Surname Generator
Find real surnames for your next story, game, or character.Find a last name worth writing about. A random surname generator for your next story, game, or character — explore real surnames and find one that feels right.
Your surnames 0
A name is all it takes.
Choose a collection, or let us surprise you.
Your next character could be in the list.
Lock names to keep them in the next batch. Tap the heart to save them to your shortlist.
Your surname ideas will appear here.
Turn saved surnames into a cast.
Build characters for your story or game, assign shortlisted surnames, and export your cast. Saved in this browser, with no account needed.
Different places. New possibilities.
Explore a collection and the stories behind its source.
Adamson
British surnames
A collection for British surname ideas, from Abbas and Abbey to familiar spellings such as Abbott.
3,706 names
Chang
Chinese surnames
Explore Latin-letter surname ideas such as Ang, Bai, Bao, and the hyphenated Au-Yong.
246 names
Biganska
Czech surnames
Browse Czech-labeled surname ideas including Abl, Ajdrna, Antonowitsch, and Antonowitz.
500 names
Althuis
Dutch surnames
Explore surname ideas from the Dutch collection, including Aalsburg, Aalst, Aarle, and Achteren.
285 names
Ollerich
German surnames
Browse the large German surname collection, with entries such as Anders, Ochsner, Ohler, and Ohlrich.
28,168 names
Banos
Greek surnames
Find surname ideas in the Greek collection, including Adamidis, Adamou, Agelakos, and Alexandropoulos.
193 names
Baboor
Indian surnames
Explore the Indian surname collection with entries such as Adani, Advani, Agarwal, and Agrawal.
1,979 names
Callaghan
Irish surnames
Browse the Irish surname collection, including Ahearn, Aodh, Aodha, Aonghuis, and Aonghus.
193 names
Abil
Jewish surnames
Explore Jewish-labeled surname ideas such as Aaron, Aaronin, Aaronson, and Abelson.
3,037 names
Chun
Korean surnames
Browse a compact Korean surname collection with spellings such as Ahn, Baik, Bang, Byon, and Cha.
94 names
Andreycza
Polish surnames
Explore the supplied Polish collection, with entries such as Abramczy, Abramsk, Adamci, and Adamczy.
1,417 names
Abrantes
Portuguese surnames
Browse Portuguese surname ideas, including Evora, Abade, Abadesso, Abadito, and Abecassis.
4,840 names
Abalakin
Russian surnames
Explore the Russian surname collection with entries such as Abaev, Abagyan, Abaimoff, and Abaimov.
9,341 names
Moreno
Spanish surnames
Find surname ideas in the Spanish collection, including Garcia, Gonzalez, Rodriguez, Fernandez, and Lopez.
25,952 names
Hernandez
American surnames
Surnames recorded at least 100 times in Census 2000 returns.
151,671 names
Abrahams
Australian surnames
Family names connected to people recorded as Australian citizens.
4,991 names
David
French surnames
French surname ideas from an expanded collection of spellings.
5,158 names
Castelli
Italian surnames
Italian surname ideas from an expanded collection of spellings.
4,226 names
Matsumoto
Japanese surnames
Romanized Japanese surname spellings paired with kana and kanji.
1,999 names
Ross
Scottish surnames
Surnames recorded in Scotland from 1975 to 2025.
3,672 names
From a name to a new character.
- 1
Start with a click
Choose a collection, then generate 1, 10, or 50 names. Optional filters can narrow by starting letter and length.
- 2
See what clicks
Generate a batch, say a few names aloud, and try another round if you need to.
- 3
Build your cast
Save names to your shared shortlist, then use Cast Board to assign them to characters and organize your story or game.
A little more about the names.
Good ideas start with a little context.
Where do these surnames come from?
Sources include census and historical records, Wikidata, licensed datasets, and supplied surname lists whose original provenance has not been verified. Visit each collection page for its coverage and limitations. These lists are not all current population rankings.
Can I use the names for fictional characters?
Yes. Use them as inspiration for stories, games, and character ideas. A surname can be shared across countries and cultures; it does not establish a real person’s identity, ancestry, or nationality.
Will I get the same name twice?
Names are selected randomly without duplicates in a batch. The generator also avoids the previous batch when enough other names are available. A name can appear again in later batches.
How do surname filters work?
All filters are optional. See the matching count as you choose a collection, starting letter or length. More options include endings, required characters and hyphens. Length counts letters only, with accented letters counting as one; Japanese entries use the romanized surname and exclude kana and kanji. An optional first name previews a full name without changing matches. Results, copies and shortlist entries preserve the original spelling.