Deep beneath mossy hillsides and tangled forest roots, in lantern-lit burrows humming with clockwork gears and alchemical bubbles, the gnomes live. These small, bright-eyed beings are among the most beloved creatures in fantasy lore — tricksters and tinkerers, scholars and sorcerers, wanderers with hearts full of wonder and pockets full of strange inventions. But before any gnome steps into the pages of your story or rolls into your next D&D campaign, they need a name. And not just any name. A name that crackles with personality, carries the weight of their heritage, and rings like a tiny silver bell in the imagination.
Naming a gnome is an act of magic in itself. These beings are defined by their quirks, their passions, their wild curiosity about the world. Their names often mirror those qualities — they can be melodic and whimsical, sharp and clever, ancient and earthy, or downright mysterious. Whether you are a novelist searching for the perfect name for your gnomish protagonist, a dungeon master building an entire gnome village, or a game designer fleshing out a fantasy world, the right gnome name transforms a character from a placeholder into a living, breathing soul.
This guide is your complete treasury. Here you will find over 400 gnome names that sound magical and unique, organized into categories that match every personality type and narrative purpose. From warrior gnomes to noble gnome queens, from ancient clan names echoing through stone halls to delicate feminine names that shimmer like dewdrops — it is all here. We have also woven in lore, cultural naming traditions, and worldbuilding inspiration to help you build not just a character, but a world.
So light the lantern, open the tome, and let the naming begin.
Famous Gnome Names From Literature and Games
Before diving into the lists, it helps to look at the gnomes who have already made their mark on fantasy culture. These iconic characters show us how a single name can carry enormous storytelling weight.
Gimble — A classic gnome name that has appeared across various tabletop settings, Gimble embodies the cheerful, inventive spirit most associated with gnome culture. Short, bouncy, and easy to remember, names like this communicate playfulness without sacrificing authenticity.
Belwar Dissengulp — From R.A. Salvatore’s Forgotten Realms novels, this deep gnome (svirfneblin) is a warrior and loyal friend. His name is gritty and layered, reflecting the harsher underground culture of his kin. It shows how gnome names can shift dramatically depending on subrace and environment.
Nyx — While appearing in various fantasy game settings as a gnome-type trickster figure, Nyx is a name that pulses with arcane energy. Short, sharp, and potent — it suits a gnome who walks the line between illusion and shadow magic.
Fonkin Hoddypeak — From the earliest editions of Dungeons & Dragons lore, Fonkin is one of the oldest gnome names in the canon. Ridiculous and lovable in equal measure, it shows that gnome names can carry humor and dignity simultaneously.
These examples illustrate something important: gnome names are rarely generic. They carry personality in their syllables. Keep that in mind as you browse the lists below — and if you enjoy exploring fantasy naming traditions across cultures, you might also find inspiration in African names, which carry similarly rich layers of meaning and ancestral significance.
Male Gnome Names
Male gnome names tend to blend sharp consonants with bouncy, melodic rhythms. They often feel ancient yet alive — like something carved into stone but still glowing with inner light.
- Aldwick
- Bimble
- Coppervane
- Dabrix
- Elwick
- Fendrel
- Grimtoe
- Halvick
- Ilwick
- Jasprel
- Kettrick
- Lumwick
- Mivvel
- Naldrix
- Orvick
- Pipwick
- Quillix
- Rindrel
- Solvick
- Tumbrix
- Undwick
- Vellrik
- Wisprel
- Xaldrick
- Yivvick
- Zembrel
- Alwick
- Brindel
- Copwick
- Dazzrel
- Elbwick
- Fivrel
- Gortwick
- Harwick
- Imwick
- Jilvick
- Kexwick
- Linwick
- Moxwick
- Nimbrel
- Olvwick
- Prindel
- Quiwick
- Rumbwick
- Stinwick
- Tivrick
- Umbwick
- Vixwick
Female Gnome Names
Female gnome names often carry a lyrical quality — lilting sounds, soft endings, and a sense of warmth or woodland magic. They can be delicate or fierce, but they almost always carry charm.
- Alindra
- Brixelle
- Cimble
- Dellwyn
- Elsprin
- Fivelle
- Glimwyn
- Halvelle
- Ilvara
- Jisselle
- Kexwyn
- Lirielle
- Mimble
- Nilvara
- Orwyn
- Pixelle
- Quilwyn
- Rindelle
- Silvwyn
- Tivelle
- Urvelle
- Vimble
- Wisswyn
- Xilvara
- Yivelle
- Zellwyn
- Alwyn
- Brindelle
- Coppwyn
- Dazzelle
- Elwick
- Fivwyn
- Glamwyn
- Harwyn
- Imvelle
- Jilvwyn
- Kesswyn
- Linvelle
- Moxwyn
- Nimbelle
- Olvwyn
- Prindelle
- Quiwyn
- Rumbelle
- Sillwyn
- Tivwyn
- Umbelle
- Vixwyn
Cool and Unique Gnome Names
These gnome names ideas break from tradition and lean into the strange, the arcane, and the unexpectedly cool. Perfect for characters who stand apart from their kin — misfits, wanderers, and legends in the making.
- Azwick
- Blixor
- Crimswick
- Dravick
- Eldrix
- Frostwick
- Galvix
- Hexwick
- Ixlore
- Junwick
- Krolvick
- Luxwick
- Mordrix
- Noxwick
- Orbrix
- Prexwick
- Quillvix
- Rexwick
- Solvix
- Trixor
- Ulvix
- Vexwick
- Wrixor
- Xolvick
- Yrixor
- Zolvix
- Axwick
- Broxwick
- Cruxwick
- Dexwick
- Elvix
- Froxwick
- Grexwick
- Horwick
- Imrix
- Jarwick
- Krixwick
- Lumrix
- Maxwick
- Nexwick
- Oxwick
- Pixrix
- Quinwick
- Roxwick
- Sixwick
- Troxwick
- Uxwick
- Voxwick
- Wexwick
- Zaxwick
Warrior and Badass Gnome Names
Not all gnomes are curious little herbalists or bumbling inventors. Some are battle-hardened, fierce, and utterly terrifying in the way only a small creature with enormous rage can be. These cool gnome names carry the weight of iron, fire, and grudge.
- Bolgrick
- Crackvein
- Doomwick
- Embervick
- Fangwick
- Grimvex
- Hammrick
- Ironwick
- Jackvein
- Killwick
- Lurdwick
- Maulwick
- Nailwick
- Orcwick
- Pierwick
- Quarwick
- Ragwick
- Scaldwick
- Thornwick
- Underwick
- Vaultwick
- Warwick
- Yarnwick
- Zandwick
- Ashwick
- Bloodwick
- Cragwick
- Duskwick
- Embwick
- Frostwick
- Gritwick
- Hatchwick
- Ironback
- Jawwick
- Kragwick
- Lorewick
- Marshwick
- Nailback
- Oakwick
- Pitwick
- Quarwick
- Rustwick
- Spikewick
- Tombwick
- Urwick
- Veinwick
- Wretwick
Royal and Noble Gnome Names
These unique gnome names carry the gravity of titles and bloodlines. Gnome nobles and royalty tend to have names with a refined, almost elvish elegance — longer syllables, richer sounds, a sense of history embedded in each syllable.
- Aldavrick
- Belmorin
- Corinthwick
- Delmarion
- Elvandrick
- Falorwick
- Garundrick
- Helvandric
- Ilmavrick
- Jeldorin
- Kelvarion
- Lelvandric
- Melvarion
- Nelvandric
- Olvandrick
- Pelvarion
- Quelvandric
- Relvarion
- Selvarion
- Telvandric
- Ulvandric
- Velvandric
- Welvarion
- Xelvarion
- Yelvandric
- Zelvarion
- Arundwick
- Belundric
- Corundric
- Delundric
- Elundric
- Falundric
- Garundric
Traditional and Classic Gnome Names
Fantasy gnome names that honor the oldest traditions of the genre — names that feel at home in Tolkien-adjacent worlds, classic D&D campaigns, and beloved fairy tale settings. These are the names your grandparents’ gnomes would have carried.
- Alric
- Brimble
- Cobbin
- Dingle
- Elwick
- Fimble
- Gibbit
- Hobwick
- Imble
- Jibble
- Kemble
- Limble
- Mimble
- Nibble
- Orvick
- Pimble
- Quibbit
- Rimble
- Simble
- Timble
- Umble
- Vimble
- Wimble
- Yimble
- Zimble
- Aldwick
- Bimwick
- Cobwick
- Dimwick
- Embwick
- Fimwick
- Gimwick
- Himwick
- Jimwick
- Kimwick
- Limwick
Gnome Naming Traditions and Cultural Lore
Every gnome name is more than a label — it is a small biography. In most fantasy traditions, gnome naming follows a set of unwritten rules passed down through family lines, workshop guilds, and underground academies. Understanding these traditions helps you create names that feel authentic and immersive.
The Three-Name System
In many gnome cultures, a gnome carries three names: a given name, a clan name, and what is called a “craft name” — a name earned through their greatest skill or most notable achievement. A gnome named Bimble Thistlewick might become Bimble Thistlewick the Gearwright after inventing a revolutionary clockwork mechanism. The craft name evolves over a lifetime and is considered the most sacred of the three.
Names as Prophecy
Some gnome traditions hold that a gnome’s given name contains a hidden prophecy about their destiny. Parents spend weeks — sometimes months — deliberating over a name, consulting elders, astrologers, and occasionally the flame patterns in a fire. This is why gnome names sometimes seem oddly specific: a child named Grimtoe may indeed grow up to be a tracker of unusual gait, while a girl named Glimwyn might be drawn to light magic before she can even speak.
Family Name Inheritance
Gnome family names are almost always compound words drawn from nature, craftsmanship, or memorable ancestral events. A family might take the name “Copperkettle” after an ancestor famously survived a siege by hiding in a kettle. These names are worn with pride and never changed upon marriage — instead, a married couple hyphenates or blends their names in a ceremony called the Name-Weaving. If you enjoy the way fantasy traditions draw from real cultural naming practices, the rich naming traditions explored in DnD fairy names offer a fascinating parallel to gnomish naming philosophy.
The Forbidden Name
Every gnome has one secret name — spoken only once, at birth, by the elder who delivers them into the world. This name is never used again. It is written in invisible ink inside the first page of the gnome’s personal journal and is believed to contain the essence of their soul. To speak it aloud is considered the gravest taboo in gnome society.
Gnome Clan Names and Surnames
This is where gnome worldbuilding becomes truly layered. Gnome surnames and clan names are typically compound words that combine natural elements with craft, emotion, or mythology. Here are 50 gnome clan names and surnames ideal for any fantasy setting:
- Amberveil
- Brasskettle
- Copperroot
- Dustwhisker
- Emberthorn
- Flamegear
- Gildenbolt
- Hollowtree
- Ironbubble
- Jadeclock
- Kettlespark
- Lunarbrew
- Mossbeard
- Nettlecog
- Oakcrank
- Patchgear
- Quillstone
- Rustblossom
- Silvercoil
- Tinderwick
- Umbraclock
- Vapourwheel
- Wireleaf
- Xylogear
- Yarngold
- Zephyrcoil
- Ashgear
- Boulderspring
- Copperglass
- Dewbolt
- Elmcrank
- Frostcoil
- Gearroot
- Hearthwick
- Ironvine
- Jadebolt
- Kettleroot
- Leafgear
- Mooncrank
- Nailblossom
- Oakbolt
- Pinecog
- Quartz spring
- Rootgear
- Stonemoss
- Thistleclock
- Underbrook
- Veinwood
- Willowcrank
- Zincbloom
These names work equally well as clan identifiers, family surnames, or the names of gnome settlements, guilds, and workshops. They have that distinctly gnomish quality — rooted in nature but flavored with craft and ingenuity.
If you find that gnome naming aesthetics appeal to you but you are also building other fantasy races, it is worth exploring the naming philosophies of other ancient peoples. The mysterious beauty of night elf names, for example, shares some of the same reverence for nature, ancestry, and hidden meaning that defines gnome naming culture — even though the two races could hardly be more different in temperament.
Bonus: Gnome Name Generator Ideas and Formulas
If you want to generate endless gnome names ideas on the fly, these formulas work beautifully:
Formula 1: [Nature Word] + [Craft Suffix] Examples: Mosswick, Rootrick, Thornwick, Bramblerick, Fernwick
Formula 2: [Gem/Metal] + [Body Part or Feature] Examples: Coppernose, Silvertoe, Goldwhisker, Ironbrow, Jadeeye
Formula 3: [Short Sharp Syllable] + [wick/rick/vick/brel] Examples: Daxwick, Quilvick, Trimbrel, Scrixwick, Folvick
Formula 4: [Alliterative Double] Examples: Bimble Brasswick, Tivvel Thistlewick, Grim Gearwick
Formula 5: [Emotion/Trait] + [Natural Element] Examples: Swiftroot, Merrystone, Bravemoss, Jollycoal, Grimthorn
These patterns are especially useful when you need to name an entire gnome settlement at once, or when a player at your table asks for a quick NPC name mid-session. The formulas ensure consistency while allowing infinite variety.
Conclusion: Why Your Gnome Deserves the Perfect Name
A name is the first gift you give a character. It arrives before the backstory, before the stats, before the first roll of the dice or the first sentence on the page. For gnomes — creatures of curiosity, invention, and stubborn, joyful life — names carry particular magic. They telegraph personality. They hint at destiny. They make a reader or player lean forward and think: I want to know this person.
Whether you chose a warrior name like Grimvex or a noble name like Elvandrick, whether your gnome bears the clan name Copperroot or the secret prophecy of a whispered birth-name no one else will ever know — every choice you make adds a thread to the tapestry of your world.
Fantasy is built name by name, story by story, character by character. The 400 gnome names in this guide are seeds. Plant them in your worlds, nurture them with backstory and personality, and watch what they grow into. A name like Zilvwyn might become the greatest illusionist the gnome academies have ever produced. A name like Bolrock might carve his legend into the stone walls of a dwarven fortress. You decide.
Now go write, build, play, and create. Your gnomes are waiting to be named.
