WoW Forever Name Reservation Date and How to Claim

WoW Forever Early Name Reservation runs from October 27 through November 3, 2026, PST. It is included with eligible upgrade purchases, and you can create and customize up to three characters during the window. Names are reserved on a first-come, first-served basis, and desired names cannot be guaranteed.

Reservation dates

The reservation window sits between the beta, which runs September 17 through October 21, 2026, PST, and launch. Beta access does not reserve your character names for launch, and beta characters are wiped.

Who can reserve a name

Early Name Reservation is included with any upgrade purchase. The Skyborne Heroic Pack lists Early Name Reservation among its contents, and the Skyborne Epic Pack and Warcraft Forever Collection include everything in the Heroic Pack.

The Collector's Edition works differently: its emailed beta key does not grant early name reservation, and the reservation comes from the Warcraft Forever Collection key inside the physical box. If the box has not arrived when the window opens, you can buy a digital pack that includes reservation and have that cost refunded as Battle.net credit when you redeem the Collection key — some credits are applied automatically, while others may require help from Blizzard Customer Support.

How to claim a name

1. Launch the game during the reservation window.
2. Create and customize your character — you cannot enter the world yet.
3. Repeat for up to three characters.

If the full name you want is taken or fails the naming requirements, pick another combination or use the in-game random name generator. For a popular spelling, create the character quickly without customizing appearance, then delete and recreate it with the look you want once the game is live.

Two-part names

Forever uses a two-name structure: a first name plus a last or surname, and the complete combination must be unique within your region rather than on a single realm. Two characters can share a first name as long as their full names differ. You can hide your second name in the world by opening the Game Menu with Escape, choosing Options, then Nameplates, and ticking "My Secondary Name" — it still shows in chat.

Names must follow the in-game code of conduct, and certain words, spellings and repeated-character patterns may be restricted, including names that impersonate Blizzard or the World of Warcraft team. The system evaluates both parts together, so splitting a restricted word across the two names does not make it valid.

See also: WoW Forever Release Date: November 4, 2026 Launch Time and WoW Forever Roadmap: What Blizzard Has Confirmed