How it works
This soldier name generator makes up one soldier in a line, such as Sergeant Ada "Stitch" Ingram, signaler. The rank is real and explained; the name, the nickname and the job are for a story or a game.
Read the full guide
One soldier in five parts
Press New soldier name. Tap a part, press its padlock, then press again. Lock the surname and the job and press for a whole family of signalers, or lock the rank on Lieutenant and press for the officers of one company. The nicknames are the harmless kind a bunkmate hands out: Stitch, Biscuit, Lucky.
What the ranks mean
A lieutenant is a place-holder, from Old French lieu, place, and tenant, holder. Sergeant comes from Latin serviens, one who serves, and corporal from Italian capo corporale, head of a body. The list under the tool has a line on every rank.
Questions and answers
What are the army ranks in order?
From the bottom up: private, usually the lowest rank in many armies, then corporal, sergeant, lieutenant, captain, major, colonel and general. The order is a general one and no one country's. The Rank list under the tool is A to Z within two groups.
Are these the names of real soldiers?
No. Every first name was paired with every surname, and a name that made the title of a Wikipedia article was taken out. Two real names together can still match a real person; no result describes anyone.
What jobs can a soldier in the list have?
Jobs that keep a unit fed, shod, paid and in touch, such as signaler, farrier, quartermaster and mapmaker. None of them is about fighting.
Does it use a real army or regiment?
No. The ranks are ones many English-speaking armies share, and no country, service, regiment or real person is named.