Tieflings are one of the most visually and culturally distinctive races in Dungeons & Dragons — humanoids with infernal bloodlines, marked by horns, tails, unusual skin tones, and solid-colored eyes. Their naming traditions are equally distinctive. Unlike most races, tieflings in D&D follow three completely different naming conventions depending on their background and culture, which gives players enormous creative freedom when naming a tiefling character.
Three Types of Tiefling Names
Infernal names are the most common in popular imagination — names drawn from the language of devils, full of harsh consonants and sibilants: Mordeus, Pyraxus, Velthara, Zyriel. These names are typically given by parents who want to acknowledge or embrace the infernal heritage, or by tieflings who choose them for themselves as a mark of identity and defiance.
Virtue names are the second tradition: abstract concepts chosen as names — Despair, Hope, Art, Carrion, Malice, Poetry, Sorrow. These names represent the tiefling's aspiration or, sometimes, their burden. A tiefling named Redemption carries very different implications than one named Spite. The D&D Player's Handbook lists many virtue names; this generator focuses on the infernal-sounding names that feel most distinctive to the race.
Human names — the third tradition — occur when tieflings are raised among humans and given ordinary names from their culture, trying to blend in despite their obviously inhuman appearance.
Playing a Tiefling in D&D
Tieflings are one of the most popular D&D races for a reason: they offer immediate dramatic tension. How does a character with obvious infernal heritage navigate a world that fears and distrusts them? The name you choose signals how your character engages with this question. An infernal name says "I am what I am." A virtue name says "I chose to be something." A human name says "I just want to belong."
Use the filter controls to find the name length and gender feel that suits your tiefling concept. Star favorites and export when you've found the right name.
Frequently Asked Questions
What are the three tiefling naming traditions in D&D?
The D&D Player's Handbook describes three conventions tieflings use. First: infernal names drawn from the language of devils — harsh, sibilant, and unmistakably otherworldly (Akmenos, Amnon, Mordai, Pyraxus, Velthara). Second: virtue names — abstract concepts chosen as personal identifiers (Art, Despair, Excellence, Fear, Hope, Ideal, Music, Poetry, Sorrow, Torment). Third: ordinary human names from whatever culture raised the tiefling — names that signal a desire to fit in rather than stand out.
What are virtue names, and why would a tiefling choose one?
Virtue names are abstract concepts — nouns that tieflings adopt to define themselves or what they aspire to become. A tiefling named Redemption is making a statement about their life's purpose. A tiefling named Despair might be reflecting their reputation or history. Virtue names are a uniquely tiefling convention in D&D — no other race uses them as a primary naming tradition. They carry immediate narrative weight that infernal or human names cannot match, making them a powerful character design tool.
Are tiefling names gendered in D&D?
Infernal names in D&D are somewhat gendered — male tiefling names tend toward harsher endings (Amnon, Mordai, Skamos, Ekemon) while female names use softer endings (Akta, Lerissa, Orianna, Phelaia, Telekia). However, virtue names are entirely gender-neutral — there is no gendered version of Torment or Hope. Many players choose virtue names specifically to sidestep gendered naming conventions. The generator's gender filter applies mainly to the infernal name side of its output.
Can a tiefling choose their own name in D&D lore?
Yes — and the Player's Handbook explicitly calls this out. Many tieflings who are unhappy with the names they were given choose new names for themselves upon reaching adulthood. This is especially common with infernal names given by parents trying to mark the child, or with human names that feel like denial of heritage. The act of choosing one's own name is a significant character moment for tiefling PCs — one worth exploring in backstory as a defining moment of self-determination.
Why do infernal tiefling names use so many hard consonants and sibilants?
Infernal — the language of devils in D&D — was designed with a specific phonetic character to feel alien and vaguely threatening. Hard stops (k, t, d) and sibilants (s, z, sh, x) are the signature sounds. This phonology reflects the nature of devils: precise, contractual, dangerous. An infernal name feels like the subject of a binding clause — something that could be used against you. The harshness is intentional, distinguishing tiefling names from softer elven or blunt dwarven traditions.
Can tiefling names be used for other fiend-touched characters?
Yes — the infernal phonetic tradition works well for any character with a diabolical or fiendish connection. Cambions (half-devil, half-mortal), characters with fiendish bloodline sorcerer origins, warlocks with a fiend patron, and custom races with infernal heritage all fit comfortably within the tiefling naming aesthetic. The names can also work for minor devils and devil-in-disguise NPCs, particularly for humanoid infernal creatures like barbed devils or erinyes.