Titles Are Better Than Names

Normally we wish to describe things as specifically as possible with the least amount of words. A common exception to this is when it comes to monsters.

Few things are scarier than the unknown. You can keep your monsters scary by keeping them mysterious.

It is more efficient to say goblin, but describing instead "The short green humanoid approaches you with fangs gleaming." adds uncertainty.

Sometimes players will make wrong assumptions because of this approach, imagining additional details that deviate from what you have described. This is okay and easily corrected when it comes to your attention.

No doubt your players will quickly name these creatures themselves. Perhaps guessing their proper monster type or giving them some other nickname. Let them do this. This is them attempting to push back against fear, push back against uncertainty, to bring order and efficiency to the world. This is our natural inclination. As the gamemaster though, continue to describe rather than name.

That said, there may be situations where you as the gamemaster choose to name rather than, or in addition to, describing the monster. For example, when a name adds fear to the situation because the personage is so powerful in your game world. For example, "The dragon Smaug" will send shivers down the spine of anyone playing in a Tolkien inspired world. 

Combat encounters that are simple, mundane, and quick may benefit from using names over descriptions to stress the banality of the situation and further help speed it along. You may want to ask yourself though, why even have such an encounter.

We wish to describe things as specifically as possible with the least amount of words. To do this, when players are interacting with NPCs titles are better than names as they tell you more than a name ever could.

Furthermore, your players will have an easier time remembering a title than a name. In fact, you may already see this as your players talk about your NPCs not by name, but by what they do.

Go all in on this and let your PCs earn unique titles in your game world as rewards.