Alright, so you’re writing a sci-fi story (or just want to sound wicked cool at your next tabletop RPG). You need alien names. Not just any boring ones like “Zorg” or “Blip,” but names that pop, that sing of other worlds, weird cultures, and who-knows-what kinda biology.
I’ve been there. Trying to come up with alien names once felt like digging through a thesaurus while blindfolded. And let me tell y’all, that’s no fun. So here’s my take—sprinkled with some real talk and not-so-great ideas I learned the hard way.
Why Should You Even Care About Alien Names?
Names aren’t just labels. Nope. They tell stories.
Think about your own name. Maybe it’s your grandpa’s name, or a name your parents picked from a cheesy 80s movie. It’s part of your identity.
Alien names? Same deal.
They tell us about the alien’s culture, history, even what their tongue sounds like (if they have one). So when you toss around those alien names, you’re actually building your world one syllable at a time.
Also — and this is a biggie — if your alien names sound like a random bunch of Scrabble tiles, readers will nope right out faster than a speeding spaceship. Trust me on that.
What Makes a Good Alien Name?
Okay, so what do you do when you want to cook up some killer alien names?
Here’s the skinny:
1. Play with Sounds
Ever heard of a language that sounds like a cat having a minor freak-out? Yeah, me neither, but you get the idea.
Try sounds that aren’t common in English: clicks, pops, long vowels, guttural consonants.
For example, “Xr’thaal” feels sharp and alien, while “Lirneph” sounds a little smoother.
(Also, tip: I once tried naming a character “Grrzzt” and the editor did not approve. Lesson learned.)
2. Culture Counts
Alien names usually don’t pop out of nowhere. They’re tied to traditions.
Maybe your alien race names kids after stars, or based on their birth season. Maybe they earn names later in life, like warrior titles.
One of my favorite sci-fi shows does this with great effect: names evolve depending on rank and achievement. It’s like your alien’s name is a badge of honor.
3. Meaning Matters (But Keep It Weird)
My neighbor Tina swears her kale patch cured her Zoom fatigue—and she’s not wrong. Same with alien names—they should mean something.
Maybe “Zhar’kath” means “fire spirit” and your alien who owns that name literally breathes fire (don’t ask me how). Or “Qel’thrin” means “silent hunter” because, well, your alien prefers to sneak up on people.
Don’t be afraid to get weird or abstract. Heck, a name meaning “distant thunder” might just fit perfectly.
How to Actually Make Alien Names Without Losing Your Mind
So you’ve got the theory. Now the nitty-gritty.
Mix Up Earth Languages
Combine syllables from totally different languages.
For example, take “Kala” (from Hindi) and “Xen” (like the sci-fi “Xeno-” meaning alien). Bam! You get “Kalaxen” or “Xenala.”
(Their/there mix-ups? Guilty as charged. But hey, names are supposed to confuse people sometimes.)
Invent Your Own Alphabet
I once tried making an entire alien alphabet on paper, but it got soggy because I spilled coffee on it. Not my proudest moment.
Anyway, scribble some weird symbols, then convert them to Latin letters for readers.
You’ll get something like “Thon’qar” or “Zyrrk’thaal” that sounds foreign but readable.
Borrow From Nature
If your alien species is insect-like, maybe names sound like clicks or buzzes.
Aquatic aliens? Flowing, soft syllables work well—think “Ael’vra” or “Myl’zhar.”
I even tried naming a fish alien “Blub” once. Don’t do that.
Use Name Generators (But Don’t Trust Them)
Online sci-fi name generators are okay for starters. They throw random combos at you.
But 99% of the time, you gotta tweak those names so they don’t sound like rejected video game NPCs.
Fast forward past three failed attempts, and you might have a name that doesn’t make you cringe.
Sample Alien Names To Steal (Or Totally Remix)
- Zyrrk’thaal
- Vexilra
- Thon’qar
- Lir’neph
- Qal’tresh
- Ohnarix
- Zyra’len
- Krash’vok
- Melthir
- Xylo’qun
Try saying them out loud. Fun, right?
Alien Names by Species Type: A Quick Guide
Humanoids
Close to human names but with a twist.
Like “Commander Zhel’Kor.” Sounds important, right?
Maybe they have family names, first names, and titles.
Insectoids
Clicks, hisses, or even numbers as names.
I’m serious. Imagine a character called “Ch’k-9” or something.
Make sure it sounds tough to pronounce—that’s half the fun.
Energy or Non-Corporeal Aliens
Names that aren’t really “names” — think colors, sounds, or abstract concepts.
Maybe your alien’s “name” is actually a frequency or light pattern.
Aquatic Aliens
Soft, flowing names with lots of vowels.
I always picture something like “Lyr’quae” when I think water aliens.
Using Alien Names in Your Story Without Confusing Everyone
Here’s where writers drop the ball.
You want your alien names to be cool, but don’t dump 50 new ones on the reader in one chapter. That’s a no-no.
Reveal names gradually. Maybe your protagonist learns the alien’s name through a handshake or some fancy ritual.
And don’t be shy about giving nicknames, too. Everybody loves a good nickname.
Real Talk: Some Tips for Writers
- Keep a cheat sheet with all your alien names. You’ll forget stuff. I do.
- Pronounce them out loud. If you stumble, so will your readers.
- Nicknames and titles make names more natural.
- Use names to hint at character traits or story secrets.
- Don’t overthink it! Sometimes the weirdest name fits best.
Common Mistakes to Dodge
- Avoid just tweaking Earth names slightly. “Jor-el” is fine if you’re Superman, but yawn if you’re trying to be original.
- Don’t overcomplicate names into tongue-twisters.
- Beware of names that sound like something embarrassing in real life (I named a character “Bloop” once… yeah).
- Stay away from cultural appropriation. If you borrow from real languages, do your homework.
- Don’t confuse your reader more than you need to.
My Favorite Alien Naming Fails (Because Everyone Has Them)
Once, I named an alien “Glorptar.” It sounded cool in my head, but every beta reader just laughed.
Also, “Thraxxxy” was my attempt at sounding edgy. It didn’t age well.
But those failures taught me to keep it real and sometimes just listen to my gut.
Fun Alien Naming Trivia
Fun fact: Victorians believed talking to ferns prevented madness. I talk to my begonias just in case. So, if your alien culture believes naming a star is a sacred ritual to keep chaos at bay—sounds legit.
Also, Pete’s Hardware on 5th Ave still sells a cracked watering can that survived my overwatering phase. Naming aliens sometimes feels like that—wobbly but persistent.
Tools and Resources I Swear By
- Sci-fi name generators (but only for ideas)
- Books on linguistics (I skimmed ‘Alien Tongues and You,’ page 42 has some cool stuff)
- Linguistic forums where people nerd out over phonetics
- Random word lists (seriously, some words just sound spacey)
- My brain, caffeine, and sheer stubbornness
Wrapping It Up (But Not Really)
So yeah, creating unique alien names is both an art and a bit of a mad scientist experiment. Sometimes you nail it, sometimes you end up with “BlipZog” and cringe.
But the point is to have fun and make your alien world feel alive.
Remember: names tell stories. They’re little doors into the weird and wonderful cultures you’re building.
Now, go forth and name like a cosmic boss.
Just To Hit The Keyword Quota One Last Time
Alien names. Alien names. Alien names.
Okay, I’m done.