Sooner or later the party goes shopping, and a shop with a name feels like a real place. Fantasy shops borrow from real ones: named after the owner (Barthen's Provisions), the trade (Ollivanders, wand-makers) or a painted sign (The Bubbling Cauldron). This fantasy shop name generator builds names in all those patterns for seven kinds of shop, from magic shops to tailors.
Three ways shops get their names
- The owner's name: the oldest pattern and still the most common. In Phandalin, the town in D&D's starter adventure Lost Mine of Phandelver, the party can stock up at Barthen's Provisions. In Skyrim, Belethor's General Goods is in Whiterun.
- A painted sign: like tavern names, older shops were known by their sign: The Golden Anvil, The Bubbling Cauldron. Arcadia's Cauldron, the Whiterun apothecary, mixes both patterns.
- A partnership: two names joined by "and". In Harry Potter, Flourish and Blotts sells books and Borgin and Burkes sells dark artefacts.
The generator uses all three, plus simple descriptive names (Curious Curios) for shops whose owner is happy to let the goods speak.
Matching the name to the shop
- Magic shops can be a little mysterious: The Whispering Orb, Grimble's Oddities. A magic shop with a plain name is a hint that the owner has something to hide.
- Blacksmiths sound solid and honest: The Ringing Anvil, Gorrim's Ironworks.
- Potion sellers and herbalists sound green and old: The Mossy Mortar, Hettie's Remedies.
- General stores are friendly and practical: The Lucky Barrel, Barnaby's Provisions.
- Jewellers and tailors show off: The Flawless Pearl, The Dapper Thimble.
Making the shop memorable
- Give the owner a quirk. The name tells players who to ask for: someone called Grimble is behind the counter at Grimble's Wands.
- Let the sign say something. "The Dented Helm" is either a joke or a warning about the quality of the armour.
- Add a motto. Ollivanders' sign reads "Makers of Fine Wands since 382 BC". A line under the name adds history in seconds.
For the inn across the street, try the Tavern Name Generator; for the town itself, the Fantasy Town Name Generator.