The concept of a calling or summoning name was first mentioned in Series 3, and was referred to in every subsequent season, including the pilot of Knightmare VR and the 2013 Geek Week episode. Once a character's calling name was known, it could be used to summon them instantly to anywhere in the dungeon. The method was simple, as explained by Malice (aka "Merris"): "Remember to call it loudly and clearly, and of course, three times."
In the Labyrinths of Fear gamebook, it is stated that "An elf's name is half his soul" and "the magic of a name can give power over the one who is named". A popular belief in folklore is that Faerie creatures can be summoned and commanded to do one's bidding when addressed by their true names; this was illustrated in Knightmare when Greystagg told Team 5 of Series 6 that a pooka in a bottle was named Puck, allowing them to call for its assistance in dealing with Skarkill. Velda also mentioned that elves were obliged to come when called. For this reason, all of the programme's elves tried to keep their real names a secret, and were horrified by how freely the dungeoneers handed theirs out. (Both Treguard and Romahna found this cagey attitude tiresome.) KMVR's Ellie (short for Ellisandre) described her handle as "not a summoning name" but "what you humans call a nickname"; Velda and Pickle were likewise confirmed as being aliases. Elita, by contrast, was only ever known by her real name, which seemed to have become common knowledge despite her reluctance to share it. Team 6 of Series 5 and Team 6 of Series 6 were therefore able to summon her, while Team 7 of Series 5 were given a password in exchange for promising not to. She later revealed that her full name was the somewhat less pronounceable Elithasanthasanthasan-chergowinkle (spelling unconfirmed). Series 6 dungeoneer Alan mistakenly believed her name to be Pixie, which might have caused some problems if he'd survived long enough to try calling her!
Various magicians also had separate calling names which they shared when making bargains with teams. Calling someone without their prior consent was considered presumptuous and perhaps a waste of their powers - both Hordriss ("Malefact") and Greystagg ("Gwen") were offended in this way, though fortunately the teams could offer good explanations, and Maldame ("Spite") threatened to "shrivel" any dungeoneer who took such liberties. Celtic wizard Grimaldine was less concerned about it, using his public name for summoning purposes ("We use no subterfuge as Elvish folk will do") and stating that he would ignore unwelcome demands for his attention: "Do not call me again. I am not of the Faerie, nor of the Shee - I am not commanded, and shall not come." (However, Team 2 of Series 6 were able to summon Hordriss against his wishes, via a powerful "summoning spell" purchased from Ah Wok; the magic was invoked by turning anticlockwise on the spot before chanting "Malefact" in the usual manner.) Merlin claimed to have lots of different names, but simply calling "Merlin" three times was sufficient to summon him in the final episode of Series 4. In typical ditzy fashion, Sidriss seemed unsure as to what her own calling name was: "Erm... Sidriss. Yes. That'll work... probably." Luckily for Team 3 of Series 6, it did. In the Geek Week special, aspiring sorceress Veruca was unable to change her name because "What you're called is how you're called", though Treguard went ahead and renamed her Daisy anyway. Series 7 dungeoneer Barry Thorne also provided his birth name when asked by Greystagg how she might summon him, but we'll never know if it would have worked.

Calling three times may have been more of a convention than a necessary ritual, as Motley and Merlin both answered when their names were called just once (by Team 11 of Series 3 and Treguard respectively). Furthermore, there were other ways to summon people without knowing their calling name; spells with this effect included PIXEL (the eponymous pixie), HERO (Sir Hugh), TRICK (Hordriss) and SAVANT (any named sorcerer "up to and including the fourth level of magic"), plus VIKING (a Norse warrior) and GOBLINS (self-explanatory) in the first two gamebooks. Sidriss used an incantation to bring her a brownie, though it actually brought a pooka instead. Some characters were also associated with magical objects: Motley could be summoned by dropping a joker card, while Merlin responded to a range of devices including a block puzzle, a listening key, a mannaz-shaped talisman described as his "calling card", completing the steps in his throne room, and touching the letter 'M'.

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