The name comes from H.P. Lovecraft's short story The Call of Cthulhu, first published in 1928, which introduced the ancient cosmic entity Cthulhu and a worldview in which humanity is small beside vast, indifferent forces. Over the following decades the creature became a shorthand symbol for cosmic horror in books, games, films and internet culture, even for people who have never read the original story. Short clips carrying the name are now shared on soundboards for quick horror moments, because the reference alone signals dread, mystery and something far older than the characters on screen.