How to Name Your D&D Character: The Ultimate Guide

Why Your Character's Name Actually Matters

Here's the thing: your DM is going to say your character's name approximately 500 times per campaign. Your party members will shorten it, mispronounce it, and maybe make fun of it. The name you pick is gonna STICK.

A good name does a lot of heavy lifting. "Thorin" tells you something. "Bob the Dwarf" tells you something else (mainly that someone's not taking this seriously). When I hear "Drizzt Do'Urden" I immediately think: cool, complex, probably has a backstory. When I hear "Stabmaster McStabface"... well.

Naming Conventions by Race

Each D&D race has distinct naming traditions that reflect their culture, history, and values. Understanding these conventions will help you create names that feel authentic to your character's heritage.

🧝 Elf Names

Elves live for like 700 years, so their names have TIME to sound poetic. They're flowy, they're elegant, they're everything you'd expect from an immortal being who's seen empires rise and fall. Here's what makes them tick:

• A given name chosen by parents, often nature-inspired
• A family name combining Elvish words
• A "child name" used until they're around 100 years old

Pro tip: Elf names often use soft consonants (L, N, R, S) and open vowels. Avoid harsh sounds like K, G, or X.

⛏️ Dwarf Names

Dwarven names are strong, grounded, and often reference their craft or clan heritage:

• Given names are passed down through generations
• Clan names describe ancestral deeds or professions
• Names often include hard consonants and short vowels

👤 Human Names

Human names in D&D are incredibly diverse, reflecting the many cultures of the Forgotten Realms:

• Chondathan (common): Traditional European-inspired names
• Calishite: Arabic and Middle Eastern influences
• Shou: East Asian-inspired names
• Turami: African-inspired names

The beauty of human names is their flexibility—you can draw from any real-world culture that fits your character's background.

😈 Tiefling Names

Tieflings are where you can get a little weird with it. Since they're often outcasts, many of them straight-up CHOOSE their own names as a rejection of their origin. Virtue names? Chef's kiss. "Fear," "Despair," "Poetry"—all valid. Here's how it works:

• Infernal names: Harsh, often with unusual syllable combinations
• Virtue names: Abstract concepts like "Hope," "Fear," or "Carrion"
• Many tieflings choose new names to define themselves

What I've Learned After 6 Years of D&D

Okay, real talk from someone who's played way too much D&D:

1. If you can't pronounce it, change it. I once played with a guy whose character was named "Xylthrixaz." By session 2, we were calling him "Xy." By session 4, "Steve." Save yourself the trouble.
2. Plan for the nickname. "Thorindal Mountainhammer" WILL become "Thor" or "Dan." Make sure the short version doesn't suck.
3. Match the campaign vibe. "Sir Bonkers McFartface" is hilarious in a silly one-shot. In a 2-year grimdark campaign? Less so.
4. The name is backstory. A street orphan named "Goldsworth Prestige III" needs an explanation. An orphan named "Rat"? That writes itself.
5. Do the shout test. Yell your name like you're in battle. "THORIN!" sounds epic. "GERALD!" ... less so.

Mistakes I've Made So You Don't Have To

• Using "Legolas" but slightly different — "Legolath" is not fooling anyone. We all notice. It's awkward.
• Apostrophe addiction — "K'th'rak'zul" made me feel creative for 10 seconds. Then I had to say it out loud.
• The joke name in a serious game — "Sir Stabbington McStabface" was funny exactly once. That was in session 0. There were 30 more sessions.
• Breaking racial logic without reason — My elf named "Grug" required a 15-minute backstory explanation EVERY time we met new NPCs.
• Name collision — Our party once had "Theron," "Theros," and "Therion." The DM nearly quit.

Ready to Create Your Character?

Now that you understand the art of D&D naming, it's time to create your perfect character name. Use our generators for instant inspiration, or combine the tips above to craft something truly unique.