This dwarf name generator makes names for dwarves in Dungeons & Dragons and other fantasy settings. It gives a first name with a clan name, such as Korgrim Stonemantle, or either part alone. First names are built from Norse-sounding syllables, male or female, and clan names join a material to a feature or a tool.

The Parts of a Dwarf Name

Part	How it is built	Examples
Male first name	A hard first syllable with an ending such as -grim, -gar or -mund	Korgrim, Thurgar, Bromdak, Ragnar
Female first name	The same roots with an ending such as -hild, -dis or -run	Sigrun, Tordis, Ingrid, Karhild
Clan name	A material joined to a feature or a tool	Stonemantle, Copperhelm, Runebraid

Where Dwarf Names Come From

In Norse myth the dwarves are smiths who live under the earth and make the treasures of the gods, among them Thor's hammer. One Old Norse poem, the Voluspa, contains a long list of their names. Tolkien borrowed from that list for The Hobbit, and his dwarves became the model for the ones in Dungeons & Dragons and most fantasy since. He also made the plural dwarves common. Before him the usual spelling was dwarfs. The generator keeps the Norse sound and leaves his names out.

Dwarf Name Endings

Ending	Used for	Sense in old Germanic names
-grim	Men	A mask or helmet
-mund	Men	Protection
-rik	Men	Ruler, powerful
-gar	Men	Spear
-hild	Women	Battle
-run	Women	Secret, rune
-dis	Women	Lady, goddess

How to Choose a Dwarf Name

Start with the clan. A dwarf is introduced by clan as much as by name, and a party may meet the relatives.
Match the clan name to the trade. Runebraid for a cleric or a scholar. Copperhelm for a soldier.
Keep it short enough to shout. Two syllables carry down a mine shaft.
Name the hold and the company. The Fantasy City Name Generator has a dwarven style for the city under the mountain. For companions, see the Gnome Name Generator and the Halfling Name Generator, and for the old enemy, the Orc Name Generator.

How to Use the Dwarf Name Generator

Choose what you need: Pick a full name, a first name alone or a clan name alone.
Choose a gender: The gender decides the first name. A clan name needs none.
Generate and copy: Each press gives six new names. Use the copy button beside the one you want.

Frequently Asked Questions

What makes a name sound dwarven?

Short, heavy syllables with hard consonants, and endings found in Old Norse names: -grim, -mund, -rik and -gar for men, -hild, -dis and -run for women. Korgrim, Thurgar and Sigrun sound dwarven for that reason.

Why do dwarf names sound Norse?

Because the dwarves of modern fantasy come from Norse myth. J.R.R. Tolkien took the names of his dwarves from a list of dwarf names in an Old Norse poem, the Voluspa, and almost every later game and novel followed his lead.

What are good dwarf clan names?

Two words joined, one for a material and one for a feature or a tool: Stonemantle, Copperhelm, Runebraid, Ironbeard. A clan name says what the family is known for, so choose one that fits the character's trade.

What are good female dwarf names?

Names with the same weight as the male ones and a different ending: Sigrun, Tordis, Ingrid, Gudrun, Karhild. Several of these are real Norse women's names, which is why they sound right.

Are these names from The Hobbit or The Lord of the Rings?

No. The names of Tolkien's dwarves are left out of the generator, along with well-known dwarves from games, so a new character does not share one.

Do these names work for D&D?

Yes. A dwarf in Dungeons & Dragons has a given name and a clan name, which is the format of the full names here. They suit hill dwarves and mountain dwarves alike.