Drow Names
Drow names are elegant and a little venomous, full of soft ae and ss sounds, sudden apostrophes and harsh Z, X and Q consonants. The style was defined by the Forgotten Realms setting and R.A. Salvatore’s novels, where a dark elf’s house name — Baenre, Do’Urden, Mizzrym — matters more than the name itself. Below you’ll find 90+ drow names: famous canon characters, original female and male names, house names and epithets.
Drow society is matriarchal, so female names often sound grander and more ornate, while male names are shorter and sharper. For their surface cousins, see our lists of elf names and high elf names; for other shadowy characters, browse dark names or roll one with the tiefling name generator.
Famous drow names from books and games
These dark elves come from the Forgotten Realms novels, D&D adventures and the Baldur’s Gate games. Use them for inspiration rather than copying them wholesale, since many are very recognizable.
| Name | Who they are | Gender |
|---|---|---|
| Drizzt Do’Urden | Renegade ranger and hero of R.A. Salvatore’s novels, first seen in <em>The Crystal Shard</em> (1988) | Male |
| Zaknafein Do’Urden | Drizzt’s father and the legendary weapons master of House Do’Urden | Male |
| Jarlaxle Baenre | Flamboyant leader of the Bregan D’aerthe mercenary band | Male |
| Malice Do’Urden | Ruthless matron mother of House Do’Urden in <em>Homeland</em> | Female |
| Vierna Do’Urden | Drizzt’s sister, a priestess of Lolth | Female |
| Briza Do’Urden | Eldest Do’Urden daughter, a brutal high priestess | Female |
| Dinin Do’Urden | Drizzt’s ambitious older brother | Male |
| Nalfein Do’Urden | Eldest son, murdered by Dinin during a house raid | Male |
| Yvonnel Baenre | The ancient Matron Mother Baenre, ruler of Menzoberranzan | Female |
| Triel Baenre | Yvonnel’s daughter and successor | Female |
| Quenthel Baenre | High priestess central to the <em>War of the Spider Queen</em> series | Female |
| Gromph Baenre | Archmage of Menzoberranzan | Male |
| Liriel Baenre | Heroine of Elaine Cunningham’s <em>Daughter of the Drow</em> | Female |
| Berg’inyon Baenre | Weapons master of House Baenre | Male |
| Sos’Umptu Baenre | Keeper of the Baenre chapel | Female |
| Pharaun Mizzrym | Sardonic wizard in <em>War of the Spider Queen</em> | Male |
| Halisstra Melarn | Priestess who later turns to Eilistraee | Female |
| Danifae Yauntyrr | Cunning battle-captive turned schemer | Female |
| Ryld Argith | Weapons master and Pharaun’s companion | Male |
| Kimmuriel Oblodra | Psionicist and Jarlaxle’s lieutenant | Male |
| Viconia DeVir | Cleric companion in the <em>Baldur’s Gate</em> games | Female |
| Minthara Baenre | Paladin companion in <em>Baldur’s Gate 3</em> (2023) | Female |
| Solaufein | Drow warrior of Ust Natha in <em>Baldur’s Gate II</em> | Male |
| Nezznar | “The Black Spider,” villain of the D&D adventure <em>Lost Mine of Phandelver</em> | Male |
| Eclavdra | Priestess from Greyhawk’s classic <em>Queen of the Demonweb Pits</em> era | Female |
Female drow names
Priestesses and matron mothers rule drow cities, so female names tend to be long and ceremonial. For more menacing feminine names, see female demon names and dark girl names.
| Name | Sound | Suits |
|---|---|---|
| Ilvaera | Silken, noble | A scheming priestess |
| Quavrae | Sharp Q, cold | A matron’s heir |
| Shyntra | Hissing, quick | An assassin |
| Zesstra | Venomous double-S | A poisoner |
| Vhaeriss | Breathy, elegant | A courtier |
| Ardhaera | Old, formal | A matron mother |
| Neldriss | Soft but dangerous | A spy |
| Talvrina | Musical | A bard exiled to the surface |
| Yasraena | Flowing, regal | A noble daughter |
| Imraethe | Whispered | A shadow sorcerer |
| Jhulaevra | Exotic, ornate | A high priestess |
| Sabrae | Short, crisp | A scout |
| Olorae | Round, calm | A follower of Eilistraee |
| Xullrae | Harsh X start | A slaver captain |
| Belaerna | Gentle-sounding | A redeemed healer |
| Filfaera | Airy, fey | A drow ranger |
| Ginafae | Delicate | A young initiate |
| Nathrae | Dark, simple | A warlock |
| Chalithra | Slithering | A spider-riding cavalier |
| Elvraena | Lyrical | A surface-born half-drow |
Male drow names
Male drow are usually warriors, wizards or servants of a house, and their names are clipped and practical, often with a Z, V or double consonant.
| Name | Sound | Suits |
|---|---|---|
| Andzrel | Clipped, military | A house guard captain |
| Chaszmyr | Crackling | A battle wizard |
| Dhuunyl | Heavy, ominous | A cultist |
| Elkantar | Proud | A weapons master |
| Filraen | Light, sly | A rogue |
| Ghaundan | Deep, rolling | A mercenary |
| Houndaer | Hunting feel | A tracker |
| Ilphrin | Soft, clever | A mage’s apprentice |
| Kelnozz | Buzzing Z ending | A duelist |
| Lirdnar | Rare, twisting | A spy |
| Merinid | Balanced, noble | A younger son |
| Orgoloth | Growling | A brute |
| Pellaen | Graceful | A drow bard |
| Quevven | Doubled V, cool | A diplomat |
| Sorn | One syllable, cold | An NPC enforcer |
| Tebryn | Crisp, modern | A player character |
| Urlryn | Guttural | An Underdark guide |
| Vuzlyl | Strange, alien | A mind-touched sage |
| Welver | Plain, forgettable | A deep-cover agent |
| Zaknim | Clean, sharp | A rising fighter |
Drow house names
A drow is introduced by house first. The first ten below are canon Menzoberranzan and Ched Nasad houses; the rest are original names you can use freely in a homebrew city.
| House | Note |
|---|---|
| Baenre | First House of Menzoberranzan in Forgotten Realms lore |
| Do’Urden | Drizzt’s house, destroyed in the novels |
| DeVir | Wiped out by House Do’Urden; Viconia’s house |
| Oblodra | Psionic house, Kimmuriel’s family |
| Mizzrym | House of Pharaun Mizzrym |
| Melarn | Ched Nasad house of Halisstra |
| Xorlarrin | Wizard-heavy house of Menzoberranzan |
| Barrison Del’Armgo | Martial rival of House Baenre |
| Faen Tlabbar | Ambitious high-ranking house |
| Hun’ett | House that clashes with the Do’Urdens in <em>Homeland</em> |
| Vel’Shaeryn | Original: sounds old and proud |
| Zauvirr | Original: sharp and predatory |
| Tlintarra | Original: a merchant house |
| Rilynvyr | Original: a house of assassins |
| Ssambra | Original: a house of spider-breeders |
| Duskhaelin | Original: a minor house on the rise |
| Xanthrae | Original: a house ruled by sorcerers |
| Myrleth | Original: a disgraced fallen house |
Drow epithets and surnames for exiles
A drow cast out of their house often loses the right to its name. These epithets make a great replacement, much like the surnames in our fantasy last names list, and many borrow imagery from names that mean shadow.
| Epithet | Best for |
|---|---|
| Shadowsilk | A spy who is never seen |
| Venomkiss | A poisoner with a courtly smile |
| Spiderblade | A duelist devoted to Lolth |
| Darkwhisper | A mage of secrets |
| Nightveil | A surface raider |
| Blackweb | A priestess or trap-maker |
| Duskthorn | A drow who walks the surface at twilight |
| Silentstep | An assassin or scout |
| Moonless | A drow who fears nothing of the dark |
| Deepcrown | A noble of an old Underdark line |
| Poisonpetal | A beautiful, dangerous courtier |
| Faerzress-Touched | A mage marked by the Underdark’s magical radiation |
How to create a convincing drow name
- Give women the longer name. In a matriarchy, three-syllable names with ae, rae or ss signal rank.
- Use apostrophes sparingly. One apostrophe (Berg’inyon, Sos’Umptu) looks deliberate; two starts to look like a typo.
- Decide your house status. A noble uses the house name proudly; an exile might hide it or adopt an epithet.
- Avoid famous names at the table. Another Drizzt is a meme among D&D players. Borrow the sound, not the name.
- Mix in night imagery. Words from names that mean night make strong seeds for drow nicknames.
Frequently asked questions
What is the most famous drow name?
Drizzt Do’Urden, the scimitar-wielding ranger created by R.A. Salvatore, is by far the best-known drow. He first appeared in The Crystal Shard in 1988.
Why do drow names have apostrophes?
The apostrophe gives names an alien, deliberately foreign look. In the Forgotten Realms it appears mainly in house names (Do’Urden, Del’Armgo) and some personal names (Berg’inyon).
Are drow names different for men and women?
Usually. Because drow society is ruled by priestesses of Lolth, female names tend to be longer and grander while male names are shorter and harder.
What is a good drow house name?
Pick two or three syllables with a hiss or a Z: Vel’Shaeryn, Zauvirr or Xanthrae all sound noble and threatening.
Can I use drow names for a non-D&D story?
Yes, but canon names like Baenre or Do’Urden belong to the Forgotten Realms setting, so for published work stick to the original names on this page.