Shifter Names Guide | Examples and Naming Conventions for 5E

There are few races in Eberron: Rising from the Last War with a closer connection to nature than the Shifter. These creatures are the half-animals of Dungeons & Dragons 5E, and come with a personality that fits. There are many different tribes, and many different reasons to play a Shifter. However, they have a complex culture, and even if you take a Shifter outside of Eberron, knowing about their culture is helpful. Our Shifter Names 5E guide will bring you a bit of inspiration to flesh out your Shifter.

Shifter Names Guide

Shifter names are pretty simple to work with, and thus a random generator might be a bit of a waste. Shifters are very much based on events, and thus your shifter’s name should fit their background fairly well. Might be better than just having a spin on a random generator!

How are Shifters Named in Eberron?

Shifters are the weretouched of Eberron, in some ways. As a child, the Shifter forms a close bond with the beast within. These totemic forces are explosive forces in the Shifter’s personality, and all Shifters have a unique inner beast that guides them in some way. This beast within is a pool of powerful instincts, and shifters with similar totemic spirits might behave in similar ways. No matter what, this beast turns them into stellar survivors, and fairly knowledgeable of nature and the spirit world.

The Shifter changes slightly based on their totem. While unshifted, they are like lithe and flexible humans, but with elements that aid their survival. They tend to have larger eyes, flatter noises, or larger ears. They naturally have fur on most of their bodies, to insulate them during cold nights. The beast within augments their appearance slightly; a Shifter with a beast of a shark might have a larger mouth or sharp teeth, while a beast of a camel might be taller and have a rounder face.

Shifters prefer natural areas, and live across the rural regions of Khorvaire. They have stronger presences in the Eldeen Reache. They form powerful bonds with others, but relish in self-reliance and freedom, causing an interesting conversation amongst shifters. Shifters don’t often form solid communities, but usually accept friendship and will help allies if necessary. Their primal connection usually guides their hand towards more natural causes, but their independence can allow a Shifter to follow any creed or guild that they like.

A Shifter outside of Eberron is much the same. Since Eberron Shifters have little background, a Shifter could be born from lycanthropy, completely Fey causes, barbarian rituals, or anything in between. As long as they have a connection to their inner beast, they fit in anywhere.

Examples of Shifter Names

Shifters don’t have their own language, and often live in blended communities. Their names will overlap with others in their region, typically with human names. However, Shifters that are more independent might cling to a name that has some relevance with their personality or an event of their past. This might mean a Shifter will change their name when something important happens, or just to feel more at home with a change in lifestyle.

Shifter Names

• Badger
• Bear
• Cat
• Fang
• Grace
• Howl
• Strap
• River
• Snow
• Scratch
• Bat
• Grouse
• Patch
• Brow
• Moon
• Rain
• Scar
• Stripe
• Swift
• Talon
• Wolf

That wraps up our shifter names guide! The Shifter has a ton of options to work with, so you can really let your creativity flow. If you are considering a new shifter character, our Shifter Race guide can help you out! Thought of any good names on your own? Let us know in the comment section.