Chapter Summary

The superscript letters in this chapter refer to the sources for each Ministry: B = the seven original books, B+ = the Fantastic Beasts and Quidditch books, F = films, G = video games, L = Harry Potter Page to Screen: Limited Edition, and P = Pottermore.

Goblins▲

Canonical goblins: Alguff,^G Bogrod,^B Brodrig,^P Burgock,^G Eargit,^G Gnarlak (U.S.),^F Gornuk,^B Griphook,^B Gringott,^B Nagnok,^G Odbert,^G Ragnok,^B Ragnuk,^B Ranrok,^G Red (U.S.),^F Ricbert,^F Ug,^G Urg,^G and Urgruff.^G

From Flitwick, Gringott, and Griphook, Cauchy (writer of "Blood Crest") theorizes that goblin surnames are composed of of a four-letter verb followed by a four-letter noun, like “Nalrod Snipseed” and “Gornuk Turnlink.” To these, I've added Clipfume, Goadflux, Goadslab, Flitfume, and Rootcord (my goblins inherit the verb component from their teachers). For quick and simple names built along these lines, you can use the table below. Roll a couple of twenty-sided dice, or use Random.org, or whatever fits your fancy.

At the risk of mistaking noise for a signal, the elements -bert, -agnok (or -nok), -uff, and ur- (or urg-) all appear multiple times, and all canonical goblin names end in a consonant.

Names of Norse dwarves, modified by the above system.

1. An, meaning “friend.”
2. Brak, meaning “blacksmith.”
3. Dagvin, meaning “day-finder; magic-worker.”
4. Dolg, meaning “warrior; enemy.”
5. Eit, meaning “very old.”
6. Felar, meaning “hidden.”
7. Ginar, meaning “deceiver.”
8. Hanar, meaning “skilled.”
9. Lim, meaning “glow, gleam, shine.”
10. Lit, meaning “red.”
11. Motsog, meaning “battle-roarer; weary.”
12. Nar, meaning “corpse.”
13. Nirat, meaning “ingenious.”
14. Oen, meaning “dreadful.”
15. Orvang, meaning “bad clay.”
16. Skafit, meaning “good wood.”
17. Thek, meaning “beloved.”
18. Ur, meaning “smith.” It's a common component of goblin names and can easily be added as a prefix to other names, e.g. Uran, “smith of friends, one who makes friends easily”; Urnar, “smith of corpses, skilled killer”; Urvit, “smith of wisdom, scholar.”
19. Vit, meaning “wise.”
20. Zind, meaning “spark.”

In my series There is Nothing to Fear, there are also goblins with the given names Banrit, Barkar, Forkog, and Furnar.

House-elves▲

Canonical house-elves, Hogwarts: Bilm,^G Cooky,^G Deek,^G Feenky,^G Filk,^G Gimkey,^G Hooky,^G Kossa,^G Krafty,^G Nonsuch,^G Pitts,^G Retch,^G Ringkull,^G Vekey,^G Wigby,^G Wugby.^G

Canonical house-elves, elsewhere: Dobby,^B Hokey,^B Kreacher,^B Penny,^G Scrope,^G Tobbs,^G Winky.^B

Inverarity's fics: Bran, Deezie, Em, Gilly, Gun-gun, Junk, Mubble, Nat, Nina, Olina, Poe, Quimley, (Mr.) Remy, Rolly, Tam Tam, Triss, and Zipf.

White Squirrel's fics: Flory, Remie, Smidgen, Sonnitt, Sonya, Tilly, and Vanny.

Derogatory names, ala “Kreacher”: Blaggard, Bobchin, Bounder, Brute, Custrel, Dotty, Fink, Fustilugs, Grubber, Grunt, Hilding, Lackwit, Leper, Losel, Lowbred, Lump, Nithing, Pilgarlic, Ronyon, Scapegrace, Scut (Irish), Sotty, Wally, Wantwit, and Wench.

Fairies and other critters, ala “Dobby”: Bogan, Boggle, Buckawn, Hob, Hobbie, Lob, Lubber, Mimmerkin, Oaf, Pillywiggin, Pooky, Puck, and Silphie. In Scotland, Northern England, and Celtic-influenced areas in general, also consider Bogill, Brag, Broonie, Dunnie, Gilly, Greenie, Habtrot, Nuggle, Shellie, Slog, Slug, and Spey. Good Cornish names include Bucca, Knocker, Pigsie, Pisky (or maybe Piksy so that your readers don't think it's a typo), and Spridgin. Drude and Nixy, for German; and Goblot or Gobeau, for French.

Fairies of British folklore: Billy, Dunny or Dunny-elf, Hoddykin, Hodfellow, Hutchin, Jack, Jean, Jenny, Joan, Meg, Maggy, Robin, Sibbie, Tam, and Tatty. If we assume that names for House-elves will not be popular names for wixes, then all of these remain valid except for Meg (Meaghan, Megan), Robin, and Tam (Tamsin).

Medieval diminutives, English: Adkin or Adkyn (Adam), Benne (Bennet), Bette or Bettes (Bartholomew, Beatrice), Diota or Dyota (Dionisia), Edekyn (Edith), Elisota or Elizota (Elizabeth), Gybon or Gibbin (Gilbert), Hibele or Ibb (Isabel), Low (Lawrence), Neelot (Neal), Sim or Sym (Simon, Simone), and Tilly (Matilda). Check this post for even more.

Shakespeare: Bidicut, Cobweb, Flibber, Modo, Moth, Mustardseed, Oberon or Auberon (perhaps for a supervisor), and Peaseblossom.

Servants, housekeepers, and personal attendants: Amah (wet-nurse), Bedder (housekeeper), Boots (footwear caretaker), Daily, Drudge, Flunky (Scottish), Gillie (hunting attendant), Knave, Lackey, Lungs (alchemist's assistant, operating the bellows), Nanny, Page, Rooser (Scottish, “flatterer”), Shiner, Swinker, and Toadie.

Other occupational names: Becker (baker, esp. for a household), Bodger (chair maker), Botcher (clothing mender), Bowker (butcher), Chapper (waker-upper), Chippy (carpenter), Cotter (farmer), Dubber (leatherworker), Forkner (falconer), Junky (salvager), Knacker (animal renderer), Kneller (chimneysweep), Lumper (dockworker), Osler (bird catcher), Plomer (plumber), Ripper (fish merchant), Smiddy (smith), Sumper (porter), Tosher (salvager), and Wobster (weaver).

Names for dogs, recommended by a 15th century nobleman: Bellamy, Careaway, Catchcurse, Dowse, Ergo, Figgy, Findwell, Garlick, Gibbon, Hiefast, Hilder, Hurlybuck, Jolybronde, Juffo, Lunchfast, Lurk, Martynet, Merrymouth, Noddy, Nosuch, Perkyn, Plodder, Pluck, Radish, Ringdale, Simple, Sparenot, Stepfast, Trunket, Wastepane, and Wodeward.

Names meaning “elf”: Alfred (elf counsel), Alfstan (elf stone), Alfward (elf guard), Alfwine pr Alvin (elf friend), Alfwold (elf wood, elf forest).

Kentucky Derby winners: Baden-Baden, Barbaro, Ben Brush, Burgoo, Elwood, Fonso, George Smith, Giacomo, Grindstone, Hoop Jr., Lookout, Old Rosebud, Paul Jones, Smarty Jones, Swaps, Tim Tam, Tomy Lee (not “Tommy”), Whirlaway, Wintergreen, and Zev.

Vampires▲

Canonical vampires: Amarillo Lestoat,^G Blodwyn Bludd,^G Carmilla Sanguina,^G Gerard Le Croc,^G Herbert Varney,^G Lorcan d'Eath,^P Qui LeBlanc,^G Sanguini,^B Victor Ketsueki,^G and Vlad Drakul.^G

Lorcan and Qui are part-vampires, so their names may not be examples of a traditional vampire name (if such a thing exists). “Sanguini” is obviously a blood pun, but it's an actual surname in Italy and Spain. Sanguini and Carmilla Sanguina may be related. Victor Ketsuekki was turned into a vampire (this may be what “part-vampire” refers to, but Qui LeBlanc's father is described as a vampire).

Literary vampires: Antonia (f) or Anthony (m), Augusta (f) or Augustus (m), Carmilla (f) or Carmillo (m), Clarimonde (f) or Claremont (m), Frances (f) or Francis (m), Gerald (m) or Geraldine (f), Lenore (f) or Leonard (m).

Carmilla was probably derived from Carmella, referring to the Virgin Mary as Our Lady of Mount Carmel . Leonard isn't really a masculine form of Lenore, but there is none and that's close enough.

People historically regarded as vampires: Arnold Paul, George Grand, Elizabeth, Henry, Jack, James, Mercy, Peter, Wilfrid, and William Pool. “Brown” has shown up as a surname for purported vampires a couple times. William of Newburgh wasn't considered to be a vampire, but he wrote about them, and “William Newburgh” has a nice ring to it.

If vampires are rare enough, perhaps they take names according to their hunting grounds or the place where they turned into vampires: Berwick, Breslau, Carfax, Corinth, Croglinhall, Ennerdale, Highgate, Pentsch, Styria, Marsden, Haidam, Melrose, Selene, and Visegrad all refer to historical or literary vampires. Some of these are provinces, others are cities, and a few are districts of cities. Names which refer to larger areas may be more prestigious if they imply that the vampire has forced out all the competition, but of course a small slice of prime hunting ground might be better-prized than a vast tract of wasteland.

English names include Adam (m) and Adamina (f), from the Hebrew ‘adam, “to be red,” and the diminutive Addy (m); Aldous (m), meaning “old”; Ambrose (m) or Ambrosia (f), from ambrosios, “immortal”; Blessing (m, f), derived from blēdsian, “to consecrate (with blood); Garnet (f), from the Middle English gernet, “dark red”; Radcliff (m) or Radclyffe (m), meaning “red cliff” in Old English; Read (m) or Reed (m), from the Old English read, “red”; Rowan (m), Rowen (m), or Rowanne (f), ultimately derived from the PIE *reudh-, “red, ruddy”; and Russell, a diminutive derived from the Old French rous, “red.”

Irish names include Ádhamh (m), an Irish variant of Adam (see above); Ciar (m), meaning “black,” or the diminutive Ciarán (m); Clancy (m, f), from Flannchadh, “red warrior”; Flann (m) and Flynn (m), originally a surname derived from flann, “blood red,” and the diminutives Flanagan (m) and Flannan (m); Flannery (f), from Flannghal, “red valour”; Harkin, a diminutive of earc, meaning “red, bloody,” or “piglet”; Ide, possibly meaning “thirst”; Rory (m, f) or Ruaidhrí (m), meaning “red king”; and Ruadhán, a diminutive derived from rúad, “red.”

Scottish names include Aodhagan (m) and Adhan (m), Scottish variants of Adam (see above), Rory (m, f) or Ruaridh (m), meaning “red king,” and the diminutive Roddy (m); and Ruadh (m), meaning “red,” as well as the anglicization Roy (m).

Welsh names include Blodeuwedd (f), who was transformed into an owl; Creiddylad or Creidylat (f), from craidd, “heart, center,” or crau, “blood,” and dylad, “flood”; Deryn (f, m), possibly meaning “bird”; Emryn (f) and Emrys (m), the given name of Merlin and derived from ambrosios, “immortal”; and Gwyar (m, f), meaning “blood, gore.”

Other bat names include Barbastel or Barbastelle, Flitter, Flindermouse or Flittermouse, Molossine or Molossus, Myote, Noctule, Pipistrelle, Reremouse, and Wallroost. Natalie, in reference to natalid bats, may be a bit of a stretch but I still like it.

If you're willing to look at species of bats, there are several good nose-related names, including Broadnose, Heartnose, Hognose, Noseleaf, Shortnose, Spearnose, Swordnose, and Tubenose. You could also refer to faces (Dogface, Slitface, Stripeface), throats (Whitethroat, Yellowthroat), or wings (Bentwing, Whitewings). Other viable names referring to physical attributes include Blackear, Freetail, Hoarywattle, Hornskin, Longfingers, Longtongue, Thumbless, and Whitebelly.

Other names based on species include Blackgild, Bronzesprite, Chocolate, Harlequin, Mimic, Rousette, Silvertip, Sombre, and Vespera or Vespers.

Other names related to blood include Euaimon, from eu, “good, well,” and haima, “blood”; Hyacinth, from whose blood the flower arose; Fjalarr and Galarr, who murdered the poet Kvasir and mixed his blood with mead; Pegasus, which sprang from the blood of Medusa (as a constellation, this would be especially apt for a vampire Black); Peony (said to have grown from the blood of Serbians killed during the Battle of Kosovo in 1389); Sangster, an English and Scottish name that actually means “singer,” but sure sounds like it's related to blood; and Sigurd, who bathed in the blood of a dragon.

Other names related to darkness and night include Ketil, meaning “kettle, cauldron,” and in which was caught the blood of sacrificed animals; Náttfari, “night-farer” or “night-traveler,” from nátt, “night,” and fara, “to go, to travel”; Náttolfr, from nátt, “night,” and ulfr, “wolf”; Náttsol, from nátt, “night,” and sol, “sun”; Noctiluna, meaning “night-shiner” or “moon”; Nox and Nyx, meaning “night” in Latin and Greek; Nyctimene, meaning “she who stays up at night”; Orpheus, which may be derived from orphne, “darkness of night.”

Other owl names include Axio, meaning “long-eared owl”; Billy Wix; Boobook; Hobhouchin; Houlet or Howlet; Madge; Mopork or Morepork; Oule; Padge; Parliament; Sawwhet or Saw-whet; Strich or Strick; Tyto; Ugla; Ugluspegill, meaning “owl mirror”; and Ullet. Stolas is the name of a demon in the Ars Goetia, and is often portrayed as an owl.

Like bats, you can also find some good material (though not as much) by looking at species names, including Ashface, Bandbelly, Bareshank, Blackcap, Blackwhite, Burrower, Ochrebelly, Rustbar, and Whiteface.

Other plant names include Hawthorn, Millet, Nightshade, Oak, and Poppyseed.

Veelas▲

We don't have enough to go on. Fleur Delacour has a normal name, but she's only one-quarter veela, so that may not reflect veela naming practices. Delila has a normal name, too, but she only exists in one of the mobile games.

Werewolves▲

A wolf by any other name is still a wolf: Lobo (m, Spanish), Lope (m, Spanish), Lopo (m, Portuguese), Loup (m, French), Lowell (m, French), Lupo (m, Italy), Lyall (m, Scottish), Shaw (m, Scottish), and Wilk (m, Polish) all mean “wolf.”

Wolves and werewolves in folklore and history

Benjamin is regarded as a werewolf in some Jewish traditions (see also this article, which may be more approachable for the lay reader).

Gwrgi Garwlwyd was the leader of a tribe of cinbin or “dogheads” fought by King Arthur. A werewolf who wanted to associate himself with Gwrgi might name himself Gwrgenau or Gorgenau, cenau meaning “cub, whelp.”

Isengrim (from îsarn, “iron,” and grim, “grim, fierce, bold,” or grîma, “mask”) is a wolf from western European fables. Variations of the name include Isangrim, Isingrim, Isengrimus, and possibly Isegrimm.

Other names

If your werewolves have recently organized into some sort of government and would like to give quasi-patriotic names to reflect their new reality, consider names like Electulf (elected- or chosen-wolf), Gardulf (garden-wolf), Liutulf (people-wolf), Maladulf (council- or meeting-wolf), Pandolf (band- or bond-wolf), and Reinulf (counsel-wolf). Other suitable names might be Maiulf (parent-wolf), reflecting the hope for stable descent; Winulf (friend-wolf); Wolfgang (wolf-journey) or Gangwolf, if they are immigrants; and Wulfsy (wolf-victory).

Radulf, Ulfred, and Wulfred can be interpreted as meaning “wolf of counsel.” By contracting the first name, we get Ralf or Ralph. The feminine form is Ralphe, and other variants include Rafe and Rawe. In French, it becomes Raoul or (less commonly) Raul (m) or Rauline (f).

Wolfenden means "the valley of Wulfhelm," referring to the township of Wolfenden in Lancashire.