Dwarf names are forged in two parts. Grimforge is "the fierce line of the forge": grim (fierce, a real Old Norse root) + forge (the clan's trade). Here are names for dwarves with their parts on the table: 120 of them, sixty given names and sixty clan names, each with its root morpheme, its suffix, and its Norse tradition line.
Two tables: the given name and the clan name. The given name is a root plus a line suffix. The clan name is a root plus a trade epithet. Names bold, glosses italic, tradition labeled, nothing between the rows. Edda rows carry the Edda label; rows with real Old Norse receipts say so; invented roots say invented.
Dwarf given names (60)
Dwarf given names with their builds, meanings and traditions
Name
Built from
Meaning
Tradition
Grimur
grim + ur
fierce and hearty
Norse-style given name (root documented: Old Norse)
Sigar
sig + ar
victory guardian
Norse-style given name (root documented: Old Norse)
Baldis
bal + dis
bold lady
Norse-style given name (root documented: Old Norse)
Eikar
eik + ar
oak guardian
Norse-style given name (root documented: Old Norse)
Karond
kar + ond
deep-thought craftsman
Norse-style given name (root invented, labeled)
Valdis
val + dis
lady of the slain
Norse-style given name (real Old Norse name)
Thorin
thor + in
thunder of the line; meaning unattested
Poetic Edda, Dvergatal (canon gloss)
Durin
dur + in
the enduring one; gloss attested as "sleepy one," disputed
Poetic Edda, Dvergatal (canon gloss)
Dain
dain
meaning unattested
Poetic Edda, Dvergatal (canon gloss)
Thora
thor + a
thunder keeper of the hearth
Norse-style given name (root documented: Old Norse)
Thorur
thor + ur
hearty thunder
Norse-style given name (root documented: Old Norse)
Thorar
thor + ar
thunder guardian
Norse-style given name (root documented: Old Norse)
Thorond
thor + ond
deep-thought thunder
Norse-style given name (root documented: Old Norse)
Grima
grim + a
fierce hearth-keeper
Norse-style given name (root documented: Old Norse)
Grimar
grim + ar
fierce guardian
Norse-style given name (root documented: Old Norse)
Grimond
grim + ond
deep-thought fierce one
Norse-style given name (root documented: Old Norse)
Grimis
grim + is
iron-faithful fierce one
Norse-style given name (root documented: Old Norse)
Bala
bal + a
bold hearth-keeper
Norse-style given name (root documented: Old Norse)
Balur
bal + ur
hearty bold one
Norse-style given name (root documented: Old Norse)
Balar
bal + ar
bold guardian
Norse-style given name (root documented: Old Norse)
Balond
bal + ond
deep-thought bold one
Norse-style given name (root documented: Old Norse)
Balim
bal + im
sturdy bold one
Norse-style given name (root documented: Old Norse)
Dura
dur + a
enduring hearth-keeper
Norse-style given name (root invented, labeled)
Durur
dur + ur
hearty enduring one
Norse-style given name (root invented, labeled)
Durar
dur + ar
enduring guardian
Norse-style given name (root invented, labeled)
Durond
dur + ond
deep-thought enduring one
Norse-style given name (root invented, labeled)
Karin
kar + in
crafty line-son
Norse-style given name (root invented, labeled)
Kara
kar + a
crafty hearth-keeper
Norse-style given name (root invented, labeled)
Karur
kar + ur
hearty craftsman
Norse-style given name (root invented, labeled)
Sigur
sig + ur
hearty victor
Norse-style given name (root documented: Old Norse)
Siga
sig + a
victory hearth-keeper
Norse-style given name (root documented: Old Norse)
Sigond
sig + ond
deep-thought victor
Norse-style given name (root documented: Old Norse)
Harur
har + ur
hearty warrior
Norse-style given name (root documented: Old Norse)
Hara
har + a
high-born hearth-keeper
Norse-style given name (root documented: Old Norse)
Harar
har + ar
high guardian
Norse-style given name (root documented: Old Norse)
Harond
har + ond
deep-thought warrior
Norse-style given name (root documented: Old Norse)
Hareth
har + eth
oath-bound warrior
Norse-style given name (root documented: Old Norse)
Magnur
magn + ur
hearty strength
Norse-style given name (root documented: Old Norse)
Magna
magn + a
strength of the hearth
Norse-style given name (root documented: Old Norse)
Magni
magn + i
strength; the name of Thor's son in the myths
Norse-style given name (real Old Norse name)
Magnar
magn + ar
strength guardian
Norse-style given name (root documented: Old Norse)
Magnis
magn + is
iron-faithful strength
Norse-style given name (root documented: Old Norse)
Ragnur
ragn + ur
hearty counsel of the gods
Norse-style given name (root documented: Old Norse)
Ragna
ragn + a
counsel hearth-keeper
Norse-style given name (root documented: Old Norse)
Ragnar
ragn + ar
warrior of the gods' counsel
Norse-style given name (real Old Norse name)
Ragnond
ragn + ond
deep-thought counsel
Norse-style given name (root documented: Old Norse)
Ragnis
ragn + is
iron-faithful counsel
Norse-style given name (root documented: Old Norse)
Valur
val + ur
hearty chooser of the slain
Norse-style given name (root documented: Old Norse)
Vala
val + a
seeress of the hearth
Norse-style given name (root documented: Old Norse)
Valond
val + ond
deep-thought chooser
Norse-style given name (root documented: Old Norse)
Valis
val + is
iron-faithful chooser
Norse-style given name (root documented: Old Norse)
Eikur
eik + ur
hearty oak
Norse-style given name (root documented: Old Norse)
Eika
eik + a
oak hearth-keeper
Norse-style given name (root documented: Old Norse)
Eikond
eik + ond
deep-thought oak
Norse-style given name (root documented: Old Norse)
Eikis
eik + is
iron-faithful oak
Norse-style given name (root documented: Old Norse)
Skjolur
skjol + ur
hearty shield
Norse-style given name (root invented, labeled)
Skjola
skjol + a
shield hearth-keeper
Norse-style given name (root invented, labeled)
Skjolar
skjol + ar
shield guardian
Norse-style given name (root invented, labeled)
Skjolond
skjol + ond
deep-thought shield
Norse-style given name (root invented, labeled)
Skjolis
skjol + is
iron-faithful shield
Norse-style given name (root invented, labeled)
Dwarf clan names (60)
Dwarf clan names with their builds, meanings and traditions
Name
Built from
Meaning
Tradition
Grimforge
grim + forge
the fierce line of the forge
Clan epithet (convention documented)
Thorforge
thor + forge
the thunder line of the forge
Clan epithet (convention documented)
Thorbreaker
thor + breaker
the thunder line of the breakers
Clan epithet (convention documented)
Sighelm
sig + helm
the victory line of the helm
Clan epithet (convention documented)
Thorsson
thor + sson
son of Thor
Real Old Norse patronymic (documented)
Thordottir
thor + dottir
daughter of Thor
Real Old Norse patronymic (documented)
Grimbeard
grim + beard
the fierce bearded line
Clan epithet (convention documented)
Grimbreaker
grim + breaker
the fierce line of the breakers
Clan epithet (convention documented)
Grimhelm
grim + helm
the fierce line of the helm
Clan epithet (convention documented)
Grimstone
grim + stone
the fierce line of the stone
Clan epithet (convention documented)
Balforge
bal + forge
the bold line of the forge
Clan epithet (convention documented)
Balbeard
bal + beard
the bold bearded line
Clan epithet (convention documented)
Balhelm
bal + helm
the bold line of the helm
Clan epithet (convention documented)
Balstone
bal + stone
the bold line of the stone
Clan epithet (convention documented)
Balcrown
bal + crown
the bold crowned line
Clan epithet (convention documented)
Durforge
dur + forge
the enduring line of the forge
Clan epithet (convention documented)
Durbeard
dur + beard
the enduring bearded line
Clan epithet (convention documented)
Durbreaker
dur + breaker
the enduring line of the breakers
Clan epithet (convention documented)
Durhelm
dur + helm
the enduring line of the helm
Clan epithet (convention documented)
Durhand
dur + hand
the enduring line of the strong hand
Clan epithet (convention documented)
Karforge
kar + forge
the crafty line of the forge
Clan epithet (convention documented)
Karbeard
kar + beard
the crafty bearded line
Clan epithet (convention documented)
Karhelm
kar + helm
the crafty line of the helm
Clan epithet (convention documented)
Karstone
kar + stone
the crafty line of the stone
Clan epithet (convention documented)
Karcrown
kar + crown
the crafty crowned line
Clan epithet (convention documented)
Sigforge
sig + forge
the victory line of the forge
Clan epithet (convention documented)
Sigbeard
sig + beard
the victory bearded line
Clan epithet (convention documented)
Sigbreaker
sig + breaker
the victory line of the breakers
Clan epithet (convention documented)
Sigstone
sig + stone
the victory line of the stone
Clan epithet (convention documented)
Sigshield
sig + shield
the victory line of the shield
Clan epithet (convention documented)
Harforge
har + forge
the high line of the forge
Clan epithet (convention documented)
Harbeard
har + beard
the high bearded line
Clan epithet (convention documented)
Harhelm
har + helm
the high line of the helm
Clan epithet (convention documented)
Harhand
har + hand
the high line of the strong hand
Clan epithet (convention documented)
Harstone
har + stone
the high line of the stone
Clan epithet (convention documented)
Magnforge
magn + forge
the strength line of the forge
Clan epithet (convention documented)
Magnbeard
magn + beard
the strong bearded line
Clan epithet (convention documented)
Magnhelm
magn + helm
the strength line of the helm
Clan epithet (convention documented)
Magnstone
magn + stone
the strength line of the stone
Clan epithet (convention documented)
Magnmail
magn + mail
the strength line of the chainmail
Clan epithet (convention documented)
Ragnforge
ragn + forge
the counsel line of the forge
Clan epithet (convention documented)
Ragnbreaker
ragn + breaker
the counsel line of the breakers
Clan epithet (convention documented)
Ragnhelm
ragn + helm
the counsel line of the helm
Clan epithet (convention documented)
Ragnshield
ragn + shield
the counsel line of the shield
Clan epithet (convention documented)
Ragnmail
ragn + mail
the counsel line of the chainmail
Clan epithet (convention documented)
Valforge
val + forge
the chooser line of the forge
Clan epithet (convention documented)
Valbeard
val + beard
the chooser bearded line
Clan epithet (convention documented)
Valhelm
val + helm
the chooser line of the helm
Clan epithet (convention documented)
Valstone
val + stone
the chooser line of the stone
Clan epithet (convention documented)
Valcrown
val + crown
the chooser crowned line
Clan epithet (convention documented)
Eikforge
eik + forge
the oak line of the forge
Clan epithet (convention documented)
Eikbeard
eik + beard
the oak bearded line
Clan epithet (convention documented)
Eikhelm
eik + helm
the oak line of the helm
Clan epithet (convention documented)
Eikhand
eik + hand
the oak line of the strong hand
Clan epithet (convention documented)
Oakenshield
oaken + shield
the shield cut from oak; canon epithet of Thorin
Tolkien canon epithet (documented)
Skjolforge
skjol + forge
the shield line of the forge
Clan epithet (convention documented)
Skjolbeard
skjol + beard
the shield bearded line
Clan epithet (convention documented)
Skjolhelm
skjol + helm
the shield line of the helm
Clan epithet (convention documented)
Skjolstone
skjol + stone
the shield line of the stone
Clan epithet (convention documented)
Skjolshield
skjol + shield
the shield line of the shield-wall
Clan epithet (convention documented)
What are female dwarf names?
Female dwarf names take the same roots and the line suffixes -a, -dis, -eth, -id, -is. Same weight, same grammar:
Female dwarf names with their builds and meanings
Name
Built from
Meaning
Thora
thor + a
thunder keeper of the hearth
Grima
grim + a
fierce hearth-keeper
Sigrun
sig + run
victory rune
Hareth
har + eth
oath-bound warrior
Magnid
magn + id
bright-forge strength
Eikdis
eik + dis
lady of the oak
Valdis
val + dis
lady of the slain
Balis
bal + is
iron-faithful bold one
Bala
bal + a
bold hearth-keeper
Ragneth
ragn + eth
oath-bound counsel
Skjolid
skjol + id
bright-forge shield
Duris
dur + is
iron-faithful enduring one
What are male dwarf names?
Male dwarf names take the line suffixes -in, -ur, -ar, -ond, -im. Same grammar, different endings:
Male dwarf names with their builds and meanings
Name
Built from
Meaning
Thorin
thor + in
thunder of the line
Grimur
grim + ur
fierce and hearty
Sigar
sig + ar
victory guardian
Balim
bal + im
sturdy bold one
Harond
har + ond
deep-thought warrior
Magnur
magn + ur
hearty strength
Eikim
eik + im
sturdy oak
Skjolar
skjol + ar
shield guardian
Karond
kar + ond
deep-thought craftsman
Ragnur
ragn + ur
hearty counsel of the gods
Valur
val + ur
hearty chooser of the slain
Durar
dur + ar
enduring guardian
What do dwarf names mean?
Dwarf names mean what the root says, plus what the line does. Twelve meaning spotlights, receipts attached:
Dwarf name meanings spotlight
Name
Built from
Meaning
Tradition
Grimur
grim + ur
fierce and hearty
Norse-style given name (root documented: Old Norse)
Sigar
sig + ar
victory guardian
Norse-style given name (root documented: Old Norse)
Baldis
bal + dis
bold lady
Norse-style given name (root documented: Old Norse)
Eikar
eik + ar
oak guardian
Norse-style given name (root documented: Old Norse)
Valdis
val + dis
lady of the slain
Norse-style given name (real Old Norse name)
Thorin
thor + in
thunder of the line; meaning unattested
Poetic Edda, Dvergatal (canon gloss)
Durin
dur + in
the enduring one; gloss attested as "sleepy one," disputed
Poetic Edda, Dvergatal (canon gloss)
Dain
dain
meaning unattested
Poetic Edda, Dvergatal (canon gloss)
Magni
magn + i
strength; the name of Thor's son in the myths
Norse-style given name (real Old Norse name)
Ragnar
ragn + ar
warrior of the gods' counsel
Norse-style given name (real Old Norse name)
Grimforge
grim + forge
the fierce line of the forge
Clan epithet (convention documented)
Oakenshield
oaken + shield
the shield cut from oak; canon epithet of Thorin
Tolkien canon epithet (documented)
How do dwarf names work?
Norse-style root, line suffix or trade epithet, join. Grim (fierce) + ur (hearty) = Grimur. The convention is the real compounding one behind Old Norse names, and the oldest dwarf list using it is the Edda's Dvergatal. The root-plus-suffix lesson lives on the how elvish names work page, taught on the elvish set.
What are dwarf last names?
Clan epithets, hereditary, plus the real patronymic pair. Six decomposed:
Dwarf clan surnames with their builds and lineage senses
Surname
Built from
Clan sense
Grimforge
grim + forge
the fierce line of the forge
Thorbreaker
thor + breaker
the thunder line of the breakers
Sighelm
sig + helm
the victory line of the helm
Thorsson
thor + sson
son of Thor (real Old Norse patronymic)
Grimdottir
grim + dottir
daughter of Grim (real Old Norse patronymic)
Eikstone
eik + stone
the oak line of the stone
Clan epithets, decoded
Every clan suffix on this page records a trade or a deed. That is the receipt system: read the epithet, read the family. Forge for smiths, stone for masons, helm for armorers, breaker for siege work. The two patronymics are the exception that proves the rule: -sson and -dóttir do not record a trade at all, they record a parent, and they are real Old Norse suffixes still forming names in Iceland today. The canon anchor is Thorin Oakenshield, whose epithet records one improvised shield cut from an oak branch. Pick the epithet your story can cash.
Clan epithet meanings
Epithet
Records
Example row
forge
the smith line
Grimforge
stone
the mason line
Grimstone
breaker
siege work, wall-breaking
Thorbreaker
helm
the armorer line
Sighelm
sson / dottir
real patronymics: son of, daughter of
Thorsson, Thordottir
Dwarf name questions, answered
What is a rare dwarf name?
Five low-frequency picks, each with its receipt.Skjolond: skjol + ond, "deep-thought shield." Ragnis: ragn + is, "iron-faithful counsel." Eikis: eik + is, "iron-faithful oak." Karond: kar + ond, "deep-thought craftsman." Valis: val + is, "iron-faithful chooser." Rare here means uncommon parts, not made-up sounds.
Do dwarf names use real Old Norse?
Partly, and the rows say which. Roots like Thor, Grim, Sig, Har, Magn, Ragn, Val, and Eik carry real Old Norse meanings. -sson and -dóttir are real patronymics still used in Iceland. Dur, Kar, and Skjol are invented for dwarf flavor, labeled as such.
What is a good dwarf clan name?
One root plus one trade epithet, and the trade should matter to your story. Grimforge if the family smiths, Sigbreaker if they worked sieges, Eikhelm if they armed the line. The canon receipt is Thorin Oakenshield: the epithet records the shield he cut from an oak branch. Build clan names in the generator.
Where the meanings come from.Old Norse root glosses are checked against published references; Dvergatal rows carry their Edda receipt; real-name rows (Magni, Ragnar, Valdis) say so. Invented roots are labeled invented. Where every name's receipt comes from →