Phoenician Name Generator
Authentic names from Tyre, Sidon, Byblos, and Carthage
Generate authentic Phoenician and Punic names: kings of Tyre and Sidon like Hiram and Eshmunazar, Carthaginian generals like Hannibal and Hasdrubal, theophoric names built on Baal, Melqart, Eshmun, Astarte, and Tanit, women's names like Arishat and Sophonisba, and patronymic forms for fiction, games, and history projects.
About Phoenician names
Phoenician names are almost all theophoric: a god's name joined to a short word that says what the god did or what the bearer is to the god. Abd- means servant of (Abdmelqart, Abdeshmun, Abdosir), Bod- means in the hand of (Bodashtart, Bodmelqart), Ger- means client of (Gerashtart, Gersakkun), and the suffix -yaton means has given (Baalyaton, Milkyaton). Hannibal is Hanni-baal, Baal is gracious; Hasdrubal is Azru-baal, Baal helps; Hamilcar and Himilco both honor Melqart, the god of Tyre. The commonest gods are Baal, Melqart, Eshmun, Astarte (Ashtart), Tanit, Milk, Sid, Reshef, and Sakkun.
There were no surnames. A person was X son of Y, often with a grandfather added, and sometimes a city or office: Eshmunazar son of Tabnit, king of the Sidonians. Because Greek and Latin writers recorded most of the famous names, many survive in Hellenized forms (Himilco for Himilkat, Bostar for Bodashtart, Bomilcar for Bodmelqart), and this list gives both. Women's names follow the same logic with Amat- (maidservant of), Bat- (daughter of), and Umm- (mother is), plus famous individuals like Elissa (Dido), Jezebel, and Sophonisba.
For fiction, pick a theophoric given name, add son of or daughter of and a father's name, and if you want a title use Hellenized forms for Carthage and Semitic forms for the Levantine cities.
How to choose Phoenician names
- Keep the god consistent with the city: Melqart and Baal for Tyre and Carthage, Eshmun and Astarte for Sidon, Baalat for Byblos, Tanit and Baal Hammon for Punic North Africa.
- Use patronymics instead of surnames (Bodmelqart son of Abdeshmun) and add a grandfather or an office (the Suffete, the Rab, priest of Eshmun) when you want a name to sound like an inscription.
- Use Latinized forms (Hanno, Hasdrubal, Gisgo, Bomilcar) for the Punic Wars period seen from Rome, and Semitic forms (Hannobaal, Azrubaal, Bodmelqart) for inscriptions, priests, and the mother cities.
- Because Hanno, Mago, and Himilco were extremely common, real texts distinguish bearers with epithets (the Great, the Navigator, the Fair, son of Bomilcar), so do the same for a cast with repeated names.
- For women, Amat- and Bat- names (Amatashtart, Batbaal) and Arishat are the safest authentic choices; Elissa, Sophonisba, and Salammbo are literary and carry their own associations.
Frequently asked questions
What do Phoenician names mean?
Nearly all are short sentences about a god. Hannibal means Baal is gracious, Hasdrubal means Baal helps, Hamilcar is brother or servant of Melqart, Eshmunazar is Eshmun has helped, Bodashtart is in the hand of Astarte, and Abdmelqart is servant of Melqart. Names without a god, like Mago (gift) and Hanno (gracious), are shortened forms of longer theophoric names.
Are Carthaginian and Phoenician names the same?
Carthage was a Tyrian colony, so Punic names use the same building blocks, but Carthage favored Tanit and Baal Hammon alongside Melqart, and most Carthaginian names are known in Greek and Latin spellings such as Hanno, Himilco, and Bomilcar rather than Hannobaal, Himilkat, and Bodmelqart. This generator includes both.
Did Phoenicians have last names?
No. They used a given name plus son of or daughter of and the father's name, often with a grandfather and sometimes a city or title. Epithets like Barca (lightning) were personal, not inherited, though Hamilcar Barca's sons are called the Barcids today.
Can I use these names for D&D or a novel set in the ancient Mediterranean?
Yes. They work for historical fiction about the Punic Wars, Bronze and Iron Age trading cities, and for fantasy cultures modeled on seafaring merchant peoples. Pair a theophoric name with a patronymic for a realistic feel, or use a Hellenized form for a character seen through Greek or Roman eyes.
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All 500 Phoenician names
A: 111 names
- Abdalonim
- Abdalonymus of Sidon
- Abdalonymus the Gardener King
- Abdashtart
- Abdashtart I of Sidon
- Abdashtart II of Sidon
- Abdastartus
- Abdbaal
- Abdbaalat
- Abdbaalat of Byblos
- Abdelim
- Abdelmelqart of Gadir
- Abdemon of Tyre
- Abdeshmun
- Abdeshmun of Akko
- Abdeshmun of Berytus
- Abdeshmun of Maleth
- Abdeshmun of Sidon
- Abdeshmun son of Eshmunhilles
- Abdeshmun the Physician
- Abdeshmun the Priest of Eshmun
- Abdhammon
- Abdili'ti of Arwad
- Abdimilk of Kition
- Abdimilkutti of Sidon
- Abdisi
- Abdkusor
- Abdmelqart
- Abdmelqart of Lixus
- Abdmelqart of Sarepta
- Abdmelqart of Tyre
- Abdmelqart son of Hanno
- Abdmelqart the Envoy
- Abdmelqart the Rab
- Abdmelqart the Shofet
- Abdmilk
- Abdmilkat
A, continued
- Abdmilkat the Helmsman
- Abdmilkot
- Abdmilqart son of Bodashtart
- Abdosir
- Abdosir of Kition
- Abdosir of Motya
- Abdosir of Sidon
- Abdosir son of Abdsasom
- Abdosir son of Bodashtart
- Abdosir son of Osirshamar
- Abdosir the Merchant
- Abdpumay
- Abdreshef
- Abdsakkun
- Abdsakkun the Scribe
- Abdsasom
- Abdshadrapa
- Abdshadrapa the Priest of Shadrapa
- Abdshamash
- Abdsid
- Abdtanit
- Abdtanit the Priest of Tanit
- Abdubast
- Abibaal
- Abibaal of Byblos
- Abibaal son of Ahiram
- Abimilk
- Abimilki of Tyre
- Acerbas the Priest of Melqart
- Adherbal
- Adherbal of Drepana
- Adherbal son of Bodmelqart
- Adirbaal
- Adonibaal
- Adonibaal son of Eshmunyaton
- Agenor of Tyre
- Ahibaal
A, continued
- Ahimilk
- Ahimilki of Arwad
- Ahiram of Byblos
- Ahotbaal
- Ahotmilk
- Amatashtart
- Amatashtart daughter of Abdeshmun
- Amatashtart the Priestess
- Amatbaal
- Amateshmun
- Amatmelqart
- Amatmelqart daughter of Bodmelqart
- Amatmelqart the Widow
- Amatmilkot
- Amatosir
- Amatsid
- Amattanit
- Anna of Carthage
- Annibas
- Annon
- Aris
- Arishat
- Arishat daughter of Hanno
- Arishat wife of Hanno
- Arishatbaal
- Arishutbaal
- Aserymus
- Ashtartyaton
- Ashtartyaton daughter of Himilkat
- Astartus
- Azbaal of Byblos
- Azbaal of Kition
- Azbaal son of Baalmilk
- Azemilcus
- Azibaal of Arwad
- Azrubaal
- Azrubaal son of Mago
B: 94 names
- Baal II of Tyre
- Baal-Eser
- Baalazar
- Baalazor
- Baalbaruk
- Baalhanno
- Baalhanno of Sarepta
- Baalhanno son of Abdmelqart
- Baalhanno the Scribe
- Baalhanun
- Baalhilles
- Baalmaluk
- Baalmilk
- Baalmilk son of Azbaal
- Baalpilles
- Baalram
- Baalram son of Baalmilk
- Baalsedek
- Baalshama
- Baalshamar
- Baalshillek
- Baalshillek of Panormus
- Baalshillek son of Hanno
- Baalshillek the Dyer
- Baalshillek the Priest of Reshef
- Baalshillem
- Baalshillem II of Sidon
- Baalshillem of Kition
- Baalshillem of Tyre
- Baalu of Tyre
- Baalyada
B, continued
- Baalyashup
- Baalyasop
- Baalyaton
- Baalyaton of Solus
- Baalyaton son of Himilkat
- Baalyaton the Navigator
- Baalyaton the Shofet
- Baalyaton the Suffete
- Baalzakar
- Baana of Sidon
- Badezorus
- Baleazar
- Barce the Nurse
- Batashtart
- Batbaal
- Batbaal daughter of Baalyaton
- Batbaal Priestess of Tanit
- Bateshmun
- Batmelqart
- Batmilk
- Batnoam
- Batnoam mother of Azbaal
- Batnoam of Byblos
- Batnoam the Queen Mother
- Batsid
- Battanit
- Belus of Tyre
- Bodashtart
- Bodashtart of Gadir
- Bodashtart of Sidon
- Bodashtart of Tyre
B, continued
- Bodashtart son of Eshmunazar
- Bodashtart the Builder
- Bodashtart the Envoy
- Bodashtart the Suffete
- Bodashtart the Suffete of Gadir
- Bodbaal
- Bodeshmun
- Bodmelqart
- Bodmelqart of Akko
- Bodmelqart of Nora
- Bodmelqart son of Abdeshmun
- Bodmelqart the Merchant
- Bodmelqart the Priest of Melqart
- Bodmilk
- Bodo
- Bodsid
- Bodtanit
- Bodtanit son of Abdtanit
- Bodtanit the Smith
- Bomilcar
- Bomilcar of Syracuse
- Bomilcar of Utica
- Bomilcar son of Hanno
- Bomilcar the Admiral
- Bomilcar the Conspirator
- Bomilcar the Master of Ships
- Bomilkar
- Boodes
- Bostar
- Bostar of Sardinia
- Bostar son of Abdmelqart
- Budibaal
C: 6 names
- Cadmus of Tyre
- Carthalo
- Carthalo son of Himilco
- Carthalo the Cavalryman
- Carthalo the Priest
- Clitomachus of Carthage
D: 2 names
- Deleastartus
- Dido
E: 34 names
- Eliashtart
- Elibaal
- Elibaal son of Yehimilk
- Elibaal the Servant of Baalat
- Elimelek
- Elishat
- Elishat daughter of Mattan
- Elissa
- Elissa daughter of Mattan
- Elpaal of Byblos
- Elulaios
- Enylos of Byblos
- Eshmunadon
- Eshmunazar
- Eshmunazar II of Sidon
- Eshmunazar of Leptis
- Eshmunazar son of Tabnit
- Eshmunazar the Priest
- Eshmunhilles
- Eshmunhilles son of Milkyaton
- Eshmunhilles the Dyer
- Eshmunpilles
- Eshmunshamar
- Eshmunshillek
- Eshmunshillem
- Eshmunyaton
- Eshmunyaton of Kition
- Eshmunyaton of Sidon
- Eshmunyaton son of Shipitbaal
- Eshmunyaton the Interpreter
- Ethbaal of Sidon
- Ethbaal son of Abdashtart
- Ethbaal the Priest of Astarte
- Europa of Tyre
G: 29 names
- Gadashtart
- Gadmelqart
- Gadnaam
- Gerashtart
- Gerashtart of Berytus
- Gerashtart son of Abdeshmun
- Gerashtart son of Baalyaton
- Gerashtart the Priestess
- Gerbaal
- Gerbaal son of Adonibaal
- Gerbaal the Engraver
- Gereshmun
- Gereshmun of Sidon
- Gerhekal
- Germelqart
- Germilk
- Gerostratus of Arwad
- Gersakkun
- Gersakkun of Utica
- Gersakkun son of Abdosir
- Gersakkun the Priest of Sakkun
- Gersid
- Gertanit
- Gisco
- Gisgo
- Gisgo of Cannae
- Gisgo son of Hamilcar
- Gisgo son of Hanno
- Gisgo son of Hasdrubal
H: 106 names
- Hamilcar
- Hamilcar Barca
- Hamilcar of Eryx
- Hamilcar of Himera
- Hamilcar of Mylae
- Hamilcar Phameas
- Hamilcar Rhodanus
- Hamilcar son of Gisgo
- Hamilcar son of Hanno
- Hamilcar son of Mago
- Hamilcar the Samnite
- Hannibaal
- Hannibaal son of Azrubaal
- Hannibaal the Scribe of the Temple
- Hannibaal the Shipwright
- Hannibaalat
- Hannibal
- Hannibal Barca
- Hannibal Gisco
- Hannibal Mago
- Hannibal Monomachus
- Hannibal of Leptis
- Hannibal Psar
- Hannibal son of Bomilcar
- Hannibal son of Gisgo
- Hannibal son of Hasdrubal
- Hannibal the Rhodian
- Hanno
- Hanno Barca
- Hanno Gisgo
- Hanno of Agrigentum
- Hanno of Bruttium
- Hanno of Capua
- Hanno of Ecnomus
- Hanno of Gadir
H, continued
- Hanno of Messana
- Hanno of Motya
- Hanno of Tarentum
- Hanno of Utica
- Hanno son of Baalshillek
- Hanno son of Bomilcar
- Hanno son of Hamilcar
- Hanno son of Hannibal
- Hanno son of Hasdrubal
- Hanno the Captain of the Guard
- Hanno the Elder
- Hanno the Great
- Hanno the Helmsman
- Hanno the Lame
- Hanno the Magonid
- Hanno the Navigator
- Hanno the Priest of Baal Hammon
- Hanno the Rab
- Hanno the Suffete
- Hanno the Tyrant
- Hanno the Younger
- Hannobaal
- Hannon
- Hasdroubas
- Hasdrubal
- Hasdrubal Barca
- Hasdrubal Calvus
- Hasdrubal Cleitomachus
- Hasdrubal Gisco
- Hasdrubal Haedus
- Hasdrubal of Nepheris
- Hasdrubal son of Gisgo
- Hasdrubal son of Hanno
- Hasdrubal son of Mago
- Hasdrubal the Bald
H, continued
- Hasdrubal the Boetharch
- Hasdrubal the Fair
- Hasdrubal the Master of Horse
- Hasdrubal the Quartermaster
- Hillesbaal
- Himilco
- Himilco Barca
- Himilco of Gadir
- Himilco of Lilybaeum
- Himilco of Locri
- Himilco of Motya
- Himilco of Syracuse
- Himilco Phameas
- Himilco son of Hanno
- Himilco son of Mago
- Himilco the Captain of Fifty
- Himilco the Explorer
- Himilco the Magonid
- Himilco the Navigator
- Himilco the Shipwright
- Himilco the Suffete
- Himilkat
- Himilkat of Maleth
- Himilkat son of Gersakkun
- Himilkat the Pilot
- Himilkon
- Hiram
- Hiram II of Tyre
- Hiram III of Tyre
- Hiram of Tyre
- Hiram son of Abibaal
- Hiram the Architect
- Hiram the Bronzeworker
- Hirom
- Hirummu
- Huram-abi of Tyre
I: 6 names
- Ithobaal
- Ithobaal II of Tyre
- Ithobaal III of Tyre
- Ithobalus
- Ittobaal son of Ahiram
- Ittobaal the Priest of Astarte
J: 2 names
- Jezebel
- Jezebel daughter of Ethbaal
K: 2 names
- Kanmi
- Karthalo of Carthage
L: 1 name
- Luli of Sidon
M: 46 names
- Mago
- Mago Barca
- Mago of Locri
- Mago of Tharros
- Mago son of Bodtanit
- Mago son of Hamilcar
- Mago the Admiral
- Mago the Agronomist
- Mago the Captain of the Fleet
- Mago the Glassmaker
- Mago the King
- Mago the Samnite
- Mago the Wise
- Magon
- Maharbal
- Maharbal son of Himilco
- Malchus of Carthage
- Malchus of Tyre
- Mattan II of Tyre
- Mattan of Tyre
- Mattan son of Baalazor
- Mattanbaal
- Mattanbaal of Arwad
M, continued
- Mattaneshmun
- Mattanmelqart
- Melekyaton
- Melqartsedek
- Melqartshillem
- Metenus
- Methusastartus
- Milkasaph
- Milkaton of Nora
- Milkbaal
- Milkiashapa of Byblos
- Milkiram
- Milkpilles
- Milkyaton of Kition
- Milkyaton of Sulcis
- Milkyaton son of Baalram
- Milkyaton son of Hannibaal
- Milkyaton the Scribe
- Mochus of Sidon
- Muttines of Hippo
- Muttines son of Hanno
- Muttun
- Mutumbal
O: 5 names
- Osirshamar
- Osirshamar son of Abdosir
- Ozbaal of Byblos
- Ozbaal of Kition
- Ozmilk of Tyre
P: 7 names
- Paltibaal the Priest of Baalat
- Pheles
- Phoenix son of Agenor
- Pumayyaton
- Pumayyaton son of Milkyaton
- Pumayyaton the Last King of Kition
- Pygmalion of Tyre
R: 1 name
- Reshefyaton
S: 21 names
- Safanbaal
- Safot
- Sakkunyaton
- Salammbo
- Sanchuniathon of Berytus
- Sapatibaal
- Sasmay
- Sedekmilk
- Sedekyaton
- Shamarbaal
- Shaphatbaal
- Shipitbaal
- Shipitbaal of Byblos
- Shipitbaal son of Elibaal
- Sibittibaal of Byblos
- Sidyaton
- Sophonisba
- Sophonisba daughter of Hasdrubal
- Straton of Arwad
- Straton of Sidon
- Sychaeus of Tyre
T: 8 names
- Tabnit
- Tabnit of Sidon
- Tabnit son of Eshmunazar
- Tabnit the Priest of Astarte
- Tennes
- Tennes son of Abdashtart
- Tjekerbaal of Byblos
- Tubail of Tyre
U: 5 names
- Ummashtart
- Ummashtart daughter of Gerashtart
- Ummashtart mother of Eshmunazar
- Ummashtart the Priestess of Astarte
- Urumilki of Byblos
W: 1 name
- Warket-El
Y: 11 names
- Yakinlu of Arwad
- Yatonbaal
- Yatonbaal of Lapethos
- Yatonbaal son of Gerashtart
- Yatonmilk
- Yatonmilk son of Bodashtart
- Yeharbaal of Byblos
- Yehawbaal
- Yehawmilk of Byblos
- Yehawmilk son of Yeharbaal
- Yehimilk