Dungeon Name Generator
Generate unique dungeon names for your fantasy characters, stories, and games. The perfect tool for writers, gamers, and world-builders.
Showing 539 names available in Dungeon Name Generator.
Curated Dungeon Name Generator List
| Name | Meaning / Origin | Gender |
|---|---|---|
| Abattoir Temple | Slaughterhouse sacred site | Any |
| Ashblood Temple | Burned gore sacred site | Any |
| Ashenmaw Caverns | Fire-scorched cave entrance | Any |
| Ashfall Chambers | Rooms filled with volcanic debris | Any |
| Ashfire Ruins | Cinder-flame destroyed site | Any |
| Ashmark Temple | Burned symbol sacred site | Any |
| Ashmaw Prison | Burned mouth dungeon | Any |
| Ashveil Temple | Burned fabric sacred site | Any |
How to Create Memorable Dungeon Names
Dungeon Type Names
Each dungeon type has its own naming style. Crypts and tombs use Sepulcher, Mausoleum, or Barrow. Caves favor Depths, Hollow, or Grotto. Forts use Keep, Citadel, or Stronghold. Temples go with Sanctum, Shrine, or Cathedral. Ruins take Remnants, Wastes, or just Ruins. Match the name to the place.
Atmospheric Adjectives
The right word turns a plain dungeon into something players recall. Dark words like Forsaken, Blighted, or Accursed work well. Sense words like Howling, Whispering, or Frozen set mood right away. Time words like Ancient, Eternal, or Endless hint at age and mystery. Pick words with care for strong effect.
Historical Elements
Names with history feel deep. Add a fallen ruler like King Vardak's Tomb. Add a key event like The Betrayal Depths. Add lost folk like Ruins of the Serpent Empire. These names make players want to learn more. They give DMs lore to share. Even made-up history makes dungeons feel real.
Creature-Based Names
Many dungeons get names from what lives inside. The Dragon's Maw says what waits within. Goblin Warrens sets clear hopes. The Lich's Domain hints at undead threats. Monster names can point to who lives there now, who lived there long ago, or just what folk think lurks inside.
Environmental Features
Unique traits make great names. Lakes below ground give The Drowned Halls. Lava leads to The Burning Depths. Strange builds make The Inverted Tower. Magic spots bring The Screaming Corridors or Halls of Eternal Night. Feature names help players recall each dungeon clearly.
Multi-Part Names
Big dungeons do well with set name forms. The [Word] [Type] of [Name] works well: The Forgotten Catacombs of Malachar. [Creature]'s [Place] adds drama: The Vampire Lord's Sanctum. [Place] [Word] keeps it short: Blackwater Depths. Find forms that fit your game's feel.
Key Considerations
- Match the name to dungeon type and origin
- Consider current inhabitants and their influence
- Use geography to ground the dungeon in your world
- Choose evocative words that create atmosphere
- Build mystery and history into the name itself
Famous Examples
Undermountain
Forgotten Realms Campaign Setting
This huge mega-dungeon sits below Waterdeep and stands as the top dungeon crawl. The mad wizard Halaster Blackcloak made it. The plain name hides endless rooms and threats.
The Tomb of Horrors
Original D&D Module S1
Gary Gygax made this famed death trap. The name says what it is: a tomb full of horrors. It became a legend for killing groups who came in blind.
Castle Ravenloft
Ravenloft Campaign Setting
The vampire lord Strahd's home shaped a whole D&D setting and style of play. The name hints at ravens, high towers, and noble rot. It shows how one place name can set the mood for an entire game world.
The Mines of Moria
The Lord of the Rings by J.R.R. Tolkien
Tolkien's Khazad-dum, called Moria (Black Pit in Elvish), set the mold for fantasy dungeons. The gap between dwarf glory and current dark shaped how people name the ruins of lost folk. Many dungeon names still copy this style.
White Plume Mountain
Original D&D Module S2
This classic dungeon takes its name from the steam vent at the entrance. It hides the mad wizard within. The name blends land and mystery.
Popular Dungeon Names
These dungeon names span various types and atmospheres, from haunted crypts to abandoned fortresses, offering inspiration for any adventure.
| Name | Meaning |
|---|---|
| The Howling Crypts | Tombs where wind creates constant eerie sounds |
| Shadowmere Depths | Underground lake realm shrouded in darkness |
| The Forsaken Citadel | An abandoned fortress left to darkness |
| Blackiron Keep | A stronghold built from or stained by dark metal |
| The Whispering Halls | Corridors where secrets and spirits speak softly |
| Tomb of the Fallen King | Burial place of a defeated monarch |
| The Endless Caverns | Natural caves that seem to stretch forever |
| Dreadhollow Mine | An excavation that uncovered something terrible |
| The Sunken Temple | A sacred place lost beneath water or earth |
| Nightfall Sanctum | A holy place consumed by eternal darkness |
Frequently Asked Questions
QHow do I name a dungeon that players will discover organically?
Make a few names for each dungeon. It may have an old name most folk forgot. It may have a name the village uses. It may have a name based on what past groups found there. When players ask about that old ruin, have an NPC share the local name. Layers of names make dungeons feel real.
QShould dungeon names spoil what's inside?
Mix hints with mystery. The Dragon's Lair tells players what waits, which works when you want them ready. The Screaming Halls builds mood without telling why. Think about whether shock or prep fits your quest better. For deadly spots, clear names are fair. For puzzles and twists, vague names keep surprises.
QHow do I create names for dungeon sections or levels?
Use themes that hint at what comes next. Each floor can have a name that fits its tests: The Upper Crypts, The Flooded Passages, The Burning Core. Or use a count: The First Trial, The Second Descent. Named parts help players track where they are. Make each name stand out so no one gets lost in session notes.
QCan dungeon names change during a campaign?
Yes, and this makes great story beats. A dungeon cleared of evil can get a new name from thankful folk. Players who beat a famed dungeon may see it named for them. Dungeons that come back can gain new tags based on what players did. Name shifts reward players and show their mark on the world.
QHow many dungeons should I name in advance?
Name the main dungeons for your story, then keep three to five spare names for when you need to make things up. Big dungeons need strong names that fit their role. Small dungeons can use basic forms. Keep unused names ready for when players find that cave you did not plan. Quality beats quantity.
QShould I use real languages for dungeon names?
Real words add feel but need to stay the same. Latin works for old lands. Norse fits north lands. Egyptian fits desert tombs. Pick one style per culture and stick with it. Mixing styles breaks the mood. Or make up a fake style: if one dwarf dungeon uses hard sounds, keep that rule. Stay steady with what you pick.