Dragon Name Generator
Generate powerful dragon names for your fantasy world. Perfect for ancient wyrms, dragonborn characters, and legendary beasts.
Options
Generated Names
Click generate to create names
About Dragon Names
The naming of a dragon is never arbitrary—it is a **linguistic ritual** intended to capture the hardness of scale, the heat of breath, the wisdom of ages, or the terror of the void. The word "dragon" derives from Greek *drakōn*, from *derkomai* ("to see clearly")—Greek dragons were **ultimate sentries**, unblinking guardians. Across cultures, despite vast distances between Norse *ormr* and Chinese *long*, there exists a unified "draconic aesthetic": phonological rules governing how we conceptualize **power through speech**. European dragon names evoke earth and fire—chthonic entities of greed and destruction. Asian dragon names evoke water, sky, and bureaucracy—gods to be petitioned, not slain. The name IS the dragon's nature made audible.
Naming Conventions
Dragon names employ specific **phonetic mimicry**: **Sibilance** (S, Z, Sh, Th) mimics the hiss of scales on stone—*Smaug*, *Seath*, *Shenlong*. **Velar stops** (K, G, X) produced at the back of the throat mimic growls and predator bites—*Klauth*, *Ancalagon*, *Glaurung*. **Long vowels** (Ah, Oh, Oo) suggest size—large chambers resonate at lower frequencies, so "Alduin" sounds larger than "Kip." **Draconic morphemes** (*-ax*, *-or*, *-th*, *-us*, *-on*) borrow from Latin/Greek biological nomenclature (*Tyrannosaurus*, *Python*). Gender patterns exist: masculine names end in hard consonants (*-or*, *-us*, *-g*); feminine names end in open vowels (*-a*, *-ia*) or soft fricatives (*-th*).
Dragon Subraces & Styles
D& D Chromatic ( Evil)
Tiamat's spawn use **dangerous sounds**—hard consonants and sibilants. **Red** (arrogance, bombast): rolling R + harsh K/Z—*Klauth*, *Tchazzar*, *Ashardalon*. **Blue** (exotic, imperial): Near Eastern phonology, I/Y/Z sounds—*Iymrith*, *Abazigal*. **Green** (deceptive, melodic): soft fricatives Ch/Th/V/L—*Claugiyliamatar*, *Venomfang*. **Black** (decay, guttural): deep U/O/G/V sounds—*Voaraghamanthar*, *Chardansearavitriol*. **White** (sharp, crystalline): I/K/C/S cracking like ice—*Cryovain*, *Arauthator*, *Ingeloakastimizilian*.
D& D Metallic ( Good)
Bahamut's children use **bright sounds** and noble metal roots. **Gold** (wise, regal): "Au" (Aurum), "Or" (Gold), suffixes *-us*, *-ian*—*Aurinax*, *Bahamut*, *Protanther*. **Silver** (friendly): "Ag" (Argentum), "Sil", soft sounds—*Silvara*, *Adalon*, *Otaaryliakkarnos*. **Bronze** (militant): sturdy, heavy sounds—*Felgolos*, *Nymmurh*. **Copper** (trickster): short, snappy, Z/X buzzing—*Ilnezhara*, *Tazmikella*. **Brass** (talkative): vowel-heavy, warm—*Ileuthra*.
D& D Gem ( Psionic)
Neutral and psionic—names sound **alien, crystalline, intellectual**. **Amethyst** (force/logic): *Sardior* (Ruby King), *Hlioth*. **Crystal** (radiant): *Saryndalaghlothtor*. **Emerald** (psychic): *Raulothim*. **Sapphire** (thunder): *Bleucorundum*. **Topaz** (necrotic): *Astilabor*. Names reflect focus on mind and multiverse.
Norse/ Germanic ( Primordial)
Agents of entropy with harsh Germanic roots. **NĂĂ°höggr** (*NĂĂ°* = shame + *Höggr* = striker): "Malice Striker" gnawing Yggdrasil. **Fáfnir** (*FaĂ°mnir* = embracer): dragon defined by hoarding, wrapping treasure. **Jörmungandr** (*Jörmun* = huge + *Gandr* = monster): the "Cosmic Boundary" serpent.
Greek/ Roman ( Guardians)
Dragons as ultimate sentries. **Ladon**: hundred-headed guardian of golden apples. **Typhon** (*typhos* = smoke): volcanic chaos, father of monsters. **Python** (*pythein* = to rot): decomposition of the old chthonic order. **Hydra** (*hydor* = water): regenerative swamp force.
Chinese ( Celestial)
Not beasts but gods—names are **titles within divine hierarchy**. **Dragon Kings**: *Ao Guang* (Vast), *Ao Qin* (Respect), *Ao Run* (Intercalary), *Ao Shun* (Obedient). **Celestial types**: *Shenlong* (Spirit Dragon), *Tianlong* (Heavenly Dragon), *Fuzanglong* (Hidden Treasure Dragon), *Dilong* (Earth Dragon). Color-element associations: *Qinglong* (Azure/East/Spring), *Zhulong* (Vermilion/South/Summer).
Japanese ( Shinto)
Dragons with animist spirituality. **Ryūjin** (Dragon God): master of tides. **Yamata no Orochi** (Eight-Branched Giant Snake): likely a personified flooding river system. **Kalessin**: the Eldest, sibilant and flowing.
Tolkien ( Philological)
Names rooted in constructed languages. **Smaug** (Germanic *smygan* = to squeeze): "The Burrower" with smug weight. **Glaurung** (*Glaur* = gold + *Ung* = monster): the golden monster of greed. **Ancalagon** (Sindarin "Rushing Jaws"): kinetic violence. **Scatha** (Old English "Injurer"): ancestor of "scathe."
Video Games ( Modern)
**Skyrim**: Dovahzul names are three Words of Power—*Al-Du-In* (Destroyer-Devour-Master), *Paar-Thur-Nax* (Ambition-Overlord-Cruelty). **WoW**: flight suffixes denote lineage—Red (*-strasz/a*: Alexstrasza), Blue (*-gos/gosa*: Malygos), Green (*-us/ra*: Ysera), Bronze (*-dormu*: Nozdormu), Black (*-wing/ion*: Deathwing). **Dark Souls**: tragic, archaic—*Seath* (sibilant deformity), *Kalameet* (Calamity), *Midir* (Judge).
Famous Dragon Names
- •Smaug - Germanic *smygan* (to squeeze): "The Burrower," heavy linguistic weight
- •NĂĂ°höggr - Norse: "Malice Striker," gnawing the roots of the world tree
- •Tiamat - Babylonian: Primordial chaos goddess, mother of dragons in D&D
- •Ancalagon - Sindarin: "Rushing Jaws," pure kinetic violence
- •Alduin - Dovahzul: Al (Destroyer) + Du (Devour) + In (Master) = World-Eater
- •Alexstrasza - WoW: "-strasz" suffix marks Red Dragonflight (Life-Binder)
- •Shenlong - Chinese: "Spirit Dragon," divine weather controller
- •Fáfnir - Norse *faðmnir* (embracer): dragon defined by hoarding embrace
Tips for Using These Names
- •**Sibilance** (S, Z, Sh) mimics scales; **velar stops** (K, G, X) mimic growls
- •**Long vowels** (Ah, Oh, Oo) suggest size—"Alduin" sounds larger than "Kip"
- •Chromatic dragons use harsh sounds; Metallic dragons use bright, liquid sounds
- •Ancient dragons: multi-syllabic, imposing (*Imvaernarhro*, *Claugiyliamatar*)
- •Wyrmlings: short, sharp nicknames (*Kip*, *Spark*, *Ash*, *Bite*)
- •Use **epithets** for legendary dragons: "The World-Eater," "Old Gnawbone"
- •Match phonetics to element: fire (*Pyr-*, *Ign-*), ice (*Cryo-*, *Rime*), acid (*Vitriol*)
- •WoW flight suffixes: *-strasz* (Red), *-gos* (Blue), *-dormu* (Bronze), *-wing* (Black)
Frequently Asked Questions
What phonetic patterns make names sound "draconic"?
Dragon names rely on specific **phonetic mimicry**: **Sibilance** (S, Z, Sh, Th) mimics scales sliding on stone—*Smaug*, *Seath*. **Velar stops** (K, G, X) at the back of the throat mimic growls and bites—*Klauth*, *Glaurung*. **Long vowels** (Ah, Oh, Oo) suggest size through acoustic physics. The "draconic morphemes" *-ax*, *-or*, *-th*, *-us*, *-on* borrow from Latin/Greek biological nomenclature (*Tyrannosaurus*), granting archaic authority.
How do D&D chromatic dragon names differ from metallic?
**Chromatic (evil)** names use dangerous sounds: Red dragons have arrogant, bombastic names (*Klauth*, *Tchazzar*); Blue dragons use exotic Near Eastern phonology (*Iymrith*); Green dragons have deceptive, melodic names (*Claugiyliamatar*); Black dragons use guttural decay sounds (*Voaraghamanthar*); White dragons have sharp, icy names (*Cryovain*). **Metallic (good)** names use bright, liquid sounds: Gold (*Aurinax*), Silver (*Silvara*), Bronze (*Felgolos*), Copper (*Ilnezhara*), Brass (*Ileuthra*).
How do dragon names evolve with age?
**Wyrmlings** (0-5 years): functional, sharp nicknames—*Kip*, *Spark*, *Ash*, *Bite*, *Ember*. **Young/Adult** (16-100+ years): formal Draconic names asserting territory—*Ignis the Burner*, *Stormwing*, *Verdantus*. **Ancient/Great Wyrms** (800+ years): multi-syllabic names that ARE historical events—*Imvaernarhro* (The Inferno), *Claugiyliamatar* (Old Gnawbone), *Ingeloakastimizilian* (Icingdeath). The name grows with power.
What are the Norse dragon naming roots?
Norse dragons are agents of entropy. **NĂĂ°höggr**: *NĂĂ°* (shame/villainy) + *Höggr* (striker) = "Malice Striker," gnawing Yggdrasil's roots. **Fáfnir**: *FaĂ°mnir* (embracer)—defined by hoarding, wrapping treasure. **Jörmungandr**: *Jörmun* (huge) + *Gandr* (monster) = "Cosmic Boundary" serpent. Other roots: *Grabakr* (Grey-Back), *Grafvitnir* (Grave-Wolf), *Svafnir* (Sleep-Bringer), *Ofnir* (The Twister).
How do Chinese dragon names work?
Chinese dragons are **divine bureaucrats**, not beasts. Names are titles: **Dragon Kings** rule the Four Seas—*Ao Guang* (Vast), *Ao Qin* (Respect), *Ao Run* (Intercalary), *Ao Shun* (Obedient). **Celestial taxonomy**: *Shenlong* (Spirit Dragon, weather), *Tianlong* (Heavenly Dragon, palace guard), *Fuzanglong* (Hidden Treasure Dragon), *Dilong* (Earth Dragon, rivers). Color denotes element/direction: *Qinglong* (Azure/East/Spring/Wood).
What are World of Warcraft dragonflight naming conventions?
WoW uses **suffixes to denote flight allegiance**: **Red (Life)**: *-strasz/a*—Alexstrasza, Vaelastrasz. **Blue (Magic)**: *-gos/gosa*—Malygos, Sindragosa, Kalecgos. **Green (Dream)**: *-us/ra*—Ysera, Valithria. **Bronze (Time)**: *-dormu/ormu*—Nozdormu, Chromie. **Black (Earth/Death)**: *-wing/ion*—Deathwing, Neltharion, Wrathion. The suffix instantly identifies lineage.
How did Tolkien construct his dragon names?
Tolkien's names are philological masterpieces. **Smaug**: Germanic *smygan* (to squeeze through a hole) = "The Burrower," with heavy, smug weight. **Glaurung**: *Glaur* (gold/light) + *-Ung* (monster suffix) = golden monster of greed. **Ancalagon**: Sindarin *Anc* (jaw) + *Alag* (rushing) = "Rushing Jaws," pure kinetic violence. **Scatha**: Old English for "Injurer"—ancestor of "scathe."
What dragon epithets and titles exist?
Epithets replace or accompany names for legendary dragons: **Elemental**: The World-Eater, The Life-Binder, The Earth-Warder, The Spell-Weaver, The Timeless One. **Descriptive**: The Black Dread, Old Gnawbone, Old White Death, The Flying Flame. **Deed-based**: Bane of Heroes, Knight-Slayer, Shield-Breaker, City-Crusher. **Cosmic**: The Firstborn, The Last-of-Kin, The Void-Wing, The Chaos-Bringer.