This list includes 67 mythical creatures that start with S, from “Saci Pererê” to “Sæhrímnir”. They span global folklore and myth, ranging from trickster sprites to colossal beasts. Writers, game designers, educators, and curious readers use this list for research and inspiration.
Mythical creatures that start with S are legendary beings from diverse cultures, often embodying moral lessons or natural forces. For example, the Brazilian trickster “Saci Pererê” remains a popular folk figure in stories and festivals.
Below you’ll find the table with Name, Origin, Description, Famous stories, and Alternate names.
Name: The creature’s common or scholarly name, so you can quickly identify and reference each entry.
Origin: The culture or region where the creature appears, helping you understand its cultural background.
Description: A concise one- or two-sentence summary of typical traits and appearance, useful when you need a quick overview.
Famous stories: Key myths, tales, or source titles where the creature appears, so you can find notable examples.
Alternate names: Other spellings, epithets, or local names, which you can use when searching across languages and traditions.
Mythical creatures that start with S
| Name | Alternate names | Origin | Famous stories / sources |
|---|---|---|---|
| Saci Pererê | Saci | Brazilian | Monteiro Lobato’s Sítio do Picapau Amarelo |
| Sæhrímnir | Saehrimnir | Norse | Prose Edda, Poetic Edda |
| Salamander | Fire Salamander | European (Alchemical) | Writings of Paracelsus |
| Samebito | Shark Man | Japanese | Hōjō Takatoki legends |
| Samodiva | Samovila, Vila | Slavic | South Slavic epic poetry |
| Sampati | Sambati | Hindu | Ramayana |
| Sandman | The Sandman | European | Hans Christian Andersen’s “Ole Lukøje” |
| Sarama | Deva-shuni (divine bitch) | Hindu | Rigveda |
| Sarimanok | Papanok | Filipino (Maranao) | Maranao oral traditions |
| Sarugami | Monkey God | Japanese | Shinto legends |
| Sasabonsam | Asanbosam | Akan (West African) | Akan folklore |
| Satori | Mind-Reader | Japanese | Japanese folklore |
| Satyr | Silenos, Faunus (Roman) | Greek | Homeric Hymns, Ovid’s Metamorphoses |
| Sazae-oni | Turban Shell Ogre | Japanese | Ehon Hyaku Monogatari |
| Sceadugenga | Shadow-walker | Old English | Beowulf |
| Scylla | Skylla | Greek | Homer’s Odyssey |
| Selkie | Selkie-folk, Silkies | Scottish, Irish, Norse | The Great Silkie of Sule Skerry (ballad) |
| Seraph | Seraphim (plural) | Abrahamic | Book of Isaiah, Book of Enoch |
| Serpopard | Serpent-leopard | Mesopotamian, Egyptian | Narmer Palette |
| Set animal | Sha, Typhonic beast | Egyptian | Pyramid Texts |
| Shachihoko | Shachi | Japanese | Japanese temple folklore |
| Shade | Umbra (Roman) | Greek, Roman | Homer’s Odyssey, Virgil’s Aeneid |
| Shang-Yang | Shangyang | Chinese | Classic of Mountains and Seas |
| Sharabha | Saraba | Hindu | Shiva Purana |
| Shedim | Sheydim | Jewish | Talmud, Kabbalah |
| Shellycoat | Shelly Coat | Scottish, English | Border ballads |
| Shenlong | Shen-lung, Spirit Dragon | Chinese | Chinese mythology |
| Shikigami | Shiki-no-kami | Japanese | Onmyōdō tradition |
| Shinigami | Death God, Death Spirit | Japanese | Shinigami (Rakugo story) |
| Shirouneri | Shira-uneri | Japanese | Gazu Hyakki Yagyō |
| Shisa | Shi-sa, Guardian dogs | Okinawan (Japanese) | Okinawan folklore |
| Shōjō | Shojo | Japanese | Japanese folklore |
| Shōki | Zhong Kui (Chinese) | Chinese, Japanese | Taoist mythology |
| Shōkera | Shokera | Japanese | Gazu Hyakki Yagyō |
| Shtriga | Striga | Albanian | Albanian folklore |
| Sigbin | Sigben | Filipino | Visayan folklore |
| Silenus | Silenos | Greek | Dionysian myths |
| Simargl | Semargl | Slavic | Primary Chronicle |
| Simurgh | Sīmurğ, Senmurv | Persian | Shahnameh, Avesta |
| Sipactli | Cipactli | Aztec (Nahua) | Aztec creation myths |
| Sirin | Sirin Bird | Slavic | Slavic folklore, Rus’ legends |
| Siren | Seiren | Greek | Homer’s Odyssey |
| Sisiutl | Sea Serpent | Kwakwakaʼwakw (Native American) | Kwakwakaʼwakw art and mythology |
| Siyokoy | Syokoy | Filipino | Philippine mythology |
| Skin-walker | Yee naaldlooshii (Navajo) | Navajo (Diné) | Navajo oral traditions |
| Skogsrå | Forest Rå, Huldra | Scandinavian | Scandinavian folklore |
| Sköll | Skoll | Norse | Prose Edda, Poetic Edda |
| Slender Man | Slenderman | Modern (Internet Folklore) | Something Awful forums (creepypasta) |
| Sleipnir | Odin’s Horse | Norse | Poetic Edda, Prose Edda |
| Spectre | Specter | European | General folklore |
| Sphinx | Phix (Greek) | Greek, Egyptian | Oedipus Rex, Pyramid Texts |
| Spriggan | Spriggan | Cornish (English) | Cornish folklore |
| Spring-heeled Jack | Springheel Jack | English (Victorian era) | Victorian era newspapers and penny dreadfuls |
| Sprite | Fairy, Pixie | European | General folklore |
| Srvára | Azi Sruvara | Zoroastrian (Persian) | Avesta |
| Stikini | Stikini | Seminole (Native American) | Seminole folklore |
| Strix | Striga (plural) | Roman, Greek | Ovid’s Fasti, Pliny’s Natural History |
| Strigoi | Strigoi | Romanian | Romanian folklore |
| Strzyga | Striga | Slavic (Polish) | Polish folklore |
| Stymphalian Birds | Ornithes Stymphalides | Greek | The Labors of Heracles |
| Suan Ni | Suanni | Chinese | Nine Sons of the Dragon legends |
| Succubus | Succubi (plural) | European (Medieval) | Malleus Maleficarum |
| Sudice | Sudičky, Rodzanice | Slavic | Slavic folklore |
| Surtur | Surtr | Norse | Poetic Edda, Prose Edda |
| Svartálfar | Dark Elves, Dökkálfar | Norse | Prose Edda |
| Swan Maiden | Swan-maiden | Global | Aarne–Thompson tale type 400 |
| Sylph | Sylphid | European (Alchemical) | Writings of Paracelsus |
Descriptions
Saci Pererê
A mischievous one-legged black trickster from Brazilian folklore. He wears a magical red cap that allows him to disappear and reappear wherever he wishes.
Sæhrímnir
The cosmic boar in Norse mythology that is killed and eaten every night by the gods and Einherjar. It is brought back to life each day.
Salamander
An elemental spirit of fire, often depicted as a lizard-like creature that could withstand and live within flames. It was believed to be a symbol of purity.
Samebito
A humanoid sea creature with dark skin, a shark’s face, and green eyes. It serves the Dragon King of the Sea and weeps tears of jewels.
Samodiva
Female woodland spirits or nymphs in Slavic folklore. They are depicted as beautiful women with long hair who can be both benevolent and malevolent to humans.
Sampati
A great vulture king in Hindu mythology, the elder brother of Jatayu. He helps Rama’s search party by telling them of Sita’s location in Lanka.
Sandman
A mythical character in European folklore who puts people to sleep and brings good dreams by sprinkling magical sand onto their eyes.
Sarama
A divine female dog in Hindu mythology who is the mother of all dogs. She assists the god Indra in recovering stolen divine cattle.
Sarimanok
A legendary bird of the Maranao people, depicted as a colorful rooster with a fish in its beak or talons. It is a symbol of good fortune.
Sarugami
A divine monkey spirit or god in Japanese folklore. Some legends depict it as a malevolent deity demanding human sacrifices.
Sasabonsam
A vampire-like monster from the folklore of the Akan people in Ghana. It has iron teeth and hook-like feet, and it lives in trees to hunt from above.
Satori
A mind-reading, ape-like yōkai said to live in the mountains of Japan. It can read a person’s thoughts, making it impossible to defeat through conventional means.
Satyr
A male nature spirit with goat-like features, known for its love of wine, music, and revelry. They are companions of the god Dionysus.
Sazae-oni
A yōkai from Japanese folklore that takes the form of a giant turban snail. It can shapeshift into a beautiful woman to seduce and devour sailors.
Sceadugenga
An obscure creature from the epic poem Beowulf, translated as “shadow-walker” or “walker in darkness.” It is believed to be another name for Grendel.
Scylla
A terrifying sea monster in Greek mythology who lived on one side of a narrow strait. She had multiple dog heads and tentacles to snatch sailors from passing ships.
Selkie
A mythological being that can transform from a seal into a human by shedding its skin. Stories often involve tragic romances between selkies and mortals.
Seraph
The highest order of angels in Abrahamic religions. They are described as fiery, six-winged beings who surround the throne of God, singing praises.
Serpopard
A mythical animal with the body of a leopard and the long, serpentine neck of a snake. It is a common motif in ancient Egyptian and Mesopotamian art.
Set animal
An enigmatic, dog-like creature that represents the Egyptian god Set. It has a curved snout, tall squared ears, and a forked tail.
Shachihoko
A creature from Japanese folklore with the head of a tiger and the body of a carp. Statues of them are often placed on temple roofs to protect against fire.
Shade
The spirit or ghost of a dead person residing in the underworld. In Greek myth, they were insubstantial, likenesses of their former selves.
Shang-Yang
A one-legged rain bird from Chinese mythology. Its appearance was said to herald a great downpour, and it could drink entire seas.
Sharabha
A part-lion and part-bird creature in Hindu mythology, an incarnation of the god Shiva. It possesses immense strength, greater than a lion or elephant.
Shedim
Spirits or demons in Jewish folklore. They are not considered wholly evil but can be either malicious or helpful, and they inhabit desolate places.
Shellycoat
A type of bogeyman in Scottish and English folklore that haunts rivers and streams. It is named for the coat of shells it wears, which it rattles to scare travelers.
Shenlong
A spiritual dragon from Chinese mythology that is the master of storms and bringer of rain. It is a key figure in agriculture and weather.
Shikigami
Spirits summoned to serve an onmyōji (a practitioner of Japanese esoteric cosmology). They can be conjured into paper manikins or other forms to perform tasks.
Shinigami
A Japanese spirit, god, or personification of death who invites mortals toward their demise. They are a common feature in modern Japanese fiction.
Shirouneri
A yōkai that appears as a writhing, animated mass of tattered mosquito netting or old, dusty cloth. It often tries to wrap itself around people to suffocate them.
Shisa
A traditional Okinawan guardian creature, depicted as a cross between a lion and a dog. Pairs of shisa are placed on rooftops or at gates to ward off evil spirits.
Shōjō
A sea spirit or yōkai from Japanese folklore with red hair and a deep love for alcohol. They are generally benevolent and enjoy dancing after drinking.
Shōki
A mythological demon-queller from Chinese folklore, adopted into Japanese culture. He is a guardian figure who hunts and vanquishes evil spirits and demons.
Shōkera
A creature from Japanese folklore said to spy on people through skylights and cracks in houses. It will punish those who act improperly.
Shtriga
A vampiric witch in Albanian folklore that feeds on the life essence (or blood) of human infants. It can turn into an insect to escape notice.
Sigbin
A creature from Philippine mythology said to suck the blood of victims from their shadows. It is described as resembling a hornless goat with large ears.
Silenus
An elderly, wise, and often drunk companion of the god Dionysus. He was considered the oldest and wisest of the satyrs, sometimes depicted with horse-like legs.
Simargl
A winged creature in East Slavic mythology, often depicted as a winged dog or lion. It was revered as a guardian of seeds, crops, and the hearth.
Simurgh
A benevolent, mythical bird in Persian mythology. Often depicted as a giant, peacock-like creature, it is associated with wisdom, healing, and fertility.
Sipactli
A primeval sea monster from Aztec mythology, part crocodile, part fish, and part toad. The world was created from its dismembered body.
Sirin
A mythological creature from Slavic legends with the head and chest of a beautiful woman and the body of a bird. Its song was said to be irresistibly beautiful but dangerous.
Siren
Dangerous creatures in Greek mythology, often depicted as bird-women, who lured nearby sailors with their enchanting music and singing voices to shipwreck on their island.
Sisiutl
A legendary, double-headed sea serpent with a human face in the center of its body. It is a powerful being that can bring both death and good fortune.
Siyokoy
Mermen-like creatures in Philippine mythology. They are described as having scaly bodies, gills, and green or brown skin, and are often hostile to humans.
Skin-walker
A malevolent witch in Navajo folklore who has the ability to turn into, possess, or disguise themselves as an animal, often for malicious purposes.
Skogsrå
A seductive and beautiful female forest spirit in Scandinavian folklore. She has a hollow back resembling an old tree trunk and often lures men astray in the woods.
Sköll
The wolf in Norse mythology that chases the sun (Sól) across the sky. According to prophecy, Sköll will finally catch and devour the sun at Ragnarök.
Slender Man
A modern mythological figure depicted as a tall, thin, faceless man in a black suit. He is known for stalking, abducting, or traumatizing people, particularly children.
Sleipnir
The legendary eight-legged horse of the god Odin. He is the child of Loki and the stallion Svaðilfari and is described as the best of all horses.
Spectre
A ghost or phantom, often one that inspires terror or dread. Unlike a simple ghost, a spectre is typically a malevolent and frightening apparition.
Sphinx
A mythical creature with the body of a lion and the head of a human. The Greek sphinx was a merciless monster with a riddle, while the Egyptian sphinx was a benevolent guardian.
Spriggan
Grotesque, goblin-like creatures from Cornish folklore. They were said to be guardians of buried treasure and ruins, and they could swell to gigantic sizes.
Spring-heeled Jack
A figure from English folklore described as having a terrifying appearance and the ability to make extraordinary leaps. He was an urban legend who assaulted victims.
Sprite
A general term for supernatural, elf-like creatures, including fairies and pixies. They are often associated with the elements of air and water.
Srvára
A horned dragon in Zoroastrian mythology. It was one of several monstrous creatures created by the evil spirit Angra Mainyu (Ahriman) to plague the world.
Stikini
A type of witch-owl in the folklore of the Seminole people. It is a shapeshifter that can transform from a human into an owl-like creature to secretly consume hearts.
Strix
A bird of ill omen in Greco-Roman mythology, believed to be a product of metamorphosis. It fed on human flesh and blood, particularly that of infants.
Strigoi
Troubled souls of the dead rising from the grave in Romanian folklore. They can be living vampires or undead spirits, and they feed on the vitality of their victims.
Strzyga
A female demon in Slavic (particularly Polish) mythology that is similar to a vampire. It was believed that people born with two hearts and two souls could become one.
Stymphalian Birds
Man-eating birds with bronze beaks, metallic feathers they could launch like arrows, and poisonous dung. They were a pest in Greek mythology until slain by Heracles.
Suan Ni
A lion-like creature in Chinese mythology, one of the nine sons of the Dragon King. It is depicted as a patient creature that enjoys sitting still and observing smoke.
Succubus
A female demon or supernatural entity in folklore that appears in dreams to seduce men. These encounters were said to drain the victim’s life force.
Sudice
The three female fate spirits in Slavic mythology who appear at a newborn’s birth. They determine the child’s destiny, fortune, and date of death.
Surtur
A powerful fire giant from Múspellheim in Norse mythology. He is prophesied to lead the forces of chaos during Ragnarök and slay the god Freyr.
Svartálfar
A race of beings in Norse mythology who dwell underground in Svartálfaheimr. They are often conflated with dwarves due to their subterranean home and smithing skills.
Swan Maiden
A mythical creature who shapeshifts from a swan into a human female. The stories often involve a mortal man who steals her feathered robe to force her to marry him.
Sylph
An elemental spirit of the air, first described by the alchemist Paracelsus. Sylphs are typically imagined as invisible, ethereal beings, though sometimes as fairy-like.