Cossack Name Generator
Sobriquet surnames and ranks from three Cossack hosts
Historical Cossack names from the Zaporozhian, Don and Kuban hosts: period given names with sobriquet surnames such as Demian Perebyinis and Klym Nepyivoda, plus rank styles like Sotnyk Zakhar Kryvonis.
About Cossack names
Cossacks were free frontier communities of the Ukrainian and southern Russian steppe, and their names carry that history. At the Zaporozhian Sich on the lower Dnipro, a newcomer was commonly given a nickname by his comrades, and many of those nicknames hardened into surnames. They tend to be blunt, funny and visual: Perebyinis means break-nose, Nepyivoda means don't-drink-water, Vernyhora is turn-the-mountain, Ubyivovk is kill-the-wolf and Pidkuimukha is a man who could shoe a fly. The register drawn up after the 1649 Treaty of Zboriv lists about 40,000 Cossacks and is full of names like these beside plain trade, animal and place names.
This list pairs period Ukrainian given names such as Ostap, Hnat, Kindrat and Yarema with those sobriquets, and adds the families of the Hetmanate officer class. Don Cossack names follow Russian forms: older church-calendar given names like Frol, Panteley and Yemelyan with surnames such as Platov or Kaledin. Kuban names come from the Black Sea Host, formed from former Zaporozhians and settled on the Kuban from 1792.
Some entries carry a rank. A hetman led the whole host, a koshovyi otaman was the elected head of the Sich, a kurinnyi otaman ran one kurin, a sotnyk commanded a hundred, and an osavul (yesaul on the Don) served as an aide or captain.
How to choose Cossack names
- Match the language to the host. Zaporozhian and Black Sea or Kuban characters suit Ukrainian forms (Petro, Hryhorii, surnames in -enko), while Don and Terek characters suit Russian forms (Pyotr, Grigory, surnames in -ov and -in).
- Let the sobriquet do character work. Bilous is white mustache, Kryvonis is crooked nose, Nevmyvaka is the unwashed one, Netudykhata means the house is not that way, and Tiahnyriadno is a man who pulls the blanket.
- Pick a rank that fits the period. Hetman, Koshovyi Otaman and Kurinnyi Otaman belong to the Zaporozhian Host and the Hetmanate of the 1500s to 1700s. Yesaul, Sotnik, Khorunzhy and Uryadnik stayed in use in the Russian imperial Cossack hosts until 1917, so they suit later settings.
- For women, Ukrainian surnames that are nouns or end in -enko stay the same (Motria Vernyhora), while adjective surnames and Russian ones take a feminine ending (Melanka Chorna, Darya Kaledina).
- This list spells Ukrainian names the modern Ukrainian way (Hryhorii, Otaman, Dnipro). Older English books use Russian-based spellings such as Grigory, Ataman and Dnieper, so search both when you research a character.
Frequently asked questions
How did Zaporozhian Cossacks get such unusual surnames?
Men who joined the Sich often left their old family name behind and were given a nickname by their comrades, usually built from a verb and a noun or from a physical trait. Names in this list such as Pavlo Pidkuimukha (shoe a fly), Levko Dobryvechir (good evening) and Marko Zatulyviter (block the wind) follow that pattern. Many of these nicknames passed to children and survive as Ukrainian surnames today.
What is the difference between a hetman, an otaman and an ataman?
A hetman was the supreme commander of the Zaporozhian Host and later the head of the Cossack Hetmanate. Otaman is the Ukrainian word for an elected leader at any level, from the koshovyi otaman of the whole Sich down to the kurinnyi otaman of one kurin. Ataman is the Russian form of the same word, used by the Don, Kuban and Terek hosts, as in Stanichny Ataman Larion Kruzhilin.
Are these the names of real historical Cossacks?
The given names and surnames are real ones tied to Cossack history and regions, but the pairings are mixed at random. Full names of famous figures such as Bohdan Khmelnytskyi and Ivan Sirko were left out on purpose, so a character will not collide with a national hero. Any other match with a real person, past or present, is a coincidence.
Which names fit a Don or Kuban Cossack?
Don Cossacks spoke Russian, so look for Russian forms such as Korney Platov, Kasyan Kaledin or Avdotya Platova. The Kuban host grew out of the Black Sea Host of former Zaporozhians, so many Kuban families kept Ukrainian surnames, as in Stepan Bezkrovnyi or Plastun Omelko Malama. Plastuns were the Kuban foot scouts.
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All 500 Cossack names
A: 24 names
- Afanasy Slyusarev
- Agrafena Shumilina
- Akulina Isaeva
- Aleksey Yanov
- Andrey Turoverov
- Andrii Holovatyi
- Andrii Nosach
- Andrii Serdiuk
- Anfisa Denisova
- Antin Bublyk
- Antin Moroz
- Aristarkh Savelyev
- Arkhip Boldyrev
- Arkhyp Lisnytskyi
- Arkhyp Poliovyi
- Arkhyp Soroka
- Artem Bohomaz
- Artem Skrypnyk
- Ataman Anisim Mashlykin
- Ataman Fyodor Lukovkin
- Ataman Pimen Sysoev
- Ataman Yemelyan Agureev
- Avdotya Platova
- Averyan Yudin
B: 6 names
- Bohdan Mohyla
- Bohdan Piven
- Bohdan Vyrvykhvist
- Bunchuzhnyi Lazar Horobets
- Bunchuzhnyi Petro Bilous
- Bunchuzhnyi Trokhym Tovchyhrechka
D: 24 names
- Danila Sidorin
- Danylo Husak
- Danylo Kryvoshyia
- Darya Kaledina
- Davyd Chumak
- Davyd Krasnoshtan
- Davyd Mova
- Demian Burlii
- Demian Kysil
- Demian Perebyinis
- Denys Krychevskyi
- Denys Mamai
- Denys Zhuk
- Dmytro Nezdiimynoha
- Dmytro Samoilovych
- Dmytro Stepovyi
- Domakha Rybalka
- Dorofey Vdovenko
- Dovbysh Fedir Haidamaka
- Dovbysh Yatsko Neizhpapa
- Dovbysh Yukhym Lomonos
- Dzhura Hnat Teslia
- Dzhura Marko Chyzh
- Dzhura Mytrofan Kachur
F: 20 names
- Fedir Bunchuk
- Fedir Dzhmil
- Fedir Volokh
- Fedko Bilyi
- Fedko Ubyivovk
- Fedko Viter
- Fedora Koval
- Fedosey Kudinov
- Fedosya Boldyreva
- Fedot Khanzhonkov
- Fesko Chasnyk
- Fesko Chornovil
- Filat Baklanov
- Filipp Melekhov
- Filon Halahan
- Filon Kochubei
- Filon Nezhyvyi
- Foma Urchukin
- Frol Isaev
- Fyokla Minaeva
G: 3 names
- Gavrila Kostin
- Glafira Grekova
- Grigory Chebotaryov
H: 26 names
- Halyna Chumak
- Hanna Zozulia
- Hapka Moroz
- Havrylo Bondar
- Havrylo Lebid
- Havrylo Voloshyn
- Herasym Shulika
- Herasym Skydan
- Hetman Danylo Stelmakh
- Hetman Onysko Osyka
- Hetman Ostap Dniprovskyi
- Hetman Yermolai Koval
- Hnat Kravchenko
- Hnat Nyzovyi
- Hnat Tovchyhrechka
- Hordii Hulianytskyi
- Hordii Riaboshapka
- Horpyna Chaika
- Hryhorii Panybudlaska
- Hryhorii Sahaidak
- Hryts Bezborodko
- Hryts Kulish
- Hryts Lubenets
- Hrytsko Dovhyi
- Hrytsko Pokotylo
- Hrytsko Stetsenko
I: 13 names
- Ilko Bida
- Ilko Osaulenko
- Ilko Shmalko
- Illia Bratslavets
- Illia Harmash
- Illia Pryimak
- Ilya Koltso
- Isay Kuteinikov
- Ivan Agoev
- Ivan Nechytailo
- Ivan Svichka
- Ivas Chaika
- Ivas Rybalka
K: 60 names
- Kalenyk Lupynis
- Kalenyk Yizhak
- Kalenyk Zaporozhets
- Karpo Dykun
- Karpo Holoborodko
- Karpo Zalizniak
- Kasyan Kaledin
- Kateryna Kotliarevska
- Kharakternyk Okhrim Hulak
- Kharakternyk Savka Berkut
- Kharakternyk Yavtukh Pidopryhora
- Khariton Fomin
- Kharko Haidamaka
- Kharko Shpak
- Khivria Holovata
- Khoma Hrek
- Khoma Salo
- Khoma Voron
- Khorunzhy Yerofey Khopyorsky
- Khorunzhyi Fesko Chornyi
- Khorunzhyi Hryts Sukhovii
- Khorunzhyi Kost Zadorozhnyi
- Khorunzhyi Naum Mnohohrishnyi
- Khorunzhyi Yermolai Chubatyi
- Khrystyna Bondar
- Kindrat Neroda
- Kindrat Solovei
- Kindrat Turchyn
- Klim Rykovsky
- Klym Nepyivoda
K, continued
- Klym Yastrub
- Klym Zavodovskyi
- Kobzar Khoma Shchuka
- Kobzar Mykhailo Tsap
- Kobzar Tyt Pasichnyk
- Kobzar Zinovii Varyvoda
- Kondraty Mironov
- Korney Platov
- Kornii Hordiienko
- Kornii Nedbaievskyi
- Kornii Zabiiaka
- Koshovyi Otaman Kost Zaiets
- Koshovyi Otaman Lavrin Zahrebelnyi
- Koshovyi Otaman Pavlo Verba
- Koshovyi Otaman Prokip Stadnyk
- Koshovyi Otaman Yakiv Drozd
- Kost Karas
- Kost Rudyi
- Kurinnyi Otaman Herasym Mukha
- Kurinnyi Otaman Oleksa Pampukha
- Kurinnyi Otaman Sava Lemishka
- Kurinnyi Otaman Tereshko Tolmach
- Kurinnyi Otaman Yatsko Harbuz
- Kurinnyi Otaman Yosyp Khrin
- Kuzma Dudar
- Kuzma Halushka
- Kuzma Korsun
- Kylyna Salohub
- Kyrylo Kovalenko
- Kyrylo Vernyhora
L: 24 names
- Lavrin Bezpalko
- Lavrin Malyi
- Lazar Lys
- Lazar Rak
- Lazar Varenyk
- Leontii Holovko
- Leontii Lypa
- Leontii Umanets
- Lesko Chyhyrynets
- Lesko Surmach
- Lesko Vernydub
- Levko Dobryvechir
- Levko Fisenko
- Levko Kvas
- Liubov Myklashevska
- Luka Chabanenko
- Luka Chornomaz
- Luka Podoliak
- Luka Zolotaryov
- Lukerya Turoverova
- Lukian Makukha
- Lukian Nemyrych
- Lukian Omelchenko
- Lukyan Pushkaryov
M: 40 names
- Makar Bosyi
- Makar Bulava
- Makar Nizhynets
- Maksym Kokunko
- Maksym Orel
- Maksym Pidkova
- Marfa Balabina
- Mariia Kucheriava
- Marko Skakun
- Marko Tkach
- Marko Zatulyviter
- Marta Tkachenko
- Martyn Bilotserkivets
- Martyn Nechai
- Martyn Riabyi
- Marusia Maiboroda
- Matryona Yagodina
- Matvey Tatarinov
- Matvii Borshch
- Matvii Pidopryhora
- Matvii Zabolotnyi
- Melanka Chorna
- Misko Bursak
- Misko Dubyna
- Misko Kravets
- Mitrofan Bespaly
- Mokryna Halushka
- Motria Vernyhora
- Musii Makarenko
- Musii Melnyk
- Musii Pechyborshch
- Mykhailo Morozenko
- Mykhailo Palii
- Mykola Neizhpapa
- Mykola Pushkar
- Mykyta Medvid
- Mykyta Perederii
- Mykyta Serbyn
- Mytrofan Honchar
- Mytrofan Pyrih
N: 20 names
- Nakaznyi Hetman Kyrylo Tryhub
- Nakaznyi Hetman Vakula Vus
- Nastia Boiko
- Natalka Shcherbyna
- Natalya Ilovaiskaya
- Naum Goly
- Naum Markovych
- Naum Skalozub
- Nazar Cherkashyn
- Nazar Honta
- Nazar Kirsanov
- Nazar Lomaka
- Nestor Bezpalyi
- Nestor Chornous
- Nestor Krukovsky
- Nikifor Shumilin
- Nikita Frolov
- Nychypir Bandura
- Nychypir Bardizh
- Nychypir Lyzohub
O: 46 names
- Oboznyi Lukian Sukhomlyn
- Oboznyi Matvii Vernydub
- Oboznyi Terentii Nepyipyvo
- Oboznyi Zhdan Perepelytsia
- Odarka Sorokopud
- Okhrim Bilous
- Okhrim Kyiashko
- Okhrim Snihur
- Oksana Voloshyn
- Oleksa Shablii
- Oleksa Sorokopud
- Oleksandra Kryvonis
- Oleksii Babych
- Oleksii Kapusta
- Oleksii Sokil
- Olena Lytvyn
- Omelian Loza
- Omelian Teslia
- Omelko Komar
- Omelko Uhryn
- Omelko Zaviriukha
- Onufrii Baida
- Onufrii Kolomiiets
O, continued
- Onufrii Zarudnyi
- Onysko Khmara
- Onysko Korzh
- Opanas Luhovyi
- Opanas Nepyipyvo
- Opanas Zolotarenko
- Oryna Soroka
- Osavul Antin Bereza
- Osavul Mykola Chupryna
- Osavul Omelian Sosna
- Osavul Sava Buriak
- Osavul Zakhar Bairak
- Osip Yagodin
- Ostap Bilokin
- Ostap Horobets
- Otaman Antin Donets
- Otaman Ivan Kaban
- Otaman Mykhailo Shram
- Otaman Terentii Knysh
- Otaman Yukhym Netiaha
- Ovsii Boiko
- Ovsii Dovhopol
- Ovsii Myklashevskyi
P: 42 names
- Palazhka Nalyvaiko
- Panas Netudykhata
- Panas Riabovil
- Panas Tsap
- Panteley Cherkashenin
- Paraska Stepova
- Parkhom Rashpil
- Parkhom Sych
- Parkhom Tsvirkun
- Pavlo Palianytsia
- Pavlo Pidkuimukha
- Pelageya Sulina
- Petro Kolodii
- Petro Kompaniiets
- Plastun Omelko Malama
- Plastun Serhii Kotliarevskyi
- Plastun Yakiv Zavodovskyi
- Platon Chernozubov
- Pokhodny Ataman Agafon Koshevoy
- Pokhodny Ataman Pakhom Balabin
- Polkovnyk Fesko Smetana
P, continued
- Polkovnyk Hryhorii Shvets
- Polkovnyk Ivas Syvokin
- Polkovnyk Mytrofan Kruk
- Polkovnyk Naum Strilets
- Polkovnyk Stetsko Som
- Potap Burevii
- Potap Malama
- Potap Nalyvaiko
- Potap Sulin
- Priska Savchenko
- Prokhor Kalinin
- Prokip Nevmyvaka
- Prokip Putria
- Pylyp Oliinyk
- Pylyp Riabokon
- Pylyp Zahorodnii
- Pyotr Grekov
- Pysar Arkhyp Kryvyi
- Pysar Demian Chaban
- Pysar Pavlo Kryvoruchko
- Pysar Yarosh Tsybulia
R: 4 names
- Rodion Yefremov
- Roman Lytvyn
- Roman Siroshtan
- Roman Skoropadskyi
S: 51 names
- Samiilo Kanivetskyi
- Samiilo Kuibida
- Samiilo Pasichnyk
- Sava Dub
- Sava Halaida
- Savely Ageev
- Savka Budiak
- Savka Nedaiborshch
- Savka Porokhnia
- Semen Dovhoshyia
- Semen Orlyk
- Semen Syvyi
- Semyon Lagutin
- Serhii Myrhorodskyi
- Serhii Netreba
- Serhii Shchuka
- Sevastyan Sekretyov
- Sidor Krasnoshchekov
- Solomiia Riabokon
- Sotnik Yakov Denisov
- Sotnyk Artem Kalyna
- Sotnyk Hordii Oseledets
- Sotnyk Kharko Ocheret
- Sotnyk Nestor Teren
- Sotnyk Petro Derkach
S, continued
- Sotnyk Tymish Kozak
- Sotnyk Zakhar Kryvonis
- Spiridon Vertepov
- Spyrydon Poltavets
- Spyrydon Tsymbal
- Spyrydon Varyvoda
- Stanichny Ataman Larion Kruzhilin
- Stanichny Ataman Lavrenty Zhirov
- Stanichny Ataman Yeremey Astakhov
- Stepan Bezkrovnyi
- Stepan Minaev
- Stepan Sukhomlyn
- Stepan Vusatyi
- Stepanida Pozdeeva
- Stepanyda Pokotylo
- Stetsko Dobroshtan
- Stetsko Doroshenko
- Suddia Denys Lirnyk
- Suddia Panas Chumak
- Suddia Stetsko Nedbailo
- Svyryd Bezuhlyi
- Svyryd Kulyk
- Svyryd Zozulia
- Sydir Buhai
- Sydir Cherkas
- Sydir Vovk
T: 32 names
- Taras Bober
- Taras Kanivets
- Taras Khokhlach
- Taras Zhuravel
- Terentii Iskra
- Terentii Kolisnyk
- Terenty Khopyorsky
- Tereshko Kachur
- Tereshko Salohub
- Tetiana Verba
- Tikhon Karaulov
- Timofey Drany
- Tit Verzilin
- Trofim Tatsin
- Trokhym Kozachenko
- Trokhym Maiboroda
- Trokhym Zhurba
- Tykhin Holub
- Tykhin Hulyha
- Tykhin Siroma
- Tymish Borsuk
- Tymish Dovhan
- Tymish Polishchuk
- Tymko Bezruchko
- Tymko Bych
- Tymko Nechyporenko
- Tymofii Krutyholova
- Tymofii Shcherbyna
- Tymofii Shvachka
- Tyt Chepiha
- Tyt Hulak
- Tyt Zhuchenko
U: 7 names
- Ulas Kishka
- Ulas Onyshchenko
- Ulas Prodaivoda
- Uliana Vovk
- Uryadnik Sysoy Isaev
- Ustin Korshunov
- Ustyna Bilous
V: 11 names
- Vakula Kit
- Vakula Neskoromnyi
- Varvara Kalyna
- Vasilisa Kirsanova
- Vasily Fostikov
- Vasyl Lytvynenko
- Vasyl Rozumovskyi
- Vasyl Tovstonoh
- Vasylyna Dobryvechir
- Vekla Khmara
- Vlas Ilovaisky
Y: 37 names
- Yakiv Horokh
- Yakiv Lirnyk
- Yarema Baran
- Yarema Holota
- Yarema Volynets
- Yarosh Nedbailo
- Yarosh Tataryn
- Yarosh Voronchenko
- Yaryna Zavodovska
- Yatsko Neizhmak
- Yatsko Puhach
- Yavdokha Perebyinis
- Yavdokym Burlaka
- Yavdokym Hunia
- Yavdokym Rusyn
- Yavtukh Hamaliia
- Yavtukh Kotliarevskyi
- Yavtukh Okun
- Yegor Rubashkin
- Yermolai Khanenko
- Yermolai Lomonos
- Yermolay Pozdeev
- Yesaul Khrisanf Bogaevsky
- Yesaul Prokofy Tapilin
- Yesaul Yevdokim Kryukov
- Yevdokiia Piddubna
- Yevdokiya Yefremova
- Yevsey Kulgachev
- Yevstigney Mamontov
- Yivha Nepyivoda
- Yosyp Chalyi
- Yosyp Zabyivorota
- Yukhym Bilodid
- Yukhym Pysarenko
- Yurii Horlenko
- Yurii Nebaba
- Yurii Shved