Looking for the perfect zombie names to haunt your next horror masterpiece? You’ve stumbled upon the ultimate collection of undead monikers that will breathe putrid life into your walking corpses.
In the world of horror fiction, a zombie’s name carries immense power—it shapes their character, defines their terror, and whispers the essence of what once was human but now hungers eternally for flesh and brains.
From traditional Haitian folklore origins to modern pop culture interpretations, zombie names reflect our deepest fears about death, disease, and societal collapse.
Whether you need a name for a shambling corpse, a rage-infected sprinter, or even a sentient undead with remnants of humanity, this comprehensive guide has you covered.
Our collection of 300+ zombie names offers a taxonomy of the undead—from the supernatural to the psychological, the classic to the bizarre.
Each name carrying meaning that can breathe putrid life into your horror narratives.
Why Zombie Names matter in Storytelling?
In stories, what we call zombies really matters. Different names help readers understand what makes these monsters special. It is any undead creature or something unique?
Shows like “The Walking Dead” use “walkers” instead of “zombies” to create a fresh world where zombie movies never existed. Movies like “28 Days Later” call them “infected” to show they’re sick, not supernatural.
The names you pick tell readers important things: “biters” means they’re dangerous; “hollows” suggests they’re empty inside; “the turned” shows they changed from being human.
Names also reveal cultural context—whether drawing from Haitian traditions or reflecting modern anxieties about pandemics, consumerism, or societal breakdown.
The right naming convention becomes a powerful lens through which your audience experiences your unique undead vision.
Classic Zombie Names
Classic zombie names often rely on decomposition terminology, guttural sounds, and monosyllabic simplicity to convey the primal nature of the undead.
Shambler – Describes the uncoordinated, awkward gait that’s become iconic in zombie fiction. This name emphasizes the slow but relentless movement that makes classic zombies terrifying.
Rotter – Highlights the decomposition process, referring to the putrefaction of flesh. This name focuses on the disgusting visual aspect of zombies.
Lurcher – Suggests a zombie that hides before attacking, creating tension through stealth rather than speed or strength.
Deadhead – A double meaning: literally a dead person, but also suggesting mindlessness and lack of thought or consciousness.
Gravewalker – Connects zombies to their traditional cemetery origins, emphasizing the supernatural violation of death’s finality.
The Moaner – Focuses on the haunting, wordless sounds zombies make – one of the most psychologically disturbing aspects of the undead.
Stiff – References rigor mortis and the unnatural body mechanics of reanimated corpses, while also being slang for a dead body.
Cadaver – A clinical term that creates horror through contrast – a medical specimen that shouldn’t be moving but is.
Shuffler – Similar to Shambler, but with emphasis on the dragging feet sound that often alerts survivors to approaching danger.
Meat Bag – Dehumanizes the zombie completely, reducing it to just a collection of flesh with no soul or personhood remaining.
Walker – Made famous by “The Walking Dead,” this simple name focuses on the basic mobility that separates zombies from inert corpses.
Biter – Emphasizes the primary attack method and threat, creating immediate tension about the consequences of being too close.
Corpse – The straightforward term creates horror through its bluntness, highlighting the wrongness of a dead body in motion.
Hollow – Suggests the emptiness where humanity once resided, focusing on the philosophical horror of lost personhood.
Night Feeder – Connects zombies to nocturnal predators, adding the terror of darkness to the zombie threat.
Greyskin – Describes the pallid, bloodless appearance that visually signals death and decay.
Prowler – Implies purpose and hunting behavior, making zombies seem more predatory and less mindless.
Gnawer – Focuses on the disturbing eating habits, specifically the animalistic tearing of flesh with teeth.
The Staggering One – Emphasizes the unsteady movement while the definite article suggests a specific, perhaps unique threat.
Flesh Eater – Directly names the cannibalistic behavior that makes zombies taboo-breaking monsters.
Dead One – Simple yet effective, creating contrast between death (stillness) and the activity of the zombie.
Marrow Sucker – Suggests zombies that consume victims completely, leaving nothing behind, adding an extra level of grotesqueness.
Stalker – Implies patient hunting and persistence, making zombies seem more deliberately threatening.
Bone Grinder – Creates a visceral image of complete consumption, suggesting zombies that destroy their victims entirely.
Creeper – Suggests stealth and deliberate movement, adding an element of calculated menace to what might otherwise be seen as mindless monsters.
Zombie Names Based on Cause of Death
These zombies are named after the specific disease, virus, or infection that transformed them, tragic demise in various accidents or medical tests gone wrong reflecting their clinical origins.
Patient Zero – The index case of an epidemic; this zombie represents the first human infected who started the outbreak, making them historically significant and often uniquely mutated.
The Carrier – A zombie that shows minimal symptoms but spreads infection effectively, making them deceptively dangerous as they might initially pass as human.
Typhoid Mary – Named after the famous asymptomatic carrier Mary Mallon, this zombie spreads disease without showing obvious signs of infection, creating a false sense of security.
Plague Bearer – Actively emits infectious material, possibly through pustules or lesions, creating a visual horror that warns of their contaminating presence.
Viral Vector – Scientifically named for its role in transmitting the pathogen, suggesting this zombie exists primarily as a delivery system for infection.
Contagion – The embodiment of the disease itself, this zombie represents the terrifying concept of illness given physical form.
Spore Host – Infected by fungal pathogens, this zombie potentially releases infectious spores when disturbed, making them dangerous even after “death.”
The Infected – A clinical term popularized by films like “28 Days Later,” emphasizing the medical nature of their condition rather than supernatural origins.
Symptomatic – Shows clear, progressed signs of the disease, serving as a visual warning of what awaits those who become infected.
Pestilence – Named after one of the Four Horsemen of the Apocalypse, suggesting this zombie represents disease on a biblical scale.
Pandemic Walker – Specifically tied to a global outbreak, emphasizing the worldwide collapse caused by these zombies.
Strain X-23 – Identified by the specific variant of the pathogen, suggesting a clinically catalogued outbreak with multiple mutations.
Fever Brain – Shows the neurological effects of high temperature, behaving erratically due to brain damage from extreme fever.
Crash Test – Reanimated victim of a vehicular accident, possibly showing impact trauma and characteristic injuries.
Highway Wanderer – Killed on roadways, these zombies tend to gravitate toward roads and vehicles, creating dangerous driving conditions.
Twisted Metal – Bears the marks of violent car accidents, with metal fragments embedded in their undead flesh.
Fallguy – Victim of a fatal fall, showing characteristic crushing injuries that affect their movement and appearance.
The Crushed – Died by compression or crushing, with a distinctly flattened appearance that creates uncanny, unnatural movement.
Drowned Lung – Reanimated drowning victim, often emitting water or making gurgling sounds, with bloated, waterlogged appearance.
Bridge Jumper – Suicide victim with distinctive injuries from high falls into water, combining trauma with drowning characteristics.
Subject 7 – Numbered test subject, suggesting this zombie’s origin in organized, documented human experimentation.
Lab Rat – Human test subject treated with callous disregard, potentially showing surgical modifications or injection sites.
Trial-and-Error – The result of failed medical testing, showing unpredictable mutations or symptoms from experimental treatments.
Patient X – Unidentified test subject whose reaction to treatment created the initial outbreak, often with unique abilities or mutations.
Guinea Pig – Involuntary test subject whose transformation was monitored and documented, potentially with measurement devices still attached.
The Specimen – Preserved and studied example of the infection, possibly showing signs of dissection or sample collection.
Needle Tracks – Exhibits extensive injection sites, suggesting drug testing or multiple experimental treatments before turning.
Experiment 214B – Precisely catalogued test subject, part of a larger series of experiments with specific purpose and documentation.
Dissection – Shows signs of having been surgically explored while still “alive,” with characteristic Y-incisions or exposed internal organs.
Formaldehyde – Preserved in chemicals before reanimation, having a distinctive odor and unusually preserved appearance.
Quarantine Breaker – Patient who escaped isolation, potentially showing restraint marks and responsible for spreading infection beyond controlled environments.
Supernatural Zombie Name Ideas
- Azrael – Named after the angel of death, this zombie embodies the ultimate harvester of souls
- Necros – Derived from “necromancy,” representing death magic and the forbidden arts
- Samhain – After the ancient Celtic festival marking the boundary between living and dead
- Hecate – Named for the Greek goddess of witchcraft, ghosts, and necromancy
- Lazarus – One who has unnaturally returned from death’s embrace
- Mortis – Latin for death, embodying the very essence of mortality’s end
- Thanatos – The Greek personification of death itself
- Baalberith – A demon lord who keeps the records of deaths
- Valefar – A demon who tempts the dying with false promises
- Lilitu – Based on the ancient demon Lilith, who preys on the vulnerable
- Gehenna – Named after the realm of punishment for the wicked
- Morrigan – After the Celtic goddess associated with fate and doom
- Erebus – Personification of darkness and shadow in Greek mythology
- Sepulcher – Representing a tomb or burial chamber
- Baphomet – An occult entity associated with forbidden knowledge
- Hel – Norse goddess who rules over the realm of the dead
- Abaddon – The destroyer, angel of the bottomless pit
- Styx – The boundary river between Earth and the Underworld
- Anubis – Egyptian god associated with mummification and the afterlife
- Charon – The ferryman of the dead across the River Styx
- Xibalba – Named after the Mayan underworld
- Moloch – An ancient deity associated with child sacrifice
- Lamashtu – Mesopotamian demon who brings disease and death
- Seraphim – Fallen angel twisted by death into something unholy
- Leviathan – Biblical sea monster representing chaos and evil
- Nephilim – Offspring of angels and humans, now risen from death
- Asmodeus – Demon of lust now driven by hunger for flesh
- Pazuzu – Ancient Mesopotamian demon king of wind spirits
- Baelthazar – Keeper of dark mystical knowledge beyond the grave
- Mephistopheles – A collector of souls now collecting bodies
Psychological Zombie Names
- Phobos – Embodiment of fear itself, feeding on the terror of victims
- Deliria – Represents hallucinatory madness that spreads like infection
- Trauma – Carries the psychological wounds of humanity made flesh
- Dementia – Progressive mental deterioration manifested in undeath
- Paranoia – The walking embodiment of irrational distrust and fear
- Hysteria – Mass panic given physical form
- Insomnia – One who never rests and prevents others from finding peace
- Amnesia – Has forgotten their humanity but remembers how to hunt
- Dysphoria – Profound state of unease and dissatisfaction with living
- Malaise – General feeling of discomfort that precedes full infection
- Apathy – Dead to emotion long before physical death
- Melancholia – Deep sadness that hollows one from within
- Psychosis – Lost all connection to reality even before turning
- Catatonia – Appears still and unresponsive until the moment to strike
- Vertigo – Causes disorientation in victims before attacking
- Nihilus – Represents the emptiness of existence after death
- Anhedonia – Unable to feel pleasure except when feeding
- Dysthymia – Persistent depressive state manifested physically
- Fugue – Lost identity wandering without purpose
- Neurosis – Driven by compulsions beyond rational thought
- Anomie – The breakdown of social bonds reflected in undeath
- Despair – Hope abandoned and replaced with endless hunger
- Mania – Frenetic energy and unnatural excitement in pursuit of prey
- Dread – The walking manifestation of impending doom
- Angst – Existential fear given undead form
- Stigma – Marked by death and societal rejection
- Void – The empty shell where a person once existed
- Echo – A hollow repetition of former humanity
- Persona – Wears the mask of humanity but is empty behind it
- Specter – The ghost of sanity lingering in a decaying mind
Popular Zombie Names
- Walker – The classic shuffling zombie popularized in modern media
- Shambler – Known for its distinctive uncoordinated movement
- Lurker – Specializes in hiding and ambushing unsuspecting victims
- Biter – Defined by its primary method of attack
- Rotter – Named for its advanced state of decomposition
- Creeper – Moves slowly but with terrifying persistence
- Stalker – Follows victims relentlessly over long distances
- Geek – Originally carnival performers who bit heads off animals
- Deadhead – Popularized in zombie fiction as the mindless undead
- Roamer – Wanders aimlessly until spotting potential prey
- Infected – Those transformed by virus or disease
- Zed – Shorthand reference used by survivors
- Shuffler – Named for its distinctive slow gait
- Lamebrains – Derided for their lack of intelligence
- Meat Puppet – Reduced to nothing but animated flesh
- Muncher – Known primarily for its eating habits
- Ghoul – Traditional name for corpse-eaters
- Stinker – Named for the distinctive odor of decay
- Growler – Recognizable by the distinctive sounds it makes
- Stiff – Slang term referring to rigor mortis
- Revenant – One who has returned from death
- Clicker – Makes distinctive clicking sounds for echolocation
- Bloater – Swollen with gases from decomposition
- Licker – Known for an unnaturally long tongue used to sense prey
- Sprinter – The feared fast-moving variant
- Chomper – Defined by powerful jaw strength
- Dragger – Often missing limbs, dragging itself toward victims
- Scratcher – Uses fingernails as primary weapons
- Deadie – Colloquial term used by children survivors
- Prowler – Exhibits more tactical hunting behavior than most
Horror Zombie Names
- Necrovore – Specialized in consuming the dead and dying
- Putrescine – Named after the chemical compound released during decomposition
- Cadaverine – Embodies the chemical essence of rotting flesh
- Carnivorous Rex – The king of flesh-eaters
- Vivisect – Appears partially dissected but still animate
- Necrosis – Walking embodiment of tissue death
- Gangrene – Spreads decay with every touch
- Mortician – Once prepared the dead, now joins them
- Exhumer – Digs up others to join the ranks of the undead
- Rigor – Frozen in the stiffness of death yet still moving
- Moribund – At the point of death yet refusing to die completely
- Undertaker – Death’s servant now serving a new master
- Sepsis – Spreads infection through blood and tissue
- Crypt Keeper – Guardian of tombs now leading the dead forth
- Macabre – The artistic representation of death made real
- Putrescence – The essence of rot given motion
- Morbid – Preoccupation with death manifested physically
- Carrion – Decaying flesh that hunts fresh meat
- Autopsy – Bears the marks of post-mortem examination
- Formaldehyde – Reeks of preservative chemicals
- Disinter – Unearthed from final rest to walk again
- Catacomb – Emerged from ancient burial places
- Ossuary – Collection of bones animated by dark forces
- Viscera – Exposed internal organs still functioning somehow
- Embalmer – Once preserved the dead, now one of them
- Thanatopsis – Meditation on death given physical form
- Charnel – Repository of death and bodily remains
- Graverot – Corruption that spreads from the cemetery
- Reviled – Hated even by other undead for its methods
- Mortuary – Walking embodiment of death’s waiting room
Paranormal Zombie Names
- Ectoplasm – Composed of supernatural substance rather than flesh
- Wraith – Between ghost and zombie, neither fully corporeal nor spirit
- Poltergeist – Can manipulate objects despite physical decay
- Medium – Once communicated with the dead, now transmits their hunger
- Channeler – Vessel for entities from beyond death
- Ouija – Named for the tool that brought it back improperly
- Séance – Result of a summoning gone terribly wrong
- Apparition – Appears as if not fully manifest in our reality
- Spectriform – Taking visible shape only to hunt
- Ether – Composed of the substance between worlds
- Paranorma – Beyond normal even for the undead
- Manifestation – Physical expression of death’s will
- Ethereal – Not quite solid but substantial enough to kill
- Psychopomp – Once guided souls, now collects them forcibly
- Harbinger – Foretelling doom that follows in its wake
- Anomalous – Defies the natural laws of both life and death
- Clairvoyant – Sees victims through walls and obstacles
- Telepathic – Senses the thoughts of the living to hunt them
- Astral – Can project part of itself to scout for prey
- Empathic – Feels and feeds on the emotions of victims
- Oracle – Sees possible futures of death and destruction
- Occultist – Practitioner of dark arts transformed by them
- Seer – Visionary now seeing only through death’s lens
- Sensitive – Heightened perception of life forces to consume
- Diviner – Once predicted the future, now ensures it contains death
- Stigmatic – Bears supernatural wounds that never heal
- Mystic – Sought transcendence but found only hunger
- Tarot – Fate twisted into undeath’s service
- Pendulum – Swings between worlds, belonging to neither
- Relic – Ancient power preserved in decaying flesh
Gothic Zombie Names
- Ravenloft – Aristocratic undead from a cursed bloodline
- Thornheart – Beautiful but deadly, with roses growing from wounds
- Blackwood – Once noble, now corrupted beyond recognition
- Duskmoore – From an ancient family known for dark practices
- Gravestone – Elegant in death as in life, but infinitely more dangerous
- Mourningstar – Radiates a dark beauty even in decay
- Shadowthorn – Adorned with the remnants of finery now rotting
- Nightshade – Poisonous to the touch, beautiful to behold
- Darkwell – Emerged from a forgotten family crypt
- Ebonshire – Of noble bearing despite advanced decomposition
- Grimweaver – Creates tapestries of doom from victims’ remains
- Madaleine – The bride who never made it to the altar
- Crowley – Named for a dark occultist, now truly beyond the veil
- Ravenscroft – Once owned vast estates, now hunts their grounds
- Blackbriar – Tangled in thorns that grow from within
- Wolfsbane – Carries poisonous flowers that bloom from its flesh
- Misericorde – Named for the mercy blade used to end suffering
- Darkholme – The last of a cursed lineage, walking after death
- Wintermourne – Cold as the grave and twice as unforgiving
- Bloodworth – Ancient family whose legacy is now tainted
- Cryptwell – Guardian of family secrets best left buried
- Sablewood – Elegant and poised even in murderous rage
- Ironmaiden – Named for the medieval torture device
- Graymarrow – The essence of death in aristocratic form
- Absinthe – Intoxicating and deadly even after death
- Belladonna – Beautiful but poisonous in every respect
- Midnight – Comes when darkness is at its deepest
- Hemlock – Poisonous legacy that spreads through touch
- Dreadpenny – Pennies on the eyes couldn’t keep this one down
- Corpsebride – Left at the altar by death itself
Classic Zombie Names
- Romero – Homage to the father of modern zombie cinema
- Fulci – Named after the Italian master of zombie horror
- Haitian – Traditional zombi of voodoo lore
- Lazarus – Biblical figure raised from the dead
- Draugr – Norse undead guardian of burial mounds
- Jiangshi – Chinese hopping vampire/zombie hybrid
- Revenant – Medieval term for one who returns from the grave
- Nachzehrer – Germanic folklore undead that devours its shroud
- Vetala – Ancient Indian spirit that inhabits corpses
- White Walker – Based on folklore of the frozen undead
- Gashadokuro – Japanese skeleton giant composed of the unburied dead
- Wight – Traditional undead creature from European mythology
- Wiedergänger – “One who walks again” in German folklore
- Ghoul – Arabic legend of desert-dwelling undead
- Baykok – Algonquian skeletal undead hunter
- Liche – Old English term for corpse or body
- Bob – Deliberately mundane name highlighting horror in ordinariness
- Odokuro – Bone collecting spirits in Japanese mythology
- Mummy – Preserved undead from ancient Egyptian tradition
- Vrykolakas – Greek revenant with abilities to shape-shift
- Strigoi – Romanian undead that rises to drain family members
- Aptrgangr – “Again-walker” from Norse mythology
- Samhain – Celtic festival figure associated with the dead
- Rakshasa – Hindu mythology’s flesh-eating demon
- Gjenganger – Scandinavian returners from the grave
- Pocong – Indonesian shroud-wrapped corpse that hops
- Upyr – Slavic prototype of the modern vampire
- Gashadokuro – Giant skeleton made from collected bones of the dead
- Nelapsi – Slovakian undead known for extraordinary strength
- Ro-Langs – Tibetan corpses animated by dark magic
Scary Zombie Names
- Skincrawler – Flesh moves independently across its body
- Bonegrinder – Crushes victims’ skeletons to extract marrow
- Fleshripper – Tears meat from victims in massive chunks
- Eyegorger – Targets and consumes victims’ eyes first
- Sinewsnapper – Specializes in disabling victims by breaking tendons
- Marrowsucker – Cracks bones open to feed on the inside
- Visceramancer – Uses exposed intestines as weapons
- Skullcracker – Breaks open heads to access the brain
- Spinalfeeder – Extracts and consumes the spinal cord
- Cerebrovore – Specialized brain-eater with surgical precision
- Jawsnapper – Dislocates its mouth to take massive bites
- Ribcage – Chest cavity exposed and used to trap smaller prey
- Throatraker – Attacks the voice box to silence screams
- Tendontearer – Specifically targets connective tissues
- Nervegrinder – Causes excruciating pain before killing
- Lungpiercer – Specializes in puncturing respiratory systems
- Heartrender – Reaches into chest cavities for the still-beating heart
- Veindrainer – Extracts blood with unnatural efficiency
- Facepeeler – Collects facial skins as trophies
- Boneshredder – Reduces skeletons to splinters
- Gutspiller – Evisceration is just the beginning
- Brainpicker – Selective about which parts of the brain to consume
- Spinetwister – Contorts in impossible ways to catch prey
- Fleshmelter – Secretes acids that dissolve victims slowly
- Fingerlengthener – Digits extend unnaturally to grasp victims
- Toothlicker – Has multiple rows of teeth like a shark
- Jointbender – Moves limbs in impossible directions
- Corpsegrinder – Reduces victims to unidentifiable remains
- Skulldrinker – Uses the cranium as a macabre cup
- Nailgrower – Fingernails extend rapidly as hunting tools
Crazy Zombie Names
- Gigglerot – Laughs maniacally while pursuing victims
- Twitchtooth – Jaw constantly clicks and chatters
- Loonybone – Moves in bizarre, unpredictable patterns
- Chucklecorpse – Finds everything hilariously deadly
- Nutterbutter – Named for its butter-like liquidating flesh
- Wiggleworm – Body contains visible parasites that control it
- Zanypox – Covered in colorful pustules that explode when touched
- Screwloose – Head rotates completely around while body moves differently
- Kookycadaver – Performs elaborate “dances” before attacking
- Madcap – Wears the top of its own skull as a hat
- Daffydead – Exceptionally animated and energetic for a corpse
- Bubblehead – Skull contains pockets of explosive gas
- Shenanigan – Plays with food in disturbing ways
- Higgledy – Upper and lower halves move independently
- Topsy-turvy – Walks on hands with feet dangling in the air
- Quirkquarry – Collects strange objects and adorns itself with them
- Flibbertigibbet – Moves in quick, jerky, unpredictable ways
- Gobbledygook – Speech center still works but produces nonsense
- Balderdash – Half-decayed aristocrat still attempting etiquette
- Hodgepodge – Composed of parts from multiple bodies
- Rigamarole – Follows elaborate, unnecessary patterns when hunting
- Whirligig – Spins in circles as a hunting technique
- Hullabaloo – Makes extraordinary noise to attract more zombies
- Flapdoodle – Arms flap continuously like broken wings
- Lollygag – Extremely slow until suddenly lightning fast
- Nincompoop – Seems harmless and stupid until it strikes
- Poppycock – Head occasionally detaches but remains functional
- Fiddle-faddle – Constantly in motion, never still even when “resting”
- Collywobbles – Body appears to be turning itself inside out
- Bibbledy-Bob – Wears multiple victims’ clothing at once
Conclusion
The perfect zombie name resonates with dread, echoing in the mind long after the story ends.
Whether you choose the aristocratic malevolence of Gothic undead, the primal terror of Scary zombies, or the unpredictable nature of Crazy ones, remember that names shape reader expectations and experiences.
Whatever shambles forth from your imagination, now bears a name worthy of the fear it inspires. Your readers will never forget what comes for them in the dark.
Frequently Asked Questions – Zombie Names
Q. What makes a good zombie name for my horror story?
A good zombie name reflects the character’s origin, appearance, or behavior. Consider how they died, what makes them unique, and what role they play in your story.
Names that evoke decay, disease, or menace often work well, while names that reflect your zombie’s specific traits will make them more memorable.
Q. Should I use different naming conventions for different types of zombies?
Yes! Different zombie types benefit from distinct naming approaches.
Slow, traditional zombies might use decomposition terms like “Shambler” or “Rotter,” while fast, rage-infected zombies could use more dynamic names like “Sprinter” or “Rager.”
Scientific zombies might use clinical terms, while supernatural zombies might have more archaic names.
Q. Can I use real names for zombies, or should they always be descriptive?
Both approaches work depending on your story.
Using real names (like “Frank” or “Mary”) humanizes zombies and works well for stories exploring retained humanity or for dramatic effect when characters encounter turned loved ones.
Descriptive titles (“The Crawler,” “Bone-Gnawer”) work better for pure horror and dehumanized threats.
Q. How can zombie names enhance the worldbuilding in my story?
Zombie names reflect how your fictional society understands and relates to the undead.
Military settings might use code designations, scientific settings might use clinical terms, and survivors might use slang or euphemisms. Consistent naming conventions help establish your world’s rules and atmosphere.
Q. Should I avoid using the word “zombie” in my story?
Many successful works like “The Walking Dead” (“walkers”) and “28 Days Later” (“infected”) avoid the term “zombie” to create a world where zombie fiction doesn’t exist, allowing characters to discover the rules without genre awareness.
This approach can feel fresher, but using “zombie” explicitly can also work effectively depending on your story’s tone.
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