Names That Mean Nightmare

Names that mean nightmare include Mara (the spirit that torments sleepers in old folklore), Mare (the Old English word that gave us nightmare), Phobetor (the Greek god of nightmares), Ephialtes (nightmare in Greek), Mora (a Slavic night spirit), Incubus (a demon that lies upon sleepers) and Akumu (nightmare in Japanese). Real given names that mean nightmare are rare, so most of these suit characters, pen names and creative projects.

What Does a Nightmare Name Mean?

A nightmare name points to a spirit, god or word tied to bad dreams, fear and the dark hours of sleep. Some are names from old myth, and others are simply the word for nightmare in another language.

The word nightmare itself has an old root. The mare was a spirit that sat on a sleeper’s chest and caused terror.

Where the Word Nightmare Comes From

Nightmare joins night and mare. Mare comes from the Old English word mære, meaning a spirit that haunts sleepers.

It has nothing to do with the horse. That is why Mara and Mare are real nightmare names.

Girl Names That Mean Nightmare

• Mara: night spirit, bad dream (Germanic, Slavic folklore)
• Mare: nightmare spirit (Old English)
• Mora: night spirit (Slavic)
• Lamia: child-eating night demon (Greek)
• Lilith: night demon (Hebrew)
• Empusa: shape-shifting night demon (Greek)
• Kikimora: house spirit, whose name includes mora (Slavic)
• Nyx: night (Greek)

Mara also has other meanings in other cultures. It means bitter in Hebrew, and in Sanskrit it is the demon of temptation.

Boy Names That Mean Nightmare

• Phobetor: the frightener, god of nightmares (Greek)
• Ephialtes: nightmare, one who leaps upon (Greek)
• Incubus: one who lies upon (Latin)
• Alp: nightmare elf (German)
• Mahr: night spirit (German)
• Phobos: fear (Greek)
• Deimos: terror (Greek)
• Akumu: nightmare (Japanese)

Ephialtes is also the name of the traitor at the Battle of Thermopylae, so it carries a heavy history.

Unisex Names That Mean Nightmare

• Mara
• Mare
• Mora
• Nox: night (Latin)
• Dread: great fear (English)
• Fright: sudden fear (English)

Greek Gods of Dreams and Nightmares

The Greeks had spirits for every kind of dream. The Oneiroi were the winged dream spirits.

• Phobetor: god of nightmares, also called Ikelos
• Morpheus: god of dreams, who shapes human forms
• Phantasos: god of surreal dreams
• Hypnos: god of sleep
• Nyx: goddess of night
• Ephialtes: nightmare spirit

Nightmare Words in Other Languages

• Cauchemar: French
• Pesadilla: Spanish
• Incubo: Italian
• Albtraum: German
• Akumu (悪夢): Japanese
• Angmong (악몽): Korean
• Kabus: Arabic and Persian
• Koshmar: Russian
• Mara: Scandinavian and Slavic
• Dusvapna: Sanskrit, meaning bad dream

Some of these, like Koshmar and Kabus, have a strong and dramatic sound.

Slavic Night Spirits

Slavic folklore has many names for nightmare creatures.

• Mora: a spirit that visits sleepers
• Mara: spirit that causes bad dreams
• Kikimora: female house spirit who torments sleepers
• Nocnitsa: night hag who troubles children
• Lyeshy: forest spirit

Mora and Mara are common character names in dark fantasy.

Germanic and Norse Names

• Mare: the original nightmare spirit
• Mara: the Norse and Germanic spirit
• Alp: elf that sits on sleepers
• Mahr: German night spirit
• Draugr: undead creature of Norse tales

Japanese Names for Nightmares

• Akumu (悪夢): nightmare
• Baku (獏): a mythical creature that eats nightmares
• Yume (夢): dream
• Yami (闇): darkness
• Oni (鬼): demon or ogre

Baku is a gentle choice, since it protects people from bad dreams.

Names That Mean Fear

Nightmares and fear go hand in hand.

• Phobos: fear (Greek)
• Deimos: terror (Greek)
• Pavor: fear (Latin)
• Dread
• Fright
• Terror
• Angst: anxiety (German)

Phobos and Deimos are the two moons of Mars, named after the sons of the war god.

Names That Mean Night or Shadow

• Nyx: night (Greek)
• Nox: night (Latin)
• Noctis: of the night (Latin)
• Umbra: shadow (Latin)
• Shade: shadow (English)
• Vesper: evening (Latin)
• Dusk: twilight (English)
• Layla: night (Arabic)

Names That Protect Against Nightmares

For a lighter option, try names tied to dreams and protection.

• Baku: the nightmare eater (Japanese)
• Morpheus: shaper of dreams (Greek)
• Somnus: sleep (Latin)
• Hypnos: sleep (Greek)
• Luna: moon (Latin)
• Selene: moon (Greek)

Names for Characters and Gaming

• Phobetor
• Mara the Hollow
• Mora Nightveil
• Ephialtes
• Noctis
• Vorath
• Dreadmoor

These are strong picks for horror stories, role-playing games and usernames.

Dark Surnames

• Nightingale
• Blackthorn
• Grimshaw
• Ravenscroft
• Morrow
• Nightshade

How to Choose a Nightmare Name

• Decide if it is for a story, game or a real person
• Check the true meaning and cultural background
• Avoid names that carry heavy history, like Ephialtes, for a child
• Say it aloud with the surname
• Pick a name that matches the mood you want

FAQs

What name means nightmare?

Mara and Mare mean nightmare spirit in old Germanic folklore. Phobetor is the Greek god of nightmares, and Akumu means nightmare in Japanese.

What is a girl name that means nightmare?

Mara, Mora and Lamia are girl names linked to nightmares and night spirits.

What is a boy name that means nightmare?

Phobetor, Ephialtes and Incubus are boy names tied to nightmares.

Who is the Greek god of nightmares?

Phobetor is the Greek god of nightmares. He is also known as Ikelos and is a son of Hypnos, the god of sleep.

What does the name Mara mean?

Mara means nightmare spirit in Germanic and Slavic folklore. It also means bitter in Hebrew and is the demon of temptation in Sanskrit.

What is the Japanese word for nightmare?

Akumu (悪夢) means nightmare. Baku is the mythical creature said to eat bad dreams.

What does Ephialtes mean?

Ephialtes means nightmare in Greek and comes from a word for leaping upon. It is also the name of a traitor from the Battle of Thermopylae.

Does the word nightmare come from a horse?

No. Mare comes from the Old English word mære, meaning a night spirit that torments sleepers. It is not related to the animal.

Does Qaboos mean nightmare?

No. Kabus is the Arabic word for nightmare, but the name Qaboos comes from the Persian name Kavus. They sound alike but have different roots.

What names mean fear?

Phobos, Deimos and Pavor mean fear or terror. Dread and Fright are English word names with similar meanings.