World Names
Find a world name that establishes the tone, atmosphere, and identity of your fictional setting.
Famous World Names That Nailed It
Real-world names that became iconic. Here's what makes them work.
Derived from Old English 'Middan-geard,' this name places the world in a mythic middle space between the divine and mortal realms—immediately establishing its epic scope.
A combination of 'West' and 'Eros' (or a continental suffix), suggesting a western continent with a classical, historical feel that grounds the world in pseudo-medieval reality.
The arid, Arabic-influenced sound of Arrakis perfectly evokes the desert planet's harsh nature and Middle Eastern-inspired culture before a reader knows anything else about it.
A world's name is the first word of its mythology. Whether you're building a fantasy realm for a novel, designing a planet for a tabletop RPG, or creating an alternate Earth for a video game, the name you choose sets expectations and creates the first impression of everything that follows.
The best fictional world names balance euphony (they sound pleasing or fitting when spoken) with evocation (they suggest something about the world's nature or history). Tolkien's 'Middle-earth' immediately suggests a place between extremes; Ursula K. Le Guin's 'Earthsea' paints a picture of endless ocean and elemental magic in one compound word.
Whether your world is a lush fantasy kingdom, a harsh desert planet, a pocket dimension, or a sprawling space empire, the names below will help you find the right resonance for your creative vision.
Tips for Choosing World Names
Match the sound of the name to the world's character: soft vowels for lush, magical worlds; hard consonants for harsh, industrial ones.
Create a sense of history by layering meaning: a name derived from an ancient word in your world's mythology feels earned, not arbitrary.
Avoid names that sound too similar to real-world places unless the parallel is intentional (alternate history, etc.).
Consider how the name will be abbreviated: long world names get shortened by readers and players, so make sure the short version also works.
Test the name in context: 'The world of [name]' or 'She was born on [name]'—does it flow naturally in a sentence?
Frequently Asked Questions
Draw from consistent phonological rules that match your world's culture and feel. Fantasy worlds often use soft consonants and long vowels; harsh sci-fi planets might use harder sounds. Consistency makes invented names feel like they belong to a real language.
It strengthens the world-building if it does—even if readers never learn the meaning, you knowing it gives the name intentionality. It might mean 'great expanse' in your world's ancient language, which influences how scholars and characters speak of it.
Use the same phonological system as your world's name for the dominant culture's region names, then shift the system for foreign or ancient regions. This creates linguistic geography that makes the world feel real.
Common mistakes: names that are too hard to pronounce, names that too closely resemble real-world places without intention, names with accents or special characters that cause constant formatting issues, and names that don't fit the world's tone.
Ideally, no—especially for anything you plan to publish. Conduct a thorough search of published fiction, games, and media before settling on a world name. Unique names build stronger brands and avoid confusion.
How to Name Your Fictional World
Establish a Phonological System
Before naming your world, decide what sounds are prevalent in your world's primary language or dominant culture. Are consonants soft or hard? Are vowels long or short? Do names end in consonants or vowels? A consistent phonological system makes all your world's names feel like they come from the same place.
Encode the World's Nature in the Name
The best world names tell you something true about the world. Arrakis sounds like 'arid' because it is. Earthsea sounds like earth and sea because those are its dominant elements. Find the one or two defining characteristics of your world and see if you can encode them—subtly—into the name's sounds or meaning.
Test Across Different Contexts
Use your world name in many contexts: character dialogue, narration, maps, chapter headers, and marketing copy. Does it work at all scales? Can it be used as an adjective (Arakian culture, Westerian politics)? Does it scan well in a sentence? A world name that works across all these contexts is a keeper.
Build the Name Into the World's Mythology
Once you have a name, create an in-world origin story for it. Who named the world, and why? Is the name ancient and forgotten, or does every child know its story? Building the name into your mythology deepens your world and gives you material for in-world lore, legends, and character knowledge.
Related Categories
Curious about what names mean? Explore Name Meanings →