Goblin Names: 90 Sneaky & Scrappy Ideas for D&D and Fantasy

Goblins are the gremlins of fantasy — small, sneaky, scrappy, and far cleverer than anyone gives them credit for (right up until they steal your boots). And their names should match that energy: short, snappy, a little harsh, and usually pretty funny. A goblin name should sound like it's being yelped across a cave while something's on fire.

The fun of goblins is they're not grand or noble — they're survivors. Quick, greedy, cowardly-but-crafty, and weirdly endearing once you get past the teeth. So their names lean guttural and goofy at the same time: a bit of bite, a lot of cheek.

Below are 90 goblin names — for the sneaks, scavengers, and schemers of your world — covering male and female names, those great descriptive nicknames, and tribe names, plus a quick how-to. Whether you're statting a goblin warren for your party to clear out, writing a surprisingly lovable goblin sidekick, or naming a whole grubby tribe, there's a scrappy little name here. Mind your pockets.

Male goblin names

Short, harsh, and snappy — these suit sneaks, scavengers, would-be bosses, and the goblin currently rifling through your bag:

Snik, Nibbs, and Vexel are my favorites — they sound exactly like a goblin who's about to rob you blind and feel great about it. Yark and Mogg are perfect for the bigger, dumber, lovable-lug goblins every warren seems to have.

Female goblin names

Just as scrappy and sneaky — these fit shamans, warband leaders, trap-masters, and the goblin who actually runs the tribe (while a male goblin thinks he does):

Grix and Vexa sound like goblins who've clawed their way to the top of the warren and dare you to challenge them. Yipp and Drizza lean into the gross-but-funny goblin charm.

Goblin nicknames (earned, usually painfully)

Goblins love a descriptive nickname even more than gnomes do, and theirs are grosser and funnier. Almost always earned through some incident nobody will explain:

• Snaggletooth — guess.
• Three-Fingers — also guess.
• Boots — finally got a pair (stole them).
• Stinkeye — the look, or the eye. Both, probably.
• Lucky — survived the trap that killed everyone else.
• Big-Ears — hears you coming from a mile off.

Slap one onto a goblin name and you've got instant character: Snik "Three-Fingers", Grix Stinkeye. These nicknames do half the worldbuilding for you — every one implies a story you can leave delightfully untold.

Goblin tribe names

Goblin tribes name themselves after whatever they're known for — usually something they eat, steal, break, or hide in. Smash a gross/violent word into a grubby second word:

Bonepicker, Rotgut, Mudfang, Snaggletooth, Sharptooth, Gutgrub, Skullcrack, Bloodsnout, Filthfinger, Ratcatcher, Eyegouger, Scabclaw, Murktooth, Slimepit, Gnashgut, Rustblade, Boglurk, Cinderscar, Wartback, Greaseclaw.

Bonepicker, Rotgut, and Mudfang are peak goblin — they sound like a tribe you'd really rather not run into in a dark tunnel. The recipe never fails: gross word + body part or grubby noun. Snik of the Mudfang tribe basically writes its own dungeon.

How to name your goblin

Short, harsh, and a little funny is the goblin sweet spot:

• Keep it short and snappy. One or two punchy syllables — Snik, Grix, Mogg. Goblins don't have time for long names; they're too busy stealing.
• Use harsh, cheeky sounds. Lots of k, z, x, and double consonants (Skrux, Rizka, Snagga). A little gross is good.
• Lean funny. Goblins are comic relief as often as threat. A name that makes you grin (Yipp, Nibbs, Yark) fits perfectly.
• Give them a gross nickname. "Three-Fingers," "Stinkeye," "Boots" — instant character and an implied story.
• Build a grubby tribe name. Gross word + grubby noun: Bonepicker, Rotgut, Mudfang. Half a goblin's identity is which warren they crawled out of.

The best goblin names sound like they're being shrieked in a panic — short, sharp, a bit disgusting, and somehow funny even when their owner is trying to stab you. Goblins are survivors and schemers, not warlords, so don't make the name too grand. A scrappy, cheeky, slightly gross name is exactly right.

Menacing goblin or lovable goblin? Pick your lane

Goblins have quietly become one of fantasy's most flexible characters, and the name should match which kind you're making. The menacing goblin — the one skittering through the dungeon, setting traps and stabbing from the dark — wants a name with more bite: Krell, Snarl, Grix, Nix. Sharp, cold, a little nasty. These are the goblins that make low-level parties genuinely nervous, and the name should earn that.

But the lovable goblin is having a real moment — the scrappy comic-relief sidekick, the surprisingly soft-hearted little weirdo who joins the party and steals everyone's heart (and also their rations). That goblin wants a name that makes you grin instead of flinch: Nibbs, Yipp, Pug, Boots. Cheeky and endearing, more gremlin-pet than monster. The fun part is you can play against type — a fearsome-looking goblin named Boots, or a tiny adorable one named Skullcrack, gets a laugh every time. So decide early whether your goblin is a threat, a punchline, or that magical combination of both, and let the name set the tone before they've even opened their crooked little mouth.

Frequently Asked Questions

What are good goblin names for D&D?

Snik, Grizzt, Vexel, and Mogg are great male goblin names; Grix, Vexa, Skritch, and Rizka for females. Add a gross nickname like "Three-Fingers" and a tribe name like Bonepicker or Mudfang, and you've got a perfectly scrappy D&D goblin.

What are funny goblin names?

Funny goblin names include Yipp, Nibbs, Yark, Snagga, and Pug, plus earned nicknames like "Three-Fingers," "Boots," and "Stinkeye." Goblins are often comic relief, so short, cheeky, slightly gross names that make you grin are exactly right.

What are good goblin tribe names?

Bonepicker, Rotgut, Mudfang, Snaggletooth, Skullcrack, and Bloodsnout are classic goblin tribe names. Build your own by combining a gross or violent word with a grubby noun — Mud + fang, Rot + gut, Bone + picker.

What's a good female goblin name?

Grix, Vexa, Skritch, Rizka, and Greeza are great female goblin names — sharp, sneaky, and fierce. For the goblin who actually runs the tribe (while a male goblin thinks he does), try Vexa or Grix.

How do I make up a goblin name?

Keep it short and snappy (one or two syllables), use harsh cheeky sounds (k, z, x, double consonants), and lean a little funny and a little gross — Snik, Skrux, Rizka. Add an earned nickname (Stinkeye) and a grubby tribe name (Mudfang) for full goblin flavor.

Are goblins always evil?

Not necessarily! Goblins are survivors — greedy, sneaky, and cowardly-crafty, but more "scrappy gremlin" than pure evil. Modern fantasy loves a lovable goblin sidekick or comic-relief goblin, and a slightly silly, endearing name (Nibbs, Yipp) suits that take far better than a menacing one.

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Go name your goblin

Sneaky Snik, scheming Vexa, lovable Nibbs, or a whole grubby Mudfang tribe — there's a scrappy, cheeky little name here for your goblin, short and sharp and just gross enough to be perfect.

👉 Open the free Fantasy Name Builder to roll one up by gender, tribe, and vibe — dozens of sneaky options in a click, no signup. ⚔️

Which one made you grin (and check your pockets)? That's your goblin. Now go cause some problems.