You’re probably here because you need a name. Maybe for a novel, a D&D character, or maybe you're just deep-diving into your own family tree hoping to find a "healer" who lived on the edge of the woods. But here’s the thing about female witch names: most of what we think we know is just Hollywood glitter.
Names like Glinda or Elphaba? Pure fiction. The real women accused of witchcraft throughout history—the ones whose names actually appear in dusty court records from Salem to Bamberg—had names that were aggressively ordinary. They were Susannahs, Margarets, and Joans. They were neighbors.
Naming a "witch" character or understanding the history requires peeling back the layers of pop culture. You have to separate the mythological goddesses from the historical victims and the modern practitioners. It’s a messy, fascinating overlap of linguistics and fear.
The Boring Reality of Historical Female Witch Names
If you look at the transcripts from the Salem Witch Trials of 1692, the names don't scream "magical." They scream "Puritan." You have Sarah Good, Rebecca Nurse, and Martha Corey. These weren't women who chose edgy monikers to sound mysterious. They were women who were often marginalized, elderly, or simply disliked by the wrong person in power.
In Europe, the pattern holds. During the North Berwick witch trials in Scotland, we find Agnes Sampson and Gilly Duncan. Agnes was a midwife. Gilly was a servant. Their names were as common as "Jennifer" was in the 1980s.
It’s a bit of a letdown if you’re looking for something spooky, right? But there’s power in that mundanity. The horror of the historical witch trials wasn't that these women were "different" in name; it was that they were exactly like everyone else until the community decided they weren't. Honestly, the most authentic way to pick a historical witch name is to look at a 17th-century census and pick the most standard name you find.
The Rise of the "Nature" Name
Modern witchcraft, or Wicca, changed the game entirely in the 20th century. This is where we get into the "Craft Names."
When Gerald Gardner and Doreen Valiente were shaping modern Paganism, there was a shift toward names that reflected a connection to the earth. You started seeing names like Rowan, Silver, or Raven. These aren't just labels; they're intended as declarations of identity.
- Rowan: Strongly tied to Celtic mythology. The rowan tree was historically thought to protect against enchantment. Irony at its finest.
- Ceridwen: A Welsh goddess associated with rebirth and the cauldron.
- Aradia: This one is huge in the "Stregheria" (Italian witchcraft) tradition, popularized by Charles Godfrey Leland’s 1899 book Aradia, or the Gospel of the Witches.
Why Mythology is the Ultimate Cheat Code
When people search for female witch names, they are often actually looking for the names of ancient deities that became synonymous with magic.
Take Hecate. She’s the big one. In Greek mythology, she was the goddess of the crossroads, ghosts, and necromancy. If a character is named Hecate, you know exactly what vibe the author is going for. She isn't a "witch" in the sense of a human casting spells; she is the source.
Then there’s Circe. Thanks to Madeline Miller’s recent literary explosion, Circe has seen a massive resurgence in popularity. In the Odyssey, she’s the one turning men into pigs. But if you look at the etymology, her name is linked to the Greek kirkos, meaning hawk or falcon. It’s sharp. It’s predatory.
Then you have the darker, more "forbidden" names like Lilith. In Jewish folklore, she was Adam’s first wife who refused to be subservient. Over centuries, she was demonized, but modern feminist movements have reclaimed her name as a symbol of autonomy. It’s a heavy name to carry.
The "O-Mancy" and the Sound of Power
There is a specific phonology to what we perceive as "witchy." Have you noticed how many of these names use "hard" vowels or sharp consonants? Morgana. Morrigan. Maleficent.
The "Mor" prefix often traces back to roots meaning "great" or "sea" (like the Irish Mór), but in the context of the Morrigan, it’s tied to "terror" or "nightmare." It sounds heavy. It sounds like it has teeth.
Compare that to the "Green Witch" aesthetic. Names like Willow, Sage, Hazel, or Juniper. These are soft. They’re "cottagecore" before that was a term. They suggest a witch who heals with herbs rather than one who curses with bone dust.
- Hazel: Historically used for water divining rods.
- Willow: Associated with the moon and mourning in various folklores.
- Sage: Literally means "wise" and "to heal."
Folklore vs. Reality: The Names of the "Wise Women"
In old England, they weren't always called witches. They were "Cunning Folk." Their names were often preceded by "Mother" or "Old Wife." Mother Shipton is a classic example. Ursula Southeil (her supposed real name) was a 16th-century soothsayer.
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Whether or not she actually existed or predicted the Great Fire of London is up for debate—most historians think the "prophecies" were published way after the fact—but the name "Mother Shipton" became a brand. It sounded maternal yet slightly threatening.
In the Slavic tradition, you have Baba Yaga. "Baba" basically means grandmother or old woman. It’s not a "name" in the way we think of it; it’s a title. It grounds the magic in the domestic sphere. It tells you that magic belongs to the elders who have seen everything and are no longer impressed by your nonsense.
How to Choose a Name Without Being Cliche
If you’re naming a character or even a pet, stop using "Sabrina." It’s done. We’ve reached peak Sabrina.
Instead, look at specific cultural niches.
- Sybil: From the Greek Sibylla, meaning prophetess. It’s elegant but carries a weight of ancient authority.
- Endora: It sounds 1960s because of Bewitched, but it’s actually a nod to the Witch of Endor from the Hebrew Bible.
- Griselda: It sounds like "gristle." It’s tough. It’s old. It implies a witch who has survived a few centuries of harsh winters.
Actually, some of the best female witch names come from the plants they allegedly used. Belladonna is a bit on the nose, but what about Aconite? Or Bryony? These are beautiful, floral names that hide a literal poison. That’s the essence of the "witch" archetype—the duality of beauty and danger.
The Legal Legacy of Names
We shouldn't forget that for a long time, being named as a witch was a death sentence. In the 1612 Pendle Hill trials, Elizabeth Demdike and Anne Chattox were the matriarchs of two rival families. Their names were ordinary, but their reputations were legendary.
When you use these names today, you’re tapping into a history of social conflict. A name like Alice Nutter (another Pendle witch) stands out because she was a woman of some wealth—proving that even money couldn't always protect you from the "witch" label if you were perceived as too independent or "difficult."
Actionable Next Steps for Naming
If you are looking to select a name that feels authentic and avoids the "AI-generated" or "cheesy" vibe, follow these steps:
Research the Era First
Don't give a medieval witch a Victorian name. If your setting is 1300s France, use Guillemette or Jehanne. If it’s 1800s Appalachia, go with Althaea or Oma.
Use the "Healer" Filter
Look up historical herbalists and midwives. Their names are often the most realistic "witch" names because those were the women most likely to be accused of practicing magic when a local crop failed or a child fell ill.
Check the Meaning, Not Just the Vibe
A name like Cassandra isn't just a pretty name; it carries the curse of being a prophet whom no one believes. That adds a layer of narrative depth that a name like "Shadow" never will.
Avoid Alliteration
Unless you're writing a comic book for five-year-olds, avoid things like "Wanda the Witch." It kills the immersion instantly. Real names are rarely that poetic.
Say It Out Loud
A good name should feel like it has history. Thomasin (popularized by the film The Witch) works because it feels clunky, old, and grounded in the dirt of a 17th-century farm.
Choosing female witch names is ultimately about deciding which version of the "witch" you want to evoke: the victim of history, the goddess of myth, or the modern rebel. Each path has its own vocabulary. Use it wisely.