How to Name a Male or Female Orc (+ a Name Generator)

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Personalized name ideas for your DnD orc
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Having first appeared in The Lord of the Rings , orcs are hulking, humanoid monsters known for their green skin, large tusks, and brutish nature. If you play games like Dungeons or Dragons or write your own fantasy stories, it’s important to follow established orc naming conventions. For this article, we’ve compiled a list of the best male and female orc names . If you want something more personalized, check out our orc name generator for even more options. We also spoke to role-playing game expert Jason Garvin for more insight into orc naming conventions.

Orc Character Name Ideas

According to role-playing game expert Jason Garvin, orc names are often straightforward, short, and guttural  sounding. To make the name even more unique, consider including an epithet. Here are a few examples:

  • Male: Azrog, Carzog, Cognor, Golg, Kragar, Mudush, Vrakul, Zornak
  • Female: Agral, Bula, Drashka, Engong, Gorma, Lokara, Neega, Vorka
  • With an epithet: Glob the Giant, Nogbael the Hungry, Ugor the Violent, Grakar the Filthy, Vola the Skin Flayer, and Magnob the Helmet Splitter.
Section 1 of 3:

Male Orc Names

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  1. In most fantasy worlds, orcs are known for being brutal and warlike, and their names reflect their nature. According to Garvin, “Orc names are strong and guttural sounding. They typically use harsh syllables of languages such as German and Slavic tongues, featuring a strong consonant paired with a vowel, especially using letters such as “G,” “K” and “R,” for their intensity in naming.” [1] Most male orc names are short (only 1 or 2 syllables long) and composed of harsh sounds. Here are some examples:
    • Azrog
    • Bajok
    • Carzog
    • Cognor
    • Dagnub
    • Drogul
    • Durak [2]
    • Golg
    • Grakor
    • Gromak
    • Grutok
    • Kragar
    • Loknash
    • Lortar
    • Mog
    • Mudush
    • Ruhk
    • Ruzhak
    • Shamog
    • Skarvok
    • Thuzhul
    • Ugron
    • Vrakul
    • Zornak
    • Zulthar

    Meet the wikiHow Expert

    Jason Garvin is a role-playing game expert based in Broomfield, Colorado. He is the Chief Operating Officer of Total Escape Games, a gaming business that carries role-playing games, board games, paints, and collectible card games.

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Section 2 of 3:

Female Orc Names

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  1. In general, both male and female orc names are short and harsh. However, feminine names tend to be a bit softer, often ending in an A. Female orcs may also have longer names than their male counterparts, but they’re usually no longer than 3 syllables. Here are some examples:
    • Agral
    • Atub
    • Batum
    • Bula
    • Drashka
    • Emen
    • Engong
    • Gorma
    • Grilga
    • Kansif
    • Kragla
    • Lokara
    • Lugrasha
    • Murbul
    • Myev
    • Nagrala
    • Neega
    • Ovak
    • Rogna [3]
    • Stulga
    • Vola
    • Vorka
    • Yag
    • Zhanara
    • Zorga
    • Zulga
Section 3 of 3:

Orc Naming Conventions

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  1. According to Garvin, orc names are generally short (1-3 syllables), made of harsh, guttural sounds, and often feature strong consonants like K, G, and R. [4] Feminine orc names sometimes have slightly more vowels and syllable breaks than masculine names. [5]
    • Orc names have harsh sounds to convey the species’ barbaric and warlike nature. The names are short to emphasize their straightforward, violent mindset.
    • Orc names are often inspired by German and Slavic languages due to their harsh sounds.
    • If the name is for a D&D campaign, you may want to ask the Dungeon Master if there are any naming conventions you should follow. Garvin says, "In general, because campaigns in roleplaying games like D&D are made by the players, naming conventions may vary depending on the person running the game and the players’ own preferences." [6]
  2. 2
    Add an epithet to the end of the name. In most fantasy worlds, orcs don’t have last names. Instead, they use epithets like “Knee Smasher” or “The Bloody.” These often reflect the orc’s personality or actions, so choose an epithet that accurately reflects your character. [7]
  3. In many orc cultures, an orc’s name can also indicate their social status or accomplishments. If your orc is an important leader of their clan, give them an honorific, such as “chieftain” or “warlord.” [11]
    • Garvin says, “When naming an orc, it’s important to reference the cultural significance of their lineage (if any), their accomplishments amongst their peers, and to [give them] a powerful and dignified name.” [12]
    • Garvin continues, “An orc’s name will vary depending on what kind of clan they’re from—whether they’re a clan of warriors, mystics, shamans, etc. Their name will often reflect their role within the clan, as well, or the deeds they’ve done to earn recognition from their peers.” [13]
    • According to Garvin, “Worth noting is that an orc may have a different naming convention depending on whether they’re full-orc or half-orc. Half-orcs may have a name that honors both the human and the orcish side, and may include last names depending on the player’s preference when designing the character and their backstory. It’s also possible a half-orc may have a name scorning or referencing their half-orc status, like “two-blood,” as a name given from their tribe.” [14]
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Orc Name Generator

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    Your brutish orc needs a name, and you'll find the perfect one here!

    Just tell us your orc's gender and the letter that you'd like their name to begin with, and we'll handle the rest.
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      References

      1. ↑ Jason Garvin. Role-Playing Game Expert. Expert Interview
      2. ↑ https://momlovesbest.com/orc-names
      3. ↑ https://momlovesbest.com/orc-names
      4. ↑ Jason Garvin. Role-Playing Game Expert. Expert Interview
      5. ↑ https://prowritingaid.com/generator/orc-name
      6. ↑ Jason Garvin. Role-Playing Game Expert. Expert Interview
      7. ↑ https://codexnomina.com/orc-names/
      8. ↑ Jason Garvin. Role-Playing Game Expert. Expert Interview
      9. ↑ Jason Garvin. Role-Playing Game Expert. Expert Interview
      1. ↑ Jason Garvin. Role-Playing Game Expert. Expert Interview
      2. ↑ https://prowritingaid.com/generator/orc-name
      3. ↑ Jason Garvin. Role-Playing Game Expert. Expert Interview
      4. ↑ Jason Garvin. Role-Playing Game Expert. Expert Interview
      5. ↑ Jason Garvin. Role-Playing Game Expert. Expert Interview

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