This list includes 31 Mythological creatures that start with H, from “Habetrot” to “Hyōsube”. They range from monstrous beasts like the Hydra to household spirits and legendary animals from cultures worldwide. Use this compilation for research, storytelling, teaching, or quick reference in games and lesson plans.

Mythological creatures that start with H are non-human beings from myths and folktales, including monsters, spirits, and legendary animals. A notable example is the Greek Hydra, which highlights the recurring role of H-named monsters in hero tales.

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

Origin: Indicates the culture or geographic region where the creature appears, helping you place it in historical and cultural context.

Description: A concise 20–40 word summary of appearance, powers, and typical behavior so you can quickly understand each creature.

Famous stories: Names one or two myths, legends, or literary works featuring the creature, so you can follow up for details.

Mythological creatures that start with H

Name Origin Alternate names/spellings Famous stories Description
Harpy Greek Harpies Homer’s Odyssey; Hesiod Wind‑swooping female monsters with bird bodies and human faces, known for snatching people and tormenting the guilty; often messengers or punishers in Greek myth.
Hydra Greek Lernaean Hydra Heracles’ Twelve Labors; Lerna myth Multi‑headed serpentine water monster; cutting one head grows two back. Killed by Heracles in a classic tale about clever heroism and poisonous blood.
Hippogriff Medieval Hippogryph, Hippogrifo Ludovico Ariosto’s Orlando Furioso; bestiaries Legendary hybrid — front half eagle, rear half horse — symbolizing impossible unions; depicted in chivalric romance and Renaissance poetry as a proud, flying steed.
Hippocampus Greek Hippocamp, Sea‑horse Poseidon imagery; Roman mosaics Mythical sea‑horse with horse foreparts and fish tail, often drawing sea gods’ chariots; common in Mediterranean art and marine myth.
Hecatoncheires Greek Hekatonkheires, Hundred‑Handers Hesiod’s Theogony; Titanomachy Gigantic, monstrous beings with a hundred hands and fifty heads; primordial allies of Zeus who helped defeat the Titans.
Huldra Scandinavian Hulder, Huldrekvinna Norwegian/Swedish folktales Forest spirit appearing as a beautiful woman with a hidden animal tail and back of bark; seduces or lures men, rewarding or punishing depending on treatment.
Huldrekall Scandinavian Huldrekarl, Huldreman Norwegian folktales Male counterpart to the huldra: a wild, hairy forest being sometimes courting humans; trickster and liminal woodland figure in Norse folklore.
Hraesvelgr Norse Hræsvelgr Poetic Edda (Vafþrúðnismál) Jötunn who takes eagle form at the world’s edge; his wingbeats create the winds. A poetic, atmospheric figure in Norse cosmology.
Hugin Norse Huginn Poetic Edda; Prose Edda One of Odin’s two ravens whose name means “thought.” Flies the world to bring news and knowledge back to the god.
Hellhound European Black dog, Cerberus‑type English folklore; Barghest tales Supernatural large dog associated with death and the underworld, appearing as guardian, omen, or hunter of souls in many European traditions.
Hodag American Hodag Rhinelander hoax stories; lumberjack folklore A North American folkloric cryptid: large, horned, fanged beast from Wisconsin tall tales, born from 19th‑century hoax and local legend.
Huma Persian Huma bird, Homa Persian epic poetry; royal lore Mythical, auspicious bird that never rests on the ground; its shadow or touch supposedly bestows kingship and good fortune.
Homunculus European (Alchemy) Little man Paracelsus writings; alchemical grimoires Artificial miniature human created by alchemists or magicians; used as servant, symbol of life‑creation, or cautionary tale about hubris.
Huli jing Chinese Huli‑jing, Fox spirit Chinese folktales; various dramas Fox spirit shapeshifter, sometimes nine‑tailed; alternately seductress, trickster, or wise helper in Chinese and East Asian stories.
Hundun Chinese Hundun (Chaos) Zhuangzi; Classic of Mountains and Seas Personification of primordial chaos — a faceless, shapeless being representing the undifferentiated world before order, often used philosophically in early texts.
Huay Chivo Maya/Yucatec Huaychivo, Uay Chivo Yucatec folktales Sorcerer or witch who transforms into a horned dog or goat to steal livestock and harm neighbors; common in Yucatán rural legends.
Haetae Korean Haechi Korean legend; Seoul statuary Mythical lion‑dog guardian that detects wrongdoing and wards off fire; stylized stone haetae guard Korean palaces and gates.
Hamadryad Greek Hamadryads Ovid’s Metamorphoses; Greek myth Tree‑bound nymphs intimately linked to individual trees; they live or die with their tree and protect forests in mythic tales.
Harionago Japanese Harionago Regional Japanese yokai tales Female yokai with vicious, razor‑barbed hair that lashes out at men; depicted as a beautiful but deadly trickster in localized folklore.
Hitodama Japanese Hitodama Japanese ghost stories Floating balls of fire thought to be human souls leaving their bodies; often seen near graves or where someone recently died.
Hyōsube Japanese Hyosube Kyūshū folktales Hairy, childlike river yokai that emerges from baths, known for mischief and appetite for eggplant; regional and comical in tone.
Hakutaku Chinese/Japanese Bai Ze, Hakutaku Chinese Bai Ze lore; Japanese bestiaries Wise mythical beast that knows all evil spirits and their cures; consulted by kings or sages to compile demon catalogues.
Hobgoblin English Hob, Robin Goodfellow (related) English folktales; Shakespearean echoes Small household or field spirit: helpful if respected, mischievous if offended. A staple of British folklore and fairy tales.
Hobyah English Hobyahs Victorian nursery tale “The Hobyahs” Monstrous, ragged creatures from a cautionary English children’s tale, known for terrorizing a family until cleverly outwitted.
Hantu Penanggalan Malay Penanggalan Malay folktales; Southeast Asian ghost lore Female vampire spirit whose head detaches and flies with trailing entrails to suck blood from victims, especially pregnant women and newborns.
Hantu Raya Malay Hantu Raya Malay ghost stories Powerful servant ghost in Malay beliefs; can act as an alter ego for sorcerers, doing tasks or mischief at a terrifying scale.
Habetrot Scottish Habetrot Scottish folktales Little, industrious spinning spirit in hill‑folklore who helps with work but demands secrecy; appears in yarn and textile‑related Scottish tales.
Huldufólk Icelandic Huldufolk, Hidden People Icelandic folktales; modern anecdotes Invisible or hidden people living in hills and rocks; similar to elves, they can bless or curse humans who disturb their dwellings.
Hippalectryon Greek Hippalectryon Greek vase paintings; classical descriptions Strange hybrid with horse foreparts and rooster hindquarters, appearing on Attic pottery — an odd, protective or apotropaic motif.
Ho‑o Japanese Hō‑ō, Houou Japanese myth; imperial symbolism Japanese phoenix-like bird symbolizing fire, rebirth, and imperial virtue; appears in art and courtly lore as an auspicious omen.
Hag European Crone, Witch (folk type) Various European folktales Crone or witchlike figure in folklore: often malicious or liminal, associated with curses, shapeshifting, night flights, and encounters on the margins of society.

Descriptions

Harpy
Hydra
Hippogriff
Hippocampus
Hecatoncheires
Huldra
Huldrekall
Hraesvelgr
Hugin
Hellhound
Hodag
Huma
Homunculus
Huli jing
Hundun
Huay Chivo
Haetae
Hamadryad
Harionago
Hitodama
Hyōsube
Hakutaku
Hobgoblin
Hobyah
Hantu Penanggalan
Hantu Raya
Habetrot
Huldufólk
Hippalectryon
Ho‑o
Hag
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