You could be forgiven for thinking that Princess Mononoke refers directly to a person, like Prince Harry or Prince Fielder. However, the term Mononoke is not a name but the Japanese word for a spirit or monster. A mononoke is a supernatural shapeshifting being – more human in aspect than the Oni demon or Kitsune animal spirit, and one of the many mythical creatures central to Japanese folklore.
Part of the confusion surrounding the film’s title also lies in the translation of the Japanese title Mononoke Hime, into the English language Princess Mononoke. There’s not really a way to translate the title’s nuance simply, and of course English Subtitles for a title such as this don’t help.