A Zombie By Any Other Name?

At this point in human history, what would you call a being who is technically dead, but still upright and  moving--sometimes slowly, sometimes fast--with no brain function, but an unsatiable hunger for human flesh?

That's right, a ZOMBIE.

So, why is that authors always come up with alternate names for zombies in their books?  It drive me nuts!

They have been called WALKERS, HUNGRIES, ZOMS (at least this one is close), THE INFECTED, UNMENTIONABLES, and THE UNCONSECRATED.  These are just the ones I could think of off the top of my head, I am sure there are many, many more.

Here's a great list of names for zombies that they use on The Walking Dead that they shouldn't (thank you Buzzfeed)!

I don't know if these authors are trying to set their zombie apocalypse in an alternate reality, but I can tell you that if I see a shambling, dead looking figure coming towards me, I will scream ZOMBIE!!

What are other names for zombies, or other creatures, you have seen that make you scratch your head?