In Celtic folklore, the Irish: leannán sí "Barrow-Lover" (Scottish Gaelic: leannan sìth; Manx: lhiannan shee; [lʲan̴̪-an ˈʃiː]) is a beautiful woman of the Aos Sí (people of the barrow or the fairy folk) who takes a human lover. Lovers of the leannán sídhe are said to live brief, though highly inspired, lives. The name comes from the Gaelic words for a sweetheart, lover, or concubine and the term for a barrow or fairy-mound.
The leanan sídhe is generally depicted as a beautiful muse, who offers inspiration to an artist in exchange for their love and devotion; however, this frequently results in madness for the artist, as well as premature death. W. B. Yeats popularized a slightly different perspective on these spirits with emphasis on their vampiric tendencies:
The Leanhaun Shee (fairy mistress) seeks the love of mortals. If they refuse, she must be their slave; if they consent, they are hers, and can only escape by finding another to take their place. The fairy lives on their life, and they waste away. Death is no escape from her. She is the Gaelic muse, for she gives inspiration to those she persecutes. The Gaelic poets die young, for she is restless, and will not let them remain long on earth - this malignant phantom.
The leanan sídhe makes several appearances in The Dresden Files as Harry Dresden's Godmother, The Leanansidhe.
An alien leannan sìth appears in an episode of Star Trek: Deep Space Nine.
A character called Leanan Sidhe appears in a number of Atlus Megami Tensei games.
In Patrick O'Brian's historical novel The Commodore, Stephen Maturin refers to his daughter Brigid as a leana sidhe - the term being apparently used in early nineteenth century rural Ireland for children with what would now be called an autistic spectrum condition.
In Maggie Stiefvater's novel Ballad the gifted musician James Morgan meets a faerie, Nuala, who is a leanan sídhe.
Shakugan no Shana has a character called Spiral Organ who was once referred to as Leanan Sidhe. She was in love with a human painter.
There is a character in Julie Kagawa's Iron Fey series who is known as Leanansidhe.
Melissa Marr's Wicked Lovely series features the Leanansidhe.
Similar to Felurian from Patrick Rothfuss' novel The Wise Man's Fear.
In Robert Jordan's The Wheel of Time series known as Leane Sedai, one of the Aes Sedai based on the Irish Aes Sídhe. Leane, after undergoing a trauma, embraces her cultural upbringing, begins practicing the art of seduction, and takes a male guardian.[1]
In Persona 4 There is a persona called Leanansidhe.