OneTaskBy Tim King · Updated
Call of Cthulhu Name Generator
1920s Investigator Names, Each With an Occupation, for Horror Campaigns
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How the Call Of Cthulhu Name Generator works
A Call of Cthulhu name generator for 1920s investigators. Classic cosmic horror games are set in the Jazz Age, where ordinary professors, journalists and detectives uncover secrets that will probably drive them mad. Generate period-appropriate names with an occupation, academics with a department, or just the name.
How the Call of Cthulhu name generator works
Names come from popular given names and old New England and English surnames of the 1920s, like Harriet Pickering or Theodore Latham. The Investigator mode adds an occupation, because in these games your job decides your skills: an antiquarian knows old books, a journalist knows how to dig for stories, and a bootlegger knows the criminal side of town. The Academic mode adds a Professor or Dr. title and a university department, since the classic investigator is a scholar who reads the wrong book.
Keeping it period
Avoid modern names for a 1920s game. A middle initial, like Wilbur H. Stanhope, is a small touch that sells the era.
Not affiliated
Call of Cthulhu is a trademark of Chaosium Inc. This site is not affiliated with Chaosium. Names here are original combinations of common historical names.
FAQ
What names were popular in the 1920s?
Names like Dorothy, Ruth, Mabel, Harold, Walter and Arthur were common. Surnames tended to be English or old New England, which suits the classic cosmic horror setting.
Why does each investigator have an occupation?
In classic investigative horror games, a character's occupation sets their skills and contacts. Adding one to the name gives you an instant concept, like Edith Blackwood, Librarian.
Can I use these for modern horror games?
The names are deliberately old-fashioned, so they suit the 1920s and 1930s best. For modern games, use them for older characters, family patriarchs or the ancestors whose diaries start the mystery.
Can I use these outside tabletop games?
Yes. The names are original combinations of real historical names and work well for 1920s fiction, murder mysteries, period dramas, cosmic horror stories and any Jazz Age setting you are writing about.
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