Name

People/Region

Aarnivalkea (treasure fire)

Finland

Aku

West African

Aleya (marsh ghost light)

Bengal, S. Asia

Annequin

France

Anson Light

Texas, United States

Baie Chaleur Fireship

Canada

Bataklık yakamozu (phosphorescence in the swamp)

Turkey

Błędny ognik

Poland

Boddhisattva Lights

Tibet

Boitatá

Brazil

Bragg Road ghost light ( Light of Saratoga )

Texas, United States

Brown mountain light

North Carolina, United States

Brujas

Sierra Madre Occidental mountains, Mexico

Candileja

Colombia

Chinati Peak light

Presidio, Texas, United States

Chir Batti (Ghost light)

*         Chir Batti,

*         Chhir Batti

*         Cheer batti

Kutch district, Gujarat State, India

Cohoke light

Virginia, United States

Crossett Light

Arkansas, United States

Doggaebi bul

Korea

Dover Light

Arkansas, United States

Earthlights

*         Anomalous Luminous Phenomena

*         Unidentified Atmospheric Phenomena

*         Nocturnal lights

*         Geophysical meteors

Worldwide

Elbisch Feuer

Germany

El Jacho

Puerto Rico, Carribean

Electric balloons

Earthquake lights

North and South America, Europe

Eskuda'hit

Penobscot Indians of Maine, United States

Faeu boulanger

Guernesey

Fogos-Fátuos

Portugal and Brazil

Foo fighters

*         "balls of fire"

*         "balls of light"

*         "robombs"

*         "baka bombs"

*         "Betty bombers"

*         crazy bombs”

*         "kamikazes"

*         "search light fighters”

America, Europe, WWII

Flying Dutchman (ghost airship)

United States, Europe, Cape of Good Hope, South Africa.

Flying saucers

United States

Fuego Fatuo

Argentina, Uruguay

Fuegos fatuos

Spain

Fuoco fatuo

Italy

Gandaspati

Indonesia, especially Central Java

Genie

Arabia

Ghost fliers (ghost planes)

Worldwide

Ghost light, fire, flame

Worldwide

Ghost rockets

Scandinavia, WWII

Guǐ huǒ

China

Gurdon Spook Light

Arkansas, United States

Hebron Light

Maryland, United States

Hessdalen Lights

Hessdalen, Norway

Hitodama (literally "Human Soul" as a ball of energy), alt. names

*         Hi no Tama (Ball of Flame),

*         Aburagae,

*         Koemonbi,

*         Ushionibi

Japan

Hornet spook light with alternative names

*         "Seneca Light"

*         "Joplin Light"

*         "Hornet Light"

*         "Hornet Spook-light"

*         Joplin Spook-light"

*         "Hornet Ghost-Light"

*         "Tri-State Light"

*         "Tri-State Spook-light"

*         "Neosho Spook-light"

*         "Joplin Ghost-Light"

*         "Seneca Ghost-Light"

*         "Neosho Light"

Tri-State area between Missouri, Kansas, and Oklahoma

Irrbloss (a contraction of the words "irra" (wander randomly) and "bloss" (torch)

Sweden

Jinn

*         Djinn

*         Jinni

Arabia

John Craig light (burning ghost ship)

Chaleur Bay, New Brunswick, Canada

Ken Yang Ba-Shing

Taiwan

Kolli vai pisaasu

Tamil term, India

Kra Sue

Thailand

Kualele lights

Hawaii

Lân tinh

Vietnam

Lanterns of the chota admis

Darjeeling, India

Lidérc, fiery light, scattering flames

Hunagary

Liekkiö (ghost light)

Finland

Luz Mala (evil light)

Argentina

Maco lights

North Carolina, United States

Malduguns, translates roughly as deceiving (or misleading) fire

Latvia

Marfa lights

West Texas desert at the base of the Chinati Mountains

Martebo lights

Sweden

Mekong lights (Nekha lights)

Thailand, Laos

Min-min lights

Aborigine, Australia

Moody's Light

Indiana

Natural Self-Luminous Formations

Russia

Naga Fireballs

Nong Khai, Thailand

Onibi (ghost/demon fire

Japan

Orange ball of Light

Europe, United States

Orb

Europe, United States

OVNI

*         Objeto Volador No Identificado (Spanish: UFO)

*         Objet Volant Non-Identifié (French: UFO)

*         Oggetto Volante Non Identificato (Italian: UFO)

*         Objecto Voador Não Identificado (Portuguese: UFO)

South America, Europe

Ozark spook light

Missouri

Palatine/Princess Augusta (fiery ghost ship)

Block Island, off Rhode Island, New England, USA

Paasselkä devil

Finland

Paulding Lights

Michigan’s Upper Peninsula, between little towns of Watersmeet and Paulding. United States

Pennangal lights

Malaysia

Phantom Air Ships

North America

Phantom ship of Chaleur Bay (ghost ship)

Chaleur Bay, New Brunswick, Canada

Prague light

Prague

Quinn's light

Australia

Ropen light

Papua New Guinea Umboi Island

Ruskaly

Russia

Santelmo

Philippines

Seven year light of Bone hill

Bone Hill, Jackson county, Missouri, United States

Silver Cliff Cemetery Lights

Colorado, United States

Skinwalker Ranch lights

Utah, United States

Sky Creatures “Critters”

California, United States

Sky fish (biological flying entities)

United States

Space animals

United States Air Force

Spirit eaters

Wintu Indians, California, United States

St. Louis Light

Saskatchewan, Canada

Surrency Light

Surrency, Georgia.

Teazer light (ghost ship or supernatural light)

Mahone Bay off the coast of Halifax, Atlantic Canada

Unidentified Aerial Phenomena

Scientists, military, pilots (military and civilian), UK, United States

Unidentified Atmospheric Phenomena

Military, scientists & pilots, US & UK

Unidentified Flying Object (UFO)

Worldwide

Vacuum domains

Scientists, Russia

Virvatuli (flickering fire)

Estonia, Finland

Waterville Spooklights,

Washington, United States

Witte wieven (white women)

Twente, Netherlands

Yakima Lights

Washington, United States

Yan-gant-y-tan

Breton, France

Žaltvykslė, (translates roughly as blinking green light).

Lithuanian

Please note that some of the above light phenomena are the same as the light phenomena known as Will-o'-the-wisp and St Elmo’s fire, other examples are described as ghost lights and balls of light or balls of fire.

A fake Will o Wisp, made by burning a piece of birch bark at floating piece of wood. Colours of fire are changed. Licence: fair use (cf. Wikipedia). User: Tuohirulla

The light phenomena traditionally called Will-o'-the-wisp or ignis fatuus (Latin, from ignis, "fire" + fatuus, "foolish"), is a folklore depiction of ghostly light sometimes seen at night or twilight over bogs, swamps, and marshes. It resembles a flickering lamp and is sometimes said to recede if approached. Much folklore surrounds the phenomenon.

The following is a collection of names concerning the Will-o'-the-wisp lights coined around the early 19th Century in Europe. These names were never used among the Latin speaking peoples and represent traditional beliefs and oral narrative concerning luminous anomalies.

Name

Billy of the wisp
Billy-wi'-t-Wisp
Kitty with the wisp
Kitty-wi'-the-wisp
Waller-Wups
Will a' wisp
Will-in-a-wisp
Will o' wisp
Will-o'-the-wisp
Will of the wisp
Will o' the Wykes
Will the wispe
Will with a wisp
William with a wispe
Willy-ba-wisp
Willy wisp
Wull-er-de-Wust
Wull-er-de-wusses
Wull-er-de-Wuts
Jack-o'-lantern
Jack-a-lantern
Jack and lantern
Jack-a-t-wad
Jack i' the lantern
Jack in a lanthorn
Jack in the lantern
Jack-me-lantern
Jack-me-lantun
Jack-muh-lantern
Jack-o'-lantern
Jack-o'-my-lantern
Jack-o'-the-lantern
Jack of the lantern
Jack-o'-lattin
Jack of the wad
Jack o' t' wad
Jack Polant
Jack the lantern
Jack with a lantern
Jack with a lanthorn
Jack-w'-a-lanthorns
Jack with his lantern
Jacker-mer-lantern
Jacket-a-wad
Jacketawad
Jacky lantern
Jacky lanthorn
Jacky-ma-lantun
Jacky-mi-lantuhns
Jac-y-lantern
Lantern-Jack
man-jacky
woman-jacky

Hinkypunk
Hob with a lantern
Hob-with-a-lantern
Hoberdy's lantern
Hoberdy's lanthorn
Hobbledy's lantern
Hobby lantern
Hob of the lantern
Hobbady-lantern
Hobbady's lantern
Hob-lantern
Hob-lanthorn
Hob-lantan
Hobby Lantan
Hob with the lantern
Hob wi' the lantern
Hob with 'e lantern
Hob 'ithe lantern
Hobbedy's lantern
Hobby lanthorn
Hobany's lantern
Hobany's lanthorn
Hob and his lantern
Hob-puck
Hob and his lanthorn

Misc. English names

Bad weather lights
Bailey's light
Balls of fire
Blue Jim
Brenning-drake
Burnt-Tail-Jinny
Dank Will
Devil's lantern
Dick a Tuesday
Drach
Dragon
Ephraim's light
The Farmer's lantern
Floating light
The Friar
Friar rush
Friar's lantern
Gealbhain
Gealbhan (Scottish)

Ghost lights
Ghost riders (Johny Cash ballad)
Gill burnt tail
Gill of the burnt tail
Gillion a burnt-tail
Gillion a burnt taile
Gwyllion
Gyl burnt tayle
Indian lights
Jack Harry's light
Jemmy Burty
Jenny Burntail
Jenny Burnt-tail
Jenny Burnt-arse
Jenny Pinket
Jenny-with-the-lantern
Jenny wi' the lantern
Jenny-wi'-t'-lantern
Jild burnt tail
Jinn with the burnt tail
Jinny Burntail
Joan in the wad
Joan the wad
Kit in the candlestick
Kit of the candlestick
Kit with the candlestick
Kitty candlestick
Lampmen
Lantern of Maracaybo
Lantern man
Lode light
Miscann Many
Peg-a-lantern
Peggy-lantern
Phantom light
Pinket
Pinkit
Sam's Lantern
Spirit light
Spook lights

Spunkies (Lowland Scotland)
Sylens
Syleham lights
Sylham lamp

Teine Sith/Tiene Sith or "Fire Faery" (Hebrides, Shetland, and Orkney, Scottish Islands)
Texas Mystery lights
Treasure lights
The Wat
Weize
Welsh lights
Whitburn lights

death fires
elf-fire
elf-fire of Pergatorie
Fairy fire
Fiery dragon
Fire-drake
Marsh fires
walking fire
Wander Ships
wandering fire
wandering wildfires
Witch fires
Candles of St.David
Canwyll corph (Welsh)
Canwyll yr ysbryd (spirit candles, Welsh)
Canwyll yr ysbryd glan (Holy Ghost candles, Welsh)
corp-candle
corpse-candles

Corpse fire
corpse flames
corpse light
deadmen's campfires
deadmen's lights
death-candle
death light
fetch candle
fetch light

Fairies

Aw-puck
Bog-sprite
colpexy
Ellyldan (Welsh)
Fenny Campton ghost
Hinky-Punk
Mab
pexy
picksy
piskies
pigseys
pigsies
pixies
poake
pouk
Puck
pwca
pwcca
pwka
Robin Goodfellow
Spunkie

Teine Sith (Hebrides, Shetland, and Orkney, literally fire fairy)
Water-skeerie
Yr Ellyll Dan (Welsh)

St Elmo’s Fire

St. Elmo's Fire is an electrical discharge observed around masts, poles, and spires causing ionisation of the surrounding atmosphere. It often produces crackling noises as well as giving rise to luminous displays often described as fireworks, jets, stars, corona, streams, or sparking. St. Elmo's Fire can cause radio disturbances, but is often taken to be a good sign, because it occurs at the end of thunderstorms, hence signifying clearer weather to come. As St. Elmo is the patron saint of sailors, the sailors took it to be a sign of St. Elmo appearing to them, and gave it its common name. Often mystery lights are dismissed as St Elmo’s fire and hence this distinct light phenomena has a place alongside Will-o'-the-wisp in traditional folklore.

ampizant
Capra Saltante
Castor and Pollux
comasants
comazant
complaisance
composant
Cora de Nossa Senhora
Corbie's Aunt
cormazant
corposant
corpo santo
corpusanse
corpusant
Cuerpo Santo
Elmo vuer
Faier Ledas twinnes
Fermies' fire
Feu de Helene
flamme lambentes
Friede feuer
Helena
Helenen feuer
Heleneneld
Helle and Phryxus
Hermes
La feu des Gabiers
Leda's twins
Sintelmsvuur
St.Anselm
St.Claire
St.Elemi
St Elias feur
St.Elmo's fire
St.Elmo's stars
St.Ermo
St.Ermyn
St.Helene
St.Helena
St.Helm
St.Helme's fire
St.Herbe
St.Herme's fire
St.Hermes
St.Nicholas' fire
St.Peter's fire
St.Telme's fire
San Pedro de Gonzales
Santelmo
Telonia (Greek)
veirlysvree
vuuren
wetter licht
zee licht

Dutch

Dwaallicht (wandering light)

dwallichtje
dwaallich
dwaallichje
dwaallichie
dwaallichien
dwaallichkes
dwaallichtie
dwaallichtjen
dwaallech
dwaallechjen
dwaallecht
dwaallechtken
dwaalleecht
dwaalleeg
dwaalleegske
dwaalleegter
dwaalljocht
dwaallochie
dwaallochien
dwaallocht
dwaallochtie
dwaall(oe)chjen
dwaalluchie
dwaallucht
dwaalluchtje
dwaillicht
dwaollicht
dwaollich
dwaollichje
dwaollichie
dwaollichien
dwaollichtsjen
dwaollech
dwaollechje
dwaollechjen
dwaollecht
dwaollechtie
dwaollocht
dwaolloch
dwaollochie
dwaoll(oe)cht
dwaoll(oe)chtie
dwaolluchien
dwaolluchjen
dwaolluchje
dwaollucht
dwa(oa)llicht
dwollich
dwoolleech
dwooleicht
dwoollicht
dwoollochien
dwullicht
dwillichtt
dwilljocht
dwylljochtsje
dwaellicht
dwaellichtje
dweollicht

Dwaaslicht

dwaasleech
dwaasleecht
dwaesleegh
dwazelicht
dwazelich

Waaslicht

waasleegt
waasleicht
wazelicht
wazelit
wazeleeg
wazeleejt

Wildelanteern

wilde lantaarn
wylde lantearn
wylde lantea(r)ne
wielde lanteern
wylde lanteerne
wielde lanteerne
wielde lantiene

Doodkaars

doodkeers
doodkeersje
doodkeerse
doodskeers
doodkers
dookeers
dookeerse

Stalkaars

stalkaarske
stalkaerse
stalkaesse
stalkars
stalkarse
stalkeers
stalkeerskep
stalkees
stalkeies
stalkeisse
stalkers
stalkerske
stalkaerske
stalkes
stalkeske
stalkesep
stalkisse
stalkjes
stalkjesken
stallekjesken
steilkaars
steilkars
steilkees
stelkaars
stelkars
steltkaars
steltkars

Spooklicht

spooklichtje
spooklecht
spooklich
spookleech
spookluchtje
spoeklicht
spoeklochtp
spoeklochie
spouklicht

Vuurman

veurman
vuurmenneke
vuurmannetje brandende
vuurmanvurige man
vurige
vuurkel

Gleunigekerel

glinnekerel
glennigekerel
glendkerl
glendekereltje
glenekirl
glunigekerel
gleunigekerel
gleunigekerl
gleunigekeerl
gloonigenkeal
gleuigekerl
gleuigekeerl
gleujende landmeter
gluende kerel (u w/ umlaut)
gleujende kealvurige kel (u w/ umlaut)

Gloeiigeman

gloeiend menneke
gloeiende man
gloeiende paap
gloeiende landmeter
gloeiige man

Brandendescheper

gloeiegeschepe
gloeiendescheper
gloiende scheper
brandende herderd
walende schepe
verbrande scheper

Misc. Dutchnames

nachtlicht
nachtluchtje
daalleech
doalleech
tdoolleegt
doollicht
dwarrellicht
dwarrellichie
dwarlochien
dwarloch
tdwaalgeest
dwaalster*
glimhout
glimlicht
glimlochie
glimuilbrandende
kaars
kaarsspook(k)eers
wandelende kaars
verkeersel
weergekeerseld
waalempkenacht lampje
laempielanteern
falske lantearne

German

br(ue)nniger mann
Bergmonchen
Der ewige Jude
Dickepoten
drak
dwellicht
dwerlicht
elflicht
feuergeister
feuermann
feurig gehn
feuriger mann
fuchtelmann
geisterlicht
gloiniger man
heerwisch
hirrlig-spor
hroe-lios (Old Norse)
hroevar-lios
"hroevar-eld "
irreding
irrlicht
irrwisch
irwisch
laufende fackels
malgenfur
tuckebold
tukkebode
vafr-logi (Old Norse)
vafrloga
wiesenhupfer
zeusler
zundler
zunsel-gespenst
zunsler

Icelantic

Loka daun
malmlogi
vafurlogi

Danish

blaasmand
lygte-maend
lygtemand
vaettylis
vatte-lys

Noregian

lyktemenn

Vettelys

Vaette Lys

Swedish

lys-eld
lyktgubbe

lyktgubbar

French

dipsas
fuoleeclaireur
farfadet
fifollet
feu folet (literally merry fires)
feu follet
feux follet
flambars
flammerole

furole
furolle
fourolleles
lumerottes (Flanders)
Looke furole
Porte-brandon
sauterai

Irish

Buitseach
dreag
dreug
driug
drook
Foidin Seachrain
Liam na lasoige
Manadh bais
Ghradh
Sean na gealaige
solus adhlaic
solus an traigh
solus bais
solus biorach
solus corp
solus spiorad
solus taisg(stray sod)
teine adhlaic
teine biorach
teine mor
teine Seannachain
teine Seonaid
teine side
teine Sionnachain
teine sionniic

Spanish

Brujas

Foc follet (Catalan Countries)
fuego errante
fuego fatuo
La luz del llano
Tlaciques

Italian

Cularsi
fuochi fatui lambenti
Mirichicchui

Hungarian

liderclidercfeny (also an Incubus)
lidercnyomas*
ludverc
mit-mitke
svecar
vodyi mulengre
zmaj

Bulgarian

zmej
zmeici

References

Lindell J A, The Ignis Erraticus, IU Folklore Institute, link

Palmer S B, The Earth's Anomalous Lightforms, link

Will-o'-the-wisp, Zamp Wikipedia, link

Earthlight Theories and Explanations, International Earthlight Alliance link