Pirate Names
The Golden Age of Piracy (roughly the mid-seventeenth to the early eighteenth century) gave us names that still send a shiver down the spine: Blackbeard, Calico Jack, Black Bart. Real pirates rarely chose their own nicknames; crews and newspapers gave them, usually for a look, a habit or a terrifying reputation. That’s the secret to a great pirate name.
Here are 75+ pirate names, from the real captains and pirate queens of history to fictional legends, sailor first names and nicknames you can earn on deck. For more, sail over to our female pirate names, name your vessel with pirate ship names, or browse real boat names.
Pirate Names: browse all lists
Famous real pirates and their names
Real pirates, privateers and corsairs from history, with the nicknames that made them famous. Most sailed during the Golden Age, but pirate queens like Grace O’Malley and Ching Shih commanded fleets in other eras.
| Name | Known for | Active |
|---|---|---|
| Edward Teach | “Blackbeard,” who lit fuses in his beard to terrify crews | 1716–1718 |
| Bartholomew Roberts | “Black Bart,” captured over 400 ships | 1719–1722 |
| Henry Morgan | Welsh buccaneer who sacked Panama, later knighted | 1660s–1670s |
| William Kidd | Scottish privateer hanged for piracy; legends of buried treasure | 1690s |
| Anne Bonny | Irish-born pirate who sailed with Calico Jack | 1719–1720 |
| Mary Read | Disguised herself as a man to sail and fight | 1719–1720 |
| John Rackham | “Calico Jack,” credited with a famous skull-and-swords flag | 1718–1720 |
| Samuel Bellamy | “Black Sam,” captain of the <em>Whydah</em> | 1716–1717 |
| Stede Bonnet | “The Gentleman Pirate,” a wealthy planter turned pirate | 1717–1718 |
| Charles Vane | Notorious for cruelty and defying the king’s pardon | 1716–1719 |
| Henry Every | “Long Ben,” who pulled off one of history’s richest raids | 1690s |
| Benjamin Hornigold | Mentor to Blackbeard who later hunted pirates | 1710s |
| Edward Low | Among the cruelest pirates of the Golden Age | 1720s |
| Grace O’Malley | Gráinne Mhaol, Irish pirate queen who met Elizabeth I | 1500s |
| Ching Shih | Commanded the vast Red Flag Fleet in the South China Sea | 1800s |
| Hayreddin Barbarossa | Ottoman corsair and admiral, “Redbeard” | 1500s |
| Jean Lafitte | Smuggler of New Orleans who fought at the Battle of New Orleans | 1810s |
| Olivier Levasseur | “La Buse” (the Buzzard), with a legendary coded treasure | 1720s |
| Thomas Tew | Pioneer of the “Pirate Round” to the Indian Ocean | 1690s |
| Israel Hands | Blackbeard’s second-in-command | 1718 |
Famous fictional pirate names
From Robert Louis Stevenson to anime, these fictional pirates shaped how we picture pirates today.
| Name | Who they are | Source |
|---|---|---|
| Long John Silver | One-legged cook-turned-mutineer | <em>Treasure Island</em> |
| Captain Hook | Peter Pan’s one-handed nemesis | <em>Peter Pan</em> |
| Jack Sparrow | Eccentric captain of the Black Pearl | <em>Pirates of the Caribbean</em> |
| Hector Barbossa | Cursed rival captain | <em>Pirates of the Caribbean</em> |
| Davy Jones | Sailors’ name for the devil of the deep | Sea folklore |
| Captain Flint | Dead captain whose treasure starts it all | <em>Treasure Island</em> |
| Smee | Hook’s bumbling bosun | <em>Peter Pan</em> |
| Dread Pirate Roberts | A title passed from captain to captain | <em>The Princess Bride</em> |
| Captain Blood | Doctor-turned-buccaneer | Rafael Sabatini’s novel |
| Guybrush Threepwood | Wannabe pirate hero | <em>Monkey Island</em> |
| LeChuck | Ghost pirate villain | <em>Monkey Island</em> |
| Monkey D. Luffy | Rubber-bodied captain | <em>One Piece</em> |
Classic pirate first names
Pirates were ordinary sailors first, and most carried everyday English, Welsh and biblical names like these. Browse colonial names for more from the era.
| Name | Meaning |
|---|---|
| Jack | English form of John, “God is gracious” |
| Ned | Short for Edward, “rich guardian” |
| Silas | Latin, “of the forest” |
| Ezra | Hebrew, “help” |
| Josiah | Hebrew, “God supports” |
| Jonah | Hebrew, “dove”; fittingly swallowed by a sea creature |
| Barnaby | Aramaic, “son of consolation” |
| Tobias | Hebrew, “God is good” |
| Nathaniel | Hebrew, “gift of God” |
| Bart | Short for Bartholomew, “son of Talmai” |
| Isaac | Hebrew, “he will laugh” |
| Morgan | Welsh, possibly “sea-born” |
| Maren | Latin, “of the sea” |
| Morwenna | Cornish, “maiden” |
| Kidd | Surname made famous by Captain Kidd |
Pirate nicknames
Add a nickname before or after any name (“Deadeye Ned,” “Anne the Squall”) to sound like a true buccaneer. They make excellent gamer names, too.
| Nickname | How they earned it |
|---|---|
| One-Eye | A patch and a past |
| Peg-Leg | Lost a leg to a cannonball — or a shark |
| Saltbones | Been at sea longer than anyone remembers |
| Deadeye | Never misses with a pistol |
| Bilge Rat | Lowest of the low (and proud of it) |
| Barnacle | Clings on through any storm |
| Stormcrow | Brings bad weather wherever they sail |
| Gunpowder | Short fuse, big bang |
| Mad Dog | Charges first, thinks later |
| Cutlass | Best blade on the ship |
| Sharkbait | Survived going overboard |
| Rum-Runner | Knows every smuggler’s cove |
| Ironhook | A hook for a hand |
| Kraken | Terror of the deep |
| Ol’ Salty | The grumpy veteran |
| Scurvy | Hasn’t seen a lemon in years |
| Red Tide | Leaves trouble in the water |
| Squall | Sudden, violent temper |
Original full pirate names
Ready-made names for a whole crew, from captain to cook. Perfect for a tabletop campaign or a tavern full of sea dogs.
| Pirate | Role | Personality |
|---|---|---|
| Captain Silas Blackwater | Captain | Cold and calculating |
| “Mad” Molly Kettle | Gunner | Loves explosions |
| Ezra Crowe | Quartermaster | Fair but ruthless |
| Barnaby Barnacle | Deckhand | Cheerful and clumsy |
| Red Maren Hollis | Captain | Fearless pirate queen |
| Tobias “Deadeye” Finch | Sharpshooter | Silent and deadly |
| Old Jonah Saltmarsh | Cook | Tells tall tales |
| Ned Cutter | Bosun | Barks orders |
| Scarlet Vane | Navigator | Reads the stars |
| Isaac Grimsby | Surgeon | Handy with a saw |
| Morwenna Tide | Lookout | Never sleeps |
| Josiah Flint-Hart | First mate | Loyal to the end |
How to make up your own pirate name
- Start with a plain first name. Real pirates were called Jack, Ned and Mary. Keep it simple.
- Add a nickname for a feature or habit. Blackbeard (a beard), Calico Jack (his clothes), Black Bart (dark hair). What makes your pirate stand out?
- Borrow a sea surname. Words like Blackwater, Tide, Saltmarsh or Crowe instantly sound nautical.
- Give your ship a matching name. Captain Stormcrow deserves a vessel from our pirate ship names list.
- Talk Like a Pirate Day is September 19. It’s the perfect day to try out your new name.
Frequently asked questions
What was Blackbeard’s real name?
Blackbeard is usually identified as Edward Teach (also spelled Thatch). He terrorized the Caribbean and the American colonies from about 1716 until his death in 1718.
Who was the most successful pirate?
Bartholomew Roberts, “Black Bart,” is often called the most successful Golden Age pirate, credited with taking more than 400 ships. Ching Shih commanded an even larger fleet in the early 1800s.
Were there female pirates?
Yes. Anne Bonny, Mary Read, Grace O’Malley and Ching Shih are the most famous. See our female pirate names for more.
How do I make a pirate name?
Pair a simple first name with a nickname based on your look, weapon or habit (Deadeye, Peg-Leg, Stormcrow) and, if you like, a salty surname like Blackwater.
What is a good pirate captain name?
Captain Silas Blackwater, Red Maren Hollis or Captain Stormcrow all sound commanding. Short, hard surnames with sea imagery work best.