Which Jujutsu Kaisen Characters Names Come From Mythology?

If I had to be concise and pragmatic about it, the characters whose names most obviously come from older myths or folklore are: Sukuna (from the legendary Ryōmen Sukuna of Japanese lore), Dagon (named for the ancient Near Eastern/Philistine deity), Mahoraga (echoing Buddhist/Hindu serpent-deity terms), and Nue (the classic Japanese yokai that appears as one of Megumi's summons). Beyond those, a lot of other names in 'Jujutsu Kaisen' are inspired by ritual, folklore, or mythic imagery rather than being direct lifts — names like Hanami evoke cultural practices and natural symbolism rather than a single deity.

I enjoy how the naming choices do double duty: they give characters an instantly resonant tone (ancient, monstrous, ritualistic) and reward people who like to dig into etymology and myth. It makes rewatching feel fresh, and I find myself spotting a new reference every few episodes — keeps the series tasty for longtime fans, in my book.

Every rewatch of 'Jujutsu Kaisen' turns into a little archaeology dig for me — the way Gege Akutami sprinkles myth and folklore into names is one of my favorite details. The most obvious one is Sukuna: his full historical reference is ryōmen sukuna, a two-faced, two-bodied oni-like figure from Heian-period legends. Seeing that name slapped onto the King of Curses makes perfect sense — both are terrifying, ancient, and wrapped in lore. I love how the series leans on that mythic weight to make Sukuna feel like more than just a villain; he reads like folklore walking around in modern clothes.

Another clear borrow is Dagon, whose name comes straight from an ancient Near Eastern deity often associated with fish or grain (and later linked to Philistine tales). In 'Jujutsu Kaisen' the curse Dagon embodies overwhelming, otherworldly aquatic power — the name is a neat, recognizable shorthand for an old-sea menace. Then there’s Mahoraga: in Buddhist and Hindu contexts, mahoraga (or mahoraga-like beings) are serpent or naga-associated figures. The shikigami/technique connections in the series that reference Mahoraga feel like deliberate nods to that snake/serpent deity vibe — a great fit for something resilient and ancient.

I also like the smaller, subtler pulls from folklore: Megumi’s use of 'Nue' (the chimera-like yokai from Japanese stories) as part of his Ten Shadows repertoire is a cool, culturally specific reference — Nue in myths is part-monkey, part-tanuki, part-tiger and generally spooky, so it suits a summoned creature. Some curse names like Hanami borrow more from cultural words and rituals (hanami is literally flower-viewing) rather than a single myth, but they still evoke images from folklore and ritual. Overall, the show mixes clear-name lifts like Sukuna and Dagon with looser, thematic uses of mythic concepts, making the world feel layered. I always end up pausing during the credits to look up one more origin story — it’s half-university course, half-fan rabbit hole, and I love it.