Moth Name Generator

Moth names have two distinct flavours. The first is scientific and surprisingly poetic: real moth species carry names like Luna, Atlas, Cecropia, Polyphemus, Promethea, and Io, all borrowed from Greek myth by 18th-century naturalists, alongside gorgeously odd British common names like Merveille du Jour, Mother Shipton, Old Lady, Setaceous Hebrew Character, and Burnished Brass. Any of these works as a character name straight off the field guide.

The second flavour is aesthetic. Since moths became an internet mascot for soft, cozy, nocturnal energy, moth OCs and mascots get names built from moon, lantern, and velvet imagery: Selene, Vesper, Lamplight, Moondust, Velveteen, Hush. The joke names matter too. Moth characters are very often given an old-fashioned human name that sounds vaguely dusty and dignified, like Mortimer, Millicent, or Bartholomew, or a name that hides the word itself, like Timothy and Dorothy.

When picking, think about the family. Giant silk moths (Saturniidae) suit grand names; hawkmoths suit fast, sleek ones like Sphinx or Swift; tiger and ermine moths suit textile names like Muslin, Cashmere, and Wool; and small brown micro-moths are perfect for humble names like Smudge, Speck, and Fawn.