About the Fantasy City Name Generator
Every great fantasy world needs memorable locations. Our fantasy city name generator creates evocative city, town, and village names that sound like they belong on an ancient map. Whether you're running a D&D campaign, writing a fantasy novel, or building a video game world, these names will bring your setting to life.
The generator uses naming patterns inspired by real-world medieval cities, Tolkien's Middle-earth, and classic fantasy literature to create names that feel authentic and lived-in.
Example Fantasy City Names
Here are some example names our generator can create:
Common Fantasy City Naming Conventions
Many fantasy city names follow real-world medieval naming patterns:
- -ford — A river crossing (Ashford, Riverford, Oxenford)
- -burg/-burgh — A fortified town (Goldburg, Thornburgh, Iceburg)
- -haven — A safe harbor (Stormhaven, Moonhaven, Whitehaven)
- -hold — A fortress or stronghold (Ironhold, Winterhold, Dragonhold)
- -shire — A region or county (Greenshire, Mistshire, Westshire)
- -dale — A valley (Silverdale, Ferndale, Deepdale)
- -spire — A tower or tall building (Ravenspire, Highspire, Blackspire)
- -gate — An entrance or passage (Frostgate, Stonegate, Kinggate)
- -wick — A settlement or dwelling (Thornwick, Southwick, Hardwick)
- -mere — A lake or pond (Blackmere, Windmere, Silvermere)
Settlement Types in Fantasy Worldbuilding
Different types of settlements have different naming conventions:
- Capital Cities — Grand names suggesting power: Kingshall, Imperial City, Thronehold
- Port Towns — Water-related: Seahaven, Saltport, Tidemark
- Mountain Settlements — Strong, sturdy names: Ironpeak, Stonekeep, Hammerhall
- Forest Villages — Nature-inspired: Oakwood, Fernheart, Willowbrook
- Desert Oases — Exotic sounds: Sunspire, Goldensand, Miragekeep
- Frozen Lands — Cold imagery: Frosthold, Winterhaven, Icevale
Perfect For D&D Worldbuilding
This city name generator is designed with tabletop RPG worldbuilders in mind:
- Campaign Maps — Populate your homebrew world with named locations
- Random Encounters — Quick names for towns your party visits unexpectedly
- Backstory Building — Give characters meaningful hometowns
- Trade Routes — Create a network of named cities for merchant campaigns
- Political Intrigue — Named capitals and territories for faction conflicts
Frequently Asked Questions
How do I name a fantasy city?
Start with a descriptive prefix that reflects the city's character (Storm-, Iron-, Gold-, Raven-) and add a suffix indicating the type of settlement (-haven, -hold, -burg, -dale). Consider the city's geography, history, and culture when choosing.
Can I use these names for D&D?
Yes! All generated names are free to use for D&D campaigns, Pathfinder, other tabletop RPGs, fantasy novels, video games, and any creative projects. No attribution required.
What makes a good fantasy city name?
A good fantasy city name should be pronounceable, evocative of its environment or history, and fit the cultural context of your world. It should hint at the city's character without being too on-the-nose.
Should cities in the same region have similar names?
Yes! Consistency in naming patterns creates a more believable world. Cities in the same culture might share suffixes (all ending in -heim for a Norse-inspired region) or use the same language roots.
Random Fantasy City Name Generator
Our random fantasy city name generator creates completely unique names with every click. The randomization algorithm combines over 100 prefixes and 80 suffixes to produce thousands of original city names. Whether you need one name or a hundred, each generation delivers fresh, unexpected combinations perfect for populating your fantasy maps.
Dark Fantasy City Name Generator
For worlds inspired by dark fantasy settings like Dark Souls, Bloodborne, or grimdark fiction, our generator creates appropriately ominous names. Think corrupted empires, fallen kingdoms, and cursed settlements. Names like Ashhold, Dreadspire, Gloomhaven, and Shadowmere evoke the bleak atmosphere of dark fantasy worlds. Combine with the "Fortress/Keep" settlement type for extra foreboding results.
D&D Fantasy City Name Generator
This DnD fantasy city name generator is optimized for Dungeons & Dragons worldbuilding. Names follow conventions found in official D&D settings like the Forgotten Realms, Greyhawk, and Eberron. Whether you're naming a bustling trade hub, a remote village, or the capital of a powerful empire, these names fit seamlessly into 5th Edition campaigns. Perfect for DMs who need quick names during improvised sessions!
Final Fantasy City Name Generator
Fans of the Final Fantasy series will appreciate our generator's ability to create names with similar dramatic flair. While not officially affiliated with Square Enix, our combinations can produce names reminiscent of iconic FF locations. Mix majestic prefixes with grand suffixes for results that echo the epic scale of Midgar, Zanarkand, and Insomnia. Great for fan fiction, roleplay, or JRPG-inspired worldbuilding.
Japanese Fantasy City Name Generator
For Japanese fantasy settings inspired by anime, manga, or Eastern mythology, consider pairing our generator with Japanese-style modifications. While our base generator uses Western fantasy conventions, names like Moonshire, Fernheart, and Mistdale can suit ethereal, Studio Ghibli-esque settings. For authentic Japanese city names, check out our Japanese Name Generator for inspiration.
Urban Fantasy City Name Generator
Creating an urban fantasy setting where magic exists in the modern world? While most generated names suit medieval fantasy, some combinations work perfectly for hidden magical districts within real cities. Names like Shadowgate, Ravenwick, or Thornhall could be secret supernatural neighborhoods in London, New York, or Tokyo. Mix fantasy names with real-world city names for your urban fantasy worldbuilding.
Can I use this as a random city name generator?
Absolutely! Our random fantasy city name generator produces completely unique combinations with each click. The algorithm ensures variety while maintaining the authentic feel of fantasy place names.
Is this good for dark fantasy worlds?
Yes! Many generated names suit dark fantasy settings perfectly. Names ending in -hold, -spire, -mere, and -gate often carry an ominous tone ideal for grimdark campaigns and gothic fantasy worlds.