#10 Unique Elf Surnames with Meanings | Dungeons and Dragons

When you're rolling up an Elf character in your Dungeons and Dragons game, finding the perfect last name can be a challenge! Here are ten name ideas for your next character - with their meaning in Elvish!

Lyath-tel - "belonging to a temple"

This name comes in two parts "tel" and "lyath".

The form "tel" can be seen in several places in Elvish, such as when talking about a group of people (e.g. ór-tel-quessir, "people of the
wood").  

"Lyath" is the Elvish word for temple. 

This name is perfect for an Acolyte character. 

vantur Ravanor - "from the Forestland"

The first part of this name simply means "from". It is commonly used at the beginning of surnames derived from a place of origin. 

Ravanor is a pretty generic place name, especially if your character is a Wood Elf. 

tyr Vomira - "born to Vomira"

This is a matronymic name, that means it's dervived from your character's mother's name. Many cultures use matronymic or patronymics rather than set last names. For example, in Iceland you are known by your father's name. 

In the case of this character, their mother's name was Vomira. 

shan-Stakiaren - "branch of the House of the Beloved Star"

The Elves have many words for the heavenly bodies, each with their own implication. "Stakia" or "Stacia" can variously mean:  star, treasure, trove, gem, gold, blaze; sweetheart, beloved. 

The translation here is something like "Beloved Star" or "Treasured Ones".

The prefix, shan, is an Elven word that literally means "branch (of a tree)".however when used in names it refers to a member of a family (the branch of a family tree). 

The final element "ren" is the Elvish word for House or Clan.

This is a great name for an Elf with Noble Background. 

Gisirie - "of the guardians"

This is a great name for an elf who comes from a family with the Knight background. Or perhaps their kin are paladins. 

The Elvish word "Gisir (plu. Gisiae) means "guardian".

The name takes the rare sociative case, which means something like "with, in the company of". This is often used in situations of adoption, fostering, or even the foundation of a particular order. 

The family as a whole would be known by the plural form: Gisieii.

Maedran - "wind speaker"

Combining the words "mae" wind and "dran" speaker, this name could refer to a profession or be a nickname. If it's a nickname it could be something noble - or refer to the fact your character doesn't shut up!


Regardless, this is a great surname for a Bard character.

Amnesha - "tree friend"

The tree this name refers to is specifically an oak tree (amne). The suffix -sha, means "friend".

This is another great name for a Druid character.

Anogwinn - "moon guide"

The first part of this name is one of the Elvish words for moon. The second part means guide and comes from the Elvish word "gwin" meaning walkway, path. A gwinn is a pathmaker or a guide.


This is ideal for a High Elf character since they like to associate themselves with celestial objects.

Daanethun - "bright struggle follower"

Another translation for this surname could probably be "daredevil". The elves have the concept that some struggles make a person stronger while others only serve to harm. "Daan" (plural: daana) is the positive type, called "bright struggles".

Those who are followers of bright struggles look for adventure in all aspects of their life.

Artarhin - "dawn scholar"

"Artar" is the Elvish word for dawn. It means "new sun", though it can also translate to "new heights".


The second element is even more ambigious, as it has no true English equivalent. It can mean: collector, scholar, researcher. Or more broadly, a person who recieves something, usually an idea. The word can also be translated as "a welcome".
So while the name is translated as "dawn scholar" above, it could also mean "scholar of new heights" or "welcome to the dawn".


This name would be ideal for a High Elf character.

god of earth fantasy inspiration

Deity Inspiration: God of Earth

Zabrynn Lander ·

Ideas for a God of Earth

Name Inspiration: Akyregru "She of the Flawless Wilderness", Narærek "Eternal Earth", Ahï-ekïas "The One with the Earthen Mantle" 

Possible Domains: grave, nature, twilight

The first question I ask myself when planning a deity is: what is the central concept at the heart of their worship?

In this blog, I'm going to use the concept "earth" refering to dirt, soil, rocks etc rather than planet/plane. 

The obvious place to go is the argicultural route. God of the grain, of the harvest, of the life giving earth. But that's a little too on the nose. So instead I want to explore more unexpected connections. 

The first is the "material" than can be found within the earth. Rocks, sure. But also precious metals. Miners delve deep into the earth to find these bounties. Thus, this god is one they most depend on and fear. After all, a simple cave in can result in being trapped, isolated, and - if you're unlucky - dead. Cavedwellers such as drow, duergar, and deep gnomes (among others) might see fit to respect and worship the god. 

The holiest places would be deep instead the rock, where you are surrounded by stone, hemmed in. 

Next, I want to explore the idea of the "soil" because, of course, plants grow from the soil. However, as I've said, this particular god cares not for the structure of farms or agriculture.

Instead, this deity's is most powerful and influential in places where few mortals ever tred. Where the canopy above is so tall and thick that the light of the sun doesn't reach the forest floor. Where strange and unique creature roam. And rare plants thrive. Depending on how populous your world is, these might not be very common places but if people do choose to enter them, they might find themselves rebuffed by the nature around them. Perhaps only under the guidance of an experienced druid or ranger can they safely pass through or settle within. 

Such a god, as unyielding and distant as death, would also work well within the twilight domain. This deity stands on the edges of civilisation, of the population. To delve into their forest or their caves is to come to a place without light yet full of life. 

earth deity for dnd inspiration

Bonus: let's talk names! The name ideas suggested come from Elvish, and while their basic translations are provided, they aren't perfect!

Akyregru "She of the Flawless Wilderness"

  • "A" is a feminine signifer. To make this name masculine use "E". And if you want them to be gender neutral, you can swap it out for "An" which means ancient. 
  • "Kyre" means 'flawless, beautiful'. Which is can be used to refer to a multitude of things, it originally decribes a gemstone, one that is perfectly cut. 
  • "Gru" means 'wilderness'. 

Therefore, this name, while generally refering to the 'wild' also connects the idea of gems and mining.

Narærek "Eternal Earth"

  • "Nar" means 'stone, rock' as well as 'eternal, immovable'
  • "ærek" is simply the Elvish word for 'earth, soil, dirt'

A nice, simple name that gets the point. 

Ahï-ekïas "The One with the Earthen Mantle" 

  • "ahï" means 'having, possessing, wielding' 
  • "ek" means 'soil, dirt, clay' etc. and is a general term for such things
  • "ïas" means 'mantle, cloak' etc. 


Want to create your own gods? Here's a helpful planner!

 Create a Homebrew Deity in DnD

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