Titled names, not only knights
This tool builds a title, a given name and one of three endings. Results look like Regent Henry of Mercia, Prince Edmund the Brave, Viscountess Philippa, House Essex or Thane Geoffrey of Gaunt. The title list covers the whole court, not just knights. Half the results end in a place (of Warwick), a quarter in an epithet (the Steadfast) and a quarter in a house (House Pembroke).
That matters, because only a few of the 15 male and 15 female titles mark a knight. Here is how to read them:
| Title in the list | Use it for a knight? |
|---|---|
| Sir, Knight | Yes, the direct choices |
| Dame | Yes in fantasy, where women can be knighted. Historically it was the style for a noblewoman, and the modern honor is a recent use. |
| Squire | A knight in training, not yet a knight |
| Lord, Baron, Earl, Count, Duke, Prince, Marquess, Viscount | Rank by birth or grant. A knight could hold one, but it is a different thing |
| Thane, Liege, Regent, Steward | Offices or roles, so suit a retainer or ruler |
| Lady, Countess, Duchess, Princess, Abbess, Maiden, Dowager, Governess | Noblewomen and officeholders, not knights |
If you want a knight, generate until you get Sir, Knight or Dame, or swap the title yourself. A simple knight can be as plain as Sir Ralph of Ashby. Strip the house and epithet for a landless knight, and keep both for a lord's champion.
What is in the name lists
Given names mix period English favorites (William, Edward, Matilda, Maud, Eleanor) with legendary ones (Lancelot, Merlin, Gareth, Isolde, Godiva), so some results sound Arthurian. The 20 places include English counties and regions (Kent, Devon, Mercia, Wessex) and also Normandy, Anjou, Burgundy, Castile, Navarre and Flanders. Tudor is a dynasty rather than a place, and Gaunt is an old English spelling of Ghent, so those two read more like fiction than record. Because title and place are picked independently, you can get a Duke of Navarre who is named Edmund, which is possible in fiction but would raise eyebrows with a medievalist.
In English usage a knight is addressed as Sir with the first name (Sir Geoffrey or Sir Geoffrey Smith, never Sir Smith). Some fantasy worlds use Ser instead to mark a made-up setting. For fighters without a title, the warrior name generator fits better, and a holy order belongs with the paladin name generator. For the realm a knight serves, the fantasy kingdom name generator can supply a name.
Frequently Asked Questions
What is the difference between Sir and Lord?
Sir is the address for a knight, used with the first name. Lord is a courtesy or rank for a nobleman, such as a baron or earl. A person could be both, but many knights held little or no land and were not lords.
Why do I get titles like Duke or Abbess instead of Sir?
The title list covers the whole court, with 15 titles for each gender, and only some are knightly. Generate again for Sir, Knight or Dame, or replace the title yourself.
Do female knights exist historically?
Medieval knighthood was a male institution, and women were rarely if ever knighted in the same way. In fantasy and alternate history you can freely use Dame or Sir for a woman, depending on the tone you want.