This extensive list of Japanese demon names captures the essence of these fascinating creatures, providing not only their names but also their meanings and origins. Whether you’re interested in folklore, or literature, or simply love the eerie aesthetic, this collection will inspire your creativity.
Japanese folklore is rich with supernatural beings, including a diverse array of demons known as “yōkai” or “one.” These entities vary in characteristics and behaviors, embodying everything from malevolence to mischief.
Origins of Japanese Demon Names
Japanese demon names have their roots in ancient mythology and folklore, reflecting cultural beliefs, societal values, and historical events. The term “one” is often used to describe these malevolent beings, typically depicted with horns, sharp claws, and a fearsome appearance.
Yōkai encompass a broader category, including spirits, monsters, and other supernatural entities, often with whimsical or protective qualities. The names of these demons frequently convey their nature, powers, or characteristics, drawing from the Japanese language and cultural symbolism.
Oni Names
- Akuma
Meaning: Devil; demon
Origin: Japanese - Shōki
Meaning: Demon queller
Origin: Japanese folklore - Ushirogami
Meaning: Back spirit; ghost
Origin: Japanese mythology - Kijimunaa
Meaning: Spirit of the forest
Origin: Okinawan folklore - Fudō
Meaning: Immovable; protector against demons
Origin: Buddhist mythology - Shōmon
Meaning: Demon gate
Origin: Japanese folklore - Zōbō
Meaning: Evil spirit
Origin: Japanese folklore - Oniwaka
Meaning: Young oni
Origin: Japanese folklore - Yamamba
Meaning: Mountain witch; demoness
Origin: Japanese mythology - Tengu
Meaning: Heavenly dog; mountain demon
Origin: Japanese folklore - Jorōgumo
Meaning: Binding bride; spider demon
Origin: Japanese mythology - Rokurokubi
Meaning: Long neck; demon
Origin: Japanese folklore - Inugami
Meaning: Dog spirit; loyal demon
Origin: Japanese mythology - Yuki-onna
Meaning: Snow woman; spirit of snow
Origin: Japanese folklore - Yamato no Orochi
Meaning: Eight-headed serpent; demon
Origin: Japanese mythology - Miketsu
Meaning: God of food; associated with demons
Origin: Japanese mythology - Kappa
Meaning: Water demon; river creature
Origin: Japanese folklore - Yurei
Meaning: Ghost; spirit of the dead
Origin: Japanese folklore - Akkorokamui
Meaning: Red giant; blood demon
Origin: Ainu mythology - Bakeneko
Meaning: Monster cat; shapeshifting demon
Origin: Japanese folklore
Yōkai Names
- Tanuki
Meaning: Raccoon dog; shape-shifting spirit
Origin: Japanese folklore - Kitsune
Meaning: Fox; intelligent spirit
Origin: Japanese mythology - Tōfu-kozō
Meaning: Tofu boy; playful spirit
Origin: Japanese folklore - Kawa-no-kami
Meaning: River deity; water spirit
Origin: Japanese mythology - Nurarihyon
Meaning: Slippery creature; sneaky spirit
Origin: Japanese folklore - Yuki-no-onna
Meaning: Snow woman; spirit of snow
Origin: Japanese folklore - Rokurokubi
Meaning: Long-necked spirit; night demon
Origin: Japanese mythology - Shōjō
Meaning: Red-haired spirit; song demon
Origin: Japanese folklore - Hōzuki
Meaning: Firefly; spirit of the afterlife
Origin: Japanese folklore - Ittan-Momen
Meaning: Flying cloth; spirit of the wind
Origin: Japanese folklore - Jinmenju
Meaning: Human-faced fruit; strange demon
Origin: Japanese folklore - Kawa-no-kami
Meaning: River god; protector spirit
Origin: Japanese mythology - Tōnberry
Meaning: Candle-bearing spirit; deadly demon
Origin: Japanese folklore - Hiki-neko
Meaning: Pulling cat; spirit of mischief
Origin: Japanese folklore - Shōki
Meaning: Demon hunter; spirit of protection
Origin: Japanese folklore - Yama-Uba
Meaning: Mountain witch; demoness
Origin: Japanese folklore - Aobōzu
Meaning: Blue monk; giant demon
Origin: Japanese folklore - Mizuki
Meaning: Water demon; spirit of the lake
Origin: Japanese mythology - Nure-Onna
Meaning: Wet woman; snake demon
Origin: Japanese folklore - Kurozuka
Meaning: Black mound; ghostly demon
Origin: Japanese mythology
Lesser-Known Demon Names
- Yūrei
Meaning: Spirit of the dead; ghost
Origin: Japanese folklore - Jikininki
Meaning: Flesh-eating spirit; demon
Origin: Japanese mythology - Fūri
Meaning: Storm demon; spirit of wind
Origin: Japanese folklore - Shōko
Meaning: Spirit of misfortune; demon
Origin: Japanese mythology - Kuroboku
Meaning: Black tree; demon spirit
Origin: Japanese folklore - Mizuki
Meaning: Water spirit; guardian demon
Origin: Japanese mythology - Hōsō
Meaning: Demon of wind; evil spirit
Origin: Japanese folklore - Kuchisake-onna
Meaning: Slit-mouthed woman; vengeful spirit
Origin: Japanese folklore - Tōfu-kozō
Meaning: Tofu boy; mischievous spirit
Origin: Japanese folklore - Akkorokamui
Meaning: Red giant; blood demon
Origin: Ainu mythology - Yatagarasu
Meaning: Three-legged crow; divine messenger
Origin: Japanese mythology - Hiroko
Meaning: Demon of night; spirit
Origin: Japanese folklore - Nohara
Meaning: Field demon; spirit of the land
Origin: Japanese folklore - Suijin
Meaning: Water god; spirit of rivers
Origin: Japanese mythology - Tenjin
Meaning: God of scholarship; spirit
Origin: Japanese mythology - Inugami
Meaning: Dog spirit; loyal protector
Origin: Japanese folklore - Yuki-onna
Meaning: Snow woman; spirit of winter
Origin: Japanese mythology - Kijin
Meaning: Demon god; powerful spirit
Origin: Japanese folklore - Kurokage
Meaning: Black shadow; spirit of darkness
Origin: Japanese mythology - Kagutsuchi
Meaning: God of fire; destructive spirit
Origin: Japanese mythology
Popular Demon Names in Literature
- Mara
Meaning: Demon of temptation; spirit
Origin: Buddhist folklore - Himiko
Meaning: Ancient queen; spirit of war
Origin: Japanese mythology - Raijin
Meaning: God of thunder; demon
Origin: Japanese mythology - Fūjin
Meaning: God of wind; demon
Origin: Japanese mythology - Toshigami
Meaning: Year god; spirit of prosperity
Origin: Japanese folklore - Yama-Uba
Meaning: Mountain witch; demoness
Origin: Japanese folklore - Kannon
Meaning: Goddess of mercy; protective spirit
Origin: Japanese mythology
- Shuten-dōji
Meaning: Drunken demon; famous oni
Origin: Japanese folklore - Yamata no Orochi
Meaning: Eight-headed serpent; dragon demon
Origin: Japanese mythology - Enma
Meaning: Lord of the Underworld; ruler of demons
Origin: Japanese mythology - Amanojaku
Meaning: Heavenly evil spirit; trickster demon
Origin: Japanese folklore - Oiwa
Meaning: Vengeful spirit of a woman
Origin: Japanese ghost stories - Tsuchigumo
Meaning: Earth spider; monstrous demon
Origin: Japanese folklore - Taira no Masakado
Meaning: Rebel spirit; wrathful demon
Origin: Japanese history and folklore - Tamamo-no-Mae
Meaning: Nine-tailed fox demon; evil sorceress
Origin: Japanese mythology - Gashadokuro
Meaning: Starving skeleton; giant demon
Origin: Japanese folklore - Obake
Meaning: Shapeshifter; ghost or demon
Origin: Japanese mythology - Byakko
Meaning: White tiger; guardian spirit
Origin: Japanese mythology - Noppera-bō
Meaning: Faceless ghost; eerie spirit
Origin: Japanese folklore - Raikou
Meaning: Demon-quelling samurai; hero
Origin: Japanese mythology
Oni and Tengu Names
- Hannya
Meaning: Female demon mask
Origin: Noh theatre and Japanese folklore - Karasu-Tengu
Meaning: Crow demon; harbinger of war
Origin: Japanese folklore - Ao Oni
Meaning: Blue oni; ferocious demon
Origin: Japanese folklore - Ibaraki-dōji
Meaning: Oni lieutenant; powerful demon
Origin: Japanese folklore - Kijo
Meaning: Female demon; vengeful spirit
Origin: Japanese mythology - Raikou Tengu
Meaning: Thunder demon; leader of Tengu
Origin: Japanese folklore - Kinji
Meaning: Forbidden spirit; malevolent demon
Origin: Japanese mythology - Kumo Tengu
Meaning: Cloud demon; guardian spirit
Origin: Japanese folklore - Shirō Oni
Meaning: White oni; an ancient demon
Origin: Japanese folklore - Yomotsu-some
Meaning: Hag of the underworld; demoness
Origin: Japanese mythology - Otakemaru
Meaning: Mountain demon; oni lord
Origin: Japanese folklore - Tatarimokke
Meaning: Owl spirit; bringer of curses
Origin: Japanese folklore - Kuro Oni
Meaning: Black oni; fearsome demon
Origin: Japanese mythology - Kinu-ama
Meaning: Silken demoness; bewitching spirit
Origin: Japanese folklore - Ishi-tengu
Meaning: Stone tengu; guardian of mountains
Origin: Japanese folklore - Aka Manto
Meaning: Red cloak; bathroom demon
Origin: Japanese urban legends - Satori
Meaning: Mind-reading demon; forest creature
Origin: Japanese folklore - Kawa-no-kami
Meaning: River god; nature demon
Origin: Japanese mythology - Ittan Momen
Meaning: Cloth demon; flying spirit
Origin: Japanese folklore - Shikigami
Meaning: Paper spirit; summoned demon
Origin: Japanese folklore
Yokai of Nature
- Jinmenju
Meaning: Human-faced tree; strange spirit
Origin: Japanese folklore - Yamabiko
Meaning: Echo spirit; mountain demon
Origin: Japanese mythology - Yuki-onna
Meaning: Snow woman; spirit of winter
Origin: Japanese folklore - Mizukagami
Meaning: Water mirror; reflective spirit
Origin: Japanese mythology - Kawa-no-kami
Meaning: River god; protector spirit
Origin: Japanese folklore - Tamamo-no-Mae
Meaning: Nine-tailed fox demon; shapeshifter
Origin: Japanese mythology - Mikoshi-nyūdō
Meaning: Floating priest; mischievous spirit
Origin: Japanese folklore - Yamaburo
Meaning: Mountain elder; protector spirit
Origin: Japanese mythology - Kagutsuchi
Meaning: God of fire; destructive spirit
Origin: Japanese mythology - Hōsō
Meaning: Demon of wind; spirit of the storm
Origin: Japanese folklore - Inunaki
Meaning: Dog barking spirit; guardian demon
Origin: Japanese folklore - Tsuchinoko
Meaning: Snake-like creature; elusive spirit
Origin: Japanese folklore - Hida no Kappa
Meaning: River demon; mischievous creature
Origin: Japanese mythology - Mizuki
Meaning: Water spirit; guardian of lakes
Origin: Japanese folklore - Kibitsuhiko
Meaning: God of good fortune; forest spirit
Origin: Japanese mythology - Ame-Onna
Meaning: Rain woman; spirit of storms
Origin: Japanese folklore - Fūri
Meaning: Demon of wind; force of nature
Origin: Japanese mythology - Yatagarasu
Meaning: Three-legged crow; divine messenger
Origin: Japanese mythology - Shishigami
Meaning: Deer god; protector of the forest
Origin: Japanese mythology - Hōzuki
Meaning: Firefly; spirit of the afterlife
Origin: Japanese folklore
Ghostly Spirits
- Yūrei
Meaning: Spirit of the dead; ghost
Origin: Japanese folklore - Rokurokubi
Meaning: Long-necked spirit; night demon
Origin: Japanese mythology - Shōkyo
Meaning: Spirit of misfortune; ghost
Origin: Japanese folklore - Kappa
Meaning: Water demon; river creature
Origin: Japanese mythology - Shōjō
Meaning: Red-haired spirit; song demon
Origin: Japanese folklore - Nohara
Meaning: Field demon; spirit of the land
Origin: Japanese folklore - Yomotsu-some
Meaning: Hag of the underworld; demoness
Origin: Japanese mythology - Hiki-neko
Meaning: Pulling cat; spirit of mischief
Origin: Japanese folklore - Obake
Meaning: Shapeshifting spirit; ghost
Origin: Japanese folklore - Kurokage
Meaning: Black shadow; spirit of darkness
Origin: Japanese mythology - Ittan-Momen
Meaning: Flying cloth; spirit of the wind
Origin: Japanese folklore - Zashiki-Warashi
Meaning: Child spirit of the house; guardian
Origin: Japanese folklore - Nure-Onna
Meaning: Wet woman; snake demon
Origin: Japanese folklore - Shōki
Meaning: Demon hunter; spirit of protection
Origin: Japanese mythology - Kijimunaa
Meaning: Spirit of the forest; guardian
Origin: Okinawan folklore - Ushirogami
Meaning: Back spirit; ghost
Origin: Japanese mythology - Kurozuka
Meaning: Black mound; ghostly demon
Origin: Japanese mythology - Akkorokamui
Meaning: Red giant; blood demon
Origin: Ainu mythology - Hōmura
Meaning: Flame spirit; fire demon
Origin: Japanese mythology - Hiyai
Meaning: Spirit of heat; hot demon
Origin: Japanese folklore
Female Demon Names
- Jorōgumo
Meaning: Binding bride; spider demon
Origin: Japanese mythology - Kuchisake-onna
Meaning: Slit-mouthed woman; vengeful spirit
Origin: Japanese folklore - Yuki-onna
Meaning: Snow woman; spirit of winter
Origin: Japanese mythology - Kijō
Meaning: Female demon; vengeful spirit
Origin: Japanese folklore - Yamamba
Meaning: Mountain witch; demoness
Origin: Japanese mythology - Kurozuka
Meaning: Black mound; ghostly demon
Origin: Japanese folklore - Yama-uba
Meaning: Mountain witch; spirit
Origin: Japanese folklore - Jikininki
Meaning: Flesh-eating spirit; female demon
Origin: Japanese mythology - Shōjō
Meaning: Red-haired spirit; song demon
Origin: Japanese folklore - Nure-Onna
Meaning: Wet woman; snake demon
Origin: Japanese folklore - Fūri
Meaning: Demon of wind; female spirit
Origin: Japanese mythology - Tōfu-kozō
Meaning: Tofu boy; mischievous spirit
Origin: Japanese folklore - Oiwa
Meaning: Vengeful spirit of a woman
Origin: Japanese ghost stories - Hōzuki
Meaning: Firefly; spirit of the afterlife
Origin: Japanese folklore - Yama-uba
Meaning: Mountain witch; demoness
Origin: Japanese folklore - Mizuki
Meaning: Water spirit; guardian
Origin: Japanese mythology - Yuki-onna
Meaning: Snow woman; spirit of winter
Origin: Japanese folklore - Ame-Onna
Meaning: Rain woman; spirit of storms
Origin: Japanese folklore - Tsunami-onna
Meaning: Tsunami woman; water demon
Origin: Japanese mythology - Hekai
Meaning: Spirit of the dead; female ghost
Origin: Japanese folklore
Demon Names from Literature
- Taira no Masakado
Meaning: Rebel spirit; wrathful demon
Origin: Japanese history and folklore - Shuten-dōji
Meaning: Drunken demon; famous oni
Origin: Japanese folklore - Tamamo-no-Mae
Meaning: Nine-tailed fox demon; shapeshifter
Origin: Japanese mythology - Himiko
Meaning: Ancient queen; spirit of war
Origin: Japanese mythology - Raijin
Meaning: God of thunder; demon
Origin: Japanese mythology - Fūjin
Meaning: God of wind; demon
Origin: Japanese mythology - Kuchisake-onna
Meaning: Slit-mouthed woman; vengeful spirit
Origin: Japanese folklore - Ame-Onna
Meaning: Rain woman; spirit of storms
Origin: Japanese folklore - Kurozuka
Meaning: Black mound; ghostly demon
Origin: Japanese mythology - Oiwa
Meaning: Vengeful spirit of a woman
Origin: Japanese ghost stories - Gashadokuro
Meaning: Starving skeleton; giant demon
Origin: Japanese folklore - Obake
Meaning: Shapeshifting spirit; ghost
Origin: Japanese mythology - Byakko
Meaning: White tiger; guardian spirit
Origin: Japanese mythology - Noppera-bō
Meaning: Faceless ghost; eerie spirit
Origin: Japanese folklore - Hōkai
Meaning: Fallen spirit; wandering ghost
Origin: Japanese folklore - Rokurokubi
Meaning: Long-necked spirit; night demon
Origin: Japanese mythology - Ittan-Momen
Meaning: Flying cloth; spirit of the wind
Origin: Japanese folklore - Zashiki-Warashi
Meaning: Child spirit of the house; guardian
Origin: Japanese folklore - Akkorokamui
Meaning: Red giant; blood demon
Origin: Ainu mythology - Kappa
Meaning: Water demon; river creature
Origin: Japanese mythology
Popular Demon Names in Pop Culture
- Orochimaru
Meaning: Legendary snake demon; character in Naruto
Origin: Anime/manga - Inosuke Hashibira
Meaning: Boar demon; character in Demon Slayer
Origin: Anime/manga - Kagura
Meaning: God of dance; character in Inuyasha
Origin: Anime/manga - Shinra Kusakabe
Meaning: Fire demon; character in Fire Force
Origin: Anime/manga - Tanjiro Kamado
Meaning: Demon slayer; character in Demon Slayer
Origin: Anime/manga - Mikasa Ackerman
Meaning: Titan Slayer; character in Attack on Titan
Origin: Anime/manga - Naraku
Meaning: Evil spirit; character in Inuyasha
Origin: Anime/manga - Dante
Meaning: Demon hunter; a character in Devil May Cry
Origin: Video games - Kenshin Himura
Meaning: Battousai; a character in Rurouni Kenshin
Origin: Anime/manga - Saitama
Meaning: One Punch Man; character in One Punch Man
Origin: Anime/manga - Kira
Meaning: Death Note; character in Death Note
Origin: Anime/manga - Light Yagami
Meaning: Protagonist; character in Death Note
Origin: Anime/manga - Rin Okumura
Meaning: Blue Exorcist; character in Blue Exorcist
Origin: Anime/manga - Yato
Meaning: God of calamity; character in Noragami
Origin: Anime/manga - Ryuk
Meaning: Shinigami; a character in Death Note
Origin: Anime/manga - Guts
Meaning: Berserker; character in Berserk
Origin: Manga - Matoi Ryuko
Meaning: The character in Kill la Kill
Origin: Anime - Cheshire Cat
Meaning: Trickster spirit; character in Alice in Wonderland
Origin: Literature - Demon Slayer Corps
Meaning: Demon hunting group; character in Demon Slayer
Origin: Anime/manga - Kurama
Meaning: Nine-tailed fox; character in Naruto
Origin: Anime/manga
Conclusion
Japanese demon names capture a unique aspect of Japanese culture, blending ancient beliefs with mythical stories of malevolent and protective spirits. From one to yōkai, these names reflect the mystical world of Japanese folklore, embodying themes of fear, respect, and the supernatural.
Each name offers a window into a rich tradition of storytelling that has influenced literature, theatre, and even modern pop culture. Whether you’re fascinated by ancient legends or looking for inspiration in naming characters, these Japanese demon names embody the power, mystery, and allure of Japan’s mythical past.
Mia Clark is a name lover and insightful writer at NamezVibe. She passionately explores the significance and stories behind names, helping others find the perfect fit. In her free time, Mia enjoys connecting with readers and uncovering the latest naming trends.
