Canaanite Name Generator
Bronze Age names from Amarna, Ugarit and the Bible
Browse 500 Canaanite names from Bronze Age records: city rulers of the Amarna letters such as Rib-Hadda of Byblos and Abdi-Heba of Jerusalem, kings and scribes of Ugarit such as Niqmaddu and Ilimilku, and Canaanite figures of the Hebrew Bible. The guide says which entries are deities and which are heroes of the Ugaritic epics.
About Canaanite names
Canaanite is the usual label for the peoples of the Bronze Age city-states along the eastern Mediterranean coast. Most of their names reach us through two archives. The Amarna letters are clay tablets of the 14th century BCE, written in Akkadian cuneiform by local rulers to the Egyptian court: Rib-Hadda of Byblos, Labayu of Shechem, Biridiya of Megiddo, Abdi-Heba of Jerusalem. The second archive comes from Ugarit, a port city on the Syrian coast that fell around 1185 BCE, where kings such as Niqmaddu and Ammurapi, merchants and the scribe Ilimilku appear in texts written in an alphabetic cuneiform script.
The list also draws on Canaanite figures of the Hebrew Bible, such as Jabin of Hazor, Rahab of Jericho and Ephron son of Zohar, and on older records from Byblos, Hazor and Egypt. Not every ruler bore a Semitic name: Shuwardata, Biridiya and Biryawaza are usually explained as Indo-Aryan, and Abdi-Heba names a Hurrian goddess. The element Abdi means servant of, as in Abdi-Ashirta.
Some entries are not names of ordinary people. Names with an epithet or a note in parentheses, such as Mighty Baal, Maiden Anat, Bull El, Prince Yam and Yarikh (moon god), are deities of the Ugaritic myths. Danel, Aqhat, Pughat, Kirta, Hurriya, Yassib and Thitmanat are heroes of Ugarit's epics, not historical people.
How to choose Canaanite names
- Decide on a setting first. Amarna names such as Milkilu, Zimredda and Yapahu suit a southern city-state under Egyptian rule, while Niqmepa, Ibiranu and Urtenu belong to the northern port of Ugarit.
- Spellings vary between translations because the originals are cuneiform or Hebrew. Rib-Hadda also appears as Rib-Addi and Labayu as Lab'ayu, so pick one spelling and keep to it across a project.
- Use a deity or an epic hero as a namesake with care. Mighty Baal, Maiden Anat and Kothar-wa-Khasis are gods, and Aqhat and Kirta are legendary heroes, so they fit a temple, a ship or a myth better than a farmer.
- A city, a parent or an office makes a name sound like the records themselves: Tagi of Ginti-kirmil, Sinaranu son of Siginu, Takuhlinu the Prefect.
- For the later coastal cities of Tyre, Sidon and Carthage, use the Phoenician and Carthaginian generators instead, which cover the Iron Age names this list leaves out.
Frequently asked questions
Are these real Canaanite names?
The names come from ancient records: the Amarna letters, the texts of Ugarit, the Hebrew Bible, and inscriptions and Egyptian records of the Bronze Age. The list was drafted from memory of those sources and has not been checked by specialists, so confirm a name in a published translation before you rely on it. A few pairings, such as Nuranu of Mahadu, join a personal name recorded at Ugarit to a town of that kingdom and do not describe one known person.
Which names on the list are gods or legendary heroes?
Every deity or monster of the myths carries an epithet from the myths or a note in parentheses: Mighty Baal, Lady Athirat of the Sea, Judge Nahar, Shapash (sun goddess), Resheph (god of plague). Danel, Aqhat, Pughat, Kirta (also spelled Keret), Yassib, Thitmanat, Lady Hurriya, Ilhu, Pabil of Udum and Lady Danatiya are characters of the epics of Aqhat and Kirta, with or without a note. Every other entry without a note is the name of a person in a letter, a list, an inscription or a biblical narrative.
Why do so many names begin with Abdi?
Abdi means servant of and is followed by the name of a deity, a common pattern across the ancient Near East. Abdi-Ashirta of Amurru, Abdi-Tirshi of Hazor and Abdi-Milki of Shashimi all wrote to the Egyptian court, and Abdi-Yarah and Abdi-Rashap are names from the lists of Ugarit. The list gives no meaning where the scholarly literature does not agree on one.
How is this list different from the Phoenician one?
This page covers the Bronze Age and the Canaanites of the biblical narratives, down to about 1000 BCE. The Iron Age kings of Tyre, Sidon and Byblos and the Punic names of Carthage are on the Phoenician and Carthaginian pages and are not repeated here. Byblos appears on both because Rib-Hadda of Byblos and the earlier ruler Yantin-Ammu belong to the Bronze Age.
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All 500 Canaanite names
A: 105 names
- Abd-Labit
- Abd-Labit Ben-Anat
- Abdi-Anati
- Abdi-Anati of Siyannu
- Abdi-Ashirta
- Abdi-Ashirta of Amurru
- Abdi-Ashtarti
- Abdi-Ba'lu
- Abdi-Hagab
- Abdi-Heba
- Abdi-Heba of Jerusalem
- Abdi-Ilimu
- Abdi-Milki
- Abdi-Milki of Shashimi
- Abdi-Milku
- Abdi-Rashap
- Abdi-Risha
- Abdi-Risha of Enishasi
- Abdi-Sharruma
- Abdi-Sharruma brother of Ammittamru
- Abdi-Tirshi
- Abdi-Tirshi of Hazor
- Abdi-Yarah
- Abdi-Yarah of Ra'shu
- Abishemu
- Abishemu of Byblos
- Adah
- Adah daughter of Elon
- Adda-danu
- Adda-danu of Gezer
- Addaya
- Addaya the Commissioner
- Addu-nirari of Nuhashe
- Adoni-bezek
- Adoni-bezek of Bezek
A, continued
- Adoni-zedek
- Adoni-zedek of Jerusalem
- Aduna
- Aduna of Irqata
- Agaptharri
- Ahatmilku
- Ahatmilku of Amurru
- Ahiman
- Ahiman of Hebron
- Ahimelech the Hittite
- Ahiyami
- Aitukama
- Aki-Teshub
- Aki-Teshub of Tunip
- Akizzi
- Akizzi of Qatna
- Amanhatpe of Tushultu
- Amayashe
- Ammistamru
- Ammittamru
- Ammittamru of Ugarit
- Ammittamru son of Niqmepa
- Ammunira
- Ammunira of Beirut
- Ammurapi
- Ammurapi of Ugarit
- Anah
- Anak
- Anak son of Arba
- Anat (warrior goddess)
- Anat of Saphon (goddess)
- Anat-Har
- Aner
- Aner brother of Mamre
- Aper-Anati
A, continued
- Aper-El
- Aper-El the Vizier
- Aqhat
- Aqhat son of Danel
- Aqhat the Hero
- Arasha
- Arasha of Kumidi
- Araunah
- Araunah the Jebusite
- Arba
- Arba of Kiriath-arba
- Arhalba
- Arhalba of Ugarit
- Ari-Teshub
- Arsawuya
- Arsawuya of Ruhizzi
- Arsay (daughter of Baal)
- Artamanya
- Artamanya of Siribashani
- Asherah (goddess)
- Ashtoreth (goddess)
- Athirat (mother of the gods)
- Athirat Creatress of the Gods
- Athtar the Terrible
- Athtart (goddess)
- Athtart Name of Baal
- Athtart of the Field
- Attanu
- Attanu the Chief Priest
- Attanu the Diviner
- Ayyab
- Ayyab of Ashtartu
- Aziru
- Aziru of Amurru
- Aziru son of Abdi-Ashirta
B: 44 names
- Ba'alanu
- Ba'alanu of Appu
- Ba'lu-shipti
- Ba'lu-shipti of Gezer
- Baal (storm god)
- Baal of Saphon (god)
- Baal of Ugarit (god)
- Baal the Cloud Rider
- Baal-berith (god of Shechem)
- Baalat of Byblos (goddess)
- Baaluya
- Baaluya brother of Aziru
- Balu-Mehir
- Balu-Mehir of Gitipadalla
- Balumme
- Basemath
- Basemath daughter of Elon
- Bath-shua
- Bayadi
- Bayawa
- Beeri
- Beeri the Hittite
B, continued
- Ben-Anath
- Ben-Elima
- Ben-Ozen
- Ben-Ozen of Ziri-Bashan
- Benteshina
- Benteshina of Amurru
- Benteshina son of Duppi-Teshub
- Bera
- Bera of Sodom
- Beti-ilu
- Bieri
- Bieri of Hashabu
- Biridashwa
- Biridiya
- Biridiya of Megiddo
- Birsha
- Birsha of Gomorrah
- Biryawaza
- Biryawaza of Damascus
- Bull El
- Burqanu
- Burqanu the Scribe
C: 1 name
- Canaan
D: 14 names
- Dagan (father of Baal)
- Dagan of Tuttul (god)
- Dagan-takala
- Danel
- Danel Man of Rapiu
- Danel the Harnamite
- Dashru
- Debir
- Debir of Eglon
- Ditanu (ancestor figure)
- Divine Mot
- Duppi-Teshub
- Duppi-Teshub of Amurru
- Duppi-Teshub son of Ari-Teshub
E: 16 names
- Ebed
- El (head of the pantheon)
- El Creator of Creatures
- El Father of Years
- Elon
- Elon the Hittite
- Endaruta
- Endaruta of Akshaph
- Ephron
- Ephron son of Zohar
- Ephron the Hittite
- Eshcol
- Eshcol brother of Mamre
- Etakkama
- Etakkama of Qadesh
- Etakkama son of Shutatarra
G: 7 names
- Gaal
- Gaal son of Ebed
- Gamiraddu
- Gamiraddu of Gibala
- Gapn (messenger of Baal)
- Gulatu
- Guli-Addi
H: 19 names
- Haddu (storm god)
- Hamor
- Hamor the Hivite
- Heth
- Hibiya
- Hirah
- Hirah the Adullamite
- Hishmi-Sharruma
- Hishmi-Sharruma brother of Ammittamru
- Hishmi-Sharruma of Ugarit
- Hiziru
- Hoham
- Hoham of Hebron
- Horam
- Horam of Gezer
- Horon (deity)
- Hurriya daughter of Pabil
- Husanu
- Husanu the Scribe
I: 31 names
- Ibiranu
- Ibiranu of Ugarit
- Ibiranu son of Ammittamru
- Ibni-Addu
- Ibni-Addu of Hazor
- Idanda
- Idanda of Qatna
- Ildayyi
- Ildayyi of Hasi
- Ilhu (prince in the Kirta epic)
- Ili-Ba'lu
- Ili-Ba'lu of Bi'ru
- Ili-Rapih
- Ili-Rapih brother of Rib-Hadda
- Ili-Rapih of Byblos
- Ili-Rashap
- Ili-Rashap of Shalma
- Ili-Shapash
- Ili-Shapash of Ma'rabu
- Ilib (divine ancestor)
- Ilimilku
- Ilimilku the Scribe
- Ilimilku the Shubbanite
- Iltahmu
- Iltahmu the Scribe
- Intaruta
- Ipshemuabi
- Ipshemuabi of Byblos
- Iwri-kalli
- Iwri-sharri
- Iwridarri
J: 9 names
- Jabin
- Jabin of Hazor
- Japhia
- Japhia of Lachish
- Jobab
- Jobab of Madon
- Judge Nahar
- Judith
- Judith daughter of Beeri
K: 18 names
- Kalbiya
- Kalbiya of Mulukku
- Keret (epic king)
- Khamudi
- Khyan
- Kind El the Compassionate
- King Ammurapi
- King Niqmaddu
- King Niqmepa
- Kirta
- Kirta of Khubur (epic king)
- Kirta the Noble
- Kothar (craftsman god)
- Kothar-wa-Khasis (divine smith)
- Kurtuya
- Kurtuya of Zunu
- Kurwanu
- Kurwanu of Ilishtam'i
L: 7 names
- Lab'ayu
- Labayu
- Labayu of Shechem
- Lady Athirat of the Sea
- Lady Danatiya (wife of Danel)
- Lady Hurriya
- Lotan the Fleeing Serpent
M: 19 names
- Maiden Anat
- Mamre
- Mamre the Amorite
- Matenu
- Matenu of Ari
- Mayarzana
- Mayarzana of Hasi
- Melchizedek
- Melchizedek of Salem
- Mighty Baal
- Milkilu
- Milkilu of Gezer
- Mot (god of death)
- Mot Beloved of El
- Munahhimu
- Munahhimu the Scribe
- Mut-Bahlu
- Mut-Bahlu of Pella
- Mut-Bahlu son of Labayu
N: 15 names
- Nikkal (bride of Yarikh)
- Nikkal-wa-Ib (goddess)
- Niqmaddu
- Niqmaddu of Ugarit
- Niqmaddu son of Ammittamru
- Niqmepa
- Niqmepa of Ugarit
- Niqmepa son of Niqmaddu
- Nu'manu
- Nu'manu of Ushnatu
- Nu'me-Rashap
- Nu'me-Rashap the Scribe
- Nuranu
- Nuranu of Mahadu
- Nuriyanu
O: 6 names
- Og
- Og of Bashan
- Oholibamah
- Oholibamah daughter of Anah
- Ornan
- Ornan the Jebusite
P: 17 names
- Pabil of Udum (epic king)
- Padiya
- Padiya of Ullami
- Peya
- Peya son of Gulatu
- Pidray Daughter of Light
- Pilsiya
- Piram
- Piram of Jarmuth
- Pisidqi
- Prince Yam
- Pu-Ba'lu
- Pu-Ba'lu of Yursa
- Pu-Bahla
- Pu-Bahla son of Abdi-Ashirta
- Pughat
- Pughat daughter of Danel
Q: 6 names
- Qareh
- Qodesh-wa-Amrur (servant of Athirat)
- Qudshu (goddess)
- Queen Ahatmilku
- Queen Pisidqi
- Queen Tharyelli
R: 15 names
- Rahab
- Rahab of Jericho
- Rapanu
- Rapanu the Scribe
- Rapiu King of Eternity
- Rashapabu
- Rashapabu the Harbor Overseer
- Resheph (god of plague)
- Resheph Lord of the Arrow
- Rewashur
- Rib-Addi
- Rib-Hadda
- Rib-Hadda of Byblos
- Rusmanya
- Rusmanya of Sharuna
S: 64 names
- Sakir-Har
- Satatna
- Satatna of Akko
- Satatna son of Surata
- Semqen
- Shahar (dawn god)
- Shahar and Shalim (twin gods)
- Shalim (dusk god)
- Shamumanu
- Shamumanu of Shuksi
- Shapash (sun goddess)
- Shapash Lamp of the Gods
- Shapili
- Shapili of Amurru
- Shapshu-malku
- Shapshu-malku the Scribe
- Sharatum
- Sharelli
- Shatiqat (healer sent by El)
- Shatiya
- Shatiya of Enishasi
- Shaushgamuwa
- Shaushgamuwa of Amurru
- Shaushgamuwa son of Benteshina
- Shechem
- Shechem son of Hamor
- Shemeber
- Shemeber of Zeboiim
- Sheshai
- Sheshai of Hebron
- Sheshi
- Shinab
S, continued
- Shinab of Admah
- Shipti-Ba'lu
- Shipti-Ba'lu of Lachish
- Shipti-Ba'lu of Ugarit
- Shipturisa
- Shua
- Shua the Canaanite
- Shubandu
- Shum-Adda
- Shum-Adda of Shamhuna
- Shum-Adda son of Balumme
- Shutarna
- Shutarna of Mushihuna
- Shutatarra
- Shutatarra of Qadesh
- Shutatna
- Shuwardata
- Shuwardata of Gath
- Sidqanu
- Sidqanu of Atallig
- Siginu
- Sihon
- Sihon of Heshbon
- Sihon the Amorite
- Sinaranu
- Sinaranu son of Siginu
- Sinaranu the Merchant
- Sisera
- Sisera of Harosheth
- Sisera the Commander
- Surata
- Surata of Akko
T: 22 names
- Tadua
- Tagi
- Tagi of Ginti-kirmil
- Takuhlinu
- Takuhlinu of Ugarit
- Takuhlinu the Prefect
- Tallay Daughter of Rain
- Talmai
- Talmai of Hebron
- Talmiyanu
- Talmiyanu of Ugarit
- Talwashur
- Talwashur of Taanach
- Tannin (sea dragon)
- Teuwatti
- Teuwatti of Lapana
- Tharyelli
- The Kotharat (birth goddesses)
- Thitmanat
- Thitmanat daughter of Kirta
- Thukamuna-wa-Shunama (paired gods)
- Turbazu
U: 8 names
- Ugar (messenger of Baal)
- Uriah the Hittite
- Urtenu
- Urtenu of Ugarit
- Utri-Sharruma
- Utri-Sharruma son of Ammittamru
- Uzzinu
- Uzzinu the Prefect
W: 2 names
- Widia
- Wiktasu
Y: 41 names
- Ya'ammu
- Yabni-Ilu
- Yabni-Ilu of Lachish
- Yabninu
- Yabninu of Ugarit
- Yadinu
- Yadinu of Ushkanu
- Yahtiru
- Yahzib-Adda
- Yakbim
- Yakin-Ilu
- Yakin-Ilu of Byblos
- Yam (sea god)
- Yamiuta
- Yamiuta of Guddashuna
- Yanhamu
- Yanhamu the Commissioner
- Yantin-Ammu
- Yantin-Ammu of Byblos
- Yapa-Hadda
Y, continued
- Yapa-Hadda of Beirut
- Yapah-Hadda
- Yapahu
- Yapahu of Gezer
- Yaptih-Hadda
- Yaqar-Ammu of Jerusalem
- Yaqaru
- Yaqaru of Ugarit
- Yaqaru son of Niqmaddu
- Yaqub-Har
- Yarikh (moon god)
- Yarikh Lamp of the Heavens
- Yashdata
- Yasiranu
- Yasiranu son of Husanu
- Yassib
- Yassib son of Kirta
- Yatpan (warrior of Anat)
- Yidya
- Yidya of Ashkelon
- Yishuya