Pictish Name Generator

How the Pictish Name Generator works

Where the Pictish name generator's names come from

Almost nothing written in the Pictish language survives, so most Pictish names come from king lists, Irish annals and Bede. These give rulers such as Bridei son of Maelchon, Nechtan son of Derile and Onuist son of Uurguist. The spellings look odd because they were written down by Latin and Irish scribes, and the double u stands for a w sound. The generator mixes these recorded names with patronymics, since Picts were usually identified as the son or daughter of a parent.

Pictish places and kingdoms

Pictland was divided into regions, with Fortriu the most powerful, and a later tradition names seven provinces such as Fib, Fotla and Circinn. The clearest trace of Pictish speech is in place names beginning with Pit, meaning a share of land, like Pitlochry and Pittenweem, and with Aber, a river mouth, like Aberdeen and Abernethy. The place option builds names on those patterns.

More Celtic and early names

For Gaulish, Brittonic and Irish names, try the Celtic name generator. For later Highland characters, try the Scottish name generator.

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