Few figures in religious history have collected as many names as the devil. Some come directly from the Bible, others from folk tradition and literature, and each one tends to emphasize a different trait, deception, pride, destruction, or simple fear. Here’s where the most well known names and titles actually come from.
Satan And Its Hebrew Origin
Satan is the most widely recognized name for the devil, and it comes from the Hebrew word satan, meaning adversary or accuser. The word entered English before the year 900, passing through Greek before arriving in its modern form. In the Bible, Satan appears repeatedly as the force working against God and humanity, including the account of Judas Iscariot’s betrayal of Jesus in the Gospel of Luke, where Satan is described as entering Judas before the act took place.
Lucifer And The Morning Star
Lucifer is one of the most commonly used names for the devil today, but its Biblical origin is more complicated than most people realize. The name never actually appears attached to Satan anywhere in the original Hebrew or Greek texts. It comes from the King James Version’s translation of Isaiah 14:12, which uses Lucifer to translate the Hebrew word helel, more accurately rendered in modern translations as day star or morning star. The name means light bringer, tied to the planet Venus, which appears bright in the sky just before dawn. Over centuries of interpretation, Christian tradition came to treat this passage as a reference to Satan’s fall from heaven, cementing Lucifer as one of his most recognized names, even though the connection was made well after the text itself was written.
Beelzebub And Lord Of The Flies
Beelzebub comes from the Hebrew phrase ba’al zebub, literally translating to lord of the flies. The name originally referred to a Philistine god mentioned in the Second Book of Kings, consulted by an injured king seeking a cure. By the time of the New Testament, the name had shifted to refer to a prince of demons, appearing in the Gospels of Matthew, Mark, and Luke, where some accused Jesus of exorcising demons using Beelzebub’s own power. Jesus firmly rejected the accusation, but the name remained attached to the devil in the centuries that followed, later appearing in works like Paradise Lost.
Other Biblical Names And Titles
Several other names for the devil come directly from scripture, each describing a different role or trait. The Serpent references the account in Genesis, where the devil is said to have taken the form of a snake to tempt Eve in the Garden of Eden. Father Of Lies comes from the Gospel of John, describing the devil as the origin of deception itself. Apollyon appears in the Book of Revelation, referring to a king of demons associated with destruction, a name that later showed up in both Paradise Lost and Shakespeare’s King Lear. Abaddon, Belial, Moloch, Mammon, and Legion are additional Biblical names, some referring specifically to the devil and others to related demonic figures within the same tradition.
Old Scratch And English Folk Names
Old Scratch is a folk nickname for the devil with roots outside the Bible entirely. The name likely traces back to the Middle English word scrat, itself derived from the Old Norse skratte, meaning a wizard, goblin, or minor demon. The nickname was widely used across Great Britain and the eastern United States, particularly New England, well into the 1800s, appearing in works like Stephen Vincent Benét’s short story The Devil And Daniel Webster and in Mark Twain’s writing, where Aunt Polly describes Tom Sawyer as being full of the Old Scratch because of his mischievous behavior. Similar English folk nicknames from the same era include Old Nick, Old Splitfoot, and Old Mr. Grim, all functioning as informal, slightly less fearsome ways of referring to the same figure.
Names For The Devil In Other Traditions
Similar adversarial figures appear across other major religions under their own distinct names. In Islam, the devil is known as Iblis or referred to as Ash-Shaytan, a word etymologically connected to the English Satan, appearing throughout the Quran as a figure who refuses to bow to Adam and is cast out as a result. In Buddhism, Mara represents a tempter figure associated with death and desire, functioning somewhat differently from the Abrahamic devil but occupying a comparable symbolic role as an obstacle to spiritual progress.
Complete List Of Names And Titles For The Devil
Here’s a quick reference covering the most documented names and what each one refers to.
| No. | Name Or Title | What It Refers To |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | Satan | Hebrew for adversary or accuser |
| 2 | Lucifer | Latin for light bringer, tied to a King James translation of Isaiah |
| 3 | Beelzebub | Hebrew for lord of the flies |
| 4 | The Serpent | References the account of Eden in Genesis |
| 5 | Father Of Lies | From the Gospel of John, describing the origin of deception |
| 6 | Apollyon | A king of demons named in the Book of Revelation |
| 7 | Old Scratch | An English folk nickname derived from Old Norse |
| 8 | Old Nick | A related English folk nickname for the devil |
| 9 | Prince Of Darkness | A common descriptive title used across Christian tradition |
| 10 | Iblis / Ash-Shaytan | Names for the devil figure in Islamic tradition |
| 11 | Mara | A tempter figure in Buddhist tradition |
Why These Names Still Matter
The many names for the devil reflect centuries of theological interpretation, translation choices, and folk tradition layered on top of a single, ancient concept, a figure representing temptation and opposition to good. Some names, like Satan and Beelzebub, trace directly back to specific Biblical passages, while others, like Old Scratch, developed entirely outside religious texts through everyday language and storytelling. Together, they show how a single figure can accumulate an enormous vocabulary across different eras, languages, and cultures.
Frequently Asked Questions
What is the most common name for the devil?
Satan and Lucifer are generally the two most widely recognized names, though Satan appears far more directly and consistently throughout the Bible itself.
Does the name Lucifer actually appear in the Bible referring to Satan?
Not directly in the original texts. The name comes from the King James Version’s translation of a Hebrew phrase in Isaiah meaning day star or morning star, which later Christian tradition interpreted as a reference to Satan.
What does the name Beelzebub mean?
It comes from Hebrew and literally translates to lord of the flies, originally referring to a Philistine god before becoming associated with the devil in the New Testament.
Where does the nickname Old Scratch come from?
It likely derives from the Middle English word scrat, itself from the Old Norse skratte, meaning a wizard, goblin, or minor demon, and it was widely used in English folk speech through the 1800s.
What is the devil called in Islam?
He is known as Iblis or referred to as Ash-Shaytan, a name etymologically connected to the English word Satan.
Is there a similar figure in Buddhism?
Yes, Mara represents a tempter associated with death and desire, functioning as a comparable obstacle to spiritual progress, though the tradition differs significantly from Abrahamic religions.
What does the name Satan actually mean?
It comes from the Hebrew word satan, meaning adversary or accuser.
Final Thoughts
The devil’s many names trace a long history of translation, interpretation, and folklore built up over thousands of years. Some, like Satan and Beelzebub, come directly from specific Biblical passages with well documented linguistic origins. Others, like Old Scratch, developed through everyday folk speech entirely separate from scripture. Together, they show just how many different ways cultures across history have found to name the same enduring idea.
