Character Class names

Rogue Name Generator

Names for thieves, assassins, spies and charming liars. Most good rogues have two names: the one they were born with and the one the street gave them.

A knees-up rogue in charcoal leathers crouches lightly, one hand on a curved dagger and the other lifting a stolen jeweled key

A few to start with

ShadowstepSilent Mover
SilentbladeInvisible Assassin
JasperTreasure Keeper
LorelaiAlluring Enigma
CaelumSky Thief
NyxNight Wanderer

About Rogue names

Understanding Rogue names

A rogue's real name matters less than the alias. Fritz Leiber's Gray Mouser started out as Mouse. Kaz Brekker in Six of Crows is better known as Dirtyhands, and Prince Kheldar of Drasnia goes by Silk in David Eddings' Belgariad. Rogue names work in layers: a plain given name, a working name and sometimes a cover identity for the job.

The sound matters too. Rogue names tend to be quick and clipped, with hard consonants and few syllables: Locke, Vex, Kess, Wren, Sly. They should be easy to shout across a rooftop and easy to forget in a crowd. Surnames often come from trades, streets or bad habits rather than noble houses, which is why Copperheel, Underbridge and Saltpurse sound like thieves and Dawnshield does not. Real history helps here. Mary Frith, a notorious 17th-century London thief, was known as Moll Cutpurse, a trade name that tells you exactly what she did.

A short guide

How to come up with a Rogue name

Pick a short, quick given name

One or two syllables, ending on a hard sound, is the classic rogue shape. Male names: Locke, Jace, Corvin, Tavik, Fenlo, Rook. Female names: Kess, Vex, Mira, Sable, Neris, Veska. The name should be easy to say fast and easy to lie about, so skip anything grand. A rogue named Bartholomew had better go by Bart. If you want a softer name for a charmer or a face, keep it smooth instead of sharp: Perrin, Mariel, Calisse.

Give them a street name

Street names come from three places: an animal (Rat, Magpie, Fox, Crow), a skill or tool (Pick, Quill, Needle, Lockjaw) or something that happened (Lucky, Nine-Fingers, Dirtyhands). The third kind is the most memorable, because it implies a story. Kaz Brekker's Dirtyhands says he does the jobs no one else will touch. Let someone else give the name in the story. Rogues who choose their own nicknames, like "Shadowblade," tend to read as teenagers.

Use trade and gutter surnames

A rogue's surname should sound like it came from the street, not a family tree. Combine a cheap material or a place with a body part or object: Copperheel, Brasslock, Saltpurse, Underbridge, Crowstep. Old English trade names also work because they sound real: Fletcher, Tanner, Cooper, Webb. For a fallen noble playing at thievery, keep the family name and hide it, the way Silk hides that he is Prince Kheldar.

Match the name to the kind of rogue

An assassin wants a name with little warmth: Vasker, Ossira, Thessan, Mother Coris. A swashbuckler wants flourish: Raffaele, Valentin, Ravelle. A con artist needs several names and a forgettable real one: Ned Webb, who is also Lord Edras Thorne and Brother Perrin. A burglar can be cozy, as Bilbo Baggins shows. Gandalf hired him for The Hobbit's dwarves as a "burglar," and nobody expected it.

Famous names

Famous rogues and what their names teach

Fiction's best thieves almost all have a working name. Here is how they use it.

The Gray MouserFritz Leiber's thief of Lankhmar began as Mouse, a wizard's apprentice, and renamed himself. A color plus a small, sly animal is still a strong alias formula.
Locke LamoraThe con artist of Scott Lynch's The Lies of Locke Lamora. His name says "lock" outright, and he answers to many false names on the job.
Kaz BrekkerThe crime boss of Leigh Bardugo's Six of Crows, known as Dirtyhands. His crewmate Inej is the Wraith. Both street names describe reputation, not looks.
SilkPrince Kheldar of Drasnia in David Eddings' Belgariad, a spy who goes by Silk. A one-word alias that describes how a rogue moves is easy to remember.
Moll CutpurseThe byname of Mary Frith, a real 17th-century London thief. A cutpurse sliced purse strings. Trade bynames like this make realistic rogue names for historical settings.
AutolycusIn Greek myth, a master thief and grandfather of Odysseus. His name means roughly "the wolf itself." Shakespeare reused it for a pickpocket in The Winter's Tale.
GarrettThe master thief of the Thief games (1998 onward). A plain, ordinary given name for a legendary thief: the opposite of trying hard, and it works.

Names and meanings

Popular Rogue names

Popular Rogue names
Name	Meaning	Gender
Shadowstep	Silent Mover	Male
Silentblade	Invisible Assassin	Female
Lorelai	Alluring Enigma	Female
Jasper	Treasure Keeper	Male
Nyx	Night Wanderer	Female
Caelum	Sky Thief	Male
Sable	Dark and Mysterious	Female
Raven	Omen of Secrets	Male
Ivy	Climbing Whisper	Female
Locke	Master of Locks	Male
Mira	Admirable Trickster	Female
Zephyr	Gentle Breeze	Male
Aurora	Dawn's Light	Female
Flint	Spark of Ingenuity	Male
Wren	Small but Mighty	Female
Merlin	Fortress of the Sea	Male
Elara	Moon's Glow	Female
Dante	Enduring	Male

60 more Rogue names and meanings

Male Rogue names

Male Rogue names
Name	Meaning
Veyric	A sharp-edged name for a patient, precise infiltrator.
Corven	Suggests a watchful scout with a knack for secrets.
Ashren	A quiet-sounding name for someone who leaves little trace.
Tavik	Quick and compact, suited to a nimble street thief.
Orsik	Has a sturdy edge for a rogue who survives rough work.
Dasker	A blunt alias for a practical lockbreaker.
Ruskell	Suggests an old hand with a colorful past.
Maelor	A polished name for a courtly schemer.
Kestrel	Evokes a keen-eyed lookout and swift escape.
Brennick	A grounded name for a resourceful smuggler.
Orrick	Suggests a cautious planner who trusts no easy offer.
Fenlo	Has a light, elusive feel for a wandering scout.
Caldrin	A measured name for a disciplined spy.
Jorven	Suggests a friendly face hiding sharp instincts.
Thessan	A refined sound for a patient confidence trickster.
Mavren	Evokes a cool-headed operator who plans several exits.
Drelan	A nimble name for a rooftop runner.
Vasker	Suggests a tough mercenary with a thief’s instincts.
Perrin	A mild, unremarkable name suited to blending in.
Edras	Has a clipped, guarded feel for an informant.
Nollan	A personable name for a silver-tongued cardsharp.
Rhovan	Suggests a discreet guide through dangerous districts.
Cadrik	A hard-edged name for a bold saboteur.
Velcor	Evokes a composed rogue with an imposing reputation.
Sennel	A soft-spoken name for a patient eavesdropper.
Torven	Suggests a dependable companion with hidden tricks.
Halvek	A rugged name for a back-alley fixer.
Istren	Has a cool, secretive tone for an expert spy.
Dovren	Suggests an observant thief who favors careful timing.
Quillan	A neat, clever name for a forger or codebreaker.

Female Rogue names

Female Rogue names
Name	Meaning
Mereth	A graceful name for a daring escape artist.
Veska	Suggests a brisk, decisive knife fighter.
Olyra	A polished name for a well-connected information broker.
Ceryn	Has a quiet, watchful feel for a scout.
Briska	A lively name for a bold pickpocket.
Tirrel	Suggests a nimble climber and rooftop lookout.
Neris	A cool, understated name for a secretive operative.
Vaela	Evokes an elegant infiltrator with a convincing disguise.
Kessra	A brisk name for a daring safecracker.
Deyra	Suggests a resourceful rogue who improvises under pressure.
Sivren	Has a restrained edge for a patient observer.
Mariel	A respectable cover name for a clever swindler.
Zelka	A bold, compact name for a fearless burglar.
Fenna	Suggests a nimble wanderer familiar with back roads.
Ravelle	A theatrical name for a rogue who loves a disguise.
Avenna	Evokes a poised negotiator who always keeps an exit.
Druska	A rough, memorable name for a hard-bitten survivor.
Lethra	Suggests a silent, deliberate infiltrator.
Nimelle	A light name for a quick-fingered trickster.
Coris	A versatile cover name for a discreet messenger.
Virelle	Has a smooth, confident tone for a court spy.
Ossira	Evokes a cool tactician who studies every room.
Brelka	A sturdy name for a streetwise fixer.
Tavessa	Suggests a charming rogue with a practiced smile.
Edria	A neat, watchful name for an expert listener.
Mireth	Evokes a subtle operator skilled at misdirection.
Calisse	A graceful alias for a well-mannered thief.
Rilka	A brisk name for a daring messenger.
Soreva	Suggests a patient schemer with a guarded past.
Dessa	A plainspoken name that helps a rogue go unnoticed.

Rogue last names

Rogue last names
Name	Meaning
Quickwater	A family name suggesting a swift escape across waterways.
Brasslock	An earned name for a skilled safecracker or locksmith.
Mothveil	A quiet clan name associated with disguises and night work.
Ashmantle	Suggests a survivor who disappears into soot and ruin.
Glasswhisper	An epithet for a discreet listener near guarded rooms.
Red Ledger	A title linked to a broker who keeps dangerous accounts.
Underbridge	A street surname for someone raised among the city’s hidden routes.
Foxglove	A sly family name with a delicate, unsettling image.
The Grey	A spare title for a rogue whose loyalties remain unclear.
Copperheel	A mocking or affectionate name for a tireless runner.
Nightjar	A clan name suggesting a nocturnal scout.
Pennygrave	An underworld surname for a collector of small debts.
Hollowkey	An alias for a lockpicker known for quiet entrances.
Rainmarket	A name tied to a trader of rumors in crowded streets.
Black Ribbon	An epithet marking a stylish or ceremonial thief.
Crowstep	Suggests a scout who moves carefully across rooftops.
Last Lantern	A title for a guide who works after the streets empty.
Velvet Thorn	A name for a charming rogue with a dangerous edge.
Saltpurse	A rough street surname for a resourceful petty thief.
The Unseen	A feared underworld title for a master of infiltration.

Good to know

Rogue names: frequently asked questions

What are good female rogue names?

Short and sharp works best: Kess, Vex, Veska, Neris, Sable, Wren. For a charmer, try smoother names like Ravelle, Calisse or Mariel. Give her a working name too, ideally one other people chose: Magpie, Needle, the Wraith (Inej's name in Six of Crows). Historical inspiration is there if you want it: Mary Frith was Moll Cutpurse in 17th-century London. Pair a soft first name with a hard alias for contrast.

What are good male rogue names?

One or two syllables with a hard consonant: Locke, Corvin, Tavik, Rook, Jace, Fenlo. Add a working name from an animal, tool or past job: Rat, Quill, Nine-Fingers, Lucky. A surname from the street finishes the job: Corvin Saltpurse, Tavik Underbridge. For a gentleman thief, borrow a smoother name and let the alias do the dirty work, the way Prince Kheldar goes by Silk.

What are some cool rogue nicknames?

The best nicknames come from a story, not an adjective. "Nine-Fingers" makes people ask what happened. "Shadowstrike" does not. Good sources include animals (Magpie, Weasel, Crow), tools (Pick, Wire, Needle), places (Dockside, Low Bell) and incidents (Lucky, Twice-Hanged, Dirtyhands). Kaz Brekker earns Dirtyhands in Six of Crows because he takes the jobs others won't. Let another character hand out the nickname, and your rogue can resent it.

What are good thief names?

Thieves in older English were named for what they did. A cutpurse cut purses, and a footpad robbed on foot. Those words make good bynames: Moll Cutpurse, Jack Footpad. For fantasy thieves, combine a cheap material with a body part or object: Copperheel, Brasslock, Glasswhisper. Plain given names like Garrett from the Thief games, Ned or Tam sell the idea that a thief is someone you'd never look at twice.

How do I name a D&D rogue?

Start with the subclass. A Thief wants something quick and grubby (Fenlo Underbridge). An Assassin wants a cold name and several fake ones (Thessan, alias Brother Edras). An Arcane Trickster can carry a slightly grander name (Caldrin Mothveil). Then pick your race's naming style first and add a rogue alias on top. A halfling named Merric Underbough who answers to Pockets still sounds like a halfling, and Pockets is the trade name.

Are there names that mean rogue or trickster?

A few, mostly from myth. Autolycus, the master thief of Greek myth, has a name that means roughly "the wolf itself." Reynard is the trickster fox of medieval European fables, and the name still reads as sly. Loki, the Norse trickster god, and Hermes, the Greek god of thieves, are recognizable but heavy. Lighter options with roguish associations include Fox, Rook and Corvin, from the Latin for raven.