Hyena Name Generator

Names for spotted, striped and brown hyenas

Animals & Creatures1,000 names

0 of 1,000 seen

This or that?

7 picks, 1 winner

Tap the name you like more.

Tap a name to copy it. The arrows swap one name.

Or browse all 1,000 names, A to Z

Generate hyena names for an OC, a Lion King fan character, a plush or a zoo favourite: Swahili and Zulu words, savanna places, African folklore tricksters, canon hyenas like Shenzi and Janja, and cackling nicknames from Kicheko to Laughing Jack.

About hyena names

Hyena names tend to come from one of four places. The first is East and Southern Africa, where the spotted hyena lives: Swahili gives Fisi (hyena), Kicheko (laughter), Usiku (night) and Mfupa (bone); Zulu gives Impisi; Hausa gives Kura; Amharic gives Jibb. Because spotted hyena clans are led by females, Zulu and Sotho names such as Nandi, Nomvula and Naledi suit a matriarch especially well.

The second source is story. Disney's hyenas (Shenzi, Banzai, Ed, Janja, Jasiri, Kamari, Azizi) are Swahili words or Swahili-flavoured coinages, which is why they sound right; Bouki, Suruku and Kishi are trickster hyenas from West African and Angolan folklore; Bouda is the Ethiopian werehyena; the hyenas of Harar, fed by hand each night, have names like Willi, Koti and Tukwondilli.

The third is the animal itself: its whoop and cackle (Giggles, Whoop, Laughing Jill), its spots and stripes (Madoa, Mistari, Speckle, Brindle), its bone-cracking jaws (Gnash, Scrapjaw, Bonecrusher) and the places it roams (Serengeti, Etosha, Kalahari). The fourth is plain character, the nicknames a zookeeper or a fan artist reaches for, from Old Scar-Snout to Madam Marrow. The list also reaches the striped and brown hyenas' ranges (Kaftar, Strandjut, Velavadar), royal titles (Iyoba, Lingeer) and bone-themed pet names (Wishbone, Biltong). Pick the register that fits your hyena and the setting it lives in.

How to choose hyena names

  • Decide which species you are naming. Spotted hyenas suit bold, loud, Swahili-flavoured names; striped hyenas (found from North Africa to India) suit Kaftar, Dabba or Sirtlan; brown hyenas suit shaggy coastal names like Strandwolf.
  • For a clan leader, pick a female name with weight: Nandi, Nzinga, Matriarch, Indlovukazi. In real hyena society the top-ranked female outranks every male.
  • Use a laugh or sound name (Cackle, Whoop, Kicheko) for a comic character and a bone or jaw name (Scrapjaw, Gnash) for a menacing one; the two rarely mix well in a single name.
  • For a Lion King OC, stick to short Swahili words of two or three syllables and avoid names already used in the films and The Lion Guard unless the character is meant to be that hyena.
  • Say the name aloud as if calling across a savanna; two-syllable names with an open vowel (Zuri, Tano, Fisi) carry better than consonant clusters.

Frequently asked questions

What are the names of the hyenas in The Lion King?

In the 1994 film the trio are Shenzi, Banzai and Ed; in the 2019 remake Banzai and Ed are replaced by Kamari and Azizi. The Lion Guard adds Janja, Cheezi, Chungu, Nne and Tano, and the friendly hyena clan of Jasiri, Madoa, Tunu and Wema. Shenzi means savage or uncouth in Swahili, Banzai roughly means skulk, Jasiri means brave and Madoa means spots.

What is a good name for a female hyena?

Because spotted hyena clans are matriarchal, names that carry authority work well: Nandi, Nzinga, Makeda, Malkia (queen in Swahili), Indlovukazi (queen in Zulu) or simply Matriarch. Softer options include Zuri, Kamaria, Furaha and Thandiwe.

What does hyena mean in African languages?

Fisi in Swahili, Impisi in Zulu, Kura in Hausa, Jibb in Amharic, Bere in Shona, Phiri in Setswana, Waraabe or Dhurwaa in Somali, Suruku in Bambara and Bouki in Wolof. Any of these works as a name on its own, and several (Bouki, Suruku) are the names of famous trickster characters.

Can I use these names for a hyena fursona or D&D companion?

Yes. For a fursona, the folklore and sound names (Bouda, Cacklejaw, Howlina) and the Swahili words make distinctive handles. For a gnoll or animal companion in a tabletop game, the harsher bone and jaw names or the prehistoric genera (Pachycrocuta, Dinocrocuta) give a suitably fierce feel.

Related generators

More like this

Browse category

All 1,000 hyena 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: 39 names

  • Aandhi
  • Aardwolf
  • Abeba
  • Acacia
  • Achernar
  • Adcrocuta
  • Adrar
  • Adze
  • Agadez
  • Agate
  • Akua
  • Alborz
  • Alem
  • Alfajiri
  • Ama
  • Amandla
  • Amani
  • Ambereye
  • Amboseli
  • Ammit
  • Anansi
  • Anubis
  • Apep
  • Arava
  • Aravalli
  • Asali
  • Atlas
  • Augrabies
  • Auntie Spots
  • Auob
  • Awash
  • Awuor
  • Ayaan
  • Ayanda
  • Ayantu
  • Ayasha
  • Ayo
  • Azizi
  • Azraq

B: 64 names

  • Babu Fisi
  • Baby Bones
  • Bahati
  • Bakari
  • Bale
  • Ballyhoo
  • Bangweulu
  • Banshee
  • Banzai
  • Baobab
  • Baraka
  • Barerib
  • Baroness Bristle
  • Bastet
  • Bateleur
  • Bedlam
  • Belbus
  • Bent-Ear Bess
  • Bere
  • Biaban
  • Bibi Fisi
  • Big Mama
  • Bilan
  • Bilma
  • Biltong
  • Birtukan
  • Black Cub
  • Blackback
  • Blackjaw
  • Blood Moon
  • Bluntclaw
  • Bobtail

B, continued

  • Bogoria
  • Boipelo
  • Boitumelo
  • Bone Appetit
  • Bone Eater
  • Bone Picker
  • Bonebite
  • Bonecrusher
  • Bonethrower
  • Bonolo
  • Bont
  • Bontu
  • Border Runner
  • Borkou
  • Boss Lady
  • Bosveld
  • Boteti
  • Bouda
  • Bouki
  • Bozkir
  • Brandberg
  • Brigand
  • Brindle
  • Brisket
  • Bristle-Back Bea
  • Broketail
  • Brouhaha
  • Brunnea
  • Brushfire
  • Bud
  • Bultungin
  • Burrpelt

C: 47 names

  • Cackle
  • Cackleberry
  • Cacklejaw
  • Cackling Kate
  • Canopus
  • Captain Carrion
  • Carcass Countess
  • Carcass King
  • Carmel
  • Carthage
  • Chakijana
  • Chaltu
  • Chambal
  • Chand
  • Chasmaporthetes
  • Cheeky
  • Cheezi
  • Cheka
  • Chemosit
  • Chidi
  • Chiku
  • Chipfang
  • Chobe
  • Chomper
  • Chortle
  • Chucklebelly
  • Chuckles
  • Chui Mdogo
  • Chungu
  • Cinder
  • Cinnamon
  • Civet
  • Clamor
  • Clan Queen
  • Cocoa
  • Consort
  • Coprolite
  • Corocotta
  • Cracktooth
  • Cristata
  • Crocotta
  • Crocuta
  • Crone
  • Crooked Grin
  • Crooktail
  • Crunch
  • Cub Minder

D: 47 names

  • Dabba
  • Dagbreek
  • Dalila
  • Dallol
  • Damaraland
  • Dame Dapple-Rump
  • Damu
  • Danakil
  • Dapple
  • Dare
  • Dariya
  • Dawnraider
  • Delu
  • Den Auntie
  • Den Guard
  • Den Mother
  • Desta
  • Dhihaka
  • Dhofar
  • Dhool
  • Dhoruba
  • Dhurwaa
  • Dhuxul
  • Dibbe
  • Dik-Dik
  • Dinder
  • Dinocrocuta
  • Dire Dawa
  • Donder
  • Donga
  • Donker
  • Dowager
  • Droogte
  • Drumstick
  • Duchess
  • Duchess Dapple
  • Duiker
  • Duin
  • Duncoat
  • Dune Runner
  • Dusk
  • Duskwhoop
  • Dust Devil
  • Dusthide
  • Dustroll
  • Dusty
  • Dzifa

E: 17 names

  • Eats-the-Hooves
  • Ed
  • Elgon
  • Eloko
  • Ember
  • Emeka
  • Emira
  • Empakaai
  • Empisi
  • Empress
  • Empty Quarter
  • Ennedi
  • Erta Ale
  • Etenesh
  • Etosha
  • Euphorbia
  • Evening Star

F: 23 names

  • Fang
  • Farcall
  • Feisty
  • Femi
  • Filsan
  • First-at-the-Kill
  • Firstborn
  • Fisi
  • Fisi Mdogo
  • Fisi Mkubwa
  • Flopear
  • Foghorn
  • Fomalhaut
  • Forager
  • Fowru
  • Fracas
  • Freckle
  • Freeloader
  • Frisky
  • Frolic
  • Funyamurey
  • Furaha
  • Fury

G: 40 names

  • Gambella
  • Gambo
  • Gatecrasher
  • Gatsheni
  • Gaunab
  • Gece
  • Geedi
  • Gekskeer
  • Gemsbok
  • Ghanzi
  • Ghoul
  • Giblet
  • Giggles
  • Gigglesnout
  • Giggling Gus
  • Giza
  • Gizo
  • Glassjaw
  • Glee
  • Gloaming
  • Gnash
  • Gobble
  • Gorongosa
  • Grandma Gristle
  • Granny Stripes
  • Gravewalker
  • Gremlin
  • Greyfang
  • Greymuzzle
  • Grim
  • Grinner
  • Grinnik
  • Grinning Greta
  • Grit
  • Groaner
  • Grootslang
  • Growler
  • Grynslag
  • Guffaw
  • Guled

H: 47 names

  • Ha-Ha
  • Haddi
  • Hadramaut
  • Half-Tail Hank
  • Halfear
  • Hambone
  • Hansi
  • Haraka
  • Harar
  • Hardy-Har
  • Harmattan
  • Harpy
  • Harvest Moon
  • Hasani
  • Hatari
  • Havoc
  • Heavybrow
  • Hecate
  • Hee-Haw
  • Heiress
  • Hex
  • Hibo
  • Highcrest
  • Highshoulder
  • Hijinks
  • Hirut
  • Hiti
  • Hlakanyana
  • Hleka
  • Hlengiwe
  • Hock
  • Hodan
  • Hoggar
  • Hollowbelly
  • Hookclaw
  • Hoot
  • Hootenanny
  • Howler
  • Howlina
  • Hubbub
  • Hullabaloo
  • Hungry Hattie
  • Hwange
  • Hyaena
  • Hyaenictis
  • Hyaenictitherium
  • Hyaenotherium

I: 36 names

  • Ictitherium
  • Idil
  • Iena
  • Igazi
  • Ihlathi
  • Ijapa
  • Ikelohyaena
  • Ilanga
  • Imani
  • Imfolozi
  • Imp
  • Impisi
  • Impundulu
  • Imvula
  • Indlovu
  • Indlovukazi
  • Induna
  • Injabulo
  • Inkanyamba
  • Inkanyezi
  • Inkosazana
  • Intaba
  • Intsini
  • Inyoni
  • Iqhawe
  • Ironjaw
  • Ironstone
  • Isibindi
  • Isilwane
  • Isithunzi
  • Iska
  • Ithambo
  • Itri
  • Iyoba
  • Izinyo
  • Izulu

J: 14 names

  • Jabali
  • Jabulani
  • Jangwa
  • Janja
  • Jasiri
  • Jebel
  • Jeer
  • Jelani
  • Jerky
  • Jester
  • Jibb
  • Jinx
  • Jiwe
  • Joker

K: 74 names

  • Kaftar
  • Kafue
  • Kaggen
  • Kahali
  • Kahawia
  • Kahina
  • Kahkaha
  • Kakebeen
  • Kalahari
  • Kalulu
  • Kamari
  • Kamaria
  • Kameeldoring
  • Kande
  • Kanem
  • Kano
  • Kaokoland
  • Karakum
  • Karamoja
  • Karoo
  • Katavi
  • Kavir
  • Kejeli
  • Kelele
  • Kelelefisi
  • Kemik
  • Kerfuffle
  • Kerit
  • Khamsin
  • Khandeh
  • Khonsu
  • Khorasan
  • Khutse
  • Kiano
  • Kibble
  • Kibibi
  • Kiboko

K, continued

  • Kibwe
  • Kicheko
  • Kigelia
  • Kijivu
  • Kilimanjaro
  • Kill Stealer
  • Kilombero
  • Kioja
  • Kishi
  • Kishindo
  • Kito
  • Kituko
  • Kivuli
  • Klaxon
  • Kloof
  • Knaag
  • Knave
  • Kners
  • Knucklebone
  • Kobina
  • Kofi
  • Kondo
  • Kongamato
  • Kopet Dag
  • Kopje
  • Kordofan
  • Koti
  • Krans
  • Kubu
  • Kucheka
  • Kudu
  • Kufra
  • Kuiseb
  • Kura
  • Kuruman
  • Kuseka
  • Kwame

L: 46 names

  • Ladan
  • Lady Ribcage
  • Laetoli
  • Lagbek
  • Laikipia
  • Lakadbaggha
  • Lappet
  • Laraba
  • Last-to-Eat
  • Latecomer
  • Laterite
  • Laughing Jack
  • Laughing Jill
  • Laughs-at-Lions
  • Layl
  • Lebohang
  • Lechwe
  • Leftovers
  • Lengai
  • Lerato
  • Letaba
  • Leucrocotta
  • Leuk
  • Lilith
  • Limpopo
  • Lindiwe
  • Lingeer
  • Lion Taunter
  • Little Mama
  • Little Miss Whoop
  • Liwonde
  • Lockjaw
  • Loliondo
  • Longido
  • Longshank
  • Longsnout
  • Longwhoop
  • Looter
  • Lop-Eared Lottie
  • Lopgrin
  • Lord Lowbelly
  • Lou
  • Loudmouth
  • Low Rank Larry
  • Luangwa
  • Lycyaena

M: 103 names

  • Maanhaar
  • Maanlig
  • Maanskyn
  • Mabuasehube
  • Machweo
  • Madam Marrow
  • Madoa
  • Madoadoa
  • Mafdet
  • Magadi
  • Magajiya
  • Maghreb
  • Mahale
  • Mairo
  • Maisha
  • Majete
  • Makeda
  • Makran
  • Makucha
  • Malachite
  • Malaika
  • Malkia
  • Mama Fisi
  • Mamba
  • Mamba Jaw
  • Mamello
  • Mami Wata
  • Mandla
  • Manyara
  • Mapungubwe
  • Mara
  • Marabou
  • Marjani
  • Marrowbone
  • Marrowcrunch
  • Marula
  • Marwar
  • Maswa
  • Matriarch
  • Mawingu
  • Mayhem
  • Mbali
  • Mbuga
  • Mchanga
  • Mchawi
  • Mcheshi
  • Medusa
  • Meerkat
  • Melghat
  • Menace
  • Meno

M, continued

  • Meroe
  • Meru
  • Mfupa
  • Mgongo
  • Mhisi
  • Middernag
  • Midnight
  • Miombo
  • Mirage
  • Mirth
  • Mischief
  • Miscreant
  • Mistari
  • Mjanja
  • Mkali
  • Mlafi
  • Mlinzi
  • Mlio
  • Mluzi
  • Mngurumo
  • Mngwa
  • Mocha
  • Mokele
  • Molopo
  • Monsoon
  • Moocher
  • Moon Howler
  • Moonrise
  • Moonshadow
  • Mopane
  • Morrigan
  • Morsel
  • Mosi
  • Moto
  • Moyo
  • Mpala
  • Mud-Belly Maud
  • Mudfoot
  • Mudpelt
  • Mukama
  • Munch
  • Murgbeen
  • Musandam
  • Mvumo
  • Mwamba
  • Mwezi
  • Mwiba
  • Mwindaji
  • Mzaha
  • Mzizi
  • Mzoga
  • Mzuka

N: 48 names

  • Nagloper
  • Naivasha
  • Najd
  • Najm
  • Nakuru
  • Naledi
  • Namaqualand
  • Namib
  • Namunyak
  • Nandi
  • Nara
  • Nasieku
  • Ndoto
  • Nechisar
  • Neema
  • Negev
  • Nemesis
  • Netsai
  • New Moon
  • Newcomer
  • Ngorongoro
  • Ngozi
  • Nguvu
  • Nhlanhla
  • Nia
  • Night Stalker
  • Nightfall
  • Nightjar
  • Nightlaugher
  • Nightstep
  • Ninki Nanka
  • Niokolo
  • Nne
  • Nomalanga
  • Nomvula
  • Nossob
  • Notchear
  • Nthabiseng
  • Ntombi
  • Ntwetwe
  • Nubia
  • Nuru
  • Nutmeg
  • Nyaminyami
  • Nyeusi
  • Nyika
  • Nyota
  • Nzinga

O: 14 names

  • Oasis
  • Obiageli
  • Ochi
  • Ochre
  • Okavango
  • Old Gnash
  • Old Scar-Snout
  • Omen
  • Omo
  • One-Eyed Odessa
  • Ossifrage
  • Ostokhan
  • Oxpecker
  • Oxtail

P: 33 names

  • Pachycrocuta
  • Pafuri
  • Palesa
  • Palinhyaena
  • Pandemonium
  • Pango
  • Pangolin
  • Panna
  • Paprika
  • Parahyaena
  • Patches
  • Pepper
  • Percrocuta
  • Petra
  • Phantom
  • Phele
  • Phiri
  • Pilferer
  • Pili
  • Pliocrocuta
  • Plioviverrops
  • Plucky
  • Popobawa
  • Pounce
  • Prankster
  • Pretender
  • Pride Robber
  • Princess Patches
  • Proteles
  • Protictitherium
  • Prowl
  • Pumzi
  • Punt

Q: 5 names

  • Qamar
  • Qori Ismaris
  • Qosol
  • Queenie
  • Quickbite

R: 31 names

  • Raat
  • Radi
  • Rain Queen
  • Rascal
  • Ratel
  • Rawhackle
  • Razor
  • Razzle
  • Rearguard
  • Redflank
  • Redmane
  • Redmaw
  • Rehema
  • Ribbebeen
  • Richtersveld
  • Ringneck
  • Ringtail
  • Riot
  • Roble
  • Ronke
  • Roundbelly
  • Ruaha
  • Ruckus
  • Ruig
  • Rukwa
  • Rumbidzai
  • Rumpus
  • Rungwa
  • Runs-with-Jackals
  • Runt
  • Rusty

S: 120 names

  • Saadani
  • Sabkha
  • Sable
  • Sade
  • Saffron
  • Sagal
  • Sahel
  • Sahra
  • Samatar
  • Samburu
  • Sanaa
  • Sandstorm
  • Sariska
  • Sarraounia
  • Sassy
  • Satara
  • Satpura
  • Saurashtra
  • Savuti
  • Sayeh
  • Scamp
  • Scamper
  • Scar
  • Scar-Lip Sal
  • Scarface
  • Scorpius
  • Scrapjaw
  • Scraps
  • Scrounger
  • Scruffy
  • Scurry
  • Scuttle
  • Sefu
  • Sekai
  • Sekhmet
  • Selous
  • Sentry
  • Sepia
  • Serengeti
  • Serqet
  • Setareh
  • Setshego
  • Shab
  • Shagscruff
  • Shaka
  • Shangwe
  • Shani
  • Shaumari
  • Sheba
  • Shebo
  • Shenanigan
  • Shenzi
  • Shimo
  • Shindig
  • Shingwedzi
  • Shompole
  • Short Rib
  • Shujaa
  • Shukri
  • Sibiloi

S, continued

  • Sibusiso
  • Sienna
  • Simien
  • Sinew
  • Sipho
  • Sir Snarlsalot
  • Siren
  • Sirocco
  • Sirtlan
  • Sistan
  • Sister Snaggle
  • Siwa
  • Skadu
  • Skaterlag
  • Skelm
  • Skemer
  • Skitter
  • Skukuza
  • Slackjaw
  • Sleeps-in-Mud
  • Slopeback
  • Slow Tuesday
  • Smirk
  • Smudge
  • Snapjaw
  • Snarl
  • Snarly
  • Snicker
  • Snickerdoodle
  • Snickering Sam
  • Snortle
  • Sononder
  • Soot
  • Soup Bone
  • Southern Cross
  • Soutpan
  • Speckle
  • Spelaea
  • Spitzkoppe
  • Split Whisker
  • Splitnose
  • Spoor
  • Spotback
  • Spots Malone
  • Springhare
  • Spunky
  • Squeal
  • Steenbok
  • Stiffmane
  • Stofstorm
  • Straggler
  • Strandjut
  • Strandloper
  • Strandwolf
  • Streep
  • Stripes McGee
  • Stubtail
  • Subira
  • Sundiata
  • Suruku

T: 69 names

  • T-Bone
  • Tabasamu
  • Tadoba
  • Taji
  • Talatu
  • Tallow
  • Tamboti
  • Tanezrouft
  • Tanit
  • Tankwa
  • Tano
  • Tanzanite
  • Tarangire
  • Taras
  • Tassili
  • Taupe
  • Taweret
  • Tawny
  • Tayo
  • Tee-Hee
  • Tembo
  • Ténéré
  • Termite
  • Terracotta
  • Thabo
  • Thalassictis
  • Thandiwe
  • The Clean-Up Crew
  • The Heckler in the Grass
  • The Last Laugh
  • The Night Shift
  • The Understudy
  • Thebes
  • Themba

T, continued

  • Thickhide
  • Thornscar
  • Three-Toes
  • Thulani
  • Tidbit
  • Tierwolf
  • Tiger Eye
  • Tigray
  • Timbuktu
  • Titter
  • Titterfang
  • Tiziri
  • Tokoloshe
  • Top Rank Tessa
  • Topi
  • Torn-Lip
  • Tornear
  • Toyin
  • Toz
  • Trouble
  • Tsamma
  • Tsavo
  • Tsavorite
  • Tsessebe
  • Tsodilo
  • Tswalu
  • Tukwondilli
  • Tumaini
  • Tumult
  • Tungurictis
  • Tunu
  • Ture
  • Turkana
  • Twilight
  • Tzavoa

U: 22 names

  • Ubax
  • Ubusuku
  • Udzungwa
  • Ugalla
  • Uhleko
  • Ujanja
  • Ukungu
  • Umber
  • Umeme
  • Umfula
  • Umlilo
  • Umm Amir
  • Umoya
  • Umzingeli
  • Uncle Mange
  • Upepo
  • Uproar
  • Usiku
  • Usurper
  • Utani
  • Uthuli
  • Uzuri

V: 12 names

  • Vaal
  • Varmint
  • Velavadar
  • Venom
  • Vixen
  • Vlakte
  • Vlei
  • Vlek
  • Vulture Chaser
  • Vumbi
  • Vurugu
  • Vusi

W: 28 names

  • Wadi Rum
  • Wailer
  • Wallow Queen
  • Waraabe
  • Waterberg
  • Weerlig
  • Welwitschia
  • Wema
  • Wet-Nose Winnie
  • Whelp
  • Whimsy
  • Whistling Thorn
  • Whitepaw
  • Whoop
  • Whoop-de-Doo
  • Whoopee
  • Whooper
  • Whooping Will
  • Whoopsie
  • Widemaw
  • Wildfire
  • Willi
  • Wishbone
  • Witsand
  • Woestyn
  • Wraith
  • Wrygrin
  • Wuta

Y: 10 names

  • Yaa Asantewaa
  • Yabelo
  • Yapper
  • Yearling
  • Yelp
  • Yipper
  • Yodel
  • Yowler
  • Yuk-Yuk
  • Yurugu

Z: 11 names

  • Zagros
  • Zahra
  • Zalika
  • Zambezi
  • Zanele
  • Zawadi
  • Zinder
  • Zinhle
  • Zorilla
  • Zuberi
  • Zuri