How it works
This detective name generator names an investigator for a story or a game: a real rank or calling, a first name, a surname and one habit. The list under the tool says which country each rank belongs to.
Read the full guide
Name one detective or a whole squad
Press New detective name. Tap a part to lock it, then press again for the rest. Lock the surname and change the title to promote one detective through a career. Lock the habit and press until a name seems to own it.
Which rank belongs where
In Britain, detectives put the word before an ordinary police rank: Detective Constable, Detective Sergeant, Detective Inspector. In the United States a detective usually holds the rank of Detective. A Commissaire is French. A Private Investigator or Inquiry Agent works for hire.
Tips
- Pick the title by the setting of the story first, then press for names until one sounds right aloud.
- One habit is enough for a first scene. Save a second for the moment the case turns.
Questions and answers
What is a good name for a detective?
A good detective name is plain enough to believe and odd enough to remember, such as Mabel Hartwell. Add the right rank for the country and one habit the reader will notice.
What are the detective ranks in Britain?
British detectives use the ordinary police ranks with the word detective in front, from Detective Constable up to Detective Chief Superintendent. The prefix does not make a detective senior to a uniformed officer of the same rank.
What is the difference between a detective and a private investigator?
A detective is an investigator, usually a member of a police force. A private investigator can be hired by individuals or groups, and is also called a private detective or, informally, a private eye.
Are these real detectives or characters from books?
Neither. Every first name and surname pair was searched as a Wikipedia page title, and names were dropped until no pair matched. The ranks are real. A plain name can still belong to a real person, and no result describes anyone.