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
23 creatures at 6 tradition locations · 0 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.
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23 matching entries
| Creature | Tradition | Description | Map locations |
|---|---|---|---|
| Alp-luachraSpirits and otherworld peoples (suggested) | Irish | Parasitic fairy. | 1 |
| BansheeSpirits and otherworld peoples (suggested) | Irish | Screaming death spirit | 1 |
| Baobhan SithSpirits and otherworld peoples (suggested) | Celtic Mythology | Beautiful vampiric seductresses who prey on young travelers | 3 |
| Bean NigheSpirits and otherworld peoples (suggested) | Irish | Death spirit; a type of Banshee/Bean Sídhe) | 1 |
| Bugul NozSpirits and otherworld peoples (suggested) | Celtic | Extremely ugly, but kind, forest spirit | 3 |
| CoinchennGiants, monsters and fabulous creatures (suggested) | Irish | Sea monster | 1 |
| CurruidGiants, monsters and fabulous creatures (suggested) | Irish | Sea monster | 1 |
| Dobhar-chu | Irish | King otter | 1 |
| DullahanSpirits and otherworld peoples (suggested) | Irish | Headless death spirit | 1 |
| FachenGiants, monsters and fabulous creatures (suggested) | Irish and Scottish | Monster with half a body | 2 |
| Far darrigSpirits and otherworld peoples (suggested) | Irish | Little people that constantly play pranks | 1 |
| Fear gortaThe dead and disembodied souls (suggested) | Irish | Hunger ghost | 1 |
| Fetch | Irish | Double or doppelgänger | 1 |
| Fir Bolg | Irish | Ancestral race | 1 |
| FomorianGiants, monsters and fabulous creatures (suggested) | Irish | Goat-headed giant | 1 |
| FuathSpirits and otherworld peoples (suggested) | Celtic | Malevolent water spirit | 3 |
| GancanaghSpirits and otherworld peoples (suggested) | Irish | Male fairy that seduces human women | 1 |
| KelpieAnimals (suggested) | Irish and Scottish | Malevolent water horse | 2 |
| Leanan sidheSpirits and otherworld peoples (suggested) | Celtic | Vampiric fairy lover | 3 |
| LeprechaunSpirits and otherworld peoples (suggested) | Irish | Cobbler spirit | 1 |
| MerrowGiants, monsters and fabulous creatures (suggested) | Irish and Scottish | Human-fish hybrid | 2 |
| SelkieGiants, monsters and fabulous creatures (suggested) | Faroese, Icelandic, Irish, and Scottish | Human-seal shapeshifter | 4 |
| SluaghThe dead and disembodied souls (suggested) | Irish and Scottish | Restless ghost | 2 |
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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.
0009-0006-1672-4451
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