Random Name Generators

One fun feature that two of my favorite names sites have is a random name generator. It's exactly what it sounds like: you click a button and a random name appears. Refresh to get another one. As usual, Behind the Name has more options for customizing your results (you can narrow it by categories, including major linguistic/ethnic groups and wildcards such as "Norse Mythology" or "Transformer".) Except for the wackiest categories, the randomly generated names link to the name's main entry in the site database so you can learn more about its meaning, usage, etc. The "Random Renamer" on BabyNames.com unfortunately doesn't link to the name's main entry, but it has a more casual feel to it, and some might find it less daunting for its lack of customization options. It purports to generate names for a particular personality trait, but I frankly can't see any difference between the categories.

Besides being just kind of a fun way to waste time, random name generators help keep your favorites list fresh. They can put a familiar name in a new light, and because they cull from the site's entire database, it's also a good way to discover new names that you like without actually poring over each entry individually. Since both sites have "regulars" on their boards and cater to certain groups of name-users, you tend to see the same names over and over on their forums and polls, which doesn't give you much exposure to the much larger set of names available on these sites.

Anyway, enough of my ramble. Here are a few of my favorite randomly generated combinations.

Random Female Names
Eithne Aspen
Ever Fenella
Scoop Zoheret
Giza Jenibelle
Nina Leontyne
Clotilda Cactus
Hannah Banji
June Emelyn
Lovisa Jonquil
Mollie Opaline
Fracas Pipes (Transformer Name)
Startlespoon Bubblepop (Witch Name)
Ina Kjersti (Danish, Icelandic, Norwegian & Swedish names)

Random Male Names
Shiva Johnnie
Govannon Gerfried
Snorri Ivo
Bernardino Shaw
Aras Allan
Rylan Constant
Uzi James
Taffy Alaric
Severi Tecumseh
Casper Pallas