City State Name Generator

Names for independent cities, free ports and merchant republics

Places & GeographyPart of: town and city generators500 names

0 of 500 seen

This or that?

7 picks, 1 winner

Tap the name you like more.

Tap a name to copy it. The arrows swap one name.

Or browse all 500 names, A to Z

Generate city-state names for worldbuilding: Greek-style poleis, Renaissance merchant republics, Hanseatic free cities, Swahili and Silk Road trading ports, Maya and Mesopotamian city-kingdoms, plus formal titles like Serene Republic of Veronza and Free City of Orsanto.

About city state names

A city-state is a city that answers to nobody, and its name tends to carry that independence. Historically they cluster in a few regions: the Greek poleis of the Aegean and Sicily (Syracuse, Himera, Selinous), the merchant republics of Italy and Dalmatia, the Hanseatic free cities of the Baltic, the Swahili stone towns, the Maya city-kingdoms, the Silk Road oasis cities and the Phoenician harbours. Each region has its own sound: Greek colonies end in -os, -on and -a; Italian republics carry soft vowels and saints; Hanse towns are built on -stadt, -holm, -wick and -haven; Maya kingdoms use -an, -tun and the glottal stop.

The second thing a city-state has is a formal style. Venice was the Most Serene Republic, Lübeck a Free and Hanseatic City, Genoa the Republic, Dubrovnik the Republic of Ragusa, and every Greek polis spoke of itself as "the Athenians" or "the Corinthians" rather than a country. A title such as Free City of Orsanto or Maritime Republic of Altomare instantly tells a reader that this place is sovereign, commercial and probably armed.

These names are written for worldbuilding, tabletop settings and strategy-game maps: invented cities in each of those traditions, some real ancient city-states that are obscure enough to reuse, and a set of formal titles you can attach to any of them.

How to choose city state names

  • Match the name to the city's economy and region before anything else: a Hanse-style trading port wants Halvesund or Wismark, a Mediterranean naval republic wants Veronza or Altomare, an oasis caravan city wants Bukhtar or Qaraqash.
  • Give the city a formal style only when it matters in dialogue or on a map; Serene Republic of Lumeria on a treaty, plain Lumeria in narration.
  • Name the citizens as well as the city, because city-states identify with their people: the Thessarines, the Orsantini, the men of Halvesund. It is how ancient sources talk about poleis.
  • Rival city-states usually share a naming tradition because they share a culture. Pick three or four names from the same style block for a league or a cluster of feuding neighbours.
  • Avoid using a famous real city-state (Venice, Carthage, Singapore) unless you want every reader to import its history; an obscure real one such as Kamarina or Issa gives texture without baggage.

Frequently asked questions

What is a city-state?

A sovereign state made up of a single city and its immediate territory. Classical Athens, Sparta and Corinth, Carthage, medieval Venice and Genoa, the Hanseatic free cities, the Swahili coast towns and the Maya kingdoms were all city-states. Today Singapore, Monaco and Vatican City are the surviving examples.

How should a city-state be named differently from a kingdom?

Kingdoms are usually named after a people or a region (Mercia, Navarre, Lydia); city-states are named after the city itself, and the city name often doubles as the state name. Adding a style such as Republic of, Free City of or Most Serene City of signals independence without inventing a separate country name.

Are these names real places?

Most are invented in the style of a historical region. A minority are real ancient city-states that are obscure enough to reuse in fiction, such as Selinous, Kamarina, Issa or Suyab, and a few are real modern towns used in period form. Check any name you want to use commercially.

Can I use these for strategy games like Civilization or Crusader Kings?

Yes. The shorter names (Thessaron, Brennstadt, Yuelin, Copantl) suit map labels and city lists, while the formal titles suit faction or government names. Pick from one style block for a coherent region.

Related generators

More like this

Browse category

All 500 city state names

This is the complete list the generator above draws its random batches from, sorted A to Z and grouped by first letter.

Plain text, one name per line.

A: 36 names

  • Aachenstadt
  • Abaskun
  • Abderon
  • Acruvium
  • Adria
  • Aelharra
  • Aenona
  • Aenos
  • Ailah
  • Akshak
  • Al-Qasira
  • Alalakha
  • Alder Free Borough
  • Ålsund
  • Altinum
  • Altomare
  • Amalfora
  • Amantia
  • Ambrakion
  • Ambrosine
  • Amisos
  • Amul-Darya
  • Ancorana
  • Anshar-Kul
  • Anstedt
  • Antium
  • Arezzano
  • Argessa
  • Arikamedu
  • Ariminum
  • Ashenport
  • Ashnakkum
  • Astypalon
  • Ateste
  • Augstadt
  • Azcapotzal

B: 25 names

  • Bagamoyo Kale
  • Balkhara
  • Bandari Nyekundu
  • Banteng Sari
  • Basilmark
  • Belforte
  • Bergenvik
  • Bernholm
  • Bharukachha
  • Bjornsund
  • Blackwater Holt
  • Bonampakan
  • Bonotsu
  • Borsippa
  • Brancavale
  • Bremhaven
  • Brennstadt
  • Brightwater Free Port
  • Brindavera
  • Brunsvold
  • Bukhtar
  • Busanpo
  • Buthrotum
  • Butua
  • Byllis

C: 27 names

  • Calakmar
  • Calmarina
  • Calvathen
  • Campolago
  • Caracolan
  • Cassiveli
  • Casteldoria
  • Castelmonte
  • Chach-Tepe
  • Chalcotlan
  • Charter City of Ashenport
  • Chichanhal
  • Cholulan
  • Citadel of Ur-Kesh
  • Civita Alta
  • Cobanal
  • Coldharbour
  • Commonwealth of Halvesund
  • Commune of Pietravena
  • Copantl
  • Copperwick
  • Corvanth
  • Corvezza
  • Cremenna
  • Cuauhtitlan
  • Culhuacan
  • Cumae

D: 14 names

  • Dalmara
  • Danzmark
  • Dehistan
  • Delphara
  • Der-Eshtar
  • Dicaearchia
  • Dilbat
  • Dioskurion
  • Dornstadt
  • Dortmark
  • Dur-Sharru
  • Durazzano
  • Dwarakesh
  • Dyrrhachion

E: 12 names

  • Edznalan
  • Ek Balamtun
  • Elbenhaven
  • Elmsworth
  • Emar-Ashtar
  • Epidamnos
  • Eresos
  • Erythrai Nea
  • Eryx
  • Eshkarra
  • Eskilholm
  • Eurymene

F: 8 names

  • Fairhaven
  • Fennwick
  • Fiorenzuola
  • Formiae
  • Free City of Orsanto
  • Free Port of Kilwani
  • Freehold
  • Freiburg am See

G: 13 names

  • Genevra Libera
  • Goa Velha
  • Goldenvale
  • Gortyna
  • Goslingen
  • Gradisca
  • Grauwick
  • Greifswold
  • Greyharbour
  • Greymoor
  • Guangfu
  • Gullsreach
  • Gurganja

H: 23 names

  • Hadramar
  • Hadria
  • Hafenbrück
  • Hafnarvik
  • Halikarne
  • Halvesund
  • Hamazi
  • Hanse of Wismark
  • Harbour State of Temaseng
  • Harmony Port
  • Harradum
  • Heizhou
  • Hellamon
  • Helsingmark
  • Herakleon
  • Hesperine
  • Highmarch
  • Hildesmark
  • Himera
  • Hipponion
  • Hirado
  • Hollowmere
  • Hyogo Port

I: 11 names

  • Illyrio
  • Independent City of Kallipolis
  • Ironreach
  • Isendria
  • Isfijab
  • Issa
  • Istrion
  • Ithakos
  • Itzamkan
  • Ixtapalan
  • Izapatlan

J: 3 names

  • Jadera
  • Jiangning
  • Jumba la Mtwana

K: 45 names

  • Kabahtun
  • Kaisei
  • Kalingara
  • Kallatis
  • Kallipolis
  • Kallithyra
  • Kalmarsund
  • Kamarina
  • Kaminal
  • Kanchipura
  • Kaole
  • Karana
  • Kashgarim
  • Kashmara
  • Katane
  • Kath-Urgench
  • Kaulonia
  • Kaveripattu
  • Keraunion
  • Kerkyrion
  • Kesh-Shahr
  • Kestrel Harbour
  • Kestrelmoor
  • Khivazar
  • Khwarazmi
  • Kilwa Mjini
  • Kingsreach
  • Kizimkazi
  • Kodungallur
  • Kölnau
  • Königsee
  • Konstanzbrück
  • Korkai
  • Korkyra Melaina
  • Korrvane
  • Korythene
  • Kotorina
  • Kronberg
  • Kucha-Qarasahr
  • Kunduchi
  • Kutha-Nergal
  • Kuwana
  • Kydonaia
  • Kyme
  • Kyrenaia

L: 23 names

  • Labnatun
  • Lagashar
  • Langkasuka
  • Lanternmere
  • Larsamun
  • Laus
  • Lauzanne
  • League City of Brennstadt
  • Leontinoi
  • Leukandra
  • Liberty Cove
  • Lilybaion
  • Lindara
  • Lindau Freistadt
  • Lipara
  • Lissos
  • Lokroi
  • Lowmarket
  • Lubenhaven
  • Lucarno
  • Lumeria
  • Lünemark
  • Lyttos

M: 31 names

  • Mahabalipuram
  • Malakera
  • Malaspina
  • Mantovara
  • Mari-Dagan
  • Maritime Republic of Altomare
  • Maroneia
  • Masulipatam
  • Mayapalan
  • Medma
  • Megara Hyblaia
  • Memmelstadt
  • Merchant Principality of Corvezza
  • Merv-Ashan
  • Messenthe
  • Metapontion
  • Methymna
  • Minatogawa
  • Mingzhou
  • Mirbat
  • Mkokotoni
  • Mnarani
  • Montelucio
  • Most Serene City of Sirenza
  • Motya
  • Mtangata
  • Muziris
  • Mwamba Kuu
  • Mykara
  • Mylai
  • Myndaros

N: 14 names

  • Nagapattinam
  • Nagasaka
  • Nakbetun
  • Naniwa
  • Narona
  • Naxethra
  • Newhaven
  • Nimrash
  • Ninghai
  • Nippur-Enlil
  • Norvessa
  • Numana
  • Nürenvald
  • Nuzira

O: 16 names

  • Oakhaven
  • Obi Harbour
  • Oderbrück
  • Odessos
  • Olbion
  • Olvenna
  • Oranthe
  • Oricum
  • Ormsby Free Borough
  • Oropassa
  • Orsanto
  • Orvignano
  • Osterholm
  • Ostrakar
  • Ostuno
  • Otrarim

P: 29 names

  • Palenquil
  • Palmyrene
  • Pangani Kale
  • Panjikar
  • Panormos
  • Panyu
  • Pasaiyang
  • Patavium
  • Pellamar
  • Pellorast
  • Pelorion
  • Pesarello
  • Phalanthos
  • Pharos
  • Phasis
  • Phoenike
  • Phokaion
  • Piedras Altas
  • Pietravena
  • Pola
  • Pommerstadt
  • Pompeia
  • Pontremolo
  • Poompuhar
  • Port Hakata
  • Porto Lucerno
  • Portofranco
  • Providence Reach
  • Pyxus

Q: 7 names

  • Qalat Mirza
  • Qalhat
  • Qaraqash
  • Qinglan Harbour
  • Quenmoor
  • Quiriguan
  • Quorrin

R: 17 names

  • Ragusa Vecchia
  • Ras Kilindi
  • Ravensgate
  • Ravenzo
  • Redmarch
  • Regensholm
  • Republic of Thessaron
  • Republic of Valserra
  • Rhizon
  • Ribevik
  • Rigasund
  • Rimorna
  • Rocavento
  • Roskeld
  • Rostwick
  • Rothenvald
  • Rügenwick

S: 47 names

  • Sable Quay
  • Sahl al-Bahr
  • Sairam
  • Sakai Free Town
  • Salernia
  • Sallow Gate
  • Salona
  • Saltmarsh
  • Samarund
  • Samudera Pasai
  • Sanguinara
  • Santa Ginevra
  • Sarakhs
  • Sayiltan
  • Seaward
  • Selinous
  • Serene City of Lumeria
  • Serene Republic of Veronza
  • Shangani
  • Shash-Balik
  • Shuruppara
  • Sibenna
  • Signoria of Brancavale
  • Silverkeep
  • Sippara
  • Siracosta
  • Siraf
  • Sirenza
  • Skarholm
  • Skione
  • Skodra
  • Soestadt
  • Soloeis
  • Sopara
  • Sovereign Port of Zanjora
  • Spalatro
  • Speyerbrück
  • Spina
  • Srivaya
  • Stadeholm
  • Stavangholm
  • Stettmark
  • Stormhaven
  • Stralhaven
  • Surrentum
  • Susiana
  • Sybarinth

T: 52 names

  • Tabuqa
  • Tal Ashur
  • Tallinvik
  • Tambralinga
  • Tamralipa
  • Tanaisa
  • Taraz-Kul
  • Tarim-Shahr
  • Tarnwick
  • Tarquinn
  • Tarracina
  • Tashirabad
  • Tegyra
  • Tell Akshur
  • Temaseng
  • Temesa
  • Tenayucan
  • Tepoztlal
  • Tergeste
  • Terina
  • Termizan
  • Texcocan
  • Thessaron
  • Thornhallow
  • Thornvik
  • Thurioi
  • Thyrea
  • Thyrmenos
  • Tibrash
  • Tikalan
  • Tlacopanal
  • Tlatelolcan
  • Tondi
  • Tønsvik
  • Torone
  • Torrazzano
  • Torrevecchia
  • Tosaminato
  • Tragurion
  • Trapezon
  • Traumar
  • Travenholm
  • Trondeholm
  • Tsuruga
  • Tsushima
  • Tulumek
  • Tumbatu
  • Turkuholm
  • Tusan
  • Tuttul
  • Tyndaris
  • Tzalcoatlan

U: 10 names

  • Ugarita
  • Ujjainagar
  • Ulcinium
  • Ulmenburg
  • Ulsanpo
  • Ur-Kesh
  • Urbinetto
  • Uruk-Amar
  • Utondwe
  • Uxmalan

V: 12 names

  • Vaishapura
  • Valdarno
  • Valdoren
  • Vallombra
  • Valserra
  • Varnholm
  • Velia
  • Velmora
  • Veronza
  • Vessmouth
  • Vigoleno Franca
  • Visborg

W: 9 names

  • Wadi Sahran
  • Wakakan
  • Wakasa
  • Wendmarch
  • Westmarch
  • Whitecliff
  • Wismark
  • Wormsburg
  • Wyvernmouth

X: 2 names

  • Xochimara
  • Xochimilcan

Y: 3 names

  • Yaxhatun
  • Yaxkinal
  • Yuelin

Z: 11 names

  • Zabul-Adad
  • Zacualpa
  • Zadrina
  • Zafaran
  • Zanjabar
  • Zankle
  • Zaranj
  • Zaravene
  • Zhaoyang
  • Zimri-Kesh
  • Zürnach