Believeable Names [Archive] - Wizards Community

Believeable Names [Archive] - Wizards Community

Post/Author/DateTime Post
Skeeve
10-06-06, 08:52 AM I have the absolute worst time coming up with names for characters (specifically, male ones). Does anyone have a link to a name generator that I couldn't duplicate by mashing my hand on the keyboard and adding vowels?
Dagda Mor
10-06-06, 10:20 PM I make regular use of baby name websites. Try http://www.babynamesworld.com/.
Skeeve
10-07-06, 02:16 PM Hey, that's pretty handy. Thanks.
Elemental_Elf
10-08-06, 03:58 PM I found this link to be helpful when naming my characters in the Roman-esc style. LINK! (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Nomen) :D
zombieoverlord
10-11-06, 06:35 PM For last names, try acronyms. When I made my current necromancer, I Gave him the name Anton Athed. I like the name Anton and it sounds beliveable, and Athed is an acronym for Death, best name I've ever come up with.:D
theotherdraxen
10-11-06, 07:58 PM For last names, try acronyms. When I made my current necromancer, I Gave him the name Anton Athed. I like the name Anton and it sounds beliveable, and Athed is an acronym for Death, best name I've ever come up with.:D
Not to be a grammar stickler, but are you sure you're using the word acronym appropriately? I thought it was supposed to be an initialization of some kind (like ROFL or IMC). Of course, I think I may be using the word grammar wrong:confused:.

Anyway, to the OP, I find that latin translators help well. Most people have a vague understanding of latin, but not well enough to really read into the name. Noctolas is a great name for a shadowy creature, though a little too stereotypical for a rogue, unless there is some physical night-related characteristic on him. Plus, even if the word is obscure, who will really know?

I had a character named Codos Iberas, who was a kind of Spanish general. Spain rests on the Iberian peninsula. His wife's name was Metella (she was a Scout/Dread Commando), which is a Roman name meaning 'army follower'. She followed the general, and scouted where he needed her.

You really do need to avoid names like Necat-Deus, though. It's just too painful:banghead:.
Torp
10-11-06, 08:12 PM I would like to suggest Kate Monks Onomastikon. It should be found here (www.gaminggeeks.org/Resources/KateMonk/), however it doesn't seem to be up at the moment. It has helped me quite a lot in a campaign of mine.

If it's fantasy, I usually just come up with a name, or find a suitably-sounding existing name and change it a bit. Ethan could become Ecthon, Olivia could be changed to Alewa. By dropping or adding a letter, and changing one or two others, you have a name. You can even get away with less - Aimelii sounds like something an elf could be named. Pronounce it, and it's only a slightly 'exotic' way to pronounce Emily.

I personally prefer making my names up from scratch, at least in fantasy games where naming conventions are rather less strict than in real-world-based games.
ashcat_lt
10-11-06, 11:48 PM squid.org (http://www.squid.org/tools/random/index.php) is alright. I often combine this with babblefish. get a "nonverber" name from squid and then translate it into a language I think might sound like the character's home language. Respell and/or mispronounce as necessary.

Also, there's the Everchanging Book of Names (http://ebon.uni.cc/). Costs money, but I've heard good things.

Then, of course, the "Races of..." books from WoTC all have name generators for the races they talk about.

edit: another thing I've done rather extensively is take real world names and turn then around backwards. that's how we ended up with Gnirps the Gnome, and Aseraht.
JadeSpider9643
10-12-06, 08:20 PM http://www.behindthename.com/random/ randomly choose from a HUGE selection of ACTUAL first and middle names. Bad news is it doesn't really handle last names, but you get first names and take your pick from upto 3 middle names.
BluEnigma
10-12-06, 08:29 PM For names with a specific meaning, I go with this site: http://www.20000-names.com/special_categories.htm
DwarvinJedi
10-12-06, 11:09 PM Not to be a grammar stickler, but are you sure you're using the word acronym appropriately? I thought it was supposed to be an initialization of some kind (like ROFL or IMC). Of course, I think I may be using the word grammar wrong:confused:.

He means Anagram

I personally use a translator and pick words that fit the character and languages that sound cool and then twist and turn until you are content
Nessaj
10-15-06, 03:46 PM Take a trip to a book store and browse the Races series (ex: Races of the Wild, of Stone, of Destiny). Most, if not all of them have charts to help create names that are quite well done.
zombieoverlord
10-18-06, 08:45 PM oops! I meant to say anogram:banghead:
EcthelionKarakse
10-19-06, 08:21 PM Get ahold of a copy of the Silmarillion, its got several really nifty names in it
2y1y1z2
10-20-06, 01:39 AM Rip lesser known names from your favorite books.
JulesCARV
10-20-06, 02:14 AM I tend to have names that are fairly real-worldish (e.g., Zethir Tomas, Jean-Paul of Alvegny, Siddharth Bhattacharya, Andorra Hausdorff), but then, on these boards I've gotten multiple comments that my names tend to suck, so I'm probably not your best bet.

Post/Author/DateTime	Post
Skeeve 10-06-06, 08:52 AM	I have the absolute worst time coming up with names for characters (specifically, male ones). Does anyone have a link to a name generator that I couldn't duplicate by mashing my hand on the keyboard and adding vowels?
Dagda Mor 10-06-06, 10:20 PM	I make regular use of baby name websites. Try http://www.babynamesworld.com/.
Skeeve 10-07-06, 02:16 PM	Hey, that's pretty handy. Thanks.
Elemental_Elf 10-08-06, 03:58 PM	I found this link to be helpful when naming my characters in the Roman-esc style. LINK! (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Nomen) :D
zombieoverlord 10-11-06, 06:35 PM	For last names, try acronyms. When I made my current necromancer, I Gave him the name Anton Athed. I like the name Anton and it sounds beliveable, and Athed is an acronym for Death, best name I've ever come up with.:D
theotherdraxen 10-11-06, 07:58 PM	For last names, try acronyms. When I made my current necromancer, I Gave him the name Anton Athed. I like the name Anton and it sounds beliveable, and Athed is an acronym for Death, best name I've ever come up with.:D Not to be a grammar stickler, but are you sure you're using the word acronym appropriately? I thought it was supposed to be an initialization of some kind (like ROFL or IMC). Of course, I think I may be using the word grammar wrong:confused:. Anyway, to the OP, I find that latin translators help well. Most people have a vague understanding of latin, but not well enough to really read into the name. Noctolas is a great name for a shadowy creature, though a little too stereotypical for a rogue, unless there is some physical night-related characteristic on him. Plus, even if the word is obscure, who will really know? I had a character named Codos Iberas, who was a kind of Spanish general. Spain rests on the Iberian peninsula. His wife's name was Metella (she was a Scout/Dread Commando), which is a Roman name meaning 'army follower'. She followed the general, and scouted where he needed her. You really do need to avoid names like Necat-Deus, though. It's just too painful:banghead:.
Torp 10-11-06, 08:12 PM	I would like to suggest Kate Monks Onomastikon. It should be found here (www.gaminggeeks.org/Resources/KateMonk/), however it doesn't seem to be up at the moment. It has helped me quite a lot in a campaign of mine. If it's fantasy, I usually just come up with a name, or find a suitably-sounding existing name and change it a bit. Ethan could become Ecthon, Olivia could be changed to Alewa. By dropping or adding a letter, and changing one or two others, you have a name. You can even get away with less - Aimelii sounds like something an elf could be named. Pronounce it, and it's only a slightly 'exotic' way to pronounce Emily. I personally prefer making my names up from scratch, at least in fantasy games where naming conventions are rather less strict than in real-world-based games.
ashcat_lt 10-11-06, 11:48 PM	squid.org (http://www.squid.org/tools/random/index.php) is alright. I often combine this with babblefish. get a "nonverber" name from squid and then translate it into a language I think might sound like the character's home language. Respell and/or mispronounce as necessary. Also, there's the Everchanging Book of Names (http://ebon.uni.cc/). Costs money, but I've heard good things. Then, of course, the "Races of..." books from WoTC all have name generators for the races they talk about. edit: another thing I've done rather extensively is take real world names and turn then around backwards. that's how we ended up with Gnirps the Gnome, and Aseraht.
JadeSpider9643 10-12-06, 08:20 PM	http://www.behindthename.com/random/ randomly choose from a HUGE selection of ACTUAL first and middle names. Bad news is it doesn't really handle last names, but you get first names and take your pick from upto 3 middle names.
BluEnigma 10-12-06, 08:29 PM	For names with a specific meaning, I go with this site: http://www.20000-names.com/special_categories.htm
DwarvinJedi 10-12-06, 11:09 PM	Not to be a grammar stickler, but are you sure you're using the word acronym appropriately? I thought it was supposed to be an initialization of some kind (like ROFL or IMC). Of course, I think I may be using the word grammar wrong:confused:. He means Anagram I personally use a translator and pick words that fit the character and languages that sound cool and then twist and turn until you are content
Nessaj 10-15-06, 03:46 PM	Take a trip to a book store and browse the Races series (ex: Races of the Wild, of Stone, of Destiny). Most, if not all of them have charts to help create names that are quite well done.
zombieoverlord 10-18-06, 08:45 PM	oops! I meant to say anogram:banghead:
EcthelionKarakse 10-19-06, 08:21 PM	Get ahold of a copy of the Silmarillion, its got several really nifty names in it
2y1y1z2 10-20-06, 01:39 AM	Rip lesser known names from your favorite books.
JulesCARV 10-20-06, 02:14 AM	I tend to have names that are fairly real-worldish (e.g., Zethir Tomas, Jean-Paul of Alvegny, Siddharth Bhattacharya, Andorra Hausdorff), but then, on these boards I've gotten multiple comments that my names tend to suck, so I'm probably not your best bet.