japanese demon 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: 27 names

  • Aka Hannya
  • Aka-oni
  • Akagane
  • Akagi Ranmaru
  • Akai Me
  • Akaname
  • Akashita
  • Akatora
  • Akatsuki
  • Akazome
  • Akuma Hisame
  • Akume
  • Akuro
  • Akuro-o
  • Akutagawa Jaki
  • Akuya
  • Amanojaku
  • Amanozako
  • Amatsu-Mikaboshi
  • Ame-no-Kagaseo
  • Ame-onna
  • Ame-onna Oume
  • Ao Kijo
  • Ao-oni
  • Aobozu
  • Aoi Hitodama
  • Aratama

B: 5 names

  • Bakeneko
  • Baku
  • Beni Kijo
  • Benihime
  • Betobeto-san

C: 1 name

  • Chi no Ame

D: 4 names

  • Daidarabotchi
  • Daitengu
  • Datsue-ba
  • Dodomeki

E: 11 names

  • Enji
  • Enjoji Mikage
  • Enju
  • Enko
  • Enma Daio
  • Enmado Kokuto
  • Enmaru
  • Enra
  • Enra Kuroyuki
  • Enrai
  • Enshu

F: 5 names

  • Fukushu no Onryo
  • Funayurei
  • Furaribi
  • Futakuchi Okoto
  • Futakuchi-onna

G: 16 names

  • Gagoze
  • Gaki
  • Gakuro
  • Gashadokuro
  • Gazan
  • Gedo
  • Gekko
  • Genma
  • Gessho
  • Goki
  • Gokuma
  • Gokumaru
  • Goryo
  • Gouki
  • Gozen Akane
  • Gozu

H: 32 names

  • Hagane-doji
  • Hagane-onna
  • Haguro
  • Hakuja
  • Hakuro
  • Hannya
  • Hannya Benihime
  • Hari-onago
  • Hari-onago Okinu
  • Hashihime
  • Hashihime Osayo
  • Hebi-oni
  • Hibana
  • Hiderigami
  • Hien
  • Hinoe
  • Hiruko
  • Hisame
  • Hitodama
  • Hitodama Oren
  • Hitotsume-kozo
  • Hizuru
  • Homura
  • Hone Kijo
  • Hone-oni
  • Hone-onna
  • Hone-onna Otoyo
  • Honekawa
  • Honoo no Kiba
  • Hoshikuma-doji
  • Hyakki Yagyo no Kashira
  • Hyakume

I: 11 names

  • Ibaraki-doji
  • Ibaramaru
  • Ibuki-doji
  • Ikazuchi
  • Ikiryo
  • Inazuma
  • Inugami
  • Isonade
  • Ittan-momen
  • Izanami-no-Mikoto
  • Izuna

J: 17 names

  • Jaen
  • Jagan
  • Jaki
  • Jamaru
  • Jaryu
  • Jashin
  • Jashu
  • Jashu Magari
  • Jaun
  • Jigoku no Banken
  • Jigokudani Genma
  • Jigokumaru
  • Jikininki
  • Jinrai
  • Jorogumo
  • Jorogumo Gozen
  • Jubokko

K: 104 names

  • Kaen
  • Kage no Tsume
  • Kagehara Kokuen
  • Kagehime
  • Kagekiri
  • Kagemaru
  • Kagemitsu
  • Kagemori Raizo
  • Kagenari
  • Kageo
  • Kagera
  • Kageri
  • Kagetora
  • Kagetsu
  • Kageyama Shura
  • Kageyo
  • Kaien
  • Kakuma
  • Kamaitachi
  • Kane-doji
  • Karasu Tengu
  • Kasa-obake
  • Kasha
  • Kasha Gozen
  • Kasha Kurobei
  • Kazan
  • Kaze-oni
  • Kejoro
  • Kejoro Ohana
  • Keneo
  • Ki-oni
  • Kibaku
  • Kidomaru
  • Kijima Homura
  • Kijin
  • Kijin Tatsumi
  • Kijo Ayaka
  • Kijo Momiji
  • Kimon
  • Kiri no Kage
  • Kiyohime
  • Kiyohime Omiyo
  • Kogarashi
  • Koguma
  • Kokki
  • Kokuen
  • Kokuryu
  • Kokuryu Tenga
  • Kokuto
  • Kokuyo
  • Konaki-jiji
  • Kori no Hitomi

K, continued

  • Kotengu
  • Kubikiri
  • Kuchinawa
  • Kuchisake Omasa
  • Kuchisake-onna
  • Kuko
  • Kuma-doji
  • Kumo-oni
  • Kumo-onna
  • Kurai Shigure
  • Kurakumo-doji
  • Kurama Tengu
  • Kuraokami
  • Kurayami no Kage
  • Kurenai
  • Kurenai-doji
  • Kuro-oni
  • Kuroe
  • Kurogane
  • Kurogane no Oni
  • Kurogumo
  • Kuroha
  • Kurohane Yamiko
  • Kurohebi-doji
  • Kurohime
  • Kuroi Hannya
  • Kuroi Kasumi
  • Kurokage Ryuen
  • Kurokaze
  • Kurokuma-doji
  • Kurokumo
  • Kuromaru
  • Kuromizu
  • Kuronami
  • Kurone
  • Kurono Akatsuki
  • Kuronuma Setsuna
  • Kurosaki Oboro
  • Kurosawa Enji
  • Kurosuke
  • Kurotani Shikyo
  • Kurote
  • Kurotengu
  • Kurotsuchi
  • Kurotsuki Ayame
  • Kuroyuki
  • Kurozora
  • Kurozuka
  • Kurushimi no Kijin
  • Kuzuryu
  • Kyoki
  • Kyokotsu

M: 20 names

  • Magami
  • Magari
  • Magatsu
  • Magatsuhi-no-Kami
  • Magoroku
  • Majin
  • Mashira
  • Mayoi
  • Mayoi-oni
  • Mezu
  • Mikage
  • Mikoshi-nyudo
  • Mizuchi
  • Mizuchi-hime
  • Mononoke
  • Mu no Kokoro
  • Mugen
  • Mujina
  • Mukuro
  • Mukuro Hayate

N: 18 names

  • Namahage
  • Naraku
  • Narukami
  • Nekomata
  • Nekomata Ojo
  • Nekomata Otama
  • Nogitsune
  • Noppera-bo
  • Noroi
  • Noroi-oni
  • Nozuchi
  • Nue
  • Nukekubi
  • Nurarihyon
  • Nure-onna
  • Nure-onna Osaki
  • Nuribotoke
  • Nurikabe

O: 47 names

  • Oboro
  • Oboroguruma
  • Oborozuki
  • Ohaguro-bettari
  • Oiwa
  • Okiku
  • Okuri-inu
  • Okuri-oni
  • Oni Benkei
  • Oni Goro
  • Oni no Tamazusa
  • Oni Tarobo
  • Oni-hitokuchi
  • Oni-kuma
  • Onibaba
  • Onibaba Shizuka
  • Onibana
  • Onibi
  • Onibi Kotaro
  • Onigashima Tetsuga
  • Onigumo
  • Onihara Gekko
  • Oniichiro
  • Onikage
  • Onikawa Tsurugi
  • Onikaze
  • Onikiri Genzo
  • Onimaru
  • Onimatsu
  • Onimi
  • Onimura Kasumi
  • Oninami
  • Onishige
  • Onitora
  • Onitsura
  • Oniwaka
  • Onizora
  • Onizuka
  • Onizuka Kagetora
  • Onodera Zanku
  • Onryo
  • Onryomaru
  • Oroku
  • Osakabe-hime
  • Otakemaru
  • Otoroshi
  • Otsuyu

R: 34 names

  • Raiden
  • Raiga
  • Raijo Kurenai
  • Raiju
  • Raiko
  • Raiko-doji
  • Raimei
  • Raitei
  • Raizo
  • Rakuma
  • Ranko
  • Ranmaru
  • Ranzo
  • Rasen
  • Rasetsu
  • Rasetsu Taro
  • Rasetsu-o
  • Rasetsumaru
  • Rasetsunyo
  • Rasetsuya Kanna
  • Reika
  • Reiki
  • Renkotsu
  • Rikudo
  • Rokurokubi
  • Rokurokubi Oyuki
  • Ryoga
  • Ryoki
  • Ryuen
  • Ryuga
  • Ryuki
  • Ryusei
  • Ryuumaru
  • Ryuzoji Tengu

S: 47 names

  • Sakura-onna
  • Sakuya
  • Sanzu
  • Sanzu no Watashimori
  • Sarugami
  • Satori
  • Sazae-oni
  • Senkou
  • Setsuna
  • Setsuri
  • Shakko
  • Shi no Kaze
  • Shien
  • Shigure
  • Shiki
  • Shikigami
  • Shikigami Kurone
  • Shikome
  • Shikyo
  • Shinen
  • Shinigami
  • Shinigawa Reika
  • Shinku
  • Shinra
  • Shion
  • Shirahime
  • Shiranui
  • Shiranui-onna
  • Shiro Hannya
  • Shizuka-onna
  • Shokera
  • Shoki
  • Shokuma
  • Shura
  • Shuraba
  • Shuraba Kagemitsu
  • Shuran
  • Shuten-doji
  • Shuuen
  • Soen
  • Sojobo
  • Souma
  • Sozen
  • Sunakake-baba
  • Sutoku-in
  • Suzaku
  • Suzuka Gozen

T: 30 names

  • Taira no Masakado
  • Tamamo-no-Mae
  • Taro-bo
  • Tarobo
  • Tatarigami
  • Tatarimaru
  • Tatsumi
  • Tenga
  • Tengetsu
  • Tengu Jirobo
  • Tenko
  • Tenma
  • Tenome
  • Tenrai
  • Tenrou
  • Tesso
  • Tetsu-oni
  • Tetsuga
  • Tetsuki
  • Tetsumaru
  • Torakuma-doji
  • Tsubaki-onna
  • Tsuchigumo
  • Tsuchigumo Hime
  • Tsuchigumo Omine
  • Tsukikage
  • Tsukuyo
  • Tsurube-otoshi
  • Tsurugi
  • Tsuyuri

U: 13 names

  • Ubume
  • Ubume Osen
  • Ubusuna no Tatari
  • Umibozu
  • Umibozu Gen
  • Urami
  • Uramiya
  • Ushi-oni
  • Ushi-oni Gorozaemon
  • Ushirogami
  • Ushizaki
  • Uwan
  • Uzuki

W: 2 names

  • Waira
  • Wanyudo

Y: 48 names

  • Yako
  • Yama-uba
  • Yamachichi
  • Yamagami
  • Yamai
  • Yamajijii
  • Yamakage
  • Yamanba
  • Yamaneko
  • Yamata no Orochi
  • Yamatora
  • Yamauba Otsune
  • Yamawaro
  • Yamiguchi Raiga
  • Yamihiko
  • Yamiko
  • Yamime
  • Yamishiro Sakuya
  • Yamiyo
  • Yamizuki
  • Yasha
  • Yasha Ranzo
  • Yasha-hime
  • Yashagoro
  • Yashamaru
  • Yasharu Kanae
  • Yokai Daio
  • Yomi no Kijo
  • Yomi-doji
  • Yomihara Setsuri
  • Yomihime
  • Yomiji
  • Yomikage
  • Yomikawa Shion
  • Yomiko
  • Yominaga Hibana
  • Yomiya
  • Yomotsu-ikusa
  • Yomotsu-shikome
  • Yoroi-oni
  • Yoru no Shihaisha
  • Yoruzakura
  • Yuki Kijo
  • Yuki-onna
  • Yuki-onna Oshizu
  • Yukimaru
  • Yurei
  • Yuuma

Z: 8 names

  • Zangetsu
  • Zanku
  • Zanrai
  • Zegaibo
  • Zekka
  • Zenki
  • Zesshin
  • Zouka