Summon a Named Mob

Spawn a mob with a custom name displayed above its head

✅ Verified for Java 26.2 · Bedrock 26.32 — checked June 2026

Spawns a zombie named 'Bob' with the name always visible above its head on Java. Replace 'zombie' with any entity ID and change 'Bob' to your name. Use JSON text components for colored or styled names. Bedrock requires the Name Tag item workaround.

/summon zombie ~ ~ ~ {CustomName:'{"text":"Bob"}',CustomNameVisible:1b}

71 characters

Java: yes
Bedrock: no
Command block: yes
Needs cheats / OP: yes

How to use

Java: open chat (T) and paste the command.
Change 'zombie' to any mob ID and 'Bob' to your chosen name.
Press Enter — the named mob appears.

Related commands

Summon an Armor Stand

Spawn an armor stand for displaying equipment or decoration

Both

Summon an Axolotl

Spawn an axolotl mob

Both

Summon an Allay

Spawn an allay mob (item collector)

Both

Summon a Camel

Spawn a camel mob (rideable)

Both

Summon a Sniffer

Spawn a sniffer mob (seed finder)

Both

Summon a Wolf (Tamed)

Spawn a tamed wolf that follows you

Java