How to use the goblin name generator
- Pick a style: Sneaky for scouts and thieves, Fierce for warriors and bosses, Silly for comic relief, or Any for a mix.
- Choose what to show: names with a boast name, plain names, or tribe names.
- Name a whole gang in the game below the list: a boss and four helpers, each with a job.
- Keep the best ones. Star names, copy or download the list, or share a link with your group.
How goblin names work
Goblins are small, quick and loud, and their names are the same: one or two syllables, with a click, a squeak or a snarl at the end. Our goblin names are built from roots in goblin speech, each with a meaning: Bligit is goblin for "shiny". Female, male and neutral names differ only in the ending.
A goblin's boast name is the part they're proudest of, usually chosen by the goblin itself, and usually bigger than the truth. A sneaky goblin might call itself Quietfoot; a fierce one Bonegnaw; and a goblin nobody takes seriously ends up as Spoonthief whether it likes it or not.
Goblins show up as monsters in the free D&D rules (SRD 5.1), and as player characters at many tables. The naming customs here are our own, written for this site.
Goblin tribe names
Every goblin tribe in our generator is named after an object, usually the first thing its founders stole, found or broke, made grand with a describing word: Sooty Tooth tribe, Bent Helmet tribe, Red Knife tribe, Cracked Candle tribe, Red Bucket tribe, Sooty Kettle tribe. Choose Tribe names for a full list. A tribe name makes a great banner for a goblin camp, and a clue for the heroes: why would anyone call themselves the Leaky Kettle tribe?
Goblin words and what they mean
Every goblin name starts with one of these words in goblin speech. Mix them by hand if you like: a goblin called Snik sneaks, one called Grub is always hungry, and one called Blig can't stop staring at anything shiny.
| Goblin word | Means | Goblin word | Means |
|---|---|---|---|
| Snik | sneak | Grib | grab |
| Zat | quick | Nub | small |
| Krik | click | Pog | pot |
| Skiv | knife | Dreb | mud |
| Yip | shout | Fiz | spark |
| Gak | bite | Mog | muck |
| Blig | shiny | Trak | track |
| Wix | clever | Nog | head |
| Rizz | grin | Skab | scrap |
| Grub | food | Zib | fly |
| Krun | crunch | Pib | pebble |
| Smek | smoke | Lurk | hide |
Sneaky, fierce and silly goblin names
| Style | Example names |
|---|---|
| Sneaky | Bligi Shadowtoe · Kruny Quietfoot · Nuby the Slippery · Rizzik the Sly |
| Fierce | Fizsa Bonegnaw · Gribee the Loud · Skabnak Ironbite · Grubee Skullthumper |
| Silly | Yipix Hat-Eater · Gruba Rattail · Drebaz Cheesenose · Gakix Bucket-Head |
| Plain names | Bligit · Zibek · Pogix · Zatpogy · Gaka · Gribug · Gribsa · Skivug · Snikit · Mogit |
Name a goblin gang
Goblins rarely work alone. Name a goblin gang gives a gang name, a boss, and four helpers chosen from these jobs, each with a name and a boast name, so your encounter has personalities and not just five identical monsters:
- Boss: shouts the plans (and takes the biggest share).
- Sneak: goes in first, very quietly.
- Cook: makes stew out of anything.
- Shaman: reads omens in bones and bottle caps.
- Lookout: sits on the highest rock and naps.
- Trapmaker: builds traps that mostly work.
- Thief: has pockets inside pockets.
- Wolf-Keeper: feeds the wolves, so they like nobody else.
Tips for naming goblins
- Short names for monsters, longer for heroes. A DM needs to say five goblin names fast; a goblin player character can carry a boast name with pride.
- Make the boast a lie. "Wolf-Rider" who has never seen a wolf is funnier and more memorable than one who has.
- Give the boss a different style. A silly gang with a fierce boss, or a fierce gang with a sneaky boss, makes the players think.
- Let the tribe name drive the plot. The Rusty Lantern tribe wants their lantern back. Who has it now?
- Keep it kid-friendly. Our goblins are grubby and rude in a fun way, never gory, so they suit games for all ages.
Frequently asked questions
What are good goblin names?
Short, sharp names such as Zibek or Pogix, with a boast name such as Quietfoot or Shinbiter. Pick a style and press 10 new goblin names.
Can I get funny goblin names?
Yes. Choose the Silly style for boast names such as Mudsock, Cheesenose and Twelve-Toes.
How do I name a group of goblins quickly?
Use Name a goblin gang. One click gives a gang name and five goblins with jobs, ready for your next ambush.
Do goblin names have meanings?
Yes. Each name is built from a root in goblin speech, and the meaning shows under the name, such as "goblin for grab".
Can a goblin be a player character?
At many tables, yes. Our names work for heroes too: pick a plain name for a quiet character, or let your goblin choose a boast name and spend the campaign trying to live up to it.
Are these names safe for kids?
Yes. They can be cheeky, but never gory or rude, and every name is checked against a list of words we never use.
Can I use these names in my game or book?
Yes. Every name is original to this site and free to use. Search a name before you publish it, just in case.
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