Rogue Name Generator
Generate cunning rogue names for thieves, assassins, spies, and swashbucklers. Perfect for D&D 5e rogues, heist stories, and characters who work in the shadows.
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About Rogue Names
Unlike the knight, whose name serves as a heraldic banner of lineage, or the wizard, whose name evokes arcane authority, the **rogue's name is a functional tool of trade**. It is a mask constructed to instill fear, signal guild affiliation, or facilitate anonymity within the urban labyrinth. The foundational text for Anglophone rogue nomenclature is the legend of **Robin Hood**—"Robin" serves as a common diminutive while "Hood" suggests the cowl of anonymity. By the 13th century, "Robinhood" had become a stock alias for outlaws in legal rolls, functioning like "John Doe" but with criminal connotations. Research into phonetics shows rogues utilize both **sharp consonants** (K, T, P—mimicking the striking of a blade or snapping of a lock) and **sibilants** (S, SH, Z—mimicking air moving silently, the hiss of secrecy). The rogue's name is a warning, a promise, and a disguise all in one.
Naming Conventions
Rogue names employ specific **phonesthetics**: **Sharp plosives** (K, J, T) for decisive action—names like Kaz, Jack, Garrett imply men of sudden violence. **Sibilants/fricatives** (S, SH, Z, WH) for stealth—Shade, Whisper, Cypher feel slippery and secretive. **Monosyllables** dominate aliases for professional efficiency: "Shadow, Flint, Silk." Alias construction follows patterns: **"The [Noun]"** dehumanizes the rogue into legend (The Ghost, The Rat, The Spider); **Animal aliases** provide instant characterization (Fox = cunning, Wolf = predatory, Magpie = hoarder); **Ironic names** signal underworld cynicism (a massive enforcer named "Tiny"). The bifurcation of identity—"legal" mundane name vs. "street" earned name—protects loved ones and evades magical scrying.
Rogue Subraces & Styles
Thief ( Fast Hands)
Names sound common, unobtrusive, or reference tools and agility. Street diminutives dominate: Jimmy "The Crow" (crowbar reference), Padfoot (silent movement), Latch, Nimble, Fingers, Filch, Rook, Skip, Pocket, Keys. These are working-class names for working criminals—nothing that attracts attention, everything that describes the trade.
Assassin ( Poison, Disguise)
Sharp, intimidating names referencing silence and death. Toxicology and funereal terminology: Silence, Viper, Nightshade, Hemlock, Widowmaker, Stiletto, Ghostblade, Quietus, Whisper, Grave. The name itself is a psychological weapon—hearing "Nightshade is coming" should inspire terror.
Arcane Trickster ( Magic, Illusion)
Blend rogue elements with mystical terms using "soft" magic words: Presto, Wisp, Glimmer, Rune, Fable, Mirage, Hex, Blink, Charm, Veil, Cantrip, Flux. These names suggest sleight-of-hand elevated to the supernatural.
Swashbuckler ( Charisma, Dueling)
Flamboyant, rhythmic, memorable names. Often French or Spanish to evoke the romance of the duel: D'Artagnan, Valiant, Gallant, Rapier, Dash, Cavalier, Bravo, Chance, Fortune, Sterling. These rogues want to be seen—the name is part of the performance.
Mastermind ( Tactics, Intrigue)
Names implying intellect, control, oversight. Often drawn from games (Chess, Cards): The Architect, Cypher, Gambit, Strategos, Web, The Spider, Bishop, Kingmaker, Oracle, Maestro. The Mastermind's name suggests someone who moves pieces, not a piece themselves.
Inquisitive ( Investigation)
Detective-style names, sharp and observant. Often surnames used as mononyms: Sleuth, Hawkshaw (Victorian detective slang), Verity, Query, Seeker, Trace, Hound, Riddle, Clue, Logic. These names sound like they belong on a brass nameplate.
Scout ( Wilderness)
Nature-themed names implying speed, camouflage, survival: Strider (Aragorn homage), Flint, Pathfinder, Moss, Falcon, Tracker, Echo, Drift, Fern, Wilder. The Scout straddles rogue and ranger territory.
Phantom ( Spirits)
Names related to death, souls, the ethereal. Soft consonants common: Specter, Wraith, Haunt, Spirit, Revenant, Shade, Nether, Crypt, Mist, Gloom. These names barely feel corporeal.
Famous Rogue Names
- •The Gray Mouser - Leiber: "Gray" (twilight/ambiguity) + "Mouser" (feline predator)
- •Locke Lamora - Lynch: "Locke" (the lock) + "Lamora" (Romance melodic quality)
- •Kaz Brekker - Bardugo: Sharp plosive "Kaz" + "Brekker" sounds like "breaker"
- •Garrett - Thief series: Hard G, double T; sounds like "garrote" or "garret" (attic)
- •Artemis Entreri - Salvatore: Hunter goddess + "Entreri" suggests "entry" (breaking in)
- •Robin Hood - "Hood" implies cowl of anonymity; became stock outlaw alias
- •The Artful Dodger - Dickens: Functional title describing what he does
- •Ezio Auditore - AC: "Ezio" from Greek *Aetos* (Eagle) + "Auditore" (Auditor/reckoning)
Tips for Using These Names
- •Use sharp plosives (K, J, T) for decisive action rogues, sibilants (S, SH, Z) for stealthy types
- •Monosyllabic aliases are professional: Shadow, Flint, Silk, Ghost, Vex
- •Animal aliases provide instant characterization: Fox (cunning), Magpie (hoarder), Spider (web-spinner)
- •Thieves' Cant terms make great names: Dip (pickpocket), Cracksman (burglar), Fence (receiver)
- •The bifurcation: mundane "legal" name vs. earned "street" name protects identity
- •Ironic naming signals underworld cynicism: "Tiny" for the brute, "Lucky" for the cursed
- •Romance languages (Italian, Spanish) suit Swashbucklers: Cassio, Rafael, Isabella
- •Guild ranks as names: Rat (initiate), Footpad (member), Fixer (officer), The Shadow (leader)
Frequently Asked Questions
What makes a name sound "roguish" linguistically?
Rogues utilize specific phonesthetics. **Sharp plosives** (K, T, P, J) mimic the striking of a blade or snapping of a lock—names like Kaz, Jack, Garrett feel decisive and dangerous. **Sibilants/fricatives** (S, SH, Z, WH) mimic air moving silently—Shade, Whisper, Cypher feel stealthy and secretive. **Monosyllables** dominate professional aliases for efficiency: in a heist, "Shadow" is faster than "Alexander." The Bouba/Kiki effect shows humans associate sharp sounds with sharp objects—rogue names leverage this instinct.
How does alias construction work?
Three main patterns: **"The [Noun]"** dehumanizes the rogue into a function or legend (The Ghost, The Rat, The Spider); **Animal aliases** provide instant characterization—Fox/Cat (cunning, stealthy), Wolf/Shark (predatory), Magpie/Crow (hoarders attracted to shiny objects), Snake/Spider (deceptive, trap-setting); **Ironic names** signal underworld cynicism—a massive enforcer named "Tiny," a clumsy thief named "Grace," a murderer named "Smiley."
What is the "real name vs. street name" convention?
Rogues often maintain strict **bifurcation of identity** to protect loved ones or evade magical scrying. The "legal" name is used for cover identities or abandoned entirely—usually mundane, blending into local culture (John, Thomas, Mary). The "street" name is earned through a notable deed, physical trait, or given by a guild master. Example: A rogue born "Elara Vance" might be known only as "Veil" because she specializes in disguises. To know her true name is to have power over her.
How do different races approach rogue naming?
**Human rogues**: gritty, urban, Dickensian (Garrett Black, Silas Vane). **Halfling rogues**: pastoral innocence twisted roguish (Milo "Lightfingers" Tealeaf, Pip, Tumbler). **Elf rogues**: melodious names contrasting dark deeds (Thalindra Shadowwhisper, Varis Gloomstalker). **Tiefling rogues**: virtue/vice names (Silence, Guile, Malice, Carrion). **Goblin rogues**: short, guttural, nasty (Grit, Shiv, Skulk, Ratbag). **Tabaxi rogues**: descriptive phrases with nicknames (Smoke on the Water → "Smoke").
What are Thieves' Cant terms that make good names?
Historical criminal slang provides excellent name material: **Dip** (pickpocket), **Cracksman** (burglar who "cracks" safes), **Fence** (receiver of stolen goods), **Angler** (uses hook on stick to steal from windows), **Dipper** (pickpocket), **Prig** (thief), **Stall** (distraction specialist), **Lurk** (spy), **Crow** (lookout), **Dubber** (lockpicker), **Chiv** (knife specialist), **Nose** (spy). These terms from *Grose's Dictionary of the Vulgar Tongue* (1811) add historical flavor.
How do thieves' guilds structure naming?
Guild naming patterns: **[Object + Collective]** (The Golden Ring, The Iron Coin); **[Body Parts]** (The Black Hand, The Unseen Eye) suggesting the guild is a living organism; **[Paradoxes/Irony]** (The Honest Guild, The Beggar Kings); **[Atmospheric]** (The Night Masks, The Shadow Thieves). **Guild ranks as names**: Initiate = Rat, Ear, Little Bird (small, scavenging); Member = Footpad, Cutter, Lifter (functional crime descriptors); Officer = Fence, Factor, Fixer (managerial); Leader = Guildmaster, The Shadow, The Grandfather.
What literary and media rogues define the naming tradition?
**The Gray Mouser** (Leiber): color + animal, the perfect alias. **Locke Lamora** (Lynch): "Locke" evokes locks, "Lamora" has Romance-language melody. **Kaz Brekker** (Bardugo): sharp plosive + "Brekker" sounds like "breaker." **Garrett** (*Thief*): sounds like "garrote" or "garret" (attic). **Arsène Lupin**: "arsenic" danger + Latin *lupus* (wolf). **James Bond**: deliberately "the dullest name" for a blank-slate spy. These names function as professional tools, not mere identifiers.
What are archetype-specific naming conventions?
**Thief**: tool references (Latch, Keys, Padfoot). **Assassin**: death/poison themes (Nightshade, Hemlock, Quietus, Whisper). **Arcane Trickster**: soft magic words (Wisp, Glimmer, Blink, Cantrip). **Swashbuckler**: Romance-language flair (D'Artagnan, Valiant, Rapier). **Mastermind**: game/intellect terms (Cypher, Gambit, The Architect, Bishop). **Inquisitive**: detective sharpness (Sleuth, Hawkshaw, Verity). **Phantom**: ethereal softness (Specter, Wraith, Mist). **Soulknife**: cerebral/psionic (Psyche, Cortex, Synapse, Shard).