This alien name generator makes names for science fiction: for one alien character, or for a whole species. You choose how the language sounds, and the names are built from syllables of that kind. Harsh gives names such as Kag'thokk. Flowing gives names such as Ryshael. Clicking gives names such as Ksit'ksat, and machine gives designations such as Veth-35. Each press gives six new names.

Four Kinds of Sound

Sound	What it is made of	Character	Species
Harsh	Hard consonants (k, g, z, th) and short vowels	Kag'thokk, Ravath	Bruduk, Zokhar
Flowing	Soft consonants (l, s, v, sh) and open vowels	Ryshael, Vithaen	Risheen, Naerari
Clicking	Clusters such as tk, ks and zk, with a break in the middle	Ksit'ksat, Tkex'tkit	Chazkith, Sketkix
Machine	A short word with a number or a function	Veth-35, Node Tavi	The Quor Array

Match the Sound to the Body

A name is made by a mouth, or by whatever the species has in place of one. That is the quickest way to choose a sound. A heavy people with deep chests suit the harsh option. A people who live in water or in low gravity, where sound carries a long way, suit the flowing one. Insects and crustaceans have no lips, so their speech is clicks and hisses. A built mind does not need a spoken name at all, and a designation says so.

Making the Names Belong Together

Use one sound for one people. If the species is the Bruduk, its members should have harsh names too. Mixed sounds read as mixed peoples.
Decide what humans call them. A crew will shorten Khaan'vrug to Khaan within a day. The short form is the name your readers will remember.
Keep the apostrophe for one thing. If it marks a click, it always marks a click. Readers notice when a mark has a rule.
Say the name aloud. If you stumble, so will a reader. Generate again.

The world the species comes from can be named with the Planet Name Generator and its satellites with the Moon Name Generator. An orbital outpost is in the Space Station Name Generator, and built characters have their own Robot Name Generator.

How to Use the Alien Name Generator

Choose character or species: A character name is for one alien. A species name is for a whole people.
Choose how the language sounds: Pick harsh, flowing, clicking or machine.
Generate and copy: Each press gives six new names.

Frequently Asked Questions

How do I come up with an alien name?

Decide what the speaker's mouth is like, then choose sounds to match. A people with beaks or mandibles would not say m, b or p. A people who sing would use long vowels. Keep to a small set of sounds and every name will seem to come from one language.

What is a good name for an alien species?

One a human crew could say on the radio. Two or three syllables is usual, as in Bruduk, Risheen or Chazkith. Choose Species names for six more.

Why do alien names have apostrophes?

The apostrophe stands for a break in the word, a catch in the throat or a click. One is enough. A name with three is hard to read and looks like a joke.

Are these names taken from Star Trek, Star Wars or other fiction?

No. Names are built from syllables, and a list of well-known species and characters is blocked. With random syllables a likeness to a minor name somewhere is always possible, so search a name before you publish with it.

Can I use the names in a book or a game?

Yes. There is no fee and no credit is needed.

What is the machine option for?

Built minds: robots, ship intelligences and peoples who have left their bodies behind. They take a short word with a number or a function, such as Veth-35 or Node Tavi.