the witch of the stars, the witch who studies the stars, the star watch, the astronomer, the witch, the astronomer witch, the stellar witch, the witch who knows the sky, the witch of the night sky
(prn) who knows the stars, (prn) who studdies the stars, (prn) who knows the magic of the stars, (prn) who practices witchcraft in starligh, (prn) who studdies magic by starlight
Witchy Red Flag #1: It’s weird to name yourself after a deity.
Like, it’s one thing to be named like that by your parents, you didn’t have any say in that matter. That’s not what I’m ranting about today. It’s a different thing entirely to choose your craft name/witch name to be that of a deity and it’s strange. Essentially you’re telling everyone else that you view yourself as being on the same level as sed deity. In my experience, I’ve only known people who do this to have insane god complexes and very fragile egos.
I can imagine that some deities also take this as an insult lmao. I’m sure some of them think it’s cool too, but still ive never encountered someone who does this and isn’t insufferable sooooo…I can’t imagine that there are many deities who like this.
Also examples like Aphrodite who will wreck people if they compare her to other women/deities exist like hello lmao
Now that I’m back on this blog, let’s celebrate by pissing some people off 💀 I plan on making this “witchy red flags” a series of sorts, so buckle up.
Any fellow Witches have any advice on choosing your Witch name?
I know this doesn’t apply to every witch & not every witch has a magical name as it’s not a requirement.
I am having such a hard time trying to find a name, I’ve looked at multiple sources that give advice on names, but I would like to hear some personal stories from Witches on how they chose their name. 🩷
Witchy Names, Identity and the Art of Being Cringe On Purpose
The following is copied from my own post on Amino
I've started a discord study group with a few personal friends, and while we were discussing personal protections the topic of names used exclusively in a witchy, pagan, ritual or occult gathering context came up.
When looking up "How to choose/find your witch name" there's a few common threads on how to do it:
🧮Use numerology to choose it based on your birthday and a fairly simple cipher, which is one of the first things that you will find after this Google search.
📿 praying and meditating or using tools of divination to allow the deities your dedicated to or spirits who work with to choose for you
🌿 choosing a name that reflects topics of interest, or items closely associated with your craft. This is often where you will get Name AdjectiveNoun names like Winter Ravenmoore or Crystal River or Reverie Birchwood (all names that I have given spellcaster Sims in the Sims 4, there is no intended association with any actual witches out there)
🌈 names inspired by but not necessarily given to you by an entity, such as a name that would fit someone living in the historical culture of your gods. Picking a Celtic name like Aoife or something Nordic like Dagulf because they are the primary source of your current pagan path or who's traditions most closely reflect your craft. (This is the category I currently fall under)
🚸 a nickname that you acquired through unrelated means but resonates with you personally, an example being my good friend Firethorn who got her name from the good old days when Second Life assigned you a last name and treated your user handle as a first name. It just stuck and the name resonates with her.
🔮 some witches belong to a coven and are given a name by the leaders within it, though like numerology this is outside of my experience and something I cannot comment on because covens all operate differently.
Of course there are many witches who simply use their day to day name, and choosing one practice over another doesn't make someone better or worse than another.
So what is the benefit of having a witchy alias?
This depends, as always, on the practitioner.
For some, the anonymity is simply practical. They may be in hiding from an unapproving family, or want a handle for their online grimoire that isn't associated with any other online presence they maintain. The safety of anonymity can even cross over into the less mundane- keeping your identity personal when working with entities as another layer of warding oneself. While they're actually very few willing to waste their energy, cursing or hexing someone that they have a disagreement with online, and I imagine even fewer who decide to " test other witches defenses" (literally why would you want to do that? Those defenses can bite) using a magical name in online spaces can offer reassurance for those who are concerned about online (or even irl) drama following them in that way.
There are some who don a new name as a right of passage, after they have made the decision to dedicate themselves to learning the craft. Whether or not one observes the "Year and a Day" It is a very important mark in one's life, when they decide that the path of occultism is the one for them. Taking on a name specific for their practice can offer someone a reminder of why they are here, of what drives them, and to keep pushing through the fallow periods that everyone goes through at some point.
The aspect that I can speak on personally is essentially taking on the character of the name when I am in a spiritual or witchy context. I have always believed that aesthetics are not entirely frivolous, because building your confidence and putting you in the right mental place for working ritual or magic can sometimes be done by lighting a candle and wearing your favorite crystals. It can be done by finding a dress with billowy sleeves and your favorite dark lipstick. Getting into character as the witch that you want to be, especially early on in your path, can do wonders to boost someone's confidence and therefore boost their presence and ability. Using a name that makes you feel powerful, that makes you feel sacred, That pulls you out of the mundane and helps you focus on your divination rather than your bills? Absolutely go for it.
...Is something that I would never tell someone. In every article that I found looking into the topic, there was always a need to have a caveat a discouraging typically young witches from using a name that sounds too " stereotypical". I've been a drag king, I know that branching out with creativity is something to be encouraged. However, a name that may be cringe to one person maybe absolutely awesome to another. At the end of the day, it's up to that person to decide what they want to go by.
If I told someone at work "yeah I go by Aldarrós" I don't expect I'd be taken seriously. (Or maybe they'd think it's cool- I do work at LUSH after all) but it's a name that makes me feel powerful, that reminds me of my path and my dedications. It's as credible as any Fenris, Nathan, Jay or Astrid.
There's an instinct in our culture to validate ourselves by comparing our path to others who we deem to be "fake" or frivolous or just in it because it's trendy. The target of course is teenage girls. I've been in fandom long enough to know that if you're a young woman, or a woman at all, simply liking something or engaging with a community is going to be dismissed as "cringe" or embarrassing or shallow. This is a common misogynistic attitude because it can be easily practiced by any gender. It's unfounded and rude at best and has the ability to destroy a blossoming individual at worst.
Sorry fake nerd girl memes, geekdom was built by young women.
The point here being, if you want to use a name you think might be dismissed as cringey, go for it anyway! If you see someone unironically introducing themselves at Ebony Dark'ness Raven-Way then first give them my number, and second leave well enough alone!
I suppose that's really all I have for this ramble! If you made it this far- Thank you for reading! Feel free to chime in below with your experiences. If you have a practice name, how did you choose it? Did this make you consider adopting one?
Hi guys! I have a list of magic names for you. I'm trying to stick to small, approachable lists so this is a shorter one. In the future I'll make lists about specific kinds of magic (healing, curses, divination, etc) Thanks :-)
An updated version of an earlier list! Good and evil witches alike:
Acrasia: A witch in The Faerie Queene who tempts and bewitches people, controlling their minds. Means "lacking command."
Agatha: Means "good." A disproportionately common name for witches in media, including the Enchantress from Beauty and the Beast, Aggie Prenderghast from ParaNorman, and Aggie Cromwell from Halloweentown.
Aglaonice: A Thessalian witch from the writings of Plutarch, who could draw the moon down from the sky (probably referring to an eclipse). She might just have been an astronomer!
Akantha: A Greek name meaning "thorn."
Akitophis: The name of an unkown goddess mentioned in the PGM. Possibly a name or epithet of Ereshkigal.
Alcina: An evil sorceress and seductress from Orlando furioso, and the title character of a series of operas. Meaning uncertain.
Alcmene: The mother of Heracles. Means “moon strength.”
Aradia: The title character of Charles Geoffrey Leland's book Aradia, or the Gospel of the Witches. A moon goddess and basically the witch version of Jesus, at least in that book.
Arcana: Latin word meaning “secret” (literally “to shut in a chest”), also a word for the two groups of cards in a tarot deck.
Argante: The Queen of Avalon in one Arthurian text, a version of Morgan le Fay. Might be related to argenta (“silver”).
Arianrhod: A Welsh goddess, associated with the moon, stars, fertility, and the passage of time. Means “silver wheel.”
Armida: The name of the witch/seductress in Tasso’s Jerusalem Delivered, meaning uncertain.
Asteria: A Titaness and the mother of Hecate, the goddess of falling stars, prophecy, astrology, and oneiromancy. Means “starry.”
Asterope: The mother of Circe in one telling. Means either “lightning” or “star-faced.” (Also the name of one of the Pleiades.)
Autumn: The season containing Halloween/Samhain.
Belladonna: Deadly nightshade, a poisonous herb. Means "beautiful woman."
Briar: Refers to thorny bushes. Could be associated with evil enchantments, beautiful roses, or both.
Brigid: Celtic fire goddess. Means either "strength, virtue" or "exalted one."
Cassandra: A Greek prophetess whom Apollo cursed so no one would believe her. Means "she who entangles men." Could be shortened to "Cassie."
Cerridwen: Welsh enchantress goddess associated with the sacred cauldron of divine inspiration. Means "white poet."
Circe: A sorceress in Greek mythology who turned men into animals and who was a priestess of Hecate. Means "hoop-round."
Despoina: A daughter of Demeter and Poseidon associated with the Eleusinian Mysteries. Means “the mistress.” Also an epithet of Hecate and Persephone.
Diana: Roman name of the goddess Artemis, the virgin goddess of the moon and the hunt. Associated with Dianic Wicca, a modern cult centered around this goddess.
Edana: Celtic, means “little fire.”
Elergia/Annowre: An evil sorceress in Arthurian legend who tries to seduce Arthur.
Endora: The Witch of Endor was a sorceress in the Bible.
Empusa: Female monsters that served Hecate. Means “one-legged.”
Erichtho: A horrifying, evil hag from Lucan’s Pharsalia. Meaning uncertain.
Esmeralda: The name of Granny Weatherwax (from Discworld), means "emerald."
Freya: Norse goddess of love, beauty, sex, and war, means "lady."
Ganeida: An Arthurian sorceress, a sister of Merlin.
Grimhilde: The name given to the Evil Queen in Disney's Snow White. Good for fairy-tale-esque witches, could also work for a kinda Gothy heroic character. Means “masked battle.”
Gwendolyn: A Welsh name meaning "white bow" or "white ring."
Habundia/Habonde: "Abundance," a name for the queen of witches or fairies, associated with Diana, Mab, Nicnevin, and Hecate.
Hazel: Witch-hazel is a shrub with yellow flowers, associated with witches because of its name and its medicinal properties. Actual hazel is an all-purpose wood for magic wands.
Hecate: The goddess of witchcraft, necromancy, the night, and the crossroads in Greek mythology. Means "worker from afar.”
Hecuba: The Queen of Troy, mother of Cassandra. Uncertain etymology, possibly related to "Hecate." She turned into a dog and became one of Hecate’s familiars.
Hellawes: An evil sorceress in Arthurian legend, who seeks to kill Lancelot so she can embalm his corpse and kiss it every day to spite Guinevere. Creepy.
Hellebore: A poisonous herb.
Ianira: A name of several nymphs in Greek mythology, possibly meaning "enchantress."
Ingrid: A Norse name combining the name of a fertility god and the word for "beautiful."
Ivy: A plant thought to drive out evil spirits.
Lamia: A vampire-like monster from Greek mythology that eats children. Name of the witch in the film version of Stardust.
Lilith: The Queen of Demons in Hebrew folklore, means "of the night,” referring to a screech owl.
Lilura: Basque name meaning "enchantment."
Louhi: An evil witch queen in Finnish mythology. Means "trance."
Luna: Roman goddess of the moon.
Maeve: Based on Irish Gaelic, means "intoxicating." Possibly related to Queen Mab.
Medea: Means "cunning," a sorceress in Greek mythology who helped Jason steal the Golden Fleece. Took violent revenge when he left her for another woman.
Melissa: An apprentice of Merlin, who rescues the victims of Alcina. Means “honeybee.”
Morana/Marzanna: The Slavic goddess of death and winter, means "death."
Morgana: Name of the famous sorceress Morgan le Fay from Arthurian legend. Means “sea circle.”
Morrigan: Irish goddess of death, war, and ravens, means “great queen” or “phantom queen.”
Morwenna: A Welsh name meaning “maiden,” the name of the witch in the book version of Stardust.
Nepenthe: A magical drug from the Odyssey that cures sorrow and causes forgetfulness.
Nicnevan: Queen of the Fairies in Scottish folklore, and the witch queen of Samhain. Means "daughter of the divine." Identified with Hecate.
Nimue: A name for the Lady of the Lake, and/or the sorceress who encased Merlin in a tree with his own magic. Might be related to a Greek word meaning "memory."
Nyx: The Greek primordial goddess of and personification of the night.
Orenda: Iriquois name meaning "magical power."
Persephone: Greek goddess of flowers and Queen of the Underworld. Means either "wheat-thresher" or alternatively "destroyer."
Ragana: Lithuanian Crone goddess of witchcraft.
Raven: The bird, associated with death, magic, and prophecy in multiple mythologies.
Sage: Unisex, a cleansing herb used in many magic spells. From Latin, “healing plant.”
Selene: The Greek goddess and personification of the moon.
Sibyl: Greek, “prophetess,” a word for an oracle.
Strega/Striga: "Strega" is the Italian word for witch (and a word for Italian neopaganism). "Striga" is the Latin word for witch and means "screech owl" (owls are in the order "strigiforms") and a genus of flower called "witchweed."
Sycorax: The name of the witch in Shakespeare’s The Tempest, who is probably based on Medea. Uncertain etymology.
Taika: Finnish, "magic spell."
Vervain: An herb with magical and medicinal properties.
Venefica: A Latin word that simply means “woman who poisons,” referring to a woman who works magic by means of potion-making.
Vivian: A name for the Lady of the Lake, means "lively."
Willow: A tree associated with witches and spirits
And, because I don’t want to neglect the men, here’s a few for male witches (I haven’t been able to find nearly as many!):
Abdecian: Means “to get by asking,” as in a magic spell. (Disclaimer: I have no idea where I got this name. I had it written in my notes, and I remember finding it somewhere, but when I searched it I got mainly my own content on various websites. So… idk.)
Abraxas: A magic word found throughout Greek magic spells as a name of power. The name of the “Great Archon” in Gnosticism, also the name of one of the horses of the Sun. Etymology uncertain. Also spelled Abrasax.
Alaric: Germanic, “all-powerful.”
Alistair: Scottish variant on Alexander, meaning “defender of mankind.” Similar to the chosen name of a certain famous occultist.
Altair: The brightest star in Aquila. Means “eagle.”
Amergin: A druid in Irish mythology, “born of song.”
Aspen: A white tree, associated with fairies. Its leaves turn golden in the fall, and they appear to “shimmer” in the breeze.
Arawn: The Welsh lord of the Otherworld and the dead, and leader of the Wild Hunt. Etymology uncertain; might be a variant of the Hebrew Aaron, “exaulted.”
Aurelius: Latin, “golden.”
Belenus: Pan-Celtic god of light and healing identified with Apollo, who gave his name to Beltane. Means “shining one.”
Briar: Refers to thorny bushes. Same fairy-tale associations.
Eliphas: Hebrew, “God is agile.” The pen name of the famous occultist Alphonse Constant.
Gwydion: Means “born of trees,” a magician and trickster god in Welsh mythology.
Hemlock: A poisonous herb used in spells.
Hunter: Self-explanatory. Modern witchcraft tends to involve the worship of forest gods associated with hunting.
Mabon: Welsh, “divine son,” a figure in Arthurian legend. His name was given to the autumn equinox in modern paganism.
Maddock: Welsh, “fortunate.”
Melchior: One of the Biblical magi, “king of light.”
Merle: A unisex name, from Latin, meaning “blackbird.”
Raven: The bird, associated with death, magic, and prophecy in multiple mythologies.
Rowan: Irish, “little red one,” the name of a tree with the ability to ward off evil.
Simon: Greek, from Hebrew, “hearkening.” The name of an ancient sorcerer, Simon Magus, who founded Gnosticism in early Christianity.
Soma: A name with various mystical meanings in different languages. In Greek, it means “body.” In Sanskrit it means “distill, extract” and refers to the drink of the gods, as well as being another name for the Hindu moon god, Chandra. In Finnish, it means “pretty.”
Tanwyn: Welsh, “white fire.”
Taliesin: A legendary bard in Welsh folklore, the son of Cerridwen. Means “shining brow.”
Valerian: A medicinal herb, used to induce sleep. “Health, vitality.”
[ disclaimer: my sincere apologies if there are any spelling/meaning/origin mistakes in any of my name lists, i am by no means a professional in this area, i just like creating lists to help aid storytellers. i do try my best to find each name’s corresponding origin/meaning/spelling but i am a human who is prone to make the odd mistake. p.s, i take requests! ]
female
Acacia - Greek - Thorny
Acantha - Greek - Thorn, prickle
Adele - French diminutive of Adelaide - Noble, nobility
Aerwyna - English - Friend of the sea
Aife - Irish - Beauty, radiance
Aksana - Greek - Welcome to the stranger
Albina - Latin - White, bright
Alfreda - English - Elf counsel
Alice - German - Noble
Allegra - Italian - Joyful, lively
Allura - French - To entice, attract
Amaris - Hebrew - Given by God
Amaryllis - Greek - Sparkling
Amber - Arabic - Jewel
Ambrosine - Greek - Immortal
Anastasia - Greek - Resurrection
Andrea - Greek - Courageous, womanly
Andromeda - Greek - To be mindful of a man
Angelina - Greek - Messenger of God
April - Latin - To open
Araminta - Old English - Prayer, protection
Ardith - Hebrew - Flowering field
Aria - Italian/Albanian/Hebrew/Persian - Air, melody, Lioness of God, from gold, noble
Arianwyn - Welsh - White, holy silver
Artemesia - Greek - Gift from Artemis
Arwen - Old Welsh - Noble maiden
Asherah - Semitic - Goddess of motherhood & fertility, lady of the sea
Aster - Greek - Star
Astra - Greek/Norse/Latin - Star, divine strength, of the stars
Astrid - Scandinavian - Godly strength
Aurelia - Latin - Golden
Aurora - Latin - Dawn
Autumn - Latin - Fall, Autumn
Avery - Old French/Hebrew - Elf ruler
Azalea - English - A flower
Aziza - Arabic/Hebrew/Swahili - Powerful, beloved
Baptisia - Greek - To dip, immerse
Bathsheba - Hebrew - Daughter of the oath
Bea - Latin - Bringer of joy
Beatrix - Latin - She who brings happiness, blessed
Belinda - Italian/German - Beautiful, bright serpent, bright linden tree
Bellatrix - Latin - Warrior
Belle - French - Beautiful
Belphoebe - Latin - Beautiful, bright
Bethan - Hebrew diminutive of Elizabeth/Elisheba - Oath of God, God is satisfaction
Betla - Unknown - A woman who finds God in her oath
Blossom - English - To thrive, flourish
Blue - English - Colour
Bluebell - English - Flower
Blythe - English - Happy, carefree
Boudicca - Celtic - Victory
Briony - Greek - To grow luxuriantly
Cadence - English - Rhythm, flow
Calliope - Greek - Beautiful-voiced
Callista - Greek - She that is most beautiful
Caroline - Italian - Strong
Catrine - Greek - Pure
Cecelia - English - Blind
Celeste - French/Latin - Celestial, heavenly
Ceridwen - Celtic - The keeper of the cauldron, The Goddess of poetic inspiration
Cerys - Welsh - To love
Charlotte - French - Petite, free man
Chiara - Italian - Bright, clear, famous
Circe - Greek - Bird
Claudina - Italian - Lame
Claudine - French - Lame
Clementine - Latin - Merciful, gentle, mild
Clio - Greek - Celebrate
Clover - English - Key
Constance - Latin - Constant
Coraline - Latin - Coral
Cordelia - Latin/Celtic/French - Heart, jewel of the sea, heart of a Lion
Cornelia - Irish - Strong willed, wise
Cosima - Greek - Order, decency
Cynthia - Greek - From Mount Cynthus, moon Goddess
Cyrene - Greek - Sovereign Queen
Cyrilla - Greek - Lordly, proud
Daffodil - Dutch - Asphodel
Dahlia - Hebrew - Flowering branch
Daisy - Old English - Day's eye
Daphne - Greek - Laurel tree, bay tree
Davina - Scottish/Hebrew - Beloved
Dawn - Old English - The first appearance of light, daybreak
