Resources · Creatures, spirits & other beings
Folklore Dictionary
Meet the beings of folklore: explore their names, descriptions and associated traditions, from familiar creatures to less familiar inhabitants of the otherworld.
1,598 reference entries · Browse A–Z or explore by place
Explore by place
Creature coverage
Zoom or move the map, then choose “Filter to this area” to list creatures with a tradition location in that view. You can combine this with a character family or a search term.
Creatures associated with a tradition
27 creatures at 44 tradition locations · 13 without tradition coordinates
Markers use tradition coordinates linked through source names, recorded aliases, language groups or reviewed associations. Language-group links show cultural context, rather than verified creature occurrences in every tradition. Creatures sharing a location are grouped; select a marker to see their names. Counts cover all matching entries across every results page.
Use the location filter or the list below to browse associated places.
Browse associated places without the map
- Ancient Greece (6)
- Arnhem Land: Enindhilyagwa (Groote Eilandt), KuTiwi, Yulengor, Mara, Oenpelli, Murngin, Roper River, Maung, Murinbata, Murngin (Duwal), Millingimbi, Goulburn Island, Ngulugwongga, Yirrkalla, Voctoria River Downs, Alawa, Anu, Kunwinjku (1)
- Australia (1)
- Brazil (1)
- Central Australia: Kaitish, Warramunga, Arunta (Aranda), Loritja (Kukatja), Pijandjara (Pitjantjara), Adnjamatana (Andjamathana, Wailpi), Aluridja, Walpiri (Walbiri), Aluridja, Matuntara (Maduntara), Nambutji, Wamma (=Wommana?) (1)
- Cherokee (1)
- China (1)
- Danes, Danish (1)
- Dutch, Flemish (1)
- England (1)
- England, British, Bretons (2)
- Faroe Islands (1)
- Finland (1)
- Finns (1)
- Flores, incl Mangarai (Western Flores), Nage, Keo, Riung, Ngada or Nad'a (Central Flores), Sika (Eastern Flores) (1)
- Frisians (1)
- Germans: North (Low- and Central German dialects): Schleswig-Holstein, Mecklenburg, Pommern, Niedersachsen (Lower Saxony, incl East Frisia and Oldenburg), Nordrhein-Westfalen, Hessen, Rheinland-Pfalz, Thüringen, Saxony-Anhalt, Sachsen, Brandenburg, Rügen (3)
- Germans: Northeast (Brandenburg, Meklenburg, Rügen, Pommern, Silesia, Posen) (1)
- Germans: South (Upper German dialects): Alsace (Elsass), Baden-Württemberg, Bawaria, Swabia, Switzerland, Bohemia, Sudeten, Austria (1)
- Germans – Southwest: Alsace (Elsass), Baden-Württemberg, Swabia, Switzerland (1)
- Germany (2)
- Greece (6)
- Greeks (modern), Balkarians (6)
- Greeks of Cyprus (6)
- Hittite, Hurrit (1)
- Icelanders (1)
- Japan (2)
- Japan (2)
- Japan AD 700-1700 (2)
- Japanese folklore outside of Ryukyu (2)
- Kimberley Plateau: Gwini, Roebuck Bay, Forest River tribes, Drysdale River tribes, Njulnjul, Ungarinyin, Unambal, Bad (Baada) (1)
- Lithuania (1)
- Lithuanians (1)
- Northern Ryukyu Islands (with southern Kyusyu in case of absence across the rest of Japan (2)
- Norwegians (1)
- People's Republic of China (1)
- Philippines (2)
- Philippines (2)
- Portugal (1)
- Portuguese, Portugal (1)
- Queensland: Mungkan (Wikmunkan), Wiknatara, Bloomfield River, Cape Bedford, Cape Grafton, Kokowara (Koko-Warra), Koko-yalunyu (Kokokulunggur), Bunya Bunya, Waka-Waka (Wakawaka), Kabikabi, Chepara (1)
- Saibai, Dauan, Boigu, Badu, Waraber, Wet, Warei, Dauar, Badu, Moa (1)
- Sardinia, Corsica, Sardinians, Corsicans (1)
- Scandinavians: early written sources ("Edda"; Saxo Grammaticus etc.); Gothland picture stones; Ancient Germans (Late Bronze Age in Scandinavia) (1)
- Scotland, Scots, Picts, Scotti, Scottish (2)
- Southeast Australia: Kamilaroi, Yualarai (Ualarai, Euahlayi), Milpulo (Mailpurgu), Wuradjeri (Wiradjurim, Wiradjeri, Wurundjeri, Yarra, Yarra Yarra), Wongaibon (Wonghibon), Noongahburrah (Narran, Narran River), Kurnai, and many others (see file 0.doc) (1)
- Southern and Central; Ryukyu Islands: Yaeyama, Miyako, Okinawa (2)
- Southern Australia: Dieri, Urabunna (Arabana), Flinderce Mountains, Kujani, Andyamatana (Andjamatana, Wailpi) (1)
- Swedes (1)
- Tasmania (1)
- Transylvanian Saksons (1)
- Venezuela (1)
- Venezuela (1)
- Western Australia: Walmanjeri, Njolnjol (Njulnjul, Nyul-Nyul), Worora, Kariara (Karierra), Karadjari (Karadjeri, Garadjari), Djaberdjaber (Djaberadjabera), Ngarluma, Wiilman (Wheelman), Bibbulmum (Pebelman), Burong (Panaka) (1)
- Yoruba; incl Ife), Nupe, Bini (Edo), Engenni, Chamba, Dakka, Kukuruku (2)
Browse the dictionary
40 matching entries
| Creature | Tradition | Description | Map locations |
|---|---|---|---|
| Each UisgeAnimals (suggested) | Scottish | Malevolent water horse | 1 |
| Eagle SpiritSpirits and otherworld peoples (suggested) | Many cultures worldwide | Leadership or guidance totem | — |
| Easter Bilby | Australian | Anthropomorphic bilby. | 9 |
| Easter Bunny | Christianity | Anthropomorphic lagomorph. | — |
| Ebu Gogo | Flores | Diminutive humanoids, possibly inspired by Homo floresiensis | 1 |
| Echeneis | Medieval Bestiaries | Remora, said to attach to ships to slow them down | — |
| EchidnaGiants, monsters and fabulous creatures (suggested) | Greek | Half-woman, half-snake monster | 3 |
| EdimmuThe dead and disembodied souls (suggested) | Sumerian | Ghosts of those not buried properly | 1 |
| Egbere | Yoruba | Humanoid that carries a magical mat | 1 |
| EikthyrnirAnimals (suggested) | Norse | The stag of Valhalla | — |
| EinherjarSpirits and otherworld peoples (suggested) | Norse | Spirits of brave warriors | — |
| Ekek | Philippine | Flesh-eating, winged humanoids | 1 |
| Elbow WitchHumans (suggested) | Ojibwa | Hags with awls in their elbows | — |
| EldjötnarGiants, monsters and fabulous creatures (suggested) | Norse | Fire Giants who reside in Muspelheim, with Surtr as their leader | — |
| ElementalPersonified nature and animated objects (suggested) | Alchemy | Personification of one of the Classical elements | — |
| ElfSpirits and otherworld peoples (suggested) | Germanic | Nature and fertility spirit | 15 |
| ElokoSpirits and otherworld peoples (suggested) | Central Africa | Little people and malevolent nature spirits | — |
| El Silbón | Venezuela | Lost soul | 1 |
| Elwetritsch | German | Birdlike forest creature of the Palatinate and Pennsylvania Dutch country | 1 |
| EmereHumans (suggested) | Yoruba | Child that can move back and forth between the material world and the afterlife at will | 1 |
| EmimGiants, monsters and fabulous creatures (suggested) | Jewish | Giant | — |
| EmpusaSpirits and otherworld peoples (suggested) | Greek | Female demon that waylays travelers and seduces and kills men | 3 |
| EncantadoGiants, monsters and fabulous creatures (suggested) | Brazilian | Dolphin-human shapeshifter | — |
| Enchanted Moor | Portuguese | Enchanted princesses | 1 |
| EnenraSpirits and otherworld peoples (suggested) | Japanese | Smoke spirit | 5 |
| EnfieldGiants, monsters and fabulous creatures (suggested) | Heraldic | Fox-greyhound-lion-wolf-eagle hybrid | — |
| EngkantoSpirits and otherworld peoples (suggested) | Philippine | Neutral nature spirit | 1 |
| Enkō | Japanese | Kappa of Shikoku and western Honshū | 5 |
| EpimeliadSpirits and otherworld peoples (suggested) | Greek | Apple tree nymph | 3 |
| Erchitu | Sardinia | Ox-human, wereox | 1 |
| Er GuiThe dead and disembodied souls (suggested) | Chinese | Hungry ghost | 1 |
| ErinyesSpirits and otherworld peoples (suggested) | Greek | Winged spirits of vengeance or justice, also known as Furies | 3 |
| ErlkingSpirits and otherworld peoples (suggested) | German | Death spirit | 1 |
| Erymanthian BoarAnimals (suggested)Giants, monsters and fabulous creatures (suggested) | Greek | Giant boar | 3 |
| Ethiopian PegasusAnimals (suggested)Giants, monsters and fabulous creatures (suggested) | Medieval Bestiaries | Horned, winged horse | — |
| EtiäinenSpirits and otherworld peoples (suggested) | Finnish | Spirit being of a living person | 1 |
| EttinGiants, monsters and fabulous creatures (suggested) | English | Two-headed giant | 2 |
| Eurynomos | Greek | Blue-black, carrion-eater in the underworld | 3 |
| EwahGiants, monsters and fabulous creatures (suggested) | Cherokee | Human-cougar hybrid | 1 |
| EžerinisSpirits and otherworld peoples (suggested) | Lithuanian | Lake spirit | 1 |
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How to cite: Fielder-White, Jonathan (2026). The Folklore Database. Citation version 1.261028.1 (28 October 2026). https://folkloredatabase.com.
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