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Whether you’re a video game developer, novel writer, or TV show creator, you may need to think of some detective names if you’re going to work in the crime genre.
You don’t want to just choose a random detective name; you want to find the perfect one. Lucky for you, we’ve created this complete guide to hundreds of naming ideas for detective characters.
Follow along as we explore some of the best detective name options, from random names to fictional ones, cute ones, funny ones, and many others.
Best Detective Names
Some of the best names for detectives draw on creative means and inspiration from fictional detectives of the past.
These first 25 different names for detectives are some of the catchiest, coolest, and all-around best when it comes to naming characters in your stories, shows, and games.
- Sherlock Holmes
- Mr. Watson
- Encyclopedia P. Brown
- P.I. Vigilante
- Hawkeye
- Eagle Eye
- The Magnifier
- The Nose
- Mr. Clue
- Inspector Clouseau
- Ms. A. Christie
- Mr. A. Christie
- The Quiet P.I.
- J.J. Stealthfoot
- Mr. Discovery
- Ms. Discovery
- G.E. Spotter
- The Lens
- The Eye
- Magnum, P.I.
- Roger Pointer
- Agnes Pointer
- Justice Finder
- Agatha Lovelace
- Oswald Lovelace
Good Names For A Detective
These next detective monikers are fairly commonplace when compared to the more unique ones on this list.
These next 25 names have the classic sound and feel that you want for a detective character in a good crime novel.
- Lady Peabody
- Mister Peabody
- The Savvy Sleuth
- Doctor Detective
- Ms. Franny Maxwell
- Jessica Steele
- Henry Sparks
- Detective Alan Sawyer
- Lady Skinner
- Sir Skinner
- Shirley Holmes
- Madame Watson
- Zack Burns
- Vera Seeker
- Lenny Mason
- Agatha Seeks
- Agnes Finders
- Lady Lens
- Maggie N. Fire
- Jason Wolfe
- Mary Winbottom
- Alison Sparks
- Janet Sharpe
- Gus Caine
- Roger Wright
Cute Names For A Detective
Believe it or not, there may be some instances where you would need a detective moniker that is cutesy. Think about it, there are shows and books geared towards children, such as Scooby Doo, that involve crime and detective work.
If you need a cutesy name for a detective, you might consider trying out one of the following options.
- Little Miss Private Eye
- The Teeny Tiny Detective
- Tiny, P.I.
- Lil P.I.
- The Modern Hardy Boy
- The Modern Nancy Drew
- Lil Sleuth
- Lil Snoopy
- Little Hawkshaw
- Young Sherlock
- Young Watson
- Little Girl Clue
- Little Boy Clue
- The Little Caseworker
- Sally Peabody
- Timmy Peabody
- Little Enigma
- The Pink P.I.
- Private Patsy
- Private Pat
- The Crime Pup
- Lil Investigator
- Baby Spy
- Baby Sleuth
- Baby Sneak
Funny Detective Names
In case you’re creating a Dungeons and Dragons campaign or short story that needs a goofy detective character, you might try a funny detective moniker.
These following 25-name ideas should help you brainstorm until you land on the right one. Some of them even use puns to generate a laugh!
- Gene Yuss
- Private Dick
- Justin Case
- Ineda Clew
- Casey Closed
- Peter Gunnslinger
- Gray Noir
- Justice Seacker
- P.I. Gray
- Tom Barnaby
- Nancy Droop
- Amelia Peabody
- The Bulldog
- Ace Mann
- John Smart
- Jenny Smart
- Samantha Nosee
- Jeremy Snoope
- Blythe Glass
- Magney Fier
- Janet Eagle
- Alley Waze
- Sarah Spyer
- Mister E.
- E. Nigma
Unique Detective Names
These detective monikers are guaranteed to be some of the most unique because they’re generated randomly using words related to detectives.
Try these names in your stories for a more original option.
- Clive Jordan
- Fiona Frost
- Kate Cross
- Andrew Sharpe
- William Watson
- Larry Snow
- Hal Parker
- Merle Lawyer
- Avery Dixon
- Elza Locke
- Agnes Abbott
- Jon Cross
- Oscar Darwin
- Sid Gunn
- Blake Knight
- Harley Murray
- Skyler Robinson
- Ruth Burn
- Christie Finn
- Irene Seals
- Lars Lambert
- Don fox
- Lynn Knott
- Lara Price
- Vivian Lee
Cool Names For A Detective
Detectives are known for having amazing traits that help them to play it cool, like being stealth, quick-witted, intelligent, and quiet. That’s why it may help to have a cool detective name when you write up your next character.
These 25 names for a detective are sure to make readers/viewers of your story want to emulate the detective you are portraying.
- T. E. Shadow
- Winifred Spye
- Harper Lightfoot
- Harley Hush
- Brock P.I.
- Det. Jones
- Jack Hudson
- Duke Jones
- Arthur Braintree
- Wilson Waterford
- Harlan Duke
- Valley Cluse
- Beryl Sleuth
- Michael Burn
- David Roth
- Jenna Knight
- Meg Burnham
- Aurora Westover
- Brynn Graves
- Nora King
- Kat Donovan
- Claire Woods
- Harry Woolf
- Sam Jordan
- Sean Maxwell
Badass Names For A Detective
Some detective monikers need to carry a little more edge and weight to them. This is especially true if you’re trying to create a particularly menacing or powerful detective character in your graphic novel or book, for example.
The below names lean into traits badass-ery, such as the keen abilities to hunt, seek, and find clues.
- Bridget Lovelace
- Vesper, P.I.
- Agent Beatrix Abbott
- Detective Duke Jones
- Jack Sleuth-Hound
- P.I. Hawkshaw
- Sherlock Zones
- Benjamin Bogey
- Snooper, P.I.
- Shamus, Private Detective
- Mister Gumshoe
- DI Sleuth
- The Hunter
- The Finder
- He Who Sees All
- She Who Sees All
- Dexter, P.I.
- Sue Lawyer
- Jack Burns
- DCI Quietfoot
- Mr. Inquiry
- The Sniffer
- The Bounty Hunter
- The Operative
- Code Name, P.I.
Famous Detective Names
From your favorite crime TV shows to blockbuster films and Agatha Christie books, the following fiction detectives are famous.
These names are both iconic and catchy, given that they’ve earned reputations over time.
- Burt Macklin (F.B.I.) – detective character on Parks and Recreation
- Nancy Drew – famous girl sleuth from Nancy Drew book series
- Joe Hardy – one of the Hardy boys from the Hardy Boys book series
- Frank Hardy – one of the Hardy boys from the Hardy Boys book series
- Sherlock Holmes – famous detective in Sir Arthur Conan Doyle novels
- Dr. Watson – Sherlock Holmes’ sidekick
- Enola Holmes – girl detective in TV series of the same name
- Hercule Poirot – the detective in an Agatha Christie novel
- Jessica Fletcher – detective/writer in the TV show Murder, She Wrote
- Veronica Mars – the detective in the TV series of the same name
- Miss Marple – the detective in an Agatha Christie novel
- Luther – the detective in a TV show of the same name
- Velma Dinkley – one of the members of the Scooby Doo crew
- Clarice Starling – detective/protagonist in the movie Silence of the Lambs
- Olivia Benson – lead detective character in the TV show Law ; Order: SVU
- Jake Gittes – detective character in the movie Chinatown
- Thomas Magnum – detective in Magnum, P.I. TV series
- Dale Cooper – FBI agent in TV show Twin Peaks
- fox Mulder – FBI agent in TV show The X-Files
- Dana Scully – FBI agent in TV show The X-Files
- Frank Columbo – character on Columbo TV series
- Dirty Harry – inspector from the film of the same name
- C. Auguste Dupin – a detective character in Edgar Allan Poe’s short stories
- Philip Marlowe – a fictional detective in crime magazines such as Black Mask
- Jim Rockford – the detective in the TV series The Rockford Files
Real-Life Detective Names
Although there are many detectives in our favorite crime books and movies, there are plenty more in real life.
The next 25 detectives pursued careers as law enforcers, private investigators, private eyes, and related jobs in countries all over the world.
- Ellis Parker
- Izzy Einstein
- Allan Pinkerton
- Kate Warne
- Jules Maigret
- Moe Smith
- Marcel Guillaume
- Johnny Broderick
- J. Edgar Hoover
- Ignatius Paul Pollaky
- Dave Toschi
- Roger Rogerson
- William E. Fairbairn
- Jay J. Armes
- Francois Vidocq
- Alice Clement
- Mary Doyle
- William J. Burns
- Paul Holes
- William J. Flynn
- Raymond C. Schindler
- V.I. Warshawski
- Viktor Burakov
- Eliot Ness
- Robert Peel
Detective Naming Tips
Landing on a good detective name requires some patience. You want to consider several factors, such as the crime subgenre you’re working in, the target audience of your character, the character’s personality, and more.
For example, if you want to create a detective character for an animated children’s TV show, the name must not be for mature audiences. The name should be friendly and possibly even on the cute side, depending on how young the audience is.
Or, if you’re creating a detective name for a character who is highly intelligent, you might include a relevant word in the name. For example, a smarty-pants detective could be named Smartweather, P.I.
Otherwise, here are some useful tips that may help you to pick out the ideal name for your personal use:
- Make sure to be original with your name, as many detective monikers are repurposed throughout media
- Use a detective name generator, such as one on a fantasy website
- Draw inspiration from detective or investigator characters that you know and love
- Draw on physical characteristics and personality traits to name your detective
Conclusion
The above detective name ideas cover a wide range of options – from the funny and silly to the seriously cool, badass, cute, and unique. By using random detective name generators and researching some of the most famous real and fictional detectives, we compiled this list.
Hopefully, reading through has helped inspire you to name your very own detective character, whether it’s in a book, movie, or TV project. A character who does good detective work surely deserves a good name as well.