Fantasy name generator

Original fantasy names, built syllable by syllable

This fantasy name generator makes up names that do not exist yet. Each one is put together from syllables chosen for its type: elf, dwarf, orc, medieval human, dragon and wizard for characters, plus town, tavern, kingdom and sword. It helps the game master who needs an innkeeper's name in the middle of a tabletop session, the player building a character for a LARP weekend, the writer drafting a short story, or anyone making a small video game for themselves.

Under every name you see its syllable split, for example Thrud·rak, so you know how to say it out loud.

How to use it

1. Pick a "Name type". For characters, choose a "Gender": female, male or neutral.
2. Set the "Length": "Short (2 syllables)", "Medium (3 syllables)" or "Long (4 syllables)", and the "Number of names (1 to 50)".
3. Click "Generate names" or press the space bar. Click a name to copy it; "Copy the list" copies every name shown, one per line.
4. Tick "Add an epithet" to get a byname such as "the Bold" or "of a Thousand Steps".
5. The star saves a name to "My favorites". They stay on this device when you close the page, up to 100 names.

Gender and epithets only apply to characters, so they are greyed out for towns, taverns, kingdoms and swords.

How the names are built

Every name follows the same pattern: a first syllable (opening consonants, a vowel, sometimes a closing consonant), middle syllables, then an ending taken from a list that depends on the type and gender. What changes is the sound:

• Elf: soft consonants (l, n, th, v, s), light vowels, endings like -wen, -riel or -thil.
• Dwarf: hard openings (br, dr, gr, kr, thr), deep vowels (a, o, u), endings like -grim, -dur or -hild.
• Orc: harsh sounds (g, k, z, sh, gh), consonant clusters, short endings like -gash or -ruk.
• Dragon: hissing and rolling sounds (x, z, rh, th), endings like -rax or -thra.
• Tavern: round, homely sounds, endings like -ble, -mug or -pot.

A few rules keep the names pronounceable: never two vowels on either side of a syllable break, no more than three consonants in a row (two for elves and wizards), never the same letter three times. A vowel pair such as "ae" counts as one syllable. Any name that contains a famous fictional name or a swear word is thrown out.

Exact example: type "Dwarf", gender "Male", length "Short", seed forge. The first five names are always Thrudrak, Damund, Viddur, Nolkdum and Grukmund. With type "Tavern", length "Medium" and seed auberge, the first name is Bronkgudle, split as Bronk·gu·dle.

Tips for a believable name

• Give each people one length: all your dwarves Short, all your elves Long, for example.
• Keep long names for important characters: readers remember a two-syllable hero more easily.
• Read the name aloud using the split. If it trips you up, generate again.

Frequently asked questions

Do these names already exist?

They are made up and checked against a list of famous names, but nothing guarantees a name has never been used anywhere. Before publishing, do a quick search on the one you pick.

What is the seed for?

Left empty, every draw is unpredictable. With a seed, such as the name of your campaign, the same settings always bring back the same list, in all five languages of the site. Only the epithets are translated.

What does "Neutral" change?

Names get their endings from a separate list, and epithets are chosen among forms that do not depend on gender, such as "of the Hills".

Are my favorites sent anywhere?

No. Everything runs in your browser and your favorites stay on your device.