I haven't come across anyone who uses known, odd, or otherwise inappropriate names.
This is a list I made up of known names (let me know if it should be added to):
Drizzt
Rastilin
Link
Zelda
Magnus
Erdrick
Cloud
Tifa
Teferi
Davros
Urza
Jhoira
Garruck
Garland
...thoughts?
Half the names you list seem to be from media sources instead of the Forgotten Realms.
In general, FR names are all over the place. Nearly every real-world culture has some similar analogue in the game world, so most real-world names should be okay. Most fantasy names should be fine as well.
Really, the only names that don't fit would be anachronistic ones, like "Cyberdeath Digital" or whatever.
I would avoid using names from other media like books or video games, however, even if they sound thematically appropriate. Many folks might find it distracting and immersion breaking. I know I'd have to roll my eyes if I saw someone playing "Cloud" or "Zelda", and it would likely color and alter my interactions with them, as I would find it hard to not think "Wow, that's just silly and fanboyish" every time I heard it.
-karma
"Known names" as in relation to what?
Half the names you list seem to be from media sources instead of the Forgotten Realms.
...
I would avoid using names from other media like books or video games, however, even if they sound thematically appropriate. Many folks might find it distracting and immersion breaking. I know I'd have to roll my eyes if I saw someone playing "Cloud" or "Zelda", and it would likely color and alter my interactions with them, as I would find it hard to not think "Wow, that's just silly and fanboyish" every time I heard it.
This is kind of what I was getting at. I haven't seen it done, however with the LFR events growing I didn't know if this was going on or not.
...although making a Barbarian called Thundarr would be kind of cool. :D
as for not seeign anythign inappropriate... apparently you never met the LG character named Captain Prostate. (yes, it was actually someone's character)
Then again, even some anacrhronistic names can be somewhat amusing and oddly appropriate. I know someone who played a half-orc barbarian named Nasdaq. it sounds like a guttural orc name. :P
One of my characters is Captain Justice.
His first name is actually Justice.
He uses spiked gauntlets (because there's sadly no non-spiked gauntlets as weapons), and I plan on getting him a throwing shield.
So I'm a bit of a hypocrite, it seems.
-karma
Well, my Paladin's name is ThAC0.
Nice. Only us grognards will know. :D
Returning to the original poster...I know that, in the 3E Forgotten Realms Campaign Guide, there was a substantial list of example names for each of the primary languages in the Realms.
I have always had problems coming up with names that didn't sound terrible. Years ago, I downloaded a shareware utility called The Everchanging Book of Names, which has a module for Forgotten Realms names. You may find that helpful. (OTOH, I've found that some of the common conventions for naming Forgotten Realms characters lead to silly-sounding names, so YMMV.)
In 6 years of playing LG, with hundreds of players, I'd say that about 85% of the PC names I saw were reasonable fantasy names, 10% were names that might've sounded reasonable at first glance, but I recognized them as coming from some other source * (for example, I played with a dwarven cleric named Thangorodrim, and an elf fighter named Achilles). The other 5% were just clearly silly / anachronistic names (for example, an incontinent halfling wizard named Piddle, two stoned valley elves named Dude and Dude, and a female rogue named Sand Y'bott'om)...and, in most of those cases, the PCs themselves were, at least in part, played for laughs.
Yeah, the truly anachronistic names did hurt the verisimilitude a bit...but, if the player's having fun, and it's not significantly hurting the game for anyone else, I don't have a major problem with it.
* - I should talk, I had an elf warmage named Zarek Thrace.
Nearly every real-world culture has some similar analogue in the game world, so most real-world names should be okay.
For example, if you're playing a Moonshavian, you could use Irish / Gaelic names (if you're of Ffolk extraction) or Viking / Norse names (if you're of Northlander extraction).
Sometimes I like to find names of obscure cheeses and use that. Such as my character Vermunder Braudostur. His first name is icelandic in origin and Braudostur is an icelandic cheese. :P
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1. Parody names that don't reference the setting, whilst perhaps unoriginal, they don't break verisimilitude because they are only parodying out of character stuff. (See Ulgore the Druid) A whole party of Elves called 'Bruce' is a bit much, irrespective of how awesome or accurate the Monty python depiction of us Aussies was.
2. Names relevant/congruous to race/region.
3. Any name that tries to sound like a real name.
2. Names relevant/congruous to race/region.
3. Any name that tries to sound like a real name.
Names I used for PCs are Nesliande 'Nesalia' R'tannouien (elf), Tinwick Yummonbrock (gnome), Teshalar 'Tesh' Huruafair (half-drow), Valencia (human), or Adonyee Musz (human). One anomaly is a PC that is called Samantha. But she's a devil, so I figure she can get away with it.
I sometime get a name that it like so much that I build a NPC around it, which means it determines a NPC's gender or race. 'Kira and Dayan' are an example of two names that I just had to use in unison (who became the twins), because somehow they worked together - well, for me anyway.
Currently, I've used a variety of names, up to and including:
Atras Nara (Dragonborn Cleric)
Nevix Astari (Dragonborn Rogue, this name was recycled from 3.5 LG)
Vetch (Gnoll Fighter/Battlerager, raised by dwarves.)
Koroshi Shini (Tiefling Warlock, his name is Japanese for "Murder Death")
I usually choose names based on how cool they sound. But I've played a game with a few inappropriate (in more than one way) names. Like BeoMILF and Horny Mcbeam (Minotaur Feylock).
I also considered a barbarian warforged named "Hermanator", but the concept lost it's novelty pretty quickly.
If I ever did a ripoff character, I'd play the elf Chain and his horse Anope. But I'll probably never do that and simply stick to recycling older names.
And yes, I do agree that certain names can be annoying. Things like Cloud, Tifa and other such names directly ripped from videogames and movies are often just immature and fanboyish.
They could at least make the name subtle, like choosing a specific type of cloud instead of Cloud itself. (Hence Chain and Anope instead of Link and Epona)
Although, I will admit that a good comical name can be lots of fun. Like Haf-Orc, an orc so dumb that he assumed Haf-Orc was his name because that's what people called him.
1) Consult the book: Treasury of Archaic Names. A lot of the names in there are (I believe) old world names that don't get used any more. So many of them are useful and sound like fantasy names . (although my name is in there andi t's not that archaic :P) It also lets you randomly generate a nickname, and (best of all) it has a huge list of surnames by profession. I was surprised to find the professional origin of some surnames. (my last name, Miller, is an easy one of course :rolleyes
2) consult the smaller publication: The Eveyone Everywhere List. Out of print and the website (www.magictactics.com) doesn't exist anymore. A nice list of names from many real world places (African, old American names, Arabic, Chinese, Dutch, Mongolian, Viking, Serbian, just to name a few). When I created my dwarf fighter Magnus Lighthammer, I chose Magnus since it was a viking name (I always saw dwarves as rather viking/Scandinavian in origin).
3) I consult the 20,000 names website. Lots of names and their meanings from many places around the world. My character I mentioned before, I got his first name from here. Vermunder is an Icelandic name that means "Protector of Man." (originally I was going to have him come from the northern climates of Toril)
EDIT: 4) Cheese. How could I forget the cheese?! Lots of obscure cheeses with names suitable for characters. Especially the cheesy ones.
5) Babelfish. Sometimes typing a two word phrase that encompasses your character and havign it translated to a different language will yield good results.
I know someone who plays a Minotaur Barbarian and he has the best name ever for it. It's a lot of fun having him at the table.
I've also helped a friend come up with a new character: Turrets Stonecudgel: a dwarven warlock. He'll be doing a lot of "cursing" lol
When I play my shadar-kai swordmage, his name will be Pythagoras. I expect him to have some serious issues with diagonals :D
I've also helped a friend come up with a new character: Turrets Stonecudgel: a dwarven warlock. He'll be doing a lot of "cursing" lol
Does he have a special dance? Perhaps "the sprinkler"?
My LG characters were mostly original names, with a few from anime and more obscure sources.
and one from an old RPGA module.
I really should make a PC based off an NPC from Living City who was called THUNDERHIPS.
That was his name.
I don't even remember the adventure he was in, just that we couldn't stop giggling every time the DM uttered the name.
He'd say it really loud and deep, too. Like in allcaps.
:D
-karma
It was fun for a little while, but then it started getting old REALLY fast. The point where Link, Young Link and the South Park boys were all present at the same time was the breaking point for me.
The guy I mentioned before, who plays Beomilf and Horny Mcbeam does have more normal characters. Xanthor, Lyzanor and other characters he's made are less... silly.
By sheer coincidence, he created a halfling named Odie Nickelbottle without realizing that Odie was Garfield the cat's annoying canine housemate.
The guy I mentioned before, who plays Beomilf and Horny Mcbeam does have more normal characters. Xanthor, Lyzanor and other characters he's made are less... silly.
By sheer coincidence, he created a halfling named Odie Nickelbottle without realizing that Odie was Garfield the cat's annoying canine housemate.
But how could you forget to mention his infamous monk, Chubby Wang! :D
But how could you forget to mention his infamous monk, Chubby Wang! :D
Or my Kobold Jynx. (Oddly, no strange swings is luck for him.) and my fighter Deadalus Carneson. (Who was far more survivable than the sorcerer who preceded him. He was expected to die heinously, as blackmoor had killed said sorcerer twice in one mod.)
And don't forget Chubby Wang's Panda LikLik either!
For the record, I'M not gonna be the one to list Chubby Wang's family.
For the record, I'M not gonna be the one to list Chubby Wang's family.
During LG, we had several extended families of gnomes here in Verbobonc. One was the Bumpuses (undoubtedly no relation at all to the hillbillies who lived next to Ralphie in "A Christmas Story"), another was the Nackles. Most of them had rather ridiculous names...but, then again, they were gnomes. :D
"How can we use that in combat?"
Examples:
4e: Mindarthis "Ears" Silverburg, Eladrin Tactical Warlord (second longest running character)
Called "Ears" despite a full blooded Elf in the party. As the Elf is now deceased, the entire party uses that nickname.
3.X:
Pellarin Kaldiest of House Mason: Silvanesti Noble/Bard
Fingolfin Nailo - Elven Duskblade (ONE FREAKING SESSION. I was so looking forward to playing a duskblade from level 1.)
Ariketh (Keth) - Neraph Barbarian (Lasted longer than most of my characters. Until the campaign ended up with about 14 Players, when it collapsed.)
My Only RPGA Character to date:
Lazam Stringer (rhymes with "Hamstringer" ): halfling Bravura Warlord.
Notable Player names amongst my Group:
Stank, Goblin Thief
Jett Dominic, Dragonborn Paladin - We give him so much crap for this name.
Friar Fenwick von Goldschlager - Dwarven Cleric of Melora(I think. FR Nature goddess).
And an elf with a name 15 syllables long. Monnegan is the SHORT form.
But how could you forget to mention his infamous monk, Chubby Wang! :D
Dan that is because well.. M has issues.
This is Brian btw.
My characters have mostly normal names
Malfein - Drow rogue
Thorvald - Dwarf cleric of tempus
Cyrl - elven fighter
Toradin - Dragonborn paladin
my one borderline name is My warforged battlerage Fighter Broken, full name is Broken Rulez. But without the last name no one ever comments that the Broken part is a bad name for a warforged.
During LG, we had several extended families of gnomes here in Verbobonc. One was the Bumpuses (undoubtedly no relation at all to the hillbillies who lived next to Ralphie in "A Christmas Story"), another was the Nackles. Most of them had rather ridiculous names...but, then again, they were gnomes. :D
I usually use fairly 'straight' names for my characters, but when it comes to the shorter races I tend to go a little silly.
My LG gnomish archmage was the famous (or infamous, if you ever sat at table with him) Todger Rockfondler, descended from a long line of gnome gem cutters.
I have a halfling character designed for LFR who goes by the name 'Stinky Burrpenphart', but I have not yet had the opportunity of giving him a run. Perhaps I should just leave him on the shelf!
Cheers,
Carl.
Volk S. Waggin
Awakened Dire Wolf. (Volk is, apparently, Russian for Wolf)
My minotaur barbarian's name, Bostauran, is a play off the genus and species of cattle, which is Bos Taurus.
Better than borrowing the name from a Chrono Cross monster, the Taurminator...
:D
-karma
I had someone point out an unintended pun in one of my PC's names this past weekend...the character is a paladin of the Elf strength and Tempus variety. His name is Aden Kadril, and he's from Aglarond. To the party he's their pal Aden...
Yup, that was me. The funny thing is that we were discussing making a Paladin named Adin just the night before. Too funny
That was a fun game! Perhaps we'll run into you again.
I kept mentally thinking "Boss Tauren" every time I've played with him.
:D
I thought about making it that... but it seemed a bit too pretentious.
Incidentally, my character during that campaign had a potentially distracting name issue that turned into a neat character element. I played a Warforged who literally "fell off the truck" on the way to being delivered, with no name or social experience. I planned for him to find his own name the way the doctor in Star Trek Voyager never did, but he started out with the model and serial number stamped on the bottom of his foot: AN-153.
Eventually everyone just called him Ann...
I've generated 15 LFR characters this way:
- Lucan - male eladrin warlord from Luruar
- Totsi - female halfling rogue from Dragon Coast
- Mathos - male elf ranger from Dalelands
- Terika - female watersoul/windsoul genasi swordmage from Akanul
- Culhwch - male dwarf cleric from Impiltur
- Maribella - female half-elf warlock from Waterdeep
- Ruck - male human warlock from Akanul
- Shadd - male dragonborn fighter from Tymanther
- Chance - male tiefling paladin of Tymora from Baldur's Gate
- Nixi - female eladrin wizard from Akanul
- Clianthe - female drow rogue from Akanul
- Scirloc Smith - male human artificer from Akanul, descenant of Brewer Smith
- Alisia - female watersoul/windsoul genasi warlord from Brenastria, Baldur's Gate
- Lug - warforged barbarian from Nelanther Isles
- Choni Rayce - male human sorcerer from Akanul (not yet legal)
I think all the names fit the setting, and have a fantasy feel in spite of being real-world names (2 real world first names in the case of Choni Rayce). They down't have the pronunciation problems of some made up names.
(Mino Barbarian, who definitely has a grudge against his former slave masters :P)Most of my names are mine originals or something that I think sounds cool and somewhat obscure references to iconic figures to me in my nerdy background.
Melik, Herin, Hendel (Shannara reference,one the coolest dwarves ever!) Damon, Indalamar Yserin (vague old school WoW reference), Roland Da'neira (my mind bending SOB of a wizard from 3.5) Emere (from the random generator, such an awesome sounding Genasi Swordmage name to me)
Names make the character for me, it puts stock in the build. If I can't think of a fitting, albeit occasionally goofy name, then I can't play the character very long.
4e 'Mains'
Jaoti Naskiran: Female Dragonborn Paladin
Azgul ur Urakka Shan: Orc Cleric
Well, my Paladin's name is ThAC0.
wow, those were the good old days of a 'simpler' D&D
During LG, we had several extended families of gnomes here in Verbobonc. One was the Bumpuses (undoubtedly no relation at all to the hillbillies who lived next to Ralphie in "A Christmas Story"), another was the Nackles. Most of them had rather ridiculous names...but, then again, they were gnomes. :D
knackles, now those were a Dms worst nightmare at a con :OMG!
They were a hoot.
Dan that is because well.. M has issues.
This is Brian btw.
My characters have mostly normal names
Malfein - Drow rogue
Thorvald - Dwarf cleric of tempus
Cyrl - elven fighter
Toradin - Dragonborn paladin
my one borderline name is My warforged battlerage Fighter Broken, full name is Broken Rulez. But without the last name no one ever comments that the Broken part is a bad name for a warforged.
This is M.
I don't post or read here much, but I find it amusing that some of my characters have been mentioned. It's all in good fun. Here's a list most of my characters spanning LG and LFR in no particular order. You can be the judge of my issues.
Lyzanor, Woestaff of the Silent Ones
Trixi, rogue prostitute from Greyhawk
Kilit, half-orc sorcerer
Xanthor, cleric of Wee Jas
Chubby Wang and his panda companion, Lik Lik
Quetzulaloc, Olman warrior
Enna Leafwind, Elven Silverstar of Selune
Odi Nikelbottal, Halfling rogue
Beomilf, "Blue" wizard of Thay
Chuk, Gnoll barbarian
Awesome-O, Warforged fighter
Horny McBeam, gay Minotaur warlock
M
Beomilf, "Blue" wizard of Thay
Why do I see this more as a high charisma, older female barbarian? ;)
Why do I see this more as a high charisma, older female barbarian? ;)
From a northern clime....
Each of those names is the name of a prescription medication. *shrug*
You'd be suprised how well medication names do as fantasy names.
IYou'd be suprised how well medication names do as fantasy names.
Depends on the medication, I suppose. I'm thinking that "Viagra Flomax" wouldn't be taken seriously. ;)
Vimgran Omax would be an interesting name. Sounds strong and surly.
-karma
Depends on the medication, I suppose. I'm thinking that "Viagra Flomax" wouldn't be taken seriously. ;)
Sounds like a prostitute. A friend of mine had a Half-Orc named Nasdaq.
I am making a shifter character that talks with an outrageous French accent and is named Lyoneaux.
I have a halfling character designed for LFR who goes by the name 'Stinky Burrpenphart', but I have not yet had the opportunity of giving him a run. Perhaps I should just leave him on the shelf!
Cheers,
Carl.
Now that PHB2 is out, you ought to make this guy a Bard and make liberal use of Misdirected Mark.
"that was the barbarian, not me!" :D
I'm thinking of a leader, cleric probably, with the name Acetaminophen. I'd have a mount, of course, named Codeine.
Hmmm.....
I'm thinking of a leader, cleric probably, with the name Acetaminophen. I'd have a mount, of course, named Codeine.
And your Holy Symbol, is named Tylenol? Given to you by a mysterious female hand rising from a glass of pain killer....
And your Holy Symbol, is named Tylenol? Given to you by a mysterious female hand rising from a glass of pain killer....
Actually, I'd call the Holy Symbol: Vicoden.
As Acetimonephen(sp) IS Tylanol(sp).
(This is why I'm not a MD.)
From LG to LFR:
LG
Frederick of Edgewater (human fighter/wizard)
Diomedes Hopesoul (human cleric)
Kyndiah (halfling paladin/monk/cleric/fighter/pious templar, etc)
Barathion (human cleric)
Rowan (human fighter)
Wolfgang (human marshal/fighter/hexblade (3.5 warlord))
LFR
Fabius (human battle cleric)
Immaril Hellebore (eladrin warlord)
Njal son of Hengrist (dwarf ranger)
Georg (human fighter)
Kiera (Human inspiring warlord)
Nicholai (half-elf warlock/wizard)
Tristram (human str paladin)
knackles, now those were a Dms worst nightmare at a con
Try running a whole weekend of slot zeros with at least 4 Nackles at every slot
The Nackle clan is a force of nature...
I got the name for my main PCs of yore the following ways:
1. Arafinwe Telemnar is my real name typed into some elvish name generator.
2. Arno "The Shrike" Williams is a combination of a random name from Neverwinter Nights with a nickname based on his preferred weapon (darts).
3. Eohi "Oathhammer" Rockhall came from some playing around with the Dwarven naming section of Races of Stone.
My LFR PC is named "Wrath." When asked his response is that he left his other name in "the joint." Just picture a bitter, p'oed guy in his late 40's early 50's who just got out of prison after doing 25 years for a crime he says he didn't do...*wink*
I know someone who plays a Minotaur Barbarian and he has the best name ever for it. It's a lot of fun having him at the table.
MOOOOOO!!!
I do believe you are talking about a Mr. Moar Kow Belle' and the Cowbell I wear at the table and ring while charging?
My LFR PC is named "Wrath." When asked his response is that he left his other name in "the joint." Just picture a bitter, p'oed guy in his late 40's early 50's who just got out of prison after doing 25 years for a crime he says he didn't do...*wink*
I can *so* see you playing that sort of character, Ian. :D
RPGA characters:
-Witie (bad way to start... my tiefling wizard, Witie!)
-Emere (Fire Genasie fighter)
-Wilhime Octavious Bernhart (A member of a group of assassins that all have biblical names, thus he is W.O.B. or.. W**** of Babylon) (awwww... I didn't know you couldn't say that word on these boards...)
-Diligent (Halfling Sorcerer, known simply as Dil)
-Berry (Again, silly, but the worst part? I wrote him up as a Cleric of the Raven Queen... yeah... I still catch it for this one... He now worships Illmator if that's any better)
Home games:
-Kiluma Difmal Sir'lock Mashin (Dragonborn rogue with Dhampyr bloodline)
-Belladin (Dwarven paladin, simply known as Bell) (retired)
-Varsik (human rogue) (dead)
-Doff Carndrit (Dwarven fighter) (Dead)
-Motorious (Elven Sorcerer) (retired, bur returning soon!)
Epic characters of old
-Ralkin Githereal (Human.. something. He was whicked and killed lots of things. His Githereal name comes from the fact that in ancient history his ancestors lived on the Ethereal plane and came back to the prime material plane. He is still one of my favorite character concepts ever)
-Lucidious Harlock (A future incarnation of Snake Killfire with a better name and a much happier outlook on life)
Those are just the ones I can remember...