Kenku Name GeneratorDungeons & Dragons

DnD Kenku Names: Origin, Practices, and Influences

Feathered kleptomaniacs and mimics extraordinaire, the ire of a malevolent master doomed the kenku of the D&D multiverse to flightless days and hapless nights dreaming of their lost wings. These raven-like humanoids are known for their pitch-black feathers, impeccable memory, and the eerie ability to mimic any sound they hear, making them a tough act to follow at karaoke night.

While the kenku’s advent is shrouded in mystery—even they can’t seem to get the story straight—they’re commonly said to be the erstwhile minions of either the demon prince Graz’zt or the Vaati, stripped of wings, voices, and content creation abilities because of an Ocean's Eleven-style heist gone awry. Even after making their debut as a playable race in Volo's Guide to Monsters (2016), the kenku remain obscure and reclusive creatures with only a handful of appearances elsewhere—most notably as the kenku assassin Corvus Nightfeather in Christopher Rowe’s Forgotten Realms novel Sandstorm.

Kenku Naming Conventions in Dungeons & Dragons

Kenku names in Dungeons & Dragons are as diverse as their mimicry talents, often captured as onomatopoeic representations of their favorite sounds. These sound-words reflect their environment, experiences, and lifestyle—like "Chink" for a thug who relishes the sound of sword’s crossing, "Eek" for a con-artist who’s quick as a mouse, or “Flipflap” for a kenku who sails the high seas.

Dungeons & Dragons Kenku Name Inspiration

Kenku often choose names that reflect their skills or the sounds they are fond of mimicking, turning mundane noises into personal identifiers. These names carry symbolic weight, drawing inspiration from nature, urban sounds, or even their longing for flight, such as "Windwhisper" or "Sailsnap," reflecting their dream of soaring once more.

Eager to join the ranks of the kenku and craft a name worthy of your own feathered trickster? Try our D&D kenku name generator and find your lost flight in the depths of your imagination.

List of D&D Kenku Names

From the whispering shadows of the Aerilpar Forest to the bustling streets of Chavyondat, kenku names echo with the sounds of Faerûn. Check out this table of onomatopoeic words from around the world for some inspiration as you hunt for the perfect name for your flightless adventurer.