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Dragon names: 180+ famous, male and female dragon names

188 names · Updated · By The Nomezo Editors · Save to Pinterest

Famous dragon names from myth include Fáfnir, Ladon and Tiamat, and good invented dragon names sound big and ancient, like Kaldurax, Ozrandor and Seravyx. The dragons of legend come from Norse, Greek, Babylonian, Welsh, Chinese and Japanese legend, and each culture pictured them a little differently.

This page has 180+ dragon names: famous dragons from mythology, British and European legends, Asian dragons, feathered serpents, famous dragon slayers, and real names and words that mean dragon. After those come clearly labeled invented names for male and female dragons, titles, cute pet dragons and a few funny ones.

Can't decide? Shuffle 6 random picks

  • Campe

    Greek she-dragon who guarded the prisoners of Tartarus

  • Nugget

    Tiny, golden and very precious

  • Charcoal

    A dark little dragon who glows when excited

  • Glimmerscale

    Sparkles in sunlight like a jewel

  • Sizzle

    Always just a little bit too hot

  • Grenthar

    Earthy and slow, good for a mountain dragon

Find a dragon name on this page

Narrow 188 names by section, length or first letter, or search the notes.

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Famous dragon names from mythology

Dragons and great serpents of legend from Norse, Greek, Near Eastern, Indian, Persian, Slavic and Albanian myth.

  1. Fáfnir: Norse dwarf who turned into a dragon to guard his gold
  2. Nidhogg: Norse dragon gnawing at the roots of the world tree
  3. Jörmungandr: Norse World Serpent, so long it circles the whole earth
  4. Ladon: Greek serpent-dragon guarding the golden apples of the Hesperides
  5. Python: Earth-dragon of Delphi, slain by the god Apollo
  6. Hydra: Many-headed water serpent; two heads grew back for each one cut
  7. Typhon: Greek storm giant with serpent coils, father of many monsters
  8. Echidna: Half-woman, half-serpent mother of monsters in Greek myth
  9. Campe: Greek she-dragon who guarded the prisoners of Tartarus
  10. Delphyne: Greek she-dragon who guarded Zeus's stolen sinews for Typhon
  11. Tiamat: Babylonian sea goddess; her dragon form comes from modern retellings
  12. Mushussu: Scaly Babylonian dragon of the god Marduk on the Ishtar Gate
  13. Apep: Egyptian chaos serpent who attacks the sun god Ra each night
  14. Illuyanka: Hittite serpent-dragon beaten by the storm god
  15. Vritra: Vedic serpent who hoarded the world's waters until Indra struck
  16. Aži Dahāka: Three-headed dragon of ancient Persian and Zoroastrian myth
  17. Zmey Gorynych: Many-headed dragon of Russian folk tales, often shown with three heads
  18. Kulshedra: Albanian many-headed she-dragon blamed for droughts and floods

Dragons of British and European legend

Local dragons, worms and wyverns from village legends, ballads and coats of arms.

  1. Y Ddraig Goch: The Red Dragon of Wales, flying on the Welsh flag
  2. Lambton Worm: Giant serpent of a County Durham legend, coiled around a hill
  3. Laidly Worm: Northumbrian ballad dragon, a princess under a stepmother's spell
  4. Sockburn Worm: Durham dragon said to be slain by Sir John Conyers
  5. Knucker: Water dragon said to live in a bottomless pool at Lyminster, Sussex
  6. Stoor Worm: Giant Orkney sea serpent whose teeth became islands
  7. Smok Wawelski: Kraków's castle-hill dragon, tricked into eating a sulfur-stuffed sheep
  8. Tarasque: River beast of Provence, tamed by Saint Martha at Tarascon
  9. Gargouille: Dragon of Rouen whose legend is tied to the word gargoyle
  10. La Peluda: Shaggy, quill-shooting dragon of La Ferté-Bernard, France
  11. Drac: Shape-shifting river dragon of the Rhône at Beaucaire
  12. Cuélebre: Winged serpent of Asturias that guards treasure and water nymphs
  13. Coca: Dragon battled every year at a festival in Monção, Portugal
  14. Herensuge: Basque dragon, sometimes seven-headed, of mountain folk tales
  15. Zilant: Winged serpent-dragon on the coat of arms of Kazan
  16. Tatzelwurm: Stubby, cat-faced lizard creature reported in the Alps
  17. Lindworm: Serpent dragon of Scandinavian and German tales, often wingless
  18. Wyvern: Two-legged winged dragon of English heraldry

Chinese, Japanese and Asian dragon names

Eastern dragons are usually wise rain-bringers rather than fire-breathing hoarders.

  1. Shenlong: Chinese spirit dragon that brings wind and rain
  2. Yinglong: Winged Chinese dragon who served the Yellow Emperor
  3. Zhulong: Red Torch Dragon whose open eyes bring daylight
  4. Tianlong: Celestial dragon guarding the palaces of heaven
  5. Fucanglong: Chinese dragon of buried treasure, deep underground
  6. Panlong: Coiled dragon of lakes that has not yet risen to heaven
  7. Qinglong: Azure Dragon of the East, one of China's Four Symbols
  8. Ao Guang: Dragon King of the East Sea in Journey to the West
  9. Bai Long Ma: White Dragon Horse who carries the monk in Journey to the West
  10. Ryūjin: Japanese dragon god of the sea, ruler of a coral palace
  11. Yamata no Orochi: Eight-headed, eight-tailed serpent slain by the storm god Susanoo
  12. Mizuchi: Japanese river dragon or water serpent of old poems
  13. Kiyohime: Legendary woman whose fury turned her into a fire-breathing serpent
  14. Imugi: Korean serpent that waits a thousand years to become a dragon
  15. Druk: Thunder Dragon on the flag of Bhutan
  16. Naga: Serpent beings of Hindu and Buddhist lore, guardians of water
  17. Mucalinda: Serpent king who sheltered the meditating Buddha from a storm
  18. Bakunawa: Philippine sea dragon said to swallow the moon

Feathered serpents and dragons around the world

Dragon-like beings from the Americas, Africa and the Pacific.

  1. Quetzalcoatl: Feathered serpent god of the Aztecs, linked with wind and learning
  2. Kukulkan: Feathered serpent of the Maya, honored at Chichén Itzá
  3. Gucumatz: Feathered serpent creator in the K'iche' Maya Popol Vuh
  4. Amaru: Mighty serpent-dragon of Andean and Inca myth
  5. Ninki Nanka: Swamp dragon of West African folklore, especially in Gambia
  6. Aido Hwedo: Rainbow serpent of Fon myth who coils beneath the earth
  7. Taniwha: Māori water guardians, sometimes likened to dragons
  8. Moʻo: Shape-shifting lizard water spirits of Hawaiian legend
  9. Piasa: Dragon-like monster painted on bluffs above the Mississippi near Alton, Illinois
  10. Ouroboros: Ancient symbol of a serpent swallowing its own tail

Famous dragon slayers

The heroes, saints and gods who faced dragons in legend.

  1. Sigurd: Victory guardian; Old Norse. Killed Fáfnir and tasted his heart
  2. Saint George: Patron of England, famed for slaying a dragon in Libya
  3. Saint Margaret: Martyr of Antioch who burst free from a swallowing dragon
  4. Saint Martha: Tamed the Tarasque of Provence with holy water and a cross
  5. Beowulf: Old English hero who fought a fire dragon in his final battle
  6. Susanoo: Japanese storm god who slew the eight-headed Orochi
  7. Apollo: Greek god who killed the Python and founded his oracle
  8. Heracles: Greek hero who defeated the many-headed Hydra
  9. Marduk: Babylonian god who split Tiamat to make heaven and earth
  10. Indra: Vedic thunder god who freed the waters by slaying Vritra
  11. Cadmus: Founder of Thebes who sowed a dragon's teeth
  12. Dobrynya Nikitich: Russian epic hero who battled the dragon Zmey Gorynych
  13. John Lambton: Durham knight who fought a giant worm in armor studded with spearheads
  14. Saint Michael: Archangel who casts the great dragon out of heaven in Revelation
  15. Assipattle: Orkney farm boy who killed the Stoor Worm with burning peat
  16. Drangue: Winged Albanian hero born to fight the kulshedra

Real names and words that mean dragon

Real given names that mean dragon, plus the word for dragon in other languages.

  1. Drake: Dragon; English, from Old English draca. A surname turned first name
  2. Draco: Dragon; Latin form of Greek drakon. Also a northern constellation
  3. Ryu: Dragon; Japanese. Meaning depends on the kanji, such as 竜 or 龍
  4. Ejder: Dragon; Turkish, from Persian. A bold boy's name in Turkey
  5. Drakaina: Ancient Greek word for a she-dragon
  6. Drakon: Ancient Greek for dragon or great serpent
  7. Draig: Welsh for dragon, as on the red dragon flag
  8. Drache: German for dragon, said DRAH-khuh
  9. Lóng: Mandarin Chinese for dragon, a symbol of power and luck
  10. Tatsu: Native Japanese word for dragon, also a zodiac sign
  11. Yong: Korean word for dragon, from the same root as Chinese lóng
  12. Ajdaha: Persian word for dragon, descended from the ancient Aži Dahāka
  13. Wyrm: Old English word for a dragon or serpent
  14. Ormr: Old Norse word for a serpent or dragon
  15. Tannin: Hebrew word for a sea monster or dragon
  16. Pendragon: Welsh title, literally head dragon, meaning war leader; borne by Uther

Male dragon names

Original names for male dragons. All invented, with no famous book, film or game dragons.

  1. Kaldurax: A cold opening and a cracking finish, for an ice drake
  2. Skorvald: Norse-flavored and scorched around the edges
  3. Ozrandor: Grand and ancient, fit for a dragon king
  4. Aurgrim: Aur suggests gold; grim suggests the temper guarding it
  5. Brimgard: From brimstone, the old word for burning sulfur
  6. Zarvok: Short, sharp and impossible to ignore
  7. Morthrak: Heavy consonants for a battle-scarred veteran
  8. Valdrok: A warlord's name with a stony finish
  9. Grenthar: Earthy and slow, good for a mountain dragon
  10. Ashkarr: Ash and a growl, for a volcano dweller
  11. Torvex: Clipped and modern, suits a young upstart
  12. Halvorax: Old and northern, with a grinding tail
  13. Kruthos: Crushing, heavy and Greek-sounding
  14. Obrinax: Round and ominous, like distant thunder
  15. Sardrak: A desert drake that hunts at noon
  16. Ulvaroth: Wolfish opening, for a pack-hunting dragon
  17. Tarnovax: Tarnished and old, like a neglected hoard
  18. Velkarn: Smooth and dangerous, for a schemer
  19. Ignazor: From ignis, Latin for fire, with a razor edge
  20. Korrimund: Ends like a medieval king's name
  21. Basaltor: From basalt, the black rock of cooled lava

Female dragon names

Original names for female dragons, from fierce queens to clever schemers. All invented.

  1. Seravyx: Bright and fiery, with a hissing tail
  2. Ysolvane: Elegant and cold, for a frost queen
  3. Kaelithra: Long and regal, made for a matriarch
  4. Thyrrha: Rolling R sounds like a low purr
  5. Ophyra: Nods to ophis, the Greek word for snake
  6. Ignessa: Fire made graceful, from Latin ignis
  7. Valtheris: Stately and clever, a strategist's name
  8. Sirrakai: Desert winds and sharp claws
  9. Myrrhaxa: Smoky and fragrant, like burning myrrh
  10. Aurelith: Golden-toned, for a dragon who sleeps on treasure
  11. Calyxa: Petal-soft sound hiding a dangerous bite
  12. Embrielle: Warm as embers, pretty as a bell
  13. Sorvaya: Soaring and wild, for a sky hunter
  14. Pyrelle: From pyr, Greek for fire, made delicate
  15. Glacira: Built on glacier, for an ice-breathing queen
  16. Vesperyx: An evening dragon who hunts at dusk
  17. Nimbrahl: From nimbus, a rain cloud, for a storm dragon
  18. Taurisca: Bold and horned, with a bull's stubborn streak
  19. Zhalindra: Exotic Z opening and a flowing finish
  20. Cyrrhia: Swift and silvery, like wind over water
  21. Halcyra: Echoes halcyon, for a calm sea dragon
  22. Rhoswyth: Welsh-flavored, for a guardian of the western hills

Dragon titles and epithets

Invented titles to add after a dragon's name. In legend, a dragon's title is often more famous than its name.

  1. Bane of Kings: Has toppled more crowns than any army
  2. the Gold-Sleeper: Hasn't left the hoard in three hundred years
  3. Wyrm of the Seven Peaks: Rules a whole mountain range from above
  4. Last of the Old Fire: The final dragon of an ancient line
  5. Shadow over the Vale: Its wings darken whole valleys
  6. Breaker of Castles: Stone walls mean nothing to this one
  7. the Moon-Swallower: Blamed for every eclipse in the kingdom
  8. the Cinder Crown: Wears a ring of smoldering embers
  9. Storm-Crowned: Lightning follows wherever it flies
  10. the Ironscale: Arrows bounce off like raindrops
  11. Mother of Mountains: So old that hills formed around her
  12. the Patient Flame: Waits centuries for the perfect moment
  13. Warden of the Northern Ice: Guards the frozen edge of the world
  14. the Grey Ancient: Older than any written history
  15. Skybreaker: Flies so high it cracks the clouds
  16. Thunder of the Fells: Its roar echoes through the hills
  17. the Many-Winged: Witnesses never agree on the count of its wings
  18. Smoke on the Horizon: The last thing villagers see before it arrives

Cute dragon names for pets and baby dragons

Sweet invented names for baby dragons, plush dragons and pet bearded dragons.

  1. Sparky: A classic for a dragon still learning to breathe fire
  2. Toastie: Warm, cozy and perfect for cuddles
  3. Puffscale: Puffs smoke rings instead of fire
  4. Cinderbean: Small as a bean, warm as a cinder
  5. Mochi: Round, soft and sweet like the rice cake
  6. Waffles: Has a crisscross pattern on its scales
  7. Biscuit: Golden brown and just out of the oven
  8. Scorchling: A baby scorcher with big ambitions
  9. Nugget: Tiny, golden and very precious
  10. Pebblescale: Bumpy, gray and adorable
  11. Sizzle: Always just a little bit too hot
  12. Charcoal: A dark little dragon who glows when excited
  13. Puddleflame: A water dragon who wishes it could breathe fire
  14. Glimmerscale: Sparkles in sunlight like a jewel
  15. Tinderpuff: One sneeze and the campfire is lit
  16. Wigglewing: Still learning how to fly straight
  17. Dumpling: Chubby, round and impossible not to love

Funny dragon names

Dragon puns and silly names for pets, games and party costumes.

  1. Hoard Ramsay: Cooks with his breath and critiques with his roar
  2. Scaly Cyrus: A pop-star pun for a dragon who crashes through every wall
  3. Diana Roast: A diva dragon who can't stop the flames
  4. Sir Burns-a-Lot: Means well, singes everything
  5. Scorchy McScorchface: Named by a very enthusiastic online vote
  6. Lord Charbroil: Grills a perfect steak in one breath
  7. Wingston Churchill: Never, never, never gives up a hoard
  8. Puff Pastry: Flaky, golden and a little bit buttery
  9. Sir Toastington: A refined gentleman who only makes toast
  10. Burnadette: A sweet-voiced dragon with a hot temper
  11. Dragon My Feet: The slowest beast in the lair, every single time
  12. Snoreclaw: Sleeps through every attack on the castle
  13. Flamingo: A pink dragon with a fiery attitude
  14. Hot Wings: The spiciest flier in the sky

How to pick the right name

Use heavy sounds for big dragons

Hard sounds like k, g and x, plus growly r, z and th, make a name feel huge and old. Save softer sounds for clever, sleek or baby dragons.

Add a title

A short name plus an epithet, such as Kaldurax the Patient Flame, does a lot of storytelling. Legendary dragons are often known by their titles.

Match the culture

European dragons often hoard gold and breathe fire or poison. Chinese and Japanese dragons bring rain and wisdom. Borrow from the tradition that fits your dragon's personality, and remember that nāgas and Ryūjin are still revered in living faiths.

Steer clear of famous dragons

Names from big books, films and games are instantly recognized. An original name keeps your dragon unmistakably yours.

Dragon names: 188 ideas from Nomezo

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Dragon names: what the dragons of legend really were, the famous dragons you can't borrow, and dragon names on real people

By The Nomezo Editors · Updated October 25, 2026 · How we research names

Many of the oldest dragons were giant serpents: the word comes from Greek drakōn, a serpent of huge size, and Fáfnir breathed poison, not fire. Some famous dragons are newer than they look: ancient texts never clearly describe Tiamat as a dragon, an image popularized in modern retellings.

The invented names on this page avoid dragons owned by books, films and games, and the table below lists the famous ones to steer clear of in published work. The finder above narrows the names by section, length and first letter.

  1. Step 1Pick myth or inventedFáfnir is legend; Kaldurax is new.
  2. Step 2Match the cultureWestern hoarders or Eastern rain-bringers.
  3. Step 3Avoid famous fictionSmaug and Toothless are owned characters.
  4. Step 4Add a titleA name plus an epithet tells a story.

What the dragons of legend really were

  • Serpents first. English dragon comes through Latin draco from Greek drakōn, a serpent of huge size; Old English called the creature a wyrm or a draca (Wiktionary). Fáfnir, the dragon Sigurd killed from a pit, breathed poison (Wikipedia).
  • Tiamat's dragon form is modern. Ancient Babylonian texts do not clearly make her a dragon; the many-headed dragon queen is a modern image (Wikipedia).
  • East and West differ. The Chinese lóng (龍) controls water and weather, stands for good luck and was a symbol of imperial power, unlike the hoarding dragon of Europe (Wikipedia).
  • Pendragon means war leader. It is literally head dragon, from Welsh pen, head, and dragon, a poetic word for a warrior (Wikipedia).

Famous fictional dragons: for reference, not reuse

Well-known dragons from books, films and games
DragonFromFirst appeared
SmaugJ. R. R. Tolkien, The Hobbit1937
ToothlessCressida Cowell's How to Train Your Dragon books, then DreamWorks films2003
DrogonGeorge R. R. Martin's A Song of Ice and Fire, then HBO1996
SpyroInsomniac Games' Spyro the Dragon1998

Sources: Wikipedia: Smaug, Toothless). These characters belong to their creators: fine as a pet's nickname, but avoid them in a published story or game.

Dragon names on real people and places

  • On babies. Drake was No. 827 for US boys in 2025, down from its best rank, No. 196 in 2010; Apollo was No. 445; and Draco went to 94 boys, up from 12 in 2001 (Social Security data).
  • On a flag. The red dragon of Wales was officially recognized as the national flag in 1959; the dragon's earliest known appearance as a symbol of the Britons is in the Historia Brittonum, written around 828 (Wikipedia).
  • In the calendar. The Dragon is the fifth animal of the Chinese zodiac; the last Dragon year ran from February 10, 2024, to January 28, 2025, and the next begins on January 28, 2036 (Wikipedia)).

Sources

Frequently asked questions

What is the most famous dragon name?

In mythology, Fáfnir, Jörmungandr, Ladon, Python and Tiamat are the best known. Y Ddraig Goch, the red dragon of Wales, may be the most visible today because it flies on a national flag.

What are good male dragon names?

Kaldurax, Skorvald, Ozrandor and Velkarn sound big and ancient. From myth, Fáfnir, Nidhogg and Typhon are classic male dragons and serpents.

What are good female dragon names?

Echidna, Campe, Delphyne and Kiyohime are female dragons or serpents from real myth, and Tiamat is pictured as one in modern retellings. Original picks include Seravyx, Kaelithra, Ignessa and Valtheris.

What does the word dragon mean?

Dragon comes from the Greek drakōn, a great serpent, through Latin draco. Old English used the words wyrm and draca for the same creature.

What name means dragon?

Drake (English), Draco (Latin), Ryu (Japanese, when written 竜 or 龍) and Ejder (Turkish) all mean dragon. Pendragon, a Welsh title from Arthurian legend, is literally head dragon, meaning war leader.

Can I use Toothless, Smaug or Drogon as a name?

For a pet or a plush toy, nobody will mind. In a book, game or product, avoid them: they are characters owned by their creators. An original name, like the invented ones on this page, keeps your dragon yours.

Is Tiamat a dragon?

Not clearly in the ancient sources. Tiamat was a Babylonian goddess of the salt sea, and the dragon form, often with many heads, comes from modern retellings rather than the original texts.

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