The NetHack shopkeepers mostly have names chosen, in a rather similar fashion to the Wombles, from a big world atlas. The exceptions are the owners of some jewellery shops (who have names chosen from an Amsterdam telephone directory), tool shops (whose names are anagrams of DevTeam members past and present; the exact selection available will depend on the platform you're playing on), and the Minetown lighting shop (see below). Note that the quoted locale in the following table is taken from the source comments, and is occasionally inaccurate when it comes to borders.
| Shop type | Locale or source | Names |
|---|---|---|
| General | Surinam | Hebiwerie, Possogroenoe, Asidonhopo, Manlobbi, Adjama, Pakka Pakka, Kabalebo, Wonotobo, Akalapi, Sipaliwini |
| Greenland | Annootok, Upernavik, Angmagssalik | |
| Northern Canada | Aklavik, Inuvik, Tuktoyaktuk, Chicoutimi, Ouiatchouane, Chibougamau, Matagami, Kipawa, Kinojevis, Abitibi, Maganasipi | |
| Iceland | Akureyri, Kopasker, Budereyri, Akranes, Bordeyri, Holmavik | |
| Armour | Turkey | Demirci, Kalecik, Boyabai, Yildizeli, Gaziantep, Siirt, Akhalataki, Tirebolu, Aksaray, Ermenak, Iskenderun, Kadirli, Siverek, Pervari, Malasgirt, Bayburt, Ayancik, Zonguldak, Balya, Tefenni, Artvin, Kars, Makharadze, Malazgirt, Midyat, Birecik, Kirikkale, Alaca, Polatli, Nallihan |
| Scrolls and spellbooks | Ireland | Skibbereen, Kanturk, Rath Luirc, Ennistymon, Lahinch, Kinnegad, Lugnaquillia, Enniscorthy, Gweebarra, Kittamagh, Nenagh, Sneem, Ballingeary, Kilgarvan, Cahersiveen, Glenbeigh, Kilmihil, Kiltamagh, Droichead Atha, Inniscrone, Clonegal, Lisnaskea, Culdaff, Dunfanaghy, Inishbofin, Kesh |
| Potions | Ukraine | Njezjin, Tsjernigof, Ossipewsk, Gorlowka |
| North Russia | Konosja, Weliki Oestjoeg, Syktywkar, Sablja, Narodnaja, Kyzyl | |
| Belarus | Gomel | |
| Silesia | Walbrzych, Swidnica, Klodzko, Raciborz, Gliwice, Brzeg, Krnov, Hradec Kralove | |
| Switzerland | Leuk, Brig, Brienz, Thun, Sarnen, Burglen, Elm, Flims, Vals, Schuls, Zum Loch | |
| Food | Indonesia | Djasinga, Tjibarusa, Tjiwidej, Pengalengan, Bandjar, Parbalingga, Bojolali, Sarangan, Ngebel, Djombang, Ardjawinangun, Berbek, Papar, Baliga, Tjisolok, Siboga, Banjoewangi, Trenggalek, Karangkobar, Njalindoeng, Pasawahan, Pameunpeuk, Patjitan, Kediri, Pemboeang, Tringanoe, Makin, Tipor, Semai, Berhala, Tegal, Samoe |
| Weapons | Perigord, France | Voulgezac, Rouffiac, Lerignac, Touverac, Guizengeard, Melac, Neuvicq, Vanzac, Picq, Urignac, Corignac, Fleac, Lonzac, Vergt, Queyssac, Liorac, Echourgnac, Cazelon, Eypau, Carignan, Monbazillac, Jonzac, Pons, Jumilhac, Fenouilledes, Laguiolet, Saujon, Eymoutiers, Eygurande, Eauze, Labouheyre |
| Wands | Wales | Yr Wyddgrug, Trallwng, Mallwyd, Pontarfynach, Rhaeader, Llandrindod, Llanfair-ym-muallt, Y-Fenni, Maesteg, Rhydaman, Beddgelert, Curig, Llanrwst, Llanerchymedd, Caergybi |
| Scotland | Nairn, Turriff, Inverurie, Braemar, Lochnagar, Kerloch, Beinn a Ghlo, Drumnadrochit, Morven, Uist, Storr, Sgurr na Ciche, Cannich, Gairloch, Kyleakin, Dunvegan | |
| Rings | Dutch surnames | Feyfer, Flugi, Gheel, Havic, Haynin, Hoboken, Imbyze, Juyn, Kinsky, Massis, Matray, Moy, Olycan, Sadelin, Svaving, Tapper, Terwen, Wirix, Ypey |
| Scandinavia | Rastegaisa, Varjag Njarga, Kautekeino, Abisko, Enontekis, Rovaniemi, Avasaksa, Haparanda, Lulea, Gellivare, Oeloe, Kajaani, Fauske | |
| Tools | Core implementors | Ymla (Tom Almy), Eed-morra (Ken Arromdee), Cubask (Eric Backus), Nieb (John S. Bien), Bnowr Falr (Ralf Brown), Telloc Cyaj (Jean-Christophe Collet), Sperc (Steve Creps), Noskcirdneh (Eric Hendrickson), Yawolloh (Bruce Holloway), Hyeghu (Richard P. Hughey), Niskal (Greg Laskin), Trahnil (Steve Linhart), Htargcm (Roland McGrath), Enrobwem (Bruce Mewborne), Kachzi Rellim (Izchak Miller), Regien (Gil Neiger), Donmyar (Eric S. Raymond), Yelpur (John Rupley), Nosnehpets (Mike Stephenson), Stewe (Kevin Sweet), Renrut (Scott R. Turner), Zlaw (Janet Walz), Nosalnef (Jay Fenlason), Rewuorb (Andries Brouwer), Rellenk (Don Kneller), Yad (Matthew Day), Cire Htims (Eric R. Smith), Y-crad (Kevin Darcy), Nenilukah (Timo Hakulinen), Corsh (David Cohrs), Aned (Dean Luick) |
| MSDOS | Erreip (Pierre Martineau), Nehpets (Stephen Spackman), Mron (Norm Meluch), Snivek (Kevin Smolkowski), Lapu (Paul Winner), Kahztiy (Yitzhak Sapir) | |
| Win32 | Lechaim (Michael Allison), Lexa (Alex Kompel), Niod (Dion Nicolaas) | |
| Mac | Nhoj-lee (Johnny Lee), Evad'kh (David Hairston), Ettaw-noj (Jon W{tte), Tsew-mot (Tom West), Ydna-s (Andy Swanson), Yao-hang (Hao-yang Wang), Tonbar (Barton House), Kivenhoug (Kevin Hugo) | |
| Amiga | Falo (Olaf Seibert), Nosid-da'r (Richard Addison), Ekim-p (Mike Passaretti), Rebrol-nek (Ken Lorber), Noslo (Greg Olson), Yl-rednow (Gregg Wonderly), Mured-oog (Mark Gooderum), Ivrajimsal (Janne Salmijarvi) | |
| Atari | Nivram (Marvin Bressler) | |
| VMS | Lez-tneg (David Gentzel), Ytnu-haled (Joshua Delahunty), Niknar (Pat Rankin) | |
| Lighting | Izchak |
In 3.1, the Minetown lighting shop had a shopkeeper whose name was randomly chosen from the following table. In 3.2 and subsequent versions, it has been staffed by Izchak in memory of the late Izchak Miller; see section 4.12 of the rec.games.roguelike.nethack FAQ.
| Shop type | Locale | Names |
|---|---|---|
| Lighting | Romania | Zarnesti, Slanic, Nehoiasu, Ludus, Sighisoara, Nisipitu, Razboieni, Bicaz, Dorohoi, Vaslui, Fetesti, Tirgu Neamt, Babadag, Zimnicea, Zlatna, Jiu, Eforie, Mamaia |
| Bulgaria | Silistra, Tulovo, Panagyuritshte, Smolyan, Kirklareli, Pernik, Lom, Haskovo, Dobrinishte, Varvara, Oryahovo, Troyan, Lovech, Sliven |
Considerable and heroic assistance with map-location provided by Dion Nicolaas; additional advice from Noims Rooney.