About Character Names

Character Names is a small, independent project building free name generators for storytellers — dungeon masters, novelists, screenwriters, game designers, and anyone who needs a name that sounds like it belongs somewhere fantastical.

Why this site exists

Most name generators online are either ad-choked, paywalled after three uses, or hallucinate garbage names that sound like a keyboard mashed by a goblin. We wanted a simple, free, well-curated alternative — one where the names actually feel right when you read them aloud.

Where the names come from

Each naming pool is hand-curated from a mix of sources:

• The D&D 5e SRD's example names (used under the Open Gaming License)
• Traditional fantasy literature naming conventions
• Real-world etymological roots (Old Norse, Welsh, Anglo-Saxon, etc.) for cultural authenticity

We do not use trademarked names from published products. Names you generate here are safe to use in your own commercial work.

How this site is funded

This site runs on a small VPS and is supported entirely by display advertising. No tracking beyond what's needed for ads. No email signups. No premium tiers. If you'd like to support the project, the best thing you can do is share it with a friend who runs games or writes fiction.

Contact

Questions, suggestions, name pool corrections? Email hello@characternames.net. Or use the contact page.