Central Asian Town Name Generator
Silk Road and steppe towns, real and built
Browse 1,000 town names from Kazakhstan, Uzbekistan, Kyrgyzstan, Tajikistan and Turkmenistan: real towns such as Turkistan, Karakol and Khorog beside names built from the same elements, like Kyzyl-Tobe, Altynkol and Zhanakent. Made for Silk Road fiction, steppe campaigns and maps.
About Central Asian town names
Most town names in Kazakhstan, Uzbekistan, Kyrgyzstan and Turkmenistan are short Turkic words joined together, usually a description and a feature. The colours do a lot of the work: ak is white, kara black, kyzyl red, sary yellow and kok blue. They sit in front of su (water), bulak (spring), kol (lake), tobe or tepa (hill), kurgan (fort or mound) and kent (town). Aktau is white mountain, Uchkuduk is three wells, Yangiyul is new road and Tashkent is usually read as stone town.
Persian and older Iranian words run through the south and through Tajikistan, where the language itself is a form of Persian: abad for a settled place, kand for a town, shahr for a city, ob for water. Shahrisabz is green city and Obigarm is warm water. Zhana, Yangi and Jany, which open so many names, all mean new.
Roughly half of this list is real: towns and villages of the five republics in their present-day English spellings, plus a small share of lost caravan cities such as Otrar, Merv and Balasagun and three Silk Road stops beyond the region (Kashgar, Khotan, Balkh). The other half is built from the same elements, like Kyzyl-Tobe, Altynkol and Sarykurgan. These combinations are so common that a built name may also turn out to belong to a real village.
How to choose Central Asian town names
- Match the word forms to the country. Kazakh names are usually written as one word (Zhanakonys, Akzhar), Kyrgyz names take a hyphen (Jany-Jol, Chong-Jar), Uzbek towns use Yangi, tepa and kurgan, Turkmen ones use Gyzyl, Gara, depe and gala, and Tajik names are Persian phrases such as Kalai-Dasht.
- Let the landscape pick the ending: su, bulak and kol for water, tobe and tepa for a hill, kurgan and kala for a fort, kuduk for a desert well, beket for a station on the steppe line.
- Keep the lost cities for ruins and backstory. Otrar, Sauran or Sygnak reads better as a mound outside town than as a busy market.
- Pick one spelling system for a map. Zhana, Yangi and Jany all mean new, and mixing them in one valley suggests three languages living side by side.
- For a story set in the real region, look at a map before you borrow a name: about half of this list is real, and a built name can match a real village too.
Frequently asked questions
Are these real Central Asian towns?
Roughly half are. Shymkent, Margilan, Kattakurgan, Naryn and Khorog are real towns in their usual English spellings, and a small share are lost Silk Road cities such as Otrar and Merv. The rest, like Kyzyl-Tobe or Zhanakent, are built from the elements real names use, and some of those will match a real village by chance.
What do the common name parts mean?
Ak is white, kara black, kyzyl red, sary yellow, kok blue, altyn gold, temir iron, tash stone and kum sand. Su is water, bulak a spring, kol a lake, tobe or tepa a hill, kurgan a fort or mound, kent and kand a town, abad a settled place. So Altynkol reads as gold lake and Sarykurgan as yellow fort.
Why do so many names start with Zhana, Yangi or Jany?
All three mean new: Zhana in Kazakh, Yangi in Uzbek and Jany in Kyrgyz, with Taze doing the same job in Turkmen. Real towns such as Zhanaozen and Yangiyul use them, and the list adds more in the same pattern, such as Zhanakent, Yangiguzar, Jany-Jol and Taze-Yol.
Which names suit a Silk Road story?
Start with the oasis cities, Samarkand, Bukhara, Khiva and Kokand, then add smaller real stops such as Gijduvan or Uzgen. For invented halts along the route, names built with rabat, saray and bazar work well, for example Karvan-Rabat or Khan-Saray.
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All 1,000 Central Asian town names
A: 101 names
- Abay
- Abiverd
- Adrasmon
- Afrasiab
- Agadyr
- Ajina-Tepa
- Ak-Arsha
- Ak-Dobo
- Ak-Jol
- Ak-Kayyn
- Ak-Mazar
- Ak-Shyyrak
- Ak-Suu
- Ak-Tuz
- Akaltyn
- Akbakay
- Akbasty
- Akdepe
- Akespe
- Akhangaran
- Akhsikent
- Akkamys
- Akkol
- Akkurgan
- Akmangit
- Aksay
- Akshukur
- Aksuat
- Aksukent
- Aktash
- Aktau
- Aktengiz
- Aktobe
- Aktogay
- Akzhar
- Ala-Adyr
- Ala-Bel
- Ala-Buka
- Ala-Kyr
- Ala-Tobe
- Alakum
- Alashoky
- Alat
- Alga
- Alichur
- Alma-Bulak
- Almalyk
- Almasu
- Almaty
- Almazar
A, continued
- Altyaryk
- Altyn Darya
- Altyn-Depe
- Altyn-Rabat
- Altynkala
- Altynkand
- Altynkol
- Altynsaray
- Altynsu
- Altyntepa
- Anarli
- Andijan
- Anew
- Angor
- Angren
- Anjir-Bog
- Anjirli
- Anzob
- Aral
- Aral-Tengiz
- Aralsor
- Aravan
- Archa-Bel
- Archaluu
- Arkalyk
- Arman
- Arsha-Korgan
- Arshaly
- Arslanbob
- Arys
- Asa
- Asaka
- Ashchy-Bulak
- Ashchykol
- Ashchysu
- Ashgabat
- Asht
- Aspara
- Astana
- At-Bashy
- Atasu
- Atbasar
- Atyrau
- Awaza
- Ay-Kol
- Ay-Too
- Ayagoz
- Ayaz-Kala
- Aydarken
- Ayni
- Aysu
B: 92 names
- Babadayhan
- Babaykorgan
- Badam
- Badamli
- Badamsha
- Baetov
- Bagat
- Baharly
- Bahor
- Baikonur
- Bakay-Ata
- Bakhty
- Balasagun
- Baljuvon
- Balkanabat
- Balkh
- Balkhash
- Balyk-Ada
- Balykchy
- Balyksu
- Balyktengiz
- Bandikhan
- Barskoon
- Batken
- Bayanaul
- Bayramaly
- Baysun
- Bazar-Korgon
- Bek-Kala
- Bek-Orda
- Bekabad
- Bereke
- Bereket
- Beruni
- Bes-Aryk
- Besaral
- Besh-Moynok
- Besh-Unkur
- Besharyk
- Beshkent
- Beshkurgan
- Beskaragay
- Beskayyn
- Beskuduk
- Besshoky
- Bessu
B, continued
- Besterek
- Bestobe
- Beyneu
- Bidaydala
- Bidayly
- Birlik
- Bishkek
- Bogen
- Bogi-Anor
- Bogi-Bolo
- Bogi-Chinor
- Bogi-Poyon
- Bokhtar
- Bokonbaevo
- Bokurdak
- Boldumsaz
- Bori-Korgan
- Bori-Oba
- Borili
- Boru-Bash
- Bosteri
- Boz-Adyr
- Boz-Kum
- Bozaral
- Bozdala
- Bozkol
- Bozshoky
- Bozsu
- Bozzhar
- Brichmulla
- Bugu-Moynok
- Bugu-Too
- Bugubulak
- Buka
- Bukhara
- Bulungur
- Bulunkul
- Bunjikat
- Burabay
- Burkit-Kala
- Burkitdala
- Burkitkent
- Burkittobe
- Burkut-Uya
- Burylbaytal
- Buston
C: 23 names
- Chaek
- Chartak
- Charvak
- Chashmai-Chinor
- Chashmai-Garm
- Chashmai-Sard
- Chimbay
- Chimgan
- Chinar-Kurgan
- Chinar-Tepa
- Chinarabad
- Chinarkand
- Chinarkent
- Chinaz
- Chirakchi
- Chirchik
- Chirik-Rabat
- Cholpon-Ata
- Chong-Aryk
- Chong-Dobo
- Chong-Jar
- Chong-Kapchygay
- Chust
D: 32 names
- Dabusiya
- Dala-Beket
- Dandanakan
- Danghara
- Darai-Kabud
- Darai-Sabz
- Darai-Tut
- Darganata
- Daroot-Korgon
- Darvaza
- Dash-Ada
- Dashoguz
- Dashtabad
- Dashti-Bodom
- Dashti-Lola
- Dashti-Surkh
- Dehi-Miyona
- Dehi-Poyon
- Dehistan
- Dehkanabad
- Denau
- Deniz-Kenar
- Deniz-Oba
- Dossor
- Dostuk
- Dostyk
- Duadakty
- Dukent
- Dushak
- Dushanbe
- Dustlik
- Duzly
E: 21 names
- Egindi
- Egindybulak
- Ekerem
- Eki-Naryn
- Eki-Shoky
- Ekibastuz
- Ekioba
- Embi
- Erbent
- Ereymentau
- Erkin
- Esenguly
- Esik
- Esil
- Eski-Aul
- Eski-Bazar
- Eski-Kala
- Eski-Korgan
- Eski-Shahar
- Eski-Tepa
- Etrek
F: 5 names
- Farap
- Farkhor
- Farovon
- Fayzobod
- Fergana
G: 29 names
- Galaasiya
- Gallaorol
- Gamysh-Ada
- Gamyshly
- Garabogaz
- Garadepe
- Garagala
- Garagum
- Garm
- Garmchashma
- Gazalkent
- Gazgan
- Gazli
- Gazojak
- Gijduvan
- Gokdepe
- Gokgum
- Gonur Depe
- Gulcha
- Gulistan
- Gulsaray
- Gultepa
- Gum-Ada
- Gumdag
- Gurlen
- Guwlymayak
- Guzar
- Gyzylarbat
- Gyzylbazar
H: 4 names
- Halach
- Hazar
- Hisor
- Hulbuk
I: 11 names
- Ikan
- Ilbirs-Too
- Inderbor
- Isfana
- Isfara
- Ishkashim
- Ishtikhan
- Ishtikhon
- Istaravshan
- Istiqlol
- Itbalyk-Tubek
J: 24 names
- Jalakuduk
- Jalal-Abad
- Jany-Aryk
- Jany-Bazar
- Jany-Bulak
- Jany-Jer
- Jany-Jol
- Jany-Korgon
- Jany-Kyshtak
- Jany-Terek
- Jany-Turmush
- Jarkurgan
- Jebel
- Jelondy
- Jend
- Jeti-Oguz
- Jeti-Terek
- Jizzakh
- Jomboy
- Jondor
- Juma
- Jumgal
- Jyldyz-Bel
- Jyluu-Suu
K: 218 names
- Kadamjay
- Kagan
- Kaindy
- Kaji-Say
- Kalai-Dasht
- Kalai-Khumb
- Kalai-Kuhna
- Kalai-Mirzo
- Kalbatau
- Kamashi
- Kamys-Shyganak
- Kamysh-Aryk
- Kamyskol
- Kandyagash
- Kanimekh
- Kanka
- Kanlykul
- Kant
- Kanysh-Kiya
- Kapchygay-Bash
- Kara-Arsha
- Kara-Balta
- Kara-Bel
- Kara-Jar
- Kara-Kayyn
- Kara-Kopir
- Kara-Kulja
- Kara-Kyr
- Kara-Mazar
- Kara-Suu
- Kara-Terek
- Karabutak
- Karaganda
- Karagayluu
- Karakamys
- Karakol
- Karakul
- Karamurt
- Karaoy
- Karashoky
- Karatau
- Karatengiz
- Karateren
- Karaulbazar
- Karauylkeldy
- Karauzyak
- Karazhal
- Kargaly
- Karkaraly
- Karmana
- Karnak
- Karsakpay
- Karshi
- Karvan-Bazar
K, continued
- Karvan-Rabat
- Karvankand
- Kasan
- Kasansay
- Kashgar
- Kaskelen
- Kath
- Katon-Karagay
- Katta-Guzar
- Katta-Tepa
- Kattakishlak
- Kattakurgan
- Kaynar
- Kayyk-Aul
- Kayyk-Aylak
- Kazakhdarya
- Kazaly
- Kazarman
- Kazygurt
- Kegen
- Kegeyli
- Kelechek
- Keles
- Keme-Aylak
- Keme-Tubek
- Kemin
- Kenar
- Kenar-Oba
- Kendala
- Kenkiyak
- Kentau
- Kerben
- Kerki
- Keruen
- Khan-Bazar
- Khan-Kala
- Khan-Kurgan
- Khan-Orda
- Khan-Rabat
- Khan-Saray
- Khanabad
- Khanka
- Khantau
- Khavast
- Khazarasp
- Khiva
- Khodjaabad
- Khodjeyli
- Khodjikent
- Khoja-Kurgan
- Khoja-Rabat
- Khoja-Tepa
- Khorgos
- Khorog
- Khotan
K, continued
- Khovaling
- Khromtau
- Khujand
- Kichi-Bel
- Kichi-Jar
- Kichi-Korgon
- Kichik-Guzar
- Kichik-Tepa
- Kichikkishlak
- Kiikti
- Kishi-Aul
- Kishi-Tengiz
- Kishibulak
- Kishitobe
- Kitab
- Kiyanly
- Kobda
- Kochkor
- Kochkor-Ata
- Kogaly
- Koi Krylgan Kala
- Kok-Art
- Kok-Jangak
- Kok-Kopir
- Kok-Kyr
- Kok-Oy
- Kok-Tash
- Kokand
- Kokdarya
- Kokkala
- Kokkurgan
- Kokmazar
- Kokpekty
- Koksaray
- Kokshetau
- Koksu
- Koktal
- Koktengiz
- Koktepa
- Kokzhar
- Kolzhat
- Konaev
- Kone-Depe
- Kone-Gala
- Kongyr-Bulak
- Kongyr-Kol
- Kongyrdala
- Kongyrtau
- Kongyrtobe
- Konibodom
- Konye-Urgench
- Kopa-Kol
- Kopaly
- Korday
K, continued
- Kosh-Dobo
- Kostanay
- Koyandy
- Koylyk
- Koytendag
- Kubodiyon
- Kuhi-Lal
- Kuhi-Safed
- Kuhi-Surkh
- Kulan
- Kulan-Beket
- Kulan-Kuduk
- Kulandy
- Kulansu
- Kulja-Bashy
- Kulja-Too
- Kulob
- Kulsary
- Kum-Kala
- Kumis-Kol
- Kumisbulak
- Kumiskent
- Kumissu
- Kumkurgan
- Kumtepa
- Kumush-Bel
- Kumush-Tepa
- Kun-Too
- Kungrad
- Kurshab
- Kurshim
- Kuryk
- Kushkupir
- Kuva
- Kuvasay
- Kyrk-Kazyk
- Kyzyl Darya
- Kyzyl-Adyr
- Kyzyl-Bel
- Kyzyl-Jar
- Kyzyl-Kiya
- Kyzyl-Kopir
- Kyzyl-Kyr
- Kyzyl-Mazar
- Kyzyl-Oy
- Kyzyl-Suu
- Kyzyl-Tobe
- Kyzyl-Unkur
- Kyzylagash
- Kyzylkala
- Kyzylkum
- Kyzylkurgan
- Kyzylorda
- Kyzyltas
- Kyzyltepa
L: 6 names
- Langar
- Langar-Bolo
- Lenger
- Lepsy
- Levakant
- Lolakishlak
M: 42 names
- Magdanly
- Makanshy
- Makat
- Makhambet
- Mangit
- Mankent
- Margilan
- Marjanbulak
- Markhamat
- Mary
- Massy
- Matay
- Mayluu-Suu
- Mereke
- Merke
- Merv
- Mevali
- Min-Kush
- Ming-Kurgan
- Mirza-Kurgan
- Mirza-Rabat
- Mirzaabad
- Mirzakala
- Mirzakent
- Miyaly
- Mointy
- Moiynkum
- Mubarek
- Mukur
- Muminobod
- Murgap
- Murghab
- Mustaqillik
- Muynak
- Muz-Art
- Muz-Bel
- Muz-Too
- Muzdarya
- Muzrabad
- Myn-Aryk
- Mynbulak
- Myntobe
N: 21 names
- Namangan
- Namazga-Depe
- Naryn
- Narynkol
- Navbahor
- Navekat
- Navoi
- Nisa
- Nookat
- Norak
- Nukus
- Nuqrakuh
- Nur-Kala
- Nur-Kol
- Nur-Orda
- Nur-Rabat
- Nurafshon
- Nurata
- Nurdarya
- Nurkand
- Nursaray
O: 21 names
- Obi-Kabud
- Obi-Sard
- Obi-Zard
- Obigarm
- Obod
- Oiyl
- Oral
- Orik-Bak
- Orikti
- Orta-Aryk
- Orta-Aul
- Orta-Tobe
- Ortabulak
- Ortasaray
- Orto-Bel
- Orto-Korgon
- Osh
- Oskemen
- Otan
- Otar
- Otrar
P: 18 names
- Paikend
- Pakhtaabad
- Pakhtakishlak
- Pakhtakor
- Pakhtazar
- Panj
- Panjakent
- Pap
- Parkent
- Pavlodar
- Payarik
- Paytug
- Piskent
- Pitnak
- Pskent
- Puli-Chubin
- Puli-Kuhna
- Puli-Sangin
R: 9 names
- Rabati Malik
- Rangkul
- Rayhon-Bog
- Repetek
- Ridder
- Rishtan
- Roghun
- Romitan
- Rushan
S: 112 names
- Sagiz
- Sakarchage
- Salkynbulak
- Samal
- Samarkand
- Sangardak
- Sangiston
- Sarahs
- Saran
- Sarayshyk
- Sarazm
- Sari-Dasht
- Sariasiya
- Sarichashma
- Sarkand
- Sary-Adyr
- Sary-Jar
- Sary-Kamysh
- Sary-Kopir
- Sary-Kyr
- Sary-Mogol
- Sary-Oy
- Sary-Tash
- Saryagash
- Sarykala
- Sarykemer
- Sarykum
- Sarykurgan
- Saryozek
- Saryshoky
- Sarysu
- Sarytepa
- Saryzhol
- Satbayev
- Saty
- Saudakent
- Sauran
- Sayak
- Sayat
- Sayram
- Sayrob
- Saz-Tobe
- Sazdy
- Sebiston
- Semey
- Senim
- Serhetabat
- Seydi
- Shafirkan
- Shaftoli-Bog
- Shagala
- Shagala-Aral
- Shagala-Tubek
- Shagalaly
- Shahimardan
- Shahri-Kuhna
S, continued
- Shahri-Safed
- Shahri-Surkh
- Shahrikhan
- Shahrinav
- Shahrisabz
- Shahriston
- Shahritus
- Shahrukhiya
- Shalgyndy
- Shalkar
- Shamaldy-Say
- Shamalgan
- Shar
- Shardara
- Shattyk
- Shavat
- Shayan
- Shaymak
- Shelek
- Sherabad
- Shetpe
- Shieli
- Shilikti
- Shirin
- Shirinabad
- Shirinkand
- Shirinkuduk
- Shirinsu
- Shodlik
- Shoky-Beket
- Sholakkorgan
- Shonzhy
- Shopokov
- Shor-Aral
- Shorkurgan
- Shornak
- Shortobe
- Shu
- Shubarkuduk
- Shumanay
- Shurchi
- Shyganak
- Shymkent
- Sokuluk
- Sozak
- Stepnogorsk
- Sultan-Kala
- Sultan-Orda
- Sultankent
- Sultankorgan
- Sulukta
- Sumsar
- Suusamyr
- Suyab
- Sygnak
- Syrdarya
T: 78 names
- Takhiatash
- Talas
- Taldykorgan
- Talgar
- Talimarjan
- Tamdybulak
- Tamga
- Tan-Nury
- Tansholpan
- Taraz
- Taryly
- Tas-Korgan
- Tas-Muyis
- Tas-Zhaga
- Tash-Bazar
- Tash-Kumyr
- Tash-Rabat
- Tashkala
- Tashkent
- Tashlak
- Taskuduk
- Tastobe
- Tastubek
- Tatti-Bulak
- Tattisu
- Tavildara
- Taze-Depe
- Taze-Durmush
- Taze-Gala
- Taze-Yol
- Tejen
- Tekeli
- Temir-Art
- Temir-Bazar
- Temir-Kala
- Temir-Kanat
- Temir-Tobe
- Temirkuduk
- Temirlan
T, continued
- Temirsu
- Temirtau
- Temirzhol
- Tengiz-Aul
- Tengiz-Zhaga
- Terek-Aryk
- Terekkent
- Tereksu
- Terekti
- Termez
- Tillokuh
- Tinchlik
- Toghayly
- Tojikobod
- Tokmok
- Toktogul
- Toprak-Kala
- Toretam
- Torgay
- Tosor
- Tulparkent
- Turakurgan
- Turbat
- Turgen
- Turkistan
- Turkmenabat
- Turkmenbashi
- Turkmengala
- Tursunzoda
- Turtkul
- Tutli
- Tuyemoyin
- Tuz-Shyganak
- Tuzbulak
- Tuzkuduk
- Tynyshtyk
- Tyrna-Kol
- Tyrnaly
- Tyup
U: 34 names
- Uch-Dobo
- Uchajy
- Uchkuduk
- Uchkuprik
- Uchkurgan
- Uchsay
- Ulken-Aul
- Ulkenbulak
- Uly-Korgan
- Uly-Tobe
- Ulytau
- Ulyzhol
- Umit
- Urgench
- Urgut
- Urik-Guzar
- Urikli
- Urzhar
- Ush-Kol
- Usharal
- Ushbulak
- Ushkaragay
- Ushshoky
- Ushtobe
- Uychi
- Uzgen
- Uzumli
- Uzun
- Uzun-Say
- Uzyn-Kol
- Uzyn-Muyis
- Uzynagash
- Uzynbulak
- Uzynsu
V: 8 names
- Vabkent
- Vahdat
- Vakhsh
- Vanj
- Varakhsha
- Varzob
- Vrang
- Vuadil
Y: 28 names
- Yakkabag
- Yangi-Karvan
- Yangiabad
- Yangiarik
- Yangibazar
- Yangidarya
- Yangiguzar
- Yangihayot
- Yangikala
- Yangikishlak
- Yangikuprik
- Yangikurgan
- Yangimazar
- Yangirabat
- Yangishahar
- Yangitepa
- Yangiturmush
- Yangiyer
- Yangiyul
- Yaypan
- Yazyavan
- Yntymak
- Yoloten
- Yoshlik
- Yovon
- Yrgyz
- Ystyk-Bulak
- Ystyksu
Z: 63 names
- Zaamin
- Zafarobod
- Zafaron-Bog
- Zarafshan
- Zarbdor
- Zaysan
- Zhagalau
- Zhalagash
- Zhalanash
- Zhalgyz-Terek
- Zhalgyzkaragay
- Zhalpakdala
- Zhalpakkol
- Zhana-Kopir
- Zhana-Orda
- Zhanaarka
- Zhanadala
- Zhanadarya
- Zhanadauir
- Zhanakala
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