Every October the same thing happens: someone needs a witch name, fast. Maybe it’s a Halloween costume, a D&D character, a new book, a cat who looks suspiciously like she has a broomstick somewhere, or a spooky-season username. And “Witchy McWitchface” is not going to cut it.
So I put together the list I always wish I had. There are 200+ witch names below, sorted by vibe: classic, dark, nature and good witch names, cute and funny ones, male witch and warlock names, last names, coven names and familiar names. I also pulled together names from real history and folklore, plus the famous fictional witches everyone borrows from. And if you can’t decide, there’s a little generator further down that will pick one for you.
What Makes A Good Witch Name?
After going through hundreds of these, the ones that work tend to have a few things in common:
- An old-fashioned feel. Names like Agatha, Winifred and Hester sound like they’ve been passed down through generations of people who own a lot of jars.
- A hint of nature. Herbs, plants, moons and weather show up constantly: Rosemary, Sage, Willow, Luna, Rowan.
- A strong sound. Hard consonants and soft endings together (Morgana, Hecate, Ravenna) sound magical without trying too hard.
- A last name that tells a story. “Agatha Blackthorn” says a lot more than “Agatha”.
One tip: say the full name out loud a few times. If it sounds like a villain introducing herself, or like someone who sells very good tea in a shop that might be cursed, you’ve got it.
Classic Witch Names
These are the traditional, storybook names. They work for costumes, fiction and pretty much any witch who wears a pointed hat.
- Agatha
- Hester
- Winifred
- Mildred
- Morgana
- Esmeralda
- Griselda
- Prudence
- Theodora
- Beatrix
- Constance
- Elvira
- Ophelia
- Matilda
- Agnes
- Edith
- Mabel
- Hortensia
- Imogen
- Cordelia
- Tabitha
- Delphine
- Wilhelmina
- Eudora
- Lucinda
- Gwendolyn
- Bathilda
- Ermengarde
- Philippa
- Rosalind
Dark Witch Names
For the witch who definitely put a curse on someone and does not regret it. If you love this energy, my lists of names that mean evil and vampire names are worth a look too.
- Ravenna
- Nyx
- Lilith
- Morrigan
- Malva
- Belladonna
- Nocturna
- Vesper
- Umbra
- Sabine
- Drusilla
- Morwenna
- Hexa
- Carmilla
- Grimelda
- Maleva
- Severine
- Isolde
- Thessaly
- Corvina
- Wraithe
- Nightshade
- Obsidia
- Mirela
- Zorana
Nature And Good Witch Names
Kitchen witches, green witches, garden witches and every witch who talks to plants. These are softer and work well for heroes, cozy fantasy and pets.
- Rosemary
- Sage
- Willow
- Luna
- Rowan
- Hazel
- Juniper
- Briar
- Fern
- Ivy
- Clover
- Marigold
- Thistle
- Wren
- Aurora
- Celeste
- Primrose
- Yarrow
- Elderberry
- Saffron
- Lavender
- Moss
- Holly
- Starla
- Meadow
Cute And Funny Witch Names
Perfect for kids’ costumes, group costumes, cats, and anyone who would rather make people laugh than scare them. For more of these, check out my funny first and last names.
- Hazel Broomwell
- Wanda Wartsworth
- Bertha Brewbottom
- Pumpkin Spellsworth
- Glinda Giggles
- Toadetta
- Cauldrina
- Bubbles McCauldron
- Miss Hexie
- Witchy Wanda
- Gertie Grimble
- Bewitched Betty
- Sugar Spellbound
- Penny Potion
- Moonpie
- Lady Snickerdoodle
- Tilly Toadstool
- Wanda the Wonky
- Sir Broomsalot
- Nana Newt
- Fizzlewick
- Hocus Pocus Hannah
- Cackles
- Pickle the Witch
- Spooky Susan
Male Witch And Warlock Names
Witches aren’t only women, and plenty of stories use “warlock”, “sorcerer” or just “witch” for men. These work for all of them. If you want more of a robes-and-staff feel, my wizard names and druid names lists go deeper.
- Alaric
- Thaddeus
- Ambrose
- Silas
- Corbin
- Lucius
- Mordred
- Balthazar
- Cassius
- Ezekiel
- Hawthorne
- Ichabod
- Jasper
- Lazarus
- Malachi
- Osric
- Percival
- Quillon
- Remus
- Soren
- Thorne
- Barnaby
- Cornelius
- Dorian
- Grimwald
Witch Last Names
Mix and match these with any first name above. Most are built from plants, birds, weather and old trades, which is exactly why they sound right.
- Blackthorn
- Nightingale
- Ravenscroft
- Hollowell
- Wolfsbane
- Ashgrove
- Mooncrest
- Thornfield
- Crowley
- Hawthorne
- Grimshaw
- Bramblewood
- Duskwood
- Fenwick
- Ironwood
- Marlowe
- Mistral
- Nettlebrook
- Owlsworth
- Pennywhistle
- Quickwater
- Rookwood
- Shadowmere
- Starling
- Thistledown
- Vale
- Wickham
- Willowbrook
- Wyrmwood
- Yew
Witch Name Generator
Can’t choose? Pick a vibe and hit the button. It mixes first and last names from this list, so you’ll get combos you won’t find anywhere else.
Witch Names From History And Folklore
Some of the most powerful witch names come from real myths and real history. A quick note on the history part: the people accused in the witch trials were real, and most of them were innocent people caught up in panic. If you use these names, it’s a nice way to remember them, but maybe skip them for a goofy costume.
| Name | Where it comes from |
|---|---|
| Hecate | Greek goddess of magic, witchcraft and crossroads, according to World History Encyclopedia |
| Circe | Sorceress in Homer’s Odyssey who turned Odysseus’s men into pigs |
| Medea | Sorceress from Greek myth who helped Jason win the Golden Fleece |
| Baba Yaga | Slavic folklore witch who flies in a mortar and lives in a hut on chicken legs, per World History Encyclopedia |
| Morgan le Fay | Enchantress from the legends of King Arthur |
| Tituba | One of the first three people accused in the Salem witch trials of 1692 |
| Sarah Good | Also among the first accused at Salem; she was hanged on 19 July 1692, according to the University of Virginia’s Salem archive |
| Sarah Osborne | The third of the first Salem accused; she died in jail in May 1692 |
| Alizon Device | The teenager whose encounter with a pedlar set off the Pendle witch trials in Lancashire in 1612 |
| Old Demdike | Nickname of Elizabeth Southern, one of the two elderly women at the center of the Pendle trials |
| Old Chattox | Nickname of Anne Whittle, the other Pendle matriarch |
Famous Fictional Witches
Want a name people will recognize straight away? These are the witches from books, TV and movies that most costume and character ideas borrow from.
| Witch | From |
|---|---|
| Hermione Granger, Minerva McGonagall, Bellatrix Lestrange | Harry Potter |
| Elphaba and Glinda | Wicked and The Wizard of Oz stories |
| Winifred, Mary and Sarah Sanderson | Hocus Pocus |
| Sabrina, Hilda and Zelda Spellman | Sabrina the Teenage Witch |
| Prue, Piper, Phoebe and Paige Halliwell | Charmed |
| Wanda Maximoff and Agatha Harkness | Marvel |
| Willow Rosenberg | Buffy the Vampire Slayer |
| Yennefer and Triss Merigold | The Witcher |
| Granny Weatherwax and Nanny Ogg | Terry Pratchett’s Discworld |
| Kiki | Kiki’s Delivery Service |
Coven Names
Doing a group costume or naming your D&D party? Every coven needs a name.
- The Crossroads Circle
- Daughters of the Moon
- The Hollow Hill Coven
- Sisters of the Silver Thorn
- The Midnight Cauldron
- The Nightshade Sisterhood
- Coven of the Crooked Oak
- The Raven’s Court
- The Thirteenth Moon
- The Ember Circle
- The Willow Wives
- The Brewing Bunch
- Hex Appeal
- The Broomstick Brigade
- Witches Be Crazy
- Resting Witch Face
- The Spell Squad
- The Cackle Club
- Hocus Focus
- Coven Ready
If your group needs something less witchy, there are plenty more in my clan names list.
Witch Familiar And Black Cat Names
A witch is nothing without her familiar. These work for black cats, crows, toads, and any pet that judges you from a high shelf.
- Salem
- Binx
- Hex
- Onyx
- Midnight
- Shadow
- Pepper
- Cinder
- Soot
- Raven
- Bat
- Grimalkin
- Mortimer
- Pyewacket
- Pumpkin
- Licorice
- Nox
- Ember
- Spooky
- Toadie
How To Make Your Own Witch Name
If none of these feel quite right, build your own. Here’s the formula I use:
- Start with an old-fashioned first name. Think of names your great-grandmother might have had: Agnes, Edith, Hester, Mabel.
- Add a nature word. A plant, tree, bird or weather word: thorn, briar, raven, frost, moss.
- Add a place word. Wood, brook, field, hollow, croft, shaw, well.
- Put the last two together. Raven plus croft gives you Ravencroft. Briar plus well gives you Briarwell.
- Say it out loud. “Agnes Briarwell” sounds like a witch. If yours sounds like a law firm, swap one part.
The same trick works for other spooky names too. Try it with my ghost names or werewolf names for a full Halloween cast.
Frequently Asked Questions
What is a good witch name?
A good witch name usually pairs an old-fashioned first name with a nature-based last name, like Agatha Blackthorn or Rosemary Willowbrook. Pick one that fits your witch’s vibe, whether that’s classic, dark, cozy or funny.
What are some famous witch names?
Famous witch names include Hecate, Circe, Baba Yaga and Morgan le Fay from myth and legend, and Hermione, Elphaba, Glinda, Sabrina and the Sanderson sisters from fiction.
What do you call a male witch?
A male witch can simply be called a witch. Stories also use warlock, wizard or sorcerer. Names like Alaric, Ambrose, Silas and Thaddeus work well for male witch characters.
What is a good name for a witch’s cat?
Classic witch cat names include Salem, Binx, Hex, Onyx, Midnight and Grimalkin. Pyewacket is another old one with a long history as a familiar’s name.
What is a good name for a group of witches?
A group of witches is called a coven. Fun coven names include The Midnight Cauldron, Sisters of the Silver Thorn, Hex Appeal and Resting Witch Face.
Final Thoughts
The best witch name is the one that makes you grin a little when you say it. Classic and spooky, cozy and green, or ridiculous and pun-filled, there’s no wrong answer, as long as it fits the witch.
Got a favorite witch name that isn’t on this list? Drop it in the comments and I’ll add the best ones.