fantasy last names

200 Iconic Fantasy Last Names for Your Next Bestseller!

Whether you are writing a fantasy novel, drafting a creative paper for school, or developing a new game, you would need to think of interesting ways to present your characters. One way of making sure that they have an impact is by giving them fantasy last names that are meaningful and unique.

There are tons of fantasy last names that you can choose for your characters. The best ones always mean something really worth noting. For instance, the surname Griffin which means fierce or Luna which means moon.

In this article, I have listed some of the top fantasy surnames you can use in naming your characters. I have also included reasons as to why you need to carefully choose what you call your characters, and some tips on how you can think of one. Let’s begin!

Importance of choosing fantasy surnames that stand out

People can easily recall Katniss Everdeen, Harry Potter, Daenerys Targaryen, and other iconic characters not only for how they are portrayed, but also through their fantasy surname. They make people intrigued about who they are so all the books and movies which include them as characters are top-grossing.

You see now how important it is to choose a fantasy surname that stands out not only for a novel but for writing prompts?

Sure, some characters that have ordinary names are also making news such as Clark Kent or Peter Parker, but remember that they have been created by some big names in the publishing industry such as Marvel and DC.

As ordinary individuals who want our fictional stories to be heard, we must start with presenting our characters well through great fantasy names. This, alongside developing a great plot through using literary devices will make our work recognizable.

How do you pick a fantasy name? (Easy Tips)

I know choosing a fantasy surname for your character can be a bit daunting since it should resonate to your readers so I have listed some of the top tips on how to think of one. Here they are:

  • Tip #1: Consider when your character was born. The period when the character was supposed to be born should be taken into account in choosing their surname. You must research what last names exist during that time to make your character believable.
  • Tip #2: Keep the location of your story in mind. Your character’s last name should respect the ethnic background and cultural conventions of the place where the story happens. Surely, you don’t want your readers to feel like you don’t care about these things since this is also a reflection of what kind of writer you are.
  • Tip #3: Make sure the surname reflects your character’s personality. One of the most common mistakes that some writers make is choosing a fantasy surname for their character just because they want to. They do not base the surname on what the character is capable of or how they behave.
  • Tip #4: Ensure that no two characters have the same surname especially if they aren’t related. This is to avoid confusing your readers because they may have used it interchangeably.
  • Tip #5: Write down as many options as you can. Write at least 20 options to choose from especially if you are thinking of a surname for a protagonist. 
  • Tip #6: Unusual surnames should have good reasons. Unusual or hard to pronounce last names should be justified. You must include a little bit of a background about their surname in your story so the readers aren’t left wondering.
  • Tip #7: Remember the idea that the character got his parents surname. As is with real humans, fictional characters inherit their surname from their parents. Ensure that the last name you thought of is something that also represents the parent of your character.
  • Tip #8: Avoid surnames ending in “s.” The reason behind this is simple. It would create an awkward possessive form which your readers might not be a fan of.
  • Tip #9: The surname should fit the first name. Here’s a trick: if your character’s first name is ordinary, go for a fantasy last name that is unique. This helps balance out their full name. Similarly, the surname should also fit your character’s nickname if they have any.
  • Tip #10: Don’t name your character after a celebrity or a fictional character that is already well known. Never think of using surnames of famous celebrities like the Kardashians, the Smiths, the Hadids, etc. This will make your readers feel like you are too lazy in thinking of a name and you didn’t put much effort into your writing. Also, skip repeating famous character names since this may confuse your reader.

What are some fantasy last names that sound interesting?

Here goes the top fantasy last names I promised! Make sure you have considered the tips I discussed above before choosing one.

  1. Atwater
  2. Agassi
  3. Apatow
  4. Akagawa
  5. Averescu
  6. Arrington
  7. Agrippa
  8. Aiken
  9. Albertson
  10. Alexander
  11. Amado
  12. Anders
  13. Ashsorrow
  14. Humblecut
  15. Ashbluff
  16. Marblemaw
  17. Armas
  18. Akka
  19. Aoki
  20. Aldrich
  21. Apak
  22. Alinsky
  23. Desai
  24. Darby
  25. Draper
  26. Dwyer
  27. Dixon
  28. Danton
  29. Desmith
  30. Ditka
  31. Dominguez
  32. Decker
  33. Dobermann
  34. Dunlop
  35. Dumont
  36. Dandridge
  37. Diamond
  38. Dobra (Romanian)
  39. Dukas
  40. Agnello
  41. Alterio
  42. Bidbury
  43. Botkin
  44. Benoit
  45. Biddercombe
  46. Baldwin
  47. Bennett
  48. Bourland
  49. Boadle
  50. Bender
  51. Best
  52. Bobshaw
  53. Bersa
  54. Belt
  55. Bourn
  56. Barke
  57. Beebe
  58. Banu
  59. Bozzelli
  60. Bogaerts
  61. Blanks
  62. Evert
  63. Eastwood
  64. Elway
  65. Eslinger
  66. Ellerbrock
  67. Eno
  68. Endo
  69. Etter
  70. Ebersol
  71. Everson
  72. Esapa
  73. Ekker
  74. Escobar
  75. Eggleston
  76. Ermine
  77. Erickson
  78. Keller
  79. Kessler
  80. Kobayashi
  81. Klecko
  82. Kicklighter
  83. Kidder
  84. Kershaw
  85. Kaminsky
  86. Kirby
  87. Keene
  88. Kenny
  89. Keogh
  90. Kipps
  91. Kendrick
  92. Kuang
  93. Fairchild
  94. October
  95. Vespertine
  96. Fellowes
  97. Omen
  98. Willow
  99. Gannon
  100. Presto
  101. Windward
  102. Grell
  103. Powers
  104. Wixx
  105. Halliwell
  106. Quellings
  107. Xanthos
  108. Hightower
  109. Quill
  110. Xenides
  111. Idlewind
  112. Rast
  113. Chamillet
  114. Bougaitelet
  115. Hallowswift
  116. Coldsprinter
  117. Winddane
  118. Yarrow
  119. Illfate
  120. Riddle
  121. Yew
  122. Jacaranda
  123. Yearwood
  124. Yellen
  125. Yaeger
  126. Yankovich
  127. Yamaguchi
  128. Yarborough
  129. Youngblood
  130. Yanetta
  131. Yadao
  132. Winchell
  133. Winters
  134. Walsh
  135. Whalen
  136. Watson
  137. Wooster
  138. Woodson
  139. Winthrop
  140. Wall
  141. Sacredpelt
  142. Rapidclaw
  143. Hazerider
  144. Shadegrove
  145. Wight
  146. Webb
  147. Woodard
  148. Wixx
  149. Wong
  150. Whesker
  151. Yale
  152. Yasumoto
  153. Yates
  154. Younger
  155. Yoakum
  156. York
  157. Rigby
  158. Zaba
  159. Surrett
  160. Swiatek
  161. Sloane
  162. Stapleton
  163. Seibert
  164. Stroud
  165. Strode
  166. Stockton
  167. Scardino
  168. Spacek
  169. Spieth
  170. Stitchen
  171. Stiner
  172. Soria
  173. Saxon
  174. Shields
  175. Stelly
  176. Steele
  177. Chanassard
  178. Ronchessac
  179. Boneflare
  180. Monsterbelly
  181. Truthbelly
  182. Sacredmore
  183. Malfoy
  184. Moses
  185. Moody
  186. Morozov
  187. Mason
  188. Metcalf
  189. McGillicutty
  190. Montero
  191. Molinari
  192. Marsh
  193. Moffett
  194. McCabe
  195. Manus
  196. Malenko
  197. Mullinax
  198. Morrissey
  199. Mantooth
  200. Mintz

Hyphenated fantasy last names

There are also some cool hyphenated fantasy last names that you can choose from if you feel like this will fit your character better. Here they are:

  1. Groves-Chestnut
  2. Cheever-Waters
  3. Bartleby-Everson
  4. Acoff-Sereno
  5. Sloane-Hooper
  6. Coffey-Macklin
  7. Sisko-Sinclair
  8. Lichter-Seibert
  9. Zubarry-Devlin
  10. Dabney-Aparo
  11. Glick-Wilcox
  12. Winchell-Ojeda

Top fantasy surname generator

If after reading all the suggestions I have given, you still haven’t come across a last name that suits your characters, you may want to seek the help of fantasy surname generator websites. Below are your top options:

Final Thoughts

Thinking of a name for your character should take time and effort. They can make or break your novel or creative paper since they make a great impact in your reader’s perception of the characters as well as how you write. If you really want to publish a bestseller, or raise your GPA in high school thru your creative work, start paying attention to your character’s names.

In case you are having difficulties thinking of one, this guide is always available for you to check out. You can use the fantasy last names as is or you can also tweak them to your liking. Again, your imagination and creativity is your only limit. 

For more writing related articles from Student-Tutor, check out the following:

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Todd VanDuzer

Co-Founder & CEO at Student-Tutor
Hello! My name is Todd. I help students design the life of their dreams by ensuring college, scholarship, and career success! I am a former tutor for seven years, $85,000 scholarship recipient, Huffington Post contributor, lead SAT & ACT course developer, host of a career exploration podcast for teens, and have worked with thousands of students and parents to ensure a brighter future for the next generation. I invite you to join my next webinar to learn how to save thousands + set your teenager up for college, scholarship, and career success!
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