Egyptian City Name Generator

Ancient Egyptian city names from the Nile Valley

Places & GeographyPart of: town and city generators1,000 namesUpdated Oct 2026Free · no sign-up

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Generate ancient Egyptian city names drawn from real pharaonic, Greek-era, and Nubian settlements along the Nile, plus authentic-sounding Per-, Hut-, and Iun- style names for your own cities.

About Egyptian city names

Ancient Egyptian cities usually carried at least two names: the one the Egyptians themselves used, and the one later Greek and Roman writers gave them. Memphis was Men-nefer ("enduring and beautiful") and, in sacred contexts, Hut-Ka-Ptah, "the house of the spirit of Ptah," which is where the word Egypt itself comes from. Thebes was Waset, Heliopolis was Iunu, and Bubastis was Per-Bast, "the house of Bastet." This list mixes all of these layers so you can pick whichever flavor suits your setting.

A few building blocks explain most native names. Per- ("house of") plus a god's name gives Per-Atum, Per-Sopdu, or Per-Wadjet. Hut- ("enclosure/temple") gives Hut-Sekhem and Hut-Nesut. Iun- means "pillar" (Iunu, Iunet, Iunyt), and Ta- ("land") marks regions like Ta-Seti. Greek settlers, meanwhile, named towns for the local animal cult: Crocodilopolis, Leontopolis, Hierakonpolis ("hawk city"), Lycopolis ("wolf city"). The list also reaches past the great cities: nome (province) names such as Ta-Wer, Coptic-era forms such as Shmoun, pyramid towns such as Akhet-Khufu, Middle Kingdom fortresses in Nubia, and Roman desert road stations.

For fiction, the strongest names are short, consonant-heavy, and easy to say aloud: Waset, Djeba, Nekhen, Kerma, Napata. Save the longer Greek compounds for administrative or scholarly voices, and use the Per- and Hut- forms when a city is defined by the temple at its heart.

How to choose Egyptian city names

Decide whose point of view is naming the city: a native priest says Iunu, a Greek merchant says Heliopolis, and a modern archaeologist says Tell Hisn. Mixing registers on purpose adds texture.
Build your own by pairing Per- or Hut- with a deity (Per-Sobek, Hut-Sekhmet); readers will instantly hear it as Egyptian.
Use Nubian names like Kerma, Napata, and Meroe for cities on the southern frontier to signal a different culture upriver.
Keep capital cities to two or three syllables so they can be repeated hundreds of times in a novel or campaign without wearing out.

Frequently asked questions

Are these real ancient Egyptian city names?

Most are. The list includes native Egyptian names (Waset, Men-nefer, Per-Bast), their Greek equivalents (Thebes, Memphis, Bubastis), and modern Arabic site names (Luxor, Mit Rahina), along with Coptic-era forms, nome names, and Nubian sites. A smaller set, fewer than one in ten, are Per-, Hut-, Iun-, Niut-, Akhet-, and similar names constructed from genuine Egyptian words for fictional use. Romanized spellings vary between sources, and the list was not checked entry by entry against a reference work, so verify a name before citing it as history.

Why do so many Egyptian cities end in -polis?

After Alexander the Great, Greek-speaking rulers renamed Egyptian towns with -polis ("city"), often after the local cult animal or god, so Khmun became Hermopolis and Nekhen became Hierakonpolis. Both sets of names were used side by side for centuries.

What does Per- mean in names like Per-Ramesses?

Per means "house" or "domain," so Per-Ramesses is "House of Ramesses" and Per-Atum (biblical Pithom) is "House of Atum." It marks a city built around a temple or royal estate.

Can I use these names in a published book or game?

Yes. Historical place names are not copyrighted, and the constructed names here are free to use in any commercial or personal project.

More like this

Browse categoryAll Places & Geography

All 1,000 Egyptian city 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: 105 names

Abadiya
Abdju
Abka
Aborepi
Abotis
Abu
Abu Ballas
Abu Erteila
Abu Ghurab
Abu Mena
Abu Oda
Abu Rawash
Abu Sha'ar
Abu Shuruf
Abu Simbel
Abu Yasin
Abu Zaabal
Abukir
Abusir
Abusir Bana
Abutig
Abydos
Acanthus
Adaima
Adindan
Afia
Agny
Ahaiwa
Ain Asil
Ain Birbiya
Ain el-Gazzareen
Ain el-Muftella
Ain Manawir
Ain Sukhna
Ain Tirghi
Akasha
Akhet-Amun
Akhet-Heru
Akhet-Khufu
Akhet-Ra
Akhetaten
Akhmim
Akoris
Aksha
Alexandria
Alexandrou Nesos
Amada
Amara West
Amarna
Amheida
Ammonium
Amra

A, continued

Andjet
Andromachis
Andropolis
Aniba
Ankh-Tawy
Ankyronpolis
Anoubias
Anpet
Antaeopolis
Anthylla
Antinopolis
Antiphrae
Anysis
Aphrodites Orous
Aphrodito
Aphroditopolis
Aphroditopolis Superior
Apias
Apis
Apollonias
Apollonopolis Magna
Apollonopolis Parva
Apollonos Hydreuma
Arab el-Hisn
Araba el-Madfuna
Arabon Kome
Archandropolis
Ard el-Naam
Areg
Areika
Areos Kome
Argin
Aristonis
Armant
Arminna
Arsinoe
Asasif
Asfun
Ashkeit
Askut
Asphynis
Aswan
Asyut
Atarbechis
Atbo
Atfih
Athenas Kome
Athribis
Atripe
Augustamnica
Ausim
Avaris
Awlib

B: 43 names

Baal-Zephon
Babylon of Egypt
Bacchias
Badari
Badrashin
Bagawat
Bahariya
Baki
Balansura
Balat
Ballana
Ballas
Banganarti
Baqliya
Barnugi
Basa
Bashendi
Batn Ihrit
Bawit
Begrawiya
Behbeit el-Hagar
Behdet
Beit el-Wali
Beit Khallaf
Bekhen
Beni Amir
Beni Hasan
Berenice
Berenike Panchrysos
Berenike Trogodytika
Berenikis Aigialou
Berenikis Thesmophorou
Biga
Bir Nasb
Bir Shaghala
Birket Habu
Bolbitine
Boubastos
Bruchion
Bubastis
Buhen
Busiris
Buto

C: 19 names

Cabalsi
Canopus
Casium
Catabathmus
Cercesura
Chaereu
Chemmis
Chenoboskion
Clysma
Compasi
Contra Apollonos
Contra Latopolis
Contra Pselchis
Contra Syene
Coptos
Corte
Crocodilopolis
Cusae
Cynopolis

D: 60 names

Dabenarti
Dabod
Dahshur
Dakhla
Dakka
Damanhur
Damietta
Danfiq
Dangeil
Daphnae
Dara
Daraw
Debeira
Deffufa
Deir Abu Fana
Deir Durunka
Deir el-Bahari
Deir el-Bakhit
Deir el-Ballas
Deir el-Bersha
Deir el-Gabrawi
Deir el-Hagar
Deir el-Medina
Deir Rifa
Delgo
Demi-Sobek
Dendera
Dendur
Dep
Deraheib
Derr
Deshasha
Didymoi
Dimeh
Dionysias
Diospolis Inferior
Diospolis Magna
Diospolis Parva
Dja
Djanet
Djeba
Djebaut
Djed-Isut
Djed-Sneferu
Djedet
Djedu
Djeme
Djer-Setiu
Djerty
Djesdjes
Djew-Qa
Dju-Wab
Dodekaschoinos
Dongola
Dorginarti
Dra Abu el-Naga
Duanib
Dukki Gel
Dush
Duweishat

E: 24 names

Edfu
Eileithyiaspolis
El-Arish
El-Ashmunein
El-Bahnasa
El-Balyana
El-Bawiti
El-Hassa
El-Hobagi
El-Hosh
El-Kais
El-Kurru
El-Qusiya
El-Tod
Elephantine
Eleusis
Elkab
Ellesiya
Ermont
Esna
Etham
Euhemeria
Ezbet Helmi
Ezbet Rushdi

F: 6 names

Farafra
Faras
Faw Qibli
Firka
Fustat
Fuwwa

G: 26 names

Gabati
Gebel Adda
Gebel Barkal
Gebel Dosha
Gebel el-Ahmar
Gebel el-Mawta
Gebel el-Silsila
Gebel el-Teir
Gebelein
Gebtu
Gemai
Gematon
Gerf Hussein
Gerra
Gerzeh
Gesa
Gezira Dabarosa
Geziret Sangaha
Gharbaniyat
Ghazali
Ginis
Girga
Giza
Goshen
Gurob
Gynaecopolis

H: 67 names

Haiz
Hamadab
Hambukol
Hammamiya
Hamra Dom
Hanes
Hannek
Harageh
Hardai
Hat-Mehit
Hatnub
Hawara
Hawawish
Hebenu
Hebet
Hebyt
Hefat
Heliopolis
Helwan
Henen-nesut
Hephaistias
Heptanomis
Heqa-Andj
Herakleia
Herakleion
Herakleopolis
Hermonthis
Hermopolis
Hermopolis Parva
Heroonpolis
Herwer
Hetep-Senusret
Hiba

H, continued

Hibis
Hiera Nesos
Hieracon
Hierakonpolis
Hierasykaminos
Hillat el-Arab
Hipponon
Hnes
Horbeit
Hu
Hut-Amun
Hut-Aten
Hut-Bastet
Hut-Djehuty
Hut-Heru
Hut-Heryib
Hut-Ihyt
Hut-Ka-Ptah
Hut-Khnum
Hut-Khonsu
Hut-Maat
Hut-Montu
Hut-Nefer
Hut-Neith
Hut-Nesut
Hut-Ptah
Hut-Repyt
Hut-Sekhem
Hut-Sekhmet
Hut-Sneferu
Hut-Sobek
Hut-Tiye
Hut-waret
Hypselis

I: 34 names

Iat-Nebes
Ibion
Ibshek
Ihnasya el-Medina
Iken
Ikkur
Imet
Imu
Ineb-Hedj
Inebu-Heqa
Inebu-Neith
Inebu-Ptah
Inebu-Sobek
Inerty
Ipet-Isut
Ipet-Resyt
Ipu
Irem
Iseum
Ismant el-Kharab
Istabl Antar
Itenu-Pedjut
Itjtawy
Iumiteru
Iun-Heru
Iun-Montu
Iun-Sobek
Iunet
Iunu
Iunu-Mehu
Iunu-Shema
Iuny
Iunyt
Iushenshen

J: 2 names

Jebel Qeili
Juliopolis

K: 86 names

Ka-Kem
Kabasa
Kabushiya
Kadero
Kafr el-Gebel
Kafr Hassan Dawood
Kahun
Kainepolis
Kalabsha
Kanais
Karanis
Karanog
Karm Abu Girg
Karnak
Karoy
Kawa
Kedurma
Keft
Kellia
Kellis
Kem-wer
Kenmet
Kerkeesis
Kerkeosiris
Kerkesephis
Kerkesoucha
Kerkethoeris
Kerma
Kha-Sneferu
Khaemmaat
Khamisa
Kharga
Khatana
Khattara
Khefethernebes
Khem
Khemenu
Khent-hen-nefer
Khent-min
Khenti-Iabet
Kheny
Kher-aha
Khesef-Iuntiu

K, continued

Khesef-Medjau
Khmun
Khokha
Kiman Faris
Kleopatris
Kom Abu Billo
Kom Aushim
Kom el-Ahmar
Kom el-Dikka
Kom el-Fakhry
Kom el-Gir
Kom el-Hettan
Kom el-Hisn
Kom el-Khamasin
Kom el-Khanziri
Kom el-Khilgan
Kom el-Nana
Kom el-Qala
Kom el-Samak
Kom el-Shuqafa
Kom el-Sultan
Kom el-Wist
Kom Firin
Kom Ge'if
Kom Khelwa
Kom Mer
Kom Ombo
Kom Rabia
Kom Talit
Kom Truga
Kom Umm el-Atl
Konosso
Kos
Kosha
Koskam
Krokodilo
Kubban
Kufur Nigm
Kulubnarti
Kumma
Kurgus
Kush
Kysis

L: 12 names

Lahun
Laqeita
Latopolis
Leontopolis
Lepidotonpolis
Letopolis
Leucaspis
Leukos Limen
Lisht
Luxor
Lycopolis
Lysimachis

M: 71 names

Ma'abda
Ma-Hedj
Maadi
Madu
Magdola
Maharraqa
Mahasna
Malkata
Mallawi
Mansoura
Marea
Mareotis
Marsa Nakari
Maru-Aten
Masara
Masmas
Matmar
Maximianon
Mazghuna
Medamud
Medenit
Medewi
Medinet Ghoran
Medinet Habu
Medinet Madi
Medinet Quta
Meha
Meidum
Meinarti
Meir
Mekhat-Tawy
Memphis
Men-Ankh
Men-Isut
Men-nefer

M, continued

Menat-Khufu
Mendes
Menelaus
Mennu-Heru
Mennu-Montu
Menouthis
Mer-Atum
Merimde
Meroe
Mersa Gawasis
Mesen
Mesheikh
Metelis
Mi-wer
Miam
Migdol
Minshat Abu Omar
Minya
Mirgissa
Mit Rahina
Moalla
Mograt
Momemphis
Mons Claudianus
Mons Ophiates
Mons Porphyrites
Mons Smaragdus
Mostagedda
Mothis
Mouchis
Musawwarat es-Sufra
Mut
Muthis
Muweis
Muzawwaqa
Myos Hormos

N: 41 names

Nadura
Nag el-Hamdulab
Nag Hammadi
Naga ed-Deir
Napata
Naqa
Naqada
Naret-Khentet
Naret-Pehtet
Narmouthis
Naucratis
Naukratis Kome
Nauri
Nay-ta-hut
Nebira
Nechesia
Nedjfet-Khentet
Nedjfet-Pehtet
Nedyt
Nefer-Isut
Neferusi
Nekheb
Nekhen
Nesut-Tawy
Netjerui
Nikiu
Nikopolis
Nilopolis
Niqrash
Nitria
Niut-Amun
Niut-Heru
Niut-Nefer
Niut-Ra
Niut-Reset
No-Amon
Noph
Novum Hydreuma
Nubt
Nugrus
Nuri

O: 9 names

Oasis Magna
Oasis Parva
Omari
Ombos
On
Onouphis
Ostracine
Oxyrhyncha
Oxyrhynchus

P: 107 names

Pa-Demi
Pachnamunis
Pachoras
Paiuenamun
Pampanis
Panephysis
Panopolis
Papremis
Paraetonium
Paralos
Parembole
Pathros
Pathyris
Pbow
Pe
Pelusium
Pemje
Pentaschoinos
Peqer
Per-Amun
Per-Anhur
Per-Anuket
Per-Aset
Per-Atum
Per-Banebdjedet
Per-Bast
Per-Djehuty
Per-Geb
Per-Hai
Per-Hapi
Per-Hathor
Per-Hathor Ineret
Per-Hebit
Per-Heket
Per-Heru
Per-Inpu
Per-Khnum
Per-Khonsu
Per-Maat
Per-Medjed
Per-Merut
Per-Min
Per-Montu
Per-Mut
Per-Nebet
Per-Nefertem
Per-Neith
Per-Nekhbet
Per-Nemty
Per-Nut
Per-Ptah
Per-Ra
Per-Ramesses

P, continued

Per-Satet
Per-Sekhemkheperre
Per-Sekhmet
Per-Serqet
Per-Seshat
Per-Shu
Per-Sobek
Per-Sopdu
Per-Tefnut
Per-Usir
Per-Wadjet
Per-Wepwawet
Per-Wesekh
Peremoun
Pernouj
Persou
Perunefer
Pesla
Phagroriopolis
Phakoussa
Phalacro
Pharan
Pharbaithos
Pharos
Philadelphia
Philae
Philagris
Philoteras
Philoteris
Philoxenite
Phoinikon
Phragonis
Phthenotes
Pi-Beseth
Pi-hahiroth
Pi-Ramesses
Pilak
Piom
Pithom
Plinthine
Pnubs
Polydeukia
Primis
Prosopis
Pselchis
Psenyris
Pshati
Psobthis
Psoi
Ptolemais Drymou
Ptolemais Euergetis
Ptolemais Hermiou
Ptolemais Hormou
Ptolemais Theron

Q: 27 names

Qamula
Qantir
Qara
Qarat Hilwa
Qarat Qasr Salim
Qasr Allam
Qasr el-Banat
Qasr el-Ghueita
Qasr el-Labekha
Qasr el-Sagha
Qasr el-Sumayra
Qasr Ibrim
Qasr Zayyan
Qatia
Qaw el-Kebir
Qena
Qertassi
Qift
Qila el-Dabba
Qis
Qubbet el-Hawa
Qurna
Qurnet Murai
Qurta
Qus
Quseir
Qustul

R: 16 names

Ra-Kedet
Raithou
Rakote
Ramesseum
Rashid
Reqaqna
Rhakotis
Rhinocolura
Riqqeh
Rizeiqat
Ro-Au
Ro-Hanu
Ro-Hent
Ro-Nefer
Rosetau
Rosetta

S: 94 names

Sa el-Hagar
Sabagura
Sabu
Saft el-Hinna
Sai
Sais
Sakha
Salamuni
Samannud
Samareia
Samut
San el-Hagar
Sanam
Santariya
Sapi-Meh
Sapi-Res
Saqqara
Saras
Saww
Scenae Veteranorum
Scenas Mandras
Scetis
Schedia
Sebennytos
Sedeinga
Sedment
Sehel
Sehetep-Netjeru
Seila
Sekhem
Sekhem-Khakaure
Sekhem-Senusret
Sekhet-Aaru
Sekhet-Djanet
Sekhet-Hemat
Sekhet-Hetep
Sekhet-Ra
Sekhet-Sobek
Selib
Selinon
Semaina
Semenuhor
Semna
Senmet
Senskis
Sepermeru
Serabit el-Khadim

S, continued

Serra East
Seryphis
Sesebi
Set-Maat
Sethroe
Setjet
Shaat
Shablul
Shalfak
Sharuna
Shashotep
Shatt el-Rigal
She-Resy
Shedet
Shednu
Sheikh Daud
Sheikh Fadl
Sheikh Farag
Sheikh Ibada
Sheikh Said
Sheneset
Shenhur
Shiet
Shmin
Shmoun
Shuqafiya
Shutb
Sikait
Sile
Simiou
Siout
Siririya
Siwa
Sma-Behdet
Sne
Soba
Sohag
Soknopaiou Nesos
Soleb
Sonki
Souan
Speos Artemidos
Succoth
Sumenu
Swenet
Syene
Syron Kome

T: 102 names

Ta-Dehenet
Ta-Djeser
Ta-iht
Ta-Mehu
Ta-Nehesy
Ta-senet
Ta-Seti
Ta-She
Ta-Shemau
Ta-Wer
Tabennisi
Tabo
Tachompso
Tacona
Tafa
Tahpanhes
Talei
Talmis
Tamiathis
Tangasi
Tanis
Taphis
Taposiris Magna
Taposiris Parva
Taremu
Tarif
Tarrana
Tchonemyris
Tebtunis
Tehna
Tell Abu Sefa
Tell Atrib
Tell Basta
Tell Defenna
Tell el-Abqa'in
Tell el-Balamun
Tell el-Borg
Tell el-Dab'a
Tell el-Fara'in
Tell el-Farama
Tell el-Farkha
Tell el-Ghaba
Tell el-Ginn
Tell el-Herr
Tell el-Iswid
Tell el-Makhzan
Tell el-Maskhuta
Tell el-Muqdam
Tell el-Naqus
Tell el-Retabeh
Tell el-Rub'a

T, continued

Tell el-Yahudiya
Tell Gadiya
Tell Hebua
Tell Hisn
Tell Ibrahim Awad
Tell Mostai
Tell Ras Budran
Tell Timai
Tell Zuwelein
Teneida
Tentyris
Tepihu
Terenuthis
Teudjoi
Thaubastum
Theadelphia
Thebais
Thebes
Thennesus
Theogonis
Thimonepsi
Thinis
Thmuis
Tholthis
Thonis
Tiberiane
Tiloj
Timinhor
Tjaru
Tjebnutjer
Tjebu
Tjehen-Aten
Tjeku
Tjeni
Tkoou
Tmai el-Amdid
Tolkte
Tomas
Tombos
Touho
Triakontaschoinos
Trikomia
Trimithis
Troia
Tuna el-Gebel
Tungul
Tuphium
Tura
Tutun
Tutzis
Tzitzis

U: 7 names

Ukma
Umm Balad
Umm el-Qaab
Umm Ruweim
Umm Ubayda
Uronarti
Usli

V: 1 name

Vetus Hydreuma

W: 25 names

Wab-Isut
Wabwy
Wad ban Naqa
Wadi Allaqi
Wadi Digla
Wadi el-Hudi
Wadi el-Jarf
Wadi es-Sebua
Wadi Gasus
Wadi Hammamat
Wadi Hof
Wadi Maghara
Wadi Natrun
Waf-Khasut
Wah-Sut
Wannina
Waset
Watfa
Wawat
Wehat-Mehtet
Wehat-Resyt
Wenet
Wenu
Weset-Nefer
Wetjeset-Hor

X: 2 names

Xeron Pelagos
Xois

Z: 14 names

Zagazig
Zarabi
Zau
Zawaydah
Zawty
Zawyet Abu Mosallam
Zawyet el-Aryan
Zawyet el-Maiyitin
Zawyet Razin
Zawyet Sultan
Zawyet Umm el-Rakham
Zeitun
Zephyrium
Zoan