This list includes 20 Mythical creatures that start with R, from “Raiju” to “Ryujin”. It covers beings from global folklore to classical myth and modern fantasy, useful for writers and fans.
Mythical creatures that start with R are legendary beings from diverse cultures, blending nature, magic, or moral lessons. Notable examples include Japan’s Raiju and Ryūjin, each tied to storms and the sea respectively.
Below you’ll find the table with Name, Origin, Description, Famous stories, and Alternate names.
Name: The creature’s common name, so you can quickly identify and reference it in writing or research.
Origin: Short origin phrase (culture or region) that helps you place the creature in its mythological context.
Description: A concise 20–30 word summary of appearance, powers, or behavior you can use for quick reference or plotting.
Famous stories: Key myths, tales, or literary sources where the creature appears, so you can locate primary examples quickly.
Alternate names: Common variants or anglicized names, helping you recognize the creature across translations and older sources.
Mythical creatures that start with R
| Name | Alternate names | Origin/Culture | Famous sources or stories |
|---|---|---|---|
| Rakshasa | Rakshas; Rakshasi (female) | Hindu/Buddhist South Asian | Ramayana; Mahabharata; Puranas |
| Roc | Rukh; Rukhk | Middle Eastern (Arabian) | One Thousand and One Nights; Sinbad tales |
| Rusalka | Rusalki (pl.); Rusalochka | Slavic | Slavic folktales; Dvořák’s opera “Rusalka” |
| Revenant | Reanimated Corpse | European | Medieval accounts; European folktales |
| Redcap | Red Cap; Bloody Cap | Scottish/English Border | Border ballads; Scottish folktales |
| Rawhead And Bloody Bones | Rawhead; Bloody Bones | British Isles (English/Irish) | Child Ballads; British folktales |
| Ratatoskr | Ratatosk | Norse | Poetic Edda; Prose Edda |
| Rubezahl | Rübezahl; Rubezel | Germanic (Silesian) | German folktales; Brothers Grimm variants |
| Rokurokubi | Long‑Necked Woman | Japanese | Japanese kaidan tales; Toriyama Sekien |
| Raiju | Raijū; Thunder Beast | Japanese | Shinto folklore; Edo‑period tales |
| Rougarou | Rugaru; Loup‑Garou; Roux Garou | Cajun/French North American | Louisiana folklore; Cajun folktales |
| Rompo | Rampo (rare) | Folk tales (various; debated) | Andrew Lang collections; oral tales |
| Raven Mocker | Raven Mocker (Cherokee) | Cherokee (Native American) | Cherokee oral tradition |
| Rainbow Serpent | Yurlunggur; Ngalyod | Aboriginal Australian | Dreamtime stories; Various tribal myths |
| Ryujin | Ryūjin; Dragon God; Watatsumi | Japanese | Kojiki; Urashima Tarō; Shinto myths |
| Raktabija | Raktabeeja | Hindu | Devi Mahatmya; Puranas |
| Rangda | Demon Queen | Balinese (Indonesian) | Calon Arang legend; Balinese rituals |
| Re’em | Reem | Hebrew/Biblical | Hebrew Bible; Rabbinic literature |
| Robin Goodfellow | Puck; Hobgoblin | English | Shakespeare’s “A Midsummer Night’s Dream”; English folktales |
| Rarog | Raróg; Rarog (variant) | Slavic (East Slavic) | Slavic folktales; East Slavic myths |
Descriptions
Rakshasa
Powerful shape‑shifting demons in South Asian myth, often man-eating tricksters who oppose gods and heroes and appear in many epic tales.
Roc
Gigantic legendary bird of prey said to carry elephants and ships, popularized in medieval Arabic travel tales and later European imaginations.
Rusalka
Slavic water spirit or ghost of a drowned maiden, at once seductive and mournful, linked to lakes, fertility, and seasonal rites.
Revenant
A corpse returned from death to haunt or harm the living; revenants bridge ghost stories and early vampire lore in European tradition.
Redcap
Malevolent, murderous goblin who dyes his cap with victims’ blood, haunting ruined castles along the Anglo‑Scottish border.
Rawhead And Bloody Bones
A fearsome bogeyman figure used to frighten children, portrayed as a skulllike or swamp monster that drags victims into water.
Ratatoskr
Talkative squirrel of Norse myth who runs up and down Yggdrasil carrying insults between the eagle atop the tree and the serpent below.
Rubezahl
Mountain spirit or giant of the Riesengebirge who alternately punishes the proud and aids the humble, appearing in many Central European tales.
Rokurokubi
A yōkai whose neck stretches at night; appears as an ordinary woman by day, often tied to curses, mischief, or sorrowful stories.
Raiju
Lightning spirit often depicted as a wolf, fox, or weasel that rides thunder and is blamed for lightning strikes and fires in folk belief.
Rougarou
Werewolf‑like creature of Cajun legend that enforces moral codes, curses bloodlines, and prowls bayous in shape‑shifting tales.
Rompo
Composite, cannibalistic creature from folktale compilations—skeletal, part‑animal monster with debated origins across regions.
Raven Mocker
A deadly witch or spirit in Cherokee lore that steals life from the sick and is feared as a nocturnal, corpse‑robbing killer.
Rainbow Serpent
Major creator serpent in Australian Aboriginal myth that shapes rivers, land and law, central to Dreamtime creation narratives across many tribes.
Ryujin
Dragon god of the sea who controls tides from an undersea palace, interacts with heroes and grants or withholds blessings.
Raktabija
Formidable demon whose spilled blood sprouts countless clones; defeated by the goddess Durga through divine strategy in epic battle stories.
Rangda
Fearsome witch‑queen in Balinese lore who fights the protective Barong spirit; central to dances symbolizing chaos versus order.
Re’em
Mysterious large beast mentioned in biblical texts, variously interpreted as a wild ox, unicorn‑like creature, or mythic primeval animal in Jewish tradition.
Robin Goodfellow
Mischievous household spirit or nature sprite known for pranks and shape‑changing, appearing as a trickster in English folklore and drama.
Rarog
Fiery bird or storm spirit in Slavic tradition, sometimes protective and other times associated with fire, storms, or the sun.