Character Name Generator
Full names for the people in your novel, script or game. Pick a style that fits your setting and generate until the names feel right.
Written by Rohan Patel · Updated
Popular character name ideas
A hand-picked starter list, each with a note on the kind of character or place it suits.
- Nora Calloway Simple and memorable. Fits a contemporary lead.
- Jonah Thomas Mercer A middle name makes a character feel more real on the page.
- Rowan Ellison A neutral name that works for any gender.
- Harriet Pemberton Victorian-sounding, ideal for a period mystery.
- Captain Ambrose Thornton A title tells readers who this person is before they speak.
- Isolwen Ravencrest A fantasy heroine with a family name that hints at history.
- Kaelor of the Western Reach A fantasy name that ties the character to their home region.
- Commander Lyra Volkov A sci-fi officer who sounds like she is used to giving orders.
Character name list
72 more character names, grouped by style. Click any name to copy it, or use the generator above for more.
Modern female character names
Modern male character names
Modern neutral character names
Historical character names
Fantasy character names
Sci-fi character names
Choosing a name that fits your character
Readers form an idea of a character from their name before anything else happens. A name should fit the character's age, background and setting. A teenager in a modern city, a Victorian housekeeper and a starship pilot all need different kinds of names, which is why this generator has a style for each.
Check a few practical things too. Give your main characters names that start with different letters, so readers don't mix them up. Say each name out loud, and search it to make sure it doesn't belong to a famous real person.
Using the styles
The modern styles give a first and last name, sometimes with a middle name, drawn from common names in English-speaking countries today. Historical gives names that suit the 1800s and early 1900s, sometimes with a title. Fantasy and sci-fi build invented names that fit their genres.
When you are naming a whole cast, set the count to 20 and copy the names that fit into your notes. Then generate more for the rest.
Naming main characters and side characters
Main characters need names readers can say in their head without stopping. Side characters can have more unusual names, because they appear less often and a distinct name helps readers place them quickly. Avoid giving two important characters names that look alike on the page, such as Mara and Maria.
Once you have a cast, write all the names in one list and read it aloud. Repeated first letters and matching syllable counts stand out quickly.
Names for fantasy and tabletop characters
The fantasy style gives invented names with a family name or a place. For D&D races with their own naming traditions, we also have a dragonborn name generator and a drow name generator. For the places your characters come from, try the village name generator and the kingdom name generator.
Character name generator FAQ
Can I use these names in my published book?
Yes. You can use them in books, scripts and games without asking. Real first names and surnames can't be owned, but check that a full name doesn't belong to a well-known real person.
Can I choose the gender of the name?
Yes. Choose Modern female, Modern male or Modern neutral. The historical, fantasy and sci-fi styles mix genders.
How do I name a whole cast of characters?
Set the count to 20 or 50, copy the names that fit, and generate more for the rest. Copy all puts the whole list on your clipboard.
Are the modern names real names?
Yes. The modern and historical styles combine real first names and surnames. Fantasy and sci-fi names are invented.
How do I choose a name for a villain?
A villain's name should fit their background first. Readers can tell when a name was chosen only to sound evil. A plain name like Silas Mercer can be more unsettling than an obviously dark one, especially in modern or historical stories.
Should my character have a middle name?
Only if it matters to the story. Middle names are useful for formal scenes, family history or a character who goes by their middle name. The modern styles sometimes add one, and you can drop it when you copy the name.
Rohan Patel
Solo founder of epicNameGenerator
I'm Rohan, and I run epicNameGenerator on my own. I build every generator here myself, word lists included, and I keep tweaking them when a name comes out sounding off. I wanted a name tool that's quick to use and doesn't make you sign up, so that's what I made. If you have an idea for a new generator, email me.
More name generators
Every tool works the same way: pick a style, generate names, and click one to copy it.
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Rock, metal, indie, punk, K-pop and funny band names, ten at a time. Open the generator →
Village Name Generator
Medieval, fantasy, coastal and dark village names that sound lived in. Open the generator →
Kingdom Name Generator
Fantasy kingdoms, realms and empires for your map, in classic or dark styles. Open the generator →
Dragonborn Name Generator
Clan-first D&D dragonborn names, plus childhood names for young dragonborn. Open the generator →
Drow Name Generator
Dark elf names with a noble house attached, for D&D players and villains. Open the generator →Last updated November 12, 2026. Every name comes from word lists we write ourselves. How we make names.