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
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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
52 creatures at 48 tradition locations · 32 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 Egypt, Egyptian (1)
- Ancient Greece (10)
- Australia (1)
- Basques (1)
- Brazil (1)
- Canada (1)
- Central Tibetans (Yu Tsang, incl. Sikkim Tibetans, Tichurong of NW Nepal) (1)
- China (2)
- Chol; pre-Columbian Mayan iconography outside of Yucatan (1)
- Chontal (1)
- Chorti (1)
- Colombia (1)
- Danes, Danish (2)
- Egypt (1)
- England (2)
- England, British, Bretons (2)
- Europe (1)
- Faroe Islands (3)
- Finland (2)
- Finns (2)
- 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 (1)
- Germany (1)
- Greece (9)
- Greeks (modern), Balkarians (10)
- Greeks of Cyprus (10)
- Huastec (Teenek) (1)
- Icelanders (3)
- Japan (12)
- Japan (12)
- Japan AD 700-1700 (12)
- Japanese folklore outside of Ryukyu (12)
- Kekchi; Mopan (1)
- Khoekhoe (=Hottentot; incl Nama, Korana); Damara (1)
- Korea (1)
- Koreans (1)
- Kwakiutl (Kwakwaka'wakw) (1)
- Lacandon (1)
- Malay; Temuan (incl Mantra or Mentra), Jakun (Moken) (2)
- Mam, Ixil, Aguatec, Avakatec (1)
- Maori, Moriori (Chatam Islands) (1)
- Ngbakka, Mbum (incl Mbai), Mundang, Fali, Tupuri, Maya (=Bali), Nyong (1)
- Nordic countries (5)
- Northern Ryukyu Islands (with southern Kyusyu in case of absence across the rest of Japan (12)
- Norwegians (2)
- People's Republic of China (2)
- Persians (3)
- Philippines (1)
- Philippines (1)
- Quiche, Achí, Cakchiquel, Pocomchi, Pocomam (1)
- Scandinavia (2)
- Scandinavians: early written sources ("Edda"; Saxo Grammaticus etc.); Gothland picture stones; Ancient Germans (Late Bronze Age in Scandinavia) (2)
- Southern and Central; Ryukyu Islands: Yaeyama, Miyako, Okinawa (12)
- Southern Taiwan: Rukai, Paiwan, Puyuma, Saaroa, Ketangalan (2)
- Swedes (2)
- Taiwan (2)
- Tojolabal, Chuj, Jacalteca, Kanjobal, Mocho (incl Tuzantec), Acatec (1)
- Tzeltal (1)
- Tzotzil (1)
- Tzutujil (1)
- United States (3)
- Vietnam (1)
- Vietnam (1)
- Yucatec, Itza (1)
Browse the dictionary
84 matching entries
| Creature | Tradition | Description | Map locations |
|---|---|---|---|
| HiisiSpirits and otherworld peoples (suggested) | Finnish | nature guardian | 1 |
| HippalectryonGiants, monsters and fabulous creatures (suggested) | Greek | a horse-rooster hybrid | 3 |
| HippocampGiants, monsters and fabulous creatures (suggested) | Etruscan, Greek and Phoenician | horse-fish hybrid | 3 |
| HippogriffGiants, monsters and fabulous creatures (suggested) | Medieval Bestiaries | hybrid of a griffin and horse; a lion-eagle-horse hybrid | — |
| HippopodesGiants, monsters and fabulous creatures (suggested) | Medieval Bestiary | horse-hoofed humanoid | — |
| HircocervusGiants, monsters and fabulous creatures (suggested) | Medieval Bestiary | deer-goat hybrid | — |
| HitodamaThe dead and disembodied souls (suggested) | Japanese | ghosts of the newly dead, which take the form of fireballs | 5 |
| Hitotsume-kozōSpirits and otherworld peoples (suggested) | Japanese | one-eyed childlike spirit | 5 |
| Hō-ōGiants, monsters and fabulous creatures (suggested) | Japanese | rooster-swallow-fowl-snake-goose-tortoise-stag-fish hybrid | 5 |
| HobSpirits and otherworld peoples (suggested) | English | house spirit | 2 |
| HobbididanceSpirits and otherworld peoples (suggested) | English | malevolent spirit | 2 |
| HobgoblinSpirits and otherworld peoples (suggested) | Medieval | friendly or amusing goblin | — |
| HodagGiants, monsters and fabulous creatures (suggested) | United States | frog-mammoth-lizard hybrid | 1 |
| HokhokwGiants, monsters and fabulous creatures (suggested) | Kwakiutl | bird | 1 |
| HōkōSpirits and otherworld peoples (suggested) | Japanese | dog-like Chinese tree spirit | 5 |
| HomaGiants, monsters and fabulous creatures (suggested) | Persian | eagle-lion hybrid, similar to a griffin | 1 |
| Hombre CaimanGiants, monsters and fabulous creatures (suggested) | Colombian | human-alligator hybrid | — |
| Hombre GatoGiants, monsters and fabulous creatures (suggested) | Latin America | human-cat hybrid | — |
| HomunculusPersonified nature and animated objects (suggested) | Alchemy | small animated construct | — |
| HoopoeAnimals (suggested) | multiple cultures | near passerine bird common to Africa and Eurasia that features in many mythologies in those continents | — |
| Hoop snakeGiants, monsters and fabulous creatures (suggested) | United States, Canada, and Australia | snake which rolls by taking its tail in its mouth | 3 |
| Horned SerpentSpirits and otherworld peoples (suggested) | Native American | serpentine rain spirit | — |
| HotokeThe dead and disembodied souls (suggested) | Japanese | deceased person | 5 |
| HouriDivine and sacred beings (suggested) | Islamic | heavenly beings | — |
| Hó͘-ko͘-pôSpirits and otherworld peoples (suggested) | Taiwanese | a tiger spirit | 1 |
| HraesvelgGiants, monsters and fabulous creatures (suggested) | Norse | Jötunn, who in eagle form, creates the wind by beating his wings | — |
| HrímþursGiants, monsters and fabulous creatures (suggested) | Nordic | Rime or frost jötunn | — |
| HuaychivoGiants, monsters and fabulous creatures (suggested) | Mayan | human-deer hybrid | 14 |
| HudhudAnimals (suggested) | Islamic | a legendary hoopoe bird | — |
| Hue-tsiauGiants, monsters and fabulous creatures (suggested) | Taiwanese | firebird | 1 |
| Huginn and MuninnAnimals (suggested) | Norse | pair of ravens associated with the Norse god Odin whose names mean Thought and Memory | — |
| HulderSpirits and otherworld peoples (suggested) | Scandinavian | forest spirit | 6 |
| HuldufólkSpirits and otherworld peoples (suggested) | Icelandic/Faroese | secret mound/rock dwelling elves | 2 |
| Huli jingSpirits and otherworld peoples (suggested) | Chinese | nine-tailed fox spirit | 1 |
| HumaGiants, monsters and fabulous creatures (suggested) | Persian | regenerative fire bird | 1 |
| HumbabaGiants, monsters and fabulous creatures (suggested) | Akkadian | lion-faced giant | — |
| HundunSpirits and otherworld peoples (suggested) | Chinese | chaos spirit | 1 |
| HupiaThe dead and disembodied souls (suggested) | Taíno | nocturnal ghost | — |
| HyakumeGiants, monsters and fabulous creatures (suggested) | Japanese | hundred-eyes creature | 5 |
| HydraGiants, monsters and fabulous creatures (suggested) | Greek | multi-headed water serpent/dragon | 3 |
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How to cite: Fielder-White, Jonathan (2026). The Folklore Database. Citation version 1.261029.1 (29 October 2026). https://folkloredatabase.com.
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