This collection presents 29 Mythical creatures that start with B, spanning from “Baba Yaga” to “Byakko”. These entries cover beings from tricksters and spirits to beasts and celestial guardians, useful for students, writers, gamers, and educators.
Mythical creatures that start with B are legendary beings from global folklore and myth, each with distinct traits and cultural roles. Notable examples include the Slavic witch “Baba Yaga” and the Japanese guardian beast “Byakko”.
Below you’ll find the table with Name, Origin, Description, Alternate names, and Notable stories.
Name: The creature’s common name as used in myth and literature, so you can quickly identify and reference each entry.
Origin: Short phrase naming the culture or region of origin, helping you place each creature in historical and cultural context.
Description: A concise summary of typical traits and behavior, so you can grasp each creature’s appearance and role quickly.
Alternate names: Known variants and spellings that help you recognize cross-cultural or linguistic versions in other sources.
Notable stories: One to three famous tales or source titles linked to the creature, so you can follow up for deeper reading.
Mythical creatures that start with B
| Name | Origin | Alternate names | Sources |
|---|---|---|---|
| Baba Yaga | Slavic | Baba Jaga, Ježibaba | Russian Folktales (e.g., “Vasilisa the Beautiful”) |
| Bahamut | Arabian | Balhūt | Al-Qazwini’s *Wonders of Creation*, Arabian cosmology |
| Bake-kujira | Japanese | Ghost Whale, Hone-kujira | *Ehon Hyaku Monogatari*, Japanese coastal folklore |
| Bakeneko | Japanese | Monster Cat, Ghost Cat | Japanese folklore, *The Vampire Cat of Nabeshima* |
| Baku | Japanese | Dream Eater, Mo | Japanese and Chinese folklore, Buddhist texts |
| Banshee | Irish | Bean Sídhe, Woman of the Fairy Mound | Irish folklore, Celtic mythology |
| Barbegazi | Swiss | Ice-Beard | Folklore of the Swiss and French Alps |
| Barghest | English | Bargtjest, Padfoot | English folklore, particularly from Yorkshire |
| Basilisk | Greek/European | Cockatrice, King of Serpents | Pliny the Elder’s *Natural History*, Medieval bestiaries |
| Baš Čelik | Serbian | Bash-Chelik, Head of Steel | Serbian fairy tales, “Baš Čelik” epic poem |
| Baykok | Anishinaabe | Bakaak, Pau’guk | Anishinaabe (Ojibwe) oral traditions |
| Behemoth | Hebrew | Beast of the land | The Book of Job (Old Testament) |
| Black Shuck | English | Old Shuck, Doom Dog | Folklore of East Anglia, England |
| Blemmyae | Greek/Roman | Akephaloi, Headless Men | Herodotus’ *Histories*, Pliny the Elder’s *Natural History* |
| Bluecap | English | Blue Bonnet, Cutty Soams | Folklore of miners in Northern England |
| Bogle | Scottish/English | Boggart, Bogle-bo | Folklore of the British Isles |
| Bogeyman | English | Bogie, Boogeyman | Widespread global folklore |
| Bonnacon | Medieval European | Bonasus | Pliny the Elder’s *Natural History*, Medieval bestiaries |
| Boobrie | Scottish | — | Scottish Highland folklore |
| Brazen Head | European | Brass Head, Mechanical Head | Legends of Roger Bacon, Pope Sylvester II |
| Brownie | Scottish/English | Urisk, Bwca | Folklore of Scotland and England |
| Broxa | Jewish | — | Jewish folklore, *Sefer Hasidim* |
| Bugbear | English | Bug-a-boo | English folklore, medieval tales |
| Buggane | Manx | — | Folklore of the Isle of Man |
| Bukavac | Slavic | — | Folklore of Syrmia (Serbia) |
| Bunyip | Aboriginal Australian | Kianpraty | Aboriginal oral traditions (Dreamtime) |
| Buraq | Islamic | Al-Buraq | The Quran, Hadith |
| Byakko | Japanese/Chinese | White Tiger of the West, Baihu | Chinese astrology, *I Ching* |
| Bagiennik | Slavic | Błotnik | Polish folklore |
Descriptions
Baba Yaga
A fearsome witch living in a walking chicken-leg hut. She can be a villainous cannibal or a wise, albeit dangerous, guide to heroes.
Bahamut
A colossal fish or whale that resides in a vast ocean, supporting the layers of the earth and heavens upon its back.
Bake-kujira
The ghostly skeleton of a whale that drifts near the surface of the sea, often accompanied by strange fish and eerie birds.
Bakeneko
A supernatural cat yōkai that gains powers with age, including shapeshifting, human speech, and reanimating the dead.
Baku
A benevolent chimera with a trunk and tusks that devours nightmares while people sleep, protecting them from bad dreams.
Banshee
A female spirit whose mournful wail, or “keening,” is a chilling omen that foretells a death in a family.
Barbegazi
Small, gnome-like beings with long white beards and enormous feet, which they use as skis to surf on avalanches.
Barghest
A monstrous black dog with huge teeth and fiery eyes. Its appearance is considered a portent of death or misfortune.
Basilisk
A legendary serpent, hatched by a toad from the egg of a rooster, said to kill with its deadly gaze or venomous breath.
Baš Čelik
A powerful and evil winged man whose soul is hidden outside his body, making him nearly invincible until his soul is found.
Baykok
A terrifying, skeletal figure that flies through the forests, hunting warriors with invisible, poisoned arrows and eating their livers.
Behemoth
A colossal, primordial land beast described in the Bible alongside the Leviathan. It represents an unconquerable force of nature.
Black Shuck
A ghostly black dog, often described as having a single, flaming eye, that roams coastlines and country lanes as an omen of death.
Blemmyae
A mythical race of headless humanoids whose faces are embedded in their chests, believed to live in Africa or India.
Bluecap
A helpful fairy or spirit that haunts mines, appearing as a small blue flame to lead miners to rich veins of ore.
Bogle
A mischievous and sometimes malevolent household spirit or goblin, known for playing pranks and causing things to go missing.
Bogeyman
A shapeless, amorphous monster used by adults to frighten children into good behavior. It lurks in dark places like closets.
Bonnacon
A bull-like beast with backward-curving horns. It defends itself by expelling a trail of caustic, fiery dung over a huge distance.
Boobrie
A mythological water bird, often described as a gigantic great northern diver, that haunts lochs and can shapeshift into other forms.
Brazen Head
A legendary automaton, typically a bronze head, said to possess intelligence and the ability to answer any question or prophesy.
Brownie
A benevolent household spirit that emerges at night to perform chores for the family in exchange for a bowl of cream or milk.
Broxa
A bird-like creature from Jewish mythology that is said to consume goat’s milk or even human blood during the night.
Bugbear
A type of hobgoblin or monster akin to the Bogeyman. Its name was invoked to frighten naughty children into obedience.
Buggane
A huge, malevolent ogre-like spirit from Manx tradition. It was known for its immense strength and ability to shapeshift.
Bukavac
A six-legged, horned water monster that emerges from lakes at night with a deafening roar to strangle people and animals.
Bunyip
A large, mythical creature said to lurk in swamps, billabongs, and rivers, preying on those who wander too close.
Buraq
A divine, winged steed, often depicted with a human face, that transported the Prophet Muhammad during his Night Journey.
Byakko
A divine beast representing the west and the autumn season. It is one of the Four Symbols of the Chinese constellations.
Bagiennik
A Slavic water demon living in deep pools and lakes. It attacks people with jets of toxic, foul-smelling oil from its nostrils.