Waterfall Name Generator

Real and invented names for falls, cascades and cataracts

Places & Geography500 names

0 of 500 seen

This or that?

7 picks, 1 winner

Tap the name you like more.

Tap a name to copy it. The arrows swap one name.

Or browse all 500 names, A to Z

Generate waterfall names for maps, novels, D&D worlds and game levels: famous real falls from Angel Falls to Gullfoss, Icelandic foss and Scottish linn names, Welsh rhaeadr and Spanish saltos, blunt frontier falls like Dead Man's Falls, and mythic cataracts for fantasy settings.

About waterfall names

Most real waterfall names are a generic word plus one detail, and the generic word tells you where you are. English uses falls in North America, force in the Yorkshire Dales (High Force, Hardraw Force), linn or spout in Scotland (Corra Linn, Spout of Garnock), and eas in Gaelic. Iceland and Norway end names in -foss or -fossen (Gullfoss, Vøringsfossen), Wales uses rhaeadr, pistyll and sgwd, Spanish has salto, catarata and cascada, Portuguese has cachoeira, French has chute and cascade, Japanese has -taki and Lao has tad. Swapping the generic word is the quickest way to make an invented fall sound like it belongs to a particular region or culture.

The specific part usually comes from what the water looks like (Bridalveil, Horsetail, Seven Sisters, Staubbach meaning dust stream), what it sounds like (Mosi-oa-Tunya, the Smoke That Thunders), a plant or animal (Fern, Otter, Salmon Leap), an event or person (Dead Man's Falls, Reichenbach, Janet's Foss), or the stream it sits on (Calf Creek Falls, Multnomah Falls). Surveyors also label a stair of falls Upper, Middle and Lower.

For fantasy maps, keep most falls plain and descriptive and save one grand name, a Godsfall Cataract or the Weeping Stair, for the waterfall the story actually visits. A single mythic name reads as legend; ten of them read as a list.

How to choose waterfall names

  • Choose the generic word by culture and scale: falls or cascade for something ordinary, cataract for a huge river-wide drop, force or linn for a British setting, -foss for a Norse one, salto or cachoeira for Latin America.
  • Name the fall for what a traveler would notice first, its shape (Horsetail, Veil, Punchbowl), its sound, its color, or the stream it falls from, and it will sound like a real map label rather than a fantasy brand.
  • Stacked falls on one stream are usually called Upper, Middle and Lower, or numbered; use that for a trail guide or a dungeon map and readers will instantly understand the layout.
  • Frontier-era names were blunt and often morbid (Dead Man's, Widowmaker, Hangman's Leap); one or two of those ground a wilderness setting better than a dozen Silverveil Cascades.
  • If the name is for a real trail, park or property, check a national gazetteer such as the USGS Geographic Names Information System so you do not duplicate a fall a few miles away.

Frequently asked questions

What are the most famous waterfall names in the world?

Angel Falls in Venezuela (the tallest), Niagara Falls on the US-Canada border, Victoria Falls between Zambia and Zimbabwe, Iguazu Falls between Argentina and Brazil, Yosemite Falls in California, Gullfoss and Skógafoss in Iceland, Kaieteur Falls in Guyana, Tugela Falls in South Africa, Plitvice in Croatia and Huangguoshu in China. Many of the biggest have local names too, such as Mosi-oa-Tunya for Victoria Falls and Kerepakupai Merú for Angel Falls.

What is the difference between a waterfall, cascade and cataract?

A waterfall is the general term for water dropping over a vertical or near-vertical ledge. A cascade is a series of small steps or a fall that slides over rock rather than free-falling. A cataract is a very large, powerful fall or rapid, often the full width of a big river, as in the cataracts of the Nile. Plunge, horsetail, punchbowl, fan, block, tiered and segmented describe the shape of a fall.

How do I name a fantasy waterfall so it sounds real?

Pick one concrete detail and a generic word that matches the culture: Ravenmere Falls, Hrafnafoss, Eas Dubh and Rhaeadr Ddu all mean roughly 'black or raven fall' and each places the waterfall in a different world. Keep invented names short, give the biggest one a legend (the Roaring Mother, Godsfall Cataract) and let the small ones be plain like Cold Spring Cascade or Otter Slide Falls.

Can I use these names for D&D, Minecraft or a novel?

Yes. The invented names are free to use, and real waterfall names are place names rather than trademarks, so they are fine in fiction. For tabletop maps the English and fantasy names slot straight into any setting; the foss, linn, rhaeadr and salto names are useful when you want a region to feel Norse, Scottish, Welsh or Spanish without saying so.

Related generators

More like this

Browse category

All 500 waterfall names

This is the complete list the generator above draws its random batches from, sorted A to Z and grouped by first letter.

Plain text, one name per line.

A: 17 names

  • Abbot's Falls
  • Aber Falls
  • Air Terjun Telaga Tujuh
  • Akaka Falls
  • Aldeyjarfoss
  • Álfafoss
  • Amber Falls
  • Amedaki Falls
  • Amicalola Falls
  • Angel Falls
  • Angel's Stair
  • Anvil Falls
  • Assaranca Waterfall
  • Athabasca Falls
  • Athirappilly Falls
  • Augrabies Falls
  • Aysgarth Falls

B: 33 names

  • Baatara Gorge Waterfall
  • Bald Eagle Falls
  • Ban Gioc Falls
  • Barron Falls
  • Basalt Column Falls
  • Bear Wallow Falls
  • Bearpaw Falls
  • Bell Tower Falls
  • Bellows Falls
  • Bhagsu Falls
  • Bigar Waterfall
  • Bjørnefossen
  • Black Kettle Falls
  • Black Linn
  • Blackwater Falls
  • Bláfoss
  • Blue Nile Falls
  • Bluebell Cascade
  • Boka Waterfall
  • Bond Falls
  • Bonnington Linn
  • Bootlegger Falls
  • Bowen Falls
  • Boyoma Falls
  • Brandywine Falls
  • Bridal Mist Cascade
  • Bridal Veil Falls
  • Bridalveil Fall
  • Brokentooth Falls
  • Browne Falls
  • Brúðarfoss
  • Burney Falls
  • Bushkill Falls

C: 52 names

  • Cachoeira da Fumaça
  • Cachoeira da Pedra Furada
  • Cachoeira da Prata
  • Cachoeira do Abade
  • Cachoeira do Buracão
  • Cachoeira do Rio Preto
  • Cachoeira do Sossego
  • Cachoeira Santa Bárbara
  • Cachoeira Véu de Noiva
  • Calf Creek Falls
  • Cascada Cola de Caballo
  • Cascada de Basaseachi
  • Cascada de Ézaro
  • Cascada de Tamul
  • Cascada El Chiflón
  • Cascadas de Agua Azul
  • Cascade de Gavarnie
  • Cascade de l'Oule
  • Cascade de la Pisse
  • Cascade du Hérisson
  • Cascade du Ray-Pic
  • Cascade du Rouget
  • Cascata del Toce
  • Cascata delle Marmore
  • Cascata di Nardis
  • Catarata del Toro
  • Catarata La Paz
  • Cathedral Falls
  • Cauldron Snout
  • Cedar Run Falls
  • Chalk Cliff Falls
  • Chapel Falls
  • Chimney Falls
  • Chimney Rock Falls
  • Chitrakote Falls
  • Churchill Falls
  • Chute du Diable
  • Chute Kabir Kouba
  • Chute Ouiatchouan
  • Chute Vauréal
  • Chutes de la Chaudière
  • Chutes de la Lobé
  • Cinder Gap Falls
  • Cloudreach Cascade
  • Cold Spring Cascade
  • Columbine Falls
  • Copper Kettle Falls
  • Corra Linn
  • Covered Bridge Falls
  • Crowsnest Cascade
  • Crystal Cascade
  • Cumberland Falls

D: 18 names

  • Datanla Falls
  • Dawn Spray Falls
  • Dead Man's Falls
  • Della Falls
  • Detian Falls
  • Dettifoss
  • Devil's Kettle
  • Devil's Punchbowl
  • Dipper Falls
  • Djúpifoss
  • Double Rainbow Falls
  • Dragonfly Falls
  • Dragonspit Falls
  • Drowned Man Falls
  • Dry Fork Falls
  • Duden Waterfalls
  • Dudhsagar Falls
  • Dynjandi

E: 14 names

  • Eas a' Chual Aluinn
  • Eas Bàn
  • Eas Dubh
  • Eas Fors
  • Eas Mòr
  • Eas na Caillich
  • Eas Ruadh
  • Elderglass Cataract
  • Elk Lick Falls
  • Ellenborough Falls
  • Epupa Falls
  • Erawan Falls
  • Evensong Falls
  • Everdrop

F: 17 names

  • Falls of Bruar
  • Falls of Dochart
  • Falls of Foyers
  • Falls of Glomach
  • Father of Mists
  • Feather Falls
  • Fernleap Falls
  • Fiddlehead Falls
  • Fiddler's Fall
  • Firefly Falls
  • Flint Falls
  • Flume Falls
  • Forge Falls
  • Fossen Bratte
  • Foxglove Falls
  • Frostmere Falls
  • Fukuroda Falls

G: 21 names

  • Ghostwater Falls
  • Giant's Ladder
  • Giessbach Falls
  • Gitgit Waterfall
  • Glassbeck Falls
  • Glencar Waterfall
  • Glory Hole Falls
  • Glymur
  • Gocta Cataracts
  • Goðafoss
  • Godsfall Cataract
  • Gollinger Wasserfall
  • Gooseberry Falls
  • Gråfossen
  • Grænifoss
  • Granite Stair Falls
  • Great Falls of the Potomac
  • Grey Goose Cascade
  • Grey Mare's Tail
  • Gristmill Cascade
  • Gullfoss

H: 31 names

  • Haew Narok
  • Haew Suwat
  • Háifoss
  • Hangman's Leap
  • Harafudo Falls
  • Hardraw Force
  • Havasu Falls
  • Hayrake Falls
  • Hearthfall
  • Helmcken Falls
  • Hemlock Hollow Falls
  • Hemmed-In Hollow Falls
  • Hengifoss
  • Henrhyd Falls
  • Hermit Falls
  • Heron Falls
  • Hi'ilawe Falls
  • Hidden Stair Cascade
  • High Force
  • Hog Rock Falls
  • Hogenakkal Falls
  • Horsetail Cascade
  • Horsetail Falls
  • Horsethief Falls
  • Howick Falls
  • Hrafnafoss
  • Huangguoshu Falls
  • Huka Falls
  • Hukou Falls
  • Hundred-Voice Falls
  • Hvítfoss

I: 3 names

  • Ice House Falls
  • Iguazu Falls
  • Indian Ladder Falls

J: 3 names

  • Janet's Foss
  • Jim Jim Falls
  • Jog Falls

K: 24 names

  • Kaaterskill Falls
  • Kaieteur Falls
  • Kakabeka Falls
  • Kalandula Falls
  • Kaldifoss
  • Kamuiwakka Falls
  • Kegon Falls
  • Keyhole Falls
  • Khone Phapheng Falls
  • King's Stair
  • Kingfisher Cascade
  • Kingsweep Cataract
  • Kintampo Falls
  • Kirifuri Falls
  • Kirkjufellsfoss
  • Kjosfossen
  • Kravica Waterfall
  • Krimml Falls
  • Kuang Si Falls
  • Kuhflucht Falls
  • Kune Falls
  • Kursunlu Waterfall
  • Kvernfossen
  • Kvitfossen

L: 25 names

  • Lacewing Falls
  • Ladder Falls
  • Langfoss
  • Lantern Falls
  • Lata Kinjang
  • Låtefossen
  • Laurel Fork Falls
  • Lava Shelf Falls
  • Leap of Faith Falls
  • Lechfall
  • Lichen Falls
  • Limestone Falls
  • Linn of Dee
  • Linn of Quoich
  • Linville Falls
  • Lisbon Falls
  • Lodore Falls
  • Logjam Falls
  • Looking Glass Falls
  • Lost Creek Falls
  • Lover's Leap Falls
  • Low Force
  • Lower Crabtree Falls
  • Lupine Falls
  • Lynx Hollow Falls

M: 31 names

  • Madakaripura Falls
  • Madhabkunda Falls
  • Maiden's Leap
  • Maidenhair Falls
  • Maletsunyane Falls
  • Manavgat Waterfall
  • Manawaiopuna Falls
  • Marble Chute
  • Mardalsfossen
  • Maria Cristina Falls
  • McWay Falls
  • Middle Cullasaja Falls
  • Mill Race Falls
  • Millstone Falls
  • Minnehaha Falls
  • Minoo Falls
  • Mirrorfall
  • Mitchell Falls
  • Mollisfossen
  • Monk's Leap
  • Montmorency Falls
  • Moonbow Falls
  • Mooney Falls
  • Moonshine Falls
  • Moonshiner's Cascade
  • Moonwell Falls
  • Morning Glory Falls
  • Mossy Kettle Falls
  • Mournfall
  • Multnomah Falls
  • Murchison Falls

N: 10 names

  • Nachi Falls
  • Namtok Phlio
  • Navajo Falls
  • Needle Falls
  • Nevada Fall
  • Niagara Falls
  • Nightfall Cascade
  • Nightplunge
  • Ninety-Foot Falls
  • Nohkalikai Falls

O: 9 names

  • Oathfall
  • Obsidian Falls
  • Ochre Falls
  • Opaekaa Falls
  • Otter Slide Falls
  • Outlaw Falls
  • Ouzoud Falls
  • Öxarárfoss
  • Oxbow Falls

P: 21 names

  • Packhorse Falls
  • Pagsanjan Falls
  • Painted Rock Falls
  • Palouse Falls
  • Panther Creek Falls
  • Peat Water Falls
  • Pennywhistle Falls
  • Peričnik Waterfall
  • Pilgrim's Falls
  • Pillar Falls
  • Pipe Organ Falls
  • Pistyll Cain
  • Pistyll Rhaeadr
  • Pistyll y Llyn
  • Plitvice Falls
  • Plodda Falls
  • Pongour Falls
  • Portage Falls
  • Powerscourt Waterfall
  • Punchbowl Falls
  • Purakaunui Falls

Q: 2 names

  • Quarry Pool Falls
  • Queen's Veil

R: 24 names

  • Rafter's Drop
  • Rainbow Falls
  • Rainbow Mist Cascade
  • Rauðifoss
  • Raven's Plunge
  • Ravenmere Falls
  • Regnbogafoss
  • Reichenbach Falls
  • Rhaeadr Cynfal
  • Rhaeadr Ddu
  • Rhaeadr Ewynnol
  • Rhaeadr Fawr
  • Rhaeadr Mawddach
  • Rhine Falls
  • Ribbon Fall
  • Riesachfall
  • Rjukanfossen
  • Roaring Fork Falls
  • Röthbachfall
  • Ruacana Falls
  • Ruby Falls
  • Russell Falls
  • Rust Creek Falls
  • Ryuzu Falls

S: 69 names

  • Salmon Leap
  • Saltlick Cascade
  • Salto de Bordones
  • Salto de Eyipantla
  • Salto de la Novia
  • Salto del Laja
  • Salto del Nervión
  • Salto Grande
  • Salto Yucumã
  • Sandan Falls
  • Savica Waterfall
  • Sawmill Falls
  • Sekumpul Waterfall
  • Seljalandsfoss
  • Seven Sisters Falls
  • Sgwd Clun-Gwyn
  • Sgwd Ddwli
  • Sgwd Einion Gam
  • Sgwd Gwladus
  • Sgwd y Pannwr
  • Sgwd yr Eira
  • Shannon Falls
  • Sheep Dip Falls
  • Shiraito Falls
  • Shiramizu Falls
  • Shivanasamudra Falls
  • Shoshone Falls
  • Silfurfoss
  • Silverthread Falls
  • Sipi Falls
  • Sipiso-piso
  • Skellig Linn
  • Skógafoss
  • Skradinski Buk

S, continued

  • Skyriver Falls
  • Slate Ledge Falls
  • Sliding Rock
  • Sluice Falls
  • Smokehole Falls
  • Snoqualmie Falls
  • Sølvfossen
  • Songwater Falls
  • Spiral Falls
  • Split Rock Falls
  • Spout of Garnock
  • Spruce Knob Cascade
  • Sput Bàn
  • Sput Rolla
  • Starfall Cataract
  • Staubbach Falls
  • Steall Falls
  • Steeple Falls
  • Steinfoss
  • Steinsdalsfossen
  • Stillwater Drop
  • Stirling Falls
  • Storfossen
  • Stormcaller Falls
  • Stuibenfall
  • Sugarloaf Cascade
  • Sunbow Falls
  • Sunderfall
  • Sungai Lembing Falls
  • Surveyor's Falls
  • Sutherland Falls
  • Svartifoss
  • Swallow Falls
  • Swallowtail Falls
  • Swinging Bridge Falls

T: 48 names

  • Tad Fane
  • Tad Lo
  • Tad Sae
  • Tad Yuang
  • Tahquamenon Falls
  • Takakkaw Falls
  • Tallulah Falls
  • Tamarack Falls
  • Tannery Falls
  • Tat Mok
  • Tat Ton
  • Taughannock Falls
  • Tears of the Moon
  • Teawater Falls
  • Tequendama Falls
  • The Drowned Bell
  • The Howling Veil
  • The Maiden's Tears
  • The Roaring Mother
  • The Silver Plunge
  • The Weeping Stair
  • The Whitewyrm
  • Thi Lo Su Falls
  • Thunder Hollow Falls
  • Thunderhead Falls
  • Thunderveil
  • Timber Chute
  • Tinago Falls
  • Tinuy-an Falls
  • Titan's Bath
  • Todtnauer Wasserfall
  • Þokufoss
  • Tollgate Falls
  • Torc Waterfall
  • Trapper's Falls
  • Tres Hermanas Falls
  • Triberg Falls
  • Triple Falls
  • Tröllafoss
  • Trout Run Falls
  • Trümmelbach Falls
  • Tugela Falls
  • Tumbling Gill
  • Tumpak Sewu
  • Tuxer Wasserfall
  • Tverrfossen
  • Tvindefossen
  • Twin Plunge

U: 1 name

  • Upper Whitewater Falls

V: 8 names

  • Vazhachal Falls
  • Vernal Fall
  • Vesper Falls
  • Vettisfossen
  • Victoria Falls
  • Virginia Falls
  • Vøringsfossen
  • Voyageur Falls

W: 17 names

  • Wagon Road Falls
  • Wailua Falls
  • Waimoku Falls
  • Waipo'o Falls
  • Wallaman Falls
  • Wheelhouse Falls
  • Whispering Veil
  • Whitewater Falls
  • Widow's Tears
  • Widow's Veil
  • Widowmaker Falls
  • Window Falls
  • Witches' Cauldron
  • Wli Falls
  • Wolf Creek Falls
  • Wolfram's Leap
  • Wyrmtongue Falls

Y: 2 names

  • Yosemite Falls
  • Yumbilla Falls