What's Shaping Fantasy Names in 2025
Fantasy naming evolves with the genre itself. As new books, games, and shows push the boundaries of worldbuilding, naming conventions shift too. Here's what's trending in fantasy character names for 2025.
Soft and Lyrical Names
The cozy fantasy and romantasy boom has brought a wave of names that prioritize beauty and softness over hard consonants:
- Vowel-heavy: Aurelia, Isolde, Elowen, Seraphine, Odaia — flowing sounds that feel like music.
- Nature-rooted: Briar, Thorne, Linden, Wren, Meadow — earthy names for characters in pastoral settings.
- Mythological echoes: Names that evoke classical mythology without copying it — Thessaly, Caspian, Elysia, Calista.
This trend reflects the rise of character-driven fantasy where emotional resonance matters more than sounding intimidating.
Grimdark and Gritty Names
On the other end of the spectrum, grimdark fantasy continues to favor names that feel harsh, short, and lived-in:
- Blunt and brutal: Gorm, Brek, Skeld, Thorn, Vex — names that sound like they've been through a fight.
- Truncated names: Characters who go by shortened, practical versions of longer names — Kel instead of Kelanthius, Sev instead of Severan.
- Working-class feel: Names that sound common and unglamorous in their world — Fiddler, Hedge, Smiler, Whiskeyjack.
Culturally-Rooted Worldbuilding
The biggest shift in fantasy naming is toward cultural specificity. Readers and players increasingly expect names to feel like they belong to a coherent culture:
- East Asian-inspired: Influenced by xianxia and wuxia — Xian, Lan Wangji, Wei Wuxian, Yennefer (Slavic-inspired in Witcher).
- African-inspired: Growing representation — Binti, Akachi, Sankofa — names from real African traditions adapted for fantasy settings.
- Middle Eastern-inspired: Rich naming traditions from Arabic and Persian — Nasir, Zahara, Khalid, Layla.
- Indigenous-inspired: Done respectfully, drawing on naming structures and sounds without appropriating specific sacred names.
The key is internal consistency — a fantasy culture's names should follow patterns that make the world feel lived-in and real.
Titles and Epithets as Names
Characters known by their titles rather than birth names are trending, especially in progression fantasy and epic series:
- Descriptive titles: The Blackthorn Queen, The Pale King, The Stormweaver — names earned through deeds.
- Role-based: The Arcanist, The Chronicler, The Warden — identity defined by function.
- Why it works: Titles create intrigue and imply a backstory. The reader wants to know how the character earned that name.
Constructed Language Names
Following Tolkien's tradition, more creators are building naming languages with consistent rules:
- Phoneme systems: Deciding that Elvish names use lots of "l" and "th" sounds while Dwarven names favor "k" and "r" — consistency makes worlds feel real.
- Naming conventions: Patronymics (son of/daughter of), clan names, use-names, true names — different cultures within the same world naming differently.
- Tools of the trade: Conlang tools and generators help creators build consistent naming languages without being a full linguist.
Video Game and TTRPG Influence
Tabletop RPGs and video games are shaping naming trends as much as novels:
- Baldur's Gate 3 effect: Names like Shadowheart, Astarion, and Karlach influence what players choose for their own characters.
- D&D conventions: Tiefling names (Infernal-sounding), Dragonborn names (draconic syllables), and Halfling names (pastoral and cozy) each follow recognizable patterns.
- Player-created trends: Pun names (Sir Reginald Fancypants) and referential names (naming a bard after a musician) are a vibrant part of TTRPG culture.
Names to Draw Inspiration From
Some of the most striking fantasy names from recent popular media:
- From books: Essun (Broken Earth), Gideon (Locked Tomb), Kvothe (Kingkiller Chronicle), Vin (Mistborn)
- From games: Aloy (Horizon), Senua (Hellblade), Rook (Dragon Age: The Veilguard)
- From shows: Daemon (House of the Dragon), Elrond (Rings of Power), Ciri (The Witcher)
Notice how each name is distinctive, pronounceable, and carries weight — these are the qualities that make a fantasy name endure.