#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.

Nydra: Deity of the Winter Moon

Nydra: Deity of the Winter Moon

Zabrynn Lander ·

Goddess of the Tunlands (Dungeons and Dragons Deity)

"Lady of the Frozen Wind, guard us in the long night." - prayer to Nydra

The land of Faerun has many gods and goddesses. Some are well-known throughout the lands. Their popularity often brings them power. These gods include Lathander, Chauntea, and Helm. But certain areas also have local gods, ones unknown outside their region. 

One of these gods is Nydra of the Winter Moon (classfied as a demigod). This goddess is found worshipped in the Tunlands, a valley on the western side of Cormyr. 

History

Nydra was the daughter of Selune, once one of the Tears of Selune. She fell to Faerun on a midwinter night. In the late 4th century DR, she appeared before a group of refugees. She guided them to the Farsea Marshes. These people would come to be known as the Marsh Drovers and her cult is strongest among them. 

In 1358 DR, known as the Time of Troubles, Nydra faced off against an avatar of Bhaal, who had escaped from High Horn. While most deities returned to their homes after this time, Nydra remained, as a demigod Toril is her homeland. 

Outside of the Tunlands, she is thought to be simply another aspect of Selune.

 

Basic Information

Title(s)

Bright Nydra

The Fallen Daughter

The Shepherdess

Lady of the Frozen Wind

Guardian of the Flock

Watcher of Dreams and Fate

Aliases Nyka
Pantheon

Faerun (exclusive to the Tunlands)

Gender

 Feminine 

Symbol

A moon disk ringed with snowflake dendrites

Portfolio

Winter, moonlight, herds, flocks, dreams, prophecies 

Domains

 Twilight, Nature

Worshippers

 Shepherds, drovers, farmers

 

Who are the Tuns?

The goddess has several intrepretations among the various people of the Tunlands. For some, she is the beacon of light warding off the darkness of winter (as the moon). She is the guardian of the flock, aiding in the protection of animals from the terrors of the night. For others, she is a goddess of fate, of understanding portents and dreams. Some even credit her with the creation of the Gods' Theatre, the twin mountain ranges that protect the Tun Valley.

Her worshippers include:

  • the Drovers of the Farsea (who call her Nydra)
  • the Tun Marshlanders (who call her Nyka) 
  • the Tun Nomads 
  • and, the Far Hill Herders

For more about the Tuns and the Tunlands, check out this blog.

Description & Personality

Nydra is generally portrayed as tall with silver braided hair. Her usual form is that of a middle-aged human woman, though she sometimes appears as an old woman, especially at the end of winter. She wears a silver toga, wrapped from head to toe. Her skin was tinged with blue. 

She has also appeared as a shaft of bright moonlight run through with silver faerie fire. 

She is a kind, caring deity but her emotions change with the phases of the moon. She is most capricious during the New Moon. It can be hard to read the goddess' mood, as she will always portray herself as cheery or hopeful, even if it is a facade.

She carries a silvery staff that, when pressed to the ground, freezes or thraws it.

Nydra is generally allied with Lathander, as well as Selune, Chauntea, Eldath, and Mielikki.

 

Worship & Temples

Nydra has several temples around the Tunlands, usually situated upon a hilltop. One such temple is at "Nyka's Rest" - a town that was built around her temple. The town lays deep within the marsh. Her temples tend to be built from local material such as wood or stone, but usually feature an oculus in the centre of the ceiling. 

The temples of Nydra often keep a track of the calendar and passage of time. Her clergy are often consulated for predictions - both on the weather and regarding a person's fate. 

Clerics of Nydra are exceedingly rare, but can be found. They can find a great deal of respect within the Tunlands but are likely to receive a raised eyebrow outside of it. Depending on the cleric, they might even be met with wariness due to the fact their god is unknown and thus, potentially, an evil god in disguise. 

Nydra dwells within Toril, and generally makes her home within the Tun Valley. She often appears to people who are depressed, hoping to help cheer them up. She also guides the lost back home (or to a new home). When mortals have earned her favor she was secretly gift them tear-shaped diamonds. 

Lunar Sorcerors: such a sorceror may have an ancestor who encountered Nydra and gained her favour. Or they may have encountered her themselves. 

Moon Guards: clerics and druids who favour Nydra. Her druids are usually Circle of the Moon. 

 

Further Information

Auril, goddess of winter, is a lesser deity and enemy/rival of Nydra. Nydra is a protector against the ferocity of winter while Auril is the embodiment of winter's wrath.

Her favoured monster are "Firestars" aka moondancers. 

 

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

 Create a Homebrew Deity in DnD

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