Good elf names sound like they were sung before they were spoken: long vowels, soft consonants and an ending that trails off instead of stopping short. This list has 110 original elven names sorted by vibe, with family names at the end and a method for building your own.
In a hurry? The elf name generator makes ten names at a time, free.
Every name here was made up for this list. The meanings are invented too, so treat them as suggestions and change them to fit your world.
Elf names for any character
Most elven names in fantasy aren't strongly gendered, so these work for anyone.
- Aerwyth: could mean "breath of the high wind"
- Lioreth: evokes gold light through leaves
- Sennavel: could mean "keeper of the quiet road"
- Ithrae: short and airy, good for a scout or messenger
- Vaelune: could mean "valley under the moon"
- Elorith: sounds old and patient, a teacher's name
Caerith, Thessan, Yrelle, Nimael, Sylren, Laethir, Ruvane, Oshiel, Maerin, Phaelis
Elven names for girls
A short selection. The full list is in female elf names.
- Ysmerelle: could mean "first frost on the rose"
- Liravae: evokes a river at dawn
- Naethissa: could mean "she who listens"
- Aelowynn: could mean "joy of the white bird"
- Shalindre: sounds like silk and silver
Miravel, Eilunne, Faerisse, Thaliwen, Ondrielle, Calyseth, Virelis, Aunwyn, Sirelle
Elven names for boys
More of these in male elf names.
- Thaeros: could mean "storm on the ridge"
- Ilvandor: could mean "far wanderer"
- Caldreth: evokes a cold oath kept for centuries
- Orimael: could mean "gold-handed"
- Faelorn: suggests the last one left in the grove
Sevarel, Lorathen, Thirien, Vethorn, Ruindel, Aressen, Maelthas, Ylvaren, Endrith
Cute elf names
Short, round and easy to say. Good for young elves, sidekicks and chibi designs.
- Lirri: could mean "little song"
- Nimsy: sounds like a sneeze in a flower field
- Fenlo: fits a small elf in boots two sizes too big
- Tivvi: quick, bright and impossible to keep indoors
- Aelu: could mean "first light"
Mirri, Sollie, Wynnet, Dellia, Pirrin, Lunelle, Thimmel, Nuvi, Bryl
Cool elf names
Sharper sounds (k, z, x, v) for duelists, assassins and elves with a past.
- Kaeroth: sounds like a blade leaving its sheath
- Zyraen: could mean "cold star"
- Vexaril: for an elf who smiles before a duel
- Draevyn: evokes dusk and wet stone
- Sythril: thin, sharp and fast
Azreth, Lysk, Thorvael, Nyxeris, Kyvan, Raethe, Valkris, Jhorel, Ezrin
Moon elf and night elf names
For elves who keep night hours: stargazers, moon priests and city watchers.
- Lunareth: could mean "moon-crowned"
- Nyssalune: could mean "night that carries a lantern"
- Noctivar: could mean "watcher of the dark hours"
- Astrileth: could mean "star-thread"
- Duskara: evokes the last blue minute of evening
Nythiel, Syllune, Velisara, Halunae, Ilunar, Shaelune, Orunel, Lunethra, Vaenox
Sea elf names
Wetter vowels and words borrowed from tide and reef.
- Maristel: could mean "star on the water"
- Thalessa: evokes tide pools and green glass
- Nerivane: could mean "she who follows the current"
- Corallin: a reef name, bright and a little brittle
Aequiel, Pelarion, Sirenne, Undrel, Ondriss, Kelphira, Lirmere, Brinael
Elven family names
Elven surnames are usually either a translated image (two plain words) or an old house name in the elven tongue.
- Silverbough: a house that keeps a very old orchard
- Dawnmantle: could mean "those who wear the morning"
- Aelvareth: an old-style house name, could mean "star-sworn"
- Windharrow: hill farmers with a famous temper
Moonfallow, Starweft, Thornaleth, Nightbloom, Ilvenmere, Glasswillow, Farsong, Emberlinn
How to make your own elven names
Elven names are built from three slots. Pick one piece from each and say the result out loud.
- Opening: Ae, Cal, El, Fae, Il, Lor, Mir, Nae, Syl, Thal, Vae
- Middle (optional): a, e, i, an, el, ir, ith
- Ending: -iel, -wen, -eth, -ion, -or, -is, -ael, -yn
Mir + ith + iel gives Mirithiel. Cal + an + or gives Calanor. Lor + i + eth gives Lorieth.
A few rules of thumb keep the results sounding elven:
- Stay between two and four syllables. Five reads as a title.
- Lean on l, r, n, s, th and v. Allow one hard sound (k, g, b) per name at most.
- Use one vowel pair (ae, ia, eo) per name. Two pairs is a tongue-twister.
- End soft. Names that end in -eth or -iel fade out; names that end in -ok or -ag stop dead.
Tips for choosing an elf name
- Say it three times fast. If you trip, shorten it or give the character a nickname people will use instead.
- Match the culture, not just the species. A sea elf and a mountain elf from the same world should still share a few sounds.
- Check for accidental real words. Read the name backwards and in pieces before you commit to it.
- Keep your cast apart. Two elves whose names both start with Ae and end in -iel will blur together.
More elf names
Need a specific kind of elf? See wood elf names, dark elf names and high elf names. For an endless supply, open the elf name generator, and when a name sticks, design the elf who owns it in the Character Creator.
FAQ
What are some good elf names?
Aerwyth, Lioreth, Thaeros, Ysmerelle and Vaelune are good starting points. A good elf name is easy to say, uses soft sounds and fits the elf's home and job.
What are elven last names?
Usually one of two things: an image in plain words, like Silverbough or Dawnmantle, or a house name in the elven language, like Aelvareth. Many elves in fiction use a place instead: of the Western Shore.
Are elf names different for males and females?
Only loosely. In most fantasy, endings like -iel, -wen and -a read as feminine and -ion, -or and -ir read as masculine, but plenty of elven names are unisex.
Can I use these elven names in my book or game?
Yes. We made them up for this list, and a name on its own can't be owned. Search any name before you publish, in case another creator landed on the same one.
