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Character Name Generator

Names and role prompts for your whole cast.

  1. Lirek CranebyA cheerful siege engineer who refuses to leave anyone behind

  2. Berenwig XI of Clan CorirowA pious sovereign choosing between love and the throne

  3. Lavilar Longgate the DauntlessAn overlooked monster hunter guarding a child who isn't theirs

  4. Gulloel of WilfieldA soft-spoken cartographer who keeps every promise, especially the cruel ones

  5. Henra of Clan MorondA frail herbalist with a map to somewhere that shouldn't exist

  6. Lavian Wolfwick, NimblefootA grinning glassblower paying off a debt one heist at a time

  7. Adane of House VaroenceA bored patron of the arts trying to buy a seat on the council

  8. Juseano of CorcombeAn untested beekeeper who failed the test everyone else passed

  9. Garilulf of Clan HalmontA disgraced stablehand who believes they are saving the world

  10. Iolniow of BramthorpeA soft-hearted ferryman repaying an old debt by teaching

  11. Lodraell Stormwater the KindAn idealistic sellsword afraid of the thing they do best

  12. Niawen Tamwood the LuckyA battle-weary royal taster with a sword they're not allowed to draw

  13. Treith Hawkmore the PaleA ruthless toll-keeper planning a very patient revenge

  14. Lirniys OakcroftAn underfed border scout playing both sides

  15. Tavis of ThorntonAn exiled falconer dying, and telling no one

  16. Sveninvard of Clan MortonA sentimental court scribe trying to bring someone back from the dead

  17. Miraella WolfcombeA forgotten lamplighter building something beautiful and terrible

  18. Caslien of FalburyAn illegitimate monarch of a sunken city facing a prophecy of their downfall

  19. Dorella of House SelmontA principled baronet plotting to win back the family seat

  20. Wildevard of WessteadA generous hedge witch who cannot forgive one mistake

Export list

Each name comes with a one-line role prompt. Pick a genre and a role, or keep the role on Any for a mixed cast.

How to use the character name generator

  1. Pick a genre: fantasy, sci-fi, modern or historical.
  2. Choose a role (hero, villain, mentor, rogue, noble or royal), or leave it on Any for a mixed cast.
  3. Tap Generate. Every name comes with a one-line prompt to start the character; Epithet under More options turns titles such as "the Steadfast" on or off.
  4. Tap ☆ to keep a name. Favourites follow you to every generator on the site, and Export saves your cast as a text or CSV file.

How the names are built

Each genre draws on a different source. Fantasy names come from our own human grammar in three regional styles (northern, southern and coastal), with English-style place surnames and noble houses. Sci-fi names use a separate grammar of short, crisp syllables and colony surnames, sometimes with a call sign. Modern names are real, common names taken from US Social Security baby-name data and the 2010 US Census surname list, so every combination is an ordinary name a real person could have. Historical names come from our medieval models, trained on names in English, French and German records, and each one is labelled historical (it appears in the records) or invented.

The role changes more than the prompt. Nobles take a house name where the genre has one, royals sometimes take a regnal number ("Aldric III"), and fantasy and historical characters can earn an epithet. The list on this page opens with Lirek Craneby: A cheerful siege engineer who refuses to leave anyone behind

Names that fit the role

  • Heroes work best with names that are short and easy to say, because readers repeat them hundreds of times. A rare letter or an unusual ending is enough to make one memorable.
  • Villains are often more frightening with a soft, ordinary name than with a hiss of z's and x's. A pleasant name on a cruel person creates tension the reader feels.
  • Mentors suit names that sound a little old-fashioned, or names other characters shorten out of affection.
  • Rogues live on aliases. Give them a real name and a working name, and let the gap between the two tell part of the story.
  • Nobles and royals are defined by family. Readers will remember the house long after they forget the given name, so make the surname the strong part.

Role prompts

Each prompt joins three parts: a trait ("reluctant", "soft-spoken"), an occupation or role that suits the genre (a river pilot in fantasy, a hull welder in sci-fi, a night-shift baker in a modern story) and a hook ("who owes money in four cities"). The parts are written by us and combined at random, so the same name can arrive with a different life each time. Use the prompt as a starting point, not a rule: many writers find that a character only feels right once they have argued with the first idea.

Where each genre's names come from

GenreWhere the names come fromExamples
FantasyOur human fantasy grammar (northern, southern, coastal styles) with English-style, place and house surnamesEirwa of Thornfield, Lirniek Hawkmore, Eirogar of Clan Aldiard
Sci-fiOur sci-fi grammar: short, crisp names; invented or hyphenated colony surnames; call signsCyrnov of Tessera Ring, Bexia Arknoax-Ostriard, Ezrsis Zantard
ModernReal, common names: US Social Security baby-name data (1950s–2010s) and the 2010 US Census surnamesDrawn from public lists, so any combination is an ordinary real name
HistoricalMedieval English, French and German names from three record editions, real and invented, with by-namesSee the Medieval Name Generator for the sources

Fantasy and sci-fi examples are generated at build time with fixed seeds.

More character names

Fantasy, feminine

  1. Evenna VII Shellsands
  2. Morell Wavewell the Unforgiven
  3. Evera Langwell
  4. Wulfa of House Darley
  5. Gisga of Wesby
  6. Owanoryn Heronshore, Coinflip
  7. Isarietta Greyden, Nimblefoot
  8. Valaina of House Malence
  9. Alohild Brackby the Fair
  10. Iolwyn of Dunbridge
  11. Iolloryn Oakmore
  12. Luveanthe of House Garrow
  13. Pelina Whiteward
  14. Thorvea of House Varowick
  15. Oraella of House Breviwick
  16. Brya Tidemouth
  17. Harhild V of Clan Ashine
  18. Ulfburh of Clan Ashiell
  19. Lirawyn of Thornminster
  20. Octanthe of House Halell
  21. Norohild of Langcombe
  22. Adara VI Oakholt
  23. Iolwen of Halbridge
  24. Edhild of House Osrow
  25. Nelle Ashridge the Weary
  26. Ingburh of House Belmont
  27. Neana Saltbay, Silvertongue
  28. Oworyn Foamcrest
  29. Gwenna Tidebay the Builder
  30. Ulfaburh of Marbridge

Fantasy, masculine

  1. Nicos of House Ravell
  2. Sigmund of Calbury
  3. Orel of Bramwick
  4. Inglar of Selwick
  5. Henlamar of House Cormont
  6. Eirow of Langdale
  7. Balwald Craneholt
  8. Evelan Coverock the Knife
  9. Damaros of House Darric
  10. Ruander of House Torley
  11. Fenimund Hartridge
  12. Veserel Ravenhurst, Locksong
  13. Coraro of Thornton
  14. Wulfenmar of House Ravarois
  15. Leofared Fenridge
  16. Darec of Dunfield
  17. Cyrarel VI of Falwick
  18. Ower Ashcombe
  19. Elander of House Torton
  20. Iolaner of Stanhaven
  21. Eadric VI of Clan Breviard
  22. Evaek X Millhaven
  23. Sigard Langdale
  24. Bryock Redmore
  25. Eadunwig Redbury
  26. Ingwig of House Evarine
  27. Eirvell of House Verenley
  28. Fenbewald of House Malard
  29. Sabveano Bramstead the Young
  30. Renwaell of Falthorpe

Sci-fi

  1. Kaelzeyn Valtaova-Jaxcor
  2. Ilosis “Wren” Fenova VII
  3. Axi Vosova
  4. Solius Jaxoell-Tevtayx
  5. Orinaen Tevraok
  6. Ceax “Ledger” Corard
  7. Zialo “Lucky” Kairard-Arkek
  8. Ceix “Glass” Ulracor-Talax
  9. Talnoena Corast
  10. Evo “Rook” Vosura II
  11. Dovkai Fenax-Korrin
  12. Kaelrien of Vesta Habitat
  13. Rhorine “Lucky” Reyren
  14. Zedor “Tinker” of Cinder Spire
  15. Nya “Cipher” Valiast
  16. Tavelle Nyent IX
  17. Cyrloen Coryx-Lorova
  18. Dovo “Tally” Jaxiren
  19. Ziakae “Tinker” Merax
  20. Dekia Ostocor
  21. Rhoel of Halcyon Colony
  22. Talix Moxcor-Belani
  23. Evi “Lucky” Belren-Moxriani
  24. Evix of Arden Belt
  25. Kitis “Ledger” Korren-Drataova
  26. Dovisa “Cipher” Kairin-Reycor
  27. Orinae Haloax-Dezverin
  28. Roen of Kestrel Drift
  29. Kaex Sevast-Lornoard
  30. Bexisa “Sparrow” Drarin-Tevrin

Modern

  1. Natalia Espinoza
  2. Don Ryan
  3. Alison Cortez
  4. Alisha Li
  5. Lynn McKinney
  6. Natalie Jenkins
  7. Duane Hayes
  8. Jill Serrano
  9. Bailey Greer
  10. Bryce McCarthy
  11. Julian Newton
  12. Serenity Lozano
  13. Nathan Hicks
  14. Jackson French
  15. Olivia Montgomery
  16. Kim Harrison
  17. Margaret Hoffman
  18. Victoria Benson
  19. Sarah Valencia
  20. Sherry Haynes
  21. Norma Sanchez
  22. Claire Evans
  23. Aimee Bradley
  24. Jenna Porter
  25. Greg Russell
  26. Dan Bowen
  27. Heather Tate
  28. Luna Lawson
  29. Jorge Gross
  30. Jeff Olson

Historical

  1. Andrew Bakester
  2. Lovecok VI Robert
  3. Alice le Rous, Blackheart
  4. Perre le Ravetier
  5. Thomas de Newsom the True
  6. Ralph Long
  7. Souplice de Lille
  8. Agnès la Poissonnière
  9. Anfroi le Gantier
  10. Heini Swend
  11. Avice del Park
  12. Ysabel de Laingni the Learned
  13. Raoul le Gros, Coinflip
  14. Lüti Wüst
  15. Laurence X Spenser
  16. Felix Stuki
  17. Enna X del Wode
  18. Herew Ryder
  19. Jeclaus von Andolfingen the Just
  20. Chrise Thomson
  21. Jechman Wetzel
  22. Juline la Couturière the Gilded
  23. Grethrin Kriegin
  24. Elsbeila II Heingarterin
  25. Magnese Wynter
  26. Agart de Provins the Generous
  27. Saret de Keswyk
  28. Beilara Meigerin
  29. Amelis la Fournière, Halfpenny
  30. Ulrichelm Studer the Silent

Tips for naming a cast

  • Vary the first letters. If your three main characters are Mara, Mira and Mason, readers will mix them up. Give each lead a different initial and a different number of syllables.
  • Say every name out loud. If you stumble, so will your readers and your players.
  • Search before you commit. A quick web search shows whether a name already belongs to a famous person or a well-known character.
  • Think about who chose the name. Parents name babies for their own reasons: fashion, family, hope. A name that says something about the parents adds a layer for free.

For game masters

Keep a short list of spare names behind the screen. When the players ask the innkeeper's name, you want an answer in two seconds, not a pause. Generate twenty, star the ones that fit your world, and export them before the session. The favourites list keeps names from every generator on the site in one place, so your tavern keeper, your villain and your elven envoy can all be ready together.

Frequently asked questions

How do I come up with a good character name?

Start with the character's world and family, then the sound. Decide where they grew up and who named them, pick a genre and a role here, and generate a list. Read the names aloud, keep the two or three that feel right, and live with them for a day before you choose.

What makes a good villain name?

One that the reader can remember and say without effort. Many memorable villains have plain or even gentle names; the menace comes from what they do. Set the role to Villain for names with a matching prompt, and try a few with the epithet switched on.

Are the modern names real?

Yes. Modern given names come from the US Social Security Administration's baby-name data (every name in the top 150 for its sex in any decade from the 1950s to the 2010s) and surnames from the 2010 US Census. Famous full names, such as well-known actors and athletes, are blocked.

Can I use these names in my book or game?

Yes, free, for any use including commercial work: novels, comics, games and streams. Names are generated and we claim no rights in them. If you plan to use a name as a product or brand name, check that nobody already holds it as a trademark.

Is anything I generate saved or sent anywhere?

No. The generator runs entirely in your browser, with no AI service and no server involved. Favourites are kept in your browser's own storage on your device, and you can export or delete them at any time.

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