Name generator
Orc name generator with deed names and clans
Twenty orc names per click. First names blend two blunt beats from this page's syllable lists; deed names join a thing to what was done to it; a clan can follow. Choose grim, wild, comic or noble for raiders, hill clans, misfits or honourable chiefs.
These are 20 seeded examples. Press Generate for a new batch.
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Little DurzlokLittle opening syllable + ending
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Hraggar of the Split Moon Clanopening syllable + ending of the clan describing word + clan emblem Clan
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Zoggar of the Starving Spear Clanopening syllable + ending of the clan describing word + clan emblem Clan
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Murgza Boarbiteropening syllable + ending (second set) + deed name, first half + deed name, second half
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Tuskcracker the Blightdeed name, first half + deed name, second half the byname
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Zargnakopening syllable + ending
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Throgra Skullheweropening syllable + ending (second set) + deed name, first half + deed name, second half
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Shakgar the Giggleropening syllable + ending the byname
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Ugashopening syllable + ending
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Rukbur Axekeeperopening syllable + ending + deed name, first half + deed name, second half
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Ruktar of the Screaming Tusk Clanopening syllable + ending of the clan describing word + clan emblem Clan
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Krazak of the Lone Antler Clanopening syllable + ending of the clan describing word + clan emblem Clan
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Ograk of the Broken Horn Clanopening syllable + ending of the clan describing word + clan emblem Clan
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Dregdra Boarhowleropening syllable + ending (second set) + deed name, first half + deed name, second half
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Gormash Wolfburneropening syllable + ending + deed name, first half + deed name, second half
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Spearhewer the Wardendeed name, first half + deed name, second half the byname
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Garzgar of the Crouching Cairn Clanopening syllable + ending of the clan describing word + clan emblem Clan
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Kruzrugopening syllable + ending
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Ugbur of the Burnt Fang Clanopening syllable + ending of the clan describing word + clan emblem Clan
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Brakura Scarkeeperopening syllable + ending (second set) + deed name, first half + deed name, second half
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Orc name generator: example names by style
Each group below is a fixed batch made with this generator, with only the style filter changed. 44 names are on this page before you press anything.
Grim and dark
- Urznak Warbiter
- Brogma the Scarred
- Jawrender the Hated
- Borzrak
- Mazthak Stonecracker
- Yazthak the Strong
Wild and rugged
- Throgkul Rockbiter
- Vargmog
- Mazka
- Skarkul
- Skartha
- Maztar
Comic and light
- Brogna the Poet
- Yazga
- Durzbur the Loud
- Little Ogmog Bloodgnasher
- Brakgra Spearcleaver
- Urzsha of the Lone Horn
Noble and grand
- Kraznak of the Split Marsh Clan
- Urztha
- Shakaz of the Grey Boar
- Hargtar the True-sworn
- Skullgnasher
- Chief Hargmak
How these orc names are built
This generator draws from 214 hand-picked words in 8 lists and uses 17 naming patterns, plus 5 more that wrap around a keyword you type. The patterns can combine into up to 2,568,284 different names before filters. Every name in the list shows the pattern behind it, so you can see why it reads the way it does.
Word lists
| List | Words | A few of them |
|---|---|---|
| Opening syllable | 34 | Dreg, Gor, Hrag, Maz, Zog, Ug, Thok |
| Ending | 26 | mog, lok, urk, mak, nar, zul, gar |
| Ending (second set) | 12 | ma, gra, tha, na, ga, za, sha |
| Deed name, first half | 28 | Thunder, Spear, Tree, Fist, Rock, Tusk, Axe |
| Deed name, second half | 20 | render, biter, howler, splitter, crusher, puncher, hewer |
| Clan describing word | 16 | Jagged, Burnt, Crooked, Starving, Broken, Split, Long |
| Clan emblem | 20 | Shield, Banner, Boar, Hill, Fire, Marsh, Spear |
| Byname | 58 | Reasonable, Far-roamer, Loud, Thunder-voiced, Merciless, Young, Misunderstood |
Patterns
| Pattern | Example | Used for |
|---|---|---|
| opening syllable + ending | Grukgarn | any style |
| opening syllable + ending (second set) | Hokgra | any style |
| opening syllable + ending + deed name, first half + deed name, second half | Rokhuk Knucklesmasher | any style |
| opening syllable + ending the byname | Ogmash the Quick | any style |
| opening syllable + ending of the clan describing word + clan emblem | Ugnak of the Starving Pit | any style |
| opening syllable + ending (second set) + deed name, first half + deed name, second half | Kruzgra Ribripper | any style |
| opening syllable + ending (second set) the byname | Borzura the Clan-mother | any style |
| deed name, first half + deed name, second half | Spinesnapper | any style |
| opening syllable + ending (second set) of the clan describing word + clan emblem | Throgma of the Sooty Cairn | any style |
| deed name, first half + deed name, second half the byname | Boarcracker the Tall | Grim and dark |
| opening syllable + ending of the clan describing word + clan emblem Clan | Vrokgarn of the Crooked Shield Clan | Wild and rugged, Noble and grand |
| Little opening syllable + ending + deed name, first half + deed name, second half | Little Borzmash Spearpuncher | Comic and light |
| Little opening syllable + ending (second set) the byname | Little Hragra the Clan-mother | Comic and light |
| Chief opening syllable + ending + deed name, first half + deed name, second half | Chief Rokhmog Spinesmasher | Noble and grand |
| Chief opening syllable + ending (second set) the byname | Chief Rokhna the Sleepy | Noble and grand |
| Chief opening syllable + ending | Chief Gorthak | Noble and grand |
| Little opening syllable + ending | Little Gorgar | Comic and light |
| your keyword + deed name, first half + deed name, second half | Flint Mudcrusher | any style |
| your keyword the byname | Flint the True-sworn | any style |
| opening syllable + ending + your keyword + deed name, second half | Thokuk Flintsnapper | any style |
| opening syllable + ending (second set) + your keyword + deed name, second half | Mazma Flintcatcher | any style |
| your keyword of the clan describing word + clan emblem | Flint of the Jagged Claw | any style |
The words are written by hand for orc names, not scraped. Pressing Generate runs the same seeded routine that built the names above, so the same seed always gives the same list.
Naming guide for your orc
Orc names in this generator are two blunt beats. The opening is one closed syllable with a hard or growled consonant at each end, such as Brog, Thok, Varg or Kraz. The ending is another short beat: ak, nak, zul, garn. Brog plus nak is Brognak. Nothing in the lists has more than one vowel sound, so a name can be barked across a battlefield, which is the test these names were written to pass. A second set of endings, such as sha, gra and ula, gives names such as Vargsha and Thokula.
The second part is a deed name, a compound of a thing and what the orc did to it: Shieldbreaker, Boarcatcher, Chainsnapper. Deed names are earned, so they are a ready hook. A player who meets Hrag Treehewer will ask about the tree. A clan can follow instead, a describing word and an emblem such as the Cracked Drum or the Lone Antler.
The moods matter more here than anywhere, because they decide what kind of orcs your world has. Grim gives raiders with bynames to fear. Wild gives hill and mountain clans named for wolves and weather. Noble gives chiefs, wardens and law-speakers for settings where orcs are a people with honour and politics. Comic gives the polite one, the poet and the vegetarian, who tend to become a party's favourite ally.
Before you commit to a name
- Say the name aloud twice. If you stumble, your players or readers will too, and a name nobody can say gets replaced by a nickname.
- Check that it does not sound like another name already in your campaign or story. Two places that start with the same letter and end the same way get mixed up at the table.
- Search the web for it. The names are built from this site's own word and syllable lists, but a random blend can match a name from a published book, game or setting by chance. If it does, pick another.
- If you plan to publish or sell your work, treat the name like any other: you are responsible for checking it is not a trademark or a well-known name from someone else's world.
- Write it on the map or the character sheet and read it small. Long names get shortened in play, so check that the short form also works.
Questions
How do I name a whole orc clan?
Lock the clan words. Open Lock a word on a name ending in a clan, such as of the Cracked Drum, press both clan words, and generate again. Every name in the batch then belongs to that clan.
Are there female orc names?
Yes. The second ending set (sha, gra, ula, ura and others) was written for them, and the noble mood includes the byname Clan-mother. As everywhere on this site, the sets are not labelled and can be used for anyone.
What if I want orcs who are not villains?
Choose the noble mood. It replaces the fearsome bynames with ones such as the Just, the Fair-dealer and the Peace-bringer and adds the title Chief.
Can I add my own deed word?
Yes. Type a word such as Flint into the include-my-word box. It becomes the first half of a deed name, as in Flintbreaker, or stands as the first name with a generated deed name or clan.