Capital Name Generator
Seats of power for kingdoms, empires and republics
Generate capital city names with the weight a seat of government needs: royal foundations, imperial cities, planned republican capitals and fortress capitals in Latin, Germanic, Slavic, Arabic, East Asian and invented styles. For worldbuilders, strategy gamers and fantasy authors.
About capital names
Capital cities are named in a handful of recurring ways, and knowing them makes an invented capital sound like it has a constitution behind it. The most common historical pattern is simply 'the king's town': Königsberg, Kongsberg, Kraljevo, Kingston and Tsargrad all mean exactly that in German, Norwegian, Serbian, English and Slavonic. Emperors named capitals after themselves (Constantinople, Caesaraugusta, Alexandria, Shahjahanabad) or after an idea: Madinat al-Salam, 'City of Peace', was the founding name of Baghdad; Heian-kyō means 'capital of peace and tranquility'; Chang'an means 'perpetual peace'.
Many capitals were never large towns; they were chosen or built for politics. Washington, Canberra, Brasília, Abuja, Astana, Naypyidaw, Putrajaya and New Delhi are all planned capitals, and their names are deliberately neutral or commemorative. Older kingdoms held court at ritual sites rather than cities: Scone, Tara, Emain Macha, Aachen and Karakorum were seats of power because a stone, a hill or a khan's camp was there.
For fantasy, the strongest capital names either use a compound of power-words in a consistent language (Kingsreach, Thronehold, Drakenhold, Aethelburg) or a smooth invented name that sounds older than the kingdom around it (Aurelanth, Thessalor, Vaelith). Give the capital an epithet as well, such as the White City, the First City or the Old Capital, since that is how people inside a realm refer to it.
How to choose capital names
- Decide whether your capital grew or was founded: grown capitals have plain old names (Winchester, Toledo, Kaifeng), founded ones carry a ruler's name or an ideal (Constantinople, Madinat al-Salam, Brasília).
- Match the compound to your realm's language: -burg, -berg and -hold for Germanic realms, -grad and -gorod for Slavic, Caer- and Dun- for Celtic, -polis and -eia for Greek-flavored empires.
- Give the city a title as well as a name (the White City, the Old Capital, Caput Mundi); characters from the provinces will use the title, courtiers the name.
- If a dynasty falls, rename the capital in-world; a city with two or three historical names (Byzantium, Constantinople, Istanbul) feels far older than one with a single label.
- Avoid ending every capital in -ia or -heim; mix a rugged compound like Stormcrown with a Latinate foundation like Civitas Augusta across different realms so each culture sounds distinct.
Frequently asked questions
How are capital cities usually named?
Historically after a founder or ruler (Constantinople, Alexandria, Shahjahanabad), after the crown itself (Königsberg, Kraljevo, Kingston all mean 'king's town'), after an ideal (Madinat al-Salam, Heian-kyō) or after an old sacred site (Scone, Tara). Modern planned capitals such as Canberra and Brasília use neutral or commemorative names.
What makes a good fantasy capital name?
Consistency with the kingdom's language, a sense of age and a usable short form. Kingsreach, Aethelburg and Thronehold work because they are readable compounds; Aurelanth or Vaelith work because they sound older than the surrounding place names.
Why do so many capitals have a name that means 'king's town' or 'city of peace'?
Because rulers named their seats to advertise legitimacy and stability. 'King's town' claims the city for the crown, and 'city of peace' promises order to a population that has often just survived a war of succession.
Can I use these capital names in a game or novel?
Yes. Real city names are public domain and the invented ones here are free for commercial and personal projects. Some invented forms like Stormhold and Skyhold also appear in existing games, so search before building a brand around one.
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All 1,000 capital names
A: 76 names
- Aachen
- Aberffraw
- Abomey
- Abuja
- Addis Ababa
- Adelburg
- Adlerhof
- Admiral's Rock
- Adrianople
- Aethelburg
- Aethelmoor
- Aigai
- Aileach
- Akhetaten
- Akkad
- Aksum
- Al-Mansuriyya
- Al-Qahira
- Al-Qata'i
- Alabaster Heights
- Alba Iulia
- Albrechtsburg
- Aldmere
- Aleppo
- Alexandria
- Alexandria Eschate
- Alt Clut
- Am Tirren
- Amarapura
- Amaseia
- Amberkeep
- Amberlaine
- Andarque
- Andorra la Vella
- Angkor Thom
- Ankara
- Anointing Hill
- Antananarivo
A, continued
- Antigonea
- Antioch
- Anuradhapura
- Anvarre
- Anvilgate
- Apia
- Aranjuez
- Archon's Stair
- Archontopolis
- Ard Kessel
- Argent Hill
- Argos
- Artaxata
- Arx Regia
- Ashenhold
- Ashgabat
- Ashur
- Assemblyport
- Astana
- Asuka
- Athens
- Attaleia
- Augusta Emerita
- Augusta Felix
- Augusta Praetoria
- Augusta Treverorum
- Augusta Vindelicorum
- Augustodunum
- Aula Regia
- Aurelanth
- Aurendell
- Autumnreach
- Avaldsnes
- Avaricum
- Ayodhya
- Ayutthaya
- Azuchi
- Azure Court
B: 38 names
- Bab al-Malik
- Babylon
- Bagan
- Baghdad
- Bakhchysarai
- Baku
- Balasagun
- Balkh
- Bamburgh
- Bannerhall
- Baronsfield
- Basilopolis
- Bearmount
- Beijing
- Bel Tharion
- Belcarrow
- Belgorod
- Belgrad
- Belltower Reach
- Belmopan
- Benin City
- Bern
- Bessemyr
- Bianjing
- Bibracte
- Biograd
- Bishapur
- Blackspire
- Bobovac
- Brasília
- Brenmarch
- Brightwater
- Bronzegate
- Brythemoor
- Buda
- Bukhara
- Burgstadt
- Byzantium
C: 83 names
- Caelmoor
- Caer Lythan
- Caer Sulwen
- Caer Vandris
- Caerleon
- Caesaraugusta
- Caesarea
- Caesarodunum
- Caesaromagus
- Cahokia
- Calistrae
- Camulodunum
- Canberra
- Canterbury
- Capitolium
- Caput Mundi
- Caput Regni
- Carchemish
- Carev Dvor
- Carevo
- Carigrad
- Carthage
- Cashel
- Cassandreia
- Castra Regina
- Cedar Throne
- Cerulith
- Cetinje
- Chambord
- Chan Chan
- Chancelgate
- Chang'an
- Charter Town
- Charterhall
- Chernihiv
- Chichen Itza
- Chisinau
- Chittor
- Christiania
- Christiansborg
- Cindergate
C, continued
- Cirta
- Ciudad Real
- Civitas Augusta
- Civitas Nova
- Civitas Prima
- Civitas Regia
- Coldharbour
- Colonia Augusta
- Colonia Aurelia
- Colonia Claudia
- Colonia Julia
- Commonwealth Landing
- Concordance
- Concordia
- Congress Springs
- Constantia
- Constantiana
- Constantinople
- Constitution Bluff
- Consul's Quay
- Copán
- Copperhold
- Coralhaven
- Córdoba
- Corinth
- Coronet
- Coronhall
- Corvanth
- Councilholm
- Crane Pavilion
- Crossways
- Crownfall
- Crownhaven
- Crowning Stone
- Crownspire
- Cruachan
- Ctesiphon
- Curia Nova
- Curtea de Argeș
- Cusco
- Cyrene
- Cythrelle
D: 42 names
- Dadu
- Damascus
- Dar al-Khilafa
- Dar al-Mulk
- Dar al-Sultan
- Dawnkeep
- Dawnthrone
- Deepthrone
- Deepwell
- Deganwy
- Delmareth
- Demetrias
- Dessarim
- Diademfort
- Din Eidyn
- Dinas Brenin
- Dinefwr
- Diocletianopolis
- Diriyah
- Doge's Lagoon
- Dolmenar
- Dorvane
- Dragonspire
- Drakenhold
- Dresden
- Drottningholm
- Dukesfell
- Dún Ailinne
- Dún an Rí
- Dun Halvard
- Dun Morwen
- Dunadd
- Dunecrown
- Dunfermline
- Dunkeld
- Dunmarrow
- Dur-Kurigalzu
- Dur-Sharrukin
- Dushanbe
- Duskmere
- Dvaraka
- Dynasty's Cradle
E: 24 names
- Eadric's Seat
- Eaglecrest
- Earlsmount
- Eastmarch Royal
- Ebla
- Ebonreach
- Eboracum
- Ecbatana
- Edo
- Eirenopolis
- El Escorial
- Eldoria
- Elenmoor
- Elunvar
- Elyssant
- Emain Macha
- Emberhold
- Emberthrone
- Emperor's Rest
- Empress Landing
- Ermine Court
- Eskalune
- Esmerune
- Esztergom
F: 33 names
- Faerlund
- Fairhaven
- Falconreach
- Fallowmere
- Fatehpur Sikri
- Federation City
- Fenhallow
- Fez
- Firstwatch
- Firuzabad
- Flaviopolis
- Fontainebleau
- Forgecrown
- Fort Regent
- Forteviot
- Forum Novum
- Founders' Landing
- Fourgates
- Fraternity
- Frederiksborg
- Frederiksstad
- Friedrichshafen
- Friedrichstadt
- Frosthold
- Fujiwara-kyō
- Fukuhara-kyō
- Funafuti
- Fürstenberg
- Fürstenfeld
- Fürstenhof
- Fürstenwalde
- Fustat
- Fyrandel
G: 24 names
- Galdrith
- Gao
- Ghalmora
- Ghazni
- Gildenmoor
- Glasswater Court
- Glavnigrad
- Glenmarrow
- Gniezno
- Golconda
- Goldcrest
- Goldenreach
- Gondar
- Gordion
- Goslar
- Granada
- Granite Throne
- Great Zimbabwe
- Greenhallow
- Greystone
- Griffonhall
- Guimarães
- Gwendrae
- Gyeongju
H: 42 names
- Halicarnassus
- Hallowmoot
- Halvenmar
- Halych
- Hanseong
- Hanyang
- Haojing
- Har Mekesh
- Harborthrone
- Hariharalaya
- Harmony Falls
- Hastinapura
- Hattusa
- Havenmoot
- Hawkspur
- Hearthcrown
- Heartland Cross
- Hecatompylos
- Heian-kyō
- Heijō-kyō
- Heinrichstadt
- Heliopolis
- Heraclea
- Heraldsgate
- Herat
- Heronsford
- Herzogenburg
- Hesperanth
- Hierapolis
- Highcourt
- Highgarden
- Highmoot
- Highthrone
- Hightower
- Highwall
- Hiraizumi
- Hisn al-Khalifa
- Hoa Lu
- Hohenstadt
- Hollinvale
- Honiara
- Hue
I: 20 names
- Iași
- Ife
- Ilvaris
- Imbrelle
- Independence
- Indraprastha
- Ingelheim
- Ironcrown
- Ironhall
- Ironreach
- Irrendal
- Iscandor
- Isfahan
- Islamabad
- Istakhr
- Istanbul
- Istravane
- Itjtawy
- Ivereth
- Ivorygate
J: 9 names
- Jadecourt
- Jajce
- Jasmine Palace
- Jelling
- Jerusalem
- Jiankang
- Jorvale
- Juliopolis
- Justiniana Prima
K: 94 names
- Kabul
- Kaerlorne
- Kaesong
- Kaifeng
- Kairouan
- Kaiserslautern
- Kaiserstadt
- Kaiserstuhl
- Kaiserswerth
- Kaltheris
- Kamakura
- Kandy
- Kannauj
- Kar Dorrin
- Kar Velesh
- Karakorum
- Karlsburg
- Karlskrona
- Karlsruhe
- Karlstadt
- Karlštejn
- Kashgar
- Kathmandu
- Kazan
- Keizerstad
- Keldrassa
- Kernavė
- Kestrel's Perch
- Khanbaliq
- Khar Azul
- Kilwa
- Kincora
- Kindlemoor
- Kingsford Royal
- Kingsholm
- Kingsmoot
- Kingsreach
- Kingston
- Kingston Regis
- Kingswall
- Kneževo
- Kniazhevo
- Knin
- Knossos
- Knyazhegrad
- Kongelund
- Kongens Lyngby
K, continued
- Kongsberg
- Kongsgård
- Kongshavn
- Kongsted
- Kongsvik
- Kongsvinger
- Königsberg
- Königsfeld
- Königshofen
- Königslutter
- Königstein
- Königswinter
- Koningsveld
- Konradsburg
- Konungahella
- Konungsborg
- Konya
- Kordevan
- Koumbi Saleh
- Kraków Royal
- Kraljeva Sutjeska
- Kraljevec
- Kraljevica
- Kraljevo
- Kráľova Lehota
- Kráľovec
- Královo Pole
- Králův Dvůr
- Kristiansand
- Kronberg
- Kronborg
- Kronenburg
- Kronenfeld
- Kronstadt
- Krönungsstadt
- Kruševac
- Kumasi
- Kungälv
- Kungsbacka
- Kungshamn
- Kungsholm
- Kungsör
- Kurfürstenstadt
- Kutná Hora
- Kyiv
- Kyoto
- Kyrenthe
L: 32 names
- Lagash
- Lahaina
- Lahore
- Lalibela
- Lastlight
- Lathemir
- Laurelmount
- Lawspeaker's Rock
- Lejre
- León
- Lhasa
- Libertas
- Liberty Cross
- Lightbridge
- Lin'an
- Lindenreach
- Lionsgate
- Ljubljana
- Londinium
- Lordsbridge
- Lorenthal
- Lotus Court
- Löwenberg
- Luang Prabang
- Ludwigsburg
- Ludwigslust
- Lugdunum
- Lumarza
- Luoyang
- Lutetia
- Lyonarre
- Lysimachia
M: 48 names
- Ma'rib
- Madinat al-Fath
- Madinat al-Mansur
- Madinat al-Nur
- Madinat al-Salam
- Madinat al-Zahra
- Mahdia
- Majuro
- Malacca
- Mandalay
- Mantlekeep
- Mapungubwe
- Maravelle
- Marbleford
- Markgrafenstadt
- Marrakesh
- Marrowgate
- Marshal's Rise
- Mathrafal
- Maximiliansburg
- Mbanza Kongo
- Mediolanum
- Megalopolis
- Meknes
- Memphis
- Meridas
- Meridian City
- Meroë
- Merv
- Midrealm
- Mintgate
- Mirage Gate
- Monaco
- Monreale
- Mont Coronel
- Monte Albán
- Montréal
- Moonhaven
- Moothill
- Mordelaine
- Morvath
- Moskva
- Mrauk U
- Mu'a
- Murshidabad
- Muscat
- Mycenae
- Mystras
N: 34 names
- Nagaoka-kyō
- Nal Sharim
- Nallendra
- Nan Madol
- Nanjing
- Napata
- Nara
- Narvessa
- Naypyidaw
- Neapolis Regia
- Neshkara
- New Concord
- New Delhi
- Newcourt
- Ngazargamu
- Ngerulmud
- Niani
- Nicaea
- Nicomedia
- Nidaros
- Nikopolis
- Ninetowers
- Nineveh
- Nishapur
- Nitra
- Nojpetén
- Norrenholt
- Northwatch
- Nova Roma
- Novgorod
- Novogrudok
- Nuku'alofa
- Nusantara
- Nyssalor
O: 26 names
- Oakenhall
- Oasis Royal
- Oathkeep
- Obsidian Seat
- Ohrid
- Old Dongola
- Old Seat
- Oldcastle Royal
- Ombrelune
- Orbholm
- Orchid Terrace
- Oriselle
- Orsivane
- Osricburg
- Osselmar
- Ost Arnach
- Ost Meriel
- Ostravel
- Ostremund
- Ostrevane
- Ottawa
- Ottoburg
- Ottokarstadt
- Oudong
- Oviedo
- Oyo-Ile
P: 47 names
- Palatine Hill
- Palatium
- Palenque
- Palikir
- Palmyra
- Panticapaeum
- Parliament Rock
- Pasargadae
- Pataliputra
- Pavia
- Pax Nova
- Pearlwater
- Pegu
- Pella
- Pellarion
- Peony Hall
- Pereyaslav
- Pergamon
- Persepolis
- Phaedrith
- Philippopolis
- Phoenix Landing
- Phu Xuan
- Pi-Ramesses
- Pliska
- Płock
- Podgorica
- Polonnaruwa
- Polotsk
- Port Louis
- Port Sovereign
- Port Vila
- Port-Royal
- Poznań
- Pozsony
- Praha
- Preslav
- Prestolgrad
- Princeholm
- Prizren
- Providence Royal
- Ptolemais
- Puerto Real
- Purple Harbor
- Putrajaya
- Pyongyang
- Pyrelanth
Q: 12 names
- Q'umarkaj
- Qal'at al-Sultan
- Qasr al-Amir
- Qasr al-Malik
- Qazvin
- Qel Dorath
- Quedlinburg
- Queensgate
- Queenshaven
- Queenspire
- Quenmoor
- Quillonde
R: 27 names
- Ras
- Ravendell
- Ravenholt
- Ravenna
- Ravensburg
- Rayy
- Redkeep
- Regalmere
- Regensburg
- Regent's Landing
- Regisport
- Reichenau
- Reichshof
- Reichstadt
- Reims
- Rendlesham
- Republica
- Residenzstadt
- Rhaedoran
- Rhosgarth
- Rhyssandor
- Riverthrone
- Rookhaven
- Roskilde
- Royaumont
- Rudolstadt
- Rusafa
S: 90 names
- 's-Gravenhage
- 's-Hertogenbosch
- Saffron Quay
- Saint-Denis
- Samarkand
- Samarra
- San Aurelio
- San Marino
- Sana'a
- Sandomierz
- Sandspire
- Sanggyeong
- Sant Evaris
- Sarai
- Sarajevo
- Sardis
- Sarenholm
- Sarmizegetusa
- Sceptre Hill
- Sceptrehold
- Scone
- Seagate
- Sealhaven
- Sebasteia
- Sedes Regni
- Ségou
- Sejong
- Seleucia
- Selvarine
- Senate Rock
- Senatus
- Sephirae
- Serramont
- Sevenbridges
- Shadowmere
- Shahjahanabad
- Shangdu
- Shangjing
- Shengjing
- Shiraz
- Shuri
- Signet Cross
- Sigtuna
- Sildoran
- Silvercrest
S, continued
- Silverhold
- Sirmium
- Skopje
- Skyhold
- Skyreach Citadel
- Smederevo
- Sokoto
- Solidarity
- Solmirath
- Soltaniyeh
- Sorrelanth
- Southhaven
- Sovereign's Rest
- Sparta
- Speyer
- Springvale Court
- Sri Ksetra
- Srirangapatna
- Staghall
- Starfall
- Starigrad
- Stephanopolis
- Stewardsford
- Stolnigrad
- Stonecrown
- Stonefather's Hall
- Stonereach
- Stormcrown
- Stormhold
- Suceava
- Sukhothai
- Summercourt
- Summerhall
- Sunderhall
- Sunreach
- Sunspire
- Sunstone
- Surakarta
- Susa
- Suva
- Suzdal
- Swansgate
- Sylmarion
- Syracuse
- Székesfehérvár
T: 105 names
- Tabriz
- Tamworth
- Tara
- Târgoviște
- Tarnholt
- Tarnovo
- Tarrowen
- Tashkent
- Tbilisi
- Tenochtitlan
- Teotihuacan
- Tessarond
- Texcoco
- Thaba Bosiu
- Thalorien
- Thanesbury
- Thang Long
- Thanjavur
- The Amber City
- The Citadel of Ashkar
- The City of Bells
- The City of Spires
- The City of Thrones
- The City on the Seven Hills
- The Crown of the North
- The Eternal City
- The First City
- The Forbidden Precinct
- The Gate of the West
- The Golden City
- The Heart of the Empire
- The Hidden Capital
- The High City
- The Hundred-Gated City
- The Imperial City
- The Inner Ward
- The Jade Capital
- The Jewel of the Realm
- The King's Table
- The Lantern of the East
- The Marble City
- The Mother City
- The Navel of the World
- The New Capital
- The Old Capital
- The Old Court
- The Queen of Cities
- The Rose-Red City
- The Sacred City
- The Sea Queen
- The Seat of Kings
- The Seven-Gated City
T, continued
- The Summer Capital
- The Throne of the South
- The Unconquered
- The White City
- The Winter Court
- Thebes
- Theodosiopolis
- Thessalonica
- Thessalor
- Thimphu
- Thingfield
- Thingvellir
- Thonburi
- Thornwall
- Three Rivers Seat
- Thronberg
- Thronehold
- Throneward
- Tiarahall
- Tidecrown
- Tidewatch
- Tiger Gate
- Tigranocerta
- Tikal
- Timbuktu
- Tingvalla
- Tintagel
- Tiwanaku
- Tlemcen
- Toledo
- Tollcross
- Tolmyra
- Tor Avalen
- Tor Sennach
- Tórshavn
- Traianopolis
- Trakai
- Trebizond
- Tribunal Hill
- Tribune Square
- Trowulan
- Tsarevets
- Tsarevo
- Tsargrad
- Tsarskoye Selo
- Tula
- Tumebamba
- Turov
- Tushpa
- Tver
- Twinspire
- Tyre
- Tzintzuntzan
U: 19 names
- Ugarit
- Ulaanbaatar
- Ulmarath
- Ulundi
- Ulverhold
- Umbrisol
- Undercrown
- Undermount
- Union Heights
- Unity City
- Uppsala
- Ur
- Urbs Aeterna
- Urbs Aurea
- Urbs Imperialis
- Urbs Regia
- Urbs Victrix
- Uruk
- Ustrelle
V: 31 names
- Vaelcrest
- Vaelith
- Val Corenne
- Val Imrith
- Valdemar
- Valletta
- Vandemir
- Varenholm
- Velikigrad
- Velmaris
- Velvet Harbor
- Venaria Reale
- Vermilion Gate
- Versailles
- Vessandre
- Viceroy's Reach
- Victoria
- Vientiane
- Vijayanagara
- Vila Real
- Vilcabamba
- Villarreal
- Visegrád
- Vitebsk
- Vladimir
- Voivodin
- Volodymyr
- Vordingborg
- Vyrelund
- Vyšehrad
- Vyshgorod
W: 25 names
- Wardenmoor
- Washington
- Washukanni
- Wawel
- Wellington
- Wessarine
- Westmarch
- Westminster
- Whitecrown
- Whitehall
- Whitethrone
- Wien
- Wilhelmshaven
- Wilhelmstadt
- Winchester
- Windhold
- Wintermarch
- Winterseat
- Wolfenbüttel
- Wolfsgate
- Wrenmoore
- Wrocław
- Wulfstan
- Wyndhollow
- Wyrmgard
X: 3 names
- Xanthelon
- Xianyang
- Xijing
Y: 8 names
- Yamoussoukro
- Yaroslavl
- Yasodharapura
- Yeavering
- Yevarra
- Yogyakarta
- Ysmerelle
- Yssalvane