Japanese culture is rich with fascinating names that often carry deep meanings. Some names reflect strength, beauty, or nature, while others may have darker connotations. Today, we will look at names that have meanings connected to demons or dark spirits. These names can represent both fearsome qualities and powerful traits.
Today, we will share a list of intriguing Japanese names that mean demon. Each name has a unique story and significance, making them interesting choices for characters in stories or even as baby names. Let’s take a closer look at these powerful names and their meanings!
Japanese Names That Mean Demon
1. Akuma
The name Akuma means ‘devil’ or ‘demon’ in Japanese. This name is often used in literature and anime to depict powerful characters embodying dark forces.
2. Oni
Oni translates directly to ‘demon’ in Japanese folklore, known for their fearsome looks and strength. The name carries a sense of power and intimidation.
3. Yurei
Yurei means ‘ghost’ or ‘spirit,’ often associated with the restless souls that linger in the physical world, reflecting darker themes in Japanese mythology.
4. Magatsuhi
The name Magatsuhi means ‘impurity’ or ‘evil spirit,’ emphasizing themes of malevolence and chaos found in various tales of supernatural beings.
5. Shōkan
Shōkan means ‘summon,’ frequently connected to summoning demons or dark spirits in rituals, showing a powerful connection to the spiritual world.
6. Akumako
The name Akumako translates to ‘demon child,’ often used in stories to describe characters with a dark lineage or origin.
7. Kijin
Kijin means ‘fierce demon,’ and is used to describe a strong, terrifying entity that commands respect and fear in folklore.
8. Raijin
Raijin means ‘thunder god,’ but in some contexts, he is portrayed as a demon-like figure, emphasizing his powerful and fearsome nature.
9. Shōmon
Shōmon means ‘demon gate,’ used as a metaphor for crossing into a world of darkness or danger in various stories.
10. Yama-uba
The name Yama-uba refers to a mountain witch with demon qualities, showcasing the complexity of characters that blend beauty with darkness.
11. Ketsueki-han
Ketsueki-han means ‘blood demon,’ usually related to those who consume blood, reflecting themes of horror and unsettling power.
12. Jorōgumo
The name Jorōgumo means ‘binding bride’ and refers to a spider demon that lures victims, representing cunning and deception.
13. Yato-no-kami
Yato-no-kami refers to ‘master of demons,’ embodying the true essence of commanding dark spirits.
14. Akuro
Akuro means ‘black demon,’ emphasizing themes of darkness and the unknown, making it a strong name for a complex character.
15. Fūri
The name Fūri translates to ‘demon wind,’ often represented in myths where strong winds are associated with supernatural events.
16. Kakurenbo
Kakurenbo means ‘hide and seek,’ but in folklore, it often refers to playing with spirits or demons, giving it a lively yet eerie connotation.
17. Sōgō
Sōgō means ‘demon lord,’ a title given to powerful entities within stories, representing authority in the realm of darkness.
18. Ikaryō
Ikaryō means ‘ghost of vengeance,’ often depicted as a spirit that haunts those who wronged them in life, emphasizing themes of retribution.
19. Zōkō
Zōkō means ‘demon mask,’ often seen in traditional art and theater, representing the fearsome qualities of demons.
20. Mugetsu
Mugetsu means ‘dark moon,’ symbolizing the hidden aspects of the night, often linked with spirits and the supernatural.
21. Yureizoku
Yureizoku means ‘ghost clan,’ referring to family lines associated with spirits, showcasing a lineage deeply tied to demons.
22. Aoyama
Aoyama means ‘blue mountain,’ but it can also symbolize the mystery and darkness of the hidden places where demons dwell.
23. Kōjack
Kōjack means ‘demon spawn,’ typically used for characters that exhibit traits of demonic origin or power.
24. Enma
Enma translates to ‘King of Hell,’ symbolizing the ruler of the underworld in Japanese mythology, often associated with punishment and demons.
25. Sagume
Sagume means ‘savage creature,’ often depicting a character that harnesses dark and primal forces.
26. Kuroyama
Kuroyama means ‘black mountain,’ a metaphor for dark realms and the spirits that inhabit them.
27. Higanbana
Higanbana means ‘red spider lily,’ often associated with death and the supernatural, symbolizing spirits and demon-like presences.
28. Rōnin
Rōnin means ‘masterless samurai,’ often depicted in tales as roaming spirits or wanderers who encounter the supernatural.
29. Yamata-no-Orochi
Yamata-no-Orochi refers to an eight-headed serpent demon, known for its fearsome capabilities and significant role in Japanese mythology.
30. Jijiya
Jijiya means ‘trickster demon,’ often portraying characters who engage in deception and manipulation for their advantage.
31. Kiryuu
Kiryuu means ‘demon dragon,’ symbolizing a fierce creature that embodies both power and ferocity.
32. Shōrin
Shōrin means ‘forest spirit,’ often depicted as an ancient protector with a mixture of benevolent and malevolent attributes.
33. Maiko
Maiko translates to ‘playful spirit,’ often used in modern interpretations to represent mischief and trickery associated with demons.
34. Jigoku
Jigoku means ‘hell,’ representing the realm where demons are believed to reside, symbolizing suffering and darkness.
35. Furuike
Furuike means ‘old pond,’ often associated with legends where dark spirits rise from still waters.
36. Karasu
Karasu means ‘crow,’ which is a symbol of death and bad omens, often associated with the spirits of the departed.
37. Danjuro
Danjuro refers to a spirit associated with the afterlife, representing the connection between the living and the demon world.
38. Torii
Torii means ‘gate,’ often symbolizing the boundary between the human world and the realm of the spirits and demons.
39. Gaki
Gaki means ‘hungry ghost,’ referring to spirits that cannot find peace, often portrayed as being driven by demonic hunger.
40. Chōjin
Chōjin means ‘superhuman,’ often depicting beings with demonic traits that grant them extraordinary powers.
41. InuYasha
InuYasha means ‘dog demon,’ often used in stories to signify characters that possess both human and demonic features.
42. Yōkai
Yōkai translates to ‘monster,’ often depicting creatures from folklore that embody various forms of demons and spirits.
43. Gozu-Tennō
Gozu-Tennō means ‘cow-headed deity,’ representing guardian spirits that can take on demon-like characteristics.
44. Saiyū
Saiyū means ‘demon’s son,’ often used in stories to describe the offspring of a demonic being.
45. Tenjō
Tenjō means ‘heavenly demon,’ often depicting characters that are powerful yet harbor dark intentions.
46. Hōmon
Hōmon means ‘spirit of the demon,’ emphasizing the idea of seeking out knowledge from demonic entities.
47. Gyūki
Gyūki means ‘demon bull,’ referring to a fearsome creature often depicted in Japanese myths.
48. Akutagawa
Akutagawa means ‘river of demons,’ often used to symbolize flowing darkness and supernatural traits.
49. Maneki Neko
Maneki Neko means ‘beckoning cat,’ but in some contexts, it can represent a spirit that attracts fortune, hinting at both good and evil influences.
50. Tengu
Tengu refers to a bird-like demon known for their skill in martial arts, often portrayed as protectors but also as tricksters.
51. Shiranui
Shiranui means ‘nameless fire,’ often depicted in myths where lights in the night symbolize the presence of spirits or demons.
52. Chōkō
Chōkō means ‘demon flower,’ which combines beauty with underlying dangers associated with flowering plants in darkness.
53. Fūraijin
Fūraijin translates to ‘wind god,’ but in some tales, they exhibit demonic aspects, embodying chaotic forces.
54. Manjushage
Manjushage means ‘spider lily’ and is associated with death and the afterlife, often symbolizing spirits and demons.
55. Daikokuten
Daikokuten refers to the deity of wealth, often portrayed with dark humor that connects to mischievous demons.
56. Funō
Funō translates to ‘demon spirit,’ often indicating powerful beings that can manipulate fate and fortune.
57. Yama no kami
Yama no kami means ‘mountain god,’ representing powerful spirits found in nature often depicted as having both benevolent and dark qualities.
58. Hakuji
Hakuji translates to ‘white demon,’ symbolizing beings that may appear pure but harbor dark secrets.
59. Yoko-ono
Yoko-ono means ‘evil spirit coming from the west,’ often used in supernatural tales to create suspense and fear.
60. Shikigami
Shikigami means ‘spirit servant,’ used for supernatural creatures that follow and serve their demon masters.
61. Takeminakata
Takeminakata translates to ‘guiding spirit,’ often appearing as a powerful figure with strong connections to the demonic world.
62. Mōrai
Mōrai means ‘spirit of mischief’ and often appears in tales or legends where trickery and chaos arise.
63. Yōrei
Yōrei means ‘spirit,’ but denotes characteristics of demons that are tied to unresolved emotions.
64. Fudō
Fudō means ‘immovable,’ often referring to deities that have strong protective qualities but can also embody demonic characteristics.
65. Noroi
Noroi means ‘ curse,’ often depicting the dark repercussions of summoning demonic forces.
66. Shōsai
Shōsai refers to ‘soul of demons,’ symbolizing a deep connection to spiritual entities in folklore.
67. Gūzō
Gūzō means ‘demon statue,’ often linked to protective charms against demonic spirits.
68. Kintaro
Kintaro refers to a legendary child who was raised by demons, symbolizing the connection between humanity and the demonic world.
69. Sangokushi
Sangokushi means ‘three kingdoms,’ representing the clash of good and evil and the presence of demon-like figures in battle.
70. Onikiri
Onikiri means ‘demon slayer,’ commonly used for characters heroic in stories that battle against dark forces.
71. Dotonbori
Dotonbori means ‘river of much darkness,’ symbolizing a place where spirits and demons come alive.
72. Tsubaki
Tsubaki means ‘camellia,’ which is often linked to spiritualism, showcasing the delicate balance between life and the effects of dark spirits.
73. Madohi
Madohi translates to ‘demon leaf,’ indicating the magical properties of nature that may be enchanting yet dangerous.
74. Kaname
Kaname means ‘pivot,’ symbolizing the balance between good spirits and those that dwell in darkness.
75. Jiji-hito
Jiji-hito means ‘trickster spirit,’ often navigated through stories filled with mischief and haunting experiences.
76. Kuroshio
Kuroshio means ‘black current,’ symbolizing the dark flow of spirits in certain waterway tales.
77. Kōzeki
Kōzeki refers to ‘wisdom from a demon,’ depicting the influence of dark spirits in seeking knowledge.
78. Tokiwadai
Tokiwadai translates to ‘age of demons,’ indicating historical periods where dark spirits were prominent in society.
79. Shōmen
Shōmen means ‘demon face,’ often referring to the physical manifestations of the ethereal forces in myths.
80. Nabiki
Nabiki translates to ‘girl of demons,’ symbolizing the merging between humanity and the demonic elements.
81. Yamato
Yamato refers to a ‘great wave,’ symbolizing the presence of powerful natural spirits that can embody demonic characteristics.
82. Kaibutsu
Kaibutsu means ‘monstrous,’ traditionally used to describe supernatural creatures and demons within the mythos.
83. Matsuri
Matsuri means ‘festival,’ often celebrating spirits that have survived the ages yet embody the themes of the ominous still.
84. Toyama
Toyama translates to ‘rich mountain,’ symbolizing depth and a place where one might encounter darkness.
85. Takarabune
Takarabune means ‘treasure ship,’ often depicted in tales featuring spirits representing wealth while carrying darker implications.
86. Danmaku
Danmaku means ‘heavy storm,’ symbolizing natural chaos often attributed to demonic origins.
87. Yuki-onna
Yuki-onna translates to ‘snow woman,’ a spirit that embodies both beauty and deadly forces associated with winter.
88. Akaki
Akaki means ‘red one,’ often alluding to the representation of evil spirits and their haunting presence.
89. Gaki-nyūdō
Gaki-nyūdō means ‘hungry ghost monk,’ symbolizing the blending of spiritual and demonic traits.
90. Ookijin
Ookijin translates to ‘great god,’ often depicting powerful figures where demonic aspects emerge.
91. Sakon
Sakon means ‘evil stone,’ often signifying dark omens and cursed objects in stories.
92. Ittan-momen
Ittan-momen refers to a type of spirit disguised as a cloth, often representing an invasion of the home by demons.
93. Hikaru
Hikaru means ‘radiance,’ but in some contexts, it is attributed to spirits and demons that captivate through their allure.
94. Kiriko
Kiriko means ‘cut demon,’ symbolizing the sharpness of pain and the adversities that supernatural entities may present.
95. Nanami
Nanami translates to ‘seven seas,’ symbolizing the vastness of the unknown where dark spirits may dwell.
96. Saikon
Saikon means ‘spirit of the sea,’ often tied to stories of legendary demons that rise from oceans.
97. Shūki
Shūki means ‘summer demon,’ indicating the playful yet serious legends surrounding spirits during seasonal changes.
98. Daishi
Daishi refers to ‘great master,’ often linked to powerful entities or spirits encouraging respect and fear.
99. Shiri-ishi
Shiri-ishi translates to ‘butt stone,’ a humorous name connected to spirits embodying playful trickery.
100. Kodama
Kodama means ‘tree spirit,’ representing nature-bound spirits that can sometimes carry ominous signals.
101. Ahoko
Ahoko refers to a type of spirit whose nature is both feeble and dark. The name draws attention to subtle nuances of demonology.
102. Hakaisha
Hakaisha means ‘grave, one who asserts,’ often associated with spirits arising from death and their lurking evils.
103. Kurobane
Kurobane means ‘black flower,’ signifying the dark beauty and possible insidious traits of demonic origins.
104. Hōrai
Hōrai translates to ‘lost home,’ often linked to departed souls and suggestions of demonic influences.
105. Reikon
Reikon means ‘ghost spirit,’ symbolizing the restless souls often associated with daunting demonic powers.
106. Tsukuyomi
Tsukuyomi translates to ‘moon reader,’ indicating its dark aspects through influence from lunar cycles.
107. Kamikawa
Kamikawa means ‘divine river,’ suggesting sacredness while hinting at possible demon connections in watery myths.
108. Kuroha
Kuroha means ‘black leaf,’ an allusion to nature often hiding darker spirits in plain sight.
109. Tamayura
Tamayura refers to ‘spirit of dreams,’ symbolizing the connection between the spirit world and the hidden parts of one’s psyche influenced by demons.
110. Irukubo
Irukubo means ‘demon-hyena,’ representing the wild aspects of demonic creatures that are both cunning and chaotic.
111. Fūjō
Fūjō translates to ‘wind spirit,’ a representation of the unsteady nature that demons and spirits exhibit.
112. Shōryū
Shōryū refers to ‘demon dragon,’ depicting a being known for its power and intimidating presence in numerous myths.
113. Higurashi
Higurashi means ‘evening cicada,’ often associated with deeper emotional themes linked to loss and the presence of spirits.
114. Yakumo
Yakumo means ‘cloud of spirits,’ symbolizing ethereal beings and the mysterious connections to darkness.
115. Akeno
Akeno translates to ‘demon dawn,’ representing the arrival of night with dark spirits emerging in stories and legends.
116. Kaname-no-kami
Kaname-no-kami means ‘god of brightness,’ often intertwined with the duality of light and dark spirits.
117. Doko
Doko means ‘where,’ indicating hidden locations where spirits and demons might lurk in waiting.
118. Iwakura
Iwakura translates to ‘rock cave,’ often places where demons are believed to dwell away from human eyes.
119. Kage
Kage means ‘shadow,’ often symbolizing demons that exist in the unseen and unheard crevices of reality.
120. Kamikaze
Kamikaze refers to ‘divine wind,’ a term initially signifying powerful forces and remnants from spirits in storms.
121. Oya-bun
Oya-bun means ‘parent demon,’ often linked to the darker nurturing qualities of spirits.
122. Natsukaze
Natsukaze translates to ‘summer wind,’ symbolizing the transitions where spirits and demons find their balance.
123. Tousei
Tousei means ‘spirit warrior,’ representing those who align with supernatural entities to seek power and defense.
124. Shōmyō
Shōmyō refers to ‘demon chants,’ linking music and sound to supernatural experiences.
125. Kamiyama
Kamiyama means ‘sacred mountain,’ indicating heights often intertwined with spirits of nature.
126. Akuma-no-kami
Akuma-no-kami uplifts the title of ‘demon god,’ carrying affirmations of respect toward certain demonic entities.
127. Sōhei
Sōhei means ‘warrior monk,’ denoting strength against supernatural entities, contrasting human versus demon traits.
128. Kamitori
Kamitori means ‘spirit of the fox,’ representing cunning and shapeshifting traits associated with evil spirits.
129. Ryūjō
Ryūjō refers to ‘dragon castle,’ often where powerful demons reside or originate in literature.
130. Shōgen
Shōgen means ‘evil spirit,’ presenting straightforward meanings that symbolize darker forces.
131. Hōshō
Hōshō translates to ‘demon of prosperity,’ emphasizing a spirit often associated with wealth achieved through risky means.
132. Ura-yami
Ura-yami means ‘backside of darkness,’ symbolizing the unseen places where demons might thrive.
133. Shikigami
Shikigami means ‘spirit servant,’ often tasked with carrying out the wills of dark spirits or demons.
134. Gōketsu
Gōketsu means ‘bloodthirsty demon,’ depicting shadowy figures often indulging in violence.
135. Inugami
Inugami refers to ‘dog spirit,’ highlighting loyalty while also embodying darker examination into its origins.
136. Yukari
Yukari translates to ‘spiral,’ hinting at the complexities of demonic encounters and their ever-lurking presence.
137. Kitsune
Kitsune means ‘fox,’ often embodying both mischievous and intelligent aspects, linked closely with dark spirits.
138. Ryuo
Ryuo refers to ‘dragon king,’ a powerful spirit whose aura can be demon-like, reflecting varied dualities.
139. Ikiru
Ikiru translates to ‘to live,’ yet reflects through darker choices deeply entwined with demonic influences.
140. Hōmonzaki
Hōmonzaki means ‘demon haunting,’ representing the psychological connections made through legends embodying spirits.
141. Isaketa
Isaketa means ‘tearing apart,’ showcasing the ravishing danger that can accompany certain demons.
142. Yōma
Yōma means ‘illusionary demon,’ which presents the slippery nature spirits might embody in arrayed forms.
143. Burūsu
Burūsu translates to ‘darkness,’ indicating the extent of evil often attributed to spirit beings.
144. Kōban
Kōban means ‘dark man,’ highlighting figures often ensnared into darker plots and connections.
145. Aoshishi
Aoshishi means ‘green ghost,’ presenting fables where colors depict certain attributes of spirits.
146. Ryuujin
Ryuujin means ‘dragon god,’ correlating the powerful nature of dragon spirits often classified as demons.
147. Sōkō
Sōkō means ‘blinded demon,’ symbolizing the lost souls wrapped deeply in human suffering.
148. Akenishi
Akenishi translates to ‘light-demon,’ focusing on the dichotomy of light and darkness within supernatural encounters.
149. Wakamurasaki
Wakamurasaki means ‘young purple,’ often personifying youth and spirit linked to death.
150. Asahi
Asahi translates to ‘rising sun,’ symbolizing the clash between shadows and light, often reflecting theories on demons.
Final Thoughts
Japanese names that mean demon reveal a rich atmosphere filled with cultural significance and complexity. Many of these names can evoke feelings of fear, strength, and mystery. From powerful entities to clever tricksters, each name embodies unique characteristics tied to the supernatural.
These names are fascinating not only for storytelling but also for understanding how demons are perceived within Japanese culture. They exhibit the myriad ways darker aspects can shape narratives and characters, making them compelling for various uses.
By exploring this list of names, you can appreciate the art of naming that carries deep historical and mythological meanings. If you’re interested in further reading, check out more intriguing topics like names that mean demon or explore Japanese names that mean evil.