Elven sword names carry the weight of ancient magic, celestial beauty, and legendary deeds. From the legendary 'Glamdring' (Foe-hammer) wielded by Gandalf to 'Andúril' (Flame of the West) that reforged the shards of Narsil, elven swords are more than weapons—they are works of art, vessels of power, and symbols of elven culture. Our **Elven Sword Name Generator** provides authentic elven sword names with English translations, drawing from Tolkien's Quenya and Sindarin languages to create names that feel like they belong in Middle-earth, Valinor, or any fantasy world inspired by elven tradition.
The Power of Elven Sword Names
Elven sword names serve multiple purposes in fantasy worlds: they identify legendary weapons, create memorable artifacts, establish a weapon's power level and origin, and add depth to elven culture and history. A well-chosen elven sword name can instantly convey whether a weapon is celestial ('Elen-nár (Starfire)'), elemental ('Sael-thalion (Storm-Heart)'), legendary ('Glamdring'), or poetic ('Ithil-lhû (Moonwhisper)').
Elven swords are often named for their appearance, their deeds, their connection to elven culture, or their legendary status. Names like 'Andúril' (Flame of the West) tell stories of the sword's history and purpose, while names like 'Elen-nár (Starfire)' describe the weapon's appearance or magical properties. Compound names like 'Ithil-lhû (Moonwhisper)' combine elven words to create poetic, meaningful names that resonate with elven culture.
Our generator includes names inspired by Tolkien's legendarium, from legendary swords like 'Glamdring', 'Andúril', and 'Orcrist' to poetic compound names that combine elven words with English translations. Each name maintains the elven form while providing the English meaning, making them accessible to players and readers while preserving the authentic elven feel.
Types of Elven Sword Names
The generator includes several categories of elven sword names, each with its own character and meaning:
- Legendary Names: Names like 'Glamdring', 'Andúril', 'Orcrist', 'Narsil', and 'Sting' are drawn directly from Tolkien's works. These are the most famous elven swords, each with its own history and legend. 'Glamdring' means 'Foe-hammer' in Sindarin, 'Andúril' means 'Flame of the West', and 'Orcrist' means 'Goblin-cleaver'.
- Elven Place Names: Names like 'Valinórë (Valinor)', 'Eldamar (Eldamar)', 'Lórien (Lórien)', and 'Tol-Eressëa (Tol-Eressëa)' reference elven realms and places of power. These names connect the sword to elven geography and culture, suggesting the weapon's origin or the place where it was forged.
- Elven Character Names: Names like 'Fingolfin', 'Gil-Galad', 'Thranduil', 'Feanor', and 'Melian' reference legendary elven characters. These names honor elven heroes and suggest the sword's connection to elven history and legend.
- Celestial and Elemental Names: Names like 'Elen-nár (Starfire)', 'Ithil-lhû (Moonwhisper)', 'Anar-hael (Sunblade)', 'Menel-hort (Skyheart)', and 'Sûl-rest (Windcutter)' combine elven words for celestial bodies and elements with descriptive terms. These names suggest the sword's connection to natural forces and elven magic.
- Poetic Compound Names: Names like 'Lass-lind (Leafsong)', 'Nen-mir (River-Mirror)', 'Fuindor-amrun (Dusk-Ember)', and 'Amarth-carr (Dawn-Edge)' combine multiple elven words to create poetic, descriptive names. These names often describe the sword's appearance, properties, or the time or place of its forging.
- Descriptive Names: Names like 'Mithren-rîn (Silver-Flow)', 'Tinu-galad (Pure-Steel)', 'Morn-lath (Astral-Gleam)', and 'Hîth-rand (Shadow-Drift)' describe the sword's material, appearance, or magical properties. These names emphasize the weapon's physical and mystical qualities.
- Legendary Epithets: Names like 'Megil Aldalimbë (Blade of the White Tree)', 'Calad Aman (Light of the Undying Lands)', and 'Lind Orod-rand (Song of the Elven King)' are full phrases that tell stories of the sword's legendary status and connection to elven culture.
Elven Language and Naming Conventions
Elven sword names draw from Tolkien's constructed languages, primarily Quenya (High Elven) and Sindarin (Grey Elven). Understanding the linguistic roots adds depth to the names:
- Celestial Terms: 'Elen' (star), 'Ithil' (moon), 'Anar' (sun), 'Menel' (sky/heaven), 'Sûl' (wind/air). These terms appear in names like 'Elen-nár (Starfire)', 'Ithil-lhû (Moonwhisper)', and 'Anar-hael (Sunblade)'.
- Natural Elements: 'Nén' (water), 'Nár' (fire), 'Loss' (snow/frost), 'Lass' (leaf), 'Thond' (root), 'Nan' (valley/glade). These appear in names like 'Nen-mir (River-Mirror)', 'Nár-lath (Fire-Kissed)', and 'Lass-lind (Leafsong)'.
- Material and Craft Terms: 'Megil' (sword/blade), 'Falas' (shore/coast, often used for blade), 'Thalion' (strong/steadfast), 'Galad' (light/radiance), 'Mithren' (silver). These appear in names like 'Tinu-galad (Pure-Steel)' and 'Mithren-rîn (Silver-Flow)'.
- Time and State Terms: 'Amarth' (dawn), 'Fuindor' (dusk), 'Lóme' (night/dream), 'Morn' (dark/shadow), 'Calen' (green/bright). These appear in names like 'Amarth-carr (Dawn-Edge)' and 'Fuindor-amrun (Dusk-Ember)'.
- Action and Quality Terms: 'Rest' (cut), 'Haca' (strike), 'Rista' (cut/sever), 'Lath' (kiss/touch), 'Thalion' (strong). These appear in names like 'Sûl-rest (Windcutter)' and 'Dín-haca (Silent-Strike)'.
By combining these linguistic elements, the generator creates authentic elven names that feel like they belong in Tolkien's legendarium while remaining accessible through English translations.
How to Use Elven Sword Names
Elven sword names work excellently for:
- D&D Campaigns: Name legendary elven swords for player characters, especially elves, half-elves, or characters with elven heritage. Names like 'Elen-nár (Starfire)' or 'Ithil-lhû (Moonwhisper)' are perfect for elven rangers, fighters, or paladins.
- Fantasy Writing: Create memorable elven swords for characters in novels or short stories. Names like 'Glamdring' or 'Andúril' demonstrate the power of well-chosen elven sword names in literature.
- Worldbuilding: Establish consistent naming conventions for elven weapons in your fantasy world. Use the generator to create a collection of elven swords that reflect different aspects of elven culture, from celestial weapons to nature-bound blades.
- Gaming: Perfect for MMORPGs, video games, or tabletop RPGs where elven swords are important equipment. Names work well for both starting equipment and legendary artifacts.
- Character Development: Use elven sword names to reflect a character's personality, background, or alignment. A sword named 'Elen-nár (Starfire)' suggests a celestial or light-aligned character, while 'Hîth-rand (Shadow-Drift)' suggests a more mysterious or shadow-aligned character.
When choosing elven sword names, consider the sword's power level, origin, and the character who wields it. A sword named 'Glamdring' suggests legendary status and elven craftsmanship, while 'Elen-nár (Starfire)' suggests a magical weapon with celestial properties. The English translations help players and readers understand the name's meaning while preserving the authentic elven feel.
Well-Known Elven Swords in Literature and Media
Elven sword names have been immortalized through Tolkien's legendarium, literature, games, and media. These iconic swords demonstrate the power of well-chosen elven sword names:
- Glamdring (The Lord of the Rings): Gandalf's sword, Glamdring means 'Foe-hammer' in Sindarin. It was forged in Gondolin during the First Age and was discovered by Gandalf in a troll-hoard. Its name reflects its purpose and power, showing how elven sword names can tell stories of their deeds.
- Andúril (The Lord of the Rings): The Flame of the West, Andúril was forged from the shards of Narsil. Its name means 'Flame of the West' in Quenya, demonstrating how elven sword names can incorporate linguistic depth and cultural meaning. Andúril was the sword of Aragorn, reforged to fulfill an ancient prophecy.
- Orcrist (The Hobbit): Thorin Oakenshield's sword, Orcrist means 'Goblin-cleaver' in Sindarin. It was forged in Gondolin and was discovered alongside Glamdring. Its name directly references its purpose—slaying goblins and orcs.
- Narsil (The Lord of the Rings): The sword of Elendil, Narsil was broken when Elendil fell in the Last Alliance. Its name means 'Red and White Flame' in Quenya, referencing the sun and moon. The sword was later reforged as Andúril.
- Sting (The Hobbit, The Lord of the Rings): Bilbo and Frodo's sword, Sting was an elven blade that glowed blue when orcs were near. While its name is simple in English, it was likely given an elven name in Sindarin or Quenya.
- Various D&D Elven Swords: Dungeons & Dragons features numerous elven swords with names that follow similar conventions, demonstrating how elven sword names can be adapted for different fantasy settings.
These iconic swords demonstrate the range of elven naming conventions: from legendary names that tell stories (Glamdring, Andúril) to descriptive names that reference appearance or properties (Sting) to compound names that combine multiple elven words (Elen-nár, Ithil-lhû). When creating your own elven sword names, consider what the sword represents, its power level, and how the name reflects its origin and legendary status.
The Meaning and Derivation of Elven Sword Names
Understanding the etymology and symbolism behind elven sword names adds depth to character creation and worldbuilding. Many elven sword names draw from specific linguistic roots, mythological references, and symbolic meanings:
- Tolkien's Constructed Languages: Elven sword names primarily draw from Quenya (High Elven) and Sindarin (Grey Elven), Tolkien's constructed languages. Names like 'Glamdring' (Sindarin: 'Foe-hammer') and 'Andúril' (Quenya: 'Flame of the West') demonstrate the linguistic depth of elven naming.
- Celestial and Natural Themes: Many elven sword names reference celestial bodies and natural elements: 'Elen' (star), 'Ithil' (moon), 'Anar' (sun), 'Nén' (water), 'Nár' (fire), 'Loss' (snow). These names suggest the sword's connection to natural forces and elven magic.
- Material and Craftsmanship: Names reference materials and craftsmanship: 'Mithren' (silver), 'Galad' (light/radiance), 'Megil' (sword/blade), 'Thalion' (strong/steadfast). These names suggest the sword's construction and power level.
- Time and State References: Names reference time and states: 'Amarth' (dawn), 'Fuindor' (dusk), 'Lóme' (night/dream), 'Morn' (dark/shadow). These names suggest when the sword was forged or its connection to specific times or states.
- Action and Quality Terms: Names reference actions and qualities: 'Rest' (cut), 'Haca' (strike), 'Lath' (kiss/touch), 'Thalion' (strong). These names describe the sword's function or properties.
- Legendary and Mythological References: Names reference elven legend and mythology: 'Valinórë' (Valinor, the Undying Lands), 'Eldamar' (Elvenhome), 'Lórien' (the Gardens of Lórien). These names connect swords to elven geography and culture.
- Character and Place Names: Names reference legendary elven characters and places: 'Fingolfin', 'Gil-Galad', 'Thranduil', 'Feanor'. These names honor elven heroes and suggest the sword's connection to elven history.
- Poetic Compound Names: Many names combine multiple elven words to create poetic, descriptive names: 'Elen-nár (Starfire)', 'Ithil-lhû (Moonwhisper)', 'Lass-lind (Leafsong)'. These names emphasize beauty, poetry, and the elven connection to nature and magic.
When creating elven sword names, consider what each element means and how it contributes to the sword's identity. A name like 'Elen-nár (Starfire)' immediately suggests a celestial weapon with fire properties, while 'Glamdring' suggests legendary status and elven craftsmanship. 'Ithil-lhû (Moonwhisper)' combines the moon ('Ithil') with a whisper ('lhû'), creating a name that suggests stealth, beauty, and elven grace.