What are nature spirits usually depicted as beautiful maidens called?

The story behind the answer

Nymphs are the nature spirits of Greek mythology, usually portrayed as beautiful, youthful maidens who personify features of the natural world—springs, trees, mountains, and seas. The term comes from the Greek nýmphē, meaning “bride” or “young woman,” reflecting their lively, alluring presence. They often accompany gods like Artemis and Dionysus and appear in tales where deities such as Apollo or Pan pursue them.

Know the subtypes: Naiads (freshwater), Dryads (trees), Oreads (mountains), and Nereids (sea). That’s why Dryads is too narrow—dryads are tree nymphs, a subset of Nymphs. Sylphs are Renaissance air spirits, not Greek, and Elves are from Germanic myth. Memory tip: Nymphs = “nature’s brides,” with Dryads as the “tree brides.”