Wood Elf Names: 90 Forest Names for Elves, With Meanings

Wood elf names are earthier than other elven names. They're shorter, they borrow from trees, weather and animals, and they sound like something you could whisper on a hunt. This list has 90 original names for forest elves, with clan names and a root-word system so you can keep making more.

The elf name generator can give you ten more in one click.

These names and their meanings are our own inventions, written for this list. Nothing here is real etymology.

Wood elf names with meanings

• Fendaer: could mean "marsh deer"
• Lindaeth: could mean "under the linden"
• Mossariel: could mean "she who sleeps on moss"
• Ruvanna: could mean "deep root"
• Talwyth: could mean "tall and glad"
• Daevryn: could mean "deer path"
• Brilinn: could mean "bramble song"
• Ashlorin: could mean "grey bark"
• Thalmoss: could mean "green stone"
• Sylthorn: could mean "the wood's own thorn", a sentry's name
• Querrin: could mean "acorn keeper"
• Wrenlith: evokes a small bird with a loud song

Female wood elf names

• Ivyneth: could mean "clinging vine"
• Larchwen: evokes gold needles in autumn
• Sorrelith: could mean "sharp green"
• Willaeth: suggests something that bends and never breaks

Aspenna, Birchel, Cedrielle, Fawnlith, Gladewyn, Junipae, Laurisse, Myrtlewen, Nettael, Primrowen, Vineth, Yarrowen, Hazenna

Male wood elf names

• Barkoren: could mean "rough hands"
• Antlaer: could mean "antler crown"
• Brakenor: could mean "lord of the bracken"
• Yewan: suggests someone as old as the yew he sits under

Alderic, Boughen, Cobbrin, Durmast, Fernoth, Grovan, Hawthel, Larchen, Mossan, Oakhael, Pinneth, Wilderan, Rushael

Names for hunters and scouts

Quick names that carry across a clearing.

• Lightfen: could mean "light foot on wet ground"
• Hawkrell: could mean "hawk's call"
• Stillaeth: could mean "the one who waits"

Bowenne, Dappleth, Fletchen, Greenhal, Huntael, Kestrith, Pathlorn, Quivaren, Rillan, Stalkwyn, Treadlow

Names for druids and grove keepers

• Seedra: could mean "first green"
• Mycelis: could mean "the thread under the soil"
• Hollowen: suggests someone who lives inside the old tree

Bloomaeth, Elderoot, Fungael, Lichenne, Petrichel, Rainlith, Sapwyn, Verdael, Wortha, Loamis, Brackenna

Wood elf clan and family names

Forest clans are usually named for the patch of woods they keep.

• Amberleaf: an autumn clan, known for its mead
• Deeproot: the oldest families, slow to anger
• Fallowmere: hunters from the marsh edge
• Thornwake: border scouts who sleep in shifts
• Mistgrove: a clan nobody has managed to map

Ashenbough, Birchrun, Dapplewood, Elmshade, Fernhollow, Highcanopy, Mossback, Oldgrowth, Redalder, Underbough, Wildcress

How to make a wood elf name from root words

Wood elf names work best when each half means something. Build a small root list for your forest people, then combine two roots. Here is the one we used:

• Trees and plants: ash, bri (bramble), lin (linden), mos (moss), ruv (root), syl (wood), tal (tall tree), thal (green)
• Animals: dae (deer), wren, kes (kestrel), fawn
• Land and weather: fen (marsh), glade, rain, rill (stream)
• People words: wyn (joy), aeth (one who), wen (maiden), or (lord), an (child of)

Fen + dae + r gives Fendaer, "marsh deer". Tal + wyth gives Talwyth, "tall and glad". Rain + lith gives Rainlith.

Rules of thumb:

1. Two or three syllables. Forest elves don't have time for five.
2. One root should be something you can see, touch or hunt.
3. Plain English roots are fine (Larchwen, Hawkrell) as long as the ending is elven.
4. Write your root list down and reuse it. Repeated roots are what make a culture feel real.

Tips for choosing a wood elf name

• Name the forest first. A birch wood in the north and a mangrove swamp produce different roots.
• Give hunters short names and elders longer ones. It mirrors how often the name gets called out.
• Don't stack three nature words. Mossleafbrook is a street name.
• Pick a clan name that says what the clan does: guard a border, tend a grove, trade with outsiders.

More forest and elven names

Compare these with high elf names and dark elf names to keep your elven cultures distinct, or go smaller with fairy names. For a fresh batch any time, use the elf name generator.

FAQ

What is a good wood elf name?

Fendaer, Lindaeth, Ruvanna and Talwyth are good examples: short, soft and tied to something in the forest.

What are female wood elf names?

Ivyneth, Larchwen, Aspenna, Gladewyn and Yarrowen. Take a plant or tree and add a soft elven ending such as -wen, -eth or -a.

What are male wood elf names?

Barkoren, Antlaer, Fernoth, Grovan and Oakhael. Tree and animal roots with a firm ending like -or, -an or -eth.

Do wood elves have last names?

They usually use a clan name tied to their territory, such as Amberleaf, Deeproot or Thornwake, instead of a family surname.