Rather than use a random elf name generator to choose your character name, why not pick an elf name with an important meaning to the type of elf or fantasy character you’re naming?
Elves aren’t just confined to those short jolly fellows making toys in Santa Clause’s workshop. The word “elf” has origins in the Old Norse word “álfr.” Many countries like Iceland and Germany have their own mythological elf figures and elf-like creatures throughout their folklore.
Norwegian elves called “nisse” are gnome/elf creatures associated with the Winter Solstice and are a source of inspiration for many of today’s popular Christmas elf depictions.
Fantasy worlds of elves have captivated people for centuries. Now with the rise in popularity of fantasy roleplaying games like Dungeons & Dragons and hit shows like The Witcher, fantasy names and different types of elves have never been more popular.
We’ll help you find the best elf name for roleplaying in DnD games, writing your own fantasy characters, and maybe even finding a beautiful elf name for your real-life baby girl or baby boy!
Related: 100 Dragon Names (Including Ice & Fire, Fantasy & Famous)
Female Elf Names (with Meanings and Origins)
Want to choose a beautiful elven name for your baby girl?
Most people associate elves with Christmas and the holiday Elf on the Shelf tradition, but not all elves come from Santa’s workshop. In some of our favorite fantasy works, elves are graceful, powerful, and mysterious beings.
If you want an elven-inspired name for your wood elf, half-elf, high elf, and more this list has some good name inspiration.
These girl name ideas inspired by famous fantasy elves are whimsical and powerful, often possessing some kind of magical abilities.
Female Elf Names Inspired by Nature
Many Elves are represented as having a strong connection with nature and the Earth, often having mystical abilities connected to nature. From magical witches to powerful pixies to fanciful faerie names, these fantasy names for girls are inspired by beautiful and strong female characters with mystical abilities.
- Aerin - This name means "ocean" and has Irish origins.
- Althaea - This name means "healer" and has Greek origins.
- Amara - This name means "eternal" and has Latin origins.
- Calantha - This name means "beautiful flower" and has Greek origins.
- Eira - This name means "snow" and has Welsh origins.
- Elara - This name means "sparkling" and has Greek origins.
- Eirlys - This name means "snowdrop" and has Welsh origins.
- Dahlia - this name is of Scandinavian origin and means "valley"
- Galadriel - This name means "maiden crowned with a radiant garland" and has Sindarin (Elvish) origins.
- Liriel - This name means "daughter of the sea" and has Elvish origins.
- Melian - This name means "dear gift" and has Sindarin (Elvish) origins.
- Nimue - This name means "lady of the lake" and has Welsh origins.
- Seraphina - This name means "fiery-winged" and has Hebrew origins.
- Thalia - This name means "to blossom" and has Greek origins.
Dark Elf Girl Names
Looking for a dark elf name with a mysterious twist? These names have a bit of a dark edge to them for a dark girl's name that is both mysterious and beautiful. If you want a more original girl elf name inspired by other famous fantasy beings, these powerful female fantasy names are some of our favorites.
- Aelene - meaning "shadow" in Elvish, this name is of Sindarin origin
- Ariella - of Hebrew origin, this name means "lion of God"
- Astrid - meaning "divinely beautiful" in Old Norse, this name is of Scandinavian origin
- Cassara - of Latin origin, this name means "hunting"
- Eris - Greek goddess of discord and strife.
- Fascienne - A woman of dark beauty
- Freya - Norse goddess of love, battle, and fertility.
- Giselle - of French origin, this name means "pledge"
- Heiki - A German name meaning, “ruler of the home”.
- Keira - meaning "little dark one" in Irish, this name is of Celtic origin
- Laela - A name meaning “dark-haired woman”
- Lilith - of Hebrew origin, this name means "night monster"
- Maura - A Latin name meaning “Darkness”
- Melantha - meaning "dark flower" in Greek, this name is of Greek origin
- Morgana - this name means "sea circle" and is of Welsh origin
- Raven - this name is of Old English origin and means "dark-haired"
- Sable - meaning "black" in French, this name is of French origin
- Selene - of Greek origin, this name means "moon goddess"
- Quenya - While not an elf name itself, Quenya is the fictional elven language invented by Tolkien and spoken by the non-Telerin Elves. “Quenya” means “language” or “speech” in the Tolkien universe.
- Zephyra - this Greek name means "west wind"
Royal Female Elf Names
These elf names are of wise elf royalty. Find the perfect name for your proud elf warrior, a noble elf Queen, or a beautiful elf princess.
- Adaneth - meaning "daughter of the Adamant" in Sindarin. Originates from J.R.R. Tolkien's Middle-earth.
- Arwen - meaning "noble maiden" in Sindarin. Originates from J.R.R. Tolkien's Middle-earth.
- Calathiel - meaning "daughter of the forest" in Quenya. Originates from J.R.R. Tolkien's Middle-earth.
- Eirianwen - meaning "white as snow" in Welsh. Originates from Welsh folklore.
- Elbereth - meaning "star-queen" in Sindarin. Originates from J.R.R. Tolkien's Middle-earth.
- Eldalótë - meaning "elf-flower" in Quenya. Originates from J.R.R. Tolkien's Middle-earth.
- Elvina - this name means "friend of elves" and is of English origin
- Galadriel - meaning "maiden crowned with a radiance of light" in Sindarin. Originates from J.R.R. Tolkien's Middle-earth.
- Lúthien - meaning "enchantress" in Sindarin. Originates from J.R.R. Tolkien's Middle-earth.
- Melwasúl - meaning "bride of heaven" in Sindarin. Originates from J.R.R. Tolkien's Middle-earth.
- Nimrodel - meaning "lady of the white caves" in Sindarin. Originates from J.R.R. Tolkien's Middle-earth.
- Tinúviel - meaning "daughter of twilight" in Sindarin. Originates from J.R.R. Tolkien's Middle-earth.
- Yavanna - meaning "giver of fruits" in Quenya. Originates from J.R.R. Tolkien's Middle-earth.
- Zelda -The name Zelda is of Yiddish origin and means "blessed" or "happy." Princess Zelda is the titular character in Nintendo's The Legend of Zelda video game.
Male Elf Names (with Meanings and Origins)
Ready to give Tolkien a run for his money? These male elf names and half-elf names are inspired by nature, magic, and wisdom.
Male Elf Names Inspired by Nature
- Acer - Latin name for a maple tree
- Aegnor - Aegnor is another Tolkien elf name that means “fell fire.”
- Ash - Both a type of tree and a name that invokes fire
- Boreas - Greek god of the north wind and winter.
- Fiore - Italian, means “flower”
- Haelyn - English means “a waterfall to the sea”
- Helios - Greek name meaning “sun.”
- Oriel - Latin origins, a bird.
- Tabor - In the Bible, Tabor is the name of the mountain that stood on the border between northern and southern Israel
- Voss - As in Baba Voss from See.
- Wren - A unique boy name meaning “songbird.”
Dark Elf Boy Names and Meanings
Elves can also be dangerous, dark, and sneaky. Every iconic fantasy series has a great villain. Here are some of our favorite dark and deadly boy names.
- Aranion - meaning "king of the forest" in Sindarin, this name originates from J.R.R. Tolkien's Middle-Earth.
- Baelenorn - meaning "dark elf" in Elven, this name is of Forgotten Realms origin.
- Calanon - meaning "green hill" in Sindarin, this name is also from J.R.R. Tolkien's Middle-earth.
- Dagorhir - meaning "battle lord" in Elven, this name is from the Forgotten Realms.
- Erevan - meaning "swift" in Elven, this name is from the world of Dungeons & Dragons.
- Fëanor - meaning "spirit of fire" in Sindarin, this name is from J.R.R. Tolkien's Middle-earth.
- Gildor - meaning "star of brilliance" in Sindarin, this name is also from J.R.R. Tolkien's Middle-earth.
- Haldir - meaning "hidden hero" in Sindarin, this name is from J.R.R. Tolkien's Middle-earth.
- Iliyanbruen - meaning "dark arrow" in Elven, this name is from the Forgotten Realms.
- Jhaeros - meaning "darkness" in Elven, this name is also from the Forgotten Realms.
- Kethryll'ia - meaning "shadow of the wood" in Elven, this name is from the Forgotten Realms.
- Liriel - meaning "silver elf" in Elven, this name is from the world of Dungeons & Dragons.
- Morgath - meaning "dark one" in Elven, this name is from the Forgotten Realms.
- Narbondel - meaning "black fire" in Elven, this name is from the Forgotten Realms.
- Orodreth - meaning "mountain lord" in Sindarin, this name is from J.R.R. Tolkien's Middle-earth.
- Pharaun - meaning "lord of the spider horde" in Elven, this name is also from the Forgotten Realms.
- Qilué - meaning "moon elf" in Elven, this name is from the Forgotten Realms.
- Rizolvir - meaning "dark wanderer" in Elven, this name is from the world of Dungeons & Dragons.
- Solas - meaning "pride" in Elven, this name is from the world of Dragon Age.
- Talathel - meaning "forest guardian" in Sindarin, this name is from J.R.R. Tolkien's Middle-earth.
- Umbra - meaning "shadow" in Elven, this name is from the world of The Elder Scrolls.
- Vhaerun - meaning "lord of the night" in Elven, this name is from the Forgotten Realms.
- Xiloscient - meaning "dark sun" in Elven, this name is also from the Forgotten Realms.
- Yathlanae - meaning "darkling" in Elven, this name is from the Forgotten Realms.
- Zephyrus - meaning "west wind" in Elven, this name is from the world of Dungeons & Dragons.
Royal Male Elf Names
- Aldon - Meaning "old friend", this name has its origins in the Sindarin language, spoken by the elves in J.R.R. Tolkien's Middle-earth.
- Celeborn - This name means "silver tree" and comes from the Sindarin language. Celeborn was also the name of a wise elf in Tolkien's works.
- Earendil - Meaning "lover of the sea", this name has its roots in the Quenya language, another elven language created by Tolkien.
- Elrond - Translated as "star dome", this name is also Sindarin in origin and was the name of a half-elven character in Tolkien's stories.
- Finrod - This name means "fair-voiced" and comes from the Quenya language. Finrod was a noble elf king in Tolkien's works.
- Glorfindel - Meaning "golden-haired", this name is also Sindarin in origin and was the name of a heroic elf in Tolkien's stories.
- Legolas - This name means "green leaves" and was the name of a skilled archer and member of the Fellowship of the Ring in Tolkien's works.
- Oberon - Elf-king from Shakespeare’s A Midsummer Night's Dream.
- Rainier - German name meaning “wise army.”
- Thranduil - Translated as "vigorous spring", this name is Sindarin in origin and was the name of a king of the woodland realm in Tolkien's stories.
- Turgon - Meaning "steadfast king", this name comes from the Sindarin language and was the name of a powerful elf lord in Tolkien's works.
Gender-Neutral Elf Names and Meanings
These gender-neutral elvish names draw name inspiration from nature and cultural folklore. Find a unique elf moniker or elven baby name for your little girl or little boy.
- Arden - An English name meaning “valley of the eagle”
- Ellis - Welsh name meaning “benevolent”
- Emery - Latin for “loving”
- Harlow - from the rocky hill
- Nelaros - meaning "golden sun", this name is of Elvish origin and is associated with warmth, light, and vitality.
- Nenethiel - meaning "water flower", this name has roots in the ancient language of the Noldor Elves and is often given to those with a connection to the sea or other bodies of water.
- Rhiannon - meaning "maiden", this name is of Welsh origin and has become popular among the Elven community as a gender-neutral option.
- Sylphrena - meaning "air spirit", this name has roots in the Elvish language of the Air Elves and is often given to those with a connection to the wind or sky.
- Thalion - meaning "steadfast", this name is of Elvish origin and is often given to those with a strong sense of duty and loyalty.
Unleash your imagination and explore the best elf names and elven fantasy names that will catapult your kiddo into creativity!
Fantasy names for boys, fantasy names for girls, and gender-neutral picks include everything from Greek gods and goddesses, folklore, and modern pop culture icons.
For more baby name inspiration check out these popular baby name lists:
- Top 1000 Most Popular Baby Girl Names in the U.S.
- Top 1000 Most Popular Baby Boy Names in the U.S.
- The 100 Coolest Baby Names in the World
Considering one of these names? Pin it to save it for later:
