Folk Hero Name Generator

Humble names and hard-earned epithets for commoner champions

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Generate folk hero names for D&D backgrounds and tall tales: humble full names like Tam Barleymow, village bynames like Wat of Mossford, earned epithets like Hob the Giant-Feller and Jenny Flood-Warden, and legend titles like The Pitchfork Saint.

About folk hero names

A folk hero is named by the neighbors, not by a herald. In D&D 5e the Folk Hero background describes someone of humble birth whose defining event, such as standing up to a tyrant's agents, saving people during a natural disaster or leading a militia, turned them into a local champion. That gives the name two halves: the one the hero was born with and the one the deed added.

The born half is plain on purpose. Given names here are short and often pet forms from medieval and Tudor England, where Hob stood for Robert, Wat for Walter and Bess for Elizabeth. Surnames come from trades and land (Barleymow, Thatchwell, Ploughright), and many heroes simply carry their village: Wat of Mossford, Tam of Three Oaks.

The earned half is where the story lives. Deed-names state what happened (Hob the Giant-Feller, Jenny Flood-Warden, Dickon the Decree-Breaker). Tall-tale names put the nickname first, as in Big Hollis Ironarm and Nine-Acre Annie. Ballad names add a singer's adjective, like Bold Bess of Bramblewick. When the real name has been forgotten, only a title is left: The Pitchfork Saint, The Girl Who Rang the Bell. The list also includes militia ranks and commoner heroes among halflings, dwarves, gnomes and orcs.

How to choose folk hero names

  • Start from the defining event. A hero who saved the valley from a flood becomes Flood-Warden or River-Turner; one who faced down the tax collectors becomes Tax-Burner or the Decree-Breaker. The epithet should tell the story in two words.
  • Keep the given name small. The charm of a folk hero is the gap between an ordinary name and an extraordinary deed, so Hob the Giant-Feller lands better than a grand invented name with the same epithet.
  • Decide who coined the epithet. Villagers hand out fond ones such as Barefoot Meg and Peg the Bread-Giver, while a name like Seth the Sheriff's Sorrow sounds as if it began with the hero's enemies.
  • Use the title-only names for legends inside your world: statues, inn signs and ballads about someone long dead. The Hand That Held the Bridge works better as a story the party hears than as a player character.
  • Let the name grow during play. A character can start as plain Tam Barleymow at first level and pick up the epithet the first time the table agrees they earned it.

Frequently asked questions

What is a folk hero in D&D?

Folk Hero is a character background in the 2014 fifth edition Player's Handbook. It describes a commoner, often a farmer, shepherd or apprentice, whose defining event made ordinary people see them as their champion. Its feature, Rustic Hospitality, means common folk will shelter the character, which is why a recognizable local name matters.

What are some good folk hero names?

For a full name try Nell Thatchwell, Jory Oxgang or Meg Appleyard. For a name with a deed attached, Bess the Bridge-Holder, Rafe Tyrant's-Bane and Noll Never-Kneel all say what the hero did. For a larger-than-life figure, use a tall-tale name such as Long Tom Timberfall or Hannah Hold-the-Sky.

How are folk hero names different from fantasy hero names?

Epic fantasy heroes tend to have resonant, highborn-sounding names that hint at destiny. Folk heroes are the opposite: farmhands and millers with everyday names whose fame comes from one brave act. The names here lean on trades, villages and nicknames instead of noble houses and prophecy.

Can I use these names for halflings, dwarves or other races?

Yes. One group in the list is written for non-human commoners, including Milo Applewick the Wolf-Chaser, Helga Coalseam, Pim Kettlewhistle and Grusha the Gentle. The deed-names and titles work for any ancestry, so you can also attach them to a name from your character's own culture.

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All 500 folk hero 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: 18 names

  • Aelwen of the Birch Row
  • Alderman Gil the Incorruptible
  • Alf Drystone
  • Alf of Aldermarsh
  • Alf the Anvil-Breaker
  • Alys Netherby
  • Alys of the Salt Flats
  • Alys the Fever-Nurse
  • Amos Haystack
  • Amos of Applegarth
  • Amos the Ox-Lifter
  • Annis Dyer
  • Annis of Wether Down
  • Annis the Well-Finder
  • Anvil-Arm Ada
  • Archer Meg of the Butts
  • Auntie Peg Pepperpot
  • Axe-Handle Agnes

B: 25 names

  • Bailiff-Breaker Ned
  • Baker Sal Risewell
  • Barefoot Meg
  • Barge-Pole Bette
  • Barnaby Half-a-Mountain
  • Beadle Perkin the Unshaken
  • Bear-Hug Beth
  • Bellows Bram
  • Bess of Butterwick
  • Bess the Bridge-Holder
  • Bess Underhay
  • Big Hollis Ironarm
  • Birchfather of the Quiet Wood
  • Blind Hettie the Bellfounder
  • Blithe Peg of the Pasture
  • Bold Bess of Bramblewick
  • Bonny Kate of the Cornfield
  • Boulder-Roll Bo
  • Bram Hidewright
  • Bram the Unbought
  • Bramwell Tuckaway
  • Brannok Half-Tusk
  • Brave Tom o' the Fen
  • Brenna Ironkettle
  • Bright Meg o' the Moor

C: 23 names

  • Cade Burrowdown
  • Canny Col of Cutler's Row
  • Captain Nell of the Pitchfork Militia
  • Carter Davy Mudwheel
  • Cider-Press Cis
  • Cis Hedgerow
  • Clem Hobnail
  • Clem of Coldharrow
  • Clem the Fire-Walker
  • Clever Clem of Clay Lane
  • Cob the Uncrowned
  • Col Hayward
  • Col of Ashby Ford
  • Col the Bandit-Breaker
  • Cold-Morning Kate
  • Constable Col of Cinder Cross
  • Cooper Amos Ninehoops
  • Corby Puddlejump
  • Corin Cattle-Bringer
  • Corin of Crow's Croft
  • Corin Wheelwright
  • Cornstalk Col
  • Cyclone Cass Calder

D: 21 names

  • Dan Hedger
  • Dan the Ditch-Defender
  • Dapple Reedwhisker the Ferry Cat
  • Dauntless Dot
  • Davy of the Drowned Fields
  • Davy Sexton
  • Davy the Wall-Mender
  • Dickon of Eelbrook
  • Dickon Stiles
  • Dickon the Decree-Breaker
  • Dilly Fairbarrow
  • Dob Latchford
  • Dob the Door-Barrer
  • Dob the Swineherd
  • Dorrin Pickhandle
  • Dot Millet
  • Dot the Dam-Builder
  • Doughty Dickon Delver
  • Drummer Tib of the Green Banner
  • Durgan Coppervein the Lamp-Bearer
  • Dusty Jeb Dryriver

E: 18 names

  • Eb the Harvest-Saver
  • Eb Turnipseed
  • Ebba of Ebbwater
  • Ebba Reedcutter
  • Ebba Storm-Shelter
  • Edie Marl
  • Edie of Elderbank
  • Edie the Even-Tempered
  • Elder Odo Openhand
  • Elsie Cobb
  • Elsie of East Warren
  • Elsie the Fey-Blessed
  • Etta Longbarn
  • Etta the Ember-Carrier
  • Everyman's Shield
  • Ewan Mossop
  • Ewan of Ewe Bridge
  • Ewan the Lost-Lamb Finder

F: 11 names

  • Fair Annis Flaxenhair
  • Farmer Odd of Oxbow
  • Father Oswin of the Open Door
  • Fearless Lettie of Fernside
  • Ferren Leafturner
  • Ferryman Seth Stillwater
  • Finnan Goodharvest
  • Fisher Kate Netfull
  • Flint-Spark Flora
  • Frost-Beard Fergus the Ice Cutter
  • Furnace Fen

G: 25 names

  • Gaffer Dunstan Stonewall
  • Gallant Gil of Garland Green
  • Gammer Tilly Truehand
  • Garrick Sootbrow the Smith
  • Garth Oakenshaw
  • Garth of Goosemoor
  • Garth the Oak-Shouldered
  • Gentle Garth the Giant's Friend
  • Gentle Joan of the Geese
  • Gil of the Upper Pasture
  • Gil Pitchfork-Captain
  • Gil Sawpit
  • Good Ned of Nether Stow
  • Goodman Furze
  • Goodwife Ashdown
  • Granite Greta
  • Granny Wolfbane
  • Grey Annis of the Crossroads
  • Grindstone Gus
  • Grusha the Gentle
  • Gus Oxley
  • Gus the Gap-Holder
  • Gwen Arkwright
  • Gwen of Greywether
  • Gwen the Grain-Guard

H: 26 names

  • Hal Hundred-Miles
  • Hal of Lantern Hill
  • Hal Stonebridge
  • Halt-Foot Gil the Unbeaten
  • Hammer-Song Hale
  • Hannah Hold-the-Sky
  • Hardy Hob Hillman
  • Harl Bellwether
  • Harl Hailstone
  • Harl of Hartsfell
  • Hayfork Hodge
  • Haystack Harriet
  • Headwoman Marta of Three Oaks
  • Helga Coalseam
  • Hettie Greengage
  • Hettie of Hayrick Hill
  • Hettie the Hearth-Keeper
  • Hilde Anvilsong
  • Hob Carter
  • Hob of Cinder Cross
  • Hob the Giant-Feller
  • Hodge the Hedge Knight
  • Honest Hal Haywain
  • Hrok the Bridge-Builder
  • Humble Hodge of Hazelbury
  • Hundred-League Harl

I: 9 names

  • Ike of Iron Bridge
  • Ike Saltpan
  • Ike the Iron-Patient
  • Ilsa Two-Hearths
  • Iron Ruth
  • Ironjaw Jessup
  • Ivy of Ivel Water
  • Ivy Spindle
  • Ivy the Arrow-Catcher

J: 21 names

  • Jack of Nettlecombe
  • Jack-o'-the-Furrow
  • Jasper Oatencake
  • Jeb Quarry
  • Jeb the Mine-Opener
  • Jed Fallowfield
  • Jed of Jackdaw Rock
  • Jed the Just
  • Jenny Flood-Warden
  • Jenny Greenrick
  • Jenny of Harrow Hill
  • Joan Lambswool
  • Joan of Juniper Rise
  • Joan the Banner-Maker
  • Jolly Jack Ploughman
  • Jonas Who Drank the Flood
  • Jory of Tinker's Reach
  • Jory Oxgang
  • Joss Goblin-Drubber
  • Joss Pitchfork
  • Joss Two-Stones

K: 9 names

  • Kate the Kindler
  • Kate Threshfield
  • Keelboat Kit
  • Keen-Eyed Kester
  • Kester the Crown-Refuser
  • Kester Thornapple
  • Kit Catch-the-Wind
  • Kit of Candle Lane
  • Korm Shaftwarden

L: 22 names

  • Laughing Ned Larkin
  • Lem Drover
  • Lem of Long Furrow
  • Lem the Last-to-Run
  • Lettie Broom
  • Lettie of Lambton
  • Lettie the Truth-Teller
  • Lightning-Rod Lottie
  • Lily Underloaf
  • Little Jory Stonethrow
  • Log-Jam Lem
  • Long Tom Timberfall
  • Longshadow Nell
  • Lottie Gooseman
  • Lottie of Lower Thatch
  • Lottie the Lockless
  • Loyal Luke Longfurrow
  • Lucky Lem of Lamb's Lea
  • Lucky Moll Halfpenny
  • Luke Harrowby
  • Luke of Larkfield
  • Luke the Lord-Humbler

M: 36 names

  • Mab Dewpond
  • Mab the Marsh-Light
  • Madge Coppice
  • Madge of Pepperwick
  • Madge the Bell-Ringer
  • Maple Sal
  • Marga Slagheap the Tunnel-Holder
  • Marigold Pennybun
  • Marshal Tam of the Hayfield Host
  • Marta Kettlewell
  • Marta of the Black Mill
  • Marta the Gate-Opener
  • Mat of Mudwall
  • Mat the Mud-Knight
  • Mat Tollgate
  • Maud Flaxman
  • Maud of Millstone Edge
  • Maud the Militia-Mother
  • Meg Appleyard
  • Meg of Stony Vale
  • Meg Tax-Burner
  • Merry Wat the Wanderer
  • Mighty Maud of the Millrace
  • Mild Mina of Marsh End
  • Mile-Stride Marta
  • Miller Joss Whitehands
  • Milo Applewick the Wolf-Chaser
  • Mina Gorsefield
  • Mina the Mountain-Crosser
  • Minna Candlesnuff
  • Moll of Marrowby
  • Moll the Lantern-Holder
  • Moll Turnpenny
  • Moonlight Mina
  • Morg the Dam-Wright
  • Mother Bracken

N: 21 names

  • Nan Byford
  • Nan of Netherfold
  • Nan the Night-Watcher
  • Nat Hollowtree
  • Nat of Notch Hill
  • Nat the Noose-Slipper
  • Ned of the Nine Acres
  • Ned Ogre-Tripper
  • Ned Ploughright
  • Nedda Thistlepipe
  • Nell of the Low Meadow
  • Nell Thatchwell
  • Nell the Fox-Fooler
  • Nib Tinkerfen
  • Nine-Acre Annie
  • Noble Nan Nobody
  • Nobody's Knight
  • Noll Longacre
  • Noll Never-Kneel
  • Nora Beechmast
  • Nora the North-Road Guide

O: 14 names

  • Oaken Alf
  • Odo Cresset
  • Odo of Old Sarn
  • Odo Wyrm-Fooler
  • Odrik Tinhammer
  • Old Ezra Earthshaker
  • Old Marta Two-Oxen
  • Olla Summerlea
  • Olla the Owl-Eyed
  • One-Eyed Madge
  • Open-Handed Odo
  • Orlo Stoutbridge
  • Orra Boulder-Carrier
  • Ox-Cart Olwen

P: 21 names

  • Pansy Quickbread the Unafraid
  • Patient Perkin
  • Peg of Pondsbury
  • Peg Tallowby
  • Peg the Bread-Giver
  • Pellam Rope-the-Gale
  • Perkin of Foxhollow
  • Perkin Shepherd
  • Perkin the Lamb-Saver
  • Piers Ditcher
  • Piers of Pigeon Cross
  • Piers the Ploughshare Knight
  • Pikeman Rafe Holdfast
  • Pikk of the Low Tunnels
  • Pim Kettlewhistle
  • Plucky Poll Pennyroyal
  • Poll Candlewick
  • Poll of Pennygate
  • Poll the Pardon-Winner
  • Poppy Hillbottom the Brave
  • Proud Madge of the Mill

Q: 2 names

  • Quick Nell Hare-Heels
  • Quillan Mossmantle

R: 21 names

  • Rafe Millbrook
  • Rafe of Red Barrow
  • Rafe Tyrant's-Bane
  • Ranger Wynne of the Common Wood
  • Rawbone Rudd
  • Red Wat
  • Reeve Annis the Fair
  • River-Wide Wyll
  • Robin of the Greenwood
  • Rosie Buttercross
  • Rosie of Rushy Bottom
  • Rosie the River-Turner
  • Rosie Tumblebrook
  • Rowan Betwixt
  • Rudd Hollins
  • Rudd the Reeve-Defier
  • Ruddy Rafe of the Rye
  • Runa Bellowsbreath
  • Ruth Emberley
  • Ruth of Rookery End
  • Ruth the Rope-Thrower

S: 37 names

  • Sal Ferriby
  • Sal of Swallow Beck
  • Sal the Siege-Baker
  • Salt-of-the-Earth Silas
  • Sawtooth Sorrel
  • Scout Lettie Hedge-Hopper
  • Sergeant Hob of the Scythe Line
  • Seth Collier
  • Seth of Saltby
  • Seth the Sheriff's Sorrow
  • Seven-Furrow Finn
  • Shepherd Lem Longcrook
  • Silas Granger
  • Silas the Snow-Walker
  • Silent Alys
  • Sim Six-at-a-Swing
  • Singing Sukey
  • Sister Una of the Fever Ward
  • Skillet Sukey
  • Slinger Sim of the Sheepfold
  • Snik the Warren-Saver
  • Speaker Alys of the Commons
  • Standard-Bearer Joss
  • Steadfast Seth
  • Steam-Breath Stig
  • Stig Gravelbeard
  • Stout Col Barrelchest
  • Stout Robin of the Reeds
  • Stubborn Seth Stonefoot
  • Stump-Puller Pru
  • Sturdy Sal of the Saltings
  • Sukey of Sparrow Green
  • Sukey Pennyloaf
  • Sukey Spoon-and-Sword
  • Sunup Silas
  • Sweet Alys of the Alder Brook
  • Swift Sukey Swallowtail

T: 87 names

  • Tall Bess Broomhandle
  • Tam Barleymow
  • Tam of Three Oaks
  • Tam Troll-Tricker
  • Tansy Greenladle
  • Tess of Windy Gap
  • Tess Thrice-Warned
  • Tess Woolcombe
  • Thatcher Wynne Highladder
  • The Barefoot Captain
  • The Barley King
  • The Beekeeper of Bellmoor
  • The Blacksmith of Black Hollow
  • The Boy Who Woke the Valley
  • The Charcoal Burner's Son
  • The Cobbler's Apprentice
  • The Common Blade
  • The Drummer of Dunmere
  • The Ferryman's Daughter
  • The Fishwife Admiral
  • The Friend of the Furrow
  • The Girl Who Rang the Bell
  • The Gleaner
  • The Goosegirl General
  • The Green Gaffer
  • The Hand That Held the Bridge
  • The Harvest Queen
  • The Hayfield Paladin
  • The Hayward of Highfold

T, continued

  • The Hedge Warden
  • The Hero of Harrowfield
  • The Hooded Harvester
  • The Iron Broom
  • The Kindly Poacher
  • The Lamplighter of Lych Street
  • The Lantern of Lowbridge
  • The Last Drover
  • The Laughing Carter
  • The Man Who Moved the Boulder
  • The Mason of the Broken Wall
  • The Maypole Champion
  • The Midwife of Mistlebrook
  • The Miller's Daughter
  • The Old Soldier of the South Field
  • The One Who Stayed
  • The Orchard Sentinel
  • The People's Champion
  • The Pitchfork Saint
  • The Ploughman Knight
  • The Poacher Prince
  • The Quarry Lion
  • The Rag-and-Bone Knight
  • The Reeve's Bane
  • The Salt Road Guide
  • The Scarecrow Knight
  • The Sexton of Sorrow's End
  • The Shepherd of Windle Down
  • The Tanner of Tollgate

T, continued

  • The Thresher of Thornfield
  • The Tithe Barn Rebel
  • The Turnip Knight
  • The Unpaid Sheriff
  • The Village Shield
  • The Voice of the Commons
  • The Washerwoman of Wend
  • The Well-Digger of Dry Hollow
  • The Wolf-Winter Widow
  • The Woman Who Would Not Kneel
  • Thrum Deepshift
  • Thunder-Hand Tansy
  • Tib Troll-Bridge
  • Tib Wainman
  • Tidewater Tess
  • Tikka Trap-Wise
  • Tilly of Thornybank
  • Tilly the Tithe-Taker's Bane
  • Tilly Wether
  • Tinker Rafe Patchpot
  • Tireless Tess of the Tithe Field
  • Tobin of Tanglefoot Wood
  • Tobin Rushlight
  • Tobin the Beacon-Lighter
  • Tock Turnscrew
  • Tom Tall-as-a-Steeple
  • True Tam the Thresher
  • Trusty Tib Tally
  • Two-Pails Poll

U: 5 names

  • Una Fairfield
  • Una of Underwood
  • Una the Unbowed
  • Uncle Cob the Ox
  • Urma Stonehearth

V: 1 name

  • Valiant Wynne of the Vale

W: 22 names

  • Warden Bess of the Barley Gate
  • Wat Furrow
  • Wat of Mossford
  • Watchman Davy Last-Lantern
  • Weathered Wend of the West Road
  • Weaver Edie Goldthread
  • Wee Tib Thimble
  • Wend Marlpit
  • Wend the Winter-Feeder
  • Whalebone Wat
  • Whistling Clem
  • Widow Kettering
  • Wild Will of the Wold
  • Wilkin Croft
  • Wilkin the Witch-Outwitter
  • Will of the Wolf Winter
  • Wim Haystacker
  • Windmill Will
  • Wren Pocketwatch
  • Wynne Eastmeadow
  • Wynne of Whistling Tor
  • Wynne the Wagon-Turner

Y: 5 names

  • Yeva Goat-Minder
  • Yorick Spade
  • Yorick the Yoke-Breaker
  • Young Hal of the Hollow
  • Young Perkin Drumhead