Dwarvish Naming Conventions

Dwarvish names are not expressions of potential—they are declarations of legacy.

Where elves name for what one may become, dwarves name for what has already been built.

A dwarf is born into a name that carries:

• the weight of ancestors

• the reputation of a clan

• the expectation of endurance

A name is not chosen.

It is inherited—and upheld. 

Core Structure:

Dwarvish names follow a two-part identity:

1. Given Name (Personal Name)

A practical identifier used in daily life.

• Short, strong, and functional

• Often 1–2 syllables

• Not deeply symbolic

• Chosen by parents, but not overly romanticized

Examples:

• Bram

• Kara

• Dorn

• Vek

• Rurik

These names matter—but they are not what defines a dwarf.

2. Clan Name (Surname / True Weight)

This is the true identity of a dwarf.

• Passed down through generations

• Built from deeds, locations, or defining traits

• Carries honor… or shame

• Rarely changed—doing so is a monumental act

Examples:

• Stoneforge

• Ironvein

• Deepdelver

• Grimhammer

• Goldvein

A dwarf introduces themselves by clan first in formal settings.

Cultural Meaning:

A dwarven surname is a living record.

It tells others:

• What your ancestors built

• Where your clan comes from

• What you are expected to uphold

Honor & Reputation

A strong name opens doors:

• Respect in other holds

• Trust in trade

• Authority in conflict

A broken name closes them:

• Distrust

• Mockery

• Exile in extreme cases

Curses & Broken Names:

Dwarves do not forget failure.

If a clan falls through cowardice, betrayal, or ruin, their name may become:

• Spoken with contempt

• Shortened or altered as an insult

• Avoided entirely

Examples:

• Stoneforge → respected

• Stonebreak → failed lineage

• Grimhammer → proud

• Crackhammer → dishonored

In rare cases, a dwarf may:

• abandon their clan name

• take a new one

But this is seen as:

• either a grave shame

• or a legendary rebirth

Titles & Deeds:

Dwarves do not change their names lightly—but they add to them.

Titles are earned, not given.

Examples:

• Dorn Ironvein, Keeper of the Third Vault

• Kara Stoneforge, Breaker of Blackrock

• Rurik Deepdelver, Last of the Lower Hall

Titles are where individuality lives—
but always beneath the weight of the clan.

Informal Use:

Among friends:

• Given names are used freely

• Clan names may be shortened or implied

In formal or serious settings:

• Clan name is emphasized

• Full titles may be invoked

Example:

Casual:

“Bram, pass the ale.”

Formal:

“Bram Stoneforge, you stand before the council.”

Final Philosophy:

Elves ask:

“Who have you become?”

Dwarves ask:

“What have you upheld?”

A dwarf’s name is not a story of change.

It is a test of endurance.

Because long after the dwarf is gone…

the name remains—either stronger, or broken.