Chao Name Generator

Generate Chao names for the Chao Garden: bright Hero names like Halo and Seraph, mischievous Dark names like Imp and Jinx, Swim, Fly, Run and Power names like Splash, Flit, Zippy and Biff, jewel names like Garnet and Peridot, and Chao puns like Chaoder.

About Chao names

Chao are the small pets you raise in the Chao Garden of Sonic Adventure, Sonic Adventure 2 and the Tiny Chao Garden of Sonic Advance. The name field in those games is short, so a Chao name has to do its work in seven characters or fewer. Of the 500 names here, 476 fit that limit. The other 24 are longer Chao puns such as Chao Mein, Chaoffeur and Chaomeleon, kept for fan art, stories and plush toys rather than the name screen.

The list is grouped by the things players build a Chao around. Hero names are bright and gentle (Halo, Seraph, Lumen), Dark names are mischievous rather than scary (Imp, Jinx, Smirk), and Neutral names are soft and round (Wobble, Dewdrop, Boop). Four more groups follow the skills a Chao can lean toward: Swim (Splash, Guppy, Snorkel), Fly (Flit, Nimbus, Kite), Run (Zippy, Sprint, Scurry) and Power (Biff, Thump, Anvil). Jewel and shiny names such as Garnet, Peridot and Glint suit a Chao with a gem or metallic coat.

The rest are garden and classroom words (Maraca, Dojo, Cocoon), babble names built on the sound of the word Chao (Chibi, Chacha, Chumi) and short puns like Chaoder and Nachao. Canon names such as Cheese, Chocola and Omochao are left off the list so yours stays your own.

How to choose Chao names

• Count the characters before you get attached. The short name field of the Chao Garden games takes seven characters, so Halo, Zippy and Peridot fit and Chao Bella does not.
• Name for what the Chao is becoming. Pick from the Hero, Dark or Neutral names once you know which way it is leaning, or from the Swim, Fly, Run and Power names once one skill pulls ahead.
• Raising several Chao? Give a garden one theme, such as all jewel names (Garnet, Opal, Beryl) or all Run names (Dash, Bolt, Scoot), so you can tell them apart at a glance.
• Dark does not have to mean grim. Names like Prank, Smirk and Rumpus keep a Dark Chao cheeky, which suits a pet that still wants to be picked up.
• Save the long puns for places with room. Chaomomile or Chaoperone work as a caption, a plush tag or a fan comic name.

Frequently asked questions

How long can a Chao name be?

The name field in the Chao Garden games is short, so plan for seven characters or fewer. On this list 476 of the 500 names fit that limit. The 24 that do not are all Chao puns such as Chao Mein, Kung Chao and Chaompion.

What are good names for a Hero or Dark Chao?

For a Hero Chao try Halo, Seraph, Cherub, Virtue or Beacon. For a Dark Chao try Imp, Hex, Gremlin, Jinx or Scowl, which sound mischievous without being frightening. Neutral Chao suit soft names like Mellow, Wobble and Plop.

Are these names from the Sonic games?

No. They are original suggestions in the spirit of the Chao Garden, and none of them is presented as an official name. Canon names such as Cheese, Chocola and Omochao were left off on purpose.

Can I use a Chao pun as a name?

Yes, if it fits. Chaoder, Nachao, Kachao and Chaolin are seven characters or fewer and go straight into the name field. Longer ones like Chao Down and Chaoffeur are too long for it, so keep those for drawings, stories and nicknames.

Related generators

All 500 Chao names