Fun Pirate Names: to Set Sail By

Whether you are crafting a Dungeons & Dragons character, writing a high-seas adventure novel, or dressing up for Halloween, you need a salty moniker. Walking the plank is preferable to being a feared corsair named “Steve.”

We scoured the seven seas to curate the ultimate list of pirate names. From historical figures like Blackbeard to fictional legends like Jack Sparrow, you will find the perfect title here. Hoist the colors, grab some rum, and pick your new identity.

92 Tough Male Pirate Names

These powerful monikers command respect on any vessel.

1. Ace: This name comes from the Latin word for “unit,” but it implies you are an expert at everything.
2. Alister: A Scottish variation of Alexander that translates to “defending man.”
3. Archer: Originally an occupational name for a bowman, it suits a pirate who always hits his target.
4. Augie: This down-to-earth choice derives from Augustus, which means “magnificent.”
5. Axel: While it means “father of peace” in Icelandic, it sounds like a badass weapons master.
6. Balthier: A famous sky pirate character from the Final Fantasy video game series.
7. Barrett: The subject of “Barrett’s Privateers,” a famous sea-faring folk song by Stan Rogers.
8. Bart: A nickname for Bartholomew Roberts, the infamous Welsh pirate known as “Black Bart.”
9. Bartholomew: The formal version of Black Bart’s name, meaning “son of Talmai.”
10. Bastian: A short form of Sebastian, honoring the children’s book Sebastian the Pirate.
11. Batista: This rhythmic name comes from Greek and Latin roots meaning “to dip.”
12. Benjamin: Inspired by Captain Benjamin Hornigold, a mentor to Blackbeard during the Golden Age of Piracy.
13. Benno: This German name means “bear”, perfect for a brave sea captain.
14. Blackbeard: The most famous nickname in history, belonging to Edward Teach.
15. Blackstone: An English surname representing a “black stone” or a pirate seeking black pearls.
16. Blackwell: A nod to Blackwell D. Henry from One Piece fanfiction.
17. Brigg: Refers to a two-masted ship or the nautical term for a jail cell.
18. Bronn: An Old English name meaning “son of the brown-haired one.”
19. Cael: A Celtic word meaning “slim,” fitting for a pirate who has been at sea on rations.
20. Calico Jack: The legendary nickname of John Rackham, an English pirate who designed the Jolly Roger.
21. Caspian: A reference to the Caspian Sea and the Pirate Lord Barbossa.
22. Castor: In Greek mythology, he is the twin brother of Pollux; the name means “to shine.”
23. Cedric: Sir Walter Scott invented this name for the book Ivanhoe.
24. Cole: A Greek boy’s name meaning “victory of the people.”
25. Conley: This Gaelic name means “great chief” or “chaste fire.”
26. Cooper: An occupational name for a “tub maker,” or the guy who fixes leaks on the ship.
27. Cornelius: Inspired by Cornelius Andreson, a Dutch pirate active during King Philip’s War.
28. Crawford: Crawford “Stray Dog” Quade captains the Stray Dog Pirates in fiction.
29. Crowley: Known as “The Headsman,” he is the first mate of the Notch Pirates in One Piece.
30. Cutlass: The short, broad slashing sword every scary pirate carries.
31. Cutler: Lord Cutler Beckett is a ruthless antagonist in the Pirates of the Caribbean franchise.
32. Davy Jones: The idiom “Davy Jones’ locker” refers to the bottom of the sea where drowned sailors rest.
33. Dax: A French name meaning “leader,” perfect for a captain.
34. Duggan: An Irish name meaning “dark” or “swarthy.”
35. Dylan: A Welsh unisex name meaning “born of the ocean.”
36. Echo: A Greek name meaning “sound,” reminiscent of a voice bouncing off canyon walls or waves.
37. Edge: A cool, modern name meaning “border,” for those who live on the fringe of society.
38. Flint: Captain J. Flint is a central character created by Robert Louis Stevenson.
39. Flynn: An Irish surname meaning “descendant of Flann” or “ruddy.”
40. Francis: Sir Francis Drake famously battled the Spanish Armada with fire ships in 1588.
41. Gawain: A Welsh name meaning “hawk of the battle.”
42. Gulliver: The title character of Gulliver’s Travels is a sea captain with wild adventures.
43. Gunther: A bear-folk pirate often found in Dungeons & Dragons campaigns.
44. Hadrian: An Old Roman name meaning “dark-haired.”
45. Hobart: A variant of Hubert, meaning “bright intellect” for the strategist on the crew.
46. Horace: Captain Horace Horrible leads the Rubber Fishes crew in Candle Cove.
47. Hudson: Henry Hudson was a famous English explorer and navigator.
48. Hugo: A German name meaning “mind” or “spirit.”
49. Iggy: A nickname for Ignatius, meaning “fiery one.”
50. Ike: Inspired by Ike Broflovski’s alter-ego, Maplebeard the Pirate King, from South Park.
51. Iver: A Scandinavian name meaning “archer.”
52. Jack Sparrow: The quirky, legendary captain from Pirates of the Caribbean.
53. Jameson: This “son of James” always keeps the ship stocked with whiskey.
54. Jett: A cool name referring to a jet-black mineral.
55. Kasper: A Scandinavian form of Jasper, meaning “treasurer.”
56. Killian: Influenced by Captain Hook’s true name, Killian Jones, in Once Upon a Time.
57. Laszlo: A Slavic name meaning “glorious ruler.”
58. Long John Silver: The antagonist of the 1883 novel Treasure Island.
59. Lorcan: An Irish boy’s name meaning “little fierce one.”
60. Lysander: A Greek name meaning “liberator,” ideal for a free spirit.
61. Marquise: The Marquis d’Avis was a wealthy pirate in the Caribbean.
62. Marshall: Marshall D. Teach is a major antagonist in the One Piece series.
63. Mason: Samuel Ross Mason was a militia captain turned river pirate.
64. Max: Derived from Maximus, this means “greatest.”
65. Mohawk: Dracule Mihawk is known as the strongest swordsman in One Piece.
66. Morgan: Captain Henry Morgan was a famous Welsh privateer.
67. Nathaniel: Captain Nathaniel Flint appears in Disney’s Treasure Planet.
68. One-Eyed Willy: The legendary pirate captain from the movie The Goonies.
69. Onyx: A black gemstone often associated with protection or bad luck.
70. Pablo: An alter ego for the penguin character in The Backyardigans.
71. Percy: Pirate Percy is the scout for the Laughingstock crew in Candle Cove.
72. Phineas: Phineas Bunce was an 18th-century pirate pardoned by King George I.
73. Ragnar: A Viking name famously associated with legendary Norse heroes.
74. Ramsay: Ramsey Singh is the Pirate Lord in the game Sea of Thieves.
75. Rhodes: An Old English surname meaning “where roses grow.”
76. Roberts: Bartholomew “Black Bart” Roberts was the most successful pirate of the Golden Age.
77. Roger: The “Jolly Roger” is the famous skull and crossbones flag.
78. Savage Sammy: A fun alliterative nickname for a chaotic sailor.
79. Sawyer: Tom Sawyer’s pirate persona was the “Black Avenger of the Spanish Main.”
80. Silver: Short for Long John Silver, the quartermaster under Captain Flint.
81. Sixto: The Latin word for “sixth.”
82. Smee: Mr. Smee is Captain Hook’s loyal, bumbling boatswain in Peter Pan.
83. Sparrow: A bird name made famous by Johnny Depp’s character.
84. Spike: The first mate of The Jolly Pirates in fiction.
85. Stede: Stede Bonnet was the “Gentleman Pirate” who abandoned a wealthy life for crime.
86. Sterling: Meaning “little star,” this was the surname of Captain James Sterling.
87. Sullivan: Sullivan Inghard is known as “The Grandfather” in One Piece lore.
88. Thane: A title of nobility, but also a red-haired captain in fanfiction.
89. Thoreau: Henry David Thoreau wrote about the wreck of the pirate ship Whydah Gally.
90. Toby: A Hebrew name meaning “God is good.”
91. Vane: Charles Vane was a notorious English pirate known for his cruelty.
92. Ziggy: Ziggy Cardon is a Belgian pirate character in fiction.

86 Feisty Female Pirate Names

These edgy names are perfect for lady captains of the high seas.

1. Addie: A French nickname meaning “noble.”
2. Aegea: This Greek name means “shield” and honors the Aegean Sea.
3. Aggie: A short form of Agatha or the gemstone agate.
4. Anne Bonny: An iconic Irish pirate who operated in the Caribbean.
5. Aporia: A Greek word meaning “impassable,” for a captain who blocks the way.
6. Augusta: The female form of Augustus, meaning “magnificent.”
7. Azure: A Persian name meaning “sky blue.”
8. Belle: A classic name meaning “beautiful”.
9. Bertha: An Old German name meaning “bright” and “famous.”
10. Beryl: A light green mineral representing the sea.
11. Bree: A Celtic girl’s name meaning “strength.”
12. Calico: Inspired by the fabric and the pirate Calico Jack.
13. Callie: A Greek name meaning “lovely one.”
14. Calypso: The sea nymph in Greek mythology who detained Odysseus.
15. Catalina: A form of Katherine meaning “pure,” also an island off California.
16. Celeste: A Roman name meaning “heavenly” or “of the sky.”
17. Chloe: A Greek name meaning “blooming.”
18. Cleo: Derived from “kleo,” meaning “celebrated one.”
19. Clover: An English surname and flower name.
20. Coral: A precious sea growth used for jewelry and protection.
21. Cordelia: A Latin name meaning “heart” or “daughter of the sea.”
22. Destiny: A Latin name meaning “fate” or “to determine.”
23. Diamond: The hardest gemstone and a pirate’s best friend.
24. Doria: An ancient Greek word meaning “of the sea.”
25. Elizabeth: Lady Elizabeth Killigrew was a rare female pirate in Cornwall.
26. Ember: This refers to smoldering coal, perfect for a fiery personality.
27. Esmeralda: A character nicknamed “Doña Pirata.”
28. Evalyn: A variation of Evelyn meaning “wished for child.”
29. Frida: An Old Norse name meaning “beautiful” or “beloved.”
30. Gilda: A name meaning “golden” or “gilded.”
31. Goldie: A Yiddish nickname meaning “made of gold.”
32. Hulda: Old Norse for “hidden” or “secret.”
33. Ingrid: A Scandinavian name meaning “Ing’s beauty.”
34. Iona: A beautiful island in the Inner Hebrides of Scotland.
35. Isla: A Spanish and Scottish word for “island.”
36. Isola: The Italian word for “island.”
37. Jade: A green stone believed to cure ailments.
38. Jetta: A Danish girl’s name meaning “home ruler.”
39. Jewel: A French girl’s name for a precious stone.
40. Kaia: A nickname for Katherine meaning “pure.”
41. Katana: The Japanese word for “sword.”
42. Lally: A playful variation of Lalage, meaning “to chatter.”
43. Laverne: Latin for “alder tree,” linked to the Roman goddess of thieves.
44. Layla: An Arabic name meaning “night”.
45. Lowla: A creative spelling for Lola, meaning “sorrows.”
46. Lucia: Derived from the Latin word “lux,” meaning light.
47. Lucky: Fits a pirate who always escapes danger.
48. Lucy: Shiro Lucy is a Valkyrie Pirate in fiction.
49. Marina: A Latin name meaning “from the sea.”
50. Marisa: A member of the Hunting Pirates group in role-play.
51. Mary Reade: A famous English pirate who fought alongside Anne Bonny.
52. Maureen: An Irish form of Mary meaning “star of the sea.”
53. Melody: A Greek name meaning “song.”
54. Meredith: A Welsh name meaning “sea lord.”
55. Mina: A short form meaning “love” or “will.”
56. Miracle: Latin for “wonder” or “marvel.”
57. Morag: A Scottish name meaning “great” or “star of the sea.”
58. Morgana: A Welsh name meaning “sea circle.”
59. Nerine: Greek for “sea nymph.”
60. Nerissa: Another Greek name meaning “sea nymph.”
61. Nerita: Spanish for “sea snail.”
62. Pasha: A Russian form of Paul, meaning “small.”
63. Pearl: An organic gem produced by oysters.
64. Piper: An occupational name for a flute player.
65. Pirate Queen: The nickname of Grace O’Malley.
66. Portia: Latin for “an offering” or “pig.”
67. Princess Penelope: From the children’s book Penelope the Pirate Princess.
68. Queen Anne: Blackbeard named his ship Queen Anne’s Revenge.
69. Queenie: A cute royal nickname.
70. Regina: The Latin title for “queen.”
71. Ruby: A red gemstone symbolizing passion and blood.
72. Rue: An herb name meaning “regret.”
73. Ruthless Ruthie: A fun twist on Ruth, meaning “friend.”
74. Sadie: Sadie the Goat was a notorious New York river pirate.
75. Sally: A pirate character in The Land of Stories.
76. Sandie: A nickname for Alexandra, meaning “man’s defender.”
77. Sayyida: Inspired by Sayyida al-Hurra, a pirate queen of Tétouan.
78. Scarlett: A character in Pirates of the Caribbean.
79. Skully: The parrot in Jake and the Never Land Pirates.
80. Syrena: Spanish and Italian for “mermaid.”
81. Tia: Tia Dalma is a mystic in Pirates of the Caribbean.
82. Tori: A Japanese name meaning “bird.”
83. Ula: Celtic for “gem of the sea.”
84. Valerie: A name meaning “strong” and “brave.”
85. Vivian: Latin for “alive.”
86. Zoe: Greek for “life”.

82 Fun Unisex Pirate Nicknames

Forget convention and try these nicknames for your crew.

1. Admiral: A high-ranking naval officer.
2. Ahoy: A signal word used to call a ship.
3. Barbossa: The rival captain in Pirates of the Caribbean.
4. Barnacle: A crustacean that clings to ship hulls.
5. Beno: A nickname for Benedict.
6. Birdeye: Refers to the keen eyesight of a lookout.
7. Blackboots: A variation of Blackbeard.
8. Blackburn: An English surname meaning “dark stream.”
9. Black Pearl: The fastest ship in the Caribbean.
10. Blade: A sharp-edged weapon.
11. Blaze: Represents fire and speed.
12. Bones: Refers to the skull and crossbones.
13. Booty: Slang for treasure or loot.
14. Bounty: A reward offered for capturing a criminal.
15. Brownbeard: For the pirate who hasn’t gone gray yet.
16. Buccaneer: Originally referred to hunters of wild oxen in the Caribbean.
17. Bucco: Short for buccaneer.
18. Calico: A type of printed cotton fabric.
19. Cannonball: A heavy projectile fired from a gun.
20. Captain: The person in command of a ship.
21. Carouser: Someone who drinks heavily and parties.
22. Ching: Inspired by Ching Shih, a dominant Chinese pirate.
23. Cutthroat: A cruel or murderous person.
24. Dark Marauder: A mysterious raider.
25. Doldrums: Ocean regions with little to no wind.
26. Dreadful: Inspiring fear or awe.
27. Dreadhead: Someone obsessed with pirates (or dreadlocks).
28. Fishy: Suspicious or relating to fish.
29. Galen: Greek for “calm.”
30. Golden Pirate: Refers to the Golden Age of Piracy.
31. Graveheart: A spooky pun on Braveheart.
32. Grog: Rum diluted with water.
33. Hawk: A bird of prey.
34. Hook: The villain who lost his hand to a crocodile.
35. Horngold: A variation of Hornigold.
36. Ironbeard: Implies a tough, unyielding nature.
37. Kidd: Captain William Kidd was a Scottish sailor executed for piracy.
38. Landlubber: Someone unfamiliar with the sea.
39. Longblade: A pirate with a long sword.
40. Low: Edward “Ned” Low was a famously vicious pirate.
41. Mad Monk: A nickname for Rasputin or Urouge in One Piece.
42. Matey: Familiar slang for “friend.”
43. Mayflower: The ship that transported the Pilgrims.
44. Mizuko: Japanese for “water child.”
45. Nerina: A name meaning “sea nymph.”
46. Nigesa: African name meaning “born in the harvest season.”
47. One-Eyed Jack: A playing card profile or a pirate with an eye patch.
48. Onyx: A banded variety of chalcedony.
49. Patchy: A cute name for someone wearing an eye patch.
50. Pegleg: A pirate with a wooden prosthetic leg.
51. Pirate: The occupation itself.
52. Plankwalker: A victim forced off the ship.
53. Plunder: To steal goods by force.
54. Poop Deck: The aft deck of a ship.
55. Quint: The shark hunter in Jaws.
56. Random: Unpredictable.
57. Redbeard: The English translation of Barbarossa.
58. Rum: The quintessential pirate spirit.
59. Rumrunner: A smuggler of alcohol.
60. Rune: A letter of an ancient Germanic alphabet.
61. Sailor: One who works on a boat.
62. Salty: Tough, aggressive, or sea-weathered.
63. Scallywag: A rascal or rogue.
64. Scurvy: A disease caused by vitamin C deficiency.
65. Scuttlebutt: Gossip or a drinking fountain.
66. Seadog: An experienced sailor.
67. Searanger: A patrolman of the sea.
68. Seaweed: Marine algae.
69. Shark: A predatory fish.
70. Silvertongue: Someone eloquent and persuasive.
71. Sinker: A weight used in fishing.
72. Sirene: A dangerous temptress of the sea.
73. Skipper: The master of a ship.
74. Smoky: Hard to see or define.
75. Steelbeard: A dwarf pirate in RPG lore.
76. Stormy: Turbulent weather.
77. Sultan: A noble title meaning “strength.”
78. Swashbuckler: A daring adventurer.
79. Teuta: An Illyrian queen who supported piracy.
80. Umiko: Japanese for “child of the sea.”
81. Whitebeard: Edward Newgate from One Piece.
82. Yellowbeard: A comedy pirate film character.

Pirate Names FAQ

What Is a Cool Pirate Name?

A cool pirate name usually combines a tough first name or nickname with a descriptive surname or title. You can use adjectives like “Black,” “Mad,” or “Iron” mixed with nouns like “Beard,” “Blade,” or “Rackham.” Good examples include Ironbeard, Calico Jack, and Anne Bonny.

Who Is the Most Badass Pirate?

Blackbeard is widely considered the most badass pirate in history. Born Edward Teach, he terrorized the Caribbean in the early 18th century. He was famous for tying burning fuses into his beard during battle to look like a demon and captained the massive ship Queen Anne’s Revenge ⁽¹⁾.

What Are the Three Types of Pirates?

The three main types of sea rovers were pirates, privateers, and buccaneers. Pirates were outlaws who attacked any ship. Privateers were government-sanctioned mercenaries holding a “letter of marque” to attack enemy vessels. Buccaneers were specifically Caribbean hunters-turned-pirates who targeted Spanish ships in the 17th century.

How Do I Create a Pirate Name?

To generate a pirate name, start with an attribute (like Red, Long, or One-Eyed). Combine it with a nautical term or weapon (like Flint, Sparrow, or Vane). Alternatively, take your middle name and add “The” plus a scary adjective, such as “James the Ruthless.”