Gnome Names
Gnomes are the tinkers, pranksters and scholars of fantasy: small folk with enormous curiosity, long lives and even longer names. In tabletop games like Dungeons & Dragons a gnome often collects a birth name, a clan name and a string of nicknames from friends, which is why gnome names tend to sound bouncy, playful and a little over the top — Wizzlenock, Bimble, Tansy Copperkettle.
Below you’ll find more than 100 original gnome names grouped by style: male and female first names, clan surnames, forest and rock gnome flavors, and cheerful names for the garden gnome on your porch. Building a whole party? Pair these with our halfling names, dwarf name generator and fantasy last names.
Male gnome names
Male gnome names love hard consonants, doubled letters and a comic rhythm. Many end in -ock, -ble or -wick, which makes them easy to say at the table.
| Name | Style / vibe | Best for |
|---|---|---|
| Bimble | Cheerful, bouncy | Bard or prankster |
| Fizzwick | Explosive, inventive | Artificer |
| Dabbledorf | Absent-minded scholar | Wizard |
| Tobbin | Friendly, classic | Any gnome |
| Quillon | Bookish, precise | Scribe or sage |
| Wizzlenock | Over-the-top, comic | Illusionist |
| Pockett | Sneaky, compact | Rogue |
| Gimbrel | Tinker, gear-minded | Clockwork crafter |
| Nackerby | Grumpy uncle energy | Older NPC |
| Boddrin | Earthy, solid | Rock gnome |
| Fennick | Quick, foxlike | Forest gnome scout |
| Orrbin | Round, jolly | Innkeeper NPC |
| Zibbet | Tiny, zippy | Familiar-keeper |
| Alvric | Dignified, old | Gnome elder |
| Sprocket | Mechanical, fun | Artificer |
| Tumblewort | Herbal, clumsy | Druid |
| Jebbin | Plain, warm | Farmer or cook |
| Klinkett | Metallic, noisy | Blacksmith |
| Dimwick | Candlelit, quiet | Lamplighter or monk |
| Pembrook | Gentle, rural | Cleric |
Female gnome names
Female gnome names range from sweet (Tansy, Lilli) to gloriously long (Ellywinkle). Many borrow flowers and herbs, a nod to gnomes’ link with gardens — see our herb names for more ideas.
| Name | Style / vibe | Best for |
|---|---|---|
| Tansy | Herbal, bright | Druid or healer |
| Wrenna | Birdlike, quick | Ranger |
| Ellywinkle | Long and whimsical | Bard |
| Nissabell | Musical, sweet | Illusionist |
| Orla | Short, bold | Fighter or tinker |
| Bimsy | Playful, tiny | Rogue |
| Caramel | Sweet, cozy | Baker NPC |
| Lilli | Soft, classic | Any gnome |
| Mardabee | Busy, buzzing | Beekeeper |
| Zanwick | Sharp, clever | Artificer |
| Fennelope | Herbal pun | Alchemist |
| Dorrabel | Warm, maternal | Village elder |
| Pipsa | Quick, cheeky | Scout |
| Rosswyn | Rosy, dreamy | Enchanter |
| Glimmeret | Sparkly, magical | Illusionist |
| Nyxie | Mysterious, small | Warlock |
| Tibbalina | Long, ornate | Noble gnome |
| Quenna | Crisp, scholarly | Wizard |
| Hollyhock | Garden flower | Forest gnome |
| Bexley | Modern-sounding | Any campaign |
Gnome clan names and surnames
Gnome clans are named for crafts, ancestors or a famous mishap. Compound surnames work best: an object plus a verb or trait.
| Clan name | What it suggests | Pairs well with |
|---|---|---|
| Copperkettle | Tinkers and tea-lovers | Tansy, Orrbin |
| Sparkcog | Inventors, clockwork | Orla, Fizzwick |
| Tumbletop | Acrobats or clumsy heroes | Bimble |
| Gearwhistle | Engineers | Gimbrel |
| Mossfoot | Forest dwellers | Fennick |
| Glittergem | Gem cutters | Glimmeret |
| Nimbletoe | Dancers, thieves | Pipsa |
| Fizzlebang | Failed alchemists | Wizzlenock |
| Underbough | Tree-root homes | Wrenna |
| Pebblepocket | Collectors | Pockett |
| Brasswhisker | Proud, mechanical | Klinkett |
| Honeyburrow | Beekeepers | Mardabee |
| Quickfuse | Demolition experts | Sprocket |
| Thistledown | Soft, fey | Rosswyn |
| Stumbleduck | Lovably unlucky | Tobbin |
| Inkwhistle | Scholars, scribes | Quillon |
| Lanternglow | Lamplighters | Dimwick |
| Barrelbottom | Brewers | Nackerby |
| Brightbuckle | Shiny shoe-buckle makers | Bimsy |
| Wobbleknock | Door-knocker makers | Dabbledorf |
Forest gnome and rock gnome names
In D&D lore forest gnomes are shy illusionists who talk to small animals, while rock gnomes are tinkers. Lean soft and leafy for the first (our fairy names share that mood), clanky and bright for the second.
| Name | Subrace feel | Note |
|---|---|---|
| Bramblewick | Forest gnome | Hedge and candle imagery |
| Acornelle | Forest gnome | Feminine, nutty and cute |
| Fernwhistle | Forest gnome | Good for a flute player |
| Mushroomy | Forest gnome | Comic, earthy |
| Sorrelby | Forest gnome | Named for the sour herb |
| Willowkin | Forest gnome | Gentle and sleepy |
| Burrowin | Forest gnome | Lives under roots |
| Dewdrop | Forest gnome | Tiny, morning-fresh |
| Cogsworth | Rock gnome | Classic clockwork feel |
| Bolt | Rock gnome | One-syllable punch |
| Flintlock | Rock gnome | Firearms tinkerer |
| Rivetta | Rock gnome | Feminine mechanic |
| Ticktock | Rock gnome | Clockmaker |
| Gizmo | Rock gnome | Gadget lover |
| Anvilina | Rock gnome | Smith’s daughter |
| Pistonby | Rock gnome | Steam-engine vibe |
Gnome nicknames
Gnomes hand out nicknames freely, often after an embarrassing moment. Use one on its own or in quotes: Bimble “Oneshoe” Copperkettle.
| Nickname | Story behind it |
|---|---|
| Oneshoe | Lost a boot in a bog and never replaced it |
| Sparks | Set their eyebrows on fire — twice |
| Doublecheck | Paranoid about locks and traps |
| Tinwhistle | Won’t stop humming |
| Badger | Stubborn and bad-tempered before breakfast |
| Pocketful | Always carrying snacks |
| Scorch | Alchemy accident survivor |
| Button | Small even for a gnome |
| Wobbles | Terrible at riding ponies |
| Riddler | Answers every question with a question |
| Quickfingers | Suspiciously good at cards |
| Ashbeard | Beard singed gray early |
Funny garden gnome names
Naming the ceramic gnome in your flowerbed? Puns and old-fashioned names are the tradition. For more laughs see our funny nicknames.
| Name | Why it works |
|---|---|
| Gnome Chomsky | Linguistics pun for the thinker gnome |
| Gnomeo | For the romantic (Juliet optional) |
| Sir Gnomealot | Knightly and proud |
| Gnorman | Silent G, loud personality |
| Gnigel | Classic British garden vibe |
| Gnancy | Pairs with Gnorman |
| Garden Gary | Alliterative and friendly |
| Mr. Pottington | Guards the pots |
| Rosie Roots | Lives in the rose bed |
| Barnaby | Cheerful old-timer name |
| Mossimo | Italian flair, mossy hat |
| Gnomer Simpson | Pop-culture pun |
| Gnoah | Silent G, trendy name |
| Sproutsworth | Posh vegetable patch |
How to choose a gnome name
- Stack three parts. A first name, a clan name and a nickname (Orla “Sparks” Gearwhistle) instantly feels gnomish.
- Match the subrace. Leafy, soft sounds for forest gnomes; metallic, clicky sounds for rock gnomes and artificers.
- Use repeated letters. Doubled consonants (Bimble, Zibbet) give names a comic bounce.
- Keep it sayable. A long full name is fun, but give the table a short version they’ll actually use.
- Borrow from nature. Herbs, mushrooms and flowers make great gnome roots; our plant names list is a good quarry.
Frequently asked questions
What are good D&D gnome names?
Short, bouncy names with doubled letters work well: Bimble, Fizzwick, Tansy, Zibbet or Orla. Add a clan name like Sparkcog or Copperkettle and an optional nickname for a full gnome identity.
How do gnome names work in D&D?
The Player’s Handbook describes gnomes as having many names: one from each parent, others from elders, and nicknames from friends, plus a clan name. Most gnomes use just one or two in daily life.
What is a good name for a garden gnome?
Pun names are the classic choice: Gnome Chomsky, Gnorman, Sir Gnomealot or Gnomeo. Old-fashioned human names like Barnaby or Nigel also suit a cheerful garden gnome.
What’s the difference between gnome and dwarf names?
Dwarf names are heavy and rune-like (Thorin, Bruenor), while gnome names are lighter and more playful. If your gnome was raised by dwarves, a tougher-sounding name can hint at that backstory.
Where do gnomes come from in folklore?
The word “gnome” comes from the Renaissance alchemist Paracelsus, who used gnomus for earth elementals that move through soil like fish through water.