A better process for naming fantasy places

Start with the place, not the sound

A convincing place name usually carries evidence of the place itself. Before inventing syllables, describe its geography, history, inhabitants, and reputation. A settlement beside dangerous tidal flats will produce different language from a ceremonial city built around an ancient observatory.

Select one physical idea and one human idea. A coastal fortress might begin with harbor and vigilance. A ruined mining town might begin with ember and absence.

Build a small naming language

1. Explore words around the place’s defining concepts.
2. Choose recurring roots for landscape features, settlements, families, and titles.
3. Decide how names change across regions or historical periods.
4. Reuse patterns sparingly so the world feels related rather than repetitive.

Real place names are often practical: a person, a terrain feature, a route, a resource, or an event. Layers of pronunciation and political change make them feel less literal over time.

Test names inside sentences

Say the name aloud and place it in dialogue: “We leave for ___ at dawn.” Check whether neighboring names are too similar and whether readers can distinguish them after a few pages. A beautiful isolated name can still fail when it competes with six names sharing the same rhythm.