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Medieval name generator
Medieval names for people, knights and towns, based on real naming habits of the Middle Ages.
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Medieval names followed patterns that are easy to get wrong in fiction. This medieval name generator builds names for people, knights and towns from real naming habits of the Middle Ages, with a note explaining each byname or place-name element, so your story, game or reenactment persona sounds like it belongs to the period.
How medieval names worked
For much of the Middle Ages most people had one given name. As a handful of names became very common, a second name, called a byname, was added to tell people apart. Bynames came from four main sources: a trade (Baker, Smith, Fletcher), a place (Hill, Wood, a home village), a father's name (Johnson, Fitzgerald) or a nickname (Short, Armstrong). In England these bynames gradually became hereditary surnames during the later Middle Ages.
English, French, German, Norse and Italian names
Naming habits differed by region. French bynames often use 'de' for a place or 'le' for a trade or trait. German occupational names include Schmidt (smith), Schneider (tailor) and Weber (weaver). Norse names were patronymic: a father's name plus -son or -dottir, sometimes with a nickname such as 'the Red'. Italian names often use 'di' with a father's name or 'da' with a home town.
Knight names and medieval town names
In English usage a knight is addressed as 'Sir' with his given name. Knights and nobles were usually identified by a family name or by the place they held, so knight names in the generator pair a period given name with an estate or family byname rather than a trade. Many English place names are built from a small set of endings. Common ones include -ton (a farm or settlement), -ham (a homestead), -ford (a river crossing), -bury (a fortified place) and -by, which comes from Old Norse and means a farm or village. Choose 'Town or village' to get medieval town names built the same way, each with its elements explained.
How to use the generator
Pick an origin, what you want to name and a social rank, then add an optional note such as 'a blacksmith's daughter'. For fantasy parties, try the DnD Name Generator, and for modern or other genres, the Character Name Generator.
Questions
Is the medieval name generator free?
Yes. It is free to use, and each run returns a new list of 12 names.
Are these real medieval names?
The given names and word elements are ones that were in use in the period, but each combination is generated. Treat the list as period-style names for fiction and games, not as records of real people or places.
What were common medieval names in England?
John, William, Robert, Richard and Thomas were very common for men, and Alice, Joan, Agnes, Matilda and Margaret for women.
Did peasants have surnames?
Often they had a byname instead, such as a trade or the place they lived, which could change during a person's life. Fixed family surnames spread slowly and at different times across Europe.
Can I use it for historical research?
No. It is a creative tool. For research or an accurate reenactment persona, check a name against period records or a specialist reference.