Three name shapes, with set odds
Each dwarf result picks a given name, male or female depending on your choice (or at random if you do not choose), and then takes one of three forms. The split is fixed in the code:
| Form | Share of results | Example |
|---|---|---|
| Given name plus clan surname | about half | Dunmar Forgeglow, Freja Stonefist, Arna Goldbeard |
| Given name plus parent ("son of" / "daughter of") | about 30% | Eitri, son of Orrik; Thyra, daughter of Thrandak |
| Given name plus epithet | about 20% | Hagrun the Steadfast; Bergrik the Unbreakable |
There are 30 male and 30 female given names, 30 clan surnames (Ironpick, Gemcutter, Deepdelver, Anviltop and the like), 15 parent names and 8 epithets. The parent names are the same ones that appear as male given names, so a result like Wulfrik, son of Brannock gives you a ready-made family tree to extend.
Norse roots
Fantasy dwarves take their names from Old Norse. The Völuspá includes a list of dwarf names called the Dvergatal, and Tolkien drew many of the dwarves in The Hobbit from it, among them Dvalin (as Dwalin), Fili, Kili and Gloin; Balin was his own coinage. Eitri and Sindri, two given names this tool can produce, belong to the smiths of Norse myth who forged Thor's hammer. The female names (Sigrun, Gudrun, Freydis, Thyra) are real Scandinavian names, not invented ones.
Judging a few results
Dunmar Forgeglow is the most useful kind: the surname suggests a craft and a hearth. Hagrun the Steadfast is serviceable but interchangeable, since eight epithets are shared by every dwarf and you will see "the Mighty" and "the Steadfast" repeatedly. The parent form is the weakest on its own for a player character (Brannock is a given name here, not a clan) but it is excellent for NPCs in a hall where lineage matters.
Weak points to know about: the output is limited to those lists, there are no apostrophes or alternate-language spellings, and clan surnames are English compounds, so a dwarf from a different culture in your setting will need hand edits. A shared surname such as two Stonefists in one party reads as cousins or rivals, which can be useful.
Earning a name
You can use the epithet forms to show time passing: a young smith with only a given name, a journeyman who adds a craft word, an elder who collects titles. A disgraced dwarf losing a clan name is an easy hook for exile stories.
For inventor types, the gnome name generator offers the opposite approach. The elf name generator suits a rival or a long-lived friend, and the warrior name generator fits a mercenary. For general method, see how to create fantasy names.
Frequently Asked Questions
What does the male/female option change?
It picks the given name from a male list or a female list of 30 names each, and switches the parent form to "son of" or "daughter of". Surnames and epithets are the same either way, since dwarves of both sexes share clan names.
Why do some results have "son of" or "daughter of"?
About 30% of results use a patronymic, a naming style used for real Norse figures. The parent is chosen from 15 names, such as Orrik, Brok or Kragan.
Where do dwarf names come from?
Mostly from Old Norse. The Dvergatal in the Völuspá lists dwarf names, and Tolkien reused several of them. This tool's given names are original in that style, with a few Norse echoes such as Eitri and Sindri.
Does the tool produce Tolkien's dwarf names?
No. The lists were replaced with original names, so results should not be Durin, Thorin or Gimli. If one looks familiar it is because the style is shared, not because it is copied.
Can two dwarves in my game share a surname?
Yes. A repeated clan name implies kinship, which is useful for building a family or a feud. Different given names keep them distinct.