Troll Name Generator
Generate unique troll names for your fantasy characters, stories, and games. The perfect tool for writers, gamers, and world-builders.
Showing 500 names available in Troll Name Generator.
Curated Troll Name Generator List
| Name | Meaning / Origin | Gender |
|---|---|---|
| Blightback Bogruler | Plague spine swamp king | Any |
| Blightfist Bogstalker | Plague punch swamp hunter | Any |
| Blightfist Moldbrother | Plague punch decay sibling | Any |
| Blightgut Moldfather | Plague stomach decay patriarch | Any |
| Blightmaw Caveruler | Plague mouth underground king | Any |
| Blightmaw Moldwatcher | Plague mouth decay observer | Any |
| Blistergut Swampcrawler | Sore stomach marsh mover | Any |
| Blistermaw Swamphunter | Sore mouth marsh stalker | Any |
How to Pick a Good Troll Name
Understanding Troll Names
Troll names in fantasy draw from multiple traditions including Norse mythology, fairy tales, and modern fantasy gaming. Each tradition emphasizes different troll qualities - supernatural malevolence, comical stupidity, or regenerating horror - and naming conventions vary accordingly. Understanding your source material helps create appropriately styled names.
Key Characteristics
Effective troll names share common traits: they sound rough and unpleasant, often incorporate guttural consonants, and frequently reference the troll's habitat or most prominent feature. Many use compound construction combining descriptive elements into single imposing names.
Choosing the Right Style
Match troll naming style to your setting's tone. Grimdark settings call for truly horrific names suggesting violence and decay. Fairy tale contexts might allow sillier names with hidden menace. High fantasy could use quasi-Norse constructions suggesting ancient malevolence. Let genre guide your approach.
Practical Considerations
Consider how troll names function in your narrative or game. Will players need to remember and reference this troll across sessions? Is the name meant to inspire dread or nervous laughter? Does it need to be pronounceable for dramatic moments? Practical usage should inform creative choices.
Common Patterns
Popular troll naming patterns include habitat descriptors (Swamp, Cave, Mountain), body feature references (Rot, Fang, Claw), compound constructions combining elements (Mosshide, Bridgebane), and Norse-style names for mythological gravitas. Alliteration and internal rhyme help names stick.
Making Your Final Choice
Test your troll name in context before finalizing. Speak it aloud in dramatic narration. Write it in encounter descriptions. Imagine players or readers encountering this creature. The perfect troll name will immediately communicate the right blend of threat, setting authenticity, and memorable character.
Key Considerations
- Match naming style to your setting's troll archetype
- Consider Norse traditions for ancient, supernatural trolls
- Use brutish sounds for monstrous, bestial trolls
- Align names with habitat for environmental storytelling
- Let narrative role influence naming complexity
Famous Examples
Tom, Bert, and William
The Hobbit (J.R.R. Tolkien)
Tolkien's trio of trolls who nearly ate Bilbo and the dwarves bear surprisingly mundane English names, creating comic contrast with their monstrous nature. These names established a tradition of trolls with unexpectedly ordinary names that highlight their crude attempts at civilization.
The Troll King (Dovregubben)
Peer Gynt (Henrik Ibsen)
The Mountain King from Ibsen's play bears a title rather than personal name, reflecting his role as ruler of Norway's trolls. His iconic Hall of the Mountain King scene influenced countless fantasy depictions of troll nobility and underground kingdoms.
Thud
Discworld (Terry Pratchett)
Pratchett's troll character bears a name suggesting both the sound trolls make and their perceived intelligence level. This comedic naming approach influenced lighter fantasy treatments of trolls as dim but not necessarily evil creatures.
The River Troll
Three Billy Goats Gruff
The unnamed troll of this Norwegian fairy tale established the bridge-guarding archetype that appears throughout fantasy. His lack of personal name emphasizes trolls as obstacles rather than characters, influencing countless monster encounter designs.
Trolloc
The Wheel of Time
Robert Jordan's bestial Trollocs represent troll-like creatures whose species name itself functions as individual identifier due to their animal intelligence. This naming approach influenced depictions of trolls as barely-sapient monsters rather than thinking beings.
Popular Troll Names
These troll names represent some of the most creative and popular options from our collection.
| Name | Meaning |
|---|---|
| Grothnak the Render | Giant who tears victims apart |
| Bogmaw Putrescent | Swamp-mouthed one covered in decay |
| Skullcrusher | One who shatters heads |
| Thornback Bridgeguard | Spiny guardian of crossings |
| Grimjaw Stonehide | Fierce-faced creature with rock-like skin |
| Fangrot the Eternal | Decaying-toothed one who cannot die |
| Mossbeard Oldroot | Ancient forest creature grown with vegetation |
| Blackblood Marshfiend | Dark-veined swamp demon |
| Thundergut the Hungry | Loud-bellied one with endless appetite |
| Nightstalker Cragborn | Darkness hunter from mountain birth |
Frequently Asked Questions
QWhat makes a good troll name?
A good troll name immediately communicates the creature's threatening nature through harsh sounds and unpleasant imagery. Effective troll names often incorporate guttural consonants, references to decay or violence, and habitat elements like swamp, cave, or mountain. The name should match your setting's troll archetype - Norse-style for mythological settings, brutish for monster encounters, or unexpectedly ordinary for comedic contrast. Additionally, great troll names are memorable and pronounceable, allowing dramatic narration during encounters.
QHow do I choose the right troll name?
Start by defining your troll's role in your story or game - is it a one-off monster, recurring villain, or developed character? Consider the troll's habitat, intelligence level, and any distinctive physical features. Research troll traditions relevant to your setting, whether Norse mythology, D&D-style regenerators, or fairy tale bridge guardians. Generate names combining relevant elements using harsh sounds and compound constructions. Test finalists by speaking them in dramatic narration to ensure they create the right atmosphere.
QCan I use these troll names commercially?
Yes, these generated troll names are original creations available for both personal and commercial use in novels, games, films, and other creative projects. However, verify that your chosen name doesn't closely resemble existing trademarked troll characters from major franchises like World of Warcraft, Warhammer, or other popular fantasy properties. A brief search helps ensure your troll names support original worldbuilding without potential trademark complications.
QWhat are common troll naming patterns?
Common troll naming patterns include habitat references (Swamp, Cave, Bridge, Mountain) combined with body features (Fang, Rot, Hide, Gut), compound constructions merging two descriptive elements (Mosshide, Bogmaw, Stonearm), Norse-inspired names for mythological weight, epithets describing behavior or reputation (the Render, the Hungry), and alliterative constructions for memorability. Simple, brutal single-word names work for bestial trolls, while more elaborate constructions suit intelligent specimens.
QHow many troll names should I consider?
For major troll antagonists or recurring characters, generate at least six to eight options before selecting a final name. This exploration helps find the perfect balance of threat, setting authenticity, and memorability. For encounter monsters appearing briefly, two or three options usually suffice. Consider creating naming patterns for troll groups or clans to suggest shared culture. Keep unused favorites for future encounters or related troll characters in your setting.
QWhere can I find inspiration for troll names?
Rich inspiration sources include Norse mythology and Scandinavian folklore where trolls originate. Old Norse language resources provide authentic-sounding elements. Classic fairy tales demonstrate traditional troll characterization. Fantasy RPG bestiaries show various troll interpretations across game systems. Fantasy authors like Tolkien, Pratchett, and Jordan offer different troll naming approaches. Natural features of swamps, caves, and mountains suggest environmental name elements. Horror vocabulary provides suitably unpleasant descriptive words.