Rakshasa Name Generator
Epic rakshasas, Sanskrit compounds and mortal disguises
Generate rakshasa names from the Ramayana and Mahabharata, such as Ravana, Vibhishana and Hidimbi, alongside invented Sanskrit compounds like Raktadamshtra and cover identities like Dhananidhi the Spice Merchant.
About rakshasa names
Rakshasas are the night-roaming shapeshifters of Hindu epic: powerful beings who can take any form they please. They are not all villains. In the Ramayana, Vibhishana urges his brother Ravana to return Sita, is driven out, and joins Rama, while Trijata and Sarama are kind to the captive Sita. Ravana is remembered as a learned king and a devotee of Shiva, and some traditions in India and Sri Lanka honor him. In the Mahabharata, Ghatotkacha, son of Bhima and the rakshasi Hidimbi, dies fighting for the Pandavas.
About 130 names come from the epics, the Puranas and later tellings: Ravana's family and generals (Kumbhakarna, Indrajit, Prahasta, Atikaya), Khara's commanders, the rakshasis of Lanka, and Mahabharata figures such as Hidimba, Bakasura and Kirmira. With them are epithets like Dashanana, ten-faced, and old Sanskrit words for the kind, like Nishachara, night-roamer. About two dozen more give an epic figure an epithet that fits the story, such as Kumbhakarna the Sleeper.
Everything else is invented. The single names are compounds of real Sanskrit words on the pattern of Dhumraksha, smoke-eyed: Raktadamshtra (blood-fanged), Hemanakha (gold-clawed), Mayajala (net of illusion). Feminine forms such as Nishachari and Vrikamukhi, wolf-faced, follow. The last group are mortal disguises, like Dhananidhi the Spice Merchant or Vizier Satyakirti. Names of gods, avatars and revered heroes were left off on purpose.
How to choose rakshasa names
- Decide first whether you want a figure from the epics or a new character. An epic name such as Ravana or Shurpanakha brings its whole story with it, so for an original villain pick one of the invented compounds.
- Read the compounds in halves. The first part is usually a quality or material (rakta, blood; hema, gold; dhumra, smoke-grey; maya, illusion) and the second a body part: aksha, eye; damshtra, fang; nakha, claw; mukha, face; bhuja, arm.
- Give a disguised rakshasa two names: a true one like Kuhaka or Timiraksha and a harmless public one like Minister Gunakara. The contrast makes the reveal land.
- Not every rakshasa is evil. For an honorable or conflicted character, look to Vibhishana, Trijata and Ghatotkacha as models instead of Ravana's generals.
- These names belong to a living religious tradition. Treat them with the care you would want for figures from your own, and do not give a rakshasa the name of a god.
Frequently asked questions
Which of these rakshasa names are from the Ramayana and Mahabharata?
About 130 of the single names are attested, including Ravana, Kumbhakarna, Vibhishana, Indrajit, Maricha, Tataka, Shurpanakha, Hidimbi and Ghatotkacha, along with epithets such as Dashagriva and Lankeshvara. About two dozen more add a fitting epithet to an epic figure, like Lankini, Gatekeeper of Lanka. The rest were invented for this list.
Are the invented rakshasa names real Sanskrit?
They are new compounds made from real Sanskrit words, put together the way the epic names are. Vajradamshtra, thunderbolt-fanged, is a rakshasa in the Ramayana, while Lohadamshtra, iron-fanged, is ours. Spellings are simplified and carry no diacritics, so long vowels are not marked.
Were all rakshasas evil?
No. Vibhishana sides with Rama and is crowned king of Lanka after the war, Trijata and Sarama comfort Sita, and Ghatotkacha dies fighting for the Pandavas. Ravana is the antagonist of the Ramayana, yet he is also remembered as a learned king and a devotee of Shiva, and some communities honor him. The list keeps these figures beside the fearsome ones for that reason.
How do I name a rakshasa for a tabletop game?
Rakshasas in games are usually schemers in disguise, so pair a true name with a cover. Hemaketu or Mayadhara could rule a city as Maharaja Hemaratha or trade quietly as Ratnavardhana the Gem Merchant. For the final reveal, borrow the shape of a titled name such as Sahasramaya of a Thousand Illusions.
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All 500 rakshasa names
A: 30 names
- Agniketu
- Ahiravana
- Ahiravana of Patala
- Ajamukhi
- Akampana
- Akshayakumara
- Alambusha
- Alayudha
- Andhakara
- Andhatamasa
- Angarajihva
- Angarakeshi
- Angaranetra the Coal-Eyed
- Angaravarna the Ember-Skinned
- Anjanaparvan
- Ankushanakha
- Aranyachara of the Vindhya Forests
- Arthapati the Grain Merchant
- Ashanighosha
- Ashaniprabha
- Ashanivega of Suvela
- Ashara
- Asrikpa
- Asthibhaksha
- Atidarpa the Proud
- Atikaya
- Atikaya the Towering
- Ayodanta
- Ayomukhi
- Ayonakha
B: 5 names
- Bakasura
- Bakasura of Ekachakra
- Bhasakarna
- Bhayankara
- Bubhukshu
C: 12 names
- Chamberlain Shubhankara
- Chandodari
- Charumati the Flower Seller
- Chhadmarupin
- Chhadmarupini
- Chhadmaveshin
- Chhadmaveshini
- Chhayachara the Shadow Walker
- Chhayagraha
- Chhayagrahini
- Chitraka the Leopard Lord
- Chitrakaya
D: 41 names
- Daruna
- Dashagriva
- Dashakantha
- Dashanana
- Devantaka
- Devashatru the Defiant
- Dhananidhi the Spice Merchant
- Dhanaratha the Silk Merchant
- Dhanyamalini
- Dhumajala
- Dhumika
- Dhumodgara
- Dhumrajata
- Dhumrakaya
- Dhumrakesha
- Dhumrakeshi
- Dhumraksha
- Dhumranga
- Dhumrashikha
- Dirghadamshtra
D, continued
- Dirghagriva
- Dirghahanu
- Dirghajangha
- Dirghajihva the Long-Tongued
- Dirghajihvi
- Dirghakarna
- Durachara of Nikumbhila
- Duratman
- Durbuddhi the Schemer
- Durdhara
- Durjaya
- Durmada
- Durmati
- Durmukha
- Durmukhi
- Durnirikshya
- Durvishaha the Unbearable
- Dushana
- Dvipimukha
- Dvipin the Spotted
- Dvipini the Leopardess
G: 25 names
- General Simhavikrama
- Ghasmara
- Ghatodara the Insatiable
- Ghatotkacha
- Ghatotkacha of the Night Battle
- Ghatuka the Slayer
- Ghoradamshtra
- Ghoradarshana
- Ghorakshi
- Ghoramukha
- Ghoramukhi
- Ghoranada of the Dreadful Roar
- Ghoranadini
- Ghoranakha
- Ghorashiras
- Ghorasvana
- Grasana the Swallower
- Gridhraketu
- Gridhramukha
- Gridhramukhi
- Gridhranakha
- Gridhrapadi
- Gridhrashiras
- Gridhri of the Battlefield
- Gunavati the Matchmaker
H: 20 names
- Harijata
- Hastikarna the Trampler
- Hemabhuja
- Hemachuda
- Hemadamshtra
- Hemadanti
- Hemakavacha
- Hemaketu
- Hemakshi
- Hemakundala
- Hemalata the Innkeeper
- Hemamali
- Hemamukuta
- Hemanakha
- Hemashringa
- Heti
- Hidimba
- Hidimbi
- Himsra the Savage
- Hiranyaratha the Goldsmith
I: 4 names
- Indrajalika the Conjurer
- Indrajalini
- Indrajit
- Indrajit, Conqueror of Indra
J: 8 names
- Jambumali
- Jara
- Jatasura
- Jighatsu
- Jvalajihva
- Jvalakeshi
- Jvalitaksha
- Jvalitakshi
K: 65 names
- Kabandha
- Kabandha the Headless
- Kaikasi
- Kaitava
- Kalajihva the Black-Tongued
- Kalakarmuka
- Kalakaya the Black Shape
- Kalamegha the Storm Bringer
- Kalanemi
- Kalanemi the False Hermit
- Kalavati the Storyteller
- Kamarupin
- Kanakadamshtra
- Kanakadhvaja
- Kanakakeshi
- Kanakaketu
- Kanakalata the Harbor Mistress
- Kanakamanjari, the Maharaja's Favorite
- Kanakamriga the Golden Lure
- Kanakangada
- Kanakarekha the Jeweler's Widow
- Kapatavesha
- Kapatini
- Karaladamshtra
- Karaladanti
- Karalakesha
- Karalakeshi
- Karalamukha
- Karalanakha
- Karaviraksha
- Karbura
- Kaunapa
K, continued
- Khadganakha
- Khara
- Khara of Janasthana
- Kharakarna
- Kharamukhi
- Kharanada of the Harsh Voice
- Kharasvana
- Kinkara
- Kirmira
- Kirmira of Kamyaka
- Krakachadanta
- Krakachadanti
- Krakachanakha
- Kravyabhuj
- Kravyada
- Krodhana the Quick to Anger
- Krodhavasha
- Krurakarman
- Kruraksha
- Kshanada
- Kshapachara
- Kshudhatura
- Kuhaka
- Kumbha
- Kumbhakarna
- Kumbhakarna the Sleeper
- Kumbhinasi
- Kuntadanta
- Kutayodhin
- Kutila the Poisoner
- Kutiladamshtra
- Kutilamati
- Kutilanakha
L: 18 names
- Lady Madanamanjari
- Lady Mrigavati of the Pearl Court
- Lady Ratnamanjari
- Lankapati
- Lankeshvara
- Lankini
- Lankini, Gatekeeper of Lanka
- Lavanasura
- Lavanasura of Madhuvana
- Lilavati the Perfumer
- Lohadamshtra
- Lohadanta
- Lohadanti
- Lohahasta the Iron-Handed
- Lohakaya
- Lohamushti the Iron Fist
- Lohanakha
- Lokaravana
M: 40 names
- Madiravati the Wine Seller
- Magistrate Arthanidhi
- Mahakapala
- Mahakrodha the Wrathful
- Mahamali
- Mahaparshva
- Maharaja Hemaratha
- Maharaja Jayaratha of the Smiling Court
- Maharaja Kanakaratha the Ageless
- Maharani Kanakavati
- Maharani Malayavati
- Mahashana
- Mahiravana
- Makaraksha
- Mali
- Malyavan
- Malyavan the Counselor
- Mamsapriya
- Mamsashana
- Maniman
- Manishekhara the Saffron Merchant
- Manorama the Royal Nurse
- Maricha
- Maricha of the Golden Deer
- Matta
- Mayabala
- Mayachara
- Mayadhara
- Mayajala
- Mayaketu
- Mayamriga the Phantom Deer
- Mayarupa
- Mayavin the Illusionist
- Mayin
- Mayini
- Meghanada
- Meghasvana
- Meghavarna
- Minister Gunakara
- Mitraghna
N: 21 names
- Nairrita
- Nakradanta
- Nakraketu
- Nakramukhi
- Naktanchara
- Naktanchari
- Narabhakshaka
- Narantaka
- Narashana
- Nikumbha
- Nirdaya the Merciless
- Nirghata the Thunderclap
- Nirghrina the Pitiless
- Nishachara
- Nishacharendra
- Nishachari
- Nishatana
- Nishitha
- Nishithini
- Nishthura of the Malaya Hills
- Nrishamsa the Malicious
P: 18 names
- Papakarman the Evildoer
- Parusha
- Paulastya
- Pingakesha
- Pingakeshi
- Pishitapriya
- Pishitashana
- Praghasa
- Prahasta
- Prahasta, General of Lanka
- Praheti
- Prajangha
- Pramathi
- Prithugriva
- Punyajana
- Purushada
- Pushpotkata
- Putana
R: 32 names
- Raja Jayaketu the Generous
- Raja Simhabala of the Tiger Throne
- Rajanichara
- Rajanichari
- Rakshasendra
- Raktadamshtra
- Raktahasta the Red-Handed
- Raktajihva
- Raktaksha
- Raktakshi
- Raktanakha
- Raktanetra the Red-Eyed
- Raktapa
- Raktapayin
- Raktapayini
- Rani Chandravati
- Rashmiketu
- Ratnachuda the Pearl Diver
- Ratnanidhi the Horse Trader
- Ratnavali the Dowager Rani
- Ratnavardhana the Gem Merchant
- Ratnavati the Silk Weaver
- Ratrinchara
- Ratrinchari
- Ravana
- Ravana, Lord of Lanka
- Ravani
- Rudhiranga the Crimson
- Rudhirapriya
- Rudhirashana
- Rudhiravarna the Red
- Rupavati the Court Dancer
S: 49 names
- Sagaraketu the Ship Owner
- Sahasramaya of a Thousand Illusions
- Samudrashura the Caravan Master
- Sandhyabala
- Sarama
- Sarama the Kind
- Sarana
- Sarpagriva
- Sarpajihva
- Sarpakeshi
- Sarpaketu
- Sarpamukha
- Sarpasya
- Sarpini the Whisperer
- Satyaketu the Envoy
- Senapati Ugranada
- Shankukarna the Listener
- Shardula
- Shardulavikrama
- Sharduli the Striped Queen
- Shashiprabha the Court Singer
- Shatamaya of a Hundred Wiles
- Shilavati the Herb Seller
- Shonitaksha
S, continued
- Shonitapa
- Shuladamshtra
- Shuladanta the Spike-Toothed
- Shulanakha
- Shurpanakha
- Shurpanakha, Sister of Ravana
- Shvamukha
- Shvamukhi
- Shvapada the Beast of Prey
- Shyenagami
- Shyenaketu
- Shyenanakha
- Simhika
- Simhika the Shadow Catcher
- Sthulagriva the Bull-Necked
- Sthulaksha
- Subahu
- Sukesha
- Sumali
- Suptaghna
- Suradvish the Unbowed
- Surari, Foe of the Gods
- Svarnakeshi
- Svarnaroman
- Svarnashringa
T: 31 names
- Tamaschara, Walker in Darkness
- Tamisra
- Tamomaya
- Tamrabhuja
- Tamrajihva
- Tamrakesha
- Tamrakeshi
- Tarakshu the Laughing Hyena
- Tataka
- Tataka the Cursed
- The Guest Who Eats Alone
- The Hunter Who Hunts No Tigers
- The Maharaja Who Never Ages
- The Minister with the Striped Shadow
- The Rani in the Gold Veil
- The Sandalwood Trader of Suvela
- The Smiling Tax Collector
- The Stranger at the Night Market
- The Tiger Behind the Throne
- The Tiger in the Counting House
- The Vizier Who Casts No Shadow
- Tikshnadanti
- Timirakeshi
- Timiraksha
- Timirakshi
- Timiranga
- Trasana
- Treasurer Gunanidhi
- Trijata
- Trijata the Dreamer
- Trishiras
U: 18 names
- Ugrakarman
- Ugraketu
- Ugravega the Relentless
- Ulkajihva
- Ulkaksha
- Ulkakshi
- Ulkamukhi
- Ulkanetra the Meteor-Eyed
- Ulkapata the Falling Star
- Ulmukahasta
- Ulukamukha
- Uluki the Night Watcher
- Unmatta
- Urdhvakesha
- Urdhvaroman the Bristling
- Ushtragriva
- Ushtrakarna
- Ushtramukhi
V: 57 names
- Vajradamshtra
- Vajradanta
- Vajradanti
- Vajraghosha
- Vajrahanu
- Vajrajvala
- Vajrakantha
- Vajraketu
- Vajramushti
- Vajrashringa
- Vajravega
- Vakradamshtra
- Vakragriva the Crooked
- Vakranakha
- Vanchaka
- Vibhishana
- Vibhishana the Righteous
- Vidarana the Render
- Vidyudaksha
- Vidyuddamshtra
- Vidyuddhvaja of the Lightning Banner
- Vidyujjihva
- Vidyujjvala
- Vidyullekha
- Vidyunmali
- Vidyutkesha
- Vidyutprabha
- Vihangama
V, continued
- Vikritanana
- Vikritapada
- Viradha
- Viradha of Dandaka
- Vizier Hemadhvaja
- Vizier Punyaratha
- Vizier Satyakirti
- Vrikadamshtra
- Vrikaketu
- Vrikamukha
- Vrikamukhi
- Vriki the She-Wolf
- Vyaghrabala
- Vyaghradamshtra
- Vyaghradanta the Tiger-Toothed
- Vyaghragriva
- Vyaghraketu
- Vyaghrakshi
- Vyaghramukhi
- Vyaghranakha
- Vyaghrarupa
- Vyaghrashiras
- Vyaghravega
- Vyaghravikrama
- Vyaghri, Tigress of Dandaka
- Vyala the Man-Eater
- Vyalajihva
- Vyalamukha
- Vyalamukhi