This villain name generator gives names for the antagonist of a story, a game or a tabletop campaign. Villains are named differently depending on the kind of threat they are, so it offers four. A dark lord has a harsh name and an epithet. A mastermind has a title and an alias. A crime boss has a nickname in the middle of an ordinary name. A corrupt noble or priest has a rank, a respectable name and a reputation that does not match.

Four Kinds of Villain

Kind	How the name is built	Example
Dark lord	An invented name and an epithet	Malgareth the Unmourned
Mastermind	A title, a surname and an alias	Doctor Null, the Auditor
Crime boss	A first name, a nickname and a surname	Vincent "Two Coats" Vantelli
Corrupt noble or priest	A rank, a full name and a public reputation	Chancellor Lucan Thornwald the Reasonable

The Epithet Carries the Menace

People in a story rarely use a villain's real name. They use what they are afraid of. The Unmourned says nobody wept at this man's death, which means he has died once already. The Auditor says someone is keeping count. The Reasonable is what a frightened court calls a chancellor nobody dares contradict. Choose the epithet first and the villain is half written.

Matching the Villain to the Story

A war story wants a dark lord. The threat is open and the name is known to every farmer.
A mystery wants a mastermind. The alias appears long before the face, and finding the surname is the plot.
A city story wants a crime boss. The nickname has a history that the players can find out.
A story of intrigue wants a noble. The name is on public buildings and the crimes are legal.

For the villain's followers, use the Cult Name Generator or the Secret Society Name Generator. Hired blades are in the Assassin Name Generator, and undead rulers in the Necromancer Name Generator. The stronghold can be named with the Castle Name Generator.

How to Use the Villain Name Generator

Choose the kind of villain: Pick a dark lord, a mastermind, a crime boss, or a corrupt noble or priest.
Choose name and epithet or name only: The epithet, alias or nickname is the part people whisper.
Generate and copy: Each press gives six new names.

Frequently Asked Questions

What makes a good villain name?

It is easy to say and it sounds like the threat. Hard consonants suit a conqueror, and a soft, polite name suits a schemer. An epithet does the rest: the Unmourned, the Auditor, the Reasonable.

What is a BBEG?

Big Bad Evil Guy, the term tabletop players use for the main villain of a campaign. Any of the four kinds here can fill that role.

How do I make an evil name for an orc, elf or other race?

Take a name from that race's generator and add an epithet from the dark lord option here. Grath the Oathless is an evil orc. Choose Name and epithet and borrow the second half.

Should the villain's name sound evil?

Not always. Chancellor Lucan Thornwald the Reasonable is more worrying than a name full of skulls, because the people in the story trust him.

Can I use these names in a novel or a published game?

Yes. The names are invented, and villains from books, films, comics and games are left out.

How do I name a supervillain?

Choose the mastermind option. It gives a title and surname with an alias, such as Doctor Null, the Auditor. Use either half alone if you prefer.