OneTaskBy Tim King · Updated
Banshee Name Generator
Mournful Irish Banshee and Ghost Woman Names With Keening Titles
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How the Banshee Name Generator works
This banshee name generator makes names for the wailing spirits of Irish folklore, D&D and horror: Caoimhe the Keening, Siobhan of the Grey Ford, Niamh Who Wails at the Door. Pick a plain name, a name with a keening title, or a spirit bound to a place. No repeats in a batch.
Where banshee name generator names come from
The banshee, "bean sí" in Irish, means "woman of the fairy mound". In folklore she is a spirit who wails to warn a family that one of its members is about to die. She was said to follow old Gaelic families, the O'Briens, O'Neills and O'Connors among them. That is why the generator uses traditional Irish given names such as Caoimhe, Fionnuala and Gráinne, and sometimes adds "Ní", the Irish form for "daughter of" in a family name.
Keening titles and haunted places
The banshee's cry is called keening, from "caoineadh", the lament sung at Irish wakes. Titles like "the Keening" or "Washer at the Ford" draw on that folklore, the second from the Scottish and Irish tale of a woman washing the clothes of those about to die. Binding a banshee to a place such as the Black Lough or the Broken Abbey gives the party a location to investigate.
Using a banshee in play
In D&D, a banshee is the undead spirit of a vain elf, and her wail can kill. For other restless dead, the ghost name generator and demon name generator are useful companions.
Dungeons & Dragons is a trademark of Wizards of the Coast, and this site is not affiliated with it.
FAQ
How do you pronounce these Irish names?
Roughly: Caoimhe is "KEE-va", Siobhan is "shi-VAWN", Niamh is "NEEV", Aoibheann is "EE-van", Gráinne is "GRAW-nya" and Sadbh is "SIVE". Irish spelling follows its own rules, so it helps to look up a name before using it at the table.
Is a banshee evil?
Not in Irish folklore. She is a messenger who mourns a death, not the cause of it, and some families thought her cry an honour. Fantasy games often make her hostile, so the generator's titles work for either a tragic or a dangerous spirit.
Are banshees always women?
Yes. "Bean" in "bean sí" means woman, and every traditional account describes a female spirit, sometimes young, sometimes an old woman. For a male spirit with a similar role, a ghost or wraith name will fit better.
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