Manticore Name Generator

Names for man-faced lions with scorpion tails

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Generate manticore names for the lion-bodied, human-faced, spine-tailed man-eater of Persian and Greek legend. Includes Persian-flavored names, Greek-rooted constructions, grim English kennings, epithets and titles for D&D, Pathfinder, heraldry and original fiction.

About manticore names

The manticore began as a Persian rumor. The Greek physician Ctesias, serving at the Achaemenid court around 400 BC, described a red lion-sized beast from India with a man's face, three rows of teeth, pale eyes, a voice like a flute mixed with a trumpet, and a scorpion tail that fired spines like arrows. Its name comes from Old Persian martya-khvara, 'man-eater,' which Greek turned into martikhoras and Latin into mantichora. That lineage is why the best manticore names lean Persian or Greek rather than Norse or Celtic.

This generator mixes several registers. Persian-flavored names such as Zarvesh, Khorasvand and Ashkhar sound like they belong on the caravan roads of Gedrosia. Greek-rooted constructions like Triodontos (three-toothed), Skorpiouros (scorpion-tailed) and Aulophonos (flute-voiced) read like entries in a bestiary. English kennings such as Needletail, Hollowgrin and Carrionsmile describe what a terrified shepherd would notice first, and epithets like the Lion That Whistles or Terror of the Caravan Road work for a named D&D or Pathfinder lair beast. Heraldic spellings (mantyger, satyral, lampago) are included for a medieval flavor.

Because the manticore's face is human, many of the names play on smiles, voices and speech. A monster that looks back at you and grins deserves a name that is a little too friendly.

How to choose manticore names

  • Decide what your manticore's defining feature is, whether the human face, the spine-throwing tail or the flute-like voice, and pick a name that points to it: Grinfang, Quillback and Sweetvoice each tell a different story.
  • For a Persian or Achaemenid flavor, pair an old Iranian given name with a kenning (Ardashir Nightstalker), or use Greek roots like tri (three), odous (tooth), kentron (sting) and phone (voice) to build names such as Trikentros or Salpingophonos.
  • A named lair monster in D&D or Pathfinder should have both a short name players can shout and a longer title for the lore dump, for example Varkhan, the Red-Maned Terror of the Salt Road.
  • Manticores are intelligent and often speak in most game settings, so a sardonic or self-chosen name (the Smiler, Uncle Flute) can be scarier than a brute's roar.
  • Use the Latin bestiary forms (Mantichora Rubra, Leo Scorpiurus) for scholarly notes, taxonomy in a worldbuilding wiki, or a heraldic blazon.

Frequently asked questions

Where does the word manticore come from?

It comes from Old Persian martya-khvara, meaning 'man-eater.' Ctesias recorded it in Greek as martikhoras, Pliny the Elder Latinized it to mantichora, and medieval bestiaries produced variants like manticora, mantyger and manticorax, all of which appear in this generator.

What does a manticore look like in myth versus D&D?

Ctesias described a red lion-sized beast with a human face, three rows of teeth, a trumpet-and-flute voice and a scorpion tail that shoots spines. D&D and Pathfinder keep the lion body, human face and spine volley but usually add bat-like wings and make the creature a cunning, talking predator.

Are manticores male or female, and does that affect the name?

Both exist in most settings. Persian women's names like Tahmineh or Rudabeh paired with a kenning give female manticores an authentic feel, and matriarch titles such as Mother of Quills or Matron of the Salt Lair work for the head of a brood.

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

Yes. The original names here are free to use in homebrew, published modules and fiction. The handful of references to named characters from films, novels and comics are included for inspiration only and remain the property of their creators.

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All 500 manticore 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: 33 names

  • Aculeifer
  • Aculeifera
  • Afrasiab the Gluttonous
  • Aimatoleon
  • Akanthobelos
  • Akanthourides
  • Akanthouros
  • Akidophoros
  • Anahitar
  • Androphagos
  • Anthropoleon
  • Anthropophaga
  • Anthropophagos
  • Anthropoprosopos
  • Arashvand
  • Ardashir Nightstalker
  • Ardavash
  • Arezoo Hookspine
  • Arvand the Patient
  • Arzhang Quillback
  • Ash-Paw
  • Ashgrin
  • Ashkan of the Dry Wells
  • Ashkhar
  • Ashkhar the Smiler
  • Ashvakhar
  • Aulokentros
  • Aulophonos
  • Aulopsophos
  • Auntie Sting
  • Azadeh Spinefang
  • Azhdarakh
  • Azhgul

B: 36 names

  • Bahar Gravelthroat
  • Bahman Thunderpaw
  • Bahramaz
  • Bane of Archers
  • Bane of the Persian Guard
  • Barbshower
  • Barbtongue
  • Barbwhip
  • Bardiyeh Sandsmile
  • Baricos
  • Barkhor the Unsmiling
  • Barzuvand
  • Behzadakh
  • Bellthroat
  • Belokerkos
  • Belophoros
  • Bestia Fistulosa
  • Bestia Hominivora
  • Bestia Trifida
  • Bhurrak
  • Bizhanak
  • Blackquill
  • Bloodmane
  • Bloodquill
  • Bonejaw
  • Bonequill
  • Bonetooth
  • Bramblejaw
  • Brambletail
  • Brazhan
  • Bride of the Reeds
  • Brinebristle
  • Bristleback
  • Brood-Sister Needle
  • Brotoleon
  • Brotophagos

C: 8 names

  • Carrionsmile
  • Cinderjaw
  • Cindermane
  • Corey the Manticore
  • Crimsonmane
  • Cub of the Red Mane
  • Cub of the Salt Road
  • Cub Whistlemaw

D: 22 names

  • Dakryleon
  • Dam of the Reed Litter
  • Dartcaster
  • Dartspine
  • Darvash
  • Darya Flutevoice
  • Dastavan
  • Death-in-the-Reeds
  • Deimoleon
  • Deinoleon
  • Devourer of Pilgrims
  • Devourer of Travelers
  • Dorrzhan
  • Dr. Thorn
  • Drakhul
  • Drazhul
  • Drimyleon
  • Dune-Stalker
  • Dunefang
  • Duskquill
  • Dust-Devil
  • Dustmane

E: 10 names

  • Eater of Bones
  • Eater of Faces
  • Eater of Kings
  • Eater of Names
  • Elder of the Quill Brood
  • Erythroleon
  • Erythromallos
  • Erythrops
  • Esfandiyar the Thornback
  • Ezhrak

F: 18 names

  • Face-in-the-Grass
  • Faramarz Saltjaw
  • Faranak Needletail
  • Farhad Dunefang
  • Farrukhan
  • Father of Barbs
  • Father of the Grinning Brood
  • Father of Thorns
  • Fera Cantatrix
  • Fera Indica
  • Fera Ridens
  • Fera Spiculata
  • Fera Triplex
  • Fereydak Lashtail
  • Firstborn of the Salt Lair
  • Fluteborn
  • Flutevoice
  • Friendface

G: 30 names

  • Garshasp Redmane
  • Gazdak of Seven Roads
  • Ghorzak
  • Ghostface
  • Ghulzar
  • Gilvash
  • Giv Dustpaw
  • Glassjaw
  • Glaukommatos
  • Glossoleon
  • Golnar Stingcrown
  • Golshan Saltgrin
  • Gorazan
  • Gordiyeh Sandmane
  • Gorehackle
  • Gorejaw
  • Gorroth Needle-Rain
  • Grakkor
  • Grandfather Threerows
  • Grandmother Smile
  • Gravelthroat
  • Grazhul
  • Grimhackle
  • Grindjaw
  • Grinfang
  • Grinning Death
  • Gritmane
  • Gulletwide
  • Gulzhar
  • Gurdafrid the Stinger

H: 20 names

  • Hackleback
  • Harrvak
  • Harzhul
  • Heavy-Paw
  • Hirad Thricefang
  • Hollowgrin
  • Hollowmaw
  • Hollowsong
  • Hollowthroat
  • Hominivorax
  • Honeyvoice
  • Hookspine
  • Hormazd Dustmane
  • Horntongue
  • Hornvoice
  • Hundredtooth
  • Hungermaw
  • Hushang of the Dunes
  • Hushpaw
  • Hyperodous

I: 2 names

  • Ironquill
  • Ishkhar

J: 1 name

  • Jamshar

K: 25 names

  • Kamineh Saltmane
  • Kamvash
  • Kavehan
  • Kaveshar
  • Kavusk
  • Kazrak
  • Keeper of the Bone Road
  • Kentrobolos
  • Kentrophoros
  • Kentrourides
  • Kentrouros
  • Kerkobolos
  • Keyvan Thornmane
  • Kharrul
  • Khoras of the Salt Road
  • Khorasvand
  • Khorram the Unhurried
  • Khoshtar
  • Kindface
  • Kinnabarios
  • Kiyumars Quillshower
  • Knifetooth
  • Kokkinoleon
  • Korrath
  • Kourosh the Piper

L: 22 names

  • Laleh Grinfang
  • Lampago
  • Lashtail
  • Lastborn Smile
  • Laughingdeath
  • Leo Aculeatus
  • Leo Cinnabarinus
  • Leo Hominifacies
  • Leo Scorpiurus
  • Leo Tridentatus
  • Leo Trifidus
  • Leo Tubicen
  • Leo Vocalis
  • Leontanthropos
  • Leontomorphos
  • Leontoprosopos
  • Liartongue
  • Little Barb
  • Little Quill
  • Little Smile
  • Long-Stride
  • Lykanthropoleon

M: 48 names

  • Mahvash Scourgetail
  • Manface
  • Mantegar
  • Manticaire
  • Mantichora
  • Mantichora Aethiopica
  • Mantichora Indica
  • Mantichora Minor
  • Mantichora Persica
  • Mantichora Regina
  • Mantichora Rex
  • Mantichora Rubra
  • Mantichora Sonora
  • Mantichora Tricuspis
  • Manticora
  • Manticorax
  • Manticorella
  • Manticornus
  • Mantiger Gules
  • Mantikhoras
  • Mantiquora Mater
  • Mantiquoro
  • Mantiserra
  • Mantyger

M, continued

  • Manuchar Hollowgrin
  • Mardakhvar
  • Marrowsong
  • Martichoras the Elder
  • Martikhoras
  • Martiora
  • Martyakhara
  • Marzban of the Kavir
  • Maskface
  • Matriarch of Gedrosia
  • Matron of the Salt Lair
  • Mazhrak
  • Mehrakhor
  • Mehrdad Barbtongue
  • Melikhrous
  • Mirrorface
  • Mirrorquill
  • Mithrakan
  • Morrvak
  • Mother of Needles
  • Mother of Quills
  • Mother of Stings
  • Mother of the Reed Whistle
  • Murzhak

N: 13 names

  • Nahid Reedwhistle
  • Nahrzak
  • Nakhvar
  • Nariman the Grinning
  • Navid Gritmane
  • Needleback
  • Needlecrown
  • Needlestorm
  • Needletail
  • Needletooth
  • Night-Stalker
  • Niloufar Cindermane
  • Nursemaid of the Reed Litter

O: 13 names

  • Oistrobolos
  • Old Father Barb
  • Old Mother Needle
  • Old Threerows
  • Ophiodontos
  • Ophrysleon
  • Ormazdakh
  • Orrzhak
  • Ourokentros
  • Oxybelos
  • Oxykentros
  • Oxyodous
  • Oxytrichos

P: 19 names

  • Paleface
  • Parisa Dartspine
  • Parvaneh Brinebristle
  • Parvizeh
  • Pashang Boneflute
  • Patriarch of the Dune Lair
  • Paykhar
  • Phonoleon
  • Phrikoleon
  • Pipejaw
  • Pipevoice
  • Piruzeh Whistlemaw
  • Pliny's Monster
  • Pouran Thorncoat
  • Pterobelos
  • Pup Needletail
  • Pyrrhochaites
  • Pyrrholeon
  • Pyrrhoprosopos

Q: 5 names

  • Quiet-Feet
  • Quillback
  • Quillcloak
  • Quillrain
  • Quillthrower

R: 21 names

  • Rashkhar
  • Raspjaw
  • Redhackle
  • Redmaw
  • Redtooth
  • Reed-Stalker
  • Reedgrin
  • Reedvoice
  • Rokhsar Dustsong
  • Rokkar
  • Roshanak Brambletail
  • Rostakhar
  • Rowfang
  • Rowjaw
  • Rowtooth
  • Rubricomus
  • Rudabeh Redmaw
  • Rukhshan
  • Runt Threerows
  • Rustmane
  • Ruzhgar

S: 61 names

  • Salpingophonos
  • Salpinkleon
  • Saltjaw
  • Saltmane
  • Saltwhistle
  • Sandsmile
  • Sanjar Quillcloak
  • Sarkoleon
  • Sarkophagos
  • Satyral
  • Saw-Tooth Sarai
  • Sawjaw
  • Scarletmane
  • Scourge of the Salt Flats
  • Scourge of the Spice Road
  • Scourgetail
  • Setareh Trumpetjaw
  • Shahrokh Needlecrown
  • Shahrzad Sunbleach
  • Shapur Reedstalker
  • Sharvand
  • Shearjaw
  • Shepherd of Skulls
  • Shirin Smilefang
  • Shirzad the Devourer
  • Siavash the Devourer
  • Silvertongue
  • Singing Death
  • Sire of Quillbacks
  • Siyavash Reedgrin

S, continued

  • Skarrath
  • Skorpiokerkos
  • Skorpioleon
  • Skorpiouros
  • Skorrul
  • Skorvash
  • Smile-at-Dusk
  • Smilefang
  • Smilingdeath
  • Soft-Paw
  • Sohrabak
  • Song-on-the-Road
  • Soraya Pipejaw
  • Sorrowface
  • Sorushak
  • Spiculifer
  • Spikeback
  • Spinefang
  • Spinehurler
  • Still-Stalker
  • Stillface
  • Sting-in-the-Dark
  • Sting-in-the-Grass
  • Stingcrown
  • Stingvolley
  • Stonegrin
  • Stonejaw
  • Stonetooth
  • Sudabeh of the Reeds
  • Sunbleach
  • Sweetvoice

T: 61 names

  • Tahmasp Ashgrin
  • Tahmineh Barbcrown
  • Tahmurak
  • Tallowtooth
  • Terror of the Caravan Road
  • Terror of the Thar
  • Thanatoleon
  • Tharrvash
  • The Beast Beyond the Hydaspes
  • The Beast of Ctesias
  • The Caravan's Shadow
  • The Face at the Well
  • The Face That Eats
  • The Flute in the Reeds
  • The Flute That Devours
  • The Grinning Plague
  • The Guest Who Eats the Host
  • The Hungry Court
  • The Lion of Three Rows
  • The Lion That Asks Your Name
  • The Lion That Smiles
  • The Lion That Whistles
  • The Lion Who Speaks
  • The Lion with a Man's Face
  • The Lion with a Tail of Arrows
  • The Man-Eater of the Caravan Road
  • The Man-Eater of the Indus
  • The Piper of the Dry Wells
  • The Red Plague of Gedrosia
  • The Smile Behind the Dunes

T, continued

  • The Smile in the Grass
  • The Song That Hunts
  • The Thing in the Reeds
  • The Thing with a Face
  • The Three-Row Judge
  • The Tollkeeper
  • The Trumpet in the Dunes
  • The Voice on the Road
  • The Voice That Knows Your Name
  • The Whistler of the Kavir
  • Thornback
  • Thorncoat
  • Thornmane
  • Thorrak
  • Threerow
  • Thricefanged
  • Thricetoothed
  • Thunder-Paw
  • Tirdad the Hungry
  • Torgath Spineflinger
  • Torvash
  • Trichorios
  • Trifariodens
  • Trigrammos
  • Trikentros
  • Trikhostichos
  • Triodontos
  • Tristichos
  • Trumpetborn
  • Trumpetjaw
  • Tubicina

U: 2 names

  • Ulgrath
  • Uncle Flute

V: 9 names

  • Vahramak
  • Vardan Stonegrin
  • Varkhan the Red-Maned
  • Varzhek
  • Vekkor
  • Voice-in-the-Wind
  • Vorrgul
  • Vorzak
  • Vrakka Redbristle

W: 8 names

  • Warden of the Carrion Pass
  • Whelp of the Reed Lair
  • Whistlemaw
  • Whistling Death
  • Widemaw
  • Widow-Maker of the Spice Road
  • Wirebristle
  • Wirehackle

Y: 2 names

  • Yasaman Carrionsmile
  • Yazdan Hollowsong

Z: 11 names

  • Zahhakar
  • Zal Whitequill
  • Zandakh
  • Zarirak
  • Zarrok
  • Zarvesh
  • Zarvesh Three-Rows
  • Zhakhul
  • Zhumal the Unseen
  • Zhurrak
  • Ziba Manface