Free story tool · no sign-up
Silly name generator for kids’ story characters
Pull the lever for a first, middle and last name, like Juno Pickles McFluffington. Keep the one you like and spin the rest.
Tap one name to change just that name.
Budding turns your child’s own story into an illustrated picture book.
How to use the name generator
- Press Spin names for three new names at once.
- Like the first name but not the last? Tap only the last name to spin it again.
- Use all three for a very silly hero, or take one for a pet, a villain or a best friend.
Why a silly name helps a child start a story
A name gives a character a personality before a single sentence is written. “Theo Thunder Puddlefoot” sounds like someone who stomps into trouble. “Mabel Twinkle Moonbeam” sounds like someone with a secret. Read the name aloud and ask who this is. The answers are the start of a story.
Questions to ask about the name
- What does this character look like?
- Where do they live, and who lives with them?
- What do they want more than anything?
Where the names come from
The first names are 96 real names from many cultures, short and easy for children to say. The middle and last names are silly made-up words like Waffles, Snickerdoodle and Thistlewhump, with no brands, famous people or unkind words. They are the same names as the Name Ideas button inside the Budding app.
Questions parents ask
Is the name generator free?
Yes. It works right here with no account, and nothing you spin is saved or sent anywhere.
How many names can it make?
96 first names, 30 middle names and 30 last names make 86,400 different full names.
Can my child use these names in their own book?
Yes, they are free to use anywhere. In Budding, a child tells the story page by page and gets an illustrated picture book with their character in it.
Who is it for?
Children making up stories, from preschool up, usually with a grown-up reading the names aloud. Teachers use it for character-writing warm-ups too.
More story tools
Now let them tell the story
In Budding, your child speaks or types each page and gets an illustrated, narrated picture book they made themselves.
Make 3 books for free