This list includes 20 Mythical creatures that start with U, from “Ubume” to “Uwan”. They span spirits, monsters, and tricksters from global folklore, and help writers, students, gamers, and educators find inspiration.

Mythical creatures that start with U are legendary beings from diverse cultures, often tied to local beliefs and storytelling. For example, the Japanese “Ubume” embodies maternal sorrow and appears in ghost tales and traditional theater.

Below you’ll find the table with Name, Origin, Description, Famous stories, and Alternate names.

Name: The creature’s common English name, so you can quickly identify and reference it in writing, research, or game notes.

Origin: The culture or region where the creature comes from, helping you place it in historical and mythic context.

Description: A concise one- to two-sentence summary of appearance, behavior, and powers, so you can quickly assess relevance.

Famous stories: Key myths, folktales, or literary works where the creature appears, giving you primary references and inspiration.

Alternate names: Common variants, translations, or epithets, so you can find cross-references and additional sources quickly.

Mythical creatures that start with U

NameAlternate namesOriginFamous stories / Sources
UnicornAlicorn; MonocerosPan-EuropeanPhysiologus; Medieval bestiaries; Classical writers
UndineOndine; UndinaParacelsan/European folkloreParacelsus; Fouqué “Undine”; European folktales
UgalluUgaluMesopotamian (Akkadian/Babylonian)Assyrian protective rituals; Amulet inscriptions
UpirUpyr; UpírSlavic (Eastern Europe)East Slavic folktales; Slavic vampire lore
Ushi-oniOx-demonJapanLocal legends; Konjaku Monogatari; Yokai emaki
UmibozuUmibōzuJapanKaidan collections; Sailors’ tales
Ubume—JapanKaidan collections; Ehon Hyaku Monogatari
Uwan—JapanEdo-period kaidan; Hyakumonogatari
Umi-nyudoSea monkJapanLocal sea legends; Kwaidan tales
Uktena—Cherokee (Southeastern US)Cherokee myths; James Mooney collection
UnhcegilaUnk CegilaLakota/SiouxSioux myths; Native oral tradition
UnktehiUnktehilaLakota (Plains Native American)Lakota myths; Ethnographic accounts
UchchaihshravasUchchaihshravasHindu (Indian)Mahabharata; Puranas; Samudra Manthan
UshabtiShabti; ShawabtiAncient EgyptianBook of the Dead; Funerary texts
UraeusIret; Uraeus cobraAncient EgyptianBook of the Dead; Royal iconography
Uchek Langmeidong—Meitei (Manipur, India)Manipuri folktales; Oral tradition
UtukkuUtukkūMesopotamian (Akkadian)Akkadian incantations; Ritual texts
UdugUdug; Udug-hegalSumerian/MesopotamianSumerian demon lists; Amulet inscriptions
UridimmuUru-dimmuMesopotamianAmulet inscriptions; Demon catalogs
UshumgalUšumgalSumerian/MesopotamianSumerian myths; Royal inscriptions

Descriptions

Unicorn
Single-horned horse-like beast symbolizing purity and healing; widespread in Greek accounts and medieval European bestiaries.
Undine
Water-elemental spirit often depicted as a female nymph who marries humans; rooted in Renaissance alchemy and later folklore.
Ugallu
Lion-headed storm-demon carved on amulets as a protective spirit, repelling evil in Mesopotamian ritual practice.
Upir
A Slavic revenant or vampire figure who drinks blood; central to Eastern European vampire traditions.
Ushi-oni
Fearsome yokai with ox head and monstrous body, often associated with coastal or bridge hauntings, varying widely by region.
Umibozu
Gigantic shadowy sea spirit said to appear at night and capsize ships; common in sailors’ lore.
Ubume
Ghost of a woman who died in childbirth, often seen carrying a baby and begging passersby to care for it.
Uwan
A mischievous yamabiko-like yokai that shouts or mimics human speech inside empty houses, startling listeners.
Umi-nyudo
Tall monk-like sea yokai that appears over boats; linked to other maritime ghosts like Umibozu.
Uktena
Giant horned serpent with shining scales and crest; a powerful, often dangerous water-associated monster in Cherokee stories.
Unhcegila
Destructive reptilian water monster blamed for floods and chaos; slain by cultural heroes in Lakota tales.
Unktehi
Horned water-serpent associated with storms and disease; malevolent aquatic spirit battled by heroes.
Uchchaihshravas
Divine multi-maned white horse born from the churning of the ocean; considered king of horses in Hindu myth.
Ushabti
Funerary figurines magically animated to perform labor for the deceased in the afterlife; often inscribed with spells.
Uraeus
Rearing cobra emblem and serpent-goddess representing royal protection and divine authority on pharaonic crowns.
Uchek Langmeidong
Mythical hornbill featured in transformation tales; a girl becomes a great bird in Manipuri folklore.
Utukku
A class of spirits or demons in Mesopotamian tradition; sometimes hostile, sometimes appeased in ritual practice.
Udug
Sumerian/Mesopotamian spirit or demon term applied to various malevolent or protective entities in magical texts.
Uridimmu
Human-bodied, dog-headed protective demon carved on plaques; part of Mesopotamian apotropaic imagery.
Ushumgal
Great serpent or dragon figure in Sumerian imagery, depicted as a mighty, sometimes chaotic monster in ancient texts.
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