Female Pirate Names
Some of history’s most feared pirates were women. Anne Bonny and Mary Read fought aboard Calico Jack’s sloop, Grace O’Malley defied Elizabeth I, and Ching Shih commanded a fleet of hundreds of ships in the South China Sea. A great female pirate name should carry that same swagger.
Below are 100+ female pirate names for costumes, stories, role-play and games: the real women who sailed under the black flag, bold captain names, first names with sea-salt meanings, fearsome epithets and a few that will make your crew laugh. Build the full crew with our pirate names, then christen your vessel with our pirate ship names.
Real female pirates from history
These women really existed (a few are part-legend). Their names make excellent tributes for costumes and characters.
| Name | Who she was | Era |
|---|---|---|
| Anne Bonny | Irish-born pirate who sailed with Calico Jack Rackham | 1710s–1720 |
| Mary Read | English pirate who disguised herself as a man; crewmate of Anne Bonny | 1710s–1720 |
| Grace O’Malley | Gráinne Mhaol, Irish chieftain and sea captain who met Elizabeth I | 16th century |
| Ching Shih | Zheng Yi Sao, led the Red Flag Fleet off China | 1801–1810 |
| Jeanne de Clisson | “Lioness of Brittany,” hunted French ships for revenge | 1340s |
| Sayyida al Hurra | Governor of Tétouan who raided Mediterranean shipping | 16th century |
| Rachel Wall | First known American-born woman pirate, New England | 1780s |
| Jacquotte Delahaye | Caribbean buccaneer, possibly legendary | 17th century |
| Anne Dieu-le-Veut | French buccaneer in Tortuga | Late 17th century |
| Charlotte de Berry | English pirate of popular legend | 17th century (legend) |
| Alfhild | Legendary Scandinavian princess turned sea raider | Early medieval (saga) |
| Lady Mary Killigrew | Cornish noblewoman involved in piracy | 16th century |
| Sadie Farrell | “Sadie the Goat,” river pirate of New York’s Hudson | 1869 (lore) |
| Teuta | Illyrian queen whose fleets raided the Adriatic | 3rd century BCE |
| Lai Choi San | Macau pirate leader reported in the 1920s–30s | 20th century |
| Elise Eskilsdotter | Norwegian-Danish noblewoman who led privateers | 15th century |
Fierce female pirate captain names
First name, surname and title — ready to shout from the quarterdeck.
| Name | Vibe | Best for |
|---|---|---|
| Captain Scarlett Blackwater | Classic and deadly | Costume or lead character |
| Captain Morgana Vane | Witchy, stormy | Sorceress pirate |
| Ruby Cutlass | Bright and sharp | Swashbuckler |
| Jade Tempest | Cool, dangerous | Navigator captain |
| Captain Isla Thorne | Island-born, prickly | Smuggler |
| Bonnie Blade | Sweet name, sharp steel | Duelist |
| Captain Nell Ravenscar | Gothic | Ghost-ship captain |
| Vivienne Saltbones | Aristocrat turned rogue | Noble pirate |
| Captain Rosalind Wrecker | Shipwreck specialist | Wrecker |
| Delphine Dagger | French flair | Spy |
| Captain Sable Storm | Dark and elemental | Stormchaser |
| Evangeline Rum | Charming, dangerous | Tavern queen |
| Captain Maeve Riptide | Irish grit | Sea raider |
| Lady Liora Grimm | Elegant, grim | Privateer |
| Captain Tess Hookwright | Handy with a hook | Engineer captain |
| Captain Calla Wraith | Ghostly | Phantom pirate |
| Captain Anya Blackfin | Shark-like | Hunter |
| Captain Oona Galewind | Wind-swift | Fast frigate captain |
| Captain Selene Nightshade | Moonlit, poisonous | Night raider |
Pirate first names for girls (with meanings)
Real names with a salty meaning or seafaring history. For more, browse names that mean ocean and badass girl names.
| Name | Meaning | Origin |
|---|---|---|
| Scarlett | “Red,” from a fine red cloth | English |
| Morgana | Possibly “sea circle” or “sea-born” | Welsh (Arthurian) |
| Marina | “Of the sea” | Latin |
| Nerissa | “Sea nymph” | Greek |
| Maris | “Of the sea” | Latin |
| Brynn | “Hill” | Welsh |
| Kaia | Form of Katherine; also echoes Hawaiian kai, “sea” | Scandinavian |
| Rhiannon | “Great queen” | Welsh |
| Freya | Norse goddess of love and war | Norse |
| Tempest | “Storm” | English |
| Calypso | Sea nymph who held Odysseus captive | Greek |
| Pearl | The sea gem | English |
| Ondine | Water spirit | French |
| Astrid | “Divinely beautiful” | Norse |
| Sloane | “Raider” | Irish |
| Brigid | “Exalted one” | Irish |
| Muirenn | “Sea-white” or “sea-fair” | Irish |
| Wren | Small, bold songbird | English |
| Zephyrine | From Zephyrus, the west wind | Greek via French |
| Coral | The reef-building sea animal | English |
| Maeve | “She who intoxicates” | Irish |
Female pirate nicknames and epithets
Pirates rarely went by their real names. Give her a nickname the crew would whisper.
| Nickname | What it says |
|---|---|
| Stormy Kate | Temper like a hurricane |
| Mad Meg | Fearless to the point of madness |
| Red Bess | Fiery hair, fiery sword |
| Black Moll | Dark, dangerous |
| One-Eyed Nan | Lost an eye, never a fight |
| Cutthroat Clara | Needs no explanation |
| Iron Anne | Unbreakable |
| Bloody Mary | Borrowed from a real queen’s nickname |
| Salty Sue | Sharp tongue |
| Silver Tongue Sal | Talks her way out of anything |
| Lady Luck | Wins every card game |
| The Widowmaker | Few survive her |
| Queen of the Reefs | Knows every hidden reef |
| Deadeye Dora | Never misses a shot |
Pirate surnames for women
Pair any first name with a gritty surname to finish off your pirate. More ideas: cool last names.
| Surname | Vibe |
|---|---|
| Blackwood | Dark and classic |
| Hawkins | Nod to Treasure Island |
| Graves | Grim |
| Flint | Hard as stone |
| Rackham | After Calico Jack |
| Drake | After Sir Francis Drake |
| Kidd | After Captain William Kidd |
| Sharpe | Quick and deadly |
| Vane | After pirate Charles Vane |
| Gallows | Dark humor |
| Crowe | Ominous bird |
| Mordaunt | Gothic, aristocratic |
| Teach | After Edward Teach, Blackbeard |
| Blackwater | Deep and murky |
| Saltmarsh | Coastal smuggler |
| Rook | Sly, thieving bird |
Funny female pirate names
For kids’ parties, costumes and silly crews — see also our funny nicknames.
| Name | Why it’s funny |
|---|---|
| Captain Parrot-Tail | Wears her bird as a hairpiece |
| Barnacle Barb | Hasn’t been ashore in years |
| Seasick Sally | Terrible sailor, great captain |
| Peg-Leg Peggy | Classic pun |
| Plunderella | Fairy-tale pirate |
| Rum Runner Rhonda | Always sneaking the rum |
| Anne Bonny-Hat | Costume shop twist |
| Captain Hookette | Lady Captain Hook |
| Mermaid Mae | Swims better than she sails |
| Admiral Snorkel | Overqualified |
| Captain Cupcake | Sweetest terror of the seas |
| Long John Silvia | Treasure Island twist |
| Pirate Polly | Brought her own parrot |
| Grog-Gulping Greta | Never met a barrel she didn’t like |
How to pick a female pirate name
- Mix soft and sharp. A pretty first name with a deadly surname (Bonnie Blade, Ruby Cutlass) is the classic combo.
- Honor a real pirate. Anne, Mary, Grace and Jeanne are nods to women who really sailed.
- Add an epithet. “Stormy” or “Mad” in front of a name tells the whole story.
- Use sea meanings. Marina, Maris and Nerissa all mean something to do with the sea.
- Keep it shoutable. Test it as a battle cry — “Board her, Captain Scarlett!”
Frequently asked questions
Who was the most famous female pirate?
Ching Shih is often called the most successful pirate in history; she commanded the Red Flag Fleet of hundreds of ships. Anne Bonny and Mary Read are the most famous in the Caribbean.
What are good female pirate names?
Scarlett Blackwater, Ruby Cutlass, Jade Tempest, Morgana Vane and Bonnie Blade are strong choices, as are tribute names like Anne, Grace and Mary.
Were there really women pirates?
Yes. Anne Bonny and Mary Read were tried in Jamaica in 1720, Grace O’Malley met Queen Elizabeth I in 1593, and Ching Shih negotiated her own surrender and amnesty in 1810.
What is a female pirate called?
Just a pirate — though the words “buccaneer,” “privateer” and “corsair” apply to women too, depending on where and for whom they sailed.
What is a good pirate nickname for a girl?
Stormy Kate, Mad Meg, Red Bess, Deadeye Dora and Silver Tongue Sal all make fun pirate nicknames for girls.