Guide ·
WoW Forever Character Name Rules: Length, First and Last Names, Blocked Names
A character in World of Warcraft: Forever (WoW Forever) needs a first name and a last name, each 2 to 12 letters long, and the full combination must be unique across all rulesets in your region. Warcraft Tavern's names guide also bans spaces, hyphens, numbers, symbols and apostrophes, and says no letter may repeat more than twice in a row.
Quick answer: Pick two names of 2 to 12 letters, with accents allowed and nothing else but letters. The pair must be unused in your region, names must follow Blizzard's Code of Conduct, and as of October 28, 2026 Blizzard says a bug in the restricted-name list is being fixed with the next realm restarts.
A name is the first thing other players learn about your character. In WoW Forever it comes in two parts, a first name and a last name, and both must pass the name check.
Key facts
- Structure: a first name and a last name; neither must be unique alone (Warcraft Tavern)
- Length: 2 to 12 characters for each part (Warcraft Tavern)
- Allowed: letters, including accented letters such as ñ and ö (Warcraft Tavern)
- Not allowed: spaces, hyphens, numbers, symbols and apostrophes (Warcraft Tavern)
- Repeats: no letter more than twice in a row (Warcraft Tavern)
- Uniqueness: the full combination must be unique across all rulesets in your region (Warcraft Tavern)
- Reservation: up to 3 names with a pre-purchased upgrade pack, starting October 27, 2026 (Warcraft Tavern)
What are the character name rules in WoW Forever?
Warcraft Tavern's names guide gives the rules in plain terms. Every character needs a first name and a last name, and each part is 2 to 12 characters. Accented letters are allowed, for example ñ and ö, but spaces, hyphens, numbers, symbols, punctuation and apostrophes are not. The first letter is uppercase and the rest are lowercase, and no letter may repeat more than twice in a row. The guide has no publication date, but it refers to the October 27 and 28, 2026 reservation start times. For the character-making steps, see the character creation guide.
Does the full name have to be unique?
Yes, as a pair. Warcraft Tavern says neither the first nor the last name has to be unique on its own, but the combination must be unique across all rulesets in your region. That means one region cannot hold two characters with the same first and last name, whichever ruleset they play on. See the rulesets guide for how the realms are split.
Which names are blocked?
Names must follow the Blizzard In-Game Code of Conduct. Warcraft Tavern lists hate speech, discriminatory language, obscenities and slurs, explicit sexual references, real-world political figures, impersonating Blizzard employees and major lore figures, citing Thrall, Arthas and Sylvanas as examples. On the Roleplay ruleset, the guide says names may also be flagged if they are non-medieval or non-fantasy, refer to well-known people, characters, brands, places or icons, or are made of several words. A name that passes the first filter can still be flagged later, and the player must then change it; the account may face action, the guide says.
What is the October 2026 restricted-name fix?
Players trying to reserve names reported that some were rejected. Warcraft Tavern's October 28, 2026 news article says Blizzard acknowledged a bug in the restricted name list, which normally blocks things such as major lore characters or names blocked for technical reasons. According to that article, the statement came from Blizzard's Kaivax in a Blizzard forum post (Warcraft Tavern's Blue Tracker lists the thread as "Overly Restrictive Name Check and Fix Incoming - October 27"), gave names containing the letters c-o-n as an example of names wrongly flagged, and said the fix would arrive with the next realm restarts in each region. Players who saw the message "That name is restricted" were told they can try again. The article gives no date or time for the restarts.
When can you reserve a name?
Warcraft Tavern says players who have pre-purchased a WoW Forever upgrade pack can reserve up to 3 character names beginning October 27, 2026, on a first-come, first-served basis. It lists the start as 1:00 p.m. PDT in North America and 18:00 CET in Europe on October 27, and 07:00 on October 28 in Korea and Taiwan. Reservations run through launch. Read the early name reservation guide and the editions guide for what each pack includes. The free Lore Forever add-on is a fan-made zone and quest companion.
What is not confirmed yet
- When the restricted-name fix reaches each region: the Warcraft Tavern article gives no time.
- How many names were wrongly flagged beyond the single example Blizzard gave.
- Whether names already rejected must be retried by the player; Blizzard's statement, as reported, says players can try again.
- A full list of blocked names: the guides list categories, not names, and none is given here.
Frequently asked questions
How long can a WoW Forever character name be?
Each part, the first name and the last name, must be 2 to 12 characters, according to Warcraft Tavern.
Can I use spaces, numbers or apostrophes in a WoW Forever name?
No. Warcraft Tavern says spaces, hyphens, numbers, symbols, punctuation and apostrophes are not allowed. Accented letters are.
Do WoW Forever characters need a last name?
Yes. Every character needs both a first name and a last name, and the pair must be unique across all rulesets in your region.
Why does WoW Forever say my name is restricted?
The restricted-name list blocks names that break the Code of Conduct, such as major lore characters. Blizzard also acknowledged a bug that wrongly blocked some names, with a fix due at the next realm restarts.
Can a name be taken away after I create it?
It can be flagged. Warcraft Tavern says a name that passes the first filter can still be flagged later, and the player must change it.
Sources
Reviewed October 28, 2026. The name-check fix is recent and details may change. Lore Forever is fan-made and is not affiliated with Blizzard Entertainment.