Robots Have (His)stories
Pandora was formed out of clay by Hephaestus; Olimpia is the robot woman the protagonist in ETA Hoffmann's "Sandman" falls in love with. Hadaly was the first fictional artificial life form called "Android". Meanwhile, for several decades (sometimes even centuries), robots made the leap from fantasy to reality.
In our analysis of robot naming, though, we do not distinguish between real and fictional machines, automata and artificial intelligence. We deal with all kinds of names for synthetic life forms: robots, machines, and automata, whether they exist, have existed, or whether they are sprung from the realm of legend or the imagination of science fiction writers.
Robot Names - From Highly Creative to Pretty Boring
When looking at robot names from the current and past centuries, we find some similarities and patterns that can be observed in robot names.
Acronyms are trendy today, closely followed by individual proper names. Also, names with robot-specific word components are frequently used to find a myriad of Robo***s, ***bots, and Mecha***s. Also, the pattern "*** the robot" or the name Robbie enjoys plentiful popularity or invented words from a fantasy name generator. Of course, naming robots has no constraints, so we can also enjoy various names.
So let's look at the different types of names for robots! Of course, we'll provide plenty of examples of robot names you may or may not know.
Characterizing Names for Robots
The name of a robot can point directly to its functionality and serve to characterize them. The preferred choice for describing robots in their names is acronyms, but simple descriptive names are sometimes used.
Acronyms
Acronyms are abbreviations. Mainly used for complex robot names, they are convenient because they can aggregate a lot of information in a small space. It's terrific, of course, if the abbreviation again results in a new word. Countless robots' names are therefore so-called apronyms, where the abbreviation forms a new word.
Robots whose names are acronyms:
- HAL 9000 ("Heuristically Programmed Algorithmic computer") from Space Odyssey
- EDI ("Extreme Deep Invader") from Stealth
- KITT ("Knight Industries Two Thousand") from Knight Rider
- WALL-E ("Waste Allocation Load Lifter - Earth-Class") from WALL-E
Robots whose names are acronyms that result in proper names:
- EVE ("Extraterrestrial Vegetation Evaluator") from WALL-E
- HARLIE ("Human Analog Robot Life Input Equivalents") from When HARLIE Was One
- S.A.M. ("Super Automated Machine") from Sesame Street
- BEN ("Bio-Electronic Navigator") from Treasure Planet
- H.E.R.B.I.E. ("Humanoid Experimental Robot, B-type, Integrated Electronics") from Fantastic Four
- R.I.C. 2.0 ("Robotic Interactive Canine") from Power Rangers SPD
- S.O.P.H.I.E. ("Series One Processor Hyper Intelligent Encryptor") from Power Rangers SPD
- D.A.V.E. ("Digitally Advanced Villain Emulator") from Batman
Robots whose names are Apronyme:
- SHROUD ("Synthetic Human, Radiation Output Determined") and SHOCK ("Synthetic Human Object, Casualty Kinematics") from the novel V. by Thomas Pynchon
- CHOMPS ("Canine HOMe Protection System"), a robot dog from CHOMPS
- Mr. R.I.N.G. ("Robomatic internalized Nerve Ganglia") from Kolchak: The Night Stalker
By the way, with NameRobot's acronyms generator, you can automatically generate various acronyms for selected keywords.
Descriptive Names
Some robots don't necessarily need to be equipped with a full arsenal of keywords. Instead, you can often find one or two appropriate attributes by which they can be characterized. This often leads to simple descriptive names generator for robots. Thus, people and machines (and aliens ;) ) interacting with the robot immediately know what and who they are dealing with.
Robot names whose names are descriptive:
- K-9 (pronounced like English "canine"; dog), a robot dog from Doctor Who
- Commander Data from Star Trek: The Next Generation
- The Hangman from Home Is the Hangman by Roger Zelazny
- Chip, a robotic teenager from Not Quite Human
- Bender Bending Rodríguez Bending Unit 22 from Futurama
- Astrobiy from the anime Astroboy
- Little Helper, Gyro Gearloose's robot assistant from the Disney comics
- Irona, the robot maid of Richie Rich from the cartoon series
- Gold, Iron, Lead, Tin, Mercury and Platinum from Metal Men
- Deep Thought, chess computer
- Maschinenmensch (Machine Man) from Metropolis
Ideas for descriptive robot names can be found quickly and easily with the tools from NameRobot's inspiration workbench, the "Wordshop". After logging in, you can use all Wordshop tools like Brainstorming or Rhymes Tool for free.
The conclusion to characterize names for robots:
Acronyms and descriptive names suit almost all kinds of robots and artificial intelligence.
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Proper Names for Robots
A robot's name does not necessarily indicate functionality or character. Instead, similar to humans and domestic animals, a proper name that stands for itself and sounds good can be chosen. Some robots have a name that sounds very human-like. Others wear pure fantasy names that often sound very robot-specific.
Human Names
Some robot names don't allow you to recognize that the individual named is a machine, not a living creature. Androids, which are not only equipped with artificial intelligence but also with a humanoid body, often have names that sound very human.
Examples of robots whose names sound human:
- Andrew Martin from Bicentennial Man by Isaac Asimov
- Marvin, the Paranoid Android from The Hitchhiker's Guide to the Galaxy
- Rosie from the Jetsons
- Ilia from Star Trek - The Movie
- Eve of Eve of Destruction
- Molly from Metal Molly
NameRobot's first names generator finds names for robots by meaning. This allows you to find names for robots that sound human and convey a character trait.
Typical Robot Fantasy Names
Many robots have a fantasy name. Here, the creativity of the name finder knows no limits. It's good to make the name sound pretty futuristic, though. One- and two-syllable names with unusual characters such as x, y and z predominate here. Surnames are found only rarely with fantasy robot names but do also occur.
Monosyllabic robot typical names:
- Zat from The Lost Machine by John Wyndham
- Gort from The Day the Earth Stood Still
- Boron from The Last of the Masters by Philip K. Dick
- Torg from Santa Claus Conquers the Martians
- Ash from Alien
- Yod of He, She and It by Marge Piercy
- Plex from Yo Gabba Gabba!
- Zed from Ed and Zed Show
Robot typical two-syllable names:
- Tik-Tok from the Oz books by L. Frank Baum
- Solo from Weapon by Robert Mason
- Elio from A Tale of Time City by Diana Wynne Jones
- Weebo from Flubber
Fantasy names for robots can be created quickly and easily with NameRobot's fantasy name generator. It's not even necessary to previously collect keywords because the tool itself is creative enough.
Summary of proper names for robots:
Proper names for robots are well suited for: androids, cyborgs, Gynbots or fembots - all kinds of robots with human intelligence and a humanoid body.
Automata Names for Robots
Many robots have names, making it clear that their bearer is a machine, not a living creature. One could complain that names of this type are not particularly creative. But these robot-specific names are mighty because they can be combined with almost all other keywords, making the name individual.
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Robot-specific Syllables
Countless robots have technical-sounding specific syllable combinations as part of their names, such as e.g. Robo*** or ***bot. These syllables can be combined with descriptive elements. Such a name means that everyone knows what is happening, yet the name is unique.
Examples of robot names containing ***bot
- Combot from Tekken 4
- Cambot from Mystery Science Theater 3000
- the Doombots from Marvel Comics
- Rabbot from Aqua Teen Hunger Force
- CMU Ballbot, a lifelike robot at Carnegie Mellon University that can balance on a ball
- Boe-Bot, the Board of Education robot, a robot kit
Examples of robot names containing Robo ***
- EggRobo from Sonic
- Robo from Chrono Trigger
- Robotboy from the series of the same name
- Robocop from the movie of the same name
Other examples of names with robot-specific syllables
- Ro-Man from Robot Monster
- Mechani-Kong from King Kong - Son of Frankenstein
- Mechagodzilla from different Godzilla films
- Major Metallitron from Dragon Ball
- Mechanismo from Judge Dredd
Robbie the Robot
As professional name finders, we are not impressed by the habit of naming a robot "Robbie", or providing it with the suffix "the robot". Nevertheless, this type of designation is often used, especially in fictional works where the target group is children.
*** the robot
- Robot John from Voyage to the Prehistoric Planet (1965) and Voyage to the Planet of Prehistoric Women
- Andy the Robot from Quark
- Chuck the Robot from an episode of Mork & Mindy
- Jimmy the Robot from Aquabats! Super Show!
Robbie
- Robbie from I, Robot by Stanislaw Lem
- Robby from Forbidden Planet
- Robbi aka ROB 344-66/IIIa from Robbi, Tobbi and the Fliewatüüt
- Robbie from Fix and Foxi
Unfortunately, we cannot propose a NameRobot Tool for such uncreative names. We strongly recommend looking at the Wordshop in the NameRobot Toolbox for inspiration for more creative name ideas ;-)
Summary of Machine Names for Robots:
Names that only fit robots suit automata, machines, and kid-friendly robots.
Other Robot Names
The field of robot names is more comprehensive than one would generally assume, and naming a robot knows hardly any limits. Here are a few topics that can be used for robot names or can at least serve as inspiration.
Mythology and Abstract Concepts as Robot Names
Words from classical mythology, for example, Greek gods and heroes, and powerful words and names that stand for abstract ideas or concepts offer a treasure trove for robot name inspiration. They emphasize an affinity to classical values, millennia-old philosophies, and ancient cultures that are nevertheless essential for our present society and shaping the future.
Examples of robot names from mythology as robot names
- Andromeda
- Alpha and Omega of The Flash;
- Alpha 5 from Power Rangers
- Hydra, a chess computer
- Daemon, Helena, Marius, Primus, Radius, Sulla from Rossum's Universal Robots by Karel Čapek
Examples of abstract concepts as robot names
- Nomad rover
- Opportunity rover
- Sojourner rover
- Spirit rover
- Curiosity rover
As inspiration for abstract concepts, you can use Wikipedia's excellent philosophy portal. You will have found uncountable ideas with just a few clicks on any of the articles.
Letter and Number Combinations
A standard method for naming robots is names in the form of a simple letter and number combinations. Unlike acronyms, these are not abbreviations. Using numbers in terms provides you with a very technologically-inspired touch.
Examples of letter and number combinations
- T-800 from Terminator
- C-3PO and R2-D2 from Star Wars
- L-76, Z-1, Z-2, Z-3, Ez-27 The Rest of the Robots
- ED-209 from RoboCop
- Robot B-9 from Lost in Space
- ASTAR from a Canadian ad
Inventive Names and Plays on Words
Some robots are equipped with genuinely inventive names, conjuring associations or clever plays on words. They are not what your usual robot is called.
Examples of inventive names
- Boilerplate, a Victorian Robot
- Anne Droid from Doctor Who
- Gunslinger from Trinity Blood
The Conclusion to Inventive Robot Names:
These names are suitable for: All robots that are special and should be distinguished from other robots.
NameRobot - Unique Name Generators
Of course, you have to ask yourself some questions before deciding on a name: Is the robot a single unit or working with the same or different types of robots together as a team? Is he an artificial intelligence or a stupid machine that automatically satisfies simple tasks? Should there be successors so the name can be usefully extended or supplemented?
NameRobot's Toolbox can help you simplify, structure and organize finding a name for a robot. Our multiple name generators create different types of names. Most tools and name generators are free of charge, so give it a try.
To all those who have to find a name for a robot, whether for a fictional android, a mechanical machine or artificial intelligence: we wish you a lot of fun and success in finding a name for your robot or character!
