Gnome Names: 90 Quirky & Clever Ideas for D&D and Fantasy

Gnomes are fantasy's lovable chaos gremlins. They're brilliant, hyperactive, wildly curious, and absolutely convinced that the thing they're building won't explode this time. (It will.) And their names should match that energy — clever, a little ridiculous, and bursting with personality, like the name itself was tinkered together in a cluttered workshop at 3am.

Here's the fun quirk of gnome naming: they tend to collect names. There's the proper given name, sure, but also a nickname, a clan name, a "personal" name, maybe a title they gave themselves — gnomes are not known for restraint. That's great news for you, because it means you can pile on the charm.

So below are 90 gnome names — for the tinkers, tricksters, illusionists, and curious little geniuses of your world — covering given names, those wonderful nicknames, and family names, plus a quick guide to building your own. Try not to touch anything that's glowing.

Male gnome names

Bright, bouncy, and a bit much (affectionately) — these suit inventors, alchemists, and the gnome currently elbow-deep in a machine that's making a worrying noise.

Fizwick and Boddynock are peak gnome — they sound like they're already mid-explanation. Sprocket is perfect for a gnome who named themselves after their favorite machine part (very on-brand), and Namfoodle is just a joy to say out loud.

Female gnome names

Equally brilliant and equally chaotic — these fit clockwork-mages, potion-brewers, and the gnome who's pretty sure she can fix that with enough wire.

Bimpnottin and Waywocket are gloriously gnome-y — long, silly, and impossible to say with a straight face. Nissa and Breena are your picks if you want clever-and-charming without going full chaos.

Gnome nicknames (because one name is never enough)

Gnomes hand out nicknames like candy, usually based on something you did, built, or blew up. They're half the fun:

• Sparks — set fire to something memorable.
• Tinker — always fixing (or "fixing") something.
• Boom — self-explanatory, and concerning.
• Cogs — never seen without a machine.
• Fizzle — a spell that didn't quite land. Once. It stuck.
• Whistle — talks even faster than the others.

Layer one onto a full name and your gnome practically introduces themselves — Boddynock "Boom" Sparkgear tells you everything you need to know, and most of it is a fire hazard.

Gnome family / clan names

Gnome family names usually nod to a craft, a quirk, or the workshop the clan is famous (or infamous) for. Smash a mechanical/nature word into a craft word:

Sparkgear, Fiddlewick, Cogspring, Glittergem, Tinkertop, Fizzlebang, Brassbottom, Gimblewick, Copperkettle, Quickfuse, Wobbletop, Nimblefingers, Steamwhistle, Gearloose, Boomwidget, Dazzlewing, Springwheel, Puddlejump, Tocktick, Featherbolt.

Sparkgear, Fizzlebang, and Gearloose are exactly right — they sound like a workshop that's one bad solder away from a small crater. Pair with a given name (Fizwick Sparkgear, Nissa Fizzlebang) and you've got a gnome with a whole family reputation for "creative results."

How to name your gnome

The golden rule: more is more.

• Pile on the syllables and the silliness. Boddynock, Bimpnottin, Namfoodle — long, bouncy, and a little absurd is correct for a gnome.
• Steal from machines and sparks. Cog, spring, gear, spark, fizz, boom, tick — perfect raw material for names, nicknames, and clans alike.
• Give them at least two names. A given name + a nickname + a clan name is peak gnome. Don't hold back.
• Let the name hint at their disaster of choice. "Boom," "Fizzle," "Sparks" — a name that nods to their last experiment is instant character.
• Keep it warm, not mean. Gnomes are lovable, not annoying. The silliness should make you grin, not groan.

A great gnome name should sound like it was invented in a hurry, by someone very excited, who is also slightly on fire. If it makes you smile before you've even met the character — and maybe makes you a little nervous about their workshop — you've nailed it.

Match the name to your kind of gnome

Gnomes come in a few delightful flavors, and leaning into yours makes the name land even better. The tinker / rock gnome is the classic — goggles, gadgets, a workshop full of things that beep. These suit the mechanical names hardest: Sprocket, Cogsley, Fizwick, anything Sparkgear. The forest gnome is quieter and woodsier, friends with small animals and illusions — soften the name a touch (Wrenlow, Duvamil, Bimble) and lean on nature over machinery. And the deep / svirfneblin gnome lives underground and trends more serious and secretive — go shorter and harder (Glim, Pock, Kor) and drop most of the silliness.

Then there's the job. An illusionist suits a sparkly, whimsical name (Glittergem, Dazzlewing); an alchemist suits something that hints at fumes and explosions (Fizzlebang, Boomwidget); a scholar-gnome can carry a slightly more dignified pick (Quill, Nissa). The beauty of gnome naming is that you genuinely can't overdo it — these are enthusiastic, expressive folk, so a long given name, a workshop nickname, and a clan name is completely in character. Figure out what kind of gnome you've got and what catastrophe they specialize in, and the perfect quirky name basically assembles itself.

Frequently Asked Questions

What are good gnome names for D&D?

Fizwick, Boddynock, and Namfoodle are great for males; Roywyn, Bimpnottin, and Nissa for females. Add a clan name like Sparkgear or Fizzlebang and an earned nickname like "Boom," and you've got a perfectly chaotic D&D gnome.

What are funny gnome names?

Namfoodle, Bimpnottin, Waywocket, and Dabbledob are gnome names that lean delightfully silly, and nicknames like "Boom," "Fizzle," and "Sparks" add to the fun. Long, bouncy, slightly absurd names are exactly the gnome style.

What are good gnome family names?

Sparkgear, Fiddlewick, Fizzlebang, Cogspring, and Gearloose are classic gnome family names. Build your own by combining a mechanical or sparky word (cog, gear, spark, fizz, boom) with a craft word (gear, wick, spring, top).

Why do gnomes have so many names?

Gnome culture loves names — a typical gnome has a given name, a nickname, a clan name, and sometimes a personal name or self-given title. They're enthusiastic, expressive folk, and collecting names is part of the fun. For you, it means more room for charm and character.

What's a good female gnome name?

Roywyn, Nissa, Breena, Bimpnottin, and Waywocket are great female gnome names — clever and warm, or gloriously silly, depending on the vibe. For a quick-witted mage, try Nissa; for a lovable scatterbrain, Bimpnottin.

How do I make up a gnome name?

Go long, bouncy, and a little absurd (Boddynock, Namfoodle), steal words from machines and sparks (cog, gear, fizz, boom), give them a nickname tied to a past disaster, and add a workshop-flavored clan name. Keep it warm and grin-worthy, never mean.

🔗 More Fantasy Name Guides You'll Love

Go name your gnome

Mad little Fizwick, brilliant Nissa, or a whole workshop of Sparkgears and Fizzlebangs — there's a quirky, charming name here for your gnome, clever and chaotic in equal measure.

👉 Open the free Fantasy Name Builder to cook one up by gender, clan, and vibe — dozens of quirky options in a click, no signup. ⚔️

Which one made you grin? That's your gnome. Now back away slowly from whatever they're building.