This spell name generator makes magic spell names for D&D homebrew, fantasy novels and games. Choose the kind of magic and it pairs a describing word with a form the spell takes, as in Searing Lance or Hollow Tether. It can also credit the spell to its inventor, the way Dungeons & Dragons does with its named wizard spells.

Seven Kinds of Magic

Kind	Typical words	Example
Fire	Searing, molten, ember	Molten Whip
Ice and frost	Glacial, rime, hoarfrost	Glacial Prison
Lightning and storm	Forked, crackling, tempest	Forked Lance
Shadow and necromancy	Umbral, withering, grave	Withering Grasp
Light and healing	Radiant, mending, hallowed	Mending Light
Nature	Thorned, verdant, oaken	Oaken Snare
Arcane	Runic, phantom, astral	Phantom Sigil

The second word matters as much as the first. A lance, bolt or spear is aimed at one target. A wave, storm or nova covers an area. A ward, shell or aegis protects, and a grasp, snare or prison holds something still.

Spells Named After Wizards

Dungeons & Dragons has a long tradition of spells that carry a wizard's name. They began as in-jokes: Bigby, Mordenkainen, Tenser and Melf were characters in Gary Gygax's own Greyhawk campaign, and Tenser is an anagram of Ernest, the name of Gygax's son. The game's system of preparing spells in advance came from the Dying Earth stories of Jack Vance, where spells already have grand names such as the Excellent Prismatic Spray. A named spell does useful work in a setting. It tells players that magic has a history, and that someone once sat down and invented this.

Naming the Rest of the Spellbook

A spell needs a caster and often a container. The Warlock Name Generator and the Druid Name Generator name the people, the Potion Name Generator covers magic in a bottle, and the Magic Item Name Generator names the staff or ring that holds the spell.

How to Use the Spell Name Generator

Choose a name format: Pick plain spell names, or spells named after the wizard who invented them.
Choose the kind of magic: Fire, ice, lightning, shadow, light, nature or arcane. Each has its own vocabulary.
Generate: Each press gives six new spell names.
Copy: Use the copy button beside the name you want.

Frequently Asked Questions

How do I name a magic spell?

Say what it is and what shape it takes. Most spell names are a describing word followed by a form: Searing Lance, Glacial Prison, Umbral Veil. The first word tells you the kind of magic, and the second tells you what the caster sees. Keep it to two words so that it is quick to say at the table.

Why do D&D spells have wizards' names in them?

Because they were named after characters in the game's first campaigns. Bigby, Tenser, Mordenkainen and Melf were player characters at Gary Gygax's table, and the spells they were said to have invented kept their names. Choose the wizard format to name a spell the same way.

Does the generator give spell effects?

No. It gives names only, and the effect is yours to decide. A name usually suggests one: a lance is a single line of damage, a prison holds a target in place, and a veil hides something. Match the name to the rules of the game you are playing.

Can I use these names in a published book or game?

The names are ordinary descriptive words combined at random, and the generator avoids pairings that copy a well-known spell. You should still search for a name before building a product around it.

What are the schools of magic in D&D?

Dungeons & Dragons sorts spells into eight schools: abjuration, conjuration, divination, enchantment, evocation, illusion, necromancy and transmutation. This generator groups names by what the magic is made of, such as fire or shadow, because that is how people usually look for a spell name. Most of the fire, ice and lightning names would be evocation spells.

How do I make a spell name sound more powerful?

Use the wizard format, or make the form larger. A bolt is a small spell, a storm or a nova is a large one. Low-level spells in most games have short, plain names, and the grand names are saved for magic that ends a battle.