How do I rename an item in Minecraft?

You can rename an item in an anvil, which costs XP. Server admins and map makers can also use the /give command with the Name NBT tag or custom_name (1.20.5+). Our generator builds a ready-made command with a custom name and lore.

How do I add a description (lore) to an item in Minecraft?

Lore is extra text shown in the tooltip under the item name. You can't add it in plain Survival without mods. It takes a /give command with the Lore NBT tag (1.13-1.20.4) or the lore component (1.20.5+). On servers, plugins such as EssentialsX let you add lore with commands.

How do I color the text in an item name?

In a /give command you use JSON text with a "color" field, for example {"text":"Sword of Fire","color":"red","bold":true}. From 1.16 you can also use hex colors: {"text":"Sword","color":"#FF5555"}. Our generator converts § codes to JSON automatically.

What is the difference between NBT and data components (1.20.5+)?

From version 1.20.5, Minecraft replaced NBT tags in commands with a new data components system. Instead of /give @p diamond_sword{display:{Name:...}} you use /give @p diamond_sword[custom_name=...].

How many lines of lore can an item have?

The game has no limit on lore lines that you would hit in practice, but a tooltip becomes unreadable above 8-10 lines because it runs off the screen. Split long descriptions into short lines of 30-40 characters for the best readability.

Minecraft item lore generator: custom names and descriptions with colors

Items with custom names and descriptions are what adventure maps, RPG servers and economy systems are built on in Minecraft. With the /give command and NBT tags (or data components from 1.20.5+) you can give any item a unique name with colored formatting and a multi-line description (lore) that shows in the tooltip when you hover over it. Our generator handles the whole process: you pick an item, type your text with color codes, and the tool builds a ready-to-copy command.

The tool supports both formats: classic NBT (1.13 - 1.20.4) and the newer data components system (1.20.5+). The live preview shows how the tooltip will look in game, with colors, bold, italics and the other formatting effects.

ItemItem ID

Minecraft version

Data components format (1.20.5+): new syntax with square brackets [].

Color paletteClick to insert a color code into the active field

Item nameUse §/& codes for colors

Item loreEach line is a separate row in the tooltip

Tooltip previewHow the item tooltip will look in game

diamond sword

Generated commandPaste in chat or a command block

/give @p minecraft:diamond_sword

How item lore works in Minecraft

Lore is the extra lines of text shown in an item's tooltip under its name. By default lore is dark purple (§5) and italic. You can change that by putting formatting codes at the start of each line. For example, §7 at the start removes the italics and makes the text gray, which looks more professional.

You can't add lore in Survival without mods or plugins: it takes operator commands. On servers, plugins such as EssentialsX, ItemEdit and CustomItems let you add and edit lore with simple chat commands.

NBT format vs data components (1.20.5+)

Mojang introduced a new system for storing item data in version 1.20.5 (snapshot 24w09a). Instead of NBT tags in curly braces, the data is written as components in square brackets:

Old format (1.13 - 1.20.4)

/give @p minecraft:diamond_sword{display:{Name:'{"text":"Sword of Fire","color":"red"}',Lore:['{"text":"Deals fire damage","color":"gray"}']}}

New format (1.20.5+)

/give @p minecraft:diamond_sword[custom_name='{"text":"Sword of Fire","color":"red"}',lore=['{"text":"Deals fire damage","color":"gray"}']]

The new format is easier to read and lets the game validate the data better.

Color codes in lore: full list

In lore and item names you can use the same color codes as in chat:

§0 black, §1 dark blue, §2 dark green, §3 dark aqua
§4 dark red, §5 dark purple, §6 gold, §7 gray
§8 dark gray, §9 blue, §a green, §b aqua
§c red, §d light purple, §e yellow, §f white
§l bold, §o italic, §n underline, §m strikethrough
§k obfuscated (random characters), §r reset formatting

In the generator, § codes work directly in the text fields. Type §6§lLegendary Sword to get a gold, bold name. You can also use & instead of §.

Tips for writing lore

Start with §7 (gray): the default purple italics are hard to read. Gray text without italics looks professional.
Short lines (30-40 characters): long lines run off the screen. Split your text into several lines.
An empty line as a separator: add a blank line between sections of the description (for example, description and stats).
Color hierarchy: use §6 (gold) for titles, §7 (gray) for body text and §c (red) for damage stats.
Consistency across a server: pick one lore color scheme for the whole server and document it.
Test in game: a tooltip looks different at different resolutions. Check it at a few GUI scale settings.

Common uses of lore

RPG servers

Items with unique names and descriptions create the RPG feel. A legendary sword with a description of its history, armor with a list of stats, potions with effects: lore turns ordinary items into pieces of the story.

Adventure maps

Map makers use lore to pass on hints, tell stories and build puzzles. A key with the description "Opens the door in the north tower" helps players find their way.

Shop systems

On economy servers, lore shows an item's price, rarity and special effects. Plugins such as ShopGUI+ generate lore automatically from their configuration.