A wizard's name is one third given, one third taken, and one third footnote. The given part comes from parents who did not know what they were raising. The taken part is added at the academy, where a young mage discovers that Bob does not command respect in the summoning circle. The footnote arrives later, usually after an incident.
The sounds are scholarly on purpose: latinate endings, deliberate rhythm, names that sound like they own at least four books nobody else may touch. Lucreius, the lamp-bearer, cited by many. Elphabelle, riddle-born, of the high tower. A wizard's name should be pronounceable by an apprentice under pressure and impressive on the spine of a treatise. These are the only two requirements, and both are non-negotiable.
The epithet is where wizards keep their true biography: the Grey, of the Third Circle, Half-Remembered, Vowbound. Unlike orc epithets, which are shouted, wizard epithets are murmured, ideally while someone else changes the subject. Ask a wizard directly about theirs and you will receive either a lie or a lecture. There is no third option, and the lecture is longer.
The elements of the old tongue
Aldru- keeper of old words
Bellam- war of wits
Cassio- star-reader
Darvo- door-opener
Elphab- riddle-born
Fenwic- marsh-light
Galdri- chant-weaver
Hierony- sacred-named
Ignat- spark-fingered
Lucre- lamp-bearer
Malvo- asks the wrong question
Nostra- our own sage
Female Wizard Names
- Elphabdora Half-Remembered "riddle-born gifted"; erased from most records, on purpose
- Thaddeovessa the Grey "brave heart veiled scholar"; neutral in all wars, feared in all courts
- Bellamna the Grey "war of wits mistress of the art"; neutral in all wars, feared in all courts
- Lucrelia the Grey "lamp-bearer candle-bright"; neutral in all wars, feared in all courts
- Darvolia Vowbound "door-opener candle-bright"; sworn to one terrible promise
- Cassiolia Threadneedle "star-reader candle-bright"; mends reality's small tears
- Lucreissa the Unblinking "lamp-bearer whisper-taught"; won the staring contest with the void
- Thaddeolia the Unblinking "brave heart candle-bright"; won the staring contest with the void
- Nostrana Half-Remembered "our own sage mistress of the art"; erased from most records, on purpose
- Cassiona Half-Remembered "star-reader mistress of the art"; erased from most records, on purpose
- Ignatryn Vowbound "spark-fingered rune-wise"; sworn to one terrible promise
- Aldruvessa Half-Remembered "keeper of old words veiled scholar"; erased from most records, on purpose
- Aldruryn the Lamplit "keeper of old words rune-wise"; reads while cities sleep
- Lucremin of the Third Circle "lamp-bearer keen mind"; two circles above asking
- Peregrina the Lamplit "wanderer mistress of the art"; reads while cities sleep
- Fenwiclia of the Third Circle "marsh-light candle-bright"; two circles above asking
Male Wizard Names
- Peregriorn of the Third Circle "wanderer tower-strong"; two circles above asking
- Darvoimus Vowbound "door-opener the most studious"; sworn to one terrible promise
- Cassioth Vowbound "star-reader deep-delver"; sworn to one terrible promise
- Zosimoius Threadneedle "survivor of experiments cited by many"; mends reality's small tears
- Galdrimus the Grey "chant-weaver the most studious"; neutral in all wars, feared in all courts
- Ignatast the Cartographer of Storms "spark-fingered star-taught"; maps what cannot hold still
- Bellamus Threadneedle "war of wits of the academy"; mends reality's small tears
- Hieronyorn the Lamplit "sacred-named tower-strong"; reads while cities sleep
- Nostraorn the Cartographer of Storms "our own sage tower-strong"; maps what cannot hold still
- Elphabander Threadneedle "riddle-born man of learning"; mends reality's small tears
- Galdriel the Unblinking "chant-weaver gray-bearded"; won the staring contest with the void
- Galdrioth the Cartographer of Storms "chant-weaver deep-delver"; maps what cannot hold still
- Zosimoel Vowbound "survivor of experiments gray-bearded"; sworn to one terrible promise
- Thaddeorn the Lamplit "brave heart tower-strong"; reads while cities sleep
- Quillorn the Cartographer of Storms "pen-handed tower-strong"; maps what cannot hold still
- Bellamorn Threadneedle "war of wits tower-strong"; mends reality's small tears
Noble Wizard Names
- Hieronyis "sacred-named of the order"
- Nostrar "our own sage adept"
- Hieronyen "sacred-named apprenticed"
- Nostrais "our own sage of the order"
- Cassioar "star-reader adept"
- Hieronyx "sacred-named cipher"
- Thaddeoen "brave heart apprenticed"
- Nostrayx "our own sage cipher"
- Cassiois "star-reader of the order"
- Nostraen "our own sage apprenticed"
Margin notes
What makes a wizard name sound authentic?
Latinate or scholarly endings (-us, -ius, -elle, -dora), a meaning about light, study, or doors, and an epithet with an untold story. If it sounds like it was chosen by committee at a university older than the kingdom, it is correct.
Should sorcerers and warlocks use different names than wizards?
By tradition, yes: sorcerers keep their birth names (the power came to them), while warlocks often receive a name as part of the arrangement, and the tiefling chapter's pact-flavored names suit them well. Wizards are the only ones who name themselves after their reading habits.
Can I use a normal name for my wizard?
It is a legitimate choice with real comic timing: a world-shaking archmage named Ned. Half the fun of the trope is that everyone at the academy hates it. The grimoire deals formal names; the nickname is between you and your table.
Last inscribed 2026-08-16
