Covey Name Generator
Ballad first names paired with color second names
Generate Covey-style names in the manner of the Hunger Games prequel: a first name from an old ballad or poem and a second name that is a color, such as Janet Ember, Saro Honey, Evangeline Jade and Randal Aster Baird.
About Covey names
The Covey are the traveling musicians of Suzanne Collins's The Ballad of Songbirds and Snakes, and they return in Sunrise on the Reaping. Their naming custom is easy to remember: a first name taken from a ballad and a second name that is a color. Lucy Gray shares hers with a Wordsworth poem, and Lenore Dove with the Lenore of Edgar Allan Poe's poems.
This list follows the same recipe with new pairings. The first names come from ballads, songs and poems that are long out of copyright: Scottish and English ballads (Janet, Randal, Ellender), Appalachian songs (Saro, Omie, Cory), Burns and Scott (Afton, Lochinvar), and poets from Spenser and Herrick to Keats, Tennyson and Poe (Christabel, Elaine, Annabel). Some are shortened the Covey way, like Nell, Kit and Jem, and some borrow a trade or a bird from a ballad, in the manner of Clerk: Harper, Piper, Corbie, Mavis.
The second names are color words from painters' pigments, dye plants, gemstones, flowers, horse coats and heraldry, from familiar ones like Indigo and Heather to rarities like Zaffre, Weld and Watchet. A small share add Baird or Clade, the two Covey family names in the books. Seven names from the novels are included as style anchors. The rest are fan-made pairings for this list.
How to choose Covey names
- Say the pair aloud. Covey names are stage names, so rhythm matters: a short first name can carry a long color, as in Nell Incarnadine, and a long one wants a short color, as in Evangeline Jade.
- Pick the ballad first if you want a backstory. Janet is the heroine who wins back Tam Lin, so a character called Janet Ember could have a parent who loved that song.
- Let the color set costume and mood. Saro Honey reads warm and bright, while Tristram Slate reads somber before the character sings a note.
- For a family act, give relatives the same family name and colors of one kind, such as stones: Arden Jasper Clade, Enid Coral Clade and Dee Opal Clade sound like kin.
- Look up the rare color words before you commit. Watchet is a pale blue, Filemot is the brown of a dead leaf, Murrey is a mulberry purple and Weld is a yellow dye plant.
Frequently asked questions
Are these Covey names from the Hunger Games books?
Seven are. Lucy Gray Baird, Maude Ivory, Barb Azure, Tam Amber, Clerk Carmine, Billy Taupe and Lenore Dove Baird appear in Suzanne Collins's novels and sit in the list as style anchors. Every other name is a new pairing in the same ballad and color pattern, so treat those as original characters of your own.
How do Covey names work?
In the novels a Covey child gets a first name from a ballad and a second name that is a color, and some also carry a family name. This list does the same. Ellender Russet pairs an old ballad heroine with a cloth brown, and Annabel Garnet pairs a Poe heroine with a gemstone.
Where do the first names come from?
From ballads, songs and poems old enough to be in the public domain. Sources include the Scottish and English ballads collected by Francis James Child, Appalachian songs such as Pretty Saro and Shady Grove, Robert Burns and Walter Scott, and poets such as Keats, Tennyson, Poe and Christina Rossetti. No modern songs or living artists were used.
What do the unusual color words mean?
Many come from old pigment, dye and heraldry vocabularies. Zaffre is a cobalt blue, Gamboge a yellow, Madder and Kermes are reds, Perse is a dark grayish blue, and Gules, Vert and Argent are the heraldic words for red, green and silver. Names like Hobie Zaffre and Lycidas Watchet put them to use.
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All 500 Covey names
A: 45 names
- Adair Hyacinth
- Adair Zinnia
- Adeline Topaz
- Adler Magenta
- Adonais Teal
- Afton Heather
- Ailie Snowdrop
- Airly Broom Clade
- Airly Verbena
- Alan Bay Clade
- Alan Cinnabar
- Alastor Pearl
- Alden Ruby
- Alice Fell Ecru
- Alice Sable
- Allison Gross Sorrel
- Allison Sepia
- Allison Titian
- Althea Filemot
- Althea Gorse Clade
- Amaryllis Puce
- Ambree Bice
- Amoret Hazel
- Andrew Lammie Pewter
- Andy Mallow
- Angelina Spruce
- Annabel Garnet
- Annabel Lee Bronze
- Annan Orpiment
- Annan Rust
- Annet Bronze
- Annie Fern Clade
- Annie Laurie Watchet
- Annie Orchid
- Anthea Cramoisy
- Archie Chestnut
- Arden Cream
- Arden Jasper Clade
- Astrophel Scarlet
- Aura Honey
- Aura Lee Crimson
- Aurora Lapis
- Aurora Leigh Cherry
- Aylmer Celadon
- Aylmer Tyrian Baird
B: 24 names
- Barb Azure
- Barton Clay
- Beichan Gamboge
- Bel Heliotrope
- Belinda Olive
- Belphoebe Maroon
- Benjie Massicot
- Bertha Amethyst
- Bertha Crocus Baird
- Bess Primrose
- Bessy Bell Sunstone
- Bessy Ochre
- Betsy Woad
- Billy Taupe
- Binnorie Umber
- Bonnie Weld
- Bonnie Willow
- Bonny Lizie Titian
- Brand Ultramarine
- Brand Viridian
- Brenton Verdigris
- Burd Dapple
- Burd Ellen Spinel
- Burd Isabel Citrine
C: 39 names
- Calidore Cerise
- Campaspe Maroon
- Casey Cochineal
- Cathleen Shell
- Cauline Cramoisy
- Cauline Spruce Clade
- Charlie Fuchsia
- Charlie Gentian
- Charlotte Mulberry
- Child Waters Dapple
- Childe Cinder
- Childe Roland Sanguine
- Christabel Agate
- Christie Sienna
- Cindy Juniper
- Cindy Laurel
- Clare Obsidian
- Claribel Turquoise
- Clarinda Foxglove
- Clem Foxglove
- Clementine Walnut
- Clerk Carmine
- Clora Murrey
- Col Damask
- Colin Burgundy
- Collier Fawn
- Collier Smoke
- Colvin Chestnut
- Colvin Moonstone Clade
- Comus Claret
- Cora Oleander
- Corbie Pewter
- Corinna Crimson
- Cory Bracken
- Cory Chartreuse Clade
- Corydon Gules
- Creina Peony
- Cythna Cobalt Baird
- Cythna Garnet
D: 23 names
- Damozel Flint
- Dark Rosaleen Tawny
- Darlin' Cory Ash
- Darnell Malachite
- Darnell Titian
- Davy Alkanet
- Dee Crocus
- Dee Opal Clade
- Deirdre Poppy Baird
- Delia Argent
- Dinah Logwood
- Dolores Cream
- Doon Amaranth
- Doon Lavender
- Dora Crocus Clade
- Dora Sunstone
- Douglas Malachite
- Dowsabell Cerise
- Dugall Cinnabar
- Dugall Pewter Baird
- Dunblane Clover
- Duncan Carnation
- Dundee Eglantine
E: 38 names
- Earl Brand Speedwell
- Edith Blush
- Edward Verditer
- Edward Willow Baird
- Edwin Honey Clade
- Edwin Popinjay
- Effie Yarrow
- Eileen Clover Baird
- Eileen Snowdrop
- Elaine Celadon
- Eleanor Russet
- Electra Hazel
- Eliza Gorse
- Ella Kermes
- Ella Woad
- Ellen Irwin Rust
- Ellen Ochre
- Ellender Russet
- Ellinor Buff
- Eloisa Perse
- Elsie Bramble Clade
- Elspat Clay
- Endymion Bisque
- Enid Coral Clade
- Enid Moonstone
- Eppie Ash
- Eppie Damson Baird
- Eppie Morrie Russet
- Estmere Ermine
- Etin Madder
- Etin Ochre
- Eula Orchid
- Eulalie Sapphire
- Evalina Fern
- Evalina Sage
- Evangeline Jade
- Eveleen Larkspur
- Evelyn Jet
F: 8 names
- Fair Annie Lapis
- Fair Ellender Moonstone
- Fair Rosamond Bracken
- Faustine Turquoise
- Felise Onyx
- Flora Orchil
- Florimell Lovat
- Friar Bay
G: 23 names
- Gabe Periwinkle
- Gabriel Gentian Clade
- Gareth Speedwell Baird
- Gareth Tourmaline
- Genevieve Jet
- Geordie Soot Clade
- Geordie Verditer
- Georgie Wheat
- Geraint Coral
- Gil Brenton Sapphire
- Gil Fallow
- Gil Morrice Garnet
- Gilderoy Scarlet
- Giles Azurite
- Giles Onyx Baird
- Ginny Cornflower
- Glasgerion Gules
- Glen Harebell
- Godiva Topaz
- Gregory Slate
- Grissel Tyrian
- Gulnare Agate
- Gulnare Charcoal Clade
H: 21 names
- Haidee Maroon Clade
- Haidee Pearl
- Hal Cerulean
- Handsome Molly Laurel
- Harper Fawn
- Hazeldean Lilac
- Helen Cobalt
- Helen Sepia
- Henry Persimmon
- Henry Walnut
- Hesperus Onyx
- Highland Mary Jet
- Hind Cinder
- Hind Etin Smoke
- Hind Horn Topaz
- Hind Merle
- Hob Viridian
- Hobie Noble Roan
- Hobie Sienna
- Hobie Zaffre
- Hughie Madder
I: 10 names
- Ida Damson
- Ida Mulberry
- Inez Jade
- Ingram Auburn
- Ingram Henna Baird
- Isabel Umber
- Isabella Flint
- Iseult Sorrel Baird
- Iseult Spinel
- Israfel Ruby
J: 26 names
- Jack Davy Kermes
- Jamie Dahlia
- Jamie Mimosa
- Jamie Telfer Olive
- Janet Azurite
- Janet Ember
- Jean Periwinkle
- Jean Wisteria
- Jeanie Logwood
- Jehane Celadon
- Jehane Lilac Clade
- Jem Wisteria
- Jenny Butternut
- Jenny Fuchsia Baird
- Jess Daffodil
- Jessie Broom
- Jessie Thistle
- Jock Heliotrope
- Jock Myrtle
- Joe Clark Walnut
- Johnie Vermilion
- Johnny Cochineal
- Johnny Persimmon
- Jule Vermilion
- Julia Ermine
- Juliana Buff
K: 11 names
- Kathleen Violet
- Katy Apricot
- Katy Bell Ruby
- Katy Bramble
- Kemp Charcoal
- Kemp Owyne Campion
- Kilmeny Jonquil
- Kilmeny Thistle
- Kit Sorrel
- Kitty Annatto
- Kitty Laurel
L: 55 names
- Lady Maisry Perse
- Laird Merle
- Lalla Cornflower
- Lamia Jasper
- Laon Hazel Clade
- Laon Sardonyx
- Lara Turquoise
- Laredo Lichen
- Laredo Moss
- Laura Agate
- Laurie Eglantine
- Laurie Jonquil
- Laverock Bay
- Laverock Flint
- Leigh Carnelian
- Lenore Dove Baird
- Leoline Jacinth
- Leonard Celadon
- Lesley Mallow
- Lesley Snowdrop Baird
- Lilian Cream
- Lilly Juniper
- Lilly Weld
- Lindsay Sienna
- Linne Terracotta
- Lionel Copper
- Lisle Currant
- Little Sadie Sloe
- Liza Annatto
- Liza Ginger
- Liza Jane Merle
- Lizie Bronze
- Lizie Lindsay Ember
- Lizie Sable
- Lizzie Ecru
- Lochiel Larkspur
- Lochinvar Poppy
- Locksley Tourmaline
- Logan Daffodil
- Logan Gorse
- Logie Slate
- Lomond Magnolia
- Lord Lovel Argent
- Lorena Peach
- Lorraine Speedwell
- Lorraine Tansy
- Lottie Larkspur
- Louisa Damask Baird
- Louisa Jasper
- Lovel Ash
- Lucasta Chartreuse
- Lucy Gray Baird
- Lulu Sumac
- Lycidas Watchet
- Lynette Emerald
M: 44 names
- Mabel Martin Lovat
- Mabel Mauve
- Maeve Alabaster
- Maggie Fern
- Maggie Thistle Clade
- Maisie Carnation
- Maisie Violet
- Maisry Bluebell Baird
- Maisry Cerulean
- Mally Marigold
- Mally Myrtle
- Manfred Ginger Clade
- Marget Bistre
- Marget Madder
- Marguerite Teal
- Mari Broom
- Marian Sable
- Mariana Citrine
- Marmion Bluebell
- Martyn Bistre
- Mary Ambree Copper
- Mary Morison Blush
- Mary Oleander
- Matty Cobalt
- Maude Ivory
- Mavis Flame
- Mavis Gilt
- Maxwell Orpiment
- Maxwell Umber
- May Colvin Cowslip
- May Margaret Bramble
- Medora Opal
- Meg Merrilies Beryl
- Michael Emerald
- Miller Dun
- Miller Fallow
- Minstrel Dun
- Minstrel Fawn
- Molly Sloe
- Molly Sumac
- Morrice Gamboge
- Murray Indigo
- Murray Peach Baird
- Myfanwy Dahlia
N: 13 names
- Nancy Belle Mauve
- Nancy Camellia
- Nannie Amaranth
- Nannie Clover
- Naomi Willow
- Nell Incarnadine
- Nelly Sedge
- Nelly Sloe
- Nettie Apricot
- Niamh Peridot
- Nora Buttercup
- Nora Creina Flax
- Nora Iris
O: 7 names
- Oenone Garnet
- Oisin Lapis
- Omie Damson
- Omie Henna
- Orfeo Clay
- Orfeo Rust
- Owyne Minium
P: 29 names
- Palmer Charcoal
- Panthea Amethyst
- Pat Heather
- Patrick Tawny
- Pedlar Sorrel
- Peggy Alkanet
- Peggy Gordon Saffron
- Peggy Wheat
- Pelleas Jacinth
- Penelophon Vert
- Percy Ember
- Percy Foxglove Clade
- Perenna Damask
- Phillida Sanguine
- Phillis Tyrian
- Pinder Roan
- Pip Harebell
- Piper Dun
- Pippa Zircon
- Poll Ultramarine
- Polly Goldenrod
- Polly Indigo
- Pompilia Shell
- Porphyro Bisque
- Pretty Polly Henna
- Pretty Saro Chartreuse
- Pris Lupine
- Priscilla Beryl
- Proud Maisie Plum
R: 23 names
- Randal Aster Baird
- Randal Verdigris
- Ranger Flame
- Reuben Cedar
- Reuben Orchil
- Rhymer Soot
- Richie Auburn
- Rizpah Peridot
- Rob Campion
- Rob Roy Russet
- Robin Adair Opal
- Robin Indigo
- Robin Verdigris
- Roland Chestnut
- Rory Gentian
- Rosa Popinjay
- Rosabelle Iris
- Rosaleen Aster
- Rosalie Cedar
- Rosalie Sage
- Rosamond Tawny
- Rosamond Zaffre
- Rose Mary Ginger
S: 31 names
- Sacharissa Mauve
- Sadie Cinnamon
- Sal Mimosa
- Sally Saffron
- Sandy Magnolia
- Saro Honey
- Saunders Auburn
- Saunders Copper
- Shady Goldenrod
- Shady Laurel
- Shafto Cowslip
- Shafto Hyacinth
- Shalott Opal
- Shanter Thistle
- Shen Isabelline
- Shenandoah Sedge
- Shepherd Cinder
- Shiloh Cherry
- Shiloh Plum
- Silvia Claret
- Skipper Gilt
- Sordello Pearl
- Squire Brindle
- Squire Dapple
- Stella Argent
- Sue Terracotta
- Susanna Currant
- Susie Butternut
- Susie Peach
- Susie Pye Stammel
- Sweet William Spruce
T: 15 names
- Tam Amber
- Tamlane Malachite
- Tamlane Sepia
- Tanner Soot
- Thea Obsidian
- Thomas Murrey Baird
- Thomas Smalt
- Thyrsis Ecru
- Thyrza Jade
- Tibbie Azalea
- Tibbie Camellia
- Tinker Brindle
- Tralee Lovat Clade
- Tralee Primrose
- Tristram Slate
U: 4 names
- Ullin Celandine
- Una Filemot
- Una Olive Baird
- Ursine Stammel
V: 1 name
- Vivien Tansy Baird
W: 7 names
- Wat Lilac
- Weaver Gilt
- Weaver Smoke
- Weir Aquamarine
- Willie Cinnabar
- Willie Indigo
- Willie Moore Coral
Y: 2 names
- Young Beichan Yarrow
- Young Benjie Moss