Tavern names are paintings in words: The Gilded Boar is a gold-covered boar hung over a door, the plus gilded plus boar. Here are names for taverns with their parts on the table: 110 of them, sign-convention builds plus six real English pubs, each row carrying its receipt.
One article, one modifier, one noun, hung where the road can see it. Every generated row here passes the sign-convention criterion: it is a complete painted sign, not a sentence. The last six rows are real pubs with their sign-history receipts. Names bold, glosses italic, nothing between the rows.
Tavern names with their builds, meanings and traditions
Name
Built from
Meaning
Tradition
The Gilded Boar
the + gilded + boar
the gold-covered boar painted on the sign
Sign convention: The + modifier + noun (documented pub-sign pattern)
The Gilded Griffin
the + gilded + griffin
the gold-covered griffin painted on the sign
Sign convention: The + modifier + noun (documented pub-sign pattern)
The Gilded Fox
the + gilded + fox
the gold-covered fox painted on the sign
Sign convention: The + modifier + noun (documented pub-sign pattern)
The Gilded Hound
the + gilded + hound
the gold-covered hound painted on the sign
Sign convention: The + modifier + noun (documented pub-sign pattern)
The Gilded Hart
the + gilded + hart
the gold-covered hart painted on the sign
Sign convention: The + modifier + noun (documented pub-sign pattern)
The Gilded Ram
the + gilded + ram
the gold-covered ram painted on the sign
Sign convention: The + modifier + noun (documented pub-sign pattern)
The Gilded Raven
the + gilded + raven
the gold-covered raven painted on the sign
Sign convention: The + modifier + noun (documented pub-sign pattern)
The Gilded Crow
the + gilded + crow
the gold-covered crow painted on the sign
Sign convention: The + modifier + noun (documented pub-sign pattern)
The Gilded Owl
the + gilded + owl
the gold-covered owl painted on the sign
Sign convention: The + modifier + noun (documented pub-sign pattern)
The Gilded Stag
the + gilded + stag
the gold-covered stag painted on the sign
Sign convention: The + modifier + noun (documented pub-sign pattern)
The Gilded Bear
the + gilded + bear
the gold-covered bear painted on the sign
Sign convention: The + modifier + noun (documented pub-sign pattern)
The Gilded Bull
the + gilded + bull
the gold-covered bull painted on the sign
Sign convention: The + modifier + noun (documented pub-sign pattern)
The Gilded Wolf
the + gilded + wolf
the gold-covered wolf painted on the sign
Sign convention: The + modifier + noun (documented pub-sign pattern)
The Gilded Badger
the + gilded + badger
the gold-covered badger painted on the sign
Sign convention: The + modifier + noun (documented pub-sign pattern)
The Gilded Ostrich
the + gilded + ostrich
the gold-covered ostrich painted on the sign
Sign convention: The + modifier + noun (documented pub-sign pattern)
The Gilded Anchor
the + gilded + anchor
the gold-covered anchor painted on the sign
Sign convention: The + modifier + noun (documented pub-sign pattern)
The Gilded Plough
the + gilded + plough
the gold-covered plough painted on the sign
Sign convention: The + modifier + noun (documented pub-sign pattern)
The Gilded Barrel
the + gilded + barrel
the gold-covered ale barrel painted on the sign
Sign convention: The + modifier + noun (documented pub-sign pattern)
The Gilded Bell
the + gilded + bell
the gold-covered church bell painted on the sign
Sign convention: The + modifier + noun (documented pub-sign pattern)
The Gilded Sun
the + gilded + sun
the gold-covered sun painted on the sign
Sign convention: The + modifier + noun (documented pub-sign pattern)
The Gilded Moon
the + gilded + moon
the gold-covered moon painted on the sign
Sign convention: The + modifier + noun (documented pub-sign pattern)
The Gilded Star
the + gilded + star
the gold-covered star painted on the sign
Sign convention: The + modifier + noun (documented pub-sign pattern)
The Gilded Rose
the + gilded + rose
the gold-covered rose painted on the sign
Sign convention: The + modifier + noun (documented pub-sign pattern)
The Gilded Crown
the + gilded + crown
the gold-covered crown painted on the sign
Sign convention: The + modifier + noun (documented pub-sign pattern)
The Gilded Boot
the + gilded + boot
the gold-covered boot painted on the sign
Sign convention: The + modifier + noun (documented pub-sign pattern)
The Gilded Lantern
the + gilded + lantern
the gold-covered lantern painted on the sign
Sign convention: The + modifier + noun (documented pub-sign pattern)
The Drowsy Boar
the + drowsy + boar
the sleepy boar painted on the sign
Sign convention: The + modifier + noun (documented pub-sign pattern)
The Drowsy Griffin
the + drowsy + griffin
the sleepy griffin painted on the sign
Sign convention: The + modifier + noun (documented pub-sign pattern)
The Drowsy Fox
the + drowsy + fox
the sleepy fox painted on the sign
Sign convention: The + modifier + noun (documented pub-sign pattern)
The Drowsy Hound
the + drowsy + hound
the sleepy hound painted on the sign
Sign convention: The + modifier + noun (documented pub-sign pattern)
The Drowsy Hart
the + drowsy + hart
the sleepy hart painted on the sign
Sign convention: The + modifier + noun (documented pub-sign pattern)
The Drowsy Ram
the + drowsy + ram
the sleepy ram painted on the sign
Sign convention: The + modifier + noun (documented pub-sign pattern)
The Drowsy Raven
the + drowsy + raven
the sleepy raven painted on the sign
Sign convention: The + modifier + noun (documented pub-sign pattern)
The Drowsy Crow
the + drowsy + crow
the sleepy crow painted on the sign
Sign convention: The + modifier + noun (documented pub-sign pattern)
The Drowsy Owl
the + drowsy + owl
the sleepy owl painted on the sign
Sign convention: The + modifier + noun (documented pub-sign pattern)
The Drowsy Stag
the + drowsy + stag
the sleepy stag painted on the sign
Sign convention: The + modifier + noun (documented pub-sign pattern)
The Drowsy Bear
the + drowsy + bear
the sleepy bear painted on the sign
Sign convention: The + modifier + noun (documented pub-sign pattern)
The Drowsy Bull
the + drowsy + bull
the sleepy bull painted on the sign
Sign convention: The + modifier + noun (documented pub-sign pattern)
The Drowsy Wolf
the + drowsy + wolf
the sleepy wolf painted on the sign
Sign convention: The + modifier + noun (documented pub-sign pattern)
The Drowsy Badger
the + drowsy + badger
the sleepy badger painted on the sign
Sign convention: The + modifier + noun (documented pub-sign pattern)
The Drowsy Ostrich
the + drowsy + ostrich
the sleepy ostrich painted on the sign
Sign convention: The + modifier + noun (documented pub-sign pattern)
The Drowsy Anchor
the + drowsy + anchor
the sleepy anchor painted on the sign
Sign convention: The + modifier + noun (documented pub-sign pattern)
The Drowsy Plough
the + drowsy + plough
the sleepy plough painted on the sign
Sign convention: The + modifier + noun (documented pub-sign pattern)
The Drowsy Barrel
the + drowsy + barrel
the sleepy ale barrel painted on the sign
Sign convention: The + modifier + noun (documented pub-sign pattern)
The Drowsy Bell
the + drowsy + bell
the sleepy church bell painted on the sign
Sign convention: The + modifier + noun (documented pub-sign pattern)
The Drowsy Sun
the + drowsy + sun
the sleepy sun painted on the sign
Sign convention: The + modifier + noun (documented pub-sign pattern)
The Drowsy Moon
the + drowsy + moon
the sleepy moon painted on the sign
Sign convention: The + modifier + noun (documented pub-sign pattern)
The Drowsy Star
the + drowsy + star
the sleepy star painted on the sign
Sign convention: The + modifier + noun (documented pub-sign pattern)
The Drowsy Rose
the + drowsy + rose
the sleepy rose painted on the sign
Sign convention: The + modifier + noun (documented pub-sign pattern)
The Drowsy Crown
the + drowsy + crown
the sleepy crown painted on the sign
Sign convention: The + modifier + noun (documented pub-sign pattern)
The Drowsy Boot
the + drowsy + boot
the sleepy boot painted on the sign
Sign convention: The + modifier + noun (documented pub-sign pattern)
The Drowsy Lantern
the + drowsy + lantern
the sleepy lantern painted on the sign
Sign convention: The + modifier + noun (documented pub-sign pattern)
The Broken Boar
the + broken + boar
the broken boar painted on the sign
Sign convention: The + modifier + noun (documented pub-sign pattern)
The Broken Griffin
the + broken + griffin
the broken griffin painted on the sign
Sign convention: The + modifier + noun (documented pub-sign pattern)
The Broken Fox
the + broken + fox
the broken fox painted on the sign
Sign convention: The + modifier + noun (documented pub-sign pattern)
The Broken Hound
the + broken + hound
the broken hound painted on the sign
Sign convention: The + modifier + noun (documented pub-sign pattern)
The Broken Hart
the + broken + hart
the broken hart painted on the sign
Sign convention: The + modifier + noun (documented pub-sign pattern)
The Broken Ram
the + broken + ram
the broken ram painted on the sign
Sign convention: The + modifier + noun (documented pub-sign pattern)
The Broken Raven
the + broken + raven
the broken raven painted on the sign
Sign convention: The + modifier + noun (documented pub-sign pattern)
The Broken Crow
the + broken + crow
the broken crow painted on the sign
Sign convention: The + modifier + noun (documented pub-sign pattern)
The Broken Owl
the + broken + owl
the broken owl painted on the sign
Sign convention: The + modifier + noun (documented pub-sign pattern)
The Broken Stag
the + broken + stag
the broken stag painted on the sign
Sign convention: The + modifier + noun (documented pub-sign pattern)
The Broken Bear
the + broken + bear
the broken bear painted on the sign
Sign convention: The + modifier + noun (documented pub-sign pattern)
The Broken Bull
the + broken + bull
the broken bull painted on the sign
Sign convention: The + modifier + noun (documented pub-sign pattern)
The Broken Wolf
the + broken + wolf
the broken wolf painted on the sign
Sign convention: The + modifier + noun (documented pub-sign pattern)
The Broken Badger
the + broken + badger
the broken badger painted on the sign
Sign convention: The + modifier + noun (documented pub-sign pattern)
The Broken Ostrich
the + broken + ostrich
the broken ostrich painted on the sign
Sign convention: The + modifier + noun (documented pub-sign pattern)
The Broken Anchor
the + broken + anchor
the broken anchor painted on the sign
Sign convention: The + modifier + noun (documented pub-sign pattern)
The Broken Plough
the + broken + plough
the broken plough painted on the sign
Sign convention: The + modifier + noun (documented pub-sign pattern)
The Broken Barrel
the + broken + barrel
the broken ale barrel painted on the sign
Sign convention: The + modifier + noun (documented pub-sign pattern)
The Broken Bell
the + broken + bell
the broken church bell painted on the sign
Sign convention: The + modifier + noun (documented pub-sign pattern)
The Broken Sun
the + broken + sun
the broken sun painted on the sign
Sign convention: The + modifier + noun (documented pub-sign pattern)
The Broken Moon
the + broken + moon
the broken moon painted on the sign
Sign convention: The + modifier + noun (documented pub-sign pattern)
The Broken Star
the + broken + star
the broken star painted on the sign
Sign convention: The + modifier + noun (documented pub-sign pattern)
The Broken Rose
the + broken + rose
the broken rose painted on the sign
Sign convention: The + modifier + noun (documented pub-sign pattern)
The Broken Crown
the + broken + crown
the broken crown painted on the sign
Sign convention: The + modifier + noun (documented pub-sign pattern)
The Broken Boot
the + broken + boot
the broken boot painted on the sign
Sign convention: The + modifier + noun (documented pub-sign pattern)
The Broken Lantern
the + broken + lantern
the broken lantern painted on the sign
Sign convention: The + modifier + noun (documented pub-sign pattern)
The Salt Boar
the + salt + boar
the salt-crusted boar painted on the sign
Sign convention: The + modifier + noun (documented pub-sign pattern)
The Salt Griffin
the + salt + griffin
the salt-crusted griffin painted on the sign
Sign convention: The + modifier + noun (documented pub-sign pattern)
The Salt Fox
the + salt + fox
the salt-crusted fox painted on the sign
Sign convention: The + modifier + noun (documented pub-sign pattern)
The Salt Hound
the + salt + hound
the salt-crusted hound painted on the sign
Sign convention: The + modifier + noun (documented pub-sign pattern)
The Salt Hart
the + salt + hart
the salt-crusted hart painted on the sign
Sign convention: The + modifier + noun (documented pub-sign pattern)
The Salt Ram
the + salt + ram
the salt-crusted ram painted on the sign
Sign convention: The + modifier + noun (documented pub-sign pattern)
The Salt Raven
the + salt + raven
the salt-crusted raven painted on the sign
Sign convention: The + modifier + noun (documented pub-sign pattern)
The Salt Crow
the + salt + crow
the salt-crusted crow painted on the sign
Sign convention: The + modifier + noun (documented pub-sign pattern)
The Salt Owl
the + salt + owl
the salt-crusted owl painted on the sign
Sign convention: The + modifier + noun (documented pub-sign pattern)
The Salt Stag
the + salt + stag
the salt-crusted stag painted on the sign
Sign convention: The + modifier + noun (documented pub-sign pattern)
The Salt Bear
the + salt + bear
the salt-crusted bear painted on the sign
Sign convention: The + modifier + noun (documented pub-sign pattern)
The Salt Bull
the + salt + bull
the salt-crusted bull painted on the sign
Sign convention: The + modifier + noun (documented pub-sign pattern)
The Salt Wolf
the + salt + wolf
the salt-crusted wolf painted on the sign
Sign convention: The + modifier + noun (documented pub-sign pattern)
The Salt Badger
the + salt + badger
the salt-crusted badger painted on the sign
Sign convention: The + modifier + noun (documented pub-sign pattern)
The Salt Ostrich
the + salt + ostrich
the salt-crusted ostrich painted on the sign
Sign convention: The + modifier + noun (documented pub-sign pattern)
The Salt Anchor
the + salt + anchor
the salt-crusted anchor painted on the sign
Sign convention: The + modifier + noun (documented pub-sign pattern)
The Salt Plough
the + salt + plough
the salt-crusted plough painted on the sign
Sign convention: The + modifier + noun (documented pub-sign pattern)
The Salt Barrel
the + salt + barrel
the salt-crusted ale barrel painted on the sign
Sign convention: The + modifier + noun (documented pub-sign pattern)
The Salt Bell
the + salt + bell
the salt-crusted church bell painted on the sign
Sign convention: The + modifier + noun (documented pub-sign pattern)
The Salt Sun
the + salt + sun
the salt-crusted sun painted on the sign
Sign convention: The + modifier + noun (documented pub-sign pattern)
The Salt Moon
the + salt + moon
the salt-crusted moon painted on the sign
Sign convention: The + modifier + noun (documented pub-sign pattern)
The Salt Star
the + salt + star
the salt-crusted star painted on the sign
Sign convention: The + modifier + noun (documented pub-sign pattern)
The Salt Rose
the + salt + rose
the salt-crusted rose painted on the sign
Sign convention: The + modifier + noun (documented pub-sign pattern)
The Salt Crown
the + salt + crown
the salt-crusted crown painted on the sign
Sign convention: The + modifier + noun (documented pub-sign pattern)
The Salt Boot
the + salt + boot
the salt-crusted boot painted on the sign
Sign convention: The + modifier + noun (documented pub-sign pattern)
The Salt Lantern
the + salt + lantern
the salt-crusted lantern painted on the sign
Sign convention: The + modifier + noun (documented pub-sign pattern)
The White Hart
the + white + hart
the white stag of Richard II's livery badge
Real pub (attested); heraldic badge receipt
The Cross Keys
the + cross + keys
the keys of St. Peter, a church-door sign
Real pub (attested); saint's attribute receipt
The Eagle and Child
the + eagle + child
an eagle carrying a child, the Stanley crest story
Real pub (attested); crest receipt, Oxford
The Prospect of Whitby
descriptive sign
the view across the river at Whitby, from about 1520
Real pub (attested); descriptive receipt
The Olde Cheshire Cheese
house name
the rebuilt Fleet Street house of 1667
Real pub (attested); rebuilt-house receipt
The Green Man
the + green + man
the foliate head of folklore, leaves for a face
Real pub (attested); folklore-figure receipt
What do tavern names mean?
Exactly what the sign painted: the modifier plus the noun. Twelve meaning spotlights, receipts attached:
Tavern name meanings spotlight
Name
Built from
Meaning
Tradition
The Gilded Boar
the + gilded + boar
the gold-covered boar painted on the sign
Sign convention: The + modifier + noun (documented pub-sign pattern)
The Drowsy Fox
the + drowsy + fox
the sleepy fox painted on the sign
Sign convention: The + modifier + noun (documented pub-sign pattern)
The Broken Anchor
the + broken + anchor
the broken anchor painted on the sign
Sign convention: The + modifier + noun (documented pub-sign pattern)
The Broken Lantern
the + broken + lantern
the broken lantern painted on the sign
Sign convention: The + modifier + noun (documented pub-sign pattern)
The Salt Raven
the + salt + raven
the salt-crusted raven painted on the sign
Sign convention: The + modifier + noun (documented pub-sign pattern)
The Salt Plough
the + salt + plough
the salt-crusted plough painted on the sign
Sign convention: The + modifier + noun (documented pub-sign pattern)
The White Hart
the + white + hart
the white stag of Richard II's livery badge
Real pub (attested); heraldic badge receipt
The Cross Keys
the + cross + keys
the keys of St. Peter, a church-door sign
Real pub (attested); saint's attribute receipt
The Eagle and Child
the + eagle + child
an eagle carrying a child, the Stanley crest story
Real pub (attested); crest receipt, Oxford
The Prospect of Whitby
descriptive sign
the view across the river at Whitby, from about 1520
Real pub (attested); descriptive receipt
The Olde Cheshire Cheese
house name
the rebuilt Fleet Street house of 1667
Real pub (attested); rebuilt-house receipt
The Green Man
the + green + man
the foliate head of folklore, leaves for a face
Real pub (attested); folklore-figure receipt
How do tavern names work?
Hang a picture in three parts. The White Hart is the plus white plus hart, a white stag on a board. The article makes it a sign. The modifier makes it this beast, not any beast. The noun gives the eye something to find. The convention is old practical law: a 1393 statute under Richard II required ale-sellers to hang signs, and on unnumbered streets the sign was the address. Heraldic badges, saints' attributes, and craft crests all flowed into the same format. The craft of choosing one is taught on the how to name a character page, in its worldbuilding section.
Real pub-sign receipts
Six real pubs, and what each sign was doing. A badge flattered the king. A saint's attribute marked the church neighbor. A crest told a founding story. A descriptive sign sold the view. The same four jobs are what a fantasy tavern sign should pick from.
Real pubs and their sign classes
Pub
Sign class
What the sign was doing
The White Hart
heraldic badge
displayed Richard II's livery badge
The Cross Keys
saint's attribute
marked the house by St. Peter's church
The Eagle and Child
crest story
carried the Stanley family crest tale
The Prospect of Whitby
descriptive sign
sold the river view, from about 1520
The Olde Cheshire Cheese
house name
marked the rebuild of 1667
The Green Man
folklore figure
painted the foliate head of folk belief
Tavern name questions, answered
What are funny tavern names?
Deadpan signs with one twist: a serious modifier on an unlikely noun. The Drowsy Badger, The Battered Griffin, The Crooked Crown. Real pubs go further with puns, and their etymologies are often folk stories: The Bag o'Nails is claimed to come from "the Bacchanals," which is disputed. Keep the joke inside the sign format and it stays believable.
Are these tavern names real?
Six rows are real pubs, and they say so. The White Hart, The Cross Keys, The Eagle and Child, The Prospect of Whitby, The Olde Cheshire Cheese, and The Green Man carry their sign-history receipts. Every other row is a build from the same documented sign convention.
What is a good tavern name?
One a traveler could describe to a stranger: The, one modifier, one noun, both visible. The Gilded Boar works because you can paint it. If your players can describe the sign from memory next session, the name did its job. Build your own in the generator.
Where the meanings come from.The pub-sign convention follows published accounts of English pub history, including the 1393 alehouse statute. Every attested pub row is a real house; disputed folk etymologies are labeled disputed. Generated sign builds are ours, made from the documented pattern. Where every name's receipt comes from →