A demon's name tells you who it is; its title tells you why you should be afraid. This demon epithet generator gives you both kinds of title: epithets like the Devourer or the Unbound, and ranks with a domain, like Duke of Ashes, in the style of the old books of demonology. Add one to your demon's name, or stack a few into a full infernal title.
Titles from real demonology
The habit of giving demons grand titles is centuries old:
- The Ars Goetia, the first book of the 17th-century Lesser Key of Solomon, lists 72 demons, each with a rank borrowed from nobility: Bael is a king, Marbas a president, Furcas a knight. The Rank and domain option builds titles the same way.
- Beelzebub, "Lord of the Flies", comes from Ba'al Zebub, a god of the Philistine city of Ekron in the Bible.
- Abaddon, called Apollyon in Greek, is "the Destroyer" in the Book of Revelation.
- Legion takes its name from the line "My name is Legion: for we are many" in the Gospel of Mark.
- Lucifer means "light-bringer": the Latin name for the morning star.
The seven princes of sin
In 1589 the German theologian Peter Binsfeld matched a prince of Hell to each of the seven deadly sins, and the list is still the basis of countless games and stories:
- Lucifer: pride
- Mammon: greed
- Asmodeus: lust
- Leviathan: envy
- Beelzebub: gluttony
- Satan: wrath
- Belphegor: sloth
The Sin and vice category follows the same idea: pick the sin your demon rules, and its epithet does the rest (the Gluttonous, Envy Given Form).
Demons and devils in D&D
Dungeons & Dragons draws a line worth knowing: demons are creatures of chaos from the Abyss, while devils are creatures of order from the Nine Hells. Their titles show it:
- Demon lords: Demogorgon, Prince of Demons; Orcus, Prince of Undeath; Graz'zt, the Dark Prince; Juiblex, the Faceless Lord.
- Archdevils: Asmodeus, Lord of the Nine Hells; Zariel, Lord of Avernus.
For a demon, wild and violent epithets fit (the Ravager, the Unbound). For a devil, go for rank and order: a Duke or Marquis of somewhere specific, with a title that sounds like a contract.
Building a full demonic title
The most memorable demons stack their titles. Try name, then rank and domain, then an epithet:
- Vharzul, Duke of Ashes, the Unforgiving
- Ozrakh the Devourer, Prince of the Sunless Sea
Two titles is plenty for most demons; save the long string for the one at the end of the campaign. And let mortals use the short version: they're afraid to say the rest.
For where they come from, try the Demon Realm Name Generator.