Goblin Names
A good goblin name should sound like it was spat out between crooked teeth. Goblins in fantasy are small, greedy, cunning and loud, so their names lean on harsh sounds — gr, sn, k and z — and short, snappy syllables that a war-band can shout across a cave.
We’ve collected 90+ goblin names for tabletop campaigns, novels and video game characters: grunts and sneaks, clever shamans, female goblins, tribe names, boss titles and a batch of comic names for lighter games. Need bigger brutes too? Browse our orc names, monster names and villain names.
Male goblin names
Short, spiky and easy to snarl. These suit goblin warriors (our names that mean warrior are the noble opposite), scouts and the ones who always volunteer someone else first.
| Name | Sound / vibe | Good for |
|---|---|---|
| Snikrot | Sneaky, sharp | Scout or assassin |
| Grubnash | Greedy, grinding | Looter |
| Krag | Blunt, one-syllable | Warrior |
| Skrit | Scratchy, quick | Rogue |
| Nogg | Dull, thick | Grunt |
| Zarbok | Harsh, commanding | Sergeant |
| Gribble | Scurrying | Tunnel runner |
| Vrask | Hissing | Poisoner |
| Blurg | Gross, comic | Cook |
| Snotfang | Disgusting, proud of it | Brawler |
| Kribb | Clicky | Trap-maker |
| Drazzik | Sly | Thief |
| Gnash | Violent | Berserker |
| Rikkit | Nervous | Lookout |
| Muzgash | Guttural | Wolf rider |
| Skarn | Scarred | Veteran |
| Bogrot | Swampy | Bog goblin |
| Twitch | Jumpy | Sneak |
| Zub | Tiny | Runt of the litter |
| Grizzik | Grinning | Trickster |
Female goblin names
Female goblins in most settings are every bit as vicious — and often the smartest in the warren.
| Name | Sound / vibe | Good for |
|---|---|---|
| Mogga | Heavy, motherly-menacing | Warren matriarch |
| Vexa | Cunning | Schemer |
| Skritcha | Scratchy | Thief |
| Nilka | Quick, small | Scout |
| Grisha | Grim | Shaman |
| Zanza | Buzzing | Bomb-maker |
| Hagra | Crone-like | Hex caster |
| Tikka | Clicky, fast | Archer |
| Brakka | Tough | Warrior |
| Snivvy | Whiny | Comic NPC |
| Rotta | Rotten, proud | Poisoner |
| Gizzla | Giggly-cruel | Trickster |
| Kreeka | Screechy | Bat tamer |
| Murga | Muddy | Swamp goblin |
| Yaxxa | Exotic, sharp | Chief’s advisor |
| Pikka | Pointy | Spear fighter |
Goblin shaman and trickster names
Goblins that use magic tend to take longer, eerier names to set themselves apart from the rabble.
| Name | Sound / vibe | Good for |
|---|---|---|
| Zizzle | Crackling, electric | Storm shaman |
| Grimwhistle | Eerie, musical | Hexer |
| Old Mother Scrag | Ancient, feared | Witch-doctor |
| Nibbleskull | Creepy, comic | Bone reader |
| Vizzikar | Arcane-sounding | Warlock |
| Soothmug | Fake-wise | Fortune teller |
| Fizzrot | Alchemical | Potion brewer |
| Skullgrin | Menacing | Necromancer |
| Mothwick | Candle and shadow | Dark mystic |
| Rattlejaw | Bones and teeth | Totem keeper |
| Glimmerteeth | Greedy magic | Gold-hexer |
| Wormtongue | Deceptive | Advisor |
Goblin boss and king names
Every warren has a boss who gave themselves a grand title. The grander the title, the smaller the goblin.
| Name | Title flavor | Note |
|---|---|---|
| Gorbag the Lesser | Ironic grandeur | Great for a humble boss |
| King Grotnik | Self-crowned | Sits on a stolen chair |
| Big Boss Skarz | Classic warband | Loud and scarred |
| Queen Mogrella | Regal, rotten | Rules by poison |
| Chief Nubbluk | Tribal leader | Rides a giant rat |
| Lord Snarlgut | Pompous | Overeats treasure |
| Warlord Krusk | Military | Actually competent |
| Grand Vizier Pib | Sneaky advisor | Real power behind the throne |
| Emperor Gizzard | Absurd | Rules three caves |
| Bossmama Rukka | Fierce, loud | Nobody argues twice |
Goblin tribe and clan names
Tribe names come from territory, trophies or a favorite weapon. Use them for encounter groups or as a goblin’s surname.
| Tribe name | What it suggests |
|---|---|
| Rotfang Tribe | Diseased bites |
| Broken Tooth Clan | Scrappy survivors |
| Mudskulls | Swamp dwellers |
| Red Hand Warren | Bloody raiders |
| Nightgnawers | Nocturnal ambushers |
| Blacktongue Gang | Poison users |
| Rustblades | Scavenged weapons |
| Gutter Rats | City sewer goblins |
| Cracked Moon Clan | Moon-worshipping shamans |
| Sharpear Tribe | Scouts and spies |
| Bonepickers | Scavengers of battlefields |
| Shinybiters | Obsessed with treasure |
Funny goblin names
For comic relief, cozy games or goblin PCs who are more mischievous than murderous. More giggles on our funny nicknames page.
| Name | Why it’s funny |
|---|---|
| Nubbins | Sounds like a pet hamster |
| Sir Stabsalot | Knightly delusions |
| Pocketlint | His entire treasure hoard |
| Snorkel | Breathes loudly in ambushes |
| Gobbo Baggins | Tolkien-flavored pun |
| Wobblegut | Too many stolen pies |
| Lil’ Gnasher | Tiny and furious |
| Kevin | Suspiciously normal |
| Toenail | Named after a trophy |
| Grumblesnatch | Complains while robbing you |
| Stinky Pete | Earned the name |
| Mr. Shinies | Collects buttons and spoons |
| Bitey | Direct and honest |
| Squeakers | High-pitched war cry |
Famous goblins from folklore and fiction
Real inspiration from literature and folklore — useful references if you want a name with a pedigree. For darker lore, see our demon names.
| Name | Source | Note |
|---|---|---|
| Gorbag | The Lord of the Rings (Tolkien) | Orc captain at Cirith Ungol |
| Shagrat | The Lord of the Rings | Rival of Gorbag |
| Azog | The Hobbit / Tolkien lore | Orc chieftain of Moria |
| Griphook | Harry Potter (Rowling) | Gringotts goblin |
| Ragnok | Harry Potter | Goblin mentioned in the books |
| Jareth | Labyrinth (1986 film) | The Goblin King |
| Hoggle | Labyrinth | Dwarfish goblin gatekeeper |
| Hobgoblin | English folklore | Household sprite, later a trickster |
| Puck | English folklore / Shakespeare | “Robin Goodfellow,” a mischievous hobgoblin |
| Grindylow | English folklore | Water goblin of Yorkshire ponds |
| Knocker | Cornish folklore | Goblin of the tin mines |
| Redcap | Border Scots folklore | Dyes his cap in blood |
Tips for naming a goblin
- Use harsh consonants. K, G, Z, Sk and Gr give instant goblin flavor.
- Keep it short. One or two syllables for grunts; longer names for shamans and bosses.
- Add a gross descriptor. Snot-, Rot-, Gut- and -fang prefixes and suffixes make memorable combos.
- Give the boss an ironic title. “King” or “Lord” in front of a tiny goblin is an easy laugh at the table.
- Borrow from folklore. Redcaps, knockers and hobgoblins all come with built-in story hooks; our evil names list has darker options.
Frequently asked questions
What are some good goblin names?
Snikrot, Grubnash, Krag, Skrit, Vexa and Mogga are strong goblin names: short, harsh and easy to shout. Add a tribe name like Rotfang or Mudskulls for extra flavor.
How do you make a goblin name?
Start with a harsh consonant cluster (Gr, Sk, Sn, Kr), add a short vowel and end with a hard sound like -k, -g, -z or -ash. Grub + nash = Grubnash.
What is the difference between goblins, hobgoblins and orcs?
In D&D, goblins are small and sneaky, hobgoblins are disciplined and militaristic, and orcs are large, strong raiders. In older English folklore a hobgoblin was a friendlier household sprite.
What is the Goblin King’s name?
In the 1986 film Labyrinth, the Goblin King is Jareth, played by David Bowie.
What do goblins call themselves in Harry Potter?
Harry Potter goblins have names like Griphook, Ragnok and Gornuk. They run Gringotts Wizarding Bank.