350 Ferocious Hellhound Names For Dark Fantasy Character

Hellhounds are scary dog like creatures in dark fantasy stories. These fire and shadow beasts have been in myths and stories for hundreds of years. They guard forbidden places, hunt the damned, and follow gods and demons.

Naming your hellhound is important. Whether it’s for your story, game character, or fantasy world, a good name shows what your hellhound is like.

The right name tells others about its fiery nature, dark powers, and how scary it is.

This guide gives you 350 carefully picked hellhound names in different groups. You’ll find perfect names for fire-breathing underworld guards and shadow-hunting beasts.

Each name captures what makes these legendary creatures so fascinating. Use this guide to find a name that makes your hellhound truly terrifying and memorable.

The Mythology Behind Hellhounds

Before we jump into our big list of names, let’s look at the rich stories that have shaped how we see hellhounds in different cultures.

Greek tales feature Cerberus, the most well-known hellhound. This three-headed dog stood guard at the Underworld to stop the dead from escaping.

Norse stories tell of Garm, a blood-covered dog who guarded the gate to Hel and howled before the end of the world. Celtic stories have the Cu Sith, a big green dog that carried souls to the afterlife.

Looking at all these stories, we see that hellhounds often:

• Guard special places, especially doorways between worlds
• Have magic powers—like many heads, breathing fire, or finding anyone
• Are very big with red glowing eyes
• Have fur that is completely black or covered in flames

Classic Hellhound Names

Cerberus – The original three-headed guardian of the underworld from Greek mythology

Orthrus – The two-headed dog brother of Cerberus in Greek mythology

Garm – Norse hellhound who guards the gates of Hel

Barghest – Black dog spirit from Northern English folklore

Umbra – Latin for “shadow,” representing the darkness hellhounds emerge from

Hades – Named after the Greek god of the underworld

Styx – After the river that separates the world of the living from the dead

Anubis – Egyptian god associated with death who had canine features

Fenris – Derived from Fenrir, the monstrous wolf of Norse mythology

Grimm – Evoking the grim reaper and grimoires of dark magic

Tartarus – The deep abyss used as a dungeon of torment in Greek mythology

Acheron – One of the five rivers of the Greek underworld

Mortem – Latin for “death”

Sable – Referring to the dark, black fur typical of hellhounds

Dis – Roman name for the underworld or its ruler

Erebus – Greek deity representing darkness and shadow

Nox – Latin for “night”

Tenebris – Latin for “darkness” or “gloom”

Abaddon – Hebrew term for destruction or the realm of the dead

Moros – Greek deity of doom and destiny

Charon – The ferryman of Hades who carried souls across the river Styx

Stygian – Relating to the river Styx; dark and gloomy

Orcus – Roman god of the underworld and punisher of broken oaths

Malice – Representing the evil intent behind hellhounds

Grim – Evoking a sense of foreboding and death

Doom – Signifying the fate hellhounds often bring

Bane – Something that causes death or ruin

Wraith – A ghostly, menacing presence

Specter – A ghost or frightening apparition

Phantom – A ghost or spirit often seen as an omen

Shadow – Representing the darkness hellhounds move through

Reaper – Associated with death and the collection of souls

Dusk – The darkening of light, symbolic of transition to darkness

Gloom – Representing darkness and depression

Raven – Bird often associated with death and the afterlife

Nightshade – A poisonous plant associated with death

Thorn – Representing pain and suffering

Fang – Highlighting the fearsome teeth of a hellhound

Howler – Representing the terrifying howl of hellhounds

Grendel – Monster from the ancient epic Beowulf

Lethe – River of forgetfulness in the underworld

Minos – Judge of the dead in Greek mythology

Omen – A prophetic sign often foretelling doom

Harbinger – One that presages the coming of someone or something

Nemesis – The spirit of divine retribution against those who succumb to hubris

Mythological Hellhound Names

Xolotl – Aztec god associated with death who took the form of a dog

Sharvara – One of the dogs of Yama in Hindu mythology

Kerberos – Greek spelling of Cerberus, guardian of the underworld

Cwn Annwn – Spectral hounds from Welsh mythology who hunt souls

Moddey Dhoo – A phantom black dog in Manx folklore

Ammit – Egyptian demon who devoured impure hearts

Aralez – Dog spirits in Armenian mythology who licked wounds of fallen heroes

Cadejo – Supernatural dog from Central American folklore

Laelaps – Mythical dog destined never to fail in a hunt

Hui – One of the divine dogs in Chinese mythology

Bai – Companion to Hui, another divine dog in Chinese mythology

Mahaha – A demon from Inuit mythology

Yeth – From the Yeth Hound, a headless dog in Devon folklore

Guaraci – Sun god in Tupi-Guarani mythology, associated with fire

Surya – Hindu sun deity whose chariot was pulled by seven horses

Fenrir – Monstrous wolf in Norse mythology destined to kill Odin

Geri – One of Odin’s wolves in Norse mythology

Freki – Companion to Geri, Odin’s other wolf

Skoll – Wolf who chases the sun in Norse mythology

Hati – Wolf who chases the moon in Norse mythology

Cŵn Cyrff – “Corpse Dogs” from Welsh mythology

Cujo – Modern mythological hellhound from Stephen King’s novel

Sirius – “The Dog Star,” brightest star in the night sky

Hecate – Greek goddess often accompanied by black dogs

Perro Negro – “Black Dog” in Spanish folklore, an omen of death

Kuro – Japanese for “black,” associated with spirit dogs in Shinto

Valravn – A supernatural raven from Danish folklore

Gulon – A mythical creature from Scandinavian folklore

Adze – Shape-shifting creature from Ewe folklore

Amarok – Gigantic wolf in Inuit mythology

Akhekhu – One of the monsters in Egyptian theology

Chimera – Fire-breathing hybrid monster from Greek mythology

Hecuba – Queen of Troy who was transformed into a dog

Ladon – The hundred-headed dragon who guarded the golden apples

Mokoi – Evil spirit in Aboriginal mythology

Peryton – Mythological beast with the head of a stag and wings

Ran – Norse goddess who dragged drowning sailors to the depths

Tarasque – Dragon-like creature from French folklore

Uktena – Horned serpent in Cherokee mythology

Waheela – Wolf-like cryptid from northern mythology

Yaoguai – “Demon” in Chinese mythology

Zmey – Fire-breathing dragon from Slavic mythology

Aerico – Disease-causing demon in Philippine mythology

Balam – Jaguar demon from Maya mythology

Crocotta – Mythical dog-wolf of India and Ethiopia said to lure men to their deaths

Fiery Hellhound Names

Blaze – Representing an intense fire

Ember – A small piece of burning coal or wood

Inferno – A large, intense fire

Cinder – Partly burned material

Ash – What remains after fire

Scorch – To burn the surface

Spark – A small fiery particle

Pyro – Relating to fire

Flare – A sudden brief burst of flame

Kindle – To start a fire

Phoenix – Mythical bird reborn from its ashes

Forge – A furnace for heating metals

Molten – Liquefied by heat

Char – To burn partially

Ignite – To set on fire

Singe – To burn slightly

Flint – Rock used to start fires

Brimstone – Another name for sulfur, associated with hell

Vulcan – Roman god of fire

Agni – Hindu god of fire

Pele – Hawaiian goddess of fire and volcanoes

Logi – Norse personification of fire

Hephaestus – Greek god of fire and blacksmiths

Kagutsuchi – Japanese god of fire

Xiuhcoatl – “Fire serpent” in Aztec mythology

Salamander – Mythical creature that lives in fire

Ifrit – Powerful fire jinn in Arabic mythology

Fornax – Roman goddess of furnaces

Prometheus – Titan who gave fire to humans

Pyrrhus – From Greek “flame-colored”

Surtr – Fire giant in Norse mythology

Lava – Molten rock from a volcano

Magma – Molten rock beneath the earth’s surface

Pyre – A pile of combustible material for burning

Ignis – Latin for “fire”

Fuego – Spanish for “fire”

Charcoal – Burned wood used as fuel

Soot – Black powdery substance from smoke

Crisp – Burned to a slight hardness

Torch – A stick with combustible material for light

Brand – A burning or partly burned piece of wood

Combustion – The process of burning

Incendio – Latin-derived term for “setting on fire”

Conflagration – An extensive fire that destroys much land or property

Cool Hellhound Names

Havoc – Widespread destruction

Venom – Poisonous fluid some animals inject when biting

Onyx – Black gemstone

Midnight – The darkest hour

Shade – Darkness or shadow

Rogue – A dishonest or unprincipled person

Savage – Fierce, violent, and uncontrolled

Void – A completely empty space

Viper – A venomous snake

Rebel – One who resists authority

Havok – Alternate spelling of havoc

Reaper – One who harvests, or the grim reaper

Ghost – An apparition of a dead person

Phantom – A ghost or apparition

Wraith – A ghost or spectral being

Shadow – Dark area created by blocking light

Raven – A large black bird often associated with death

Eclipse – The obscuring of light from one celestial body by another

Nova – A star showing a sudden increase in brightness

Blade – The cutting edge of a knife or sword

Steel – Hard, strong metal alloy

Titanium – Strong, lightweight metal

Carbon – Chemical element associated with dark color

Cobalt – Chemical element producing deep blue compounds

Diesel – Type of fuel or engine

Vector – A quantity having direction and magnitude

Cipher – A secret or disguised way of writing

Matrix – An environment in which something develops

Vertex – The highest point or apex

Quantum – Relating to the smallest discrete quantity of a phenomenon

Nebula – A cloud of gas and dust in space

Pulsar – A rotating neutron star

Quasar – An extremely luminous active galactic nucleus

Zenith – The highest point reached by a celestial object

Apex – The top or highest part of something

Obsidian – Naturally occurring volcanic glass

Graphite – A form of carbon used as a lubricant and in pencils

Cobalt – A hard, lustrous, steel-gray metal

Tungsten – A hard, rare metal with very high melting point

Mercury – Silvery metal that is liquid at room temperature

Neon – A noble gas that glows reddish-orange in vacuum tubes

Chrome – A hard, silver-colored metal

Slate – A fine-grained rock that splits into thin plates

Flint – A hard, sedimentary cryptocrystalline form of quartz

Granite – A very hard, granular, crystalline rock

Unique Hellhound Names

Xibalba – Mayan name for the underworld

Thanatos – Greek personification of death

Kage – Japanese for “shadow”

Nachtmahr – German for “nightmare”

Revenant – One who returns after death

Mephistopheles – Demon from German folklore

Samhain – Celtic festival marking the beginning of winter

Wendigo – Mythological man-eating creature

Azrael – Angel of death in some traditions

Baskerville – From “The Hound of the Baskervilles”

Valafar – Demon in the Lesser Key of Solomon

Malphas – Demon who builds houses and high towers

Raum – Demon who destroys cities

Eligos – Demon who discovers hidden things

Buer – Demon who teaches natural and moral philosophy

Balam – Demon who gives invisibility and wit

Ronwe – Demon who gives knowledge of languages

Furfur – Demon who causes love between a man and woman

Sitri – Demon who inflames men with love for women

Glasya-Labolas – Demon who teaches sciences and causes bloodshed

Zagan – Demon who can transform liquids

Beleth – Demon king with 85 legions of demons

Leraje – Demon who causes battles and arrow wounds

Vine – Demon who reveals hidden things

Bifrons – Demon who teaches sciences and arts

Uvall – Demon who supplies friendship and love

Haagenti – Demon who transmutes metals into gold

Crocell – Demon who can teach geometry and liberal sciences

Furcas – Demon who teaches philosophy, rhetoric, and logic

Balam – Demon who gives perfect answers on things past, present, and to come

Alloces – Demon who gives good familiars and teaches astronomy

Orobas – Demon who gives true answers of past, present, and future

Gusion – Demon who tells of past, present, and future

Botis – Demon who helps friends and foes

Bathin – Demon who knows the virtues of herbs and precious stones

Sallos – Demon who brings love to women

Purson – Demon who discovers hidden things and treasures

Marax – Demon who teaches astronomy and liberal sciences

Ipos – Demon who makes men witty and bold

Aim – Demon who sets cities on fire

Naberius – Demon who restores lost dignities and honors

Glasya-Labolas – Demon who incites murder and imparts knowledge of arts and sciences

Focalor – Demon who has power over winds and seas

Vepar – Demon who guides the waters and makes them tempestuous

Shax – Demon who takes away sight, hearing, and understanding

Scary Hellhound Names

Dread – Great fear or apprehension

Terror – Extreme fear

Horror – An intense feeling of fear, shock, or disgust

Malice – The desire to cause harm to another

Torment – Severe physical or mental suffering

Agony – Extreme physical or mental suffering

Panic – Sudden uncontrollable fear

Fright – A sudden intense feeling of fear

Scream – A long, loud, piercing cry

Shriek – A sharp, shrill sound or cry

Howl – A long, doleful cry

Nightmare – A frightening or unpleasant dream

Creeper – One who moves slowly and carefully

Lurker – One who waits in hiding

Stalker – One who follows or watches someone

Mangler – One who mutilates or disfigures

Slicer – One who cuts cleanly

Ripper – One who tears or rips apart

Strangler – One who compresses the windpipe

Choker – One who blocks the passage of air

Spook – A ghost or specter

Haunt – A ghost that frequents a place

Ghoul – An evil spirit that robs graves

Banshee – A female spirit whose wailing warns of death

Poltergeist – A ghost that manifests itself by noises

Apparition – A ghost or ghostlike image

Revenant – A person who returns as a spirit after death

Possessor – One who takes control of another

Tormentor – One who causes severe suffering

Punisher – One who inflicts a penalty for wrongdoing

Executioner – One who carries out a death sentence

Slayer – One who kills in a violent way

Butcher – One who slaughters animals or humans

Crusher – One who breaks something into small pieces

Smasher – One who breaks something violently

Grinder – One who reduces something to small pieces

Shredder – One who tears something into strips

Mangler – One who mutilates by cutting, tearing, or crushing

Twister – One who distorts or contorts

Breaker – One who destroys or shatters

Splinter – To break into sharp, slender pieces

Slaughter – The violent killing of a large number

Carnage – The killing of a large number of people

Bloodbath – A violent confrontation resulting in bloodshed

Massacre – The indiscriminate and brutal slaughter of people

Badass Hellhound Names

Havok – Total destruction and chaos

Mayhem – Violent or damaging disorder

Carnage – The killing of a large number

Chaos – Complete disorder and confusion

Ruin – The physical destruction or disintegration of something

Frenzy – A state or period of uncontrolled excitement or wild behavior

Fury – Wild or violent anger

Rage – Violent, uncontrollable anger

Wrath – Extreme anger

Vengeance – Punishment inflicted in retaliation for a wrong

Retaliation – The action of returning a military attack

Retribution – Punishment that is considered to be morally right

Reckoning – The avenging or punishing of past mistakes

Judgment – The ability to make considered decisions

Doom – Death, destruction, or another terrible fate

Apocalypse – The complete final destruction of the world

Cataclysm – A large-scale and violent event in the natural world

Armageddon – The final battle between good and evil

Annihilation – Complete destruction

Slaughter – The killing of animals for food

Butchery – The savage killing of many people

Massacre – An indiscriminate and brutal slaughter of people

Genocide – The deliberate killing of a large group of people

Holocaust – Destruction or slaughter on a mass scale

Bloodbath – A ruthless killing of many people

Bloodlust – Uncontrollable desire to kill or maim others

Deathwish – A desire for self-destruction

Nightmare – A frightening or unpleasant dream

Terror – Extreme fear

Horror – An intense feeling of fear, shock, or disgust

Dread – Great fear or apprehension

Panic – Sudden uncontrollable fear

Fright – A sudden intense feeling of fear

Shock – A sudden upsetting or surprising event

Trauma – A deeply distressing or disturbing experience

Torture – The action of causing intense pain

Agony – Extreme physical or mental suffering

Suffering – The state of undergoing pain, distress, or hardship

Misery – A state or feeling of great distress

Anguish – Severe mental or physical pain

Torment – Severe physical or mental suffering

Affliction – A cause of pain or harm

Best Hellhound Names

Brimstone – Combining fire symbolism with Biblical connotations

Abaddon – Hebrew term for “place of destruction”

Fenrir – The mighty wolf of Norse mythology destined to kill Odin

Cerberus – The ultimate hellhound from Greek mythology

Orthrus – Cerberus’s two-headed brother, less known but equally fearsome

Hellscream – Combining the underworld with a terrifying vocalization

Moros – Greek god of doom and destiny

Thanatos – Greek personification of death

Azrael – Angel of death in some traditions

Obsidian – Black volcanic glass with sharp edges

Perdition – A state of eternal punishment and damnation

Revenant – One who returns after death

Anubis – Egyptian god associated with mummification and the afterlife

Hades – Greek god and ruler of the underworld

Erebus – Primordial deity representing darkness

Tartarus – The deep abyss used as a dungeon of torment

Stygian – Of or relating to the river Styx

Acheron – River of pain in Greek mythology

Lethe – River of forgetfulness in Greek mythology

Phlegethon – River of fire in Greek mythology

Cocytus – River of wailing in Greek mythology

Inferno – Intense fire, also Dante’s vision of Hell

Hellfire – The fire of Hell, used for punishment of sinners

Asmodeus – King of demons in Judeo-Islamic lore

Dante – Author of the Divine Comedy featuring Hell

Mephisto – Shortened form of Mephistopheles, a demon

Sammael – Archangel of death in Talmudic lore

Belial – Hebrew for “without worth,” a demon

Moloch – Ancient deity associated with child sacrifice

Nyx – Greek goddess of night

Samael – Angel of death in Jewish lore

Charon – Ferryman of Hades

Lilith – Female demon of the night

Amaymon – One of the four kings of Hell

Baalberith – Lord of the covenant in demonology

Beelzebub – High-ranking demon, “Lord of the Flies”

Azazel – Fallen angel who taught humans to make weapons

Mammon – Demon of greed

Belphegor – Demon who helps people make discoveries

Leviathan – Sea monster in Jewish belief

Abbadon – Angel of the bottomless pit

Samhain – Celtic festival marking the darker half of the year

Nergal – Mesopotamian deity of war and pestilence

Balor – Destructive one-eyed giant in Irish mythology

Surtr – Fire giant who will set the world ablaze at Ragnarök

Names for Female Hellhounds

Female hellhounds possess their own deadly grace and ferocity. These names blend beauty with danger, creating compelling identities for hellhounds with feminine energy:

Persephone – Queen of the Underworld in Greek mythology, forced to split her time between the world of the living and dead.

Lilith – Ancient female demon from Hebrew folklore, said to be Adam’s first wife who refused to submit.

Hecate – Greek goddess of witchcraft, crossroads, and necromancy, associated with the night and moon.

Lamia – Greek mythological monster who devoured children, transformed into a serpentine creature.

Morrigan – Celtic goddess of war, fate and death, often appeared as a crow on battlefields.

Kali – Hindu goddess of time, destruction, and power, depicted with a necklace of skulls.

Nemesis – Greek goddess of retribution and revenge against those who show hubris.

Eris – Greek goddess of chaos, strife and discord who sparked the Trojan War.

Nyx – Primordial goddess of night in Greek mythology, born from Chaos.

Tisiphone – One of the three Furies in Greek mythology, the avenger of murder.

Megaera – Fury of Greek mythology representing jealousy and envy, her name means “the grudging one.”

Alecto – Greek Fury personifying anger and relentless pursuit of wrongdoers.

Hel – Norse goddess who rules the underworld realm bearing her name.

Hela – Modernized version of Hel, ruler of the dead in Norse mythology.

Medusa – Gorgon from Greek mythology whose gaze turned men to stone.

Scylla – Six-headed sea monster from Greek mythology who devoured sailors.

Circe – Powerful sorceress from Greek mythology known for transforming enemies into beasts.

Cerridwen – Welsh goddess of transformation, inspiration, and knowledge, keeper of a cauldron of wisdom.

Sekhmet – Egyptian warrior goddess with the head of a lioness, associated with destruction.

Nephthys – Egyptian goddess of death, darkness, and protective funerary rites.

Ammit – Egyptian demoness with a crocodile head who devoured impure hearts in the afterlife.

Chimera – Greek fire-breathing monster with parts of lion, goat, and serpent.

Echidna – Greek “mother of all monsters,” half-woman, half-serpent.

Carna – Roman goddess who guards doorways and internal organs, associated with protection.

Empusa – Greek demoness who seduced men before feeding on their blood.

Freyja – Norse goddess associated with war, death, and sorcery who received half of those slain in battle.

Mab – Fairy queen from Celtic folklore, known for her unpredictable and often dangerous nature.

Marzanna – Slavic goddess of death, winter, and nightmares.

Morta – Roman goddess of death, one of the Fates who cuts the thread of life.

Morana – Slavic goddess of winter and death who embodies the cycle of rebirth.

Keres – Greek female death spirits who personified violent death and bloodshed.

Harpyia – Greek winged spirits of sudden, unexpected death who snatched souls.

Valkyrie – Norse female warriors who chose which soldiers died in battle and escorted them to Valhalla.

Brunhilde – Famous Valkyrie from Norse mythology known for her fierce warrior spirit.

Enyo – Greek goddess of war and destruction, companion of Ares.

Bellona – Roman goddess of war, particularly defensive war to protect one’s homeland.

Thalassa – Primordial Greek goddess of the sea, representing its dangerous, untamed aspects.

Vipera – Latin for “viper” or “snake,” symbolizing deadly stealth and poison.

Furie – Derived from the Furies, the vengeful spirits of Greek mythology.

Pandora – First human woman in Greek mythology who released all evils into the world.

Creative Naming Techniques

Beyond our extensive lists, consider these creative approaches to craft unique hellhound names:

1. Word Combinations: Merge two evocative words to create something unique, example: Doomfang, Hellblaze, Shadowmaw, Grimhowl.
2. Adjective + Noun: Pair a descriptive adjective with a threatening noun: Eternal Hunter, Savage Reaper, Crimson Terror, Molten Tracker.
3. Dark Prefixes and Suffixes: Add prefixes like “Nether-,” “Doom-,” “Night-,” or suffixes like “-bane,” “-killer,” “-slayer” to create distinctive names: Netherhound, Doomhowler, Nightstalker, Soulbane.
4. Ability-Based Names: Name your hellhound after its unique powers: Dreamripper (for one who attacks in dreams), Souleater, Flamewalker, Shadowleaper.

Additional Tips To Choose Hellhound Names:

1. Consider your hellhound’s specific traits: Is your hellhound a fire-breather, a shadow-walker, or a soul-hunter? Choose a name that reflects its primary abilities.
2. Match the name to your story’s tone: A hellhound in a gothic horror tale might need a different name than one in an epic fantasy adventure.
3. Aim for pronounceability: While ancient, complex names carry weight, ensure your readers can mentally pronounce your hellhound’s name without breaking immersion.
4. Seek meaningful connections: Names with historical or mythological significance add depth to your character and may resonate with knowledgeable readers.

Conclusion

The perfect hellhound name is more than just a label—it’s an extension of your side character’s identity, history, and purpose in your world. Whether you choose from our extensive lists or craft something entirely unique, ensure your hellhound’s name resonates with its nature and role in your story.

Remember that the most effective names often have layers of meaning—they sound intimidating when spoken aloud, carry mythological or historical weight, and may reveal something about your hellhound’s origins or abilities.

Armed with these 350 fearsome options and naming strategies, you’re well-equipped to bestow your hellhound character with a name worthy of its infernal heritage. May your hellhound strike fear into the hearts of your readers and players alike!

Frequently Asked Questions About Hellhound Names