According to Merriam-Webster, corruption is “dishonest or illegal behavior, especially by powerful people.” It’s also defined as “decay or decomposition.”[1]
Corruption can come in the form of bribery, embezzlement, fraud, or a number of other deceitful acts.[2]
Former U.K. Prime Minister David Cameron said, “[…] there are no countries where corruption is inevitable. Nor — and this is the flip side to it — are there any countries that are immune from it. Corruption infects every society in every part of the world.”[3]
If you’re looking to name a truly corrupt character, you may want to give them a name that means “corrupt” or “corruption” for greater impact.
Below, we have the list of 20+ names meaning corruption, as well as a few tips for making the choice or creating your own!
Coriolanus
inspired by the corrupt dictator Coriolanus Snow in “The Hunger Games”
Raven[4]
meaning thieving; Scandinavian origins
Macbeth
inspired by the corrupt main character of this Shakespearean play
Loki
Norse God of mischief and trickery
Mercury[4]
Greek God of financial gain and trickery
Maleficent
meaning harmful or destructive
Alcatraz
prison known for corrupt prison officers
Madea[4]
meaning cunning; Greek origins
Dolion[5]
meaning deceitful; Greek origins
Fox[4]
meaning sly one
Cameron[4]
meaning to follow a crooked path; Scottish origins
Anikan
inspired by the corrupted “Star Wars” character Anikan Skywalker
Bucky
as in Bucky Barnes, a “Captain America” comics character that becomes corrupt
Vice
nickname for Victor or Victoria; meaning immoral behavior
Joffrey
inspired by the corrupt ruler Joffrey Baratheon in “Game of Thrones”
Bela[5]
meaning destruction; Hebrew origins
Buster[4]
meaning someone who breaks things
Saruman
inspired by the “Lord of the Rings” character
Regina
inspired by Regina George in “Mean Girls”
Shane
inspired by Shane Walsh in “The Walking Dead”
Maximon (or Max)[4]
Mayan God of trickery
You might also find our articles on names that mean selfish and names that mean broken to be helpful!
Corruption-Inspired Name Generator
How to Choose or Create the Perfect “Corrupt” Name
You may need a little help deciding which name is right for you, or perhaps you prefer to come up with your own.
Keep these things in mind when making the choice or coming up with your own corrupt name ideas:
- Consider the main corrupt characteristics or actions of the character. This can help you narrow down your choices. For example, if your character is involved in law enforcement, you may want to go with “Alkatrez” (an alternate spelling of “Alcatraz”) or search for the names of other prisons or officers known to be corrupt.
- Search for names using similar words or acts of corruption. Looking at names that are tied to words similar to corrupt will broaden your options. In addition, searching for names that are associated with corrupt actions may be helpful. For example, Raven means “thieving,” which is illegal behavior, and is therefore corrupt.
- Look to corrupt figures or deities in history. You could try searching for ancient gods and goddesses known for being corrupt. There are also countless royal and political figures, past and present, whose names people will associate with corruption.
