Choosing a name for your baby is an adventure filled with possibilities. If you’re drawn to life’s playful, cunning, and mischievous side, consider bestowing a name that reflects that spirit upon your child. Names that mean “trickster” carry a sense of wit, intelligence, and a touch of sly charm, setting the stage for a life filled with laughter, curiosity, and perhaps a few harmless pranks.
Clever and Cunning Names from Myths and Literature
These names often have roots in mythology, folklore, and literature, representing characters known for their cleverness and ability to outsmart others. Whether you’re seeking a name with a playful edge or one that embodies a more subtle cunning, this curated list presents a wide range of options to suit your preferences.
Baby Names Meaning Trickster
Anansi (African) – Spider trickster.
Azeban (Abenaki) – Trickster raccoon in Abenaki mythology.
Azezel (Hebrew) – Fallen angel.
Aztlan (Aztec) – The trickster god.
Coyote (Native American) – Trickster figure.
Crow (Various) – Trickster bird in various cultural traditions.
Daeva (Persian) – Trickster spirit.
Djehuty (Egyptian) – Egyptian god associated with wisdom and trickery.
Elegua (Yoruba) – Deity associated with crossroads and trickery.
Eshu (Yoruba) – Trickster deity associated with fate.
Prometheus (Greek) – Titan is known for his cunning and trickery.
Puck (English) – Mischievous sprite.
Ravana (Hindu) – Demon king with a cunning and deceptive nature.
Raven (Various) – Trickster bird.
Reynard (French) – Fox trickster character.
Tanuki (Japanese) – Shapeshifting raccoon dog trickster.
Till Eulenspiegel (German) – Trickster figure.
Female Names That Mean Trickster
Elara (Greek) – Meaning bright or shining.
Fey (English) – Meaning fairy of enchantment.
Kaliyah (Hindi) – Meaning fierce or deceptive.
Lila (Arabic) – Meaning night or dark beauty.
Mischka (Russian) – Meaning little mischief.
Roula (Arabic) – Meaning sly or clever.
Slyvia (English) – Meaning woods or forest.
Tanitha (Native American) – Meaning trickster.
Tazara (African) – Meaning princess of trickery.
Vespera (Latin) – Meaning evening or night.
Viveka (Swedish) – Meaning warrior woman or cunning.
Male Names That Mean Trickster
Anansi (African) – Meaning spider trickster.
Hare (Various) – Trickster figure in various world mythologies.
Hermes (Greek) – Greek god of trickery.
Huitzilopochtli (Aztec) – Associated with war and trickery.
Iktomi (Lakota) – Trickster spider.
Kitsune (Japanese) – Shapeshifting fox trickster.
Kokopelli (Native American) – Trickster and fertility deity.
Loki (Norse) – A trickster god known for mischief and cunning.
Maui (Polynesian) – Demigod in Polynesian mythology known for mischief.
Nasreddin (Middle Eastern) – A folk character known for wit and trickery.
Pan (Greek) – Greek god associated with nature and mischief.
Till (German) – Meaning trickster figure.
Names That Mean Sly
Alistair (Scottish) – Meaning defender of the people or cunning.
Astuto (Italian/Spanish) – Meaning clever or sly.
Caius (Latin) – Meaning rejoice or sly.
Falkner (Old English) – Meaning falconer or sly.
Faulkner (Old French) – A variant of Falkner.
Frauke (German) – Meaning little lady or clever.
Gwydion (Welsh) – Meaning born of trees or cunning.
Reynard (French) – Meaning clever or fox-like.
Udara (Sanskrit) – Meaning generous or sly.
Vulpes (Latin) – This means fox and symbolizes slyness and cunning.
Names Meaning Thief
Cacus (Roman) – Meaning evil or ill-omened.
Cadarn (Welsh) – Meaning strong or robust.
Dokkaebi (Korean) – A mythical creature often associated with mischief and stealing.
Furio (Italian) – Meaning thief or robber.
Houri (Arabic) – Meaning thief or stealer.
Ibha (Sanskrit) – Meaning elephant or thief.
Jarek (Slavic) – Meaning fierce or thief.
Klepto (Greek) – Meaning thief or stealer.
Ladrón (Spanish) – Meaning thief or robber.
Ratko (Slavic) – Meaning warrior or thief.
Varg (Scandinavian) – Meaning wolf.
Names Meaning Cunning
Astuto (Italian/Spanish) – Meaning clever or crafty.
Eike (German) – Meaning powerful or cunning.
Finnian (Irish) – Meaning fair or white.
Keefe (Irish) – Meaning handsome.
Maia (Greek) – Meaning mother or nurse.
Reynard (French) – Meaning cunning or fox-like.
Ruse (English) – A creative name directly associated with cunning and trickery.
Rusev (Slavic) – Meaning cunning or wily.
Sylvester (English) – Meaning wild or cunning.
Vivian (Latin) – Meaning alive or lively.
Names That Mean Deceit
Durno (Scottish) – Meaning deceptive or treacherous.
Fallon (Irish) – Meaning in charge or ruler.
Falsone (Italian) – Meaning false or deceitful.
Fraudrin (Old French) – Meaning deceiver or fraudster.
Hawari (Arabic) – Meaning deceiver or crafty.
Hian (Chinese) – Meaning deceitful or crafty.
Illusio (Latin) – Meaning deception or illusion.
Kapata (Swahili) – Meaning deceiver or liar.
Makr (Arabic) – Meaning deceptive or crafty.
Trickard (English) – A creative combination of trick and the suffix -ard, suggesting a deceptive nature.
Names That Mean Deception
Ago (Yoruba) – Meaning deceiver or trickster.
Dolos (Greek) – Meaning deception or trickery.
Fallon (Irish) – Meaning in charge or ruler.
Fraus (Latin) – Meaning deceit or fraud.
Illyria (Greek) – Meaning light or brightness.
Khayyam (Arabic) – Meaning deceiver or schemer.
Makr (Arabic) – Meaning deceptive or crafty.
Mirmir (Norse) – Meaning murmur or whisper.
Sākṣātkaṛa (Sanskrit) – Meaning deception or impersonation.
Vipul (Sanskrit) – Meaning abundant or spacious.
Japanese Names That Mean Trickster
Akira – Meaning bright or clear.
Hayato – Meaning falcon person.
Hikaru – Meaning radiance or light.
Kaito – Meaning ocean soar.
Kurou – Meaning the ninth son.
Makoto – Meaning sincere or honest.
Mischiko – A playful and creative blend of the English word mischief and the Japanese suffix -ko meaning child, resulting in a name meaning mischief child.
Norio – Meaning man of doctrine, with a playful undertone.
Ren – Meaning lotus, a name with mischievous connotations.
Tanjiro – Meaning clever second son.
Yukio – Meaning happy man, sometimes used for mischievous characters.
Names That Mean Mischief
Artan (Irish) – Little bear.
Damian (Greek) – To tame or subdue.
Eshek (Hebrew) – Mischievous or playful.
Lubomir (Slavic) – Peace and mischievous.
Malachi (Hebrew) – Messenger of God.
Marcellus (Latin) – Little warrior or mischievous one.
Nakato (Japanese) – Mischievous child, combining na (playful) and kato (child).
Nakia (Swahili) – Mischievous or playful.
Rascal (English) – Playful, mischievous, or impish.
Tito (Spanish) – Playful or mischievous.
Tricky (English) – Playful or mischievous.
Conclusion:
Choosing a trickster name for your child is a playful way to celebrate their intelligence, wit, and mischievous spirit. These names, with their roots in mythology, folklore, and literature from around the world, offer a unique and memorable identity.
Whether you choose a name with a direct translation or subtly hint at cunning and cleverness, you will find the perfect moniker for your little trickster. Remember, a name is just the beginning of their story, and a trickster name sets the stage for a life filled with adventure, laughter, and a touch of playful mischief.