diff --git a/docs/changelog.txt b/docs/changelog.txt
index 92f023062f..545b0b63a0 100644
--- a/docs/changelog.txt
+++ b/docs/changelog.txt
@@ -65,6 +65,7 @@ Template for new versions:
 - `EventManager`: add safety check to potentially avoid a DFHack crash when DF's ``reports`` table is out of order
 
 ## Documentation
+- ``dfhack.translation.generateName``: added a table containing explanations and data types for each of the parameters
 
 ## API
 - ``DFSDL``: added ``obtain_library_handle`` and ``obtain_image_library_handle`` so that a plugin can obtain DFHack's already-open handle to these libs instead of having to do it itself.
diff --git a/docs/dev/Lua API.rst b/docs/dev/Lua API.rst
index f729be2743..4aaa5a6307 100644
--- a/docs/dev/Lua API.rst	
+++ b/docs/dev/Lua API.rst	
@@ -1060,7 +1060,64 @@ Translation module
 
 * ``dfhack.translation.generateName(name,language,type,major_selector,minor_selector)``
 
-  Dynamically generate a name using the same logic the game itself uses.
+  Dynamically generate a random name using the same logic the game itself uses.
+
+  **Parameters:**
+
+  .. list-table::
+    :class: dfhack-param-table
+    :header-rows: 1
+    :widths: 21 60 19
+
+    * - Name
+      - Explanation
+      - Data Type
+    * - ``name``
+      - | ``name`` property of the object that will have its name generated. This is an output parameter.
+        |
+        | Example values:
+        | ``df.global.world.entities.all[0].name``
+        | ``df.unit.find(79).name``
+        | ``dfhack.gui.getSelectedUnit().name``
+        | ``df.language_name::new()``
+      - ``df.language_name``
+    * - ``language``
+      - | Integer index of the language used for generating the name within ``df.language_translation``.
+        |
+        | Example values:
+        | ``df.global.world.entities.all[0].name.language``
+        | ``df.unit.find(79).name.language``
+        | ``dfhack.gui.getSelectedUnit().name.language``
+        | ``0``
+      - ``int``
+    * - ``type``
+      - | Integer value of the name type. This ensures that the generated name will be appropriate for the given category of object. For allowed values see ``df.language_name_type`` enum.
+        |
+        | Example values:
+        | ``df.global.world.entities.all[100].name.type``
+        | ``df.unit.find(79).name.type``
+        | ``dfhack.gui.getSelectedUnit().name.type``
+        | ``df.language_name_type.Figure``
+        | ``13``
+      - ``df.language_name_type``
+    * - ``major_selector``
+      - | Section of the loaded game raws containing words used for generating the name.
+        |
+        | Example value for sites belonging to civ with id 100:
+        | ``df.historical_entity.find(100).entity_raw.symbols.symbols_major[df.entity_name_type.SITE]``
+        |
+        | Example value for units:
+        | ``df.global.world.raws.language.word_table[0][df.language_name_category.Unit]``
+      - ``df.language_word_table``
+    * - ``minor_selector``
+      - | Section of the loaded game raws containing words used for generating the name.
+        |
+        | Example value for sites belonging to civ with id 100:
+        | ``df.historical_entity.find(100).entity_raw.symbols.symbols_minor[df.entity_name_type.SITE]``
+        |
+        | Example value for units:
+        | ``df.global.world.raws.language.word_table[1][df.language_name_category.Unit]``
+      - ``df.language_word_table``
 
 Gui module
 ----------
diff --git a/docs/styles/dfhack.css b/docs/styles/dfhack.css
index c1a00ed908..a8a1e3237c 100644
--- a/docs/styles/dfhack.css
+++ b/docs/styles/dfhack.css
@@ -79,3 +79,12 @@ div.dfhack-tool-summary p:last-child,
 aside.dfhack-tool-summary p:last-child {
    margin-bottom: 0;
 }
+
+table.dfhack-param-table {
+    table-layout: fixed;
+    width: 110%;
+}
+
+table.dfhack-param-table span.pre {
+    white-space: wrap;
+}