This list includes 20 Mythical creatures that start with I, from “Iara” to “Ittan-momen”. It highlights aquatic spirits, tricksters, night apparitions, and other figures useful for writers, educators, gamers, and readers.
Mythical creatures that start with I are legendary beings whose names begin with the letter I and span many cultures. Notable examples include the Brazilian “Iara” water spirit and Japan’s eerie “Ittan-momen” cloth apparition.
Below you’ll find the table with Name, Origin, Description, and Sources.
Name: The creature’s common name and alternates, so you can identify entries and cross-reference variant spellings.
Origin: A short cultural or geographic label that shows where the creature appears and helps set cultural context.
Description: A concise description summarizing appearance, behavior, or powers to guide your research, writing, or game design choices.
Sources: One to three famous stories, myths, or source titles that let you pursue deeper reading or citation.
Mythical creatures that start with I
| Name | Origin | Alternate names | Famous stories/sources |
|---|---|---|---|
| Imp | European folklore | familiar, sprite | Medieval folklore, English fairy tales |
| Ifrit | Arabic/Islamic | Efreet, Afrit | One Thousand and One Nights, Islamic folklore texts |
| Incubus | Medieval European | night-demon | Medieval demonology, Malleus Maleficarum |
| Iele | Romanian | Sânziene, drăgaice | Romanian folktales, village ballads |
| Ikuchi | Japanese | sea-serpent | Japanese folktales, yōkai lore |
| Inugami | Japanese | inu-gami | Japanese folklore, Heian tales |
| Isonade | Japanese | shark-yōkai | Japanese yōkai tales, coastal folklore |
| Iara | Brazilian (Tupi) | Yara, Uiara | Tupi-Guarani tales, Brazilian folktales |
| Ijiraq | Inuit | Ijiraq | Inuit oral tradition, Arctic folktales |
| Imugi | Korean | immugi | Korean folktales, Jeju legends |
| Illuyanka | Hittite | Illuyankas | Hittite myth, Illuyanka myth |
| Indrik (Indrik-beast) | Russian | Indrik-beast | Russian folk tales, lubok prints |
| Ichthyocentaur | Greek | sea-centaur | Greek vase paintings, classical mosaics |
| Ittan-momen | Japanese | flying-cloth yōkai | Japanese folktales, yōkai collections |
| Inkanyamba | Zulu/Xhosa | Inkanyamba | Zulu and Xhosa myths, South African oral tradition |
| Ipotane | Greek / Medieval | Ippotane | Medieval bestiaries, classical compilations |
| Iku-Turso | Finnish | Iku-Tursas | Kalevala, Finnish folk poetry |
| Imdugud (Anzû) | Sumerian/Akkadian | Anzû, Zu | Epic of Anzû, Mesopotamian myths |
| Inua | Inuit | Inua | Inuit belief systems, ethnographic records |
| Iratxoak | Basque | Iratxo | Basque folktales, oral tradition |
Descriptions
Imp
Small mischievous demon-like creature in European folklore, often a household troublemaker or witch’s servant, portrayed as playful or malign trickster.
Ifrit
Powerful class of fiery jinn in Arabic and Islamic lore, often immense and dangerous, associated with deserts, fire, and rebellious strength.
Incubus
Male night-demon in European folklore that visits sleepers, blamed for nocturnal assaults, fertility myths, and demonic intercourse in medieval sources.
Iele
Elusive female spirits of Romanian folklore who dance in forests by night, celebrated and feared for their enchantments, punishments, and midsummer rites.
Ikuchi
Long, slime-trailing sea serpent in Japanese folklore that glides over ships, leaking oil and exhausting crews, a classic maritime yōkai menace.
Inugami
Dog spirit created by ritual or curse in Japanese belief, serving or possessing families, often invoked for protection or vengeance with dangerous consequences.
Isonade
Enormous monstrous shark yokai with barbed tail that stirs storms and drags sailors underwater; feared in Japanese coastal legends.
Iara
Amazonian water nymph or mermaid who lures men with song into rivers; portrayed as seductive, protective, or deadly in local lore.
Ijiraq
Shapeshifting creature of Inuit stories that abducts children and hides its shadow, symbolizing wilderness perils and lost people in arctic folklore.
Imugi
Serpentine proto-dragon in Korean myth that aspires to become a true dragon, often benevolent but bound by trials or fate as a serpent.
Illuyanka
Storm-serpent or dragon from Hittite myth defeated by the storm-god, representing the recurring victory of order over chaotic forces.
Indrik (Indrik-beast)
Giant sacred beast of Russian folklore described as “king of animals,” a solitary, unicorn-like creature symbolizing wild majesty and wonder.
Ichthyocentaur
Hybrid sea-creature with human torso, horse forelegs, and fish tail appearing in Greek art and myth as a marine counterpart to centaurs.
Ittan-momen
Haunting roll of cloth yōkai that flies through villages at night and can suffocate or smother people by wrapping around them.
Inkanyamba
Enormous serpentine sky-being associated with storms and waterfalls in Zulu and Xhosa lore, blamed for whirlwinds, floods, and fierce weather.
Ipotane
Horse-like mythic creature sometimes depicted with a human torso; distinct from centaurs and found in classical and medieval descriptions.
Iku-Turso
Terrifying sea monster in Finnish myth linked to storms, disease, and the deep waters, frequently referenced in Kalevala epic poetry.
Imdugud (Anzû)
Gigantic thunderbird (Anzû) in Mesopotamian myth that steals the Tablet of Destinies, embodying storm, chaos, and cosmic upheaval.
Inua
Animistic life-force or spirit of people and animals in Inuit belief, often personified and invoked for protection, hunting success, or social ties.
Iratxoak
Small household goblins in Basque folklore who help with chores when appeased, otherwise causing mischief, similar to European imps or brownies.