How to Create a Two-Part Character Name in WoW: Forever

Enter a first name and a second name when you create a World of Warcraft: Forever character. The game checks the full combination across your region. If someone has taken your favorite first name, you can still use it with an available second name. Once you're in the world, you can hide your own second name above the character without changing the name itself.

1. Start with the ruleset and faction you want

Launch World of Warcraft: Forever and choose your ruleset before creating your character. If you're joining friends, confirm the region, ruleset, and faction first. A name doesn't place you in the same world as someone else. A matching surname is useful for recognizing your group, but everyone still needs to select the same ruleset to adventure together.

Create the character and find the two name fields. Think of the first field as the name other players will call you and the second as the part that makes the pair distinct. You can choose a family name, a word inspired by the character's background, or another short name you can easily tell a friend.

2. Try a different combination if your first choice is taken

1. Enter the first name you want to keep.
2. Pair it with a second name that fits your character.
3. Submit the character. If the game says the combination is unavailable, try a different second name.
4. If the game rejects multiple combinations, check that both parts fit the naming rules before trying more variations.

The complete name is unique within a region. Switching to a different ruleset in the same region is therefore a poor way to hunt for an already-taken combination. Keep the ruleset you wanted and change one part of the name instead. For example, if Mara Stonewick is unavailable, try a different second name for Mara. The examples here illustrate the pattern, so their availability will vary.

Blizzard can evaluate both parts together. Splitting an inappropriate word between the fields or disguising it with repeated letters won't reliably get it through the filter. Roleplay rulesets also have naming expectations, so choose a name that fits if you're joining an RP guild. The character creator's random name generator is another place to look for ideas when you can't find an acceptable combination.

3. Hide the second name above your character

1. Log into the character.
2. Press Escape, open Options, and select Nameplates.
3. Find My Secondary Name and turn off its display.
4. Return to the world and check the name above your character.

This setting changes how your own name appears in the world. The secondary name remains part of your full name and still appears in chat. If another player needs to find you, give them both parts even if you've hidden the second on your screen. That matters especially when more than one player in the region uses the same first name.

4. Share the exact name with your group

Once you're in, tell your friends the name as it appears in chat, including the second part. Do this before they try to invite you from a note that contains only your first name. If an invite still fails, check the spelling of both parts, then compare the region, ruleset, and faction. Changing the nameplate option won't fix a mismatch in any of those details.

If your group wants a naming theme, decide which part to share before everyone submits a character. A shared second name lets friends keep different first names, which makes it easier to tell people apart in chat. Have a backup pair ready in case someone arrives after the combination they wanted has been claimed. Each character still needs its own available full name.

The early name reservation window ran before launch. If you're creating a character now, use the normal character creation screen and test the combination there. If you previously reserved a name, look for that existing character in your list before you try to create another with the same full name.

For a guild roster, copy the full name directly from the game into your group chat. That way an officer has the exact spelling when inviting you, even if you joined the guild discussion under a different Discord name.