Kirin Name Generator
Names for the gentle chimera of East Asian myth
Generate kirin names rooted in Chinese qilin, Japanese kirin, Korean girin, and Vietnamese ky lan tradition: auspicious Chinese and Japanese given names, Twelve Kingdoms style titles, and epithets for the one-horned beast that treads on no living thing.
About kirin names
The kirin (Chinese qilin, Korean girin, Vietnamese ky lan) is the gentle chimera of East Asian myth: a hooved, scaled, often single-horned creature wreathed in soft flame that appears only when a sage or just ruler is born or reigns. In the old Chinese sources the qi was male and the lin female, and the beast trod so lightly it never bent a blade of grass, which is why so many of its epithets are about stepping, sparing, and peace. It is one of the Four Benevolent Animals, and legend ties it to Confucius, whose birth and death were both marked by a lin.
Names here follow the way the creature is actually named in tradition. Chinese-style names use auspicious characters for the beast or its blessings (rui, xiang, ling, lin, zhao), including real idioms like Linzhi, Linjiao, and Lin'er. Japanese-style names use readings such as Rin, Zui, Sei, Kou, and Haku, plus the Twelve Kingdoms convention of a kingdom name and ki (male) or rin (female), as in Keiki and Renrin. Korean and Vietnamese names follow their own readings of the same characters.
The English epithets describe what the beast does and portends: herald of sages, bearer of the River Chart, mourner at the hunt. Others recall the five-colored kirin, the Ming court's tribute giraffe, and festival dances.
How to choose kirin names
- Decide whether your kirin is Chinese, Japanese, Korean, or Vietnamese in flavor and keep the phonology consistent; Ruilin and Kirinmaru belong to different traditions.
- Pair a personal name with a title or epithet (Zhaode, Herald of the Jade Terrace) for a character that can be addressed formally and casually.
- If you use the Twelve Kingdoms pattern, the kirin's name is the kingdom plus ki for males or rin for females; invent a kingdom name first and the kirin name follows.
- Lean on gentleness rather than ferocity; a kirin's power is that it will not harm, so names about sparing, peace, and omens read truer than names about fury.
- For a kirin companion or mount in a game, short two-syllable names (Suzu, Rinka, Kouki, Zuirin) are easiest to shout across a battlefield.
Frequently asked questions
What is the difference between a kirin and a qilin?
They are the same creature under different readings of the same characters: qilin in Mandarin Chinese, kirin in Japanese, girin in Korean, and ky lan in Vietnamese. Japanese art tends to show it as more deer-like with a single horn, while Chinese versions are stockier, scaled, and sometimes two-horned.
What do qilin names usually mean?
Traditional names and idioms stress good omens and virtue: Linzhi (the lin's hoof, a classic ode about noble descendants), Lin'er (a brilliant child), Ruixiang (auspicious sign), and Zhaode (shining virtue). Japanese names built on Zui (auspicious), Sei (pure), Kou (light), and Haku (white) carry the same meaning.
Where does the ki and rin naming pattern come from?
From Fuyumi Ono's Twelve Kingdoms novels and anime, where each kingdom's kirin is named for the kingdom plus ki if male or rin if female: Keiki, Enki, Taiki, Renrin, Hanrin. It has become a common pattern for kirin characters in fan fiction and tabletop games.
Can I use these names for a D&D or Pathfinder kirin?
Yes. Both games include the kirin or ki-rin as a lawful good celestial creature, and the Chinese and Japanese names here fit that role directly. The epithets make good titles for a named NPC, and the shorter names suit a summoned companion or mount.
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All 1,000 kirin names
A: 25 names
- Akagane
- Akatsuki
- Akebono
- Akimaru
- Amanogawa
- Amber Qilin
- Amemaru
- Anhe
- Anping
- Anrui
- Anxiang
- Aoba
- Aolin
- Appears for the Worthy
- Ariake
- Arin
- Asagiri
- Asahi
- Asakaze
- Asanagi
- Asatsuyu
- Auspice of the Zhou Court
- Autumn Qilin
- Awayuki
- Azure Qilin
B: 30 names
- Bach Lan
- Badge of the First Rank
- Baekrin
- Baengnok
- Baihe
- Bailin
- Bailu
- Bairui
- Bamboo Qilin
- Bao Lan
- Baohe
- Baolin
- Baozhen
- Baram
- Bearer of the Map
- Bearer of the River Chart
- Beast of Lu
- Bich Lan
- Bingrui
- Bixiao
- Biyun
- Blessing on the Newborn
- Bohai
- Bows at Every Door
- Boya
- Boyun
- Breath of Incense
- Bringer of Brilliant Children
- Bronze Lin of the Summer Palace
- Byeolbit
C: 38 names
- Caixia
- Caiyun
- Came Before the Sage
- Canglin
- Carrier of the Gifted Child
- Celestial of the High Winds
- Chaerin
- Changle
- Changning
- Changyun
- Chaohui
- Chaoyang
- Chengde
- Chenrui
- Chenxi
- Chenxing
- Cheongrin
- Cheonma
- Cheonrin
- Child of the Jade Mountain
- Chilin
- Chime of Heaven
- Chongde
- Chooser of Kings
- Chunfeng
- Chunhe
- Chunhui
- Chunyang
- Chuxiang
- Cihang
- Cixiang
- Cixin
- Cloud Qilin
- Cloud-Palace Hermit
- Cloudmane
- Cloudstepper
- Companion of Confucius
- Cuilin
D: 22 names
- Dalbit
- Danbi
- Dancer of the New Year Drum
- Danxia
- Danxiao
- Darin
- Dawn Qilin
- Dawn-Herald
- Dawnsinger
- Dazhao
- Deerheart
- Dehui
- Dewen
- Dewhoof
- Dexiang
- Deyao
- Deze
- Dianqi
- Dongyun
- Drinks from the Morning Star
- Drum-and-Gong Lin
- Duanqi
E: 12 names
- Eikou
- Eisei
- Eiun
- Elder of Two Thousand Years
- Emberscale
- Embroidered Lin of the General
- End of the Annals
- Enki
- Enku
- Enqi
- Enze
- Eunrin
F: 22 names
- Fanglin
- Featherhoof
- Fenghua
- Fengming
- Fengrui
- First Dance of Spring
- First of the Hooved
- Five-Colored Lin
- Five-Peak Pilgrim
- Flame Qilin
- Flamemane
- Friend of the Tortoise
- Frost Qilin
- Fuhui
- Fulu
- Fuuga
- Fuurin
- Fuxiang
- Fuxing
- Fuyao
- Fuyumaru
- Fuze
G: 39 names
- Ganlu
- Ganquan
- Gaoxiang
- Gate Lin of the Old Temple
- Gekka
- Gekkou
- Gengxiang
- Gentle Before the Hunters
- Gentle Horn
- Getsuki
- Geumrin
- Gift of Bengal
- Gilded Lin of the Palace Gate
- Gilsang
- Gingetsu
- Ginrei
- Girin
- Girin of the Morning Calm
- Girin of the Pine Ridge
- Girin of the Royal Tomb
- Girin of the White Mountain
- Giryeong
- Giver of Scholars
- Golden Qilin
- Grass-Sparing Hoof
- Grazer of the Milky Way
- Guanghua
- Guanglin
- Guangming
- Guardian of the Dharma Wheel
- Guardian of the Spirit Way
- Guiyun
- Gureum
- Gyokuhaku
- Gyokuren
- Gyokurin
- Gyokusei
- Gyokushou
- Gyokuun
H: 74 names
- Haerin
- Haetsal
- Hagoromo
- Hakka Dancing Lin
- Hakuba
- Hakuho
- Hakuhou
- Hakurei
- Hakuren
- Hakurin
- Hakuroku
- Hakuryuu
- Hakusen
- Hakuun
- Hakuyou
- Hanagasumi
- Hanagumori
- Hanakage
- Haneul
- Hanguang
- Hanrin
- Hanrui
- Haoyu
- Haoyue
- Harbinger of Peace
- Harin
- Harukaze
- Harumaru
- Harusame
- Hatsuhi
- Hatsuyuki
- Hazuki
- Hefeng
- Hekikuu
- Hekisui
- Hekiun
- Heming
H, continued
- Heqi
- Herald of the Jade Terrace
- Herald of the Sage
- Hetu
- Hexie
- Hikarimaru
- Hinata
- Hinode
- Hisui
- Hitotsuno
- Hoang Lan
- Hong Lan
- Hongfu
- Hongrui
- Hoof That Spares the Grass
- Horn of Judgment
- Horn Sheathed in Flesh
- Hoshikage
- Hoshimaru
- Hoshizora
- Hosho
- Hotaru
- Houde
- Hougyoku
- Hourin
- Huaide
- Huaize
- Huanglin
- Huanyu
- Huilan
- Huiqi
- Huiyun
- Huize
- Hunted at Daye
- Huolin
- Hwarin
- Hyerin
I: 3 names
- Ikkaku
- Iseul
- Izayoi
J: 31 names
- Jade Book Bearer
- Jade Mountain Wanderer
- Jade Qilin
- Jade Seal Lin
- Jadescale
- Jialing
- Jiangyue
- Jiaoduan
- Jiaqi
- Jiarui
- Jiaxiang
- Jiaze
- Jikou
- Jingde
- Jingfu
- Jinghe
- Jinghong
- Jingning
- Jingqi
- Jingrui
- Jinlin
- Jinqi
- Jinsei
- Jinsui
- Jintoku
- Jirin
- Jiun
- Jixiang
- Jiyun
- Judge Who Harms No One
- Junlin
K: 126 names
- Kagero
- Kagetsu
- Kairin
- Kaiyun
- Kakurei
- Kakutan
- Kaminari
- Kangetsu
- Kangning
- Kangtai
- Kanoko
- Kasumi
- Kaun
- Kazahana
- Kazehiko
- Kazemaru
- Keeper of Quiet Oaths
- Keeper of the Imperial Seal
- Keiki
- Keiun
- Kerui
- Kichijo
- Kim Lan
- Kinka
- Kinrei
- Kinrin
- Kinsei
- Kinyou
- Kinzan
- Kirin Above the Clouds
- Kirin at the Sage's Gate
K, continued
- Kirin at the Shrine Gate
- Kirin Beneath the Plum Tree
- Kirin of the Autumn Maples
- Kirin of the Cedar Shrine
- Kirin of the Hidden Spring
- Kirin of the Kingdom of En
- Kirin of the Kingdom of Kei
- Kirin of the Kingdom of Ran
- Kirin of the Kingdom of Tai
- Kirin of the Moon Gate
- Kirin of the Morning Mist
- Kirin of the Mossy Steps
- Kirin of the Reed Marsh
- Kirin of the Rice Terraces
- Kirin of the Silver Pavilion
- Kirin of the Snow Country
- Kirin of the Thousand Temples
- Kirin of the Torii Path
- Kirin of the Western Paradise
- Kirinhime
- Kirinji
- Kirinmaru
- Kirisame
- Kiyoharu
- Kiyomaru
- Kiyomi
- Kiyone
- Kiyora
- Kiyotaka
- Kneels to the True King
- Knower of Guilt and Innocence
- Kogane
K, continued
- Kogarashi
- Kohaku
- Kojika
- Komorebi
- Konayuki
- Kouga
- Kougyoku
- Kouhaku
- Kouhou
- Kouka
- Kouki
- Kourei
- Kouri
- Kourin
- Kouryuu
- Kouun
- Kouyou
- Kumomaru
- Kunlin
- Kunlun Walker
- Kunpuu
- Kurogane
- Kurokumo
- Ky Lan An Lac
- Ky Lan Anh Sang
- Ky Lan Bach
- Ky Lan Bien
- Ky Lan Binh Minh
- Ky Lan Cat Tuong
- Ky Lan Do
- Ky Lan Hoa Cuc
K, continued
- Ky Lan Hoa Dao
- Ky Lan Hoa Mai
- Ky Lan Hoa Sen
- Ky Lan Hoang
- Ky Lan Kim
- Ky Lan Linh Thieng
- Ky Lan Lua
- Ky Lan May
- Ky Lan Mua Dong
- Ky Lan Mua Thu
- Ky Lan Mua Xuan
- Ky Lan Ngoc
- Ky Lan Ngoc Bich
- Ky Lan Nui
- Ky Lan of the Imperial City
- Ky Lan of the Perfume River
- Ky Lan Phuc
- Ky Lan Ram Thang Tam
- Ky Lan Song
- Ky Lan Suong
- Ky Lan Thai Binh
- Ky Lan Thanh
- Ky Lan Thien Phuc
- Ky Lan Tim
- Ky Lan Trang
- Ky Lan Trung Thu
- Ky Lan Truong Tho
- Ky Lan Van
- Ky Lan Vang
- Ky Lan Xanh
- Kyouki
- Kyoun
L: 61 names
- Lanqi
- Lantern Festival Lin
- Lantern Qilin
- Lanternscale
- Last of Lu
- Leader of the Lantern Parade
- Leaves-No-Hoofprint
- Liangrui
- Lianqi
- Lightfoot of the Meadow
- Lin Feng Gui Long
- Lin of the Bronze Censer
- Lin of the Cradle Blessing
- Lin of the Firecracker Street
- Lin of the Forbidden Gate
- Lin of the Jade Hall
- Lin of the Marble Bridge
- Lin of the Phoenix Terrace
- Lin Tu Yushu
- Lin Who Brought the Child
- Lin Who Came to Lu
- Lin Who Carried the Book
- Lin'er
- Linbi
- Linde
- Linfeng
- Linge
- Lingfeng
- Lingqi
- Lingquan
L, continued
- Lingrui
- Lingshan
- Lingtai
- Lingxiao
- Lingyao
- Lingzhi
- Linhe
- Linjia
- Linjiao
- Linjing
- Linshi
- Linshou
- Linshu
- Lintai
- Linxi
- Linxiang
- Linyue
- Linyun
- Linzhao
- Linzhi
- Linzi Fengchu
- Liuguang
- Liyao
- Long Lan Quy Phung
- Long-Necked Omen
- Lord of the Furred Creatures
- Lotus Qilin
- Luduan
- Luo River Omen
- Luoshen
- Luoshu
M: 33 names
- Mangetsu
- Maoqi
- Meigetsu
- Meikou
- Meisui
- Meiun
- Meixiang
- Menglin
- Mengyao
- Mercy Before Justice
- Mid-Autumn Dancer
- Mikazuki
- Minamo
- Mingde
- Minghe
- Minghui
- Mingtang
- Mingxin
- Mingyue
- Mingzhao
- Mingzhen
- Mingzhi
- Minh Lan
- Mist Qilin
- Mistmane
- Momiji
- Moonbrow
- Moonlit Qilin
- Mount of the Immortals
- Mourner at the Hunt
- Muqi
- Murakumo
- Murasame
N: 11 names
- Nagomi
- Naixiang
- Narin
- Never Bends a Blade
- New Year Qilin
- Nianlin
- Ningxiang
- Ningzhao
- Noeul
- Nuanyu
- Nursery Door Guardian
O: 12 names
- Oboro
- Oborozuki
- Ojika
- Okrin
- Omen of Qufu
- Omen of the Yongle Court
- One of the Four Blessed
- One-Horned Judge
- Ougetsu
- Ouka
- Ouryuu
- Ouyun
P: 13 names
- Patron of Examinations
- Peace in the Realm
- Pearl Qilin
- Pearlscale
- Peilin
- Peixiang
- Penglai's Herald
- Phuc Lan
- Pilgrim of Penglai
- Pingan
- Plum Blossom Qilin
- Porcelain Qilin
- Puyun
Q: 59 names
- Qianlin
- Qiaorui
- Qilin Baoyu
- Qilin Chengxiang
- Qilin Dexin
- Qilin Hongyuan
- Qilin Huaiyu
- Qilin Jingming
- Qilin Jinxiang
- Qilin Mingrui
- Qilin of Kunlun
- Qilin of Mount Emei
- Qilin of Mount Tai
- Qilin of Penglai
- Qilin of the Bamboo Sea
- Qilin of the Chrysanthemum Court
- Qilin of the Cinnabar Cliffs
- Qilin of the Eastern Sea
- Qilin of the Emerald Marsh
- Qilin of the Five Peaks
- Qilin of the Jade Terrace
- Qilin of the Lantern Night
- Qilin of the Luo River
- Qilin of the Morning Bell
- Qilin of the Nine Heavens
- Qilin of the Peach Garden
- Qilin of the Pine Gate
- Qilin of the Southern Clouds
- Qilin of the Tea Terraces
Q, continued
- Qilin of the Western Hunt
- Qilin of the Willow Bank
- Qilin of the Woodblock Print
- Qilin of the Yellow River
- Qilin Ruizhao
- Qilin Shenglin
- Qilin Songzi
- Qilin Tianrui
- Qilin Xuanhe
- Qilin Yongtai
- Qilin Yunfeng
- Qilin Zhaoqing
- Qilin'er
- Qingfeng
- Qinghe
- Qinghui
- Qingkong
- Qingping
- Qingquan
- Qingrui
- Qingshan
- Qingxi
- Qingxiao
- Qingyu
- Qingyue
- Qirui
- Qiulan
- Qiuyue
- Qiuyun
- Quiethoof
R: 52 names
- Raimei
- Rain Qilin
- Raiun
- Rangetsu
- Ranki
- Reiji
- Reika
- Reiko
- Reimei
- Reirin
- Reisui
- Reizan
- Renci
- Rende
- Renhe
- Renhou
- Renlin
- Renrin
- Renshou
- Renxin
- Renyi
- Ribbon on the Horn
- Rider of the Eaves
- Rindo
- Rinka
- Rinko
R, continued
- Rinne
- Rinsei
- Rinshi
- Rintaro
- Rinzo
- River Qilin
- Rokumei
- Rokuta
- Ronghui
- Roof Ridge Watcher
- Ruiguang
- Ruihe
- Ruilin
- Ruiqi
- Ruixia
- Ruixiang
- Ruixue
- Ruiyun
- Runze
- Ruoyun
- Ruri
- Ruyi
- Ryoufuu
- Ryougetsu
- Ryouun
- Ryuuki
S: 134 names
- Saebyeok
- Sairin
- Sakumei
- Samidare
- Sandalwood Qilin
- Sango
- Sangseo
- Sazanami
- Scholar's Companion
- Scholar's Omen
- Seen Only in Peace
- Seifuu
- Seigetsu
- Seihou
- Seijin
- Seika
- Seiki
- Seikou
- Seimaru
- Seiran
- Seirin
- Seiryou
- Seiryuko
- Seiu
- Seiun
- Sengetsu
- Senka
- Senkou
- Senrin
- Sentinel of the Sacred Way
- Seogwang
- Seoha
- Seohyeon
S, continued
- Seojin
- Seolrin
- Seongrin
- Seorin
- Seoun
- Seoyeon
- Seoyun
- Serin
- Seseragi
- Shadowless at Noon
- Shangde
- Shanxin
- Shanyun
- Shaohua
- Shengde
- Shenghui
- Shengming
- Shengping
- Shengrui
- Shengyun
- Shenlin
- Shigure
- Shikou
- Shingetsu
- Shinju
- Shinonome
- Shinrei
- Shinroku
- Shirakumo
- Shiranui
- Shiratama
- Shiratsuyu
- Shiraume
- Shirayuki
S, continued
- Shirogane
- Shirojika
- Shiun
- Shizuki
- Shouhaku
- Shouka
- Shouki
- Shouko
- Shoumei
- Shoun
- Shourei
- Shourin
- Shouryuu
- Shouxing
- Shouzan
- Shouzhen
- Shouzhi
- Shuangrui
- Shunka
- Shunki
- Shunkou
- Shunpuu
- Shunrai
- Shuugetsu
- Shuurei
- Shuusui
- Shuyao
- Sign of a Just Reign
- Silverhoof
- Singlehorn
- Sings in Five Notes
- Sister of the Phoenix
- Skyborne Counselor
S, continued
- Snow Qilin
- Soft Tread on Snow
- Softflame
- Songfeng
- Songgu
- Songhe
- Songrui
- Sorin
- Sougetsu
- Sourin
- Souun
- Soyokaze
- Sparer of the Smallest Thing
- Spares-the-Seedling
- Star Qilin
- Starbrow
- Steed of the Jade Emperor's Envoy
- Steps-Around-the-Ant
- Stone Lin of the Ming Tombs
- Stone Lin of the Scholar's Garden
- Stranger from the Western Ocean
- Suigyoku
- Suika
- Suikou
- Suiren
- Suirin
- Suisei
- Suisho
- Suishou
- Suxin
- Suyue
- Suzu
- Suzuka
- Suzune
T: 57 names
- Taerin
- Taihe
- Taiho
- Taiki
- Taiyun
- Tall Guest of Nanjing
- Tamayura
- Tasogare
- Tenjin
- Tenkaku
- Tenkou
- Tenma
- Tenrai
- Tenrei
- Tenrin
- Tenshou
- Tenyuu
- The Auspicious Beast
- The Azure Colt
- The Bell-Voiced
- The Benevolent Beast
- The Flame Colt
- The Golden Wanderer
- The Horn That Never Strikes
- The Horned Deer of Zou
- The Malindi Envoy
- The Mandarin Square Lin
- The Paper-Horned Dancer
T, continued
- The Qufu Beast
- The Sage's Shadow
- The Spotted Auspice
- The Thousand-Year Fawn
- The Unbending Reed
- The Weeping Kirin
- The White Lin of Yong
- Thien Lan
- Thunder Qilin
- Tiancheng
- Tianlin
- Tianshou
- Tianxi
- Tianxin
- Tinglan
- Tingqi
- Tokimaru
- Tokusei
- Tokuun
- Tongqi
- Tongtian
- Treader of Morning Dew
- Treads-on-Mist
- Tribute of the Treasure Fleet
- Tsukikage
- Tsukimaru
- Tsukishiro
- Tsunomaru
- Tuolin
U: 8 names
- Ukigumo
- Unka
- Unkou
- Unmei
- Unrei
- Unrin
- Unsei
- Unshou
V: 3 names
- Vermilion Qilin
- Village Gate Dancer
- Voice Like a Temple Bell
W: 20 names
- Wakaba
- Wakajika
- Wakamizu
- Walker Between the Reeds
- Walker of the Luo
- Walks-on-Still-Water
- Walks-the-Cloud-Road
- Wanderer of the Upper Air
- Wanshou
- Wanxiang
- Watcher at the Tomb Path
- Weilin
- Weiyun
- Wenlin
- Wenqi
- Wenshan
- Wept For by the Master
- White Lin of the Han Court
- Witness to Good Rule
- Wuyou
X: 25 names
- Xianghe
- Xianglin
- Xiangrui
- Xiangtai
- Xiangyao
- Xiangyun
- Xianhe
- Xianlin
- Xianshan
- Xiaoyao
- Xilin
- Xinghe
- Xinghui
- Xingyu
- Xingzhao
- Xinyuan
- Xiuming
- Xiurui
- Xiyue
- Xiyun
- Xuande
- Xuanlin
- Xuelin
- Xuerui
- Xunfeng
Y: 51 names
- Yakumo
- Yanju
- Yanqi
- Yaolin
- Yellow River Walker
- Yeorin
- Yerin
- Yinglin
- Yingrui
- Yingxiang
- Yoake
- Yoizuki
- Yongan
- Yongde
- Yonghe
- Yongning
- Yongtai
- Yongxi
- Youlan
- Yourin
- Yu Qilin
- Yuanhe
- Yuanming
- Yuanqi
- Yuanshou
Y, continued
- Yuehua
- Yuexia
- Yufeng
- Yuhua
- Yuhuan
- Yukimaru
- Yukishiro
- Yulan
- Yulin
- Yulu
- Yunhe
- Yunqi
- Yunxia
- Yunxiang
- Yuquan
- Yurin
- Yushan
- Yushu
- Yuugiri
- Yuuhi
- Yuukei
- Yuunagi
- Yuuzuki
- Yuxiao
- Yuzhen
- Yuzhi