About Drow Names
Drow names are elven phonology turned sharp. They keep the flowing vowels of surface elves but load them with harder clusters — zz, rl, ss, xt — producing names that sound elegant and dangerous at once.
Naming Traditions
- House is everything — a drow is defined by the noble house they serve
- Matriarchal — female names carry the most weight in drow society
- Hard clusters — doubled consonants give the language its bite
Frequently Asked Questions
How do drow names work?▼
A drow has a personal name and a house name. The house name signals rank in a rigidly matriarchal society, and losing it through exile is a profound punishment.
What makes a name sound drow?▼
Elvish vowel flow combined with hard consonant clusters — doubled letters like zz, ss and rl, plus sounds rare in surface elven names.
Are female drow names different?▼
Yes. Drow society is matriarchal, so female names tend to be longer and more ornate, particularly among priestesses and noble matrons.
What are drow house names like?▼
House names are compound and formal, evoking spiders, darkness and status. They are used as a surname and spoken with the personal name.
