Names
Tiefling Name Generator
Tiefling names in D&D 5e fall into three distinct traditions, and this generator lets you target any one of them or mix across all three. Select "virtue" to draw from a pool of 22 abstract nouns — words like Torment, Despair, Hope, and Reverence — that tieflings adopt as identities, often as a statement about how they've been treated or who they intend to become. Select "infernal" to sample from two separate pools: 15 masculine-coded infernal given names (Akmenos, Morthos, Skamos) and 15 feminine-coded ones (Damaia, Kallista, Orianna), chosen by a 50/50 coin flip per name. Select "humanoid" to combine a first name from a pool of 15 short, contemporary-feeling names with a compound surname from a pool of 10 darker two-part last names (Bloodveil, Duskmantle, Hellwick). Setting the type to "any" picks randomly between all three makers for each slot in your batch. D&D players and dungeon masters reach for this generator at two different moments. Players building a new tiefling PC use it to settle on a name that encodes their character's relationship to their heritage — a virtue name signals one kind of outsider identity, an infernal name a very different one. DMs use it mid-session to name a tiefling merchant, cultist contact, or street NPC without derailing the scene. The count input goes up to 20, which is enough to stock an entire tiefling enclave or a night market full of named faces.
How to use
- Choose your options above
- Click Generate
- Copy your result
Detailed instructions
- Set the count field to how many names you want — use 10 or more when browsing for inspiration.
- Choose a name type from the dropdown: virtue, infernal, humanoid, or any to mix all three traditions.
- Click Generate to produce a fresh list of tiefling names matching your settings.
- Scan the results and note any names that fit your character's personality or backstory before regenerating.
- Copy your chosen name directly into your character sheet, campaign notes, or manuscript.
Use Cases
- •Naming a tiefling warlock PC whose infernal patron is a specific devil lord in a Baldur's Gate 3 campaign
- •Generating a batch of 20 humanoid names for tiefling refugees integrated into a homebrew city's merchant quarter
- •Picking a virtue name for a tiefling paladin whose oath and name reinforce each other at the table
- •Building a tiefling noble family tree with matching infernal surnames across three generations of NPCs
- •Drafting two tiefling siblings with contrasting name styles — one virtue, one humanoid — for a fantasy novel
Tips
- →Generate a mixed batch on 'any' first — unexpected juxtapositions like an infernal name next to a virtue name often spark better backstory ideas than targeting one type.
- →Virtue names with negative connotations (Torment, Despair, Carrion) work especially well for characters who have reclaimed something painful as their identity.
- →If your DM's world is low-fantasy or gritty, lean toward humanoid names — they ground the character without removing the heritage.
- →Pair an infernal first name with a humanoid surname to show a tiefling who acknowledges their heritage but is trying to integrate socially.
- →For NPC tieflings in a city, generate 20 names on 'humanoid' — they'll blend naturally into rosters without tipping off players that the character is a tiefling before the reveal.
- →Avoid virtue names that are too on-the-nose for your class — a paladin named Valor or a rogue named Deceit reads as a concept, not a character. Contrast is more interesting.
FAQ
What are the three tiefling name types and how does the generator handle each?
Virtue names are single abstract nouns drawn from a fixed pool of 22 words — Hope, Torment, Woe, Temerity, and so on. Infernal names are drawn from one of two pools (masculine or feminine coded) chosen randomly per name. Humanoid names combine a short given name with a darker compound surname, producing results like Nox Hellwick or Kira Duskmantle. Setting the type to 'any' applies all three makers randomly across your batch.
Do virtue names have to be used as-is, or can I modify them?
The generator outputs them as single words because that's the convention in the Player's Handbook — tieflings who choose virtue names often use just the one word, no surname. You can absolutely adapt them: adding a humanoid surname, inflecting the word slightly, or using the generated name as a starting point for something more personal are all common approaches at the table.
How many unique names can this generator produce before repeats become likely?
The virtue pool has 22 names, the infernal pools have 15 each, and the humanoid combination produces up to 150 pairings (15 first names × 10 last names). Since sampling is with replacement, repeats are possible in large batches, especially for virtue names. For a batch of 6 or fewer, duplicates are uncommon. If you get a repeat, just regenerate.
Can these names be used in settings other than D&D 5e?
Yes. The three naming traditions map cleanly onto any fantasy setting with a tiefling-equivalent ancestry — Pathfinder's tieflings, homebrew infernal-blooded races, or original fiction all benefit from the same naming logic. None of the names are mechanically tied to D&D rules, so they transfer without modification.
What's the lore reason tieflings use such different naming styles?
The Player's Handbook frames it as a cultural divergence driven by experience. Tieflings raised in human communities often keep humanoid names to ease social friction. Those raised in tiefling communities or who later reclaim their identity may adopt infernal names honoring their heritage. Virtue names are often self-chosen in adolescence or adulthood — a defiant act of naming oneself after an abstraction the world denied them.
You might also like
Popular tools from other categories that share themes with this one.
Try these next
More free tools from other corners of the catalog, picked by shared themes.