A witch name, or craft name, is a name you choose for your spiritual life, and finding the right one can feel like meeting a part of yourself you always knew was there.
Lots of witches use a craft name in ritual, in their Book of Shadows or with their coven. Some keep it secret, some use it everywhere, and some never take one at all. All of those choices are fine.
In this guide, we'll explain what a craft name is, why witches take one, how to choose yours (with simple numerology and respectful ways to draw on mythology), when to use it, and a short naming ritual. Then you'll find generous lists of witchy names for inspiration, from trees and herbs to stars, crystals and legends.
How to Choose a Witch Name in 6 Steps
- Reflect on what you love: a season, a plant, an animal, the sea, the moon.
- Brainstorm a list of names from nature, mythology and the lists below.
- Check the meaning and origin of each favorite, and drop any from closed cultures.
- Say it aloud for a few days. A good name feels natural in your mouth.
- Ask for a sign through meditation, a dream or a tarot card if you like.
- Claim it in a simple naming ritual and write it in your Book of Shadows.
What Is a Craft Name?
A craft name is a name a witch, Wiccan or Pagan takes for their spiritual practice. "The Craft" is a common nickname for witchcraft, which is where the term comes from. You might also hear it called a magickal name, a witch name or a Pagan name.
In traditional initiatory Wicca, a craft name is often chosen or given at initiation, and some covens keep members' craft names private within the group. Many solitary and eclectic witches choose their own. Some well-known Pagan authors also write under a name they chose for themselves, such as Starhawk, the author of The Spiral Dance.
There's no rule that you have to take one, and no rule about when. Some people find their name in their first month, and others after years of practice.
Why Witches Take a Craft Name
People take witch names for many different reasons:
- A shift in mindset. Using your craft name when you step into ritual helps you leave the everyday behind, much like putting on a special robe or lighting a candle.
- A statement of who you're becoming. A name can hold a quality you want to grow into, such as courage, calm or wisdom.
- Connection. It can link you to a tree, an element, the moon or a deity you feel close to.
- Privacy. Plenty of witches use their craft name online or in Pagan groups to keep their spiritual life separate from work or family.
- Tradition. In many covens, taking a name marks a new beginning in the Craft.
How to Choose Your Witch Name
The best witch names feel personal. Here are a few ways to find yours. You can combine them, too: many craft names have two parts, such as a nature word and a quality.
Start With Meaning
Think about what you value and what you're working on. If you're healing, you might look at names linked with water or willow. If you need courage, perhaps fire, oak or the name of a fierce animal. Write down qualities first, then look for names that hold them.
Look to Nature
Nature names are the most popular witchy names, and for good reason. Think of the tree outside your window, your favorite flower, the bird you always notice or the landscape you grew up in. Our herbs for a witch's garden and our free Witch's Cabinet of correspondences are full of ideas, and each plant comes with its own magickal meaning.
Draw on Deities, Respectfully
It's natural to want a name linked to a goddess or god you love, but many Pagans feel that taking a deity's name outright is a bit like calling yourself "Queen". A more respectful approach is to choose a symbol, title or quality connected to that deity. For example, someone devoted to Brigid might choose Hearthfire or Flame, and someone close to Hecate might choose Crossroads or Torchbearer. If you'd like to find out which deities you're drawn to, our Discover Your Deity course can help.
Please avoid names from closed or living cultural traditions, such as sacred names from Indigenous nations or African diaspora religions, unless you belong to that community.
Try Simple Numerology
Numerology gives each letter a number. Add up the letters in a name, then add the digits of the total until you get a single number from 1 to 9. In the common Pythagorean system:
- 1: A, J, S
- 2: B, K, T
- 3: C, L, U
- 4: D, M, V
- 5: E, N, W
- 6: F, O, X
- 7: G, P, Y
- 8: H, Q, Z
- 9: I, R
For example, Willow is W (5) + I (9) + L (3) + L (3) + O (6) + W (5) = 31, and 3 + 1 = 4. In modern numerology, the numbers are usually read like this: 1 new beginnings and independence, 2 balance and partnership, 3 creativity and joy, 4 stability and foundations, 5 change and freedom, 6 love, home and care, 7 wisdom and intuition, 8 strength and abundance, 9 compassion and completion. Use numerology as a fun guide, not a strict rule. If you love a name, that matters more.
Listen for Signs
Some witches wait for a name to find them. Ask for guidance before sleep and keep a notebook by the bed, pull a tarot card for each name on your shortlist, or meditate in nature and notice what comes. If you're not sure what kind of witch you are, our free witch type quiz can also point you toward a theme, such as green, sea or cosmic.
When to Use Your Craft Name
How you use your name is up to you. Common choices include:
- In ritual: introducing yourself to the elements, the Goddess and God or your ancestors when you cast a circle.
- In your Book of Shadows: writing it on the first page or signing your spells with it.
- With your coven or circle: many groups use craft names during rituals.
- Online: as a username in witchy communities, which also protects your privacy.
Some witches keep two names: a public craft name they share with friends and online, and a private one known only to themselves and the gods, used for their most personal magick. It's also perfectly fine to change your name as you grow. A new name can mark a new chapter.
A Simple Witch Naming Ritual
Once you've chosen your name, a short ritual helps you claim it. The new moon is a lovely time for new beginnings, and you can find the next one on our moon calendar.
You will need:
- A white candle and a safe holder
- A small bowl of water and a pinch of salt
- A drop of olive oil
- A slip of paper, a pen and a piece of thread
Steps:
- Set up your space on your altar or a quiet table. Take a few slow breaths.
- Light the candle. Stir the salt into the water and sprinkle a few drops around you to cleanse the space.
- Write your new name on the paper. Fold it toward you three times and tie it with the thread.
- Dab a little oil on your fingertip and touch it to your forehead. Say: I call myself [name]. May this name carry my truest self. With the earth, air, fire and water as my witnesses, so mote it be.
- Turn to each direction in turn (east, south, west, north) and introduce yourself by your new name.
- Sit with the candle for a few minutes. Notice how the name feels. Then snuff the candle out and keep the paper on your altar or in your Book of Shadows.
Always stay with a lit candle, and keep it away from curtains, pets and dried herbs.
Witch Name Ideas
Use these lists as a starting point. Mix and match, combine two words or tweak the spelling until a name feels like yours.
Nature Witch Names
Willow, Rowan, Hazel, Ash, Oak, Birch, Alder, Elder, Holly, Ivy, Fern, Moss, Briar, Thorn, Aspen, Cedar, Juniper, River, Brook, Rain, Storm, Mist, Ember, Flint, Wren, Raven, Robin, Sparrow, Heron, Owl, Fox, Hare, Wolf, Sorrel, Autumn, Winter.
Moon and Star Names
Luna, Selene, Phoebe, Artemis, Celeste, Stella, Estelle, Astra, Nova, Vega, Lyra, Sirius, Orion, Rigel, Altair, Andromeda, Cassiopeia, Aurora, Eclipse, Crescent, Starling, Moonshadow, Midnight, Twilight, Dawn, Solstice, Equinox.
Herb and Flower Witch Names
Sage, Rosemary, Thyme, Basil, Yarrow, Mugwort, Vervain, Lavender, Chamomile, Calendula, Marigold, Clover, Tansy, Rue, Angelica, Primrose, Violet, Iris, Poppy, Lily, Rose, Jasmine, Heather, Hawthorn, Elderflower, Belladonna, Foxglove.
A quick note: belladonna and foxglove are beautiful names but very poisonous plants. Enjoy them as names only, and never handle or take them.
Crystal Names
Jade, Jasper, Opal, Amber, Onyx, Garnet, Agate, Beryl, Pearl, Coral, Ruby, Sapphire, Topaz, Citrine, Amethyst, Obsidian, Selenite, Moonstone, Lapis, Quartz, Jet, Malachite.
Mythology-Inspired Witch Names
Names from myth and legend carry stories with them. Read the story behind any name before you take it, so you know what you're inviting into your life.
| Name | From | Meaning or story |
|---|---|---|
| Rhiannon | Welsh, the Mabinogi | An otherworldly queen linked with horses and birds; the name is often traced to "great queen" |
| Ceridwen | Welsh legend of Taliesin | A wise woman who brewed a cauldron of knowledge and inspiration |
| Taliesin | Welsh legend | A legendary bard whose name means "shining brow" |
| Gwydion | Welsh, the Mabinogi | A skilled magician and storyteller |
| Morgan | Arthurian legend | Morgan le Fay, an enchantress and healer linked with Avalon |
| Nimue | Arthurian legend | One of the names of the Lady of the Lake |
| Merlin | Arthurian legend, from Welsh Myrddin | The wizard and prophet of King Arthur's court |
| Circe | Greek, Homer's Odyssey | An enchantress of the island of Aeaea, famous for her potions |
| Sibyl | Greek and Roman | The title of prophetesses, such as the Sibyl of Cumae |
| Selene | Greek | The goddess and personification of the moon |
| Orion | Greek | A great hunter placed among the stars |
| Freya | Norse | From Freyja, a goddess of love who taught the magick of seiðr; the name means "lady" |
| Maeve | Irish, the Ulster Cycle | From Medb, the bold warrior queen of Connacht |
| Aradia | Charles Leland's Aradia (1899) | In Leland's book, the daughter of Diana who was sent to teach witchcraft |
Remember that names like Selene and Freya also belong to goddesses still honored today. If you take one, do it as a mark of devotion, not decoration.
Looking for names for your animal companions instead? See our list of witchy names for pets.
Tips and Mistakes to Avoid
- Avoid famous characters unless the story truly means something to you. A name from a TV show can feel dated later.
- Skip grand titles like Lady, Lord or High Priestess unless your coven gives them to you.
- Keep it pronounceable if you'll use it in a group. A name nobody can say gets shortened fast.
- Don't rush. Living with a name for a moon cycle before you claim it is a good test.
Final Thoughts
Your witch name is a small, personal piece of magick. It can remind you of who you are when you step into the circle and who you're growing into the rest of the time. Choose something that makes you smile, means something to you and feels like home. If you're just starting out, our guide on how to become a witch covers the other first steps, and our Spell Crafting and the Book of Shadows course is a lovely next step once your name is on that first page.
Do you have a craft name, or are you still searching? Tell us what drew you to it in the comments!
Sources
Cunningham, Scott. Wicca: A Guide for the Solitary Practitioner. Llewellyn Publications, 1988.
Cunningham, Scott. Cunningham's Encyclopedia of Magical Herbs. Llewellyn Publications, 1985.
Vanderbeck, Paige. Green Witchcraft. Rockridge Press, 2020.
Starhawk. The Spiral Dance. Harper and Row, 1979.
Davies, Sioned (trans.). The Mabinogion. Oxford University Press, 2007.
Check out our other articles:
Witchy Names for Pets
How to Become a Witch
What Type of Witch Are You?
Brigid: Triple Goddess of Healing
See All Articles
Love this article? Share the magick with your friends and loved ones!
Witch Names FAQs
What is a craft name in witchcraft?
A craft name is a name a witch or Pagan chooses for their spiritual practice. It's used in ritual, in a Book of Shadows, with a coven or online, and it often reflects nature, a deity or a quality the witch wants to grow into.
How do I find my witch name?
Start with what you love and what you want to grow into, then brainstorm names from nature, the stars, herbs or mythology. Check each name's meaning, say your favorites aloud for a few days and claim the one that feels right in a simple ritual.
Do all witches have a witch name?
No. Many witches never take a craft name, and that's perfectly fine. It's a personal choice, not a requirement.
Can I change my craft name?
Yes. Many witches change their craft name as they grow, move to a new path or start a new chapter in life. A short ritual is a nice way to mark the change.
Should I keep my witch name secret?
That's up to you. Some witches share their craft name freely, while others keep a private name known only to themselves and their gods. Some covens also keep members' names private.
Can I use a goddess name as my witch name?
You can, but many Pagans feel it's more respectful to choose a symbol, title or quality connected to the goddess instead. If you do take a deity's name, do it as an act of devotion and learn her stories first.
What are some good witchy names?
Popular witchy names include Willow, Rowan, Raven, Luna, Sage, Ember, Hazel, Juniper, Selene, Morgan and Rhiannon. Nature, moon and herb names are favorites because they carry meaning and are easy to say.
How does numerology help choose a witch name?
In numerology, each letter has a number. Add the letters of a name and reduce the total to a single digit from 1 to 9, then read its meaning. For example, Willow adds up to 4, the number of stability and foundations.
