How it works
This goblin name generator joins two sharp sounds into a name, adds a byname such as Candle-Thief, and says which goblin of European folklore it is, from a redcap to a knocker of the Cornish mines.
Read the full guide
Name one goblin or a whole warren
Press New goblin name. The name has two parts, then a byname, then a kind. Tap a part to lock it, then press again for the rest. Lock the kind on knocker to name every goblin in one mine. Lock an opening and the names sound like one family.
The kinds come from real folklore
A redcap is said to haunt ruined castles on the Anglo-Scottish border. A knocker lives in the mines of Cornwall and Devon, and a bluecap shows in a mine as a small blue flame. The list under the tool says where the tales place each kind.
Tips
- Treat the byname as a story hook: who was the miller, and what happened next?
- For a goblin chief, lock the kind and press until the byname sounds like a boast.
Questions and answers
What is a good name for a goblin?
Short and sharp, with a hard sound at each end and a byname that tells of one small crime. Snikgle Candle-Thief is made that way. Press until one makes you laugh.
What kinds of goblin are there in folklore?
Many. The redcap, boggart, bogle, knocker, kobold, pooka, bluecap, spriggan and lutin all come from European folklore. Each has a line in the list under the tool and a link to its source.
What is the difference between a goblin and a hobgoblin?
A hobgoblin is a household spirit of English folklore, once considered helpful and later mischievous. Goblin is the wider word, for a small, grotesque and often mischievous creature of European folklore.
Are these names from a game or a film?
No. The sounds and bynames were written for this page. Every joined name was searched as a page title on Wikipedia and on fantasy fan wikis, and the parts behind a match were cut.