Dwarf Name Components

The following is a list of naming conventions for Dwarves, based on a list from an old RPGA magazine a friend dug out for me. The lists are separated into Prefixes (name beginnings) and Suffixes (the endings), to help understand a little about what is behind the name. The idea is to use one from each table to create the name, although some names work just as well with just a prefix, and some may need an extra consonant to make the name more appealing to you.

I cannot say just how exact this guide is in relation to Tolkiens work, thought it is broadly accurate I have not gone into great detail to check them all. However, given he wrote so little about the language of dwarves, it does provide a good grounding in where to start naming your Dwarf characters with some appropriate words.

It also worth checking out this excellent article by Haakon Stormbrow over on A Casual Stroll to Mordor, who goes into great detail on taking the known from Tolkien and expanding it in a logical and appropriate manner!

Prefixes

Dwarf Name Parts and their Meanings – Prefixes
Al -all	Durinn- sleeper	Khazad – of dwarfs	Ori – furious
Andvari -breeze	Eiken – oaken	Kheled- glass	Shathur- cloudy
Ann – blade	Farin – travelled one	Kibil – silver	Skjald – shield
Aust – east	Fili- file	Kili – wedge	Sognir- roaring
Anzanul- shadow valley	Fimbul- great	Litr- ruddy	Suthri – south one
Bal -burning	Forn – ancient	Lofars – stooper	Thekkr – beloved
Baraz – red	Frar – swift	Maeztr- master	Thrasir – eager
Bard – battle-axe	Frosti – frosty	Marzabul – records	Thjf – thief
Baruk- axes	Fund – found	Mim – think	Thorinn – bold
Blain -black	Gim- fire	Nbli- axel	Thror -boar
Bofurr – knave	Ginnar – deciever	Nar- corpse	Vargr- wolf
Bomburr – bulging	Glo- glow	Nithi- old moon	Vestri – west one
Bori – borer	Gro – grow	Nipingr- pinch	Viggr – spear
Brand -sword, torch	Hannar – skilled	Nothri – north one	Vind- windy
Bund (u) -head	Hepti – handle	Nyi- new moon	Virfir – dyer
Dainn -dead-like	Hor – high	Nyr – new	Vitr – wise
Dolg- battle	Horn- horn	Oinn- fearful	Zinbar – peak
Dufr- nodder	Jari- warrior	Onarr- starer	Zirak – mountain

Suffixes

Dwarf Name Suffixes

-(h)le – shelter

-in(n) – ing

-i(s) – one

-nala – river

-ri – one

-u – of

Happy Naming!