60+ Nightmare-Inspired Names from Folklore & Myths

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Discover eerie names that are associated with night terrors

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Last Updated: September 2, 2026 References

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Female Names

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Male Names

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Fantasy-Inspired

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Nightmare Creatures

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Other Languages

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Nightmare Origins

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Other Dark Names

Nightmares have terrified and fascinated people for a long time, and names associated with nightmares are just as fascinating. If you’re searching for a name inspired by night terrors, this guide’s for you! We rounded up a selection of female and male names with nightmarish vibes that can be used for fiction, gaming, pets, and even kids. We also include names of a few mythology-inspired nightmare figures and more.

Popular Names That Mean “Nightmare”

Mara, Ephialtes, Melinoë, and Phobetor are a few names directly related to nightmares. Many names associated with nightmares come from folklore and mythology and refer to mythical figures. Other names that evoke a sense of terror or are connected to the night are Deimos, Phobos, Moros, Nyx, Nisha, and Noctara.

Section 1 of 7:

Female Names That Mean Nightmare

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Explore nightmare-related female names inspired by goddesses. Some folklore describes feminine figures that bring night terrors. Other names included here are inspired by goddesses that represent the night, which is when most nightmares occur. Here are a few you can consider:
- Mara/Mora (Germanic/Slavic): Nightmare spirit
- Melinoë (Greek): Goddess of nightmares and ghosts
- Nyx (Greek): Greek goddess of the night
  - According to horror expert Sydney Bermudez, Nyx has a dark and eerie aesthetic.^{[1]
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- Nisha (Sanskrit): “Depth of night” or “beauty of night”
- Lilith (Hebrew): “Belong to the night”; refers to the demon queen in Jewish mythology
- Hecate (Greek): Goddess associated with the night, moon, and witchcraft
- Noctara (Latin): “Of the night”
- Erebia: Feminine variation of Erebus, the god of a dark region of the underworld
- Nox (Latin): “Night,” “darkness,” or “gloom”

Section 2 of 7:

Male Names That Mean Nightmare

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Masculine nightmare-related names are largely inspired by mythological gods. These names are tied to frightening figures in folklore and myth that cause fear in sleepers. Check out the following:
- Ephialtes/Epiales (Greek): A spirit or demon of nightmares
- Ikelos (Greek): God of nightmares
- Mare (Germanic/Slavic): Masculine variation of “Mara,” referring to a nightmare spirit
- Phobetor (Greek): God of nightmares; one of the Oneiroi, spirits who personify dreams
- Erebus (Greek): God of a dark region of the underworld
- Deimos (Greek): God of dread and terror
- Phobos (Greek): God of fear and panic
- Moros (Greek): Spirit of impending doom

Section 3 of 7:

Fantasy-Inspired Names That Mean Nightmare

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Choose a fantastical name that’s creative and mysterious. Many of these names combine words with darker meanings or stem from words that are associated with the night and nocturnal energies. Take a look at the following:
- Somnara: Unknown meaning, but possibly rooted in the Latin word “somnium,” meaning “dream” or “vision”
- Nyxara (Greek): Goddess-like figure of the night; stems from Nyx
- Noctyra: Associated with “nocturnal”
- Dreadwyn: Associated with feelings of dread felt during nightmares
- Vespera (Latin): “Evening star”
- Noxiel: First part, “nox,” comes from the Latin word for “night” or “darkness”
- Grimora (French): Connected to death
- Raventhorn: Combination of “raven” and “thorn”; dark associations
- Darkmere: Possibly a combination of “dark” and “mere” as a play on “nightmare”
- Lunashade: Combination of “luna” (moon) and shade
- Nightveil: Combination of “night” and “veil”; a mysterious name

Section 4 of 7:

Creatures Associated with Nightmares

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Many legends from around the world feature nightmarish creatures. If you’re into ancient folklore, then you’ll find a ton of inspiration in these names. Their intriguing history makes them fascinating. Here are some ideas:
- Baku (Japanese): Refers to a creature that eats nightmares
- Incubus (Latin): “Nightmare” and “to lie upon”^{[2]
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- Kikimora (Slavic): Refers to a house spirit that can cause nightmares^{[3]
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- Alp (German): An evil spirit that causes bad dreams^{[4]
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- Succubus (Latin): Female version of incubus
- Khmaoch Sângkât (Cambodian): Sleep paralysis demon
- Dab Tsog (Laos/Vietnamese): An entity that suffocates people in their sleep
- Dukak (Ethiopian): An evil spirit that disturbs sleepers
- The Popobawa (Zanzibar): Shapeshifting creature that’s said to physically attack sleepers

Section 5 of 7:

Words for "Nightmare" in Other Languages

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There are many ways to say “nightmare” in other languages. Using these variations can be great if you want to get creative in a work of fiction or for gaming. The following are terms that mean “nightmare” or are linked to sleep paralysis in other languages:
- Akumu (悪夢): Japanese
- Makth: Albanian
- Noćna mora: Croatian
- Cauchemar: French
- Incubo: Italian
- Mareritt: Norwegian
- Cosmar: Romanian
- Pesadilla: Spanish
- Bura anubhav (बुरा अनुभव): Hindi
- Nagmerrie: Afrikaans
- Jinamizi: Swahili
- Kanashibari (Japanese): “Bound by metal chains”; used to describe sleep paralysis
- Uqumangirniq (Inuit Canadian): “Sleep paralysis”
- Ogun Oru (Nigerian): “Nocturnal warfare”; refers to sleep paralysis

Section 6 of 7:

Where does the word “nightmare” come from?

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The term “nightmare” stems from the “mare” figure of folklore. “Mare” was an Old English term that referred to a malicious mythical creature that antagonized people while they slept. Since this usually happened at night, the words “night” and “mare” were combined to create the word now used to refer to bad dreams, “nightmare.”^{[5]
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- Throughout time, many people reported feelings of suffocation while having nightmares, which has led some researchers to believe nightmares were used as a way to explain sleep paralysis.^{[6]
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