Valley Name Generator
Real and invented names for valleys, vales, glens and dales
Generate valley names for maps, novels, D&D settings and games: real valleys from Yosemite and the Loire to Hunza and Glen Coe, British dales, glens and vales, Spanish valles and Alpine tals, and fantasy vales, hollows and glens ready for a world map.
About valley names
Valley names are mostly plain description in the language of whoever farmed them, and the generic word tells you where you are. English has a whole vocabulary by region and size: dale in Yorkshire and the Lakes (Wensleydale, Borrowdale), glen and strath in Scotland (Glen Coe, Strathspey), vale for broad fertile lowlands (Vale of York), hollow and cove in Appalachia (Cades Cove), bottom and run for small creek valleys. Welsh uses cwm, nant and dyffryn; Spanish and Italian use valle and val (Valle Sagrado, Val d'Orcia); German uses -tal (Ötztal, Zillertal); the Himalaya simply adds Valley to a river or town (Hunza, Kathmandu, Spiti).
The specific part almost always comes from the river (Loire, Wye), a settlement or tribe (Napa, Shenandoah), what grows or lives there (Valley of Flowers, Elk Meadow), the rock or light (Death Valley, Valley of Fire) or a person or event. The grand Valley of the X form is reserved for places with a story: Valley of the Kings, Valley of Ten Thousand Smokes.
For fantasy maps, use the same logic: ordinary valleys get river and crop names, and the one valley that matters to the plot gets a mythic name like the Vale of Sorrows. This list gives you real valleys from five continents, every regional generic word, and original fantasy vales, hollows and glens.
How to choose valley names
- Pick the generic word for scale and culture: dale or glen for a narrow upland valley, vale for a broad farming plain, hollow or cove for a small Appalachian one, cwm or tal or valle to place it in Wales, the Alps or a Spanish-speaking world.
- Name ordinary valleys after the river, crop or animal that lives there (Wye Valley, Orchard Vale, Elk Meadow); most real valleys are named this way and it makes a map feel lived in.
- Save the Valley of the X construction for one or two places with a story, such as Valley of the Kings or Valley of Broken Bells; too many and none of them feel important.
- For a wine or farming region, the valley name becomes the brand (Napa, Barossa, Hunter), so keep it short and pronounceable and check it is not already a protected appellation.
- Mix registers on a fantasy map: a mythic Vale of Sorrows surrounded by Troutbeck Valley, Hazelhurst Vale and Miller's Bottom reads as a real landscape rather than a list of epic names.
Frequently asked questions
What is the difference between a valley, a vale, a glen and a dale?
They all mean a low area between hills, but usage differs by region. Dale is northern English and Norse-derived (Wensleydale); glen is Scottish and Irish for a narrow, often steep valley (Glen Coe); strath is a wide Scottish river valley; vale is a broad, fertile lowland valley (Vale of York). Hollow, cove, bottom and run are small valleys in American English.
What are some famous real valley names?
Yosemite, Death Valley, Napa, Shenandoah and Monument Valley in the United States; the Loire, Rhine, Douro and Aosta valleys in Europe; Glen Coe and the Great Glen in Scotland; Hunza, Kashmir, Spiti and Kathmandu in South Asia; the Valley of the Kings in Egypt; the Sacred Valley of the Incas in Peru; and the Barossa and Hunter valleys in Australia.
How do I name a fantasy valley so it sounds real?
Give it a reason and a regional generic word. A valley named for its river (Greywater Glen), its crop (Orchard Vale) or an event (Valley of Broken Bells) feels mapped rather than invented. Keep most names plain and reserve the grand Valley of the X form for the one valley your story needs.
Can I use these names for D&D, Minecraft or a novel?
Yes. The invented names are free to use, and real valley names are geographic place names, not trademarks, so you can name a D&D region after Glen Etive or a Minecraft world after Hunza. For a wine label or business, check that a real appellation such as Napa Valley is not already protected.
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All 500 valley names
A: 21 names
- Afan Valley
- Ahr Valley
- Aire Valley
- Alderwater Vale
- Allen Valley
- Altmühltal
- Anderson Valley
- Annandale
- Annapolis Valley
- Antelope Valley
- Aosta Valley
- Apple Valley
- Applecross Dale
- Applegate Valley
- Araku Valley
- Arkansas River Valley
- Arkengarthdale
- Ashford Hollow
- Ashvale
- Ashwick Vale
- Avon Valley
B: 19 names
- Bamiyan Valley
- Barossa Valley
- Barun Valley
- Bear Hollow
- Bega Valley
- Bekaa Valley
- Bellwether Vale
- Big Sandy Valley
- Birchvale
- Bishopdale
- Bitterroot Valley
- Blackfen Hollow
- Bollin Valley
- Borrowdale
- Bracken Hollow
- Brambleholt Valley
- Bridgeport Valley
- Burkes Garden
- Buttermere Valley
C: 38 names
- Cache Valley
- Cades Cove
- Cagayan Valley
- Calder Valley
- Cam Valley
- Camel Valley
- Canaan Valley
- Carmel Valley
- Carson Valley
- Castle Valley
- Cedar Bottom
- Champlain Valley
- Chee Dale
- Chess Valley
- Churnet Valley
- Cindervale
- Clare Valley
- Clydesdale
- Coachella Valley
- Colne Valley
- Connecticut River Valley
- Conococheague Valley
- Conwy Valley
- Copperkettle Vale
- Coquet Valley
- Coverdale
- Cowichan Valley
- Cragwater Vale
- Cranefield Hollow
- Cumberland Valley
- Cwm Bychan
- Cwm Croesor
- Cwm Cynon
- Cwm Gwaun
- Cwm Idwal
- Cwm Pennant
- Cwm Rhondda
- Cwm Tawe
D: 24 names
- Dane Valley
- Danube Valley
- Darent Valley
- Dart Valley
- Dearne Valley
- Death Valley
- Deepmoss Vale
- Deerfield Valley
- Dentdale
- Derwent Valley
- Don Valley
- Douro Valley
- Dovedale
- Dragonsbreath Vale
- Drover's Hollow
- Dry Hollow
- Duddon Valley
- Dulais Valley
- Duskmere Dale
- Dyffryn Ardudwy
- Dyffryn Clwyd
- Dyffryn Conwy
- Dyffryn Ogwen
- Dzukou Valley
E: 17 names
- Eagle River Valley
- Ebbw Valley
- Edale
- Eden Valley
- Eglinton Valley
- Elan Valley
- Elbe Valley
- Elderglen
- Elk River Valley
- Elmwater Valley
- Emberdale
- Engadin Valley
- Ennerdale
- Eskdale
- Española Valley
- Estes Valley
- Exe Valley
F: 9 names
- Faewood Vale
- Fal Valley
- Fergana Valley
- Fernbrook Glen
- Fowey Valley
- Fox Hollow
- Foxglove Dale
- Fraser Valley
- Frostfall Vale
G: 29 names
- Gallatin Valley
- Gannet's Glen
- Garsdale
- Gasteinertal
- Genesee Valley
- Giantsfall Valley
- Gila Valley
- Glen Affric
- Glen Clova
- Glen Coe
- Glen Etive
- Glen Feshie
- Glen Lyon
- Glen Nevis
- Glen Roy
- Glen Shiel
- Glen Torridon
- Glenfinnan
- Gloomhollow
- Golden Valley
- Goldleaf Glen
- Goyt Valley
- Great Glen
- Great Rift Valley
- Greenbrier Valley
- Greywater Glen
- Grisedale
- Grose Valley
- Gwydyr Valley
H: 21 names
- Hagerstown Valley
- Hallowdale
- Happy Valley
- Hazelhurst Vale
- Heatherdown Vale
- Heber Valley
- Hickory Hollow
- Hidden Valley
- Hollow Creek Valley
- Hollowmere Vale
- Hollyford Valley
- Holme Valley
- Honeyvale
- Hood River Valley
- Hooker Valley
- Hudson Valley
- Hunter Valley
- Hunter's Vale
- Hunza Valley
- Hushwater Glen
- Hutt Valley
I: 8 names
- Iao Valley
- Illinois Valley
- Imperial Valley
- Inn Valley
- Ironmoss Glen
- Irwell Valley
- Isar Valley
- Itchen Valley
J: 5 names
- Jackson Hole
- Jamison Valley
- Jiuzhai Valley
- Jordan Valley
- Juniper Glen
K: 15 names
- Kali Gandaki Valley
- Kanawha Valley
- Kangaroo Valley
- Kangra Valley
- Kashmir Valley
- Kathmandu Valley
- Kent Valley
- Kestrel Dale
- Khumbu Valley
- Kings River Valley
- Kingsrest Dale
- Kinzig Valley
- Kishacoquillas Valley
- Kleinwalsertal
- Kullu Valley
L: 24 names
- Langdale
- Langstrothdale
- Langtang Valley
- Lark's Hollow
- Las Vegas Valley
- Lathkill Dale
- Lauderdale
- Laurel Hollow
- Lauterbrunnen Valley
- Lea Valley
- Lechtal
- Lehigh Valley
- Lemhi Valley
- Liddesdale
- Ligonier Valley
- Littondale
- Loire Valley
- Long Valley
- Longmeadow Vale
- Lost Cove
- Lötschental
- Lucerne Valley
- Lune Valley
- Lynher Valley
M: 24 names
- Mad River Valley
- Manifold Valley
- Margaret River Valley
- Marrowmere Hollow
- Matanuska Valley
- Mattole Valley
- Megalong Valley
- Meon Valley
- Mesilla Valley
- Methow Valley
- Mill Valley
- Millbrook Glen
- Miller's Bottom
- Miller's Dale
- Minnesota River Valley
- Misbourne Valley
- Mistral Valley
- Mohawk Valley
- Monsal Dale
- Montafon
- Monument Valley
- Moreno Valley
- Moselle Valley
- Mossbourne Valley
N: 11 names
- Nadder Valley
- Nant Ffrancon
- Nant Gwynant
- Napa Valley
- Neckar Valley
- Neelum Valley
- Nene Valley
- Nidderdale
- Nithsdale
- Nittany Valley
- Nubra Valley
O: 12 names
- Oak Creek Valley
- Oakhollow
- Ohio Valley
- Okanagan Valley
- Orchard Vale
- Ottawa Valley
- Otter Creek Valley
- Ötztal
- Ouse Valley
- Owens Valley
- Owlsmere Glen
- Ozark Hollow
P: 14 names
- Pahrump Valley
- Panjshir Valley
- Paradise Valley
- Parson's Dale
- Parvati Valley
- Patterdale
- Penns Valley
- Pinedale Hollow
- Pioneer Valley
- Pitztal
- Pleasant Run
- Pleasant Valley
- Po Valley
- Possum Hollow
Q: 1 name
- Queensmere Vale
R: 19 names
- Ravenholme Dale
- Red River Valley
- Rhine Valley
- Rhône Valley
- Rhymney Valley
- Ribble Valley
- Ribblesdale
- Rimewater Dale
- Rio Grande Valley
- Roaring Fork Valley
- Roding Valley
- Rogue Valley
- Rossendale Valley
- Rother Valley
- Round Valley
- Routeburn Valley
- Rowantree Dale
- Ruby Valley
- Ryburn Valley
S: 46 names
- Sacramento Valley
- Sacred Valley of the Incas
- Salinas Valley
- Sallowfield Valley
- Salt Lake Valley
- Saltmarsh Bottom
- San Fernando Valley
- San Joaquin Valley
- San Luis Valley
- Sanpete Valley
- Shenandoah Valley
- Shepherd's Vale
- Silent Valley
- Silicon Valley
- Silverthorn Dale
- Simi Valley
- Sirhowy Valley
- Skagit Valley
- Sleepy Hollow
- Soar Valley
- Sonoma Valley
- Sorrowmere Valley
- Spiti Valley
- Spring Valley
- Star Valley
- Starfall Hollow
- Stillbrook Dale
- Stillwater Hollow
- Stormsend Valley
- Stour Valley
- Strath Fillan
- Strath Tay
- Strathconon
- Strathearn
- Strathglass
- Strathmore
- Strathnaver
- Strathspey
- Strathyre
- Stubaital
- Sun Valley
- Sunder Valley
- Surprise Valley
- Swaledale
- Swan Valley
- Swat Valley
T: 23 names
- Taff Valley
- Tallow Bottom
- Tamar Valley
- Tame Valley
- Tamina Valley
- Taos Valley
- Tavy Valley
- Tees Valley
- Teifi Valley
- Teign Valley
- Tennessee Valley
- Test Valley
- Teton Valley
- Teviotdale
- Thistledown Vale
- Thornvale
- Tooele Valley
- Towy Valley
- Trent Valley
- Tuckaleechee Cove
- Tweeddale
- Tygart Valley
- Tyne Valley
U: 3 names
- Umpqua Valley
- Usk Valley
- Utah Valley
V: 81 names
- Vail Valley
- Val Badia
- Val d'Isère
- Val d'Orcia
- Val de Loire
- Val di Fassa
- Val di Funes
- Val Gardena
- Val Grande
- Val Thorens
- Val Venosta
- Val Verzasca
- Vale of Aylesbury
- Vale of Belvoir
- Vale of Berkeley
- Vale of Clwyd
- Vale of Evesham
- Vale of Ffestiniog
- Vale of Glamorgan
- Vale of Kashmir
- Vale of Llangollen
- Vale of Mowbray
- Vale of Neath
- Vale of Pewsey
- Vale of Pickering
- Vale of Rheidol
- Vale of Sorrows
- Vale of Taunton Deane
- Vale of Tears
- Vale of the Evening Star
- Vale of White Horse
- Vale of York
- Vall de Boí
- Vall de Núria
- Valle d'Itria
- Valle de Aburrá
- Valle de Arán
- Valle de Baztán
- Valle de Bravo
- Valle de Cocora
V, continued
- Valle de Elqui
- Valle de Guadalupe
- Valle de la Luna
- Valle del Cauca
- Valle del Jerte
- Valle Maggia
- Valle Sagrado
- Vallée d'Aspe
- Vallée d'Ossau
- Vallée de Chamonix
- Vallée de la Clarée
- Vallée de la Roya
- Valley Forge
- Valley of a Thousand Springs
- Valley of Ashes
- Valley of Bones
- Valley of Broken Bells
- Valley of Desolation
- Valley of Echoes
- Valley of Fire
- Valley of Flowers
- Valley of Lanterns
- Valley of Mexico
- Valley of Mirrors
- Valley of Saints
- Valley of Ten Thousand Smokes
- Valley of the Gods
- Valley of the Hollow Moon
- Valley of the Kings
- Valley of the Last Light
- Valley of the Moon
- Valley of the Nine Rivers
- Valley of the Queens
- Valley of the Shadow
- Valley of the Sleeping Giants
- Valley of the Sun
- Valley of the Temples
- Valley of Whispers
- Valsesia
- Valtellina
- Verde Valley
W: 25 names
- Wachau Valley
- Waikato Valley
- Waipio Valley
- Wakhan Valley
- Wasdale
- Washoe Valley
- Waveney Valley
- Wear Valley
- Wears Valley
- Welland Valley
- Wenatchee Valley
- Wensleydale
- Wet Mountain Valley
- Wharfedale
- Whisperwind Hollow
- Wiesental
- Willamette Valley
- Willowmere Dale
- Windmere Vale
- Wolf Creek Valley
- Wolfscote Dale
- Wye Valley
- Wylye Valley
- Wyoming Valley
- Wyrmrest Valley
Y: 7 names
- Yakima Valley
- Yampa Valley
- Yarlung Tsangpo Valley
- Yarra Valley
- Yewdale
- Yosemite Valley
- Yumthang Valley