You can't buy a name off another player, but you can buy a Name Change from Blizzard's in-game Shop for about $10 (10 EUR) per character. Pick any name that's currently free on your realm, confirm the purchase, and it applies right away. Brand-new characters get a name for free at creation — you only pay to rename an existing one, and there's no way to reserve or trade names between accounts.

Quick facts

  • Where: Blizzard in-game Shop (Shop button on the character screen) or the Battle.net site under WoW services.
  • Price: roughly $10 USD / 10 EUR per Name Change, per character.
  • What you get: one new name of your choosing, applied instantly.
  • Rules: the name must be free on your realm and pass Blizzard's naming policy (no offensive, real-world, or trademarked names).
  • Free option: naming a character during creation costs nothing.

How to change your WoW name

  1. Log in and open the character selection screen.
  2. Click the Shop button (bottom of the screen).
  3. Select Services → Change Name and pick the character.
  4. Type your desired name — the game checks availability live.
  5. Confirm and pay. The rename takes effect immediately.

Can you buy a name that another player already has?

No. There's no official marketplace to purchase a taken name, and Blizzard doesn't sell reservations. Your only path is waiting for that name to free up — which happens when the current owner renames, or when Blizzard releases names from long-inactive characters during major patches or expansions. Camp the realm and grab it the moment it opens.

Are there free WoW name changes?

Sometimes. Blizzard occasionally forces a free Name Change when realms merge or when a name conflict is created by connected realms — you'll get a prompt at login. Otherwise, the only free naming is at character creation. Faction or race changes that cause a duplicate name also include a rename at no extra cost.

What names aren't allowed?

Blizzard's naming policy blocks offensive terms, real-world names of famous people, hate speech, and trademarked or copyrighted phrases. Names must be a single word, letters only, with a reasonable length. If a name is reported and flagged, you may be forced to rename for free — so keep it lore-friendly.

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