English Place Name Generator
Villages, parishes, fells and farms that sound truly English
Generate English place names that could sit on an Ordnance Survey map: villages and hamlets, double-barrelled parishes, Lakeland fells and tarns, Dartmoor tors, downs, fens, woods, halls and farms. Ideal for novels, tabletop campaigns, village-building games and fictional maps.
About English place names
English place names are a thousand years of layered languages, and the trick to inventing one is to respect the layers. Most settlement names are Old English: a person, tribe or feature plus a habitation word such as -ton, -ham, -worth, -stead, -bury, -ford, -ley or -field, which gives Dunstanworth, Kedlesworth and Larkstoke. North and east of Watling Street the Danes added -by, -thorpe, -thwaite and -beck (Gillingsby, Lambthorpe), the Cornish kept Tre-, Pen- and Pol-, and the Normans stapled their surnames onto manors they were granted, producing Okeford Fitzpaine and Redmarley D'Abitot. Church Latin supplied Magna, Parva, Regis, Abbas and the glorious cum and juxta.
But a map has far more than villages on it, and this generator covers the rest. Lakeland gives fells, pikes, tarns, hauses and knotts (Scarth Gap, Blea Tarn, Rannerdale Knotts); Dartmoor and Bodmin give tors, pools and clapper bridges; the chalk country gives downs, beacons, hangers and bottoms; the fens give droves, washes, sluices and Forty Foot drains; the coast gives nesses, hoes, bights and quays. Then there are the named buildings and fragments of parish that fill in the gaps: Wyckham Lodge, Hollowshott Farm, Ashcott Rectory, Goose Eye, Potten End.
Choose the feature type first, then the region, and the name will place a reader before you describe a single hedge.
How to choose English place names
- Decide where in England the place is before you pick a name. Norse endings (-by, -thwaite, -beck) belong north of a line from Chester to London; Tre- and Pol- belong in Cornwall; -hurst, -den and -fold cluster in the Weald.
- Use double-barrelled affixes sparingly. One Magna, one Fitzpaine or one cum per map is charming; five makes the setting read as a parody.
- For natural features, let the generic word carry the geography: Tarn and Fell say Cumbria, Tor says Dartmoor, Down and Hanger say chalk, Fen and Drove say East Anglia.
- Name small things too. A hamlet called Pollard's Gate, a wood called Wistman's, a farm called Hollowshott or a crossroads called Jessop's Cross makes a fictional parish feel lived in.
- Say the name aloud the way a local would, swallowing syllables: Cholmondeley, Happisburgh and Woolfardisworthy are famously unreadable, so give your reader at least one easy one per page.
Frequently asked questions
Are these real English places?
Mostly not. A handful of real places are included as models (Tolpuddle, Wistman's Wood, Striding Edge) because they show the patterns, but the bulk of the list is invented names built from the same Old English, Norse, Cornish and Norman elements so they sound real without belonging to anyone.
What is the difference between this and the English town name generator?
The town generator focuses on settlement names. This one treats the whole map: villages and hamlets, yes, but also hills, tors, fells, tarns, fens, woods, coastal features, manors, farms, lodges and lanes, so you can name every feature a story or campaign needs.
Can I use these names for a fantasy or D&D setting?
Yes. English-flavoured names are the default register for a great deal of fantasy, from the Shire to half the villages in Dungeons & Dragons. Drop the more obviously modern fragments (Airfield, Marina) and the rest transfer straight across.
How do I invent my own English place name?
Pick a first element (a person such as Ceolred, a tree, an animal, a colour or a river) and a second element that fits the region and feature (-ton, -ham, -ley, -thorpe, Fell, Tor, Down), then optionally add a distinguishing affix such as Great, Nether, St Peter or a Norman surname.
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All 500 English place names
A: 26 names
- Abbotskerswell
- Ablington Sheen
- Abridge Mill
- Acton Place
- Affpuddle
- Agglestone Rock
- Aldbury Nowers
- Alderton Knoll
- Aldham Tye
- Aldingbourne Rife
- Aldwincle Parva
- Alton Pancras
- Alton Water
- Amberwick
- Ampfield Wood
- Angle Tarn
- Anstey Castle
- Archer's Green
- Arger Fen
- Ashcott Rectory
- Ashdon Halt
- Ashford Hangers
- Ashperton Magna
- Aspley Heath
- Assington Thicks
- Aysgarth Force
B: 44 names
- Badbury Rings
- Bardfield Saling
- Barrowden Heath
- Bartlow Hills
- Barton Bendish
- Barwick Ford
- Battlesden
- Bawdsey Quay
- Bellever Clapper
- Benacre Ness
- Berden Bridge
- Berners Roding
- Bexwold
- Birdbrook
- Bishops Lydford
- Blackmoor Vale
- Blackmore Priory
- Blea Tarn
- Blencarn
- Bliscombe
- Blo Norton
- Bobbingworth Mill
- Bosham Hoe
- Bowerchalke
- Boxted Cross
- Bradfield Combust
- Bradwell Juxta Coggeshall
- Bradwell Waterside
- Brent Eleigh
- Brent Pelham
- Brent Tor
- Briantspuddle
- Brindlecombe
- Brockhampton Green
- Brogborough
- Broxbourne Woods
- Buckler's Hard
- Bulbarrow Hill
- Burcombe
- Bures Hamlet
- Bures St Mary
- Burnham Quay
- Butley Mills
- Butser Hill
C: 35 names
- Caldbeck Row
- Cardinham
- Castle Camps
- Cattawade
- Cawdley St Mary
- Chapman's Pool
- Chappel Viaduct
- Charlton All Saints
- Cheesefoot Head
- Chelmondiston
- Chettle
- Chickney
- Chignall Smealy
- Chillesford
- Chilmark Bottom
- Chilton Street
- Chrishall Grange
- Church Norton
- Clare Camp
- Clavering Bury
- Climping Beach
- Coalhouse Fort
- Cobnor Point
- Cockfield Green
- Cocking Causeway
- Cockley Cley
- Cold Aston Magna
- Coombe Bissett
- Coombe Hill
- Corfe Common
- Covehithe
- Cranmere
- Cranmere Pool
- Cresswell Hall
- Crummock Beck
D: 20 names
- Dalesham
- Danbury Common
- Dancing Ledge
- Dedham Vale
- Deerleap
- Dell Quay
- Denver Sluice
- Dinton Lacey
- Donhead St Andrew
- Dozmary Pool
- Drewsteignton
- Druce Farm
- Dry Drayford
- Dunholme Abbey
- Dunmail Raise
- Dunsmore End
- Dunstanworth
- Dunwich Heath
- Durlston Head
- Dymsham
E: 18 names
- East Hagbury
- Eastbridge
- Eastwold
- Eccleshall Green
- Edington Priory
- Eggardon Hill
- Egmont Bight
- Ella Nore
- Ellerby Ings
- Elmdon Lee
- Elmer Sands
- Elstead Row
- Erwarton
- Esk Hause
- Eskholme
- Ewelme
- Eyeworth Pond
- Eyke
F: 23 names
- Fairfield Pike
- Farleigh Wallop
- Farncastle
- Felixstowe Ferry
- Felsted Bury
- Fennimore Grange
- Fifehead Neville
- Fifield Bavant
- Finchingfield Bridge
- Flatford Mill
- Fonthill Gifford
- Fontmell Down
- Fordingley
- Freston Tower
- Friday Street
- Friston Moss
- Frithsden
- Frostenden
- Froswick
- Fur Tor
- Furzey Lodge
- Fyfield Lodge
- Fyfield Wick
G: 22 names
- Gaddesden Row
- Gainsford End
- Gedgrave
- Gillingsby
- Gisleham
- Glarmere
- Godlingston Heath
- Godmanstone
- Golden Cap
- Golitha Falls
- Good Easter
- Goose Eye
- Gorsebrook
- Gorsemoor Lane
- Great Amwell Pool
- Great Bardfield
- Great Chishill Mill
- Great Harrowby
- Great Waldingfield
- Great Wishford
- Great Yeldham
- Greystone
H: 40 names
- Halnaker Windmill
- Hambledon Hill
- Hanging Langcombe
- Harkstead Hall
- Harrowmere
- Harting Down
- Hastingwood
- Hatfield Peverel
- Hatherley End
- Haynes Church End
- Hazelbury Bryan
- Helford Water
- Helions Bumpstead
- Helions Wood
- Hemley
- Hempstead Hall
- Henham Lodge
- Henstead Green
- Hexworthy Cross
- Heydon Ditch
- High Easter
- Higham Bridge
- Highcliffe Edge
- Highwood Quarter
- Hindon
- Hinton Ampner
- Hockwold cum Wilton
- Holbrook Creek
- Hollesley Marshes
- Hollin Bank
- Hollowshott Farm
- Holywell cum Needingworth
- Honister Hause
- Horndon on the Hill
- Horseheath Park
- Hound Tor
- Hudnall Common
- Hundon Bridge
- Hunsdon Lodge
- Husborne Crawley
I: 11 names
- Ibthorpe
- Ickwell Green
- Iddesley
- Iffley Bottom
- Iken Cliff
- Ilketshall St Lawrence
- Ill Bell
- Ingleby Greenhow
- Isle Abbotts
- Iverley
- Ivinghoe Beacon
J: 1 name
- Jevingham
K: 16 names
- Kedington Bank
- Kedlesworth
- Kelmscote
- Kelvedon Hatch
- Kentmere Tarn
- Kessingland Beach
- Kestrel Hill
- Kilmington Common
- Kimmeridge Ledges
- Kingsclere Woodlands
- Kingston Bagshaw
- Kingston Maurward
- Kirkby Malzeard
- Kirton Creek
- Knightwood Oak
- Knodishall Whin
L: 21 names
- Lambfold
- Landguard Point
- Langham Hall
- Langstone Mill
- Langstrath
- Larkstoke
- Leather Tor
- Leavenheath
- Levington Creek
- Lindsey Tye
- Liston
- Little Sampford
- Lockinge
- Long Whatley
- Longbridge Deverill
- Longwood Warren
- Loughrigg Fell
- Lound
- Lower Slaughterford
- Luccombe Parva
- Lyscombe Bottom
M: 21 names
- Magdalen Hill Down
- Mapledurwell
- Mappowder
- Mardale Head
- Mark Ash Wood
- Market Overton
- Martyr Worthy
- Mashbury
- Matley Heath
- Mawdsley
- Medmerry
- Meesden
- Melbury Beacon
- Methwold Hythe
- Micheldever Wood
- Milborne St Andrew
- Moggerhanger
- Morgan's Vale
- Morwenstoke
- Mottistone
- Mutford
N: 17 names
- Nab Scar
- Nacton Shore
- Navestock Side
- Nayland with Wissington
- Nazeing Gate
- Nedging Tye
- Nether Cerne
- Nether Compton Abbas
- Nettlecombe Tout
- Newbourne Springs
- Newton Tony
- Nine Barrow Down
- Noar Hill
- Nomansland
- Norton Little Green
- Nunburnholme
- Nutbourne End
O: 16 names
- Oakamoor
- Ocknell Plain
- Odcombe Regis
- Offord Cluny
- Ogbourne St Andrew
- Old Harry Rocks
- Old Sodbury Heath
- Old Winchester Hill
- Orcheston
- Orford Ness
- Ormesby Court
- Orrest Head
- Osmerley
- Oulton Dyke
- Owermoigne
- Oxenhope Moor
P: 21 names
- Pagham Harbour
- Paglesham Eastend
- Pakefield Cliff
- Passingford Bridge
- Pentlow Tower
- Pertwood
- Pidley cum Fenton
- Pillar Rock
- Pilley Bailey
- Pilsdon Pen
- Pin Mill
- Pitminster
- Place Fell
- Pleshey Mount
- Plumpton Bassett
- Pondersbridge
- Popham Beacons
- Potten End
- Preston Candover
- Priors Hardwick
- Pyecombe Hatch
Q: 3 names
- Quarrendon
- Queen Camel
- Quennington
R: 19 names
- Ramsden Bellhouse
- Ramsey Forty Foot
- Ramsholt
- Rannerdale Knotts
- Rawlsbury Camp
- Redgrave Fen
- Redmarley D'Abitot
- Rettendon Turnpike
- Reydon Smear
- Rickinghall Inferior
- Ringshall Coppice
- Ringstead Bay
- Rivenby
- Rivenhall End
- Rockbourne
- Roudham Heath
- Roxwell Bridge
- Rushall St Peter
- Ryme Monachorum
S: 44 names
- Saltcombe Priory
- Saltfleet St Clement
- Santon Downham
- Saxtead Row
- Scarth Gap
- Selborne Hanger
- Semley Common
- Setley Pond
- Shepton Ferrers
- Sherfield English
- Shingle Street
- Shotley Gate
- Shottisham
- Shrewton
- Siblyback Water
- Sidlesham Quay
- Sinah Common
- Slindon Folly
- Snape Maltings
- Sotherton Corner
- Sowley Pond
- Stanford le Hope
- Stanstead Abbotts Lock
- Stanwick Lacy
- Stapleford Tawney
- Stifford Clays
- Stoke by Clare
- Stoke by Nayland
- Stoke Charity
- Stokesay Green
- Stondon Massey
- Stoner Hill
- Stoney Cross
- Stow Maries
- Stratford St Mary
- Stratford Tony
- Stratton Hall
- Striding Edge
- Sturmer Mere
- Stutton Ness
- Sudbourne Park
- Sutton Hoo
- Swyre Head
- Sydling St Nicholas
T: 25 names
- Tarn Hows
- Tattingstone Wonder
- Ten Mile Bank
- Theydon Garnon
- Thistlewood
- Thorington Street
- Thorncombe Wood
- Thornham Marina
- Thornham Tye
- Thornham Walks
- Thrussington
- Tidmarsh
- Tilbury Juxta Clare
- Tilshead
- Tilty Abbey
- Toller Fratrum
- Tolpuddle Ford
- Toppesfield
- Totternhoe Knolls
- Tournerbury
- Trewortha
- Trimley Marshes
- Tunstall Forest
- Turners Puddle
- Tyneham
U: 7 names
- Uffingham
- Uggeshall
- Upavon
- Upper Bucklebury
- Upton Snodsbury
- Upwey Parva
- Urchfont
V: 2 names
- Vernham Dean
- Vixen Tor
W: 40 names
- Wadenhoe
- Wakering Stairs
- Waldringfield
- Walton Ferry
- Wangford
- Wantisden
- Warleggan
- Wasdale Foot
- Waterston Manor
- Welney Wash
- Wendens Ambo
- Wenhaston Blackheath
- West Meon Hut
- Wetwang Wold
- Wherstead
- White Roding
- Whittlesey Wash
- Wickhambrook
- Widford Bury
- Willingale Doe
- Willingale Spain
- Wilsford cum Lake
- Win Green
- Winterbourne Bassett
- Wissington Grange
- Wistman's Wood
- Wixoe
- Woodfidley
- Woodham Walter
- Woolverstone
- Wootton Fitzwarren
- Wootton Pillinge
- Wormingford Mere
- Worth Matravers
- Wortham Ling
- Wrathmere Manor
- Wrenbury
- Wrynose Bottom
- Wyckham Lodge
- Wyverstone Street
Y: 7 names
- Yardley Gobion
- Yatesbury
- Yatton Keynes
- Yaxham
- Yes Tor
- Yewbarrow
- Yoxford