Byzantine Town Name Generator
Real and invented towns of the Eastern Roman Empire
A list of 1,000 Byzantine town names in one consistent medieval Greek spelling. Most are real towns of the Eastern Roman Empire, such as Thessalonike, Amorion and Monembasia; the rest are invented on the same patterns, such as Kastron Leontos and Nea Nikaia.
About Byzantine town names
Byzantine place names are medieval Greek, and they come in layers. The oldest are classical cities that lived on as bishoprics and fortresses, written here the way Greek spells them: Nikaia, Ephesos, Korinthos, Trapezous. Over them lie imperial foundations that add -polis or -oupolis to an emperor's name (Adrianoupolis, Theodosioupolis, Arkadioupolis), and later names from the centuries of raids and rebuilding: Monembasia, 'the single entrance', Didymoteichon, 'the twin wall', and many places called simply Kastron, 'the fortress'.
Roughly seven in ten names are real towns that the empire held at some point between the sixth and the fifteenth century, from Italy and the Danube to Syria and the Crimea. The rest are invented on the same patterns for fiction and strategy games: emperor towns such as Nikephoroupolis, saint towns in Hagios and Hagia, forts and watchtowers (Kastron Leontos, Leukos Pyrgos), new and old settlements (Nea Nikaia, Palaiochorion), harbors, monasteries and villages. Nothing marks which is which, so look a name up before you treat it as history.
The spelling is one system throughout: k rather than c, -os rather than -us, e for eta and b for beta. You will find Kaisareia, Berroia and Thessalonike where Latin and modern maps have Caesarea, Veria and Thessaloniki.
How to choose Byzantine town names
- For a provincial capital or a bishop's seat, pick an old city name such as Amorion, Ankyra or Attaleia. For a frontier fort, take a Kastron, Pyrgos or Kleisoura name.
- Hagios takes a male saint and Hagia a female one: Hagios Demetrios, Hagia Marina. Keep that agreement when you make your own saint town.
- To found a town for your own emperor, add -oupolis to the name, as the real Adrianoupolis and Ioannoupolis do. A name in -os or -es drops that ending first, so Alexios gives Alexioupolis and Ioannes gives Ioannoupolis.
- Nea and Palaia mark a new and an old settlement of the same name, and the adjective follows the gender of the noun (Nea Nikaia, Neon Amorion, Neai Sardeis). A pair of them gives a map some history at once.
- Other books use Latin or modern spellings. Monembasia here is Monemvasia on a modern map and Chandax is today's Heraklion, so search both forms when you look a town up.
Frequently asked questions
Are these real Byzantine towns?
Most are. Roughly seven in ten are real towns, fortresses and bishoprics of the Eastern Roman Empire, such as Thessalonike, Nikaia, Dyrrachion and Cherson. The others are invented on real naming patterns and the list does not mark them, so look a name up before you use it as a historical fact.
Why do the spellings look different from the ones I know?
The list transliterates the Greek directly instead of using Latin or modern forms. That gives Konstantinoupolis for Constantinople, Antiocheia for Antioch and Ikonion for Iconium. One system for every name keeps a map or a campaign consistent.
What do Kastron, Pyrgos and Hagios mean?
Kastron is a fortress or walled town, a word borrowed from Latin castrum, and Pyrgos is a tower. Hagios and Hagia mean 'saint' or 'holy' in the masculine and the feminine, so Hagios Georgios is a town named for Saint George and Hagia Sophia means 'Holy Wisdom'. Mone is a monastery and Nea means new, as in Nea Mone.
Can I use these names in a novel or a strategy game?
Yes. They suit both, and the invented ones follow the same patterns as the real ones, so they sit well beside them. For a scenario set in a specific year, check that the empire held the town then, because the borders moved a great deal over the centuries.
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All 1,000 Byzantine town names
A: 108 names
- Abara
- Abrittos
- Abydos
- Acheiropoietos
- Achris
- Achyraous
- Adana
- Adata
- Adramyttion
- Adrianoi
- Adrianou Therai
- Adrianoupolis
- Aetokastron
- Aetos
- Agathopolis
- Agros
- Aigaiai
- Aigina
- Aigissos
- Aila
- Ainos
- Aizanoi
- Akmoneia
- Akoba
- Akroinon
- Akrokastron
- Akrokorinthos
- Akrophrourion
- Akroterion
- Alexandreia
- Alexioupolis
- Amalphe
- Amantia
- Amaseia
- Amastris
- Amida
- Amisos
- Ammochostos
- Amorgos
- Amorion
- Ampelochorion
- Ampelon
- Amphipolis
- Amyklion
- Anaia
- Anaktoropolis
- Anaplous
- Anasartha
- Anastasioupolis
- Anazarbos
- Anchialos
- Andrapa
- Androna
- Andronikoupolis
A, continued
- Andros
- Androusa
- Anemokastron
- Anemourion
- Angelokastron
- Angelokoma
- Anion
- Ankon
- Ankyra
- Ankyra Sidera
- Antarados
- Antibaris
- Antiocheia
- Antiocheia Maiandrou
- Antiocheia Pisidias
- Apameia
- Apameia Kibotos
- Aphrodisias
- Aplekton
- Apollonias
- Apros
- Apsaros
- Arabissos
- Archaiopolis
- Archangelos
- Archelais
- Argos
- Argyrokastron
- Argyroupolis
- Ariaratheia
- Ariminon
- Arka
- Arkadia
- Arkadioupolis
- Arsamosata
- Arta
- Artach
- Artake
- Artze
- Askalon
- Asketerion
- Aspalathos
- Aspona
- Asprokastron
- Astros
- Athenai
- Athyra
- Atroa
- Attaleia
- Attouda
- Aulon
- Aurelioupolis
- Axioupolis
- Azotos
B: 49 names
- Baiberdon
- Balaneai
- Bapheus
- Barbalissos
- Bardounia
- Baris
- Barna
- Basileioupolis
- Basilika Therma
- Basilikos Limen
- Basilinoupolis
- Bathylakkos
- Bathypotamos
- Bathys Limen
- Bathys Rhyax
- Batopedion
- Bela
- Belegrada
- Belesos
- Beliatoba
- Belokoma
- Bera
- Berinoupolis
- Beroe
- Berroia
- Berytos
- Besaina
- Bibona
- Bidine
- Bigla
- Biminakion
- Bitzina
- Bizye
- Bodena
- Bonditza
- Borzo
- Bosporos
- Bostitza
- Bostra
- Boulgarophygon
- Boutelis
- Bouthroton
- Branitzoba
- Brentesion
- Bryas
- Brysis
- Byblos
- Byllis
- Byzantion
C: 27 names
- Chalke
- Chalkedon
- Chalkis
- Chandax
- Charax
- Charioupolis
- Charpete
- Charsianon Kastron
- Chauzizion
- Cheimarra
- Chele
- Cheriana
- Cherson
- Chersonesos
- Chios
- Chliara
- Chloumoutzion
- Choma
- Chonai
- Chora
- Chozanon
- Christianoupolis
- Christoupolis
- Chrysokastron
- Chrysopetra
- Chrysopolis
- Chrysorrhoas
D: 43 names
- Dadybra
- Dakibyza
- Dalisandos
- Damalas
- Damaskos
- Damatrys
- Daonion
- Daphne
- Dara
- Dardanos
- Daskylion
- Daulia
- Dazimon
- Debeltos
- Dekatera
- Demenna
- Demetrias
- Derbe
- Derkos
- Diabasis
- Diabolis
- Diadora
- Diampolis
- Didymoteichon
- Diokaisareia
- Diokleia
- Dionysopolis
- Diospolis
- Dipotamon
- Doara
- Dokeia
- Dokimion
- Doliche
- Domokos
- Doros
- Dorostolon
- Dorylaion
- Drama
- Drepanon
- Dristra
- Drizipara
- Dryinoupolis
- Dyrrachion
E: 30 names
- Edessa
- Eireneia
- Eirenoupolis
- Elaion
- Elasson
- Elegmoi
- Eleousa
- Eleutheropolis
- Elousa
- Emesa
- Emporion
- Ephesos
- Epibatai
- Epiphaneia
- Episkope
- Eressos
- Erythrai
- Euchaita
- Euchaneia
- Eudokias
- Eudokioupolis
- Eudoxias
- Eudoxioupolis
- Euergetis
- Eumeneia
- Euripos
- Euroia
- Europos
- Ezeros
- Ezoba
G: 23 names
- Gabala
- Galatas
- Galesion
- Gangra
- Ganos
- Gardikion
- Garella
- Gaza
- Gephyra
- Geraki
- Germa
- Germaneia
- Germanikeia
- Germanikopolis
- Glabinitza
- Glykoneron
- Glykys
- Goloe
- Golos
- Gorgoepekoos
- Gortyna
- Grebena
- Gynaikokastron
H: 82 names
- Hagia Agathe
- Hagia Aikaterine
- Hagia Anastasia
- Hagia Anna
- Hagia Barbara
- Hagia Eirene
- Hagia Euphemia
- Hagia Helene
- Hagia Kyriake
- Hagia Marina
- Hagia Paraskeue
- Hagia Petra
- Hagia Photeine
- Hagia Seberine
- Hagia Sophia
- Hagia Thekla
- Hagia Theodora
- Hagia Trias
- Hagioi Apostoloi
- Hagioi Saranta
- Hagioi Theodoroi
- Hagiokastron
- Hagion Oros
- Hagiopyrgos
- Hagios Achilleios
- Hagios Andreas
- Hagios Athanasios
- Hagios Auxentios
- Hagios Basileios
- Hagios Blasios
- Hagios Demetrios
- Hagios Eugenios
- Hagios Euthymios
- Hagios Georgios
- Hagios Ioannes
- Hagios Konstantinos
- Hagios Loukas
- Hagios Mamas
- Hagios Nikolaos
- Hagios Panteleemon
- Hagios Petros
H, continued
- Hagios Phokas
- Hagios Prokopios
- Hagios Sabas
- Hagios Spyridon
- Hagios Stephanos
- Hagios Theodoros
- Hagios Theologos
- Halmyris
- Halmyros
- Halykai
- Hebdomon
- Helenopolis
- Heliopolis
- Helos
- Henna
- Herakleia
- Herakleia Latmou
- Herakleia Pontike
- Herakleioupolis
- Hesychasterion
- Hexakomia
- Hexamilion
- Hierapolis
- Hierapytna
- Hiereia
- Hiericho
- Hierissos
- Hierokastron
- Hieron
- Hierosolyma
- Hodegetria
- Hosios Arsenios
- Hosios Christodoulos
- Hosios Ioannikios
- Hosios Lazaros
- Hosios Loukas
- Hosios Meletios
- Hosios Neilos
- Hydrous
- Hypaipa
- Hypselon Kastron
I: 15 names
- Ibora
- Ikonion
- Ilion
- Imbros
- Ioannina
- Ioannoupolis
- Ionopolis
- Ioppe
- Ioulianoupolis
- Ioulioupolis
- Ioustiniane Prima
- Ioustinianoupolis
- Isaakioupolis
- Isaura
- Ithake
K: 117 names
- Kadoi
- Kainophrourion
- Kaisareia
- Kaisaropolis
- Kalabryta
- Kalamata
- Kalamos
- Kale Akte
- Kallikrateia
- Kallinikos
- Kallipolis
- Kallirrhoe
- Kalochorion
- Kalogerochorion
- Kalokampos
- Kalokastron
- Kalon Oros
- Kalos Limen
- Kalotopos
- Kalymnos
- Kamacha
- Kamoulianai
- Kanina
- Karbona
- Karchedon
- Karpasia
- Karpathos
- Karse
- Kartalimen
- Karya
- Karyai
- Karystos
- Karytaina
- Kassandreia
- Kassiope
- Kastabala
- Kastamon
- Kastanea
- Kastoria
- Kastron Archangelou
- Kastron Basileos
- Kastron Drakontos
- Kastron Gephyras
- Kastron Kleisouras
- Kastron Leontos
- Kastron Limenos
- Kastron Nikephorou
- Kastron Potamou
- Kastron Prodromou
- Kastron Stratelatou
- Kastron Theotokou
- Katane
- Kataphygion
- Kea
- Kecharitomene
- Kellia
- Keltzene
- Kephallenia
K, continued
- Kephaloidion
- Kerasous
- Kerkyra
- Kernitza
- Keryneia
- Kibotos
- Kibyra
- Kilikiai Pylai
- Kios
- Kirkesion
- Kisamos
- Kiskisos
- Kitharizon
- Kitros
- Klaudioupolis
- Klazomenai
- Kleidion
- Kleisoura
- Klysma
- Kokkinos Pyrgos
- Kokousos
- Koloe
- Koloneia
- Komana
- Komana Chryse
- Konstantia
- Konstantina
- Konstantinoupolis
- Korama
- Kordyle
- Korinthos
- Koron
- Korone
- Korykos
- Koryphoi
- Kos
- Kosmidion
- Kosmosoteira
- Kotyaeion
- Kotzinos
- Koumoutzena
- Krateia
- Krene
- Kritzimos
- Kroai
- Kroton
- Kryobrysis
- Kryoneron
- Ktenia
- Kybistra
- Kydonia
- Kyklobion
- Kyminas
- Kyparission
- Kypsela
- Kyrene
- Kythera
- Kyzikos
- Kyzistra
L: 43 names
- Lakedaimon
- Lamos
- Lampe
- Lampsakos
- Laodikeia
- Laranda
- Lardea
- Larissa
- Latros
- Lebadeia
- Lentiana
- Leontarion
- Leontinoi
- Leontopolis
- Leros
- Lete
- Leukai
- Leukas
- Leuke Akte
- Leukokastron
- Leukon Teichos
- Leukopetra
- Leukopotamos
- Leukos Limen
- Leukos Pyrgos
- Leukosia
- Leuktron
- Libadion
- Limnia
- Lindos
- Lipara
- Lititza
- Lobitzos
- Lokroi
- Longanikos
- Lopadion
- Loulon
- Loutra
- Lychnidos
- Lykandos
- Lykokastron
- Lykostomion
- Lystra
M: 84 names
- Madytos
- Magnesia
- Maine
- Makre
- Makron Teichos
- Makrychorion
- Makrykampos
- Malagina
- Malaka
- Malakope
- Mallos
- Mantineia
- Mantzikert
- Markellai
- Markianoupolis
- Maroneia
- Martyropolis
- Mastaura
- Maurikioupolis
- Maurokastron
- Maurolimne
- Mauron Oros
- Mauroneron
- Mauropetra
- Mauropotamos
- Mauropyrgos
- Maximianoupolis
- Medaba
- Medeia
- Megale Bigla
- Megale Skala
- Megalochorion
- Megalokastron
- Megas Limen
- Megas Pyrgos
- Megaspelaion
- Megiste
- Megiste Lavra
- Melanoudion
- Melantias
- Melenikon
- Melite
M, continued
- Melitene
- Melos
- Meros
- Mesembria
- Mesene
- Mesochorion
- Messene
- Meteora
- Methone
- Methymna
- Metochion Lavras
- Metochion Prodromou
- Metochion Theotokou
- Metropolis
- Michaeloupolis
- Midaeion
- Mikron Kastron
- Miletos
- Mitylene
- Mnizos
- Modrene
- Moglena
- Mokissos
- Molybos
- Monasterion
- Mone Akoimeton
- Mone Soteros
- Mone Taxiarchon
- Monembasia
- Monokarton
- Monolithos
- Monydrion
- Mopsouestia
- Morobisdos
- Mosynopolis
- Mouchlion
- Mylos
- Myndos
- Myra
- Myriokephalon
- Myriophyton
- Mystras
N: 55 names
- Naissos
- Nakida
- Nakoleia
- Naupaktos
- Nauplion
- Naustathmos
- Naxos
- Nazianzos
- Nea Ankyra
- Nea Antiocheia
- Nea Attaleia
- Nea Herakleia
- Nea Kome
- Nea Krene
- Nea Lavra
- Nea Melitene
- Nea Mone
- Nea Nikaia
- Nea Petra
- Nea Phokaia
- Nea Rhome
- Nea Seleukeia
- Nea Sinope
- Nea Skala
- Nea Trapezous
- Neai Patrai
- Neai Sardeis
- Neapolis
- Nemesos
- Neochorion
- Neokaisareia
- Neokastron
- Neon Amorion
- Neon Dorylaion
- Neon Emporion
- Neon Pergamon
- Neon Phrourion
- Neon Teichos
- Neorion
- Neos Limen
- Neos Pyrgos
- Nessana
- Nikaia
- Nikephoreia
- Nikephoroupolis
- Niketiaton
- Nikli
- Nikomedeia
- Nikopolis
- Nikopsis
- Nikotera
- Nobai
- Nobiodounon
- Nymphaion
- Nyssa
O: 9 names
- Odessos
- Oinaion
- Olba
- Olene
- Oreos
- Orkistos
- Orthosias
- Ostrobos
- Oulpiana
P: 123 names
- Pagrai
- Palaia Kome
- Palaia Krene
- Palaia Mone
- Palaia Phokaia
- Palaia Skala
- Palaiai Patrai
- Palaiampela
- Palaiochora
- Palaiochorion
- Palaiogephyra
- Palaiokastron
- Palaiolimen
- Palaiomylos
- Palaion Emporion
- Palaion Phrourion
- Palaion Teichos
- Palaiopolis
- Palaiopyrgos
- Palatia
- Pammakaristos
- Pamphylon
- Panachrantos
- Paneas
- Panion
- Panormos
- Pantanassa
- Panteichion
- Pantepoptes
- Pantokrator
- Paphos
- Papirion
- Paraitonion
- Parembole
- Parion
- Parnassos
- Paros
- Passabas
- Patara
- Patmos
- Patrai
P, continued
- Pautalia
- Pegai
- Pelagonia
- Pelekanon
- Pentekome
- Pera
- Perama
- Pergamon
- Peribleptos
- Peristasis
- Peritheorion
- Perkri
- Pessinous
- Petra
- Petritzos
- Petrochorion
- Petrokastron
- Petroula
- Phanarion
- Pharsalos
- Phasis
- Phaustinoupolis
- Philadelphia
- Philanthropos
- Philea
- Philippoi
- Philippoupolis
- Philokrene
- Philomelion
- Phoinike
- Phokaia
- Photike
- Phoulloi
- Phrourion
- Phygela
- Pikridion
- Pityous
- Platamon
- Platanos
- Pliskouba
- Plotinoupolis
P, continued
- Podandos
- Poimanenon
- Polemonion
- Polybotos
- Polyphengos
- Polystylon
- Pompeioupolis
- Porthmos
- Poulcherianoupolis
- Prainetos
- Prespa
- Presthlaba
- Presthlabitza
- Prilapos
- Prinitza
- Prinkipos
- Proasteion
- Probaton
- Prodromos
- Prokonnesos
- Prophetes Elias
- Prosakos
- Prousa
- Prousias
- Prymnessos
- Pteleon
- Ptolemais
- Pylai
- Pyrgion
- Pyrgos
- Pyrgos Ampelonon
- Pyrgos Basileos
- Pyrgos Gephyras
- Pyrgos Leontos
- Pyrgos Limenos
- Pyrgos Monachon
- Pyrgos Petras
- Pyrgos Strategou
- Pyrgos Theotokou
- Pythia
- Pythion
R: 23 names
- Rhabdion
- Rhabenna
- Rhadolibos
- Rhaidestos
- Rhaousion
- Rhaphia
- Rhatiaria
- Rhegion
- Rhemesiana
- Rhentina
- Rhinokoroura
- Rhizaion
- Rhodandos
- Rhodopolis
- Rhodos
- Rhogoi
- Rhomanoupolis
- Rhome
- Rhosokastron
- Rhosos
- Rhouphinianai
- Rhousianon
- Rhousion
S: 87 names
- Salona
- Samos
- Samosata
- Samothrake
- Sampson
- Saniana
- Santabaris
- Saranta Ekklesiai
- Sardeis
- Sardike
- Sasima
- Satala
- Sebaste
- Sebasteia
- Sebastopolis
- Seleukeia
- Seleukeia Sidera
- Selinous
- Selymbria
- Semalouos
- Septon
- Sergentzion
- Sergioupolis
- Serrai
- Sestos
- Side
- Sidera
- Siderai Pylai
- Siderokastron
- Siderokausia
- Sidon
- Sinope
- Sirmion
- Sision
- Siteia
- Sitiphis
- Skala Emporon
- Skala Monachon
- Skampa
- Skepsis
- Skiathos
- Skodra
- Skopelos
S, continued
- Skopia
- Skoutarion
- Skylakion
- Skyros
- Skythopolis
- Smyrne
- Soandos
- Sophiane
- Sopotos
- Sosandra
- Soskos
- Sosthenion
- Soter
- Soteroupolis
- Soublaion
- Sougdaia
- Soura
- Sozopetra
- Sozopolis
- Sozousa
- Stagoi
- Staridola
- Stauros
- Stauroupolis
- Stena
- Stenimachos
- Stenokastron
- Stoudion
- Stratonikeia
- Stratopedon
- Strobilos
- Stroummitza
- Stylos
- Stypeion
- Syedra
- Sykai
- Sykea
- Sykeon
- Syllaion
- Symbolon
- Syme
- Symposion
- Synada
- Syrakousai
T: 64 names
- Tabai
- Tabia
- Tamatarcha
- Tamougade
- Taranta
- Taras
- Tarsos
- Tauriana
- Tauromenion
- Taxiarches
- Tebeste
- Telmessos
- Telouch
- Temenos
- Tenedos
- Tenos
- Tephrike
- Ternobos
- Tetrangourin
- Tetrapylon
- Tetrapyrgia
- Thalassokastron
- Thasos
- Thebai
- Theodorias
- Theodoroupolis
- Theodosioupolis
- Theophaneia
- Theophiloupolis
- Theoskepastos
- Theoupolis
- Thera
T, continued
- Therapeia
- Thermai
- Thermopylai
- Thessalonike
- Thyateira
- Tiberias
- Tiberioupolis
- Tios
- Topeiros
- Traianoupolis
- Tralleis
- Trapezous
- Triaditza
- Trigleia
- Trikarikon
- Trikkala
- Trikokkia
- Trikome
- Trimythous
- Triokala
- Tripolis
- Tripyrgia
- Troas
- Troesmis
- Troia
- Tropaion
- Tyana
- Tyndarion
- Tyros
- Tzamandos
- Tzepaina
- Tzouroulon
X: 10 names
- Xantheia
- Xerigordos
- Xerochorion
- Xerokampos
- Xerokastron
- Xerolakkos
- Xerolimne
- Xeropotamos
- Xeropyrgos
- Xylokastron