Yokai Name Generator
Japanese folklore spirits, monsters and haunted things
Generate yokai names drawn from Japanese folklore: classic spirits like Kappa, Nurarihyon and Yuki-onna, named legends like Shuten-dōji and Tamamo-no-Mae, plus original yokai coined the way Toriyama Sekien and Mizuki Shigeru did it. Built for anime OCs, TTRPG bestiaries, manga and stories.
About yokai names
Yokai names are mostly descriptions. Japanese folklore rarely gives a spirit a personal name; it gives it a label that says what it looks like or what it does. Rokurokubi is "pulley neck," Nurikabe is "plaster wall," Azukiarai is "bean washer," Kuchisake-onna is "slit-mouthed woman." The recurring building blocks are a body or creature word (onna, otoko, kozō, bōzu, nyūdō, baba, jijī, kubi, te, me), an object or place (kasa, chōchin, kawa, yama, tenjō) and a quirk (nuri, nure, furari, betobeto). Stack two or three and the result sounds like it came out of Toriyama Sekien's 1776 picture scrolls.
The famous exceptions are named individuals: the ogre lord Shuten-dōji, the fox Tamamo-no-Mae, the tengu king Sōjōbō, the jealous serpent Kiyohime, the ghost Oiwa. These usually carry honorific endings such as -dōji, -hime, -bō or -no-Mae, or they are simply an ordinary human name that became infamous. Regional yokai add a place in front (Nekomata of Nabeshima, Kappa of the Tone River), and tsukumogami, the hundred-year-old objects that wake up, take the object's name plus -no-sei or -obake.
This list mixes the canon bestiary, the legends, regional variants and new coinages that follow the same grammar. Pick a genuine yokai when readers should recognize the creature, and an original compound when you want something traditional-sounding that belongs to your world.
How to choose yokai names
- Build an original yokai name from a visible trait plus a body word: Kōri-onna (ice woman), Hone-kozō (bone boy), Kagami-no-kubi (mirror head). If you can draw it from the name, it works.
- Use the hyphen and particle conventions consistently: -no- links possessor and thing (Kosode-no-te), while plain compounds run together (Umibōzu, Nurarihyon). Mixing styles inside one story looks careless.
- Save honorific endings for individuals. A species is Oni; the boss of Mount Ōe is Shuten-dōji. Giving every random spirit -hime or -dōji flattens the hierarchy.
- Onomatopoeia is period-accurate and underused: Betobeto-san (footsteps), Buruburu (shivering), Yanari (house creaking). Reduplicated sounds make great minor spirits.
- For a location-bound haunting, prefix the place: Kappa of the Tone River, Nekomata of Nabeshima. It instantly reads as local legend rather than generic monster.
Frequently asked questions
What is the difference between a yokai and a yurei?
Yurei are ghosts of specific dead people, usually with a grudge, like Oiwa or Okiku. Yokai is the broader category of strange beings: animal spirits, ogres, animated objects, weather phenomena and haunted places. Many lists treat yurei as one branch of yokai, so this generator includes a few of both.
Are these real Japanese yokai or made up?
Both. Names like Kappa, Nue, Amabie, Ittan-momen and Tsurube-otoshi come straight from folklore and the Edo-period bestiaries. Others, such as Kagami-onna or Sabi-gama, are original but built from the same vocabulary and grammar so they sit naturally next to the classics.
Should I write yokai names with macrons, like Umibōzu?
Macrons mark long vowels in standard Hepburn romanization and are the most accurate choice for prose, wikis and game text. If your platform cannot display them, Umibozu or Umiboozu are common substitutes; just be consistent within one project.
Can I use these names for an anime OC, a D&D monster or a published story?
Yes. Folklore yokai are public domain, and the original coinages here are free to use. Avoid borrowing named characters from specific modern franchises, for example Mizuki Shigeru's GeGeGe no Kitarō cast or Nura: Rise of the Yokai Clan, in commercial work.
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All 500 yokai names
A: 28 names
- Abumi-guchi
- Abura-akago
- Abura-sumashi
- Ahiru-kozō
- Aka-oni
- Akai-te
- Akamata
- Akaname
- Akari-baba
- Akashita
- Akkorokamui
- Akuro-ō
- Amabie
- Amanojaku
- Ame-kozō
- Ame-onna
- Amefuri-kozō
- Amikiri
- Ao-andon
- Ao-bōzu
- Ao-oni
- Aokage-no-mono
- Aosagibi
- Ashiarai-yashiki
- Ashimagari
- Ayakashi
- Azuki-hakari
- Azukiarai
B: 15 names
- Bake-danuki
- Bake-ichō-no-sei
- Bake-kujira
- Bake-zōri
- Bakeneko
- Baku
- Basan
- Betobeto-san
- Bishobisho-warashi
- Biwa-bokuboku
- Bō-no-kage
- Boroboroton
- Bunagaya
- Buruburu
- Byōbu-nozoki
C: 3 names
- Chō-no-onna
- Chōchin-bi
- Chōchin-obake
D: 6 names
- Daidarabotchi
- Daitengu
- Danzaburō-danuki
- Dodomeki
- Dondoro
- Dorotabō
E: 3 names
- Enenra
- Enkō
- Enoki-no-sei
F: 11 names
- Fude-kozō
- Fue-fuki-bōzu
- Fue-no-sei
- Fukurō-baba
- Fukuro-otoko
- Funayūrei
- Furaribi
- Fūri
- Fūrin-onna
- Fusuma-no-te
- Futakuchi-onna
G: 13 names
- Gagoze
- Gaki
- Gama-nyūdō
- Gangi-kozō
- Garappa
- Gashadokuro
- Gashadokuro of Takiyasha
- Gatagata-yashiki
- Gorogoro-sama
- Goryō
- Gozu
- Guhin
- Gyūki
H: 41 names
- Hagane-inu
- Hage-tanuki of Yashima
- Hagoromo-onna
- Hahakigami
- Hai-no-otoko
- Hakutaku
- Hana-no-kubi
- Hanabi-kozō
- Hannya
- Hari-oni
- Harionago
- Hashihime
- Hashihime of Uji
- Hashira-onna
- Hebi-onna
- Hibachi-baba
- Hiderigami
- Hihi
- Hikari-no-oni
- Himitsu-warashi
- Hinode-no-kami
- Hiru-no-yūrei
- Hitodama
- Hitotsume-kozō
- Hitotsume-nyūdō
- Hiza-no-kozō
- Hōki-no-sei
- Hōkibō
- Hōkō
- Hone-karakasa
- Hone-kozō
- Hone-onna
- Hōnengame
- Hōsōgami
- Hōsōshi
- Hotaru-bi
- Hotaru-hime
- Hyakume
- Hyakume-no-kijo
- Hyōsube
- Hyōtan-kozō
I: 15 names
- Ibaraki-dōji
- Ikiryō
- Ikuchi
- Inaho-kozō
- Inari-gitsune
- Inugami
- Inuhōō
- Ishi-no-me
- Ishi-warashi
- Iso-onna
- Isonade
- Ito-kiri
- Itsumade
- Ittan-momen
- Iwana-bōzu
J: 8 names
- Jakotsu-babā
- Jami
- Jatai
- Jinja-hime
- Jinmenju
- Jirōbō
- Jorōgumo
- Jubokko
K: 103 names
- Kagami-no-kubi
- Kagami-onna
- Kagaribi-kozō
- Kage-onna
- Kaidan-warashi
- Kakure-onna
- Kakurezato
- Kama-no-oni
- Kamaitachi
- Kameosa
- Kami-no-kozō
- Kamibakama
- Kamikiri
- Kanbari-nyūdō
- Kane-no-oni
- Kanedama
- Kanzashi-onna
- Kappa
- Kappa of the Tone River
- Karakasa-kozō
- Karasu-baba
- Karasu-tengu
- Karura
- Kasa-no-onna
- Kasa-obake
- Kasakasa-baba
- Kasha
- Kasumi-hime
- Katawaguruma
- Kawa-akago
- Kawa-no-kubi
- Kawabe-no-kijo
- Kawahime
- Kawara-no-te
- Kawatarō
- Kawauso
- Kaze-kiri
- Kaze-no-kijo
- Kazenbō
- Kechibi
- Kejōrō
- Kekkai
- Kemono-no-kage
- Kemuri-bōzu
- Keukegen
- Kiba-no-baba
- Kibi-warashi
- Kijimuna
- Kijo
- Kinchō-tanuki
- Kinu-tanuki
K, continued
- Kiri-bōzu
- Kirin
- Kitsune
- Kitsune-no-yomeiri
- Kitsune-tsuki
- Kitsunebi
- Kiyohime
- Kizu-no-te
- Kodama
- Kōjin
- Koke-jijī
- Komainu
- Kōmori-gasa
- Kōmori-otoko
- Konaki-jijī
- Konoha-tengu
- Kōri-no-ryū
- Kōri-onna
- Kōro-no-kemuri
- Koromo-gitsune
- Kosode-no-te
- Koto-furunushi
- Kotori-no-sei
- Kubi-kiri-baba
- Kubi-nashi-uma
- Kubikajiri
- Kuchi-nashi
- Kuchisake-onna
- Kuda-gitsune
- Kudan
- Kujira-no-kage
- Kumo-no-hime
- Kura-yarō
- Kurabokko
- Kurage-no-hinotama
- Kurai-ana
- Kurama Tengu
- Kuro-oni
- Kurobōzu
- Kurokami-nyūdō
- Kuromonji
- Kurote
- Kurozuka
- Kusa-warashi
- Kusari-nyūdō
- Kuwa-no-onna
- Kuzunoha
- Kuzuryū
- Kyōkotsu
- Kyōrinrin
- Kyūbi-no-kitsune
- Kyūso
M: 21 names
- Mado-no-kage
- Makuragaeshi
- Mami
- Matsu-no-sei
- Mekurabe
- Mezu
- Mikoshi-nyūdō
- Minowaraji
- Mintsuchi
- Mizu-kagami-onna
- Mizuchi
- Mochi-tsuki-oni
- Moe-gami
- Mokumokuren
- Momiji of Togakushi
- Momonjii
- Mōrei
- Mori-no-baba
- Mōryō
- Mujina
- Mukade-hime
N: 34 names
- Nabe-no-oni
- Namahage
- Nami-no-te
- Namida-onna
- Nando-baba
- Narigama
- Nawa-nyūdō
- Nekomata
- Nekomata of Nabeshima
- Nekomusume
- Nezumi-bōzu
- Nichirin-onna
- Ningyo
- Nio-bōzu
- Nobusuma
- Nodeppō
- Noderabō
- Nogitsune
- Noppera-bō
- Noren-obake
- Noroi-no-kagami
- Nozuchi
- Nue
- Nue of the Imperial Palace
- Nukekubi
- Numa-kozō
- Nuppeppō
- Nuranura
- Nurarihyon
- Nure-onago
- Nure-onna
- Nuri-onna
- Nuribotoke
- Nurikabe
O: 35 names
- Obi-hebi
- Oboro-bōzu
- Oboroguruma
- Ōgama
- Ōgumo
- Oiwa
- Ōkage
- Ōkami-no-kami
- Ōkami-otoko
- Ōkaminari
- Ōkamuro
- Oki-no-bōzu
- Okiku
- Ōkubi
- Okuri-inu
- Ōmi-no-kijo
- Ōmukade
- Ōmukade of Mount Mikami
- Ōnamazu
- Oni
- Oni-hitokuchi
- Onibaba
- Onibi
- Onikuma
- Onmoraki
- Ōnyūdō
- Ōsakabe
- Osaki
- Oshiroi-baba
- Ōtakemaru
- Oto-nashi-bōzu
- Otoroshi
- Ōtsuno-oni
- Otsuyu
- Ouni
R: 4 names
- Raigō the Rat-Monk
- Raijū
- Reiki
- Rokurokubi
S: 55 names
- Sabi-gama
- Sabi-no-kubi
- Sagami-no-Ushi-oni
- Sagari
- Sakabashira
- Sakazuki-no-sei
- Sake-nomi-oni
- Sankai
- Sarakazoe
- Sarugami
- Satori
- Sazae-oni
- Sennin
- Sesshōseki
- Seto-taishō
- Shachihoko
- Shamisen-chōrō
- Shibaemon-tanuki
- Shibaten
- Shidaidaka
- Shigure-otoko
- Shinchū
- Shinigami
- Shio-baba
- Shio-no-chōji
- Shirachigo
- Shiranui
- Shirime
- Shiro-tengu
- Shiro-uneri
- Shīsā
- Shitoshito-onna
- Shōgorō
- Shōjō
- Shōkera
- Shōki the Demon Queller
- Shunobon
- Shussebora
- Shuten-dōji
- Soba-kozō
- Sodehiki-kozō
- Sōgenbi
- Sōjōbō
- Sora-no-ryū
- Sōri-no-oni
- Sōzu-no-oni
- Sudare-no-me
- Suiko
- Sumi-nagashi
- Suna-nyūdō
- Suna-onna
- Sunakake-baba
- Sunekosuri
- Suzu-no-oni
- Suzuri-no-sei
T: 47 names
- Ta-no-kami-warashi
- Tabi-no-kozō
- Taka-onna
- Tako-nyūdō
- Tamamo-no-Mae
- Tankororin
- Tanuki
- Tanuki-bayashi
- Tarōbō
- Tatami-tataki
- Te-no-me
- Tenaga-ashinaga
- Tengu
- Tengu-daoshi
- Tengu-tsubute
- Tenjō-kudari
- Tenjō-name
- Tenjō-sagari
- Tenka
- Teppō-oni
- Teratsutsuki
- Tesso
- Tōdaiki
- Tōfu-kozō
- Tōge-no-oni
- Tōrō-no-hi
- Tsubame-hime
- Tsuchi-korobi
- Tsuchi-no-kubi
- Tsuchi-no-te
- Tsuchigumo
- Tsuchigumo of Katsuragi
- Tsuchinoko
- Tsue-no-jijī
- Tsuki-warashi
- Tsukumo-no-hōchō
- Tsukumogami
- Tsumi-no-kijo
- Tsuno-baba
- Tsuno-kozō
- Tsurara-onna
- Tsuru-onna
- Tsurube-bi
- Tsurube-otoshi
- Tsuta-otoko
- Tsuyu-warashi
- Tsuzumi-jijī
U: 15 names
- Ubagabi
- Ubume
- Ugoku-ishi
- Uma-no-ashi
- Umi-nyōbō
- Umibōzu
- Umizatō
- Unagi-hime
- Ungaikyō
- Ushi-oni
- Ushi-onna
- Ushirogami
- Usugumo-hime
- Utsuro-bune-no-onna
- Uwan
W: 5 names
- Waira
- Wani
- Waniguchi
- Wanyūdō
- Wauwau
Y: 31 names
- Yadōkai
- Yagyō-san
- Yako
- Yama-no-bō
- Yama-otoko
- Yama-uba
- Yamabiko
- Yamachichi
- Yamajijii
- Yamaonna
- Yamaoroshi
- Yamata-no-Orochi
- Yamawaro
- Yami-no-inu
- Yanagi-baba
- Yanagi-onna
- Yanari
- Yasha
- Yashiki-no-me
- Yatagarasu
- Yoake-otoko
- Yobuko
- Yōkai-bune
- Yōko
- Yoru-no-kubi
- Yuki-onna
- Yuki-warashi
- Yukinba
- Yukinko
- Yume-kui
- Yūrei