Orc & Goblin Name Generator for TTRPGs

Orc and goblin names in most fantasy traditions follow a different logic than human or elven ones. They tend to be short, percussive, and loaded with hard consonants - guttural sounds that feel like they belong in a war camp rather than a library. Names like Grokk, Uzgash, and Snarl are not just labels; they are statements of intent, often earned rather than given at birth.

Many settings treat orc naming as a two-part system: a personal name and a title or epithet that reflects a deed, a scar, or a role within the tribe. "Mogra Skull-Splitter" tells you everything you need to know before initiative is rolled. Goblins, by contrast, often carry names that sound almost comical to outside ears - Nix, Splat, Blig - which belies how dangerous a cunning goblin can actually be. That dissonance between silly name and genuine threat is part of what makes goblins such effective recurring antagonists.

Clan identity plays a major role in greenskin naming conventions. An orc from the Blackfang clan may carry that word as a surname or prefix, while a goblin from the Ratgnaw warren might append it as a suffix. This makes it easy for GMs to signal faction allegiance through name structure alone, which is especially useful in campaigns where multiple orc or goblin groups compete with each other as much as with the players.

Not every orc is a raider and not every goblin is a pest. Modern TTRPG settings increasingly feature orcs as diplomats, artisans, and scholars, and goblins as inventors, spies, and merchants. The names on this table work for warlords and pacifists alike - the sound carries culture, not alignment.