Buzz
To respond to the iconic question posed by Juliet in Shakespeare’s play, there is indeed much significance in a name. A rose would still smell sweet by any other name, but when it comes to demons and other menacing creatures, names that appear innocent can make them even more perilous.
If someone were warned not to listen to Belphegor or avoid Mephistopheles, or given a caution about another creature with a long, foreign-sounding name packed with vowels, they would likely heed the advice. But try cautioning them about Amy, Leonard, or—heaven forbid—Furfur. These names don’t sound dangerous, but that would be a grave mistake. This list explains why, providing seven more examples of perilous demons and mythical beings that hide behind such misleading names.
10. The Bean Nighe
If you warn a traveler in Scotland to be cautious of the Bean Nighe, they might wonder what danger lies in a nearby healthy legume. However, what they should truly watch out for is an elderly woman washing bloodstained garments beside a brook or stream (and it’s actually pronounced “ben-nee’-yeh”). If she appears grotesque with webbed feet, it's best to stay away, for she is the Bean Nighe—the spirit of a woman who perished during childbirth—and a harbinger of death, much like her Irish counterpart, the banshee.
According to legend, the garments she washes belong to those who are about to die. It’s best to avoid being seen by her, but she is known to grant wishes to those who approach her correctly. This means sneaking up on her and suckling from one of her sagging breasts. One must then claim to be the Bean Nighe’s foster child to avoid her wrath.
9. The Abbey Lubber
A man who has dedicated his life to his faith, like a monk or a priest, probably doesn't fear death much. His main concerns are likely temptations that could lead him astray during his earthly journey. However, folk tales speak of treacherous demons hiding in abbeys, trying to distract monks from their pious duties and tempt them into greed, drunkenness, and indecency. These demons were known as abbey lubbers, often said to lurk in the wine cellars, waiting for their prey.
In some versions of the tale, the abbey lubbers' goal was to ensure that monks who had already strayed would go even further down the path to damnation. Many abbeys in fifteenth-century Europe were already in a state of decadence, which likely contributed to the spread of these stories about the abbey lubbers.
8. Puss of the Corner
Travelers heading to Ireland rather than Scotland need not fear encountering Puss of the Corner, also known as “Pus an Chuine” or “Cat-head.” The eldest son of an incessant, troublesome old witch who persistently burned down the same castle each night after it was rebuilt during the day, Cat-head was ultimately slain by the renowned hero of Irish mythology, Fin MacCumhail. It wasn’t an easy victory, however.
Cat-head, named for his most distinguishing feature, fought Fin with such ferocity that he survived having his entire body torn apart and his head severed. However, Fin had a vision revealing that the witch’s blood was essential to defeat the beast. Fortunately, she was on her way to rescue her son. After a legendary battle, Fin beheaded her, and throughout the fight, Cat-head’s cat head continued to bite Fin's chest. In the end, Fin smeared the witch’s blood on Cat-head, causing the creature to instantly perish.
7. The Killakee Cat
Another demonic feline that terrorized the Irish was the Killakee Cat, also known as the “Beast of Killakee.” Witnesses have described it as a massive black cat, the size of a German shepherd, with glowing red eyes, though some say it also appeared as a disfigured dwarf. Its haunting of Killakee House made the place uninhabitable, even after an exorcism. The house had once been the meeting place of the sinister Hellfire Club, a secret society. Their meetings began with a toast to the Devil, who was rumored to have appeared on several occasions, and dark tales of murder and mystery surround the club.
One notorious activity of the Hellfire Club was the sacrifice of cats, which were doused in alcohol and set aflame. One chilling story tells of a black cat being sacrificed during a ritual when a priest interrupted the scene, causing a demon to emerge from the cat’s body. Another tale recounts how the club tortured and killed a little person, with the remains of either a child or small adult being discovered at the site in 1971.
6. Furfur
Despite his seemingly innocent name, Furfur is neither a cat nor a creature anyone should think of petting. In reality, he is a fallen angel and holds a high-ranking position in Hell's hierarchy. As an Earl, he commands 26 legions of demons. Furfur is described as a bizarre hybrid of deer and human, with the head and rear of a hart— a male red deer—paired with the torso and arms of a man. Additionally, he possesses bat-like wings for flight, and his tail is constantly ablaze.
Furfur has the ability to summon thunderstorms, but he can also be quite beneficial if summoned properly. For instance, if he is called within a triangle, he adopts an angelic form and provides answers to questions about hidden, divine, or abstract matters. However, if not summoned inside a triangle, his words are nothing but lies.
5. Amy
Some demons bear names that, in modern English, fail to evoke fear. This is often because the name has been widely adopted for other, more mundane purposes. Take Amy, for example, a name that, as of writing, ranks among the most popular girls' names in the U.S. Yet centuries ago, it was the name of a great Hell lord, who, if one is unfortunate enough to encounter him, initially appears as fire and then transforms into a man.
According to the Pseudomonarchia Daemonum, a 16th-century demonic directory, Amy commands 36 legions of demons. He is also known for having a somewhat turbulent nature. The Dutch demonologist Johann Weyer described Amy’s desire to return to Heaven in 1,200 years, aiming to ascend among the highest of angels. Weyer, however, doubted that Amy’s goal would ever come to fruition.
4. Leonard
Most people are familiar with Satan, and thanks to Freddie Mercury, many have likely heard of Beelzebub as well. These two demons hold some of the most powerful positions in Hell’s hierarchy. However, there is another demon, less known, who goes by the plain name of Leonard. His seemingly ordinary name might be why he hasn’t been immortalized in tales and songs. Nevertheless, he occupies an important role in Hell.
Leonard serves as the Inspector General of sorcery, witchcraft, and the black arts, in addition to being the Grand Master of Sabbaths. In the latter position, he is said to preside over demonic orgies and banquets. Leonard is capable of assuming various forms, though he typically appears as a goat from the waist up, complete with three horns and fiery eyes. Strangely, he is also described as having a face on his rear, which he demands witches kiss as an act of worship.
3. Lady Midday
Farmers in Eastern Europe should remember to take their midday break or risk encountering Lady Midday. Also known as the Noonwraith, she is a wandering spirit who believes that noon is a sacred time for rest and punishes anyone who works through it. The legend of Lady Midday exists in various forms across countries like Russia, Poland, Ukraine, and Serbia. In all versions, a single touch from her is said to be fatal.
Lady Midday is typically described as wearing a white robe, floating across fields using the wind. Her appearance, however, varies across regions, with differences in her age, hairstyle, and beauty. Even if someone is not working at midday and happens to see her, it's wise to avoid starting a conversation. Some versions say that she will talk endlessly, but anyone who turns away from her will die. Other stories suggest she expects the person to engage in a lengthy conversation about one topic or to answer difficult questions. Failure results in severe illness, injury, or death.
2. The Uncle
The relationship between El Tío—"The Uncle"—and the Bolivian miners who revere him is a complex one. His name implies familial closeness, and occasionally, he is kind enough to allow the miners to leave the mines with not only their lives but also a significant amount of silver. However, the miners must never show fear toward him, as showing fear results in punishment.
El Tío is said to take the lives of those who fear him, consuming their souls in the process. He is often portrayed like the Devil, with horns and glowing red eyes. Miners can pay homage to him by offering gifts such as cigarettes, alcohol, and coca leaves at a statue of him, typically found at the entrances to mines. These statues serve as a reminder to workers that they are about to enter his realm—the underworld. Before extracting any precious metals, they must seek his permission, and the price for his favor is their soul.
1. Lilith
Lilith, unlike Amy, is a female figure, but she is just as terrifying. She comes from Jewish folklore and is infamous for kidnapping and murdering children, as well as seducing men. According to legend, Lilith was Adam's first wife in the Old Testament creation story. However, after refusing to submit to him, she left the Garden of Eden. Three angels were sent by God to find her, and they tracked her down to a cave where she was hiding and giving birth to many children.
The angels, in an effort to make her pay for her disobedience, killed 100 of her children every day. Despite this, Lilith still refused to obey. In retaliation, she began to kill the children of others and is believed to be responsible for stillbirths and sudden infant death syndrome (SIDS). While many view Lilith as a murderous demon, her original 'crime' was merely asserting her independence. For this reason, some feminists have embraced Lilith as a symbol of female autonomy.
