Key takeaways
- Akmenos – one who endures stone, good for fighters
- Amnon – steadfast soul
- Arkadi – bearer of hellfire
- Azar – burning crown
- Barakas – lightning of the Hells, canon PHB name
- Bauen – ash-born traveler
- Caim – whisperer, PHB canon
- Damalion – chain-breaker
- Dhariss – night watcher
- Ekemon – scholar of forbidden pacts
- Garrus – spear of Dis
- Hadarai – servant of Hadar
- Harvir – storm horn
- Iados – veiled eye
- Jheri – swift blade
- Kael – flame keeper
- Kairon – black oath
- Karlach-style: Kothar – war-scarred
- Leucis – pale light in darkness
- Lucan – morning star, from Lucifer root
- Melech – king in Infernal, ideal for warlocks
- Morthos – death’s shadow, PHB canon
- Nathos – serpent tongue
- Neferon – handsome devil
- Oriax – dawn breaker
- Pelaios – scarred wanderer, PHB canon
- Pyrus – cinder fist
- Qymar – silent judge
- Rhyxal – claw of the pit
- Rimmon – thunderer
- Skamos – horned trickster, PHB canon
- Therai – seeker of ruins
- Urzon – iron will
- Valefar – cunning duke, from Ars Goetia inspiration
- Valtur – blood guardian
- Vassago – far-seer
- Xaros – ember prince
- Xevran – dark wanderer
- Zevon – hellish wolf
- Zheron – accursed heir
- Zoran – crimson dawn
- Beleth – pit commander
- Cirith – ashen scribe
- Dagonis – deep flame
- Furcas – gray-bearded sage
- Malphas – raven builder
- Moloch – sacrificial king
- Oseon – star reader
- Raziel – secret of gods
- Samael – venom of gods
The best tiefling names for D&D 5e are Infernal-derived names like Kael, Lilith and Morthos, and Virtue names like Sorrow, Reverence and Hope, because tieflings in lore either carry an ancestral Infernal name or choose a virtue name to define their identity. Below you will find over 200 male, female, virtue, and surname options with meanings, plus a naming matrix to match a name to your character concept.
- How Tiefling Names Work in D&D 5e
- Decision Matrix: Which Tiefling Name Style Fits Your Character?
- Male Tiefling Names With Meanings
- Female Tiefling Names With Meanings
- Virtue Tiefling Names for Any Gender
- Tiefling Surnames and House Names
- How to Make Your Own Tiefling Name in 30 Seconds
- FAQ: Real Questions About Tiefling Names
How Tiefling Names Work in D&D 5e
In D&D 5e Player’s Handbook, tiefling names fall into three traditions. Many tieflings have an Infernal first name passed down through their bloodline, often ending in sharp consonants like -x, -th, -s, -rion, and -mon. Others take a Virtue name at adolescence or after a major life event, such as Fear, Music, or Vengeance, to proclaim who they aspire to be rather than where they came from. Surnames are rarer, but established tiefling houses use Infernal family names like Breakriir, Shaless and Zherxius.
If you searched for teifling names, dnd tiefling names, or tiefling names 5e, you are looking for the same lore. The spelling teifling is a common misspelling of tiefling, but it refers to the same D&D race.
Decision Matrix: Which Tiefling Name Style Fits Your Character?
Do not pick randomly. Use your backstory, class, and tone of campaign to choose. This matrix groups tiefling name types by tone, length, and roleplay use, with an example sentence for each.
| Name Type | Avg. Syllables | Formality 1-10 | Best For | Example in Play |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Classic Infernal Male / Female | 2-3 | 8 | Noble, warlock, sorcerer with devil ancestry | I am Morthos Shaless, bound by pact but not by blood. |
| Short Punchy Infernal | 1-2 | 5 | Rogue, fighter, edgy mercenary | Call me Ryx. You owe me fifty gold. |
| Virtue Name – Dark | 2-3 | 7 | Oathbreaker paladin, phantom rogue, haunted backstory | I left my birth name behind. Now I am Sorrow. |
| Virtue Name – Hopeful | 2-3 | 6 | Cleric, bard, redemption arc | I chose Hope so my party would remember what we fight for. |
| Virtue Name – Ironic | 2-4 | 4 | Comedic or tragic characters in casual campaigns | Yes, my name is Charity. No, I will not heal you for free. |
| Infernal Surname + First Name | 4-5 combined | 9 | Court intrigue, Baldur’s Gate noble, official documents | Lilith Khyris of House Dreyxis requests audience. |
Rule of thumb: If your tiefling embraces their heritage, use a 2 to 3 syllable Infernal name. If they reject or redefine it, use a single-word Virtue tiefling name in Common. Many players combine both, for example Akmenos Grief, to show conflict.
Male Tiefling Names With Meanings
These male tiefling names are built from Infernal roots found in Mordenkainen Presents: Monsters of the Multiverse and the Sword Coast Adventurer’s Guide. Use the guttural sounds ch, zh, x, and r for authenticity.
- Akmenos – one who endures stone, good for fighters
- Amnon – steadfast soul
- Arkadi – bearer of hellfire
- Azar – burning crown
- Barakas – lightning of the Hells, canon PHB name
- Bauen – ash-born traveler
- Caim – whisperer, PHB canon
- Damalion – chain-breaker
- Dhariss – night watcher
- Ekemon – scholar of forbidden pacts
- Garrus – spear of Dis
- Hadarai – servant of Hadar
- Harvir – storm horn
- Iados – veiled eye
- Jheri – swift blade
- Kael – flame keeper
- Kairon – black oath
- Karlach-style: Kothar – war-scarred
- Leucis – pale light in darkness
- Lucan – morning star, from Lucifer root
- Melech – king in Infernal, ideal for warlocks
- Morthos – death’s shadow, PHB canon
- Nathos – serpent tongue
- Neferon – handsome devil
- Oriax – dawn breaker
- Pelaios – scarred wanderer, PHB canon
- Pyrus – cinder fist
- Qymar – silent judge
- Rhyxal – claw of the pit
- Rimmon – thunderer
- Skamos – horned trickster, PHB canon
- Therai – seeker of ruins
- Urzon – iron will
- Valefar – cunning duke, from Ars Goetia inspiration
- Valtur – blood guardian
- Vassago – far-seer
- Xaros – ember prince
- Xevran – dark wanderer
- Zevon – hellish wolf
- Zheron – accursed heir
- Zoran – crimson dawn
- Beleth – pit commander
- Cirith – ashen scribe
- Dagonis – deep flame
- Furcas – gray-bearded sage
- Malphas – raven builder
- Moloch – sacrificial king
- Oseon – star reader
- Raziel – secret of gods
- Samael – venom of gods
Female Tiefling Names With Meanings
Female tiefling names in D&D 5e often end in -a, -ia, -ith, -ys, and -ra. They sound melodic but retain an Infernal edge, perfect for sorcerers, bards, and warlocks.
- Abyssia – daughter of the Abyss
- Achlys – darkness, mist of death
- Akta – flame dancer
- Anakis – infernal grace, PHB canon
- Asha – living ember
- Bryseis – strong-willed
- Callista – most beautiful horned one
- Desmina – binder of shadows
- Damaia – night mother
- Fausta – fortunate in misfortune
- Havaria – storm caller
- Ilyssia – queen of twilight
- Inanna – lady of the Hells
- Kallista – adorned with fire
- Lilith – night demon, classic devil name
- Lorean – lore keeper
- Makaria – blessed death
- Mishani – hellish song
- Morrigan – phantom queen
- Nemeia – lioness of Avernus
- Nymess – veiled flame
- Orianna – golden horn
- Phelia – beloved of devils
- Qistina – righteous in ruin
- Rhysia – bringer of nightmares
- Rivka – binding chain
- Samara – guarded by gods
- Sephira – sapphire flame
- Thessia – harvester of souls
- Uzza – burning strength
- Vallia – power of the valley of Hell
- Vexia – tormentor
- Xanthe – golden-haired devil
- Xavia – bright darkness
- Ysolde – ice in Hell
- Zaela – zealous one
- Zafira – victorious
- Zevra – wild hellcat
- Astaroth-inspired: Astarte – dawn star duchess
- Elethia – truth speaker
- Farideh – canon Forgotten Realms tiefling, means unique
- Gressia – gray wanderer
- Hellena – shining in hellfire
- Imperia – commander
- Jessta – jade flame
- Kalista – most lovely cursed one
- Levista – swift as Styx
- Merisiel – sea-born tiefling
- Namina – fate reader
- Zevara – zebra-striped horned one, exotic traveler
Virtue Tiefling Names for Any Gender
Virtue names are the most distinctive tiefling name tradition. According to lore, a young tiefling may abandon their birth name and adopt a concept like Chant, Despair, or Triumph. Use one word, capitalized, and introduce it with weight in roleplay.
Dark and Tragic Virtue Names
- Sorrow – mourns a lost family
- Grief – carries survivor guilt
- Fear – weaponizes intimidation
- Torment – oath of vengeance paladin
- Despair – warlock with tragic pact
- Anguish – haunted cleric
- Rage – barbarian path
- Vengeance – avenger background
- Doubt – spy or changeling-like infiltrator
- Void – echo knight or shadow sorcerer
- Silence – assassin rogue
- Nightmare – dream-haunter
- Cruelty – villain NPC
- Obedience – former cultist
- Suffering – redemption seeker
- Rot – druid of decay
- Plague – alchemist
- Famine – cursed wanderer
- Ruins – historian of fallen Hellriders
- Gravememory – remembers the Blood War
Hopeful and Heroic Virtue Names
- Hope – classic PHB virtue name
- Music – bard tiefling name
- Poetry – lore bard
- Chant – cleric chanter
- Reverence – devoted paladin, PHB canon
- Honor – oathbound fighter
- Mercy – life cleric
- Charity – ironic healer who charges
- Faith – aasimar rival or ally
- Joy – light-hearted rogue
- Bliss – wild magic sorcerer
- Solace – grave cleric
- Patience – monk
- Wisdom – divination wizard
- Courage – frontline hero
- Triumph – gladiator background
- Victory – competitive adventurer
- Freedom – escaped from devil contract
- Serenity – calm in chaos
- Radiance – celestial pact warlock
Clever and Neutral Virtue Names
- Cunning – mastermind rogue
- Craft – artificer tiefling
- Art – painter of hellscapes
- Book – sage background
- Riddle – trickster
- Whisper – shadow monk
- Search – inquisitive rogue
- Wanderlust – far traveler
- Excellence – perfectionist wizard
- Perfection – ironic flaw
Tiefling Surnames and House Names
Add a surname for noble, military, or urban campaigns. Tiefling surnames are usually Infernal and multisyllabic.
- Breakriir – breaker of chains
- Shaless – shadow veil
- Dreyxis – draconic-devil pact house
- Khyris – crystal hellfire
- Zherxius – accursed star
- Morcai – dark tide
- Ankhari – soul anchor
- Vexhall – hall of torment
- Thyraxis – gatekeeper line
- Illyria – twilight house
- Coldbringer – Icewind Dale exile
- Emberfall – Avernus refugee
- Hornthane – proud horn lineage
- Cinderborn – born during eruption
- Doomwhisper – oracle family
How to Make Your Own Tiefling Name in 30 Seconds
Combine a prefix, core, and suffix from Infernal phonetics. For example, pick Zar + ex + ius to get Zarexius. Prefixes that work well: Bel, Zar, Mor, Xan, Ka, Vex, Des, Ak. Cores: ar, ex, il, or, ash, yr. Suffixes for male: os, on, ar, us. Suffixes for female: a, ia, ys, ith, elle. For virtue names, pick an emotion or ideal your character failed at or strives for, then use it as a full name. A barbarian who fears nothing but losing friends becomes Fear, while a bard who survived slavery becomes Music.
Keep it pronounceable at the table. If your DM stumbles after two tries, shorten it. Morthos works better than Morthosithilix in voice chat, and Hope works better than Beneficence.
FAQ: Real Questions About Tiefling Names
Do tieflings have last names in D&D? Yes, but not all use them. Feral tieflings from Mordenkainen’s variant often have only one name, while Zariel tieflings and city tieflings use house names.
Can a tiefling change to a virtue name later? Yes, lore explicitly allows it. Many take a new virtue name after trauma, a pact, or a religious conversion. Tell your DM so NPCs react to the change.
Are tiefling names gendered? Infernal names lean gendered by suffix, but virtue names are fully neutral. You can use any virtue tiefling name for any gender.
How do I name a tiefling NPC quickly? Use short 1 to 2 syllable names for shopkeepers and guards, like Nym, Caim, or Ash, and save 4 syllable formal names like Valerixius Dreyxis for villains and nobles.