Day of the Dead Name Generator

Calavera, Catrina and alebrije names in Spanish

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Generate Day of the Dead names for calavera characters, pets, art projects, parties and school events: Catrina and Catrín personas like Doña Azucena Calavera and Don Hilario Huesos, alebrijes like Colibrí de Jade, and words from the celebration such as Cempasúchil (marigold).

About Day of the Dead names

These are name ideas for the things people make and do for Día de Muertos: calavera characters for stories, costumes and face paint, pets, art and craft projects, parties and school events. Day of the Dead is a living Mexican tradition, kept mainly on November 1 and 2, in which families remember relatives who have died. Its mood is warm and colorful rather than frightening, and the list follows that.

The persona names pair an honorific with an old-fashioned Spanish given name and a surname taken from a real Spanish word: Doña Azucena Calavera (skull), Don Hilario Huesos (bones), Doña Clotilde Ceniza (ash). A Catrina is the elegant skeleton lady who began as a satirical print by José Guadalupe Posada in the early 1900s. Her gentleman counterpart is a Catrín, so Doña goes with Catrina and Don with Catrín. Alebrije names such as Colibrí de Jade describe the brightly painted creatures of Mexican folk art.

Words from the celebration itself carry a short gloss so nobody mistakes them for personal names. Ofrenda is the home altar of photographs, candles and favorite foods, Cempasúchil is the marigold whose petals mark a path, and Copal is the incense. They suit pets, artworks and projects. Event titles like Noche de Recuerdos and Papel Picado Workshop round out the list.

How to choose Day of the Dead names

  • Keep the Spanish agreement when you adapt a name. Don pairs with Catrín and El, Doña pairs with Catrina and La, and adjectives follow: El Catrín Enamorado, La Catrina Enamorada.
  • Write the accents and the ñ. Doña, Catrín, Cempasúchil and Pétalo are spelled that way in Spanish, and a banner or name tag looks more careful with them.
  • For a pet, pick a short word that is easy to call, such as Huesitos, Chispa, Cempa or Xolito. Drop the note in parentheses: it is only there to tell you what the word means.
  • For a school or community event, choose a title that says what happens. Papel Picado Workshop, Calaverita Poetry Contest and Pan de Muerto Bake Day tell families what to expect.
  • Treat the holiday as a remembrance of family, not as a costume theme. If your event includes a shared ofrenda, invite people to bring photos and stories of their own relatives and explain the tradition on the invitation.

Frequently asked questions

What are good Day of the Dead name ideas?

For a calavera character try Doña Azucena Calavera, Don Hilario Huesos or La Catrina de Oaxaca. For a pet, Huesitos, Canelita and Xolito are short and easy to call, and for an event Noche de Cempasúchil or Marigold Supper Club reads well on an invitation.

What is the difference between a Catrina and a Catrín?

La Catrina is the elegantly dressed skeleton lady, made famous by a print by José Guadalupe Posada and later by a Diego Rivera mural. A Catrín is her male counterpart, a dapper skeleton gentleman. In Spanish the words must agree, so the list uses La Catrina with Doña and El Catrín with Don.

Why do some names have a note in parentheses?

Those entries are words from the celebration, not personal names, so each has a short gloss: Copal (incense resin), Papel Picado (cut-paper banners), Pan de Muerto (sweet holiday bread). Use the Spanish word alone as a name for a pet, an artwork or a project.

Is Day of the Dead the same as Halloween?

No. Día de Muertos is a separate Mexican tradition, kept mainly on November 1 and 2, in which families welcome back the memory of relatives with ofrendas, marigolds, candles and favorite foods. The names here are warm and floral for that reason, and none of them is meant for a person who has died or for a family's own altar.

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All 500 Day of the Dead 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: 28 names

  • A Path of Marigolds
  • Abuelita Chole Clavel
  • Abuelita Cuca Huesos
  • Abuelita Toña Calavera
  • Abuelito Beto Bigote
  • Abuelito Goyo Ceniza
  • Abuelo Polo Huesos
  • Águila Bermellón
  • Ajolote Rosa
  • Alebrije (fantastical painted creature)
  • Alebrije Art Studio
  • Alebrije Painting Afternoon
  • Alegría (amaranth candy, also "joy")
  • Alfeñique (sugar-paste candy figures)

A, continued

  • Alumbrada (the lighting of the candles)
  • Amaranto (amaranth)
  • Ámbar (amber)
  • An Evening for Catrinas
  • Anís (anise)
  • Añoranza (longing)
  • Árbol de la Vida (clay tree of life)
  • Arco de Flores (flower arch)
  • Ardilla Canela
  • Armadillo Pinto
  • Atardecer (sunset)
  • Atole (warm corn drink)
  • Azahar (orange blossom)
  • Azúcar (sugar)

B: 12 names

  • Baile de Catrines
  • Baile de las Calacas Recital
  • Ballet Folklórico Las Calaveras
  • Banda La Calavera Alegre
  • Barro Negro (black clay pottery)
  • Bigotes (whiskers)
  • Bones and Blossoms Art Show
  • Borrego Cimarrón Azul
  • Brasa (ember)
  • Búho con Escamas de Pez
  • Búho Escarlata
  • Buñuelo (crisp fried pastry)

C: 87 names

  • Caballero de Hueso
  • Caballero del Clavel Rojo
  • Cacahuate (peanut)
  • Cacao (cacao bean)
  • Cacomixtle Nocturno
  • Cajeta (goat's milk caramel)
  • Calabacita (little pumpkin)
  • Calabaza en Tacha (candied pumpkin)
  • Calavera Cookie Swap
  • Calavera Coqueta
  • Calavera de Colores
  • Calavera Enamorada
  • Calavera Florida
  • Calavera Literaria (playful rhyming verse)

C, continued

  • Calavera Mask Makers
  • Calavera Print Shop
  • Calavera Risueña
  • Calaveras on the Block
  • Calaveras y Flores Family Night
  • Calaverita Arpista
  • Calaverita Bordadora
  • Calaverita Brillante
  • Calaverita de Azúcar (sugar skull)
  • Calaverita Escritora
  • Calaverita Flautista
  • Calaverita Lectora
  • Calaverita Pastelera
  • Calaverita Poeta
  • Calaverita Poetry Contest

C, continued

  • Calaverita Trovadora
  • Calenda (festive procession)
  • Camino de Flores Community Walk
  • Camino de Pétalos (petal path)
  • Camote (sweet potato)
  • Campanita (little bell)
  • Caña (sugar cane)
  • Candelabro (candle holder)
  • Candlelight and Cempasúchil Dinner
  • Canela (cinnamon)
  • Canelita (a pinch of cinnamon)
  • Canelo (cinnamon-colored)
  • Capitán Rosendo Calaca
  • Cara de Azúcar

C, continued

  • Caracol de Colores
  • Cariño (dear one)
  • Caritas Pintadas
  • Cartonería (papier-mâché craft)
  • Cascabel (jingle bell)
  • Catrín (a dapper gentleman)
  • Catrina Garden Soirée
  • Catrinas and Catrines Ball
  • Cempa (short for cempasúchil)
  • Cempasúchil (marigold)
  • Cempasúchil Crown Workshop
  • Cempasúchil Planting Day
  • Cenzontle Cantor
  • Champurrado (chocolate atole)
  • Chapulín Brincador

C, continued

  • Chispa (spark)
  • Chivo Volador
  • Chocolate de Mesa (drinking chocolate)
  • Clay Catrina Workshop
  • Cocada (coconut candy)
  • Colibrí de Jade
  • Colita (little tail)
  • Colors of Remembrance Exhibit
  • Comadre Chayo Calaca
  • Comadre Tencha Velas
  • Community Ofrenda Open House
  • Compadre Chuy Costilla
  • Compadre Lalo Huesos
  • Compañero (companion)

C, continued

  • Comparsa (costumed street parade)
  • Comparsa de Colores
  • Conejo con Cola de Quetzal
  • Conejo de Luna
  • Conjunto Cempasúchil
  • Copal (incense resin)
  • Copal and Candlelight Evening
  • Corazón (heart)
  • Corona de Cempasúchil
  • Corona de Flores
  • Cotorra Cereza
  • Coyote Esmeralda
  • Cresta de Gallo (cockscomb flower)
  • Crisantemo (chrysanthemum)
  • Cuentos y Chocolate

D: 54 names

  • Dalia (dahlia, Mexico's national flower)
  • Dama de Encaje
  • Dama de Terciopelo
  • Desfile de Calaveras
  • Desfile de Catrinas
  • Doctor Demetrio Fémur
  • Doctora Macaria Costilla
  • Don Abundio Pan
  • Don Anselmo Calavera
  • Don Casimiro Clavel
  • Don Crisanto Flores
  • Don Epifanio Luna
  • Don Eustaquio Velas

D, continued

  • Don Evaristo Bigote
  • Don Florencio Cempasúchil
  • Don Fulgencio Ceniza
  • Don Gumersindo Mandíbula
  • Don Hilario Huesos
  • Don Jacinto Pétalo
  • Don Melquíades Tierra
  • Don Nicanor Sombra
  • Don Pascual Mazapán
  • Don Remigio Recuerdo
  • Don Ruperto Esqueleto
  • Don Saturnino Bastón
  • Don Silvestre Copal
  • Don Teófilo Levita

D, continued

  • Don Tiburcio Costilla
  • Don Wenceslao Fémur
  • Doña Azucena Calavera
  • Doña Brígida Mazapán
  • Doña Candelaria Copal
  • Doña Casilda Canela
  • Doña Clotilde Ceniza
  • Doña Consuelo Velas
  • Doña Eduviges Encaje
  • Doña Eufemia Abanico
  • Doña Eulalia Huesos
  • Doña Florentina Pétalo
  • Doña Herminia Plumas

D, continued

  • Doña Hortensia Clavel
  • Doña Jacinta Mariposa
  • Doña Leocadia Luna
  • Doña Otilia Listón
  • Doña Perpetua Recuerdo
  • Doña Petra Rebozo
  • Doña Prudencia Costilla
  • Doña Remedios Flores
  • Doña Soledad Sombra
  • Doña Tomasa Tamal
  • Doña Úrsula Terciopelo
  • Doncella de las Dalias
  • Dorado (golden)
  • Dragoncito de Papel

E: 43 names

  • El Caballero de las Velas
  • El Catrín Boticario
  • El Catrín de Guanajuato
  • El Catrín de Huaquechula
  • El Catrín de Levita
  • El Catrín de Mérida
  • El Catrín de Pátzcuaro
  • El Catrín de Puebla
  • El Catrín de Querétaro
  • El Catrín de Taxco
  • El Catrín de Toluca
  • El Catrín de Zacatecas
  • El Catrín del Bastón
  • El Catrín del Clavel

E, continued

  • El Catrín Enamorado
  • El Catrín Fotógrafo
  • El Catrín Norteño
  • El Catrín Poeta
  • El Catrín Relojero
  • El Catrín Tapatío
  • El Charro de Cempasúchil
  • El Esqueleto Bailarín
  • El Esqueleto Cartero
  • El Esqueleto Charro
  • El Esqueleto de Ocotepec
  • El Esqueleto Guitarrista
  • El Esqueleto Jardinero
  • El Esqueleto Mariachi

E, continued

  • El Esqueleto Organillero
  • El Esqueleto Panadero
  • El Esqueleto Pintor
  • El Esqueleto Trompetista
  • El Esqueleto Violinista
  • El Mariachi de Hueso
  • El Músico de Medianoche
  • El Novio Catrín
  • El Poeta de las Calaveritas
  • El Príncipe de Papel Picado
  • El Rey de los Catrines
  • Elote (corn on the cob)
  • Encaje (lace)
  • Erizo Chispa
  • Estudiantina Los Huesitos

F: 17 names

  • Face Paint and Folklórico Night
  • Faces of Familia Photo Wall
  • Familia Night at the Library
  • Farolito (little lantern)
  • Fiesta de Cempasúchil
  • Fiesta de las Flores
  • Flor de Medianoche
  • Flor de Muerto (another name for the marigold)

F, continued

  • Flor de Papel
  • Flor y Canto
  • Florecita (little flower)
  • Flores para Recordar
  • Flores y Brillos Face Paint Booth
  • Flores y Familia Heritage Night
  • Flores, Familia y Fiesta
  • Flower Crown Studio
  • Frijolito (little bean)

G: 9 names

  • Gallo de Lumbre
  • Garza Lila
  • Gato con Cuernos de Venado
  • Gato Montés Violeta
  • Gladiola (gladiolus)
  • Grillo de Plata
  • Guacamaya Solar
  • Guardián (guardian)
  • Guayaba (guava)

H: 6 names

  • Halcón Magenta
  • Hall of Marigolds
  • Hanal Pixán (the Maya observance in Yucatán)
  • Huesitos (little bones)
  • Huipil (embroidered tunic)
  • Humo (smoke)

I: 2 names

  • Iguana Rosada
  • Incienso (incense)

J: 3 names

  • Jaguar Turquesa
  • Jamoncillo (milk fudge)
  • Jícama (crisp root vegetable)

L: 74 names

  • La Adelita de las Flores
  • La Bailarina de Huesos
  • La Calaca Chocolatera
  • La Calaca de Cholula
  • La Calaca de Tepoztlán
  • La Calaca Dulcera
  • La Calaca Marimbera
  • La Calaca Tamalera
  • La Calaca Tilica y Flaca
  • La Calavera Alfarera
  • La Calavera Bailarina
  • La Calavera Cantante
  • La Calavera Cocinera
  • La Calavera Costurera

L, continued

  • La Calavera Florista
  • La Calavera Jardinera
  • La Calavera Maestra
  • La Calavera Panadera
  • La Calavera Tejedora
  • La Calaverita de Zaachila
  • La Catrina de Aguascalientes
  • La Catrina de Capula
  • La Catrina de Cempasúchil
  • La Catrina de Coyoacán
  • La Catrina de Encaje
  • La Catrina de Janitzio
  • La Catrina de las Plumas
  • La Catrina de Metepec
  • La Catrina de Mixquic

L, continued

  • La Catrina de Morelia
  • La Catrina de Oaxaca
  • La Catrina de Tlaquepaque
  • La Catrina de Tzintzuntzan
  • La Catrina de Xochimilco
  • La Catrina del Abanico
  • La Catrina del Rebozo
  • La Catrina Enamorada
  • La Catrina Jarocha
  • La Catrina Modista
  • La Catrina Monarca
  • La Catrina Pianista
  • La Catrina Poblana
  • La Catrina Sombrerera
  • La Catrina Tapatía

L, continued

  • La Catrina Tehuana
  • La Dama de los Pétalos
  • La Dama de Noviembre
  • La Dama del Cempasúchil
  • La Dama del Rebozo Morado
  • La Flor de Oaxaca
  • La Gran Velada
  • La Novia Catrina
  • La Princesa de Azúcar
  • La Reina de las Flores
  • La Reina Monarca
  • La Tehuana de Oro
  • Lagartija Arcoíris
  • Lagarto con Plumas de Guacamaya
  • Lágrima de Cera

L, continued

  • Lantern and Petal Walk
  • Las Catrinas Cantoras
  • León con Alas de Mariposa
  • Libélula de Cristal
  • Licenciado Onésimo Huesos
  • Liebre Alada
  • Little Alebrijes Art Camp
  • Little Catrinas Parade
  • Llamita (little flame)
  • Lobo Añil
  • Los Catrines del Danzón
  • Lucero (bright star)
  • Luciérnaga Dorada
  • Lumbre (firelight)
  • Luz de Vela

M: 32 names

  • Madrina Socorro Listón
  • Madrugada (the small hours)
  • Maestra Paulina Pétalo
  • Maestro Cirilo Calavera
  • Mamá Lencha Tamal
  • Mandarina (mandarin orange)
  • Mapache Dorado
  • Mariachi Los Huesos Alegres
  • Marigold Garland Morning
  • Marigold Morning Assembly

M, continued

  • Marigold Path Fiesta
  • Marigold Supper Club
  • Marimba Los Esqueletos
  • Mariposa de Medianoche
  • Mariposa Monarca (monarch butterfly)
  • Mariposa Mural Day
  • Mariquita de Coral
  • Mazapán (peanut candy)
  • Media Cara, Media Flor
  • Medianoche (midnight)
  • Mojiganga (giant parade puppet)

M, continued

  • Mole and Memories Dinner
  • Mole Negro (dark Oaxacan sauce)
  • Monarca (monarch)
  • Monarca de Noviembre
  • Monarch Migration Science Night
  • Monarch Wings Art Show
  • Moño (bow)
  • Mono Araña Amarillo
  • Morado (purple)
  • Mural de Mariposas
  • Murciélago Floreado

N: 9 names

  • Naranja (orange)
  • Nardo (tuberose)
  • Neighborhood Marigold Walk
  • Noche de Catrinas
  • Noche de Cempasúchil
  • Noche de Recuerdos
  • Noviembre (November)
  • Nube (baby's breath)
  • Nuez (pecan)

O: 8 names

  • Ocelote Carmesí
  • Ofrenda (home altar of offerings)
  • Ojos de Pétalo
  • Orange Petal Evening
  • Orquesta de Huesos
  • Our Classroom Remembers
  • Our Family Stories Showcase
  • Our Stories, Our Families

P: 33 names

  • Padrino Fidencio Bastón
  • Palanqueta (peanut brittle)
  • Pan de Muerto (sweet holiday bread)
  • Pan de Muerto and Hot Chocolate Night
  • Pan de Muerto Bake Day
  • Pan de Yema (Oaxacan egg-yolk bread)
  • Pan Dulce (sweet bread)
  • Pan Dulce and Stories Morning
  • Pan y Chocolate Morning
  • Panecito (little bread roll)
  • Papel Picado (cut-paper banners)

P, continued

  • Papel Picado Banner Bee
  • Papel Picado Classroom Day
  • Papel Picado Garden Party
  • Papel Picado Workshop
  • Papelito (scrap of paper)
  • Paper Marigold Workshop
  • Pavorreal Índigo
  • Pelón (baldy, a classic xolo nickname)
  • Perico Limón
  • Perro con Alas de Monarca
  • Pétalo (petal)

P, continued

  • Petals and Portraits Exhibit
  • Petate (woven palm mat)
  • Pez Volador Morado
  • Piloncillo (cone of raw sugar)
  • Piñón (pine nut)
  • Pinta Tu Calavera
  • Plumita (small feather)
  • Polvorón (crumbly shortbread cookie)
  • Procesión de Flores
  • Profesora Zenaida Ceniza
  • Puma de Obsidiana

Q: 1 name

  • Quetzal Dorado

R: 13 names

  • Rana con Cresta de Gallo
  • Rana Naranja
  • Rebozo (woven shawl)
  • Recetas de la Abuela Potluck
  • Recordando Juntos
  • Recuerdo (memory, keepsake)
  • Recuerdos Block Party
  • Reina de la Velada
  • Remember and Celebrate Week
  • Retrato (portrait)
  • Risa (laughter)
  • Rosa Calavera
  • Rosa Mexicano (Mexican pink)

S: 23 names

  • Sahumerio (clay incense burner)
  • Sapo Lunar
  • Señor Eulogio Calaca
  • Señor Narciso Cráneo
  • Señor Valentín Huesitos
  • Señora Amparo Cráneo
  • Señora de los Colores
  • Señora Dolores Calaca
  • Señora Rosalía Huesitos
  • Señorita Camelia Ceniza
  • Señorita Dalia Costilla

S, continued

  • Señorita Jazmín Huesos
  • Señorita Mariposa
  • Señorita Violeta Calavera
  • Serpiente Florida
  • Sombra (shadow)
  • Sonaja (rattle)
  • Sonrisa (smile)
  • Sonrisa de Azúcar
  • Spanish Class Catrina Fashion Show
  • Sugar Skull Art Fair
  • Sugar Skull Cookie Decorating Party
  • Sugar Skull Painting Party

T: 29 names

  • Tamal (steamed corn-dough bundle)
  • Tamales y Recuerdos Supper
  • Tamalito (little tamal)
  • Tambor (drum)
  • Tapete de Arena (sand carpet)
  • Tapete de Aserrín (sawdust carpet)
  • Tecolote Morado
  • Tejocote (small orange fruit)
  • Tejón Turquesa
  • Terciopelo (velvet cockscomb flower)
  • Terroncito (sugar cube)
  • The Cempasúchil Gala
  • The Golden Petal Party
  • The Marigold Table

T, continued

  • Third Grade Calavera Gallery
  • Tía Chabela Calavera
  • Tía Lupita Flores
  • Tía Meche Huesos
  • Tigrillo Pintado
  • Tío Chema Ceniza
  • Tío Nacho Costilla
  • Tío Pancho Calaca
  • Tissue Paper Flower Friday
  • Tlacuache Lunar
  • Tortuga Estrellada
  • Travieso (mischievous)
  • Trío Las Calacas
  • Trompo (spinning top)
  • Tucán Tornasol

U: 1 name

  • Under the Papel Picado

V: 8 names

  • Vela (candle)
  • Velada (night vigil)
  • Velada de Recuerdos
  • Veladora (votive candle)
  • Velas y Flores
  • Velita (small candle)
  • Venado Florido
  • Viajero (traveler)

W: 1 name

  • When the Monarchs Arrive

X: 5 names

  • Xantolo (the season in the Huasteca)
  • Xolito (little xolo)
  • Xolo (Mexican hairless dog)
  • Xolo Arcoíris
  • Xoloitzcuintli (the xolo's full name)

Z: 2 names

  • Zorro con Alas de Colibrí
  • Zorro de Fuego