Where Do D&D Monster Names Come From?

[@MegaPokefan97]

Another thing to note about Liches: the undying wizard with an artifact that, when destroyed, will kill that wizard actually stems from Russain folklore. A wizard named Koshei the Deathless who hid his heart in remote locations

[@mickmack1409]

and Liches get stitches...

[@lorddevilfish5868]

I can’t believe Esper forgot the most obvious one beauty is in the eye of the BEHOLDER! Also I would love a part two!

[@bluebird3281]

I like the Morlock/Moloch connection, the Eloi were childlike, and some were unknowingly sacrificed to the Morlocks.

[@MethosJK9]

I also find the origins of monster names to be fascinating. More, please!

[@chrispeet9446]

Totally on board with this Esper, I dig into folklore roots to gain inspiration (and often names) for my settings. Actually learned some new stuff for this and I've already changed Black Annie to Black Agnes as that sounds better to me. One part that you missed and may find interesting, lich (a body) is Olde English but it's previously from Danish (thank the Vikings) and so the pronunciation is exactly the same as the word lick, the ch sound comes from French and therefore wasn't used in any of the words we adopted from the Scandinavians. One of DnDs most iconic creatures and none of us know how to say it, anyhow thought that bit of trivia may interest a few other folklore geeks. Keep up the good work

[@tommeakin1732]

What a wonderful example of an English speaker making shit up just so they can piss on their forefathers. Lich: From Middle English lich, from Old English lic, from Proto-West Germanic *lik, from Proto-Germanic *lika, from Proto-Indo-European *leyg. Cognate with Dutch lijk, German Leiche, Norwegian lik, Swedish lik, Danish lig. I have no idea where you got your info from, but it's wrong. Also, no matter how biased most English writers and historians are to the Romance tongues (it's not just you - it's systemic), I've never once heard anyone make a case for "ch" being fucking French. English is allowed, like all tongues, to have sound and spelling shifts that come from other things, or are wholly from within. God this whole thing pisses me off way more than I want it to lol.

[@W0KeIzEvil]

8:16 fun Fact that's actually in part why in Stranger Things they used the name Demogorgon for the Monster in season 1.

[@tommeakin1732]

Meaning as you brought up "warlock" among the names ending with "lock": "warlock" (well, "wǣrloga" in Old English) means "oath-breaker, liar", with "wǣr" being one (of many) words for "truth, faith, fidelity, friendship, agreement, promise", and "loga" just meaning "liar" (I think etymologically linked to "liar"). Any "dark being" with "liar/withholder of truth" in their name works, I'd say lol

[@xaxzander4633]

Balor came from Balrog. In fact I'm fairly certain TSR got sued over that and hobbits early on. Old books used those words.

[@TheHornedKing]

"Balor" comes from Irish mythology, like Esper said. But the DnD Balor was indeed called Balrog originally, because that's what it's based on, but they had to change it like you said.

[@xaxzander4633]

@@TheHornedKing The horned king would know! lol. In Tegel Manor (Judges Guild) there is a Ghost Balrog Butler. its a 0 ed module i think. Before even dnd made modules. And i believe in the 0 ed or white box books it called halflings hobbits. 1st Ed. AD&D "Deities And Demigods" Was sued over the Cthulhu Mythos and the Melniboné . For Cthulhu and Elric. The one eyed demon he mentions here, is really cool, and i love the idea the players shooting out its eye.

[@MrStoltverd]

The suffix lock is super interesting. It depends on the origin of the other bit it is attached to. Loga from proto-west germanic means liar. Old english lēogan, means to deny. Old english -lác means state of being, practice, ritual. Then you have lok feom old norse, meaning fastening or enclosure.

[@RyanDavidFerguson]

I definitely find these origins fascinating and would love to hear more!

[@mickmack1409]

Me2

[@jamesc.1026]

I'm interested in more! Part 2 please

[@KermodeBear]

Don't forget to share Esper's videos with your friends!

[@Corvus-fw2hr]

Gary was a Jehovah’s Witness early on and had a lot to pull from his own faith. A few of the cleric spells had Biblical nods, though some of them were dropped in later editions. (I’m looking at you, Sticks to Snakes)

[@rememberstayangry2366]

I think it makes a great topic. It highlights, in a way, the impact of D&D on pop culture. Even people who know nothing of the game are influenced by it. Read almost any fantasy novel. A large majority of creatures used in a novel can traced back to the D&D interpretation of it.

[@purplehaze2358]

It's rather funny that Asmodeus etymologically links back to "wrath demon", considering he was coopted into a demon of Iust in Christian demonology.

[@TheCobraCom]

"Demi" is also used in the meaning of "half" e.g. a demi-sec wine. So maybe a half-gorgon, like a descendant of Gorgon?

[@esperthebard]

demOgorgon

[@TheCobraCom]

@@esperthebard That happens when you just listen. Sorry.

[@kid14346]

I always like to point out with Bugbear's the origin of the name is just "Scary Bear", "Evil Bear", or "Goblin Bear". Add in the fact that Goblin was just another word for Elf, Fairy, Fey, Spirit, Gnome, Kobold, Dwarf... and you have a very interesting thing. Mix in the whole Hobgoblin thing and you have a whole other can of worms and how that is a specific Fairy's human title compared to his true name of Puck.

[@purplehaze2358]

If I recall correctly, "Beelzebub" is a corrupted form of the name of a pagan god which was used specifically and explicitly to mock said deity. I don't recall specifics, but I believe the original name was something a lot nobler, and the "zebub" part was a play-on-words due to it sounding similar to the actual suffix of its name.

[@Sanguivore]

The name “Ba’al Zevul/Zebul” would have been “Lord of Heaven”, which I believe was a Canaanite deity-so the name was likely corrupted from that mockingly by the Israelites.

[@saragos1216]

​@@Sanguivorezvul/zebul means garbage or dung heap in Hebrew, whereas zebub means fly (as in the insect). Ba'al was a Canaanite title essentially meaning "lord". The term Beelzebub is a corrupted form of the name "Ba'al Zebub" meaning lord of the flies, this was a way for ancient Israelites to mock their neighbours; implying their patron deity is fit only to rule over flies.

[@Sanguivore]

@@saragos1216 While I don’t speak Hebrew myself, everything I see on the Internet says “Ba’al Zevul” means Lord of Heaven/The Exalted Lord/Lord of the High Place. But everything else I certainly agree with~!

[@saragos1216]

@@Sanguivore I do speak Hebrew and never have I heard "zevul" or any possible spelling/pronunciation variant refer to "heaven". Perhaps it is some Canaanite language (they were very close to Hebrew) you're talking about but in regards to Hebrew I never heard it used that way.

[@Sanguivore]

@@saragos1216 Yeah, that’s certainly a possibility! It’s hard to determine the context in all the links I’ve read, but I do believe it is likely Canaanite rather than Hebrew! Thanks for your insight!

[@mooby1721]

Definitely needs a part 2

[@RP-Dai]

I would like a continuation of this video.

[@futurewario9591]

ESPER THE BARD: Why can't elves grow mustaches or beards in DnD? It would be so cool if elves can have mustaches or beards. Also can High Elves in DnD be yellow 💛 or orange 🧡 like High Elves in The Elder Scrolls?

[@bluecoconut9543]

I think wood elves are able to have beards in other ttrpgs I’ve see

[@kingsadvisor18]

So that you can tell who is a full blood Elf and who's a Half-Elf. It wasn't always a hard and fast rule but it became largely recognized in cannon after the introduction of a fan favorite character in the Chronicles of Dragonlance series, Tannis Halfelven. He was a Half Elf, obviously, and would take things from both sides of his family as he never truly felt at ease amongst humans or Elves, so decided to grow a beard since his half human blood allowed him to.

[@tasty_wind4294]

Because Gygax didn’t like Demi-humans, but other people convinced him to put them in anyway, so he just swiped them from Lord of the Rings (seriously, in the earliest versions of the game, what we now call “halflings” were still called Hobbits, until TSR got a cease and desist from the Tolkien estate)

[@futurewario9591]

@@tasty_wind4294 Can they be yellow 💛 or orange 🧡?

[@mitchryan257]

@@futurewario9591 in D&D, High Elves are separated into Sun Elves and Moon Elves. Sun Elves have a yellow skin undertone and light colored hair, while Moon Elves have a blue skin undertone and dark hair.

[@doxkowalski915]

I wrote my MA thesis on the historical depictions and evolution of European necromancy and can confirm your findings on the lich. Clark Ashton Smith is also, most likely, the one responsible for the stereotype of the necromancer as leader of a rotting undead army . There were mentions of necromancers, or necromancy, allowing for it earlier in history, but in ancient Greece it was more of a "that witch is terrible she could totally make an army of the dead" and in the medieval period it was "this illusory army made by demons will make for a fine party trick". Smith was the first who bluntly portrayed this ability as using corpses to exert physical power over the world on a large scale.

[@Sanguivore]

As an etymology nerd and aspiring linguistic anthropologist, this is super up my alley! :D I’d love to see more of these~!

[@viktordjambov1437]

please do more, this is awesome!

[@blakebailey22]

Great video! This is one of the most interesting D&D videos I've seen in a long time, I'd love to see more!

[@mitchryan257]

I find this all super fascinating. It also seems that Beelzebub, or Baal Zebul was a storm god and his name meant “Lord of the High.” I think the early Christians called him “Baal Zebub” as a play on words, basically calling him the lord of shit, lol. Baal Zebul also slayed a giant serpent called Lotan… similar to how the storm god Marduk killed the giant serpent Tiamat, or the storm god Indra killed the giant serpent Vrthra, or the storm god Tarhunt killed Illuyanka, Vahagn killed Vishap, Perun killed Veles, Zeus killed Typhon, Susanoo killed Yamata, Illapa killed Amaru, or how Thor killed Jormungandr. Possibly showing the migration patterns of our ancestors, bringing their beliefs with them as they expanded from Eurasia.

[@TooTiredToLife]

This is such a great video concept! It's neat to see where the monsters we have today came from. From the little I've read about Firbolgs in Irish mythology, I believe the "bag" part of their name refers to them carrying bags of fertile soil from other places (Greece I think?) That made things grow in Ireland!

[@MRDLT00]

I always love learning about the origins concepts used in media like creatures in D&D. Great video as always. :)

[@Cindolintoe]

Yeah, go ahead and make a series out of this. The etymology behind names is a fantastic subject, especially given the variety of cultures from which D&D draws.

[@po606]

I love this kind of video, big thumbs up from me!

[@philiphamel8504]

This was so cool. Id love to see a part two of this.

[@juliefaerae]

Would love a part 2, I geek out over this stuff

[@dplonker6140]

Lol I was just thinking about this today, particularly with how dnd has a funny habit of turning names for the same thing into unique monsters (demons and devils, types of undead etc)

[@jimwolford7294]

Nice, I hope that there is a part 2. Tiamat and Pazuzu could start off the next list.

[@timothyblinn9734]

If I remember correctly, a warlock was someone who could use magic and where exiled, so lock/loch could have some connection to exile but idk

[@Sanguivore]

Warlock comes from the Old English “wærloga,” which means “betrayer/denier of the covenant”-essentially an oathbreaker or traitor. The “-loga” (lock) part comes from “leogan,” which means “to deny or renounce.”

[@tommeakin1732]

"Warlock" (well, "wǣrloga" in Old English) means "oath-breaker, liar", with "wǣr" being one (of many) words for "truth, faith, fidelity, friendship, agreement, promise", and "loga" just meaning "liar" (I think etymologically linked to "liar").

[@WebHeadMike]

Keep at it Esper! I never can get enough of this

[@TheWarwulf]

Absolutely fantastic idea for a vid! Nice job.

[@esbenandersen2168]

I enjoy these types of videos. I fact this type of content is what makes me visit your channel regularly.

[@flashmog-joe903]

Loved this video, i always love seeing the mythological inspiration that helped to create what we have today

[@christosgiannopoulos828]

One of your best videos. I hope you make ones about other monsters too

[@Lucius_Tenebri]

This is fascinating, part two please.

[@mickmack1409]

agreed

[@DakJD]

Super interesting content. I love etymology and I'm always thinking about this kind of stuff when I named characters or places in my settings. Let's hear some more!

[@blackbarnz]

Yes I like it, amongst my favorites of yours & I've been here as long as you have. I knew quite a few but not all. Lich I knew the definition but really had forgotten but I didn't know how it ended up as a D&D monster. If I'm gonna use a monster in a game that I know is mythological or has folklore origin I look it up. Most of the time the real world myth has details I can use in game. Also generally speaking the real world story is usually better than the D&D cannon

[@MegaSharkX]

Would love to see more etymology of dnd monster videos

[@ForeShadow20]

Ask Tim Kask if you have any uncertainties, he has a youtube video and responds to all comments on his "Curmudgeon in the Cellar " videos (www.youtube.com/@kaskoid).

[@coda821]

Of course! This is great stuff. Gets the gears turning.

[@Oh_Its_That_Weirdo]

The "aar-" in Aarakocra might also come from German. "Aar" is the Middle High German word for eagle, though it's nowadays only used in terms of heraldry or place names; the word "Aar" otherwise having evolved into "Adler" in Modern German.

[@snazzmaw]

I'd love another video like this

[@RachDarastrix2]

0:07 What are this second group of horsemen fleeing from that is so terrifying they are running past the confused group of horsemen who are fleeing FROM the volcano?

[@Klaital1]

I did like this interesting, and would love to get more of these. Especially curious to see origins of more of the names for various demons and devils in d&d.

[@davezenz]

Loved it! Very interesting!

[@ytchanviewer5389]

Very interesting ! I'm up for more.

[@geoffreyperrin4347]

I find this quite fascinating

[@bartlester591]

Just so you know, warlock is actually a term coming from Celtic tradition and it refers to a witch who is an oathbreaker. Just thought you’d like to know that.

[@TheCobraCom]

Regarding your finishing question: Esper the Bard emanating something like Metatron vibes? What´s not to like?

[@jakobson_dreamer]

Hell yeah, we'd love a pt. 2

[@AttaMan]

I always assumed Balor had two eyes, and one was just being an eye patch.

[@mickmack1409]

Yes he had 2 eyes and one was a large, evil eye that was usually kept shut.

[@badnamebob]

Super interesting dude, more please!

[@stuffstuff6932]

Personally, I think its interesting. Would love to see more.

[@ABPAK1]

Great video hope to see more like this.

[@ottertvmtg6229]

yea, id love more of this

[@maykelgedeon]

Love these kinds of videos

[@berserkshirtbear1271]

The name thing is interesting, there are some i am really curious about but have not looked into like the gith

[@tsdted5029]

I think this is super fascinating

[@TheGenericavatar]

Demogorgon = people + stoned = stoned people ;)

[@HenriFaust]

"Shibboleth" is also an English word in modern usage. "Shibboleth" means a signifier used to distinguish an in-group from an out-group, particularly when that signifier takes the form of spoken language. This usage comes from a Biblical story where the pronunciation of "shibboleth" was used as the means to spot and exterminate the Tribe of Ephraim. A more modern historical example of a shibboleth would be the pronunciation of the word "white," that is, the exaggerated pronunciation of "huh-white," that Jim Crow Democrats used to advertise and organize in the Southern United States. Those who create shibboleths to demarcate the boundaries between in-group and out-group usually aren't kind and generous souls filled with compassion for their fellow man -- if you catch my drift -- though, this practice is fitting behavior for Aboleths and other clever D&D monsters.

[@djbirch8582]

i looked into the remorhaz a long time ago, but I couldn't find anything (I also didn't look that hard, i was just curious)

[@dimitriturner9026]

Good stuff, man.

[@bokakev]

Such a great idea for a video!

[@bokakev]

Could you imagine 500 years from now when linguists reference the great scholarly and distinguished academic school known as "Dungeons and Dragons"

[@cooldudereviews3523]

As a English major Im legally required to find this super interesting

[@roncummings-kralik4547]

That was fascinating!

[@WalkOnNick]

My vote is for more!

[@NathanielNow]

I think you should add the Bunyip to your list

[@cryptking6283]

There is a creature in Indian mythology that is exactly like a Beholder but the name is different. I would love to have more

[@user-nz7dd3sg5c]

Loved the video

[@geoaltman9344]

great subject!

[@cheeseburgerdave2463]

Make more like this plz❤

[@Skyharpy123]

Mephistopheles AKA "Little Sunshine."

[@bigterry5005]

dnd monsters are stored in the balls

[@sylvaincousineau5073]

Would like an other serving please , part 2 let go .

[@keyanblyler04]

Fascinating

[@ewokrothaar8434]

Impressive. Very nice.

[@matthewbailey376]

This is really cool

[@Dusty_Hikers]

More!

[@bryaneisenhart]

Oh Abyss Yeah! More more more!

[@LaneLibra]

Love it... make anudder 1

[@BalbazaktheGreat]

Cool video.

[@Rawilow]

This does interest me

[@TurboWulfe]

Dude ya if you can keep it going, thanks. 😎🤘🍻

[@fhuber7507]

good stuff

[@not-a-theist8251]

Leiche is the german word for corps. It's cognate with Lich!

[@TheKilogram1000]

Who is Agnes Scott? All I can find is a college online. This is very interesting lore.

[@esperthebard]

I did a bit of searching too, but haven't found anything yet.

[@jonispatented]

Baalzebul is actually the older name, meaning "The Lord on High." Baalzebub was a satirical twist of wordplay by the bible authors to diminish the importance of Baal to his worshippers, saying,"Your god isn't the lord of all, he's the lord of flies."

[@oldmanandrew]

Love it.

[@meking70]

Love IT!!!!!!!!!!

[@djinn6720]

Actually I was dissapointed by how much dnd lore lacks originality. But those few og creations are really good.

[@Sanguivore]

To be fair, D&D was never *meant* to be original. It was always an amalgamation and simulation of other things Dave, Gary, and their friends were into.

[@AndICanTalk2]

Awesome

[@tkc1129]

I enjoyed this video. :-)

[@reecerobin8413]

Weird decision to not put the names you're discussing on screen.

[@level9drow856]

Wouldn't it be cool if there was a TTRPG that had all fairly accurate depictions of mythological beings? Not necessarily in terms of stats and powers, bot more so in depictions and natures. I can't tell you how many times I've pulled my hair out at poorly depicted creatures in DnD (basilisks not being a serpent, Kobolds as little reptile dragons? REEALLY? They're just German gnomes. Various countless demon and devils, and many angelic beings as well. Chimeras don't have wings, neither to Manticores. Lamias are serpent like. Unicorns are more goatlike than horse like, etc...). When I was young I played 2nd Edition Advanced thinking I was entering thee quintessential fantasy world of myth, the longer I player the more I realized I wasn't. That's all I wanted to do and see, mythology and fantasy, not this other nonsense.