Moth Name Generator

Five real moth names a press, from Maiden's Blush to the Luna Moth, each with its species.

Moth Name Generator

  1. Promethea MothCallosamia promethea. North America, north of Mexico.
  2. Sweetfern Underwing MothCatocala antinympha. North America, north of Mexico.
  3. Scarlet TigerCallimorpha dominula. Great Britain: south-west.
  4. Latticed HeathChiasmia clathrata. Great Britain: south, central and north.
  5. Canary-Shouldered ThornEnnomos alniaria. Great Britain: throughout.

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How it works

This moth name generator makes nothing up. It deals the English names of real moths of Great Britain and North America, chosen because they read like names: Old Lady, Mother Shipton, True Lover's Knot, Io.

Read the full guide

Names for a moth, a pet or a character

Each card gives the scientific name of the moth and, for most British moths, where in Great Britain it is found, so any name can be looked up. Use the menu under the button to keep to Great Britain or North America. Lock a name you like and press again for the others.

Two kinds of name

Many British names are everyday words used as titles: the Drinker, the Lackey, the Herald, the Miller, the Uncertain. The big North American silk moths carry single names such as Io, Polyphemus, Promethea and Cecropia.

Tips
  • Two moths can share an English name, so search for the scientific name on the card.

Questions and answers

What are some real moth names?

Maiden's Blush, Peach Blossom, Merveille du Jour, Clifden Nonpareil, Burnished Brass and Chimney Sweeper are British moths. Luna Moth, Rosy Maple Moth, Black Witch Moth and Faithful Beauty are North American.

What should I name my moth?

Borrow from the moths themselves. Luna, Io, Promethea and Cecropia are real North American moths, and Britain has the Gem, the Vestal, the Phoenix and the Seraphim. Press the button until one fits.

Does this moth name generator make names up?

No. Every name is the English name of a real species on Wikipedia's lists of the moths of Great Britain and of North America, and the card gives the scientific name so it can be checked.

How many kinds of moth are there?

Far more than fit here. More than 2,400 species have been recorded in Great Britain and about 12,000 live in North America north of Mexico. This page keeps only English names that read like names.

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All 283 moth names

Great Britain 200

  • Alchymist Catephia alchymista. Great Britain: immigrant.
  • Alder Kitten Furcula bicuspis. Great Britain: south-west, south-east, east and west-central.
  • Angle Shades Phlogophora meticulosa. Great Britain: throughout.
  • Annulet Charissa obscurata. Great Britain: throughout.
  • Anomalous Stilbia anomala. Great Britain: south, south-west, west and north.
  • Antler Cerapteryx graminis. Great Britain: throughout.
  • Argent and Sable Rheumaptera hastata. A moth of Great Britain.
  • August Thorn Ennomos quercinaria. Great Britain: south and central.
  • Barred Straw Eulithis pyraliata. Great Britain: throughout.
  • Beautiful Brocade Lacanobia contigua. Great Britain: throughout.
  • Bird's Wing Dypterygia scabriuscula. Great Britain: south-east and west-central.
  • Black Arches Lymantria monacha. Great Britain: south and central.
  • Blackneck Lygephila pastinum. Great Britain: south and central.
  • Bordered Beauty Epione repandaria. Great Britain: throughout.
  • Brick Agrochola circellaris. Great Britain: throughout.
  • Bright-Line Brown-Eye Lacanobia oleracea. Great Britain: throughout.
  • Brimstone Moth Opisthograptis luteolata. Great Britain: throughout.
  • Brixton Beauty Acontia nitidula. On the British list from one doubtful record.
  • Broom Moth Melanchra pisi. Great Britain: throughout.
  • Brother Raphia frater. On the British list as a probable import.
  • Brussels Lace Cleorodes lichenaria. Great Britain: west, west-central, south and north.
  • Buff Arches Habrosyne pyritoides. Great Britain: south and center.
  • Buff Ermine Spilosoma luteum. Great Britain: south, central and north.
  • Buff-Tip Phalera bucephala. Great Britain: throughout.
Show all 283 moth names (259 more)

Great Britain, continued

  • Burnet Companion Euclidia glyphica. Great Britain: south and central.
  • Burnished Brass Diachrysia chrysitis. Great Britain: throughout.
  • Butterbur Hydraecia petasitis. Great Britain: south, central and north.
  • Campion Hadena rivularis. Great Britain: throughout.
  • Canary-Shouldered Thorn Ennomos alniaria. Great Britain: throughout.
  • Chevron Eulithis testata. Great Britain: throughout.
  • Chimney Sweeper Odezia atrata. Great Britain: north, central and south.
  • Chinese Character Cilix glaucata. Great Britain: south and center.
  • Chocolate-Tip Clostera curtula. Great Britain: throughout southern England, locally distributed in north.
  • Clifden Nonpareil Catocala fraxini. Great Britain: immigrant and transitory resident.
  • Clouded Buff Diacrisia sannio. Great Britain: throughout.
  • Clouded Magpie Abraxas sylvata. Great Britain: south and central.
  • Clouded Silver Lomographa temerata. Great Britain: south, central and north.
  • Common Quaker Orthosia cerasi. Great Britain: throughout.
  • Conformist Lithophane furcifera. A moth of Great Britain.
  • Confused Apamea furva. Great Britain: north, west and south.
  • Coronet Craniophora ligustri. Great Britain: throughout.
  • Cosmopolitan Mythimna loreyi. Great Britain: immigrant.
  • Coxcomb Prominent Ptilodon capucina. Great Britain: throughout.
  • Cream-Spot Tiger Arctia villica. Great Britain: south.
  • Crimson Speckled Utetheisa pulchella. Great Britain: immigrant.
  • Dark Arches Apamea monoglypha. Great Britain: throughout.
  • December Moth Poecilocampa populi. Great Britain: throughout.
  • Delicate Mythimna vitellina. Great Britain: immigrant.
  • Dew Moth Setina irrorella. Great Britain: south and north-west.
  • Dog's Tooth Lacanobia suasa. Great Britain: south and central.
  • Dot Moth Melanchra persicariae. Great Britain: south, central and north.
  • Drinker Euthrix potatoria. Great Britain: south, central, north-west.
  • Dun-Bar Cosmia trapezina. Great Britain: throughout.
  • Elephant Hawk-Moth Deilephila elpenor. Great Britain: south and center.
  • Emperor Moth Saturnia pavonia. Great Britain: throughout.
  • Engrailed Ectropis bistortata. Great Britain: throughout.
  • Eyed Hawk-Moth Smerinthus ocellata. Great Britain: south and center.
  • Fan-Foot Zanclognatha tarsipennalis. Great Britain: throughout.
  • Feathered Gothic Tholera decimalis. Great Britain: throughout.
  • Feathered Thorn Colotois pennaria. Great Britain: throughout.
  • Fern Horisme tersata. Great Britain: south and central.
  • Festoon Apoda limacodes. Great Britain: south, east.
  • Figure of Eight Diloba caeruleocephala. Great Britain: south, center and north.
  • Figure of Eighty Tethea ocularis. Great Britain: south and center.
  • Flame Axylia putris. Great Britain: throughout.
  • Flame Shoulder Ochropleura plecta. Great Britain: throughout.
  • Forester Adscita statices. Great Britain: south and center.
  • Fox Moth Macrothylacia rubi. Great Britain: throughout.
  • Foxglove Pug Eupithecia pulchellata. A moth of Great Britain.
  • Frosted Green Polyploca ridens. Great Britain: south.
  • Frosted Orange Gortyna flavago. Great Britain: throughout.
  • Garden Tiger Arctia caja. Great Britain: throughout.
  • Gem Orthonama obstipata. Great Britain: immigrant.
  • Geometrician Prodotis stolida. Great Britain: rare immigrant.
  • Ghost Moth Hepialus humuli. A moth of Great Britain.
  • Goat Moth Cossus cossus. Great Britain: throughout.
  • Gold Spangle Autographa bractea. Great Britain: west, north and south.
  • Gold Spot Plusia festucae. Great Britain: throughout.
  • Golden Plusia Polychrysia moneta. Great Britain: south, central and north.
  • Goldwing Synthymia fixa. Great Britain: rare immigrant.
  • Gothic Naenia typica. Great Britain: throughout.
  • Great Brocade Eurois occulta. Great Britain: immigrant.
  • Green Arches Anaplectoides prasina. Great Britain: throughout.
  • Handmaid Dysauxes ancilla. Great Britain: possible rare immigrant from Central and Eastern Europe.
  • Heart and Club Agrotis clavis. Great Britain: throughout.
  • Heart and Dart Agrotis exclamationis. Great Britain: throughout.
  • Heart Moth Dicycla oo. Great Britain: south.
  • Hebrew Character Orthosia gothica. Great Britain: throughout.
  • Herald Scoliopteryx libatrix. Great Britain: throughout.
  • Hummingbird Hawk-Moth Macroglossum stellatarum. Great Britain: common migrant, resident in south-west.
  • Iron Prominent Notodonta dromedarius. Great Britain: throughout.
  • Jersey Emerald Pseudoterpna coronillaria. Channel Islands: Jersey.
  • Jersey Tiger Euplagia quadripunctaria. Great Britain: south-west.
  • July Belle Scotopteryx luridata. Great Britain: throughout.
  • July Highflyer Hydriomena furcata. Great Britain: throughout.
  • Kentish Glory Endromis versicolora. Great Britain: eastern Scotland.
  • Lace Border Scopula ornata. Great Britain: south.
  • Lackey Malacosoma neustria. Great Britain: south, central.
  • Lappet Gastropacha quercifolia. Great Britain: south, east-central.
  • Large Emerald Geometra papilionaria. Great Britain: throughout.
  • Latin Callopistria juventina. Great Britain: rare immigrant.
  • Latticed Heath Chiasmia clathrata. Great Britain: south, central and north.
  • Lead Belle Scotopteryx mucronata. A moth of Great Britain.
  • Light Emerald Campaea margaritata. Great Britain: throughout.
  • Lilac Beauty Apeira syringaria. Great Britain: south and central.
  • Lime Hawk-Moth Mimas tiliae. Great Britain: south and center.
  • Lobster Moth Stauropus fagi. Great Britain: south and west-central.
  • Lunar Thorn Selenia lunularia. Great Britain: throughout.
  • Lychnis Hadena bicruris. Great Britain: throughout.
  • Magpie Moth Abraxas grossulariata. Great Britain: throughout.
  • Maiden's Blush Cyclophora punctaria. Great Britain: south and central.
  • Marbled Beauty Cryphia domestica. Great Britain: throughout.
  • March Moth Alsophila aescularia. Great Britain: throughout.
  • May Highflyer Hydriomena impluviata. Great Britain: throughout.
  • Merveille du Jour Dichonia aprilina. Great Britain: throughout.
  • Miller Acronicta leporina. Great Britain: throughout.
  • Mocha Cyclophora annularia. Great Britain: south.
  • Mother Shipton Callistege mi. Great Britain: south, central and north.
  • Mottled Beauty Alcis repandata. A moth of Great Britain.
  • Mouse Moth Amphipyra tragopoginis. Great Britain: throughout.
  • Mullein Shargacucullia verbasci. Great Britain: south and central.
  • Muslin Moth Diaphora mendica. Great Britain: south, central and north.
  • Nonconformist Lithophane lamda. Great Britain: immigrant.
  • November Moth Epirrita dilutata. Great Britain: throughout.
  • Nun Acontia aprica. On the British list as a probable import.
  • Nutmeg Discestra trifolii. Great Britain: throughout.
  • Oak Beauty Biston strataria. Great Britain: south, central and north.
  • Oak Eggar Lasiocampa quercus. A moth of Great Britain.
  • Old Lady Mormo maura. Great Britain: throughout.
  • Olive Crescent Trisateles emortualis. Great Britain: south-east.
  • Orange Moth Angerona prunaria. Great Britain: south.
  • Orange Underwing Archiearis parthenias. Great Britain: throughout.
  • Pale Tussock Calliteara pudibunda. Great Britain: south and central.
  • Passenger Dysgonia algira. Great Britain: immigrant.
  • Peach Blossom Thyatira batis. Great Britain: throughout.
  • Peacock Moth Macaria notata. Great Britain: south, west-central and north-west.
  • Pearly Underwing Peridroma saucia. Great Britain: immigrant and possible transitory resident.
  • Pease Blossom Periphanes delphinii. Great Britain: possible immigrant and import.
  • Pebble Hook-Tip Drepana falcataria. A moth of Great Britain.
  • Peppered Moth Biston betularia. Great Britain: throughout.
  • Phoenix Eulithis prunata. Great Britain: throughout.
  • Pine Beauty Panolis flammea. Great Britain: throughout.
  • Poplar Kitten Furcula bifida. Great Britain: south and central.
  • Powdered Quaker Orthosia gracilis. Great Britain: throughout.
  • Pretty Pinion Perizoma blandiata. A moth of Great Britain.
  • Privet Hawk-Moth Sphinx ligustri. Great Britain: south.
  • Purple Bar Cosmorhoe ocellata. Great Britain: throughout.
  • Puss Moth Cerura vinula. Great Britain: throughout.
  • Red Underwing Catocala nupta. Great Britain: south and central.
  • Rivulet Perizoma affinitata. Great Britain: throughout.
  • Rosy Footman Miltochrista miniata. Great Britain: south and central.
  • Rosy Rustic Hydraecia micacea. Great Britain: throughout.
  • Royal Mantle Catarhoe cuculata. Great Britain: south and north.
  • Ruby Tiger Phragmatobia fuliginosa. A moth of Great Britain.
  • Sallow Xanthia icteritia. Great Britain: throughout.
  • Sallow Kitten Furcula furcula. Great Britain: throughout.
  • Satellite Eupsilia transversa. Great Britain: throughout.
  • Satin Lutestring Tetheella fluctuosa. Great Britain: south-east and west.
  • Scallop Shell Rheumaptera undulata. Great Britain: south, central and north.
  • Scalloped Hazel Odontopera bidentata. Great Britain: throughout.
  • Scarlet Tiger Callimorpha dominula. Great Britain: south-west.
  • Scorched Wing Plagodis dolabraria. Great Britain: throughout.
  • September Thorn Ennomos erosaria. Great Britain: south, central and north.
  • Seraphim Lobophora halterata. Great Britain: throughout.
  • Shark Cucullia umbratica. Great Britain: throughout.
  • Shears Hada plebeja. Great Britain: throughout.
  • Silver Cloud Egira conspicillaris. Great Britain: south-west.
  • Silver Hook Deltote uncula. Great Britain: south, central and north-west.
  • Silver Y Autographa gamma. Great Britain: immigrant throughout.
  • Silvery Arches Polia trimaculosa. Great Britain: throughout.
  • Six-Spot Burnet Zygaena filipendulae. A moth of Great Britain.
  • Small Quaker Orthosia cruda. Great Britain: throughout.
  • Snout Hypena proboscidalis. Great Britain: throughout.
  • Spanish Moth Xanthopastis timais. On the British list from one doubtful specimen.
  • Speckled Yellow Pseudopanthera macularia. Great Britain: throughout.
  • Spectacle Abrostola tripartita. Great Britain: throughout.
  • Sprawler Brachionycha sphinx. Great Britain: south and central.
  • Spring Usher Agriopis leucophaearia. Great Britain: throughout.
  • Stranger Lacanobia blenna. Great Britain: rare immigrant and temporary resident.
  • Straw Belle Aspitates gilvaria. Great Britain: south-east.
  • Streak Chesias legatella. Great Britain: throughout.
  • Streamer Anticlea derivata. Great Britain: throughout.
  • Suspected Parastichtis suspecta. Great Britain: throughout.
  • Swallow Prominent Pheosia tremula. Great Britain: throughout.
  • Swallow-Tailed Moth Ourapteryx sambucaria. Great Britain: throughout.
  • Sword-Grass Xylena exsoleta. Great Britain: north and central.
  • Sycamore Acronicta aceris. Great Britain: south and east-central.
  • Tissue Triphosa dubitata. Great Britain: south and central.
  • True Lover's Knot Lycophotia porphyrea. Great Britain: throughout.
  • Uncertain Hoplodrina alsines. Great Britain: throughout.
  • Vestal Rhodometra sacraria. Great Britain: immigrant.
  • White Ermine Spilosoma lubricipeda. Great Britain: throughout.
  • White Satin Leucoma salicis. Great Britain: south, east-central, west-central and north.
  • Willow Beauty Peribatodes rhomboidaria. Great Britain: south, central and north.
  • Winter Moth Operophtera brumata. Great Britain: throughout.
  • Wood Tiger Parasemia plantaginis. A moth of Great Britain.
  • Wormwood Cucullia absinthii. Great Britain: south and central.
  • Yellow Belle Semiaspilates ochrearia. Great Britain: south.
  • Yellow Horned Achlya flavicornis. A moth of Great Britain.
  • Yellow Shell Camptogramma bilineata. A moth of Great Britain.

North America 83

  • Achemon Sphinx Moth Eumorpha achemon. North America, north of Mexico.
  • Agrippina Underwing Moth Catocala agrippina. North America, north of Mexico.
  • Alope Sphinx Moth Erinnyis alope. North America, north of Mexico.
  • Angel Moth Olceclostera angelica. North America, north of Mexico.
  • Anna Tiger Moth Grammia anna. North America, north of Mexico.
  • Apple Sphinx Moth Sphinx gordius. North America, north of Mexico.
  • Arge Moth Grammia arge. North America, north of Mexico.
  • Bay Underwing Moth Catocala badia. North America, north of Mexico.
  • Betrothed Underwing Moth Catocala innubens. North America, north of Mexico.
  • Black Witch Moth Ascalapha odorata. North America, north of Mexico.
  • Calleta Silkmoth Eupackardia calleta. North America, north of Mexico.
  • Canadian Sphinx Moth Sphinx canadensis. North America, north of Mexico.
  • Carolina Sphinx Moth Manduca sexta. North America, north of Mexico.
  • Ceanothus Silkmoth Hyalophora euryalus. North America, north of Mexico.
  • Cecropia Moth Hyalophora cecropia. North America, north of Mexico.
  • Clio Tiger Moth Ectypia clio. North America, north of Mexico.
  • Clymene Moth Haploa clymene. North America, north of Mexico.
  • Columbia Silkmoth Hyalophora columbia. North America, north of Mexico.
  • Doris Tiger Moth Grammia doris. North America, north of Mexico.
  • Echo Moth Seirarctia echo. North America, north of Mexico.
  • Elegant Prominent Moth Odontosia elegans. North America, north of Mexico.
  • Elegant Sheepmoth Hemileuca eglanterina. North America, north of Mexico.
  • Elm Sphinx Moth Ceratomia amyntor. North America, north of Mexico.
  • Epione Underwing Moth Catocala epione. North America, north of Mexico.
  • Faithful Beauty Moth Composia fidelissima. North America, north of Mexico.
  • Giant Leopard Moth Hypercompe scribonia. North America, north of Mexico.
  • Giant Sphinx Moth Cocytius antaeus. North America, north of Mexico.
  • Graphic Moth Drasteria graphica. North America, north of Mexico.
  • Harnessed Tiger Moth Apantesis phalerata. North America, north of Mexico.
  • Hera Buckmoth Hemileuca hera. North America, north of Mexico.
  • Hermit Sphinx Moth Lintneria eremitus. North America, north of Mexico.
  • Hickory Tussock Moth Lophocampa caryae. North America, north of Mexico.
  • Hieroglyphic Moth Diphthera festiva. North America, north of Mexico.
  • Honey Locust Moth Sphingicampa bicolor. North America, north of Mexico.
  • Hummingbird Clearwing Moth Hemaris thysbe. North America, north of Mexico.
  • Imperial Moth Eacles imperialis. North America, north of Mexico.
  • Io Moth Automeris io. North America, north of Mexico.
  • Iris-Eyed Silkmoth Automeris iris. North America, north of Mexico.
  • Isabella Tiger Moth Pyrrharctia isabella. North America, north of Mexico.
  • Juanita Sphinx Moth Proserpinus juanita. North America, north of Mexico.
  • Juno Buck Moth Hemileuca juno. North America, north of Mexico.
  • Laurel Sphinx Moth Sphinx kalmiae. North America, north of Mexico.
  • Luna Moth Actias luna. North America, north of Mexico.
  • Lydia Tiger Moth Phoenicoprocta lydia. North America, north of Mexico.
  • Milkweed Tussock Moth Euchaetes egle. North America, north of Mexico.
  • Moon-Lined Moth Spiloloma lunilinea. North America, north of Mexico.
  • Morning-Glory Prominent Moth Schizura ipomoeae. North America, north of Mexico.
  • Neighbor Moth Haploa contigua. North America, north of Mexico.
  • Nessus Sphinx Moth Amphion floridensis. North America, north of Mexico.
  • Nevada Buck Moth Hemileuca nevadensis. North America, north of Mexico.
  • Orizaba Silkmoth Rothschildia orizaba. North America, north of Mexico.
  • Ornate Bella Moth Utetheisa ornatrix. North America, north of Mexico.
  • Owl Moth Thysania zenobia. North America, north of Mexico.
  • Painted Tiger Moth Arachnis picta. North America, north of Mexico.
  • Pandora Pinemoth Coloradia pandora. North America, north of Mexico.
  • Pandorus Sphinx Moth Eumorpha pandorus. North America, north of Mexico.
  • Penitent Underwing Moth Catocala piatrix. North America, north of Mexico.
  • Pink Prominent Moth Hyparpax aurora. North America, north of Mexico.
  • Pluto Sphinx Moth Xylophanes pluto. North America, north of Mexico.
  • Police Car Moth Gnophaela vermiculata. North America, north of Mexico.
  • Polyphemus Moth Antheraea polyphemus. North America, north of Mexico.
  • Promethea Moth Callosamia promethea. North America, north of Mexico.
  • Regal Moth Citheronia regalis. North America, north of Mexico.
  • Rosy Maple Moth Dryocampa rubicunda. North America, north of Mexico.
  • Saddled Prominent Moth Heterocampa guttivitta. North America, north of Mexico.
  • Sage Sphinx Moth Lintneria eremitoides. North America, north of Mexico.
  • Sagra Sphinx Moth Eupyrrhoglossum sagra. North America, north of Mexico.
  • Salt Marsh Moth Estigmene acrea. North America, north of Mexico.
  • Sappho Underwing Moth Catocala sappho. North America, north of Mexico.
  • Saucy Beauty Moth Phaloesia saucia. North America, north of Mexico.
  • Seraph Moth Olceclostera seraphica. North America, north of Mexico.
  • Serene Underwing Moth Catocala serena. North America, north of Mexico.
  • Sweetbay Silkmoth Callosamia securifera. North America, north of Mexico.
  • Sweetfern Underwing Moth Catocala antinympha. North America, north of Mexico.
  • Tantalus Sphinx Moth Aellopos tantalus. North America, north of Mexico.
  • Titan Sphinx Moth Aellopos titan. North America, north of Mexico.
  • Tulip-Tree Silkmoth Callosamia angulifera. North America, north of Mexico.
  • Ulalume Underwing Moth Catocala ulalume. North America, north of Mexico.
  • Vashti Sphinx Moth Sphinx vashti. North America, north of Mexico.
  • Virgin Tiger Moth Grammia virgo. North America, north of Mexico.
  • Visitation Moth Dyspyralis illocata. North America, north of Mexico.
  • Walnut Sphinx Moth Amorpha juglandis. North America, north of Mexico.
  • Zephyr-Eyed Silkmoth Automeris zephyria. North America, north of Mexico.

How this list was compiled: A chosen list of 283 real moths, built on 2026-10-03 from English Wikipedia (CC BY-SA 4.0), read that day: 200 from the family pages of 'List of moths of Great Britain' (https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/List_of_moths_of_Great_Britain) and 83 from the pages of 'List of moths of North America' (https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/List_of_moths_of_North_America), which covers America north of Mexico. A moth is here because its English name reads like a name or a title (Old Lady, Mother Shipton, Io, Clifden Nonpareil); which names count is our own choice, and the lists hold thousands more. A script took each English name, its scientific name and, for British moths, the range note from the list page, so every card can be checked there; a card whose note was long, missing or not about range says only that the moth is on the British list, and a moth the list marks as a doubtful record or a probable import says so. Names are written with capitals as titles; the lists write them in small letters. A scientific name is the one the list page uses and may have been revised since. The plan asked for a line on why each moth is so called; the list pages do not say, so no card guesses. Licence: Facts from English Wikipedia (CC BY-SA 4.0); the selection is ours.