While it’s tempting to think all ghosts are alike, the reality is far more varied. Here’s a quick list of the most common ones you might come across.
About The Ghosts
Ghosts, spirits, and specters are often believed to exist in a world separate from the living, occasionally crossing over to interact with us. According to many beliefs, they can appear in different forms—sometimes resembling a person, showing up as a faint image, or taking on other strange shapes. The idea stems from ancient beliefs that a person’s spirit exists independently of the body and might continue after death.
15 Different Types of Ghosts
1. Intelligent/Interactive Ghosts
Interactive ghosts or spirits are known for their ability to interact with the living. They might whisper, touch, leave smells like tobacco or perfume, or trigger emotions such as sadness or anger. Sometimes, they appear as visual apparitions or even move objects. These spirits are thought to be human souls, keeping their personality and free will. They often stay in a place for a reason—maybe linked to their death, a fondness for the spot, or a connection to someone or something there.
2. Residual Ghosts
Residual hauntings are like recordings of past events, with spirits repeating the same actions over and over. Unlike intelligent hauntings, these ghosts aren’t aware of the present and can’t interact with people. This links to the stone tape theory, which suggests environments can hold and replay moments tied to strong emotions or trauma. These hauntings are often connected to a specific event, usually the end of the spirit’s life. You might hear footsteps, music, or laughter—brief moments that fade quickly.
3. Poltergeists
Poltergeists, meaning “noisy ghost” in German, are known for physically interacting with the world—slamming doors, moving objects, flicking lights on and off, and even starting fires. Unlike quieter spirits, they make their presence very obvious. Poltergeists are often linked to things like Ouija boards, traumatic events, or witchcraft, and they can attach themselves to people, objects, or places. They’re not known for leaving on their own and often require cleansings or exorcisms to get rid of them.
4. Lady Spirits – Range of Colours
Female spirits are often recognised by the colour of their clothing, with white, black, and grey being the most common. However, sightings of women in other colours have also been reported, each tied to specific places or stories.
- Grey Ladies: These spirits are linked to sorrowful histories. Examples include Willard Library’s Grey Lady, thought to be the founder’s daughter, and Glamis Castle’s Grey Lady, believed to be Lady Janet Douglas, executed for witchcraft.
- White Ladies: Often connected to tragedy, like the White Lady of the Hellfire Caves in England, who died wearing a white dress, or the White Lady of St. Augustine Lighthouse in Florida, appearing during storms.
- Women in Black: These figures carry an air of mystery. Examples include the cloaked apparition at Norway’s Akershus Castle and the Victorian woman haunting Borgvattnet Vicarage.
- Blue Ladies: Rare and intriguing, they are linked to unresolved emotions. A young Blue Lady haunts Port Arthur, while Nashville’s Story Inn has its own Blue Lady, said to be the wife of Dr George Story.
- Green Lady: Château de Brissac’s Green Lady, Charlotte de Brézé, is said to roam the castle after her betrayal and murder. Witnesses report her hollow eyes leave a chilling impression.
- Red Ladies: Often tied to violent or unresolved events, like the Red Lady of Leap Castle, who holds a blade, or Pluckley’s Red Lady, searching for her child’s grave.
- Brown Lady: The Brown Lady of Raynham Hall, famously photographed, is thought to be Lady Dorothy Walpole, trapped in the hall by her jealous husband.
- Purple Lady: The Purple Lady of the Rio Grande Depot is said to haunt the café and platform after her tragic death on the tracks.
- Woman in Beige: At the Virginian Hotel, a woman in beige waits for her husband who never returned. Her grief reportedly led her to jump from a window, and she is still sighted there.
- Pink Ladies: Found in places like Stirling Castle and the Grove Park Inn, Pink Ladies are known for their calming presence, adding an unusual charm to ghost stories.
5. Banshees
Banshees are beings known for their haunting cry that foretells a family members imminent demise called ‘caoine’ or keening—it serves as a cautionary premonition signalizing impending tragedy, in the vicinity of loved ones about to pass away. These eerie apparitions are often described taking the form of a lady or as a figure draped in white with fiery red locks; alternatively manifest as an elderly woman, with crimson eyes adorned in long white tresses and attire of emerald hue. The ancient tale goes back as the 8th century when women were compensated with wine for singing mournful songs for the departed—a practice deemed taboo back then.
6. Revenants
Revenants haunted medieval villages with stories of fear and violence. Unlike demons, these physical ghosts shared traits with the Scandinavian draugr. The word “revenant” comes from old French, meaning “one who returns,” but they were far from the airy spirits of other folklore. Blamed for spreading disease and murder, revenants were thought to rise from those with dark pasts. Unlike ghosts seeking peace, they came back to settle scores or torment those they hated in life. Some accounts describe them as restless dead, returning after a violent death to wreak havoc on their enemies and their families.
7. Wraiths
Wraiths are feared beings that appear in the dead of night, marked by a sudden chill, heavy darkness, and an eerie sense of dread. These spirits are powerful and deeply melancholic. In Scottish folklore, wraiths are said to result from a witch or wizard’s failed attempt to cheat death or manipulate time through dark magic. While they may achieve immortality, it comes at the price of being cursed to wander endlessly between worlds, unable to pass into the afterlife. Trapped in this limbo, they exist in a grim half-life—a stark warning against meddling with forces best left alone.
8. Doppelgängers
Doppelgängers are eerie doubles of living people, often linked to bad luck or death. The word “doppelgänger,” meaning “double-goer,” came about in the late 18th century, though stories of spirit doubles have been around for thousands of years. They copy the person they resemble but sometimes act oddly, unsettling those who see them. Sightings happen in mirrors, crowds, or quick glimpses, earning them a reputation as shadowy lookalikes. In English and German folklore, seeing your own doppelgänger three times is said to predict death.
9. Crisis Apparitions
Crisis apparitions are ghostly sightings that occur during moments of intense grief or around the time a loved one passes away. These figures might appear, vanish, or even share a message as a final goodbye. Strangely, they often show up even when people are miles apart, offering an unexpected connection in times of loss. First documented in the late 19th century by paranormal researchers, thousands of cases have been recorded since. S
10. Shadow People
Shadow People are often described as shadowy figures glimpsed out of the corner of your eye, usually lingering in dark spaces or around corners. Rarely seen directly, they appear featureless, with faces that look like empty black voids. These figures are typically tall and unsettling, often giving off a strong, masculine vibe. Some theories claim they mimic human shapes but aren’t human—possibly something from another dimension. They seem more interested in watching than interacting and can’t be forced to leave. They go when they feel like it, and nothing seems to change that.
11. Apparitions
Apparitions are often described as spirits resembling living or deceased individuals. They may appear in specific clothing or show injuries connected to their lives, like Anne Boleyn at the Tower of London or the Grey Lady at Glamis Castle. They’re typically linked to places or events tied to their lives or deaths. Interestingly, not all apparitions involve the dead—parapsychologists also use the term for astral projections of living people. These might involve sightings where someone or something seems present but isn’t physically there. Apparitions of the dead are often called “ghosts,” and when paired with things like cold spots or strange noises, they’re usually labelled as “hauntings.”
12. Demonic Entities
Demonic entities are often described as beings that have never lived human lives. Many believe they are fallen angels—pure energy forms—that rejected divine authority. Unlike the spirits of the dead, demons are seen as otherworldly and incredibly powerful. They can cause physical and mental harm, attach themselves to objects or places, and even shift their appearance, often showing up as shadowy shapes indoors. These entities are thought to have harmful intentions and the ability to cause serious damage. It’s best to avoid provoking or confronting them.
13. Ghost Orb
Orbs are among the most frequently photographed paranormal phenomena, appearing as translucent spheres of light floating in the air. Some believe they represent the spirits of humans or animals moving through spaces. Their circular shape is thought to help them move quickly and may be an early stage before forming into a full apparition. Orbs in photos are usually white but can sometimes show up as blue. Their quick movement is especially noticeable when recorded on video.
14. Funnel Ghost
Funnel ghosts, also called vortex ghosts, are often connected to old buildings or homes they used to live in. These spirits are rarely seen but can be noticed through sudden cold spots or warm sensations. Their swirling, funnel-like shapes sometimes show up in photos. They’re generally harmless and less intense than other types of ghosts, usually sticking to indoor spaces rather than outside.
15. Ecto-Mist Ghosts
Ecto-mist ghosts, or ghostly mists, are a type of paranormal activity often described as swirling mist or fog. These vapours typically hover a few feet above the ground and can remain still or move quickly, sometimes in circles. They are often captured in photos and videos, appearing in shades of white, grey, or black. Although they disappear quickly, some believe they could be an early sign of a full-bodied ghost. Reports of these sightings are common outdoors, particularly in graveyards, battlefields, and historic sites.
FAQs
What is the most powerful ghost type?
Poltergeists are often considered the most powerful ghost type. They stand out for their ability to physically interact with their surroundings—moving objects, making loud noises, and even messing with electronics. Unlike other ghost types, poltergeists are tied to high energy and can create a strong sense of unease. While their strength can differ, they’re known to be some of the most disruptive entities in the paranormal world.
What is the scariest type of ghost?
The scariest type of ghost often depends on personal beliefs and experiences. Many people find demons or malevolent spirits the most unsettling. These entities are said to have harmful intentions and may cause physical or psychological harm. Their unpredictable behaviour and reports of possession or intense hauntings make them particularly disturbing for those who encounter them.
