WoW Forever Name Reservation: Dates, Rules & Surnames

World of Warcraft: Forever name reservation runs from 27 October to 3 November 2026 (Pacific Time), ahead of launch on 4 November.

Key facts

When	27 October – 3 November 2026 (PT)
Who	Owners of any Forever upgrade: Skyborne Heroic Pack, Skyborne Epic Pack, or Warcraft Forever Collection
How many	Up to 3 characters per account
How	First come, first served
Exact opening time	Not announced yet. Ignore sites quoting a precise time.

Players with just a subscription or game time can’t reserve early. They create characters at launch. Which edition includes what →

How names work in Forever: first and last names

Every Forever character has a first name and a surname.

• Your full name has to be unique within your region, not just on one realm, because Forever has no realms.
• Two players can share a first name as long as their surnames differ. “Arthas Lightbringer” and “Arthas Menethil” can both exist.
• You can show or hide your own surname under Esc → Options → Nameplates → “My Secondary Name”.

Name rules

• The usual naming policy applies: no offensive names and no impersonating Blizzard.
• Some names, spellings and repeated-character patterns are restricted.
• First and last names are checked together. Splitting a banned word across both “will not necessarily make it valid.”

Tips to get your name

1. Decide your 3 names and surnames before 27 October. Have backups ready.
2. Log in as soon as reservation opens. It’s first come, first served across your whole region.
3. Pick your ruleset first. On the PvP ruleset you’re limited to one faction per account.
4. Short, single-word first names will go fast. Surnames give you a lot more room for a unique combination.

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Sources: Blizzard: Pre-purchase upgrades, Blizzard: Create a name of your own, Blizzard: Choose your ruleset.