So, I took a class on Classical magic, and had to read the Greek Magical Papyri (abbreviated PGM) that is basically an authentic ancient book of spells! That sounds a lot cooler than it actually ended up being, to tell the truth. By the time I'd spent hours combing through it for assignments every week I was about ready to throw it against a wall. The spells themselves were all ridiculously impractical for modern use, too. Most of them were unethical. Anyway. The point is, one common feature of most of these spells was something called voces magicae, literally "magic words." They're long strings of nonsense words or names, most of them unpronounceable, like a written version of glossolalia. Most of those magic words were entirely incomprehensible, but I combed through the book once again to find words that sounded just enough like names to actually use. They're excellent names for gods, magicians, or anything occult.
These might be the secret names of gods that I'm revealing to the world on the internet, so... if something happens to me, you know why.
Names from voces magicae in the PGM
Used frequently:
Abrasax (Abraxas) — a generic magical name for God, used all over the place, often in reference to Apollo. This one's common enough to have its own Wikipedia page.
Erbeth — appears often, the name of a spirit being evoked
Pakerbeth — appears often, the name of a spirit being evoked
Sabaoth (used often, an epithet of the Hebrew God, means "lord of hosts")
Lailam
Anouth (a name of Osiris)
Abaoth
From several rituals to Apollo:
Lertheminoth
Bazetophoth
Mysagaoth
Elaxima
Abaioth
Kanarba
Santalala
Areoth
Namazar
Phrelba
From spells to Selene:
Anocha
Barathian
Phorba
Boeth
Mirphar
Bathara
Kodereth
Kodere
Rinoton
Koumetana
Roubitha
Nouphier (from a love spell, referring to an "angel of the fifth hour")
Borinth
From a business spell, to Hermes:
Ouranion (probably Uranus)
From a spell to Isis:
Moloth
From a victory spell to Helios:
Ardamatha
Pephre
Amalaxiphia
Ereme
From a spell of attraction, to the Dark Goddess:
Akitophis—the name of an unknown goddess mentioned in the PGM, a Dark Goddess whose mysteries are known only to women. Possibly a name or epithet of Ereshkigal?
Orentha
Emithenio
From a spell to meet with your personal daimon:
Ereya
Sathren
From a spell to conjure a shadow/cause a solar eclipse (?)
Erbeth
Anach
Ambrithera
Orykistar
Esyrpha
From binding spells:
Siasias
Eulamo
Phnoubene
Eizochor
Mobor
Anachia
Aratophi
From a protection spell:
Balamaon
From love spells:
Kalypsas (Kalypso?)
Erekin
Pothexas
Ententain
Siethon
From divination spells:
Erephie
Pherephio
Menethoni
Alachal
Perechael
Serenoph
More random names:
Olothieron
Erithyia (Orithyia? Might be in reference to Nephthys here)
Lylori
Sothorai
Seletia
Athatha
Tharael
Mareith
Moroth
Glemyra
Arbanthala
Olthara/Lithara
Patathnax
Lacham
Lalaoith
Allaletho
YOU ARE READING
Book of Names
Non-FictionIt's not always easy to come up with names for characters, so I thought I'd root through obscure mythology, folklore, and other sources, and compile all the names I find in one place. It's really easy to find lists of baby names from various culture...
