Seize the Power of Minecraft Name Tags

Because how would you tell a creeper and a piece of charcoal apart if not for their names. But what if you didn’t have a name? Could you even know yourself? That is the fate of so many Minecraft mobs. So what is an empathetic player to do when so many innocent (and not so innocent) creatures around them have no name? Use the Minecraft name tag, of course! Using revolutionary technology (writing) you can finally identify single mobs or give some personality to your villagers. So, let us embark on a journey to make the power of names yours!

What is a Minecraft Name Tag, anyway?

Excellent question, young adventurer. A name tag is a rare item and if you're scratching your head wondering why it's so rare, you're not alone! Think of it as a VIP badge that, when attached, elevates mobs to the ranks of pets, friends or even jokes. Whether you want to name your loyal wolf Max or turn a scary zombie into Mr. Bubbles, a Minecraft name tag is your go-to tool.

If you want some ideas for cool Minecraft name tags, we got you covered at the end of the text. But before we get too carried away, you might be wondering where to actually find one. Well, let’s look at that next!

How to Make a Name Tag in Minecraft

Of course, the most important question of all is ‘can you craft name tags?’ And the answer is: no. Unfortunately, you can't craft name tags; no amount of iron, sticks or even diamonds will help you make one. While that can be frustrating, it also makes it far more precious to hold a Minecraft name tag in your hand. Mojang has made name tags elusive, like a treasure you have to search for.

However, if they can’t be crafted, the question of how to get a name tag in Minecraft remains. Instead of making one, you have to find it; it’s not a question of crafting. Chests with a name tag inside are scattered throughout the Minecraft world and you can find them in these locations:

• dungeon chests: Brave the dark depths of a dungeon, and you might be lucky enough to find one hidden in a loot chest. Just watch out for those pesky skeletons while you’re down there!
• mineshaft chests: Mineshafts are a great place to hunt for rare goodies, including name tags. You’ll find these chests scattered along the minecart tracks, often deep underground.
• ancient cities: It turns out that even a long lost civilization understood the value of names, so they had some Minecraft name tags lying around just in case.
• woodland mansions: To be fair, there’s probably nothing you can’t find in a woodland mansion. So, it simply follows that a Minecraft name tag would be on the table here.
• fishing: Sometimes the patience of fishing pays off! You have a small chance of pulling up a Minecraft name tag along with fish and other oddities. Don’t worry; it's like the catch of the day – just with more letters!
• trading with villagers: If spelunking and fishing aren’t your style, librarians in villages may have name tags to trade. Just keep 2 things in mind: bring some emeralds and ensure that the librarian is on master level.

Truly, when it comes to how to get a name tag, Minecraft gives you a lot of ways to do it – besides crafting that is. But let’s say you already have a fat stack of Minecraft name tags. What can you even use them for? Well, it’s funny you should ask that…

How to Use a Name Tag in Minecraft

Once you’ve got your hands on a name tag, it’s time to personalize your Minecraft world! But wait – before you just slap it on your favorite mob, there’s a small extra step.

use an anvil: To name a Minecraft name tag, you’ll need an anvil. Place the name tag on the anvil’s interface and type the name you want in the text box. This part costs a bit of experience, so make sure you’ve got enough XP before renaming.

apply the name tag: Now for the fun part! Take your named tag and simply right-click on any mob to apply it. Friendly, neutral or aggressive doesn’t matter, just stick the Minecraft name tag on ‘em and provide them with a name that makes them stand out from the unnamed masses. You’ll see your custom name appear over their head as if they’re wearing it with pride.

Once you put the name tag on a mob, you can never change it back though. So think carefully if ‘Señor Greg’ is better suited for your axolotl or your tamed wolf. Or just use commands. Speaking of which, commands are also the only way to re-name the ender dragon or an agent (a mob only present in Minecraft Bedrock Edition and Education Edition.)

Tip:
To further enhance your name tags, you can create colored name tags. Minecraft has an internal system that allows you to color text both for name tags and for messages. Use these color codes when you type the name onto the name tag and the name will be displayed with the respective color.

Minecraft: Fun Name Tags

Now that you know how to apply name tags, it’s time to get creative! Here are a few fun ideas and secrets.

• one of the most infamous is definitely the dinnerbone name tag: Name any mob ‘Dinnerbone’ and it will flip upside down! Now you can have an upside down horse or a floating spider to freak out your friends. Why does this happen? The official reason is a memorial to the developer Dinnerbone, but you are free to make as many explanations for this as you want.

• naming hostile mobs: Ever felt attached to a specific enderman or witch? Tag them with a name to keep them from despawning (as long as they’re within the chunk). You can even develop a rivalry with a named mob. Just imagine it: you and a piglin or blaze have several run-ins before your final confrontation, when there can be only one true victor!
• For something more wholesome, use a name tag to rename a rabbit you have to ‘Toast’, which will change its fur into a black-and-white pattern. This small easter egg was implemented as a memento for a Reddit user’s girlfriend’s rabbit Toast. The small fellow went missing in 2014, but the brave rodent’s memory will live on forever in the game’s code.

• naming villagers: Give your villagers names for a more immersive experience, like “Bob the Farmer” or “Alice the Librarian.” You can even create worlds of your own design or re-create villages from stories you like. It makes trading a lot more fun and gives your village more personality!

As you can imagine, we only scratched the surface of what is possible with a small item. As always, Minecraft allows creativity to flow freely, letting you build the adventure you want to go through. Of course, doing so on a Minecraft server from G-Portal provides you with a private server where you and your friends can name mobs undisturbed. So don’t hesitate and grasp the power of names today!