Durendal means "the enduring." That is a legend in one word, and the grammar is learnable: epithet, deed-compound, or smith's mark. Here are 104 blade names, receipts attached, legendary and new.
Blade names that follow a documented convention, canon first. The table opens with fourteen legendary swords, each labeled by its source text, then continues with builds from the three grammars the generator speaks. Every entry carries an epithet or element root: that is the distinct-selection rule for this list. Names bold, glosses italic, tradition labeled.
Sword names with their builds, meanings and traditions
Name
Built from
Meaning
Tradition
Durendal
from durer, to endure
the enduring
Song of Roland (documented)
Joyeuse
joyful (Old French joios)
the joyful
Charlemagne cycle (documented)
Curtana
from curtus, shortened
the shortened, blunt mercy sword
English coronation records (documented)
Tizona
from tizón, burning brand
the firebrand
Cantar de Mio Cid (documented)
Colada
origin uncertain
the tempered blade of the Cid
Cantar de Mio Cid (documented; etymology contested)
Gram
named as it stands in the saga; "wrath" is the usual gloss
the wrathful
Völsunga saga (documented)
Tyrfing
named in the saga; gloss debated
the cursed blade that must kill
Hervarar saga (documented)
Hrunting
named in the poem; parts not asserted
the borrowed blade that failed
Beowulf (documented)
Kusanagi
grass + cutting
grass-cutter
Kojiki and Nihon Shoki (documented)
Claíomh Solais
sword + of light
the sword of light
Ir tradition (documented)
Zulfiqar
spine-cleaver, the traditional gloss
the cleaving blade
Islamic tradition (documented; gloss traditional)
Honjo Masamune
Honjo owner + Masamune smith
a named owner's blade from a named forge
Edo-period record (documented)
Orcrist
goblin + cleaver; byname Biter
goblin-cleaver
The Hobbit, Tolkien canon
Andúril
flame + of the West
flame of the West
The Lord of the Rings, Tolkien canon
Frost the Unbroken
Frost (frost) + the Unbroken
frost; never yet broken
Epithet blade name (heroic convention; invented here)
Frost Quicksilver
Frost (frost) + Quicksilver
frost; too fast to follow
Epithet blade name (heroic convention; invented here)
Frost the Swift
Frost (frost) + the Swift
frost; first strike, only strike
Epithet blade name (heroic convention; invented here)
Frost the Merry
Frost (frost) + the Merry
frost; carried through good years
Epithet blade name (heroic convention; invented here)
Dawn the Kind
Dawn (first light) + the Kind
first light; grants clean endings
Epithet blade name (heroic convention; invented here)
Dawn the Heavy
Dawn (first light) + the Heavy
first light; two hands, no mercy
Epithet blade name (heroic convention; invented here)
Dawn the Weeping
Dawn (first light) + the Weeping
first light; rusts like regret
Epithet blade name (heroic convention; invented here)
Oath the Last
Oath (a sworn vow) + the Last
a sworn vow; outlived every owner
Epithet blade name (heroic convention; invented here)
Oath the Pale
Oath (a sworn vow) + the Pale
a sworn vow; cold-forged, cold-kept
Epithet blade name (heroic convention; invented here)
Oath the Faithful
Oath (a sworn vow) + the Faithful
a sworn vow; returned to every owner
Epithet blade name (heroic convention; invented here)
Grief Biter
Grief (mourning) + Biter
mourning; named for what it does
Epithet blade name (heroic convention; invented here)
Grief the Red
Grief (mourning) + the Red
mourning; remembered for one battle
Epithet blade name (heroic convention; invented here)
Grief the Keen
Grief (mourning) + the Keen
mourning; never dulled
Epithet blade name (heroic convention; invented here)
Ember the Patient
Ember (banked fire) + the Patient
banked fire; waits decades between draws
Epithet blade name (heroic convention; invented here)
Ember the Fell
Ember (banked fire) + the Fell
banked fire; brought down something terrible
Epithet blade name (heroic convention; invented here)
Ember the Quiet
Ember (banked fire) + the Quiet
banked fire; killed without a cry raised
Epithet blade name (heroic convention; invented here)
Thorn the Unbroken
Thorn (thorn) + the Unbroken
thorn; never yet broken
Epithet blade name (heroic convention; invented here)
Thorn Quicksilver
Thorn (thorn) + Quicksilver
thorn; too fast to follow
Epithet blade name (heroic convention; invented here)
Thorn the Swift
Thorn (thorn) + the Swift
thorn; first strike, only strike
Epithet blade name (heroic convention; invented here)
Thorn the Merry
Thorn (thorn) + the Merry
thorn; carried through good years
Epithet blade name (heroic convention; invented here)
Storm the Kind
Storm (storm) + the Kind
storm; grants clean endings
Epithet blade name (heroic convention; invented here)
Storm the Heavy
Storm (storm) + the Heavy
storm; two hands, no mercy
Epithet blade name (heroic convention; invented here)
Storm the Weeping
Storm (storm) + the Weeping
storm; rusts like regret
Epithet blade name (heroic convention; invented here)
Ash the Last
Ash (ash) + the Last
ash; outlived every owner
Epithet blade name (heroic convention; invented here)
Ash the Pale
Ash (ash) + the Pale
ash; cold-forged, cold-kept
Epithet blade name (heroic convention; invented here)
Ash the Faithful
Ash (ash) + the Faithful
ash; returned to every owner
Epithet blade name (heroic convention; invented here)
Star Biter
Star (star) + Biter
star; named for what it does
Epithet blade name (heroic convention; invented here)
Star the Red
Star (star) + the Red
star; remembered for one battle
Epithet blade name (heroic convention; invented here)
Star the Keen
Star (star) + the Keen
star; never dulled
Epithet blade name (heroic convention; invented here)
Salt the Patient
Salt (salt spray) + the Patient
salt spray; waits decades between draws
Epithet blade name (heroic convention; invented here)
Salt the Fell
Salt (salt spray) + the Fell
salt spray; brought down something terrible
Epithet blade name (heroic convention; invented here)
Salt the Quiet
Salt (salt spray) + the Quiet
salt spray; killed without a cry raised
Epithet blade name (heroic convention; invented here)
Night the Unbroken
Night (night) + the Unbroken
night; never yet broken
Epithet blade name (heroic convention; invented here)
Night Quicksilver
Night (night) + Quicksilver
night; too fast to follow
Epithet blade name (heroic convention; invented here)
Night the Swift
Night (night) + the Swift
night; first strike, only strike
Epithet blade name (heroic convention; invented here)
Night the Merry
Night (night) + the Merry
night; carried through good years
Epithet blade name (heroic convention; invented here)
Wraith the Kind
Wraith (the unquiet dead) + the Kind
the unquiet dead; grants clean endings
Epithet blade name (heroic convention; invented here)
Wraith the Heavy
Wraith (the unquiet dead) + the Heavy
the unquiet dead; two hands, no mercy
Epithet blade name (heroic convention; invented here)
FrostBane
frost (frost) + bane (slayer of what it faces)
frost; slayer of what it faces
Heroic compound (Old English heroic convention; invented here)
FrostSong
frost (frost) + song (the sound it makes drawn)
frost; the sound it makes drawn
Heroic compound (Old English heroic convention; invented here)
FrostWoe
frost (frost) + woe (the grief it brought)
frost; the grief it brought
Heroic compound (Old English heroic convention; invented here)
DawnEdge
dawn (first light) + edge (the cutting line)
first light; the cutting line
Heroic compound (Old English heroic convention; invented here)
DawnOath
dawn (first light) + oath (the promise bound into it)
first light; the promise bound into it
Heroic compound (Old English heroic convention; invented here)
OathCleaver
oath (a sworn vow) + cleaver (that which splits)
a sworn vow; that which splits
Heroic compound (Old English heroic convention; invented here)
OathWrath
oath (a sworn vow) + wrath (the anger it carries)
a sworn vow; the anger it carries
Heroic compound (Old English heroic convention; invented here)
OathBiter
oath (a sworn vow) + biter (the one that bites)
a sworn vow; the one that bites
Heroic compound (Old English heroic convention; invented here)
GriefFang
grief (mourning) + fang (the biting tooth)
mourning; the biting tooth
Heroic compound (Old English heroic convention; invented here)
GriefLight
grief (mourning) + light (what it gives off drawn)
mourning; what it gives off drawn
Heroic compound (Old English heroic convention; invented here)
EmberRender
ember (banked fire) + render (that which tears)
banked fire; that which tears
Heroic compound (Old English heroic convention; invented here)
EmberShard
ember (banked fire) + shard (a broken piece reforged)
banked fire; a broken piece reforged
Heroic compound (Old English heroic convention; invented here)
ThornBane
thorn (thorn) + bane (slayer of what it faces)
thorn; slayer of what it faces
Heroic compound (Old English heroic convention; invented here)
ThornSong
thorn (thorn) + song (the sound it makes drawn)
thorn; the sound it makes drawn
Heroic compound (Old English heroic convention; invented here)
ThornWoe
thorn (thorn) + woe (the grief it brought)
thorn; the grief it brought
Heroic compound (Old English heroic convention; invented here)
StormEdge
storm (storm) + edge (the cutting line)
storm; the cutting line
Heroic compound (Old English heroic convention; invented here)
StormOath
storm (storm) + oath (the promise bound into it)
storm; the promise bound into it
Heroic compound (Old English heroic convention; invented here)
AshCleaver
ash (ash) + cleaver (that which splits)
ash; that which splits
Heroic compound (Old English heroic convention; invented here)
AshWrath
ash (ash) + wrath (the anger it carries)
ash; the anger it carries
Heroic compound (Old English heroic convention; invented here)
AshBiter
ash (ash) + biter (the one that bites)
ash; the one that bites
Heroic compound (Old English heroic convention; invented here)
StarFang
star (star) + fang (the biting tooth)
star; the biting tooth
Heroic compound (Old English heroic convention; invented here)
StarLight
star (star) + light (what it gives off drawn)
star; what it gives off drawn
Heroic compound (Old English heroic convention; invented here)
SaltRender
salt (salt spray) + render (that which tears)
salt spray; that which tears
Heroic compound (Old English heroic convention; invented here)
SaltShard
salt (salt spray) + shard (a broken piece reforged)
salt spray; a broken piece reforged
Heroic compound (Old English heroic convention; invented here)
NightBane
night (night) + bane (slayer of what it faces)
night; slayer of what it faces
Heroic compound (Old English heroic convention; invented here)
NightSong
night (night) + song (the sound it makes drawn)
night; the sound it makes drawn
Heroic compound (Old English heroic convention; invented here)
NightWoe
night (night) + woe (the grief it brought)
night; the grief it brought
Heroic compound (Old English heroic convention; invented here)
WraithEdge
wraith (the unquiet dead) + edge (the cutting line)
the unquiet dead; the cutting line
Heroic compound (Old English heroic convention; invented here)
Wil Masamune
wil (resolute) + Masamune (documented smith (Soshu school))
resolute owner; documented smith (Soshu school)
Owner + smith mark (documented mark; invented pairing)
Wil Orun
wil (resolute) + Orun (invented mark, Ulfberht-style)
resolute owner; invented mark, Ulfberht-style
Owner + smith mark (documented mark; invented pairing)
Bern Masamune
bern (bear) + Masamune (documented smith (Soshu school))
bear owner; documented smith (Soshu school)
Owner + smith mark (documented mark; invented pairing)
Bern Orun
bern (bear) + Orun (invented mark, Ulfberht-style)
bear owner; invented mark, Ulfberht-style
Owner + smith mark (documented mark; invented pairing)
God Masamune
god (good) + Masamune (documented smith (Soshu school))
good owner; documented smith (Soshu school)
Owner + smith mark (documented mark; invented pairing)
God Orun
god (good) + Orun (invented mark, Ulfberht-style)
good owner; invented mark, Ulfberht-style
Owner + smith mark (documented mark; invented pairing)
Rod Masamune
rod (fame) + Masamune (documented smith (Soshu school))
fame owner; documented smith (Soshu school)
Owner + smith mark (documented mark; invented pairing)
Rod Orun
rod (fame) + Orun (invented mark, Ulfberht-style)
fame owner; invented mark, Ulfberht-style
Owner + smith mark (documented mark; invented pairing)
Fred Masamune
fred (peace) + Masamune (documented smith (Soshu school))
peace owner; documented smith (Soshu school)
Owner + smith mark (documented mark; invented pairing)
Fred Orun
fred (peace) + Orun (invented mark, Ulfberht-style)
peace owner; invented mark, Ulfberht-style
Owner + smith mark (documented mark; invented pairing)
Rand Masamune
rand (shield) + Masamune (documented smith (Soshu school))
shield owner; documented smith (Soshu school)
Owner + smith mark (documented mark; invented pairing)
Rand Orun
rand (shield) + Orun (invented mark, Ulfberht-style)
shield owner; invented mark, Ulfberht-style
Owner + smith mark (documented mark; invented pairing)
Rose Masamune
rose (rose) + Masamune (documented smith (Soshu school))
rose owner; documented smith (Soshu school)
Owner + smith mark (documented mark; invented pairing)
Rose Orun
rose (rose) + Orun (invented mark, Ulfberht-style)
rose owner; invented mark, Ulfberht-style
Owner + smith mark (documented mark; invented pairing)
Ead Masamune
ead (fortune) + Masamune (documented smith (Soshu school))
fortune owner; documented smith (Soshu school)
Owner + smith mark (documented mark; invented pairing)
Ead Orun
ead (fortune) + Orun (invented mark, Ulfberht-style)
fortune owner; invented mark, Ulfberht-style
Owner + smith mark (documented mark; invented pairing)
Karl Masamune
karl (free man) + Masamune (documented smith (Soshu school))
free man owner; documented smith (Soshu school)
Owner + smith mark (documented mark; invented pairing)
Karl Orun
karl (free man) + Orun (invented mark, Ulfberht-style)
free man owner; invented mark, Ulfberht-style
Owner + smith mark (documented mark; invented pairing)
Os Masamune
os (god) + Masamune (documented smith (Soshu school))
god owner; documented smith (Soshu school)
Owner + smith mark (documented mark; invented pairing)
Os Orun
os (god) + Orun (invented mark, Ulfberht-style)
god owner; invented mark, Ulfberht-style
Owner + smith mark (documented mark; invented pairing)
Har Masamune
har (high) + Masamune (documented smith (Soshu school))
high owner; documented smith (Soshu school)
Owner + smith mark (documented mark; invented pairing)
Har Orun
har (high) + Orun (invented mark, Ulfberht-style)
high owner; invented mark, Ulfberht-style
Owner + smith mark (documented mark; invented pairing)
Tra Masamune
tra (true) + Masamune (documented smith (Soshu school))
true owner; documented smith (Soshu school)
Owner + smith mark (documented mark; invented pairing)
Tra Orun
tra (true) + Orun (invented mark, Ulfberht-style)
true owner; invented mark, Ulfberht-style
Owner + smith mark (documented mark; invented pairing)
What do sword names mean?
What their parts claim, and no more. The compound builds mean root plus deed: Stormbane claims storm and slayer in one word. The epithet builds mean root plus title: Frost the Unbroken claims ice that never failed. Twelve of the cleanest builds:
Sword name meanings spotlight
Name
Built from
Meaning
Tradition
Durendal
from durer, to endure
the enduring
Song of Roland (documented)
Kusanagi
grass + cutting
grass-cutter
Kojiki and Nihon Shoki (documented)
Frost the Swift
Frost (frost) + the Swift
frost; first strike, only strike
Epithet blade name (heroic convention; invented here)
Grief Biter
Grief (mourning) + Biter
mourning; named for what it does
Epithet blade name (heroic convention; invented here)
Thorn the Swift
Thorn (thorn) + the Swift
thorn; first strike, only strike
Epithet blade name (heroic convention; invented here)
Star Biter
Star (star) + Biter
star; named for what it does
Epithet blade name (heroic convention; invented here)
Night the Swift
Night (night) + the Swift
night; first strike, only strike
Epithet blade name (heroic convention; invented here)
DawnOath
dawn (first light) + oath (the promise bound into it)
first light; the promise bound into it
Heroic compound (Old English heroic convention; invented here)
ThornBane
thorn (thorn) + bane (slayer of what it faces)
thorn; slayer of what it faces
Heroic compound (Old English heroic convention; invented here)
StarFang
star (star) + fang (the biting tooth)
star; the biting tooth
Heroic compound (Old English heroic convention; invented here)
Wil Masamune
wil (resolute) + Masamune (documented smith (Soshu school))
resolute owner; documented smith (Soshu school)
Owner + smith mark (documented mark; invented pairing)
Fred Masamune
fred (peace) + Masamune (documented smith (Soshu school))
peace owner; documented smith (Soshu school)
Owner + smith mark (documented mark; invented pairing)
How do sword names work?
Three conventions name most named blades in world literature. Epithets name the deed or the endurance. Heroic compounds compress the deed into one word, the way Old English poetry compounded. Smith marks name the maker, the way Frankish +VLFBERH+T blades and Japanese forge names worked as brands before branding existed. This list is a summary; the character-naming craft behind the wielders is the how to name a character guide.
The one rule all three share: one claim per name. Names for blades earn weight from what the story verifies, so pick the right name by picking the claim you can pay off.
Legendary-blade receipts
The famous swords, with the receipts a claim needs. Each row names the source text the blade is documented in, and rows with contested etymology say so plainly: that is what separates a receipt from a rumor.
Legendary named swords with parses and source texts
Blade
Parse
Meaning
Source text
Durendal
from durer, to endure
the enduring
Song of Roland (documented)
Joyeuse
joyful (Old French joios)
the joyful
Charlemagne cycle (documented)
Curtana
from curtus, shortened
the shortened, blunt mercy sword
English coronation records (documented)
Tizona
from tizón, burning brand
the firebrand
Cantar de Mio Cid (documented)
Colada
origin uncertain
the tempered blade of the Cid
Cantar de Mio Cid (documented; etymology contested)
Gram
named as it stands in the saga; "wrath" is the usual gloss
the wrathful
Völsunga saga (documented)
Tyrfing
named in the saga; gloss debated
the cursed blade that must kill
Hervarar saga (documented)
Hrunting
named in the poem; parts not asserted
the borrowed blade that failed
Beowulf (documented)
Kusanagi
grass + cutting
grass-cutter
Kojiki and Nihon Shoki (documented)
Claíomh Solais
sword + of light
the sword of light
Ir tradition (documented)
Zulfiqar
spine-cleaver, the traditional gloss
the cleaving blade
Islamic tradition (documented; gloss traditional)
Honjo Masamune
Honjo owner + Masamune smith
a named owner's blade from a named forge
Edo-period record (documented)
Orcrist
goblin + cleaver; byname Biter
goblin-cleaver
The Hobbit, Tolkien canon
Andúril
flame + of the West
flame of the West
The Lord of the Rings, Tolkien canon
Borrow the grammar, not the blade. When your own legend needs its "the enduring," draw a new one at the sword name generator.
Sword name questions, answered
What are famous sword names?
The canon block at the top of this table holds fourteen, each with its source text. Durendal, Joyeuse and Curtana come from the Roland and coronation traditions; Tizona and Colada from the Cid; Gram and Tyrfing from the Icelandic sagas; Kusanagi from Japan's oldest chronicles; Orcrist and Andúril from Tolkien. Every legendary row is labeled by source, and contested etymologies say contested.
How do you name a sword?
Pick one of three conventions and make one claim. The epithet names what the blade did: Frost the Unbroken. The heroic compound names its deed in one word: Stormbane. The smith mark names its maker: an owner plus Masamune or Ulfberht, following how real blades were named for their forges. Then let the story verify the claim. Draw your own at the sword name generator.
Can I generate more of these?
Yes. The sword name generator draws all three conventions with quantity up to ten per pass, every card carrying its receipt. Keep the armory on the shelf and copy the batch when the vault is stocked.
Where the names come from.Legendary rows are labeled by source text, and contested etymologies are marked contested rather than smoothed over. Generated rows follow the same three conventions the tool speaks, with invented marks labeled invented. Where every name's receipt comes from →