Fantasy Name Generator – Races, Male And Female Names

Select Race
  • angel
  • cavePerson
  • darkelf
  • demon
  • dragon
  • drow
  • dwarf
  • elf
  • fairy
  • gnome
  • goblin
  • halfdemon
  • halfling
  • highelf
  • highfairy
  • human
  • ogre
  • orc
Enrith
Drith
Drenth
Looth
Stamos

The tool above is a complete fantasy name generator, custom-designed by writers for writers, with user experience in mind. You can use it to generate any type of fantasy character name for all types of races, from elves and dwarves to orcs and wizards.

To use the fantasy name generator, simply select your desired race from the drop-down menu, select male or female and press the ‘generate’ button. Sometimes you may need to press ‘generate’ more than once.

It’s also useful for coming up with names for female characters and male characters specifically, villain names too, as well as last names, which can be tricky in the fantasy genre. 

Below, you can find more information on the tool, its functions, and names in the fantasy genre.

What Is A Fantasy Name Generator?

Coming up with names for fantasy characters can be harder than you think. Sometimes we wonder whether we have to make the name sound or appear unusual. To do this we may add a random apostrophe in there. Rand al’Thor from The Wheel Of Time series is one example.

Some writers can spend hours trying to think of suitable or acceptable names. Sometimes you think you’ve found the perfect one, only to Google it and learn that it’s been used a dozen times before or it means something you could never have guessed—it’s happened to me more than a few times.

fantasy name generator

So to save the pain and strife of creating names, we can use a fantasy name generator. Click a button and it simply provides you with a list of 10 random names that you could use for your protagonists, antagonists or secondary characters.

It’s also useful for naming characters from any role-playing games you enjoy, from Dungeons and Dragons to The Elder Scrolls. A tool like this can give you truly unique fantasy names.

You can even use this fantasy race names generator to help you come up with your own unique and original fantasy races, different from elves, orcs, and dwarves.

This tool also serves as a fantasy last name generator. Surnames are underused in the fantasy genre. The examples we do see illustrate how powerful they can be when used in the right way.

How Can A Name Generator Help Me?

This name generator is designed to help people who are struggling to create their own names for their fantasy characters. Having the right name can play a big part in characterization, especially if you look to add titles or fantasy last names into the mix. Just look at David Gemmell’s Druss The Legend.

The main reason why I think this fantasy name creator will help you is that it doesn’t suggest names that will frustrate your readers. I’ve used other name generator tools in the past and some of the suggestions they’ve given me have been downright bizarre.

As a fantasy writer with a good track record of creating characters readers love, as well as fantasy worlds that readers love to explore, I know and follow some guiding principles when it comes to creating names for fantasy cities, towns, and other places, as well as names for humans, elves and other races.

These principles are centered around clarity. If your reader can’t work out a character’s name, we’ve got a problem.

How Does The Name Generator Work?

Using the name generator couldn’t be easier. All you have to do is click the ‘generate’ button and within seconds you’ll be given a list of names tailored to the fantasy genre.

The name generator tool has been designed by myself and created with the skills of some talented developers. I know what makes a good fantasy name and I know what makes a bad one. The results you’ll get can all be used for males, females and any other type of fantasy race.

And as time goes on, this tool will grow and develop to include fantasy last names and titles.

What Is A Good Fantasy Name?

So what makes for a good fantasy name? Perhaps it’s helpful to begin by looking at some of the things that readers can find frustrating:

  • If it’s too hard to read or make out – this ties into the random apostrophe complaint I raised earlier. I’ve genuinely seen some fantasy writer add two apostrophes to an eight-letter name. I was left with no clue how to pronounce it. Another more famous example is Hermione in Harry Potter. When the books first came out, nobody knew how to say her name. It ranged from “hermy-one” or “herm-i-own”. It’s a beautiful name and I think it suits the character perfectly, but it’s an example of how readers can find names difficult.
  • Bland names or ones that don’t evoke any imagery should be avoided. So for example, common names that we hear often are unlikely to provoke much curiosity compared to ones that we rarely hear.

So when it comes to creating a good fantasy name, the main thing to keep in mind is to keep it simple. Ensure the name is easily understood. Some examples include:

  • Frodo from The Lord of the Rings
  • Vin from Mistborn
  • Pug from The Riftwar Saga
  • Isy from Pariah’s Lament

How do I find my perfect fantasy name?

There are lots of ways to come up with fantasy character names. How do you know when you’ve found the right name for you? From experience, you tend to get a gut feeling, an understanding that you’ve got the right name. One that suits your character, lends itself to their personality.

It might reveal a bit about who they are, perhaps through a title or surname. Or it could create an image in the reader’s mind. Just look at the two brothers from Game of Thrones, The Hound and The Mountain.

Naming Human Characters

My random name generator is designed to produce quality names for all races of fantasy characters, from elves to orcs. And of course, human characters too.

Humans are perhaps the most common race in the fantasy genre. From Lord of the Rings to Assassin’s Apprentice, a human character often serves as protagonist or antagonist. And even though we’re dealing with fantasy stories, it’s totally understandable why that’s the case. As readers, we can relate to it more.

However, being fantasy writers, it seems a little easy to just rely on real-world human names. Paul, James, Janet and Michelle don’t quite have a fantasy ring to them. But how do we come up with fantasy names for human characters?

One way is to look at what other authors do. George RR Martin is a good example. He takes real-world names and tweaks them slightly. The simple act of making them different is enough it seems. Examples include Jaime, Jon and Bran.

An alternative is to give my fantasy name generator a go. With an extensive list of human fantasy names, you’ll be bound to find something you like.

Fantasy Last Name Generator

When it comes to creating last names for fantasy characters, we can often feel a bit stumped. Coming up with a first name can feel tough enough, but a last name too?

Worry not. There are a few tips you can follow to help you:

  • Think about surnames that evoke some kind of imagery. Raymond E Feist’s character Jimmy Hand the master thief always pops into my mind.
  • You could use a title instead of a last name. For example, David Gemmell’s Druss The Legend.
  • Look at other fantasy authors and see how they use fantasy last names. George RR Martin is a good example. He created a house system, with key families possessing powerful names—Lannisters, Starks, Baratheons and so on.
  • What about a last name that relates to the place that family is from? In the UK, for example, a lot of surnames are derived from place names. As an example, my family name Billing comes from a place called Billinge.
  • If you decide to use a fantasy race name generator to help you come up with a new group of people, then tying something of their heritage or culture to their surname may be a good idea too. 

If you’re still stuck, you could try my fantasy last name generator. A lot of the races you can choose from, including dwarves, provide a first and last name for both male and female characters. So if you ever need a helping hand, this fantasy surname generator can help.

Female Name Generator

One of the best aspects of this generator tool is when it comes to naming women characters. I like to read fantasy novels and stories with female protagonists, and a lot of the fiction I write involves women characters too.

Picking the right name for a character is so important. It can say a lot about who that character is. Galadriel, for example, evokes an image of grace and elegance—traits you’d expect of a queen.

Coming up with a name that does this, however, isn’t straightforward. If you get completely stumped, why not give my female name generator a go?

Tip – You don’t have to simply accept a name the generator gives you. Break it up, take the bits you like, and combine it with your favourite parts of other names.

But that isn’t its only purpose. It also functions as a male name generator too. Simply choose the relevant options and you’ll be presented with lots of results. 

Villain Name Generator

When it comes to creating the bad guys of stories and fantasy worlds, it can sometimes seem quite tricky to come up with a name that encapsulates who they are.

Sauron, Voldemort, Medusa, The Mountain—all of these names evoke a feeling or an image when we hear them, particularly if there are enrapturing descriptions that accompany them.

But achieving this on our own can be tricky. And that’s why we may turn to a villain name generator to help us. The tool above can give you the name of villains and antagonists for any type of race, from elves to orcs, ogres to humans. It’ll give you a last name too, in case you wanted to give your character that extra flourish.

And the tool above also serves as a female villain name generator too, giving you scores of names for both men and women characters.

When it comes to choosing a villain’s name, I recommend considering the following:

  • Does it grab you and stand out? A mundane name for an antagonist can be forgettable to readers.
  • Consider adding a title to your character to elevate them – Lord Sauron, Darth Vader, The Mountain.
  • Don’t go too complex. Just because they’re an antagonist doesn’t mean you have to start adding dashes and apostrophes into the name.

Race Names Generator

The fantasy genre is rich with different types of beings and races. Orcs, dwarves, elves, ogres, demons and trolls, writers are spoilt for choice when it comes to inspiration for their stories. 

But many writers don’t like to re-use what’s already come before. You might be a bit like me, always keen to think of something new and original to excite readers. 

One of the best ways to do this is to conjure new races or even species. But coming up with a name for something like this can be tricky, and that’s where a race names generator comes in.

Sometimes the perfect name comes to you right away. Other times it takes an age. But as writers, we can’t just leave a void like that in our stories. So until you get that perfect name, picking something you’ve found off a fantasy name generator will help you out.

Why Would You Use A Fantasy Race Name Generator?

A fantasy race name generator tool could be used by authors, game designers, and role-players to quickly create unique and interesting names for the races in their stories, games, or campaigns.

It could also be used by artists and cosplayers as inspiration for character names and designs. Additionally, the tool could be used by fans of fantasy literature and media to generate names for their own fan fiction or role-playing characters.

The idea is to quickly come up with appealing and quality names for your fantasy races so that you can quickly get back to playing and writing.

How To Create Fantasy Races Using A Name Generator

It’s possible to use the fantasy name generator tool at the top of this page to create an entirely new race. How, you may ask.

Well, it’s quite simple. You choose a name the tool gives you and allow it to create an image in your mind. For example, Azok The Fist. What kind of image are you getting? Naturally, you may lean more toward an orc, ogre or troll. But it’s with this trope or cliche that you begin. Now simply ask, “what if?”. 

What if Azok The Fist got his name because he only had one hand (and thereby one fist)? He may be more of a docile character, a race that aligns more to the sloths of our natural world.

Once you start to think about their culture, history, beliefs, and physical characteristics you’ll begin to create a fully realized and unique fantasy race.

Fantasy Species Name Generator

As well as coming up with names for races, you can also use the fantasy name generator to help with naming species. 

The fantasy genre is awash with all different types of monsters and beasts, like orcs, demons and ogres. Thinking of unique names for these type of fantasy species can be tricky. JRR Tolkien, for example, took the name “orcs” from the old epic poem Beowulf within which a race known as “orcus” were referred to. 

If you’d like any help using the fantasy species name generator above, please get in touch. 

Get More Help With Creating Fantasy Names

Below, you can find lots more guides and tools to help you with your writing. 

More Fantasy Character Names Guides And Generators

Below you can find lots more guides about using a fantasy name generator and coming up with ideas:

Discover More About Writing and Creating Characters

If you have any questions about how to use this fantasy name generator, or if you’d like to give some feedback on how we can improve, please contact me.

richiebilling
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