Eberronian Names [Archive] - Wizards Community

Eberronian Names [Archive] - Wizards Community

Post/Author/DateTime Post
Lord_Tirian
12-12-06, 11:17 PM Forgive me for asking a probably repetitive question, but searching the first pages and using google (for the boards) haven't yielded very good results, so...

What names are "typical" for Eberron, perhaps depending on region/race.

In the FRCS, there's a page full of examples of regional names, but in the ECS, there is nothing comparable (or I'm blind), so has anybody some sort of list or can direct me to an appropriate source(book)?
Kaizer_Ryu
12-12-06, 11:29 PM As far as I know, you're not blind as far as the ECS is concerned, In the Five Nations, however, there is a listing of typical names for each of the Nations in their own sections. I looked around a bit, but can't really find anything else. Admittedly, I didn't try very hard yet (I'll keep looking, it'll bug me otherwise :) ), but maybe someone else knows already.
Huzzah!
12-13-06, 12:47 AM As a group we collaborated with our DM and decided to label the nations of Khorvaire with monikers from our own world. Not to restrict them, but to lightly describe the flavor of their culture.

So, Karrnath gets German/Scandinavian, and our fighter from there is named Wulff.

Thrane is Italian (the Silver Flame being the Catholic Church, obviously) so our sorceror is named Giuseppe.

Lhazaar Principalities are Korean, and our druid is named So Pak.

Naming them anything resembling nonsense syllables means no one bothers to learn each others names. ("Bilbo? What's a Bil-bo?")
Lord_Tirian
12-13-06, 08:06 AM Naming them anything resembling nonsense syllables means no one bothers to learn each others names. ("Bilbo? What's a Bil-bo?")
This strongly depends on a group, eh? For instance, I (and my group) enjoyed making names for our former FR campaign using the guide... and I wanted to know, because I could (perhaps) use it as a guideline for making name generators.

But perhaps I'll get the Five Nations, only heard positive comments 'bout it :)
MartM
12-13-06, 01:48 PM Something new for me in eberron: there is no family name as Siverhand, Copperbottle or Darkmantle... Families have name without apparent signification, like the Vanhagardi of Thrane. Names are very fantasical in eberron (FN Book p.31, 61, 117 & 146). Usually players took name that have a medieval feel... In the list of name of FN name are totally "unearthly". With all this name; a Bigby or a Mordenkainen doesn't styand out at all. For me, that's great!
Edymnion
12-13-06, 10:45 PM Yeah, Five Nations has common names for their citizens. Notice that the names are for regions, not races. I like that, the whole thing about race not being as important as nationality.
The White Sorcerer
12-14-06, 05:59 AM Yeah, Five Nations has common names for their citizens. Notice that the names are for regions, not races. I like that, the whole thing about race not being as important as nationality.

I would mention Races of Eberron having name lists by race, but that'd just summon the wrath of the "RoE isn't an Eberron book!" crowd.
Edymnion
12-14-06, 03:01 PM I would mention Races of Eberron having name lists by race, but that'd just summon the wrath of the "RoE isn't an Eberron book!" crowd.Yup. RoE is good for some crunch, but thats about it.
Neutronium_Dragon
12-15-06, 09:52 PM I don't think that the RoE names are too much of a problem. While Eberron isn't as racially segregated as some settings, that doesn't mean that the races don't have their own identity and naming conventions. Most of them also have a specific nation or region of origin, even if they've spread out since.
Adhevan
12-16-06, 12:52 AM I would mention Races of Eberron having name lists by race, but that'd just summon the wrath of the "RoE isn't an Eberron book!" crowd.

There are name lists by race in the ECS for the new races.
ChaoticGood
12-18-06, 12:52 AM Thrane is Italian (the Silver Flame being the Catholic Church, obviously) so our sorceror is named Giuseppe.

Actually, the Church of the Silver Flame draws as much from Islam, Buddhism, and Orthodox Christianity as it does from Catholicism. Large, open sanctuaries where worshippers kneel on prayer cushions during services sounds pretty Muslim to me. The method of choosing the new Speaker of the Flame is as much Dalai Lama as it is Pope. And the feel of the church in general has always been, to me at least, more Byzantine than Roman.

This being the case, it really all depends on how your DM plans to play each culture. If he's going for the common "Russian" approach to Karrnath, for example, then Romanov or Ilya may work for you, but if your DM is a little off-the-wall and chooses, say, Canada as his cultural inspiration for Karrn... *looks at own DM* ... perhaps something more along the lines of "Buck" or "Big Jim" would be more appropriate.

A Flamish citizen (or any Thrane, for that matter) could be an Ibrahim, Mahmout, or Petra as easily as a Guiseppe or Bonifacio. You could even go more Old Testament/Puritan and be an Ephraim or Ishmael... it all depends on how it fits with the vision of the DM who is running the show.
HauptSin
12-21-06, 10:40 AM I've been looking around for some good Shifter names, and finally decided on settling for Medieval English names after having only read in the ECS about their names being "rustic" Human names. My Shifter's family's names are things like Denys, Anselm, Edward, Alyson, Joanna, etc.
Edymnion
12-21-06, 02:07 PM if your DM is a little off-the-wall and chooses, say, Canada as his cultural inspiration for Karrn... *looks at own DM* ...:rofl:
Oh man, I don't even know where to start with that one! Oh wait, yeah I do. I don't believe I have ever heard the words "Militaristic", "Expansionist", and "Canada" in the same line at the same time before. :D
Joni-san
12-21-06, 04:30 PM The North Will Rise Again! :P
goblin_pride
12-21-06, 05:07 PM :rofl:
Oh man, I don't even know where to start with that one! Oh wait, yeah I do. I don't believe I have ever heard the words "Militaristic", "Expansionist", and "Canada" in the same line at the same time before. :D

Well, no one ever expects it from Canada, eh?
The White Sorcerer
12-21-06, 05:47 PM I may use my homeland as an inspiration for Karrnath, but that doesn't mean I name my Karrns Jukka, Paavo, or Kullervo. After all, all of the Five Nations share a language, so it would be weird if their naming customs were too different.
ChaoticGood
12-25-06, 03:55 PM After all, all of the Five Nations share a language, so it would be weird if their naming customs were too different.

Most of the cultural groups in the United States share a language, but you won't find many people named "Robert Lee" or "Billie Jo" in California. Go to Georgia, though, and it's a whole different story. You won't find many people named "Tyrone" or "Keisha" among the Caucasian-American population, but both are popular names in the African-American community. Sharing a language may facilitate more crosss-cultural names, but it does not erase the lines of cultural preference entirely.
Seghan
12-25-06, 11:40 PM 5N names are good, I have used a bunch in the big character bio I'm writing. To expand the list, I'll derive names from the ones listed, a new name with a similar style.

I'm careful about importing nationalities into Eberron, most seem pretty nebulous to me. Karrnath I feel pretty safe with germanic names, Aundair is a bit more french. For some reason, I tend to use some more classic fantasyish names for Breland. Thrane doesn't strike me as Italian at all, I tend to see it culturally a bit closer to Switzerland if anything (but not really). Incidentally, my new character is a Karrn with a Gallic name (see next to the airship).

Post/Author/DateTime	Post
Lord_Tirian 12-12-06, 11:17 PM	Forgive me for asking a probably repetitive question, but searching the first pages and using google (for the boards) haven't yielded very good results, so... What names are "typical" for Eberron, perhaps depending on region/race. In the FRCS, there's a page full of examples of regional names, but in the ECS, there is nothing comparable (or I'm blind), so has anybody some sort of list or can direct me to an appropriate source(book)?
Kaizer_Ryu 12-12-06, 11:29 PM	As far as I know, you're not blind as far as the ECS is concerned, In the Five Nations, however, there is a listing of typical names for each of the Nations in their own sections. I looked around a bit, but can't really find anything else. Admittedly, I didn't try very hard yet (I'll keep looking, it'll bug me otherwise :) ), but maybe someone else knows already.
Huzzah! 12-13-06, 12:47 AM	As a group we collaborated with our DM and decided to label the nations of Khorvaire with monikers from our own world. Not to restrict them, but to lightly describe the flavor of their culture. So, Karrnath gets German/Scandinavian, and our fighter from there is named Wulff. Thrane is Italian (the Silver Flame being the Catholic Church, obviously) so our sorceror is named Giuseppe. Lhazaar Principalities are Korean, and our druid is named So Pak. Naming them anything resembling nonsense syllables means no one bothers to learn each others names. ("Bilbo? What's a Bil-bo?")
Lord_Tirian 12-13-06, 08:06 AM	Naming them anything resembling nonsense syllables means no one bothers to learn each others names. ("Bilbo? What's a Bil-bo?") This strongly depends on a group, eh? For instance, I (and my group) enjoyed making names for our former FR campaign using the guide... and I wanted to know, because I could (perhaps) use it as a guideline for making name generators. But perhaps I'll get the Five Nations, only heard positive comments 'bout it :)
MartM 12-13-06, 01:48 PM	Something new for me in eberron: there is no family name as Siverhand, Copperbottle or Darkmantle... Families have name without apparent signification, like the Vanhagardi of Thrane. Names are very fantasical in eberron (FN Book p.31, 61, 117 & 146). Usually players took name that have a medieval feel... In the list of name of FN name are totally "unearthly". With all this name; a Bigby or a Mordenkainen doesn't styand out at all. For me, that's great!
Edymnion 12-13-06, 10:45 PM	Yeah, Five Nations has common names for their citizens. Notice that the names are for regions, not races. I like that, the whole thing about race not being as important as nationality.
The White Sorcerer 12-14-06, 05:59 AM	Yeah, Five Nations has common names for their citizens. Notice that the names are for regions, not races. I like that, the whole thing about race not being as important as nationality. I would mention Races of Eberron having name lists by race, but that'd just summon the wrath of the "RoE isn't an Eberron book!" crowd.
Edymnion 12-14-06, 03:01 PM	I would mention Races of Eberron having name lists by race, but that'd just summon the wrath of the "RoE isn't an Eberron book!" crowd.Yup. RoE is good for some crunch, but thats about it.
Neutronium_Dragon 12-15-06, 09:52 PM	I don't think that the RoE names are too much of a problem. While Eberron isn't as racially segregated as some settings, that doesn't mean that the races don't have their own identity and naming conventions. Most of them also have a specific nation or region of origin, even if they've spread out since.
Adhevan 12-16-06, 12:52 AM	I would mention Races of Eberron having name lists by race, but that'd just summon the wrath of the "RoE isn't an Eberron book!" crowd. There are name lists by race in the ECS for the new races.
ChaoticGood 12-18-06, 12:52 AM	Thrane is Italian (the Silver Flame being the Catholic Church, obviously) so our sorceror is named Giuseppe. Actually, the Church of the Silver Flame draws as much from Islam, Buddhism, and Orthodox Christianity as it does from Catholicism. Large, open sanctuaries where worshippers kneel on prayer cushions during services sounds pretty Muslim to me. The method of choosing the new Speaker of the Flame is as much Dalai Lama as it is Pope. And the feel of the church in general has always been, to me at least, more Byzantine than Roman. This being the case, it really all depends on how your DM plans to play each culture. If he's going for the common "Russian" approach to Karrnath, for example, then Romanov or Ilya may work for you, but if your DM is a little off-the-wall and chooses, say, Canada as his cultural inspiration for Karrn... looks at own DM ... perhaps something more along the lines of "Buck" or "Big Jim" would be more appropriate. A Flamish citizen (or any Thrane, for that matter) could be an Ibrahim, Mahmout, or Petra as easily as a Guiseppe or Bonifacio. You could even go more Old Testament/Puritan and be an Ephraim or Ishmael... it all depends on how it fits with the vision of the DM who is running the show.
HauptSin 12-21-06, 10:40 AM	I've been looking around for some good Shifter names, and finally decided on settling for Medieval English names after having only read in the ECS about their names being "rustic" Human names. My Shifter's family's names are things like Denys, Anselm, Edward, Alyson, Joanna, etc.
Edymnion 12-21-06, 02:07 PM	if your DM is a little off-the-wall and chooses, say, Canada as his cultural inspiration for Karrn... looks at own DM ...:rofl: Oh man, I don't even know where to start with that one! Oh wait, yeah I do. I don't believe I have ever heard the words "Militaristic", "Expansionist", and "Canada" in the same line at the same time before. :D
Joni-san 12-21-06, 04:30 PM	The North Will Rise Again! :P
goblin_pride 12-21-06, 05:07 PM	:rofl: Oh man, I don't even know where to start with that one! Oh wait, yeah I do. I don't believe I have ever heard the words "Militaristic", "Expansionist", and "Canada" in the same line at the same time before. :D Well, no one ever expects it from Canada, eh?
The White Sorcerer 12-21-06, 05:47 PM	I may use my homeland as an inspiration for Karrnath, but that doesn't mean I name my Karrns Jukka, Paavo, or Kullervo. After all, all of the Five Nations share a language, so it would be weird if their naming customs were too different.
ChaoticGood 12-25-06, 03:55 PM	After all, all of the Five Nations share a language, so it would be weird if their naming customs were too different. Most of the cultural groups in the United States share a language, but you won't find many people named "Robert Lee" or "Billie Jo" in California. Go to Georgia, though, and it's a whole different story. You won't find many people named "Tyrone" or "Keisha" among the Caucasian-American population, but both are popular names in the African-American community. Sharing a language may facilitate more crosss-cultural names, but it does not erase the lines of cultural preference entirely.
Seghan 12-25-06, 11:40 PM	5N names are good, I have used a bunch in the big character bio I'm writing. To expand the list, I'll derive names from the ones listed, a new name with a similar style. I'm careful about importing nationalities into Eberron, most seem pretty nebulous to me. Karrnath I feel pretty safe with germanic names, Aundair is a bit more french. For some reason, I tend to use some more classic fantasyish names for Breland. Thrane doesn't strike me as Italian at all, I tend to see it culturally a bit closer to Switzerland if anything (but not really). Incidentally, my new character is a Karrn with a Gallic name (see next to the airship).