Coming up with a good name. [Archive] - Wizards Community

Coming up with a good name. [Archive] - Wizards Community

Post/Author/DateTime Post
Tardatog
12-21-03, 03:58 AM I appologize for this thread as I'm sure it's probably posted somewhere else but I couldn't find it (yes I tried the search button)

I often have great difficulty coming up with good names but I don't like using a generated name from somewhere. I don't mind getting inspiration from other names, but I really don't like the feeling of my character's name not being my own creation. What do you do to help you think of good character names?
Faeryl Zauvirr
12-21-03, 08:16 AM Originally posted by Tardatog
I often have great difficulty coming up with good names but I don't like using a generated name from somewhere. I don't mind getting inspiration from other names, but I really don't like the feeling of my character's name not being my own creation. What do you do to help you think of good character names?

I used to be the same. Then all of a sudden I could come up with ten random (not exactly random) on the spot.

The trick is to think of a theme for each set on names. Tie each theme to a region (if you are a DM). Themes may encompass landscape (Leafcrown, Hillthon, Ridge) or certain endings (Hylasis, Geolsis, Harrisis) Last names are usually completely unique (Bourghast, Jalleveen) or a couple of short words thrown together (Greengrass, Reeftide, Buttercup).

Also names should be a reflection of the personality. This way not be true of real life but it should be in fanatsy (unless you have a good plot or story reason). Short and easy to say names such as Dren, Gorg, Mig might reflect a simple but fierce character. Complicated names such as Juniverrie or Vyrtirran may reflect an individual dedicated to some moral cause or higher calling in life. Finally (my favourite) the evil style reflects a dark soul. Examples include Yrthihicus and Phrexyra.
DarkRitual
12-25-03, 07:20 PM The advice of the above poster is good.

Something else you could try is getting a Latin or Ancient Greek Dictionary and looking for words that match your character's personality and using the Latin/Greek equivalents. Other language dictionaries would work too.
SpellMaster
12-25-03, 07:58 PM For an example of what Faeryl Zauvirr means, I named my elven wizard "Tanithilis Quil'Anthalasa". Don't know where I came up with it, but I like it. Anyways, he is a book worm, and the "quil" in his last name symbolizes the pen, or quill. The short form of his name is Tanith Quill, needed because not even the DM can remember the full name.
Boxphet
12-26-03, 08:39 AM I do not know, where the names I come up with comes from, but I think I initially started out making names, based on LOTR, and rearranging the letters.
From this I moved on to taking real life names of people on TV and adding a bit of Spice.
Now I can sort of come up with all the names I need on a whim.
So I guess as is true for all, practice does make perfect.
TheMightyMcClaw
12-29-03, 09:59 AM For great "fantastical" sounding names, just look at the Vandals. My personal favorite was King Gaelimir.
flyingmoose
12-30-03, 04:42 PM I tried making a random generator for names. Random structures and lists of syllables. (prefix)ael, (prefix)omir, kill(name), things like that.

It sucked, like a Hoover.

Go here. (http://www.20000-names.com/)
Lord of the Ninth
12-31-03, 06:36 PM You also might want to check out This (http://www.kabalarians.com/html/surf-by.htm) and This (http://spitfire.ausys.se/johan/names/)

The first one has real world names from different cultures (and other stuff, like Shakespeare names), the second one is a very nice Fantasy name generator capable of making names for humans, elves, dwarves, hobbits, kender, orcs etc.
Durick
01-01-04, 02:26 AM I usually use two methods if i'm really stuck on coming up with a name

The first is i just type a couple lines of random gibberish in word pad or something and see if i can come up with anything from what is on the screen.

For example:
sdproiunejbye osdiurne .... I think Osdurn sounds pretty neat from "osdiurne"

The second is that I look for inspiration in mundane things I'm around at the time. My screen name, Durick, for example was inspired by the Durac on a Duracell battery :P

Hope these help :D
Malyss the defender
01-01-04, 03:46 PM A friend of mine had the idea to roll a d10(any other dice can work if you want a longer or shorter name) to determine the number of letters in the name then alternate between a d20 for consonants and d6 for vowels.Change some of the letters to make it sound better.It actually works pretty well.
WINTERINSUMMER
01-01-04, 06:44 PM what i do is take the first name from one movie and take the last name from another

for example: Victor Kurtz
victor: the cleaner from la femme nikita
kurtz: col. kurtz from apocalyps now
Neoatomic
01-04-04, 09:20 PM I would suggest finding a Elven Dictionary online for a first name. I did this with my new character named Din'Maat LeafBurrow, In case you are wondering Din'Maat means Silent Soul in Elven. As for a last name just throw a few words together that have something to do with your race and culture, Since Din'Maat is an elf LeafBurrow just seemed to fit.:behold:
Simi
01-06-04, 04:53 PM I found this site for making elven names. It can help you come up with some pritty cool ones.

http://www.angelfire.com/rpg2/vortexshadow/names.html

Hope it helps :D

Post/Author/DateTime	Post
Tardatog 12-21-03, 03:58 AM	I appologize for this thread as I'm sure it's probably posted somewhere else but I couldn't find it (yes I tried the search button) I often have great difficulty coming up with good names but I don't like using a generated name from somewhere. I don't mind getting inspiration from other names, but I really don't like the feeling of my character's name not being my own creation. What do you do to help you think of good character names?
Faeryl Zauvirr 12-21-03, 08:16 AM	Originally posted by Tardatog I often have great difficulty coming up with good names but I don't like using a generated name from somewhere. I don't mind getting inspiration from other names, but I really don't like the feeling of my character's name not being my own creation. What do you do to help you think of good character names? I used to be the same. Then all of a sudden I could come up with ten random (not exactly random) on the spot. The trick is to think of a theme for each set on names. Tie each theme to a region (if you are a DM). Themes may encompass landscape (Leafcrown, Hillthon, Ridge) or certain endings (Hylasis, Geolsis, Harrisis) Last names are usually completely unique (Bourghast, Jalleveen) or a couple of short words thrown together (Greengrass, Reeftide, Buttercup). Also names should be a reflection of the personality. This way not be true of real life but it should be in fanatsy (unless you have a good plot or story reason). Short and easy to say names such as Dren, Gorg, Mig might reflect a simple but fierce character. Complicated names such as Juniverrie or Vyrtirran may reflect an individual dedicated to some moral cause or higher calling in life. Finally (my favourite) the evil style reflects a dark soul. Examples include Yrthihicus and Phrexyra.
DarkRitual 12-25-03, 07:20 PM	The advice of the above poster is good. Something else you could try is getting a Latin or Ancient Greek Dictionary and looking for words that match your character's personality and using the Latin/Greek equivalents. Other language dictionaries would work too.
SpellMaster 12-25-03, 07:58 PM	For an example of what Faeryl Zauvirr means, I named my elven wizard "Tanithilis Quil'Anthalasa". Don't know where I came up with it, but I like it. Anyways, he is a book worm, and the "quil" in his last name symbolizes the pen, or quill. The short form of his name is Tanith Quill, needed because not even the DM can remember the full name.
Boxphet 12-26-03, 08:39 AM	I do not know, where the names I come up with comes from, but I think I initially started out making names, based on LOTR, and rearranging the letters. From this I moved on to taking real life names of people on TV and adding a bit of Spice. Now I can sort of come up with all the names I need on a whim. So I guess as is true for all, practice does make perfect.
TheMightyMcClaw 12-29-03, 09:59 AM	For great "fantastical" sounding names, just look at the Vandals. My personal favorite was King Gaelimir.
flyingmoose 12-30-03, 04:42 PM	I tried making a random generator for names. Random structures and lists of syllables. (prefix)ael, (prefix)omir, kill(name), things like that. It sucked, like a Hoover. Go here. (http://www.20000-names.com/)
Lord of the Ninth 12-31-03, 06:36 PM	You also might want to check out This (http://www.kabalarians.com/html/surf-by.htm) and This (http://spitfire.ausys.se/johan/names/) The first one has real world names from different cultures (and other stuff, like Shakespeare names), the second one is a very nice Fantasy name generator capable of making names for humans, elves, dwarves, hobbits, kender, orcs etc.
Durick 01-01-04, 02:26 AM	I usually use two methods if i'm really stuck on coming up with a name The first is i just type a couple lines of random gibberish in word pad or something and see if i can come up with anything from what is on the screen. For example: sdproiunejbye osdiurne .... I think Osdurn sounds pretty neat from "osdiurne" The second is that I look for inspiration in mundane things I'm around at the time. My screen name, Durick, for example was inspired by the Durac on a Duracell battery :P Hope these help :D
Malyss the defender 01-01-04, 03:46 PM	A friend of mine had the idea to roll a d10(any other dice can work if you want a longer or shorter name) to determine the number of letters in the name then alternate between a d20 for consonants and d6 for vowels.Change some of the letters to make it sound better.It actually works pretty well.
WINTERINSUMMER 01-01-04, 06:44 PM	what i do is take the first name from one movie and take the last name from another for example: Victor Kurtz victor: the cleaner from la femme nikita kurtz: col. kurtz from apocalyps now
Neoatomic 01-04-04, 09:20 PM	I would suggest finding a Elven Dictionary online for a first name. I did this with my new character named Din'Maat LeafBurrow, In case you are wondering Din'Maat means Silent Soul in Elven. As for a last name just throw a few words together that have something to do with your race and culture, Since Din'Maat is an elf LeafBurrow just seemed to fit.:behold:
Simi 01-06-04, 04:53 PM	I found this site for making elven names. It can help you come up with some pritty cool ones. http://www.angelfire.com/rpg2/vortexshadow/names.html Hope it helps :D