Name Thread

[Quillfeathers]

For getting help with names. I know the NaNo sites have a whole section for this... but I think a thread will work.

Me personaly I have to find a whole army of names. Literaly. I need names for a good chunck of the soldiers in the army in my novel, names for most of the elves (like 10 names maybe?) in chapters 4-7, and gah I just need a lot of names. I've been trying to make them up as I go and I'm a total mess without my charachter naming scource book (which the libraray confenscated back from me becuase I had had it from Feb-Dec 09... re-re-re-re-renewing rocks lol.) so yeah.

Ok happy name finding, hunting! =D

[Carol R. Jaye]

Hi, Quillfeathers.  I own Sherrilyn Kenyon's Character Naming Sourcebook, plus several "name your baby" books, and I have a reasonable amount of etymological "know-how."  I'd be happy to help you with some names, if you can provide a tad more information:

What "sound" do you want for your elven names?  Can you give me a sample or two?  For instance, is there a tradition that all female names end in "A" while all male names end in "I" or "O"?  (Example: All the elven names in my AD&D world have several syllables, often divided by apostrophes, and include more than the usual number of S's, H's, and double R's.  A few such names, all belonging to males, are El'thantiss'har, Tam'harrh'yn, Mh'yrrh'idhion, and S'tharr.  Do your elven names have a similarly discernible pattern?)   

And what is the closest real-world culture to the one you'll be using in your novel?  Do you need mostly Celtic-sounding names for your soldiers, English names, French-based names, Asian names, or what?

There are quite a few fantasy name generators online, as well.  Are you familiar with any of those?

Let me know if I can be of assistance.

--Carrie

[Subtle Kisses]

I use YAFNAG (Yet Another Fantasy Name Generator) and then siphon through, reading the names aloud to make sure they're pronounceable before picking the ones I like

Here's the link: http://dicelog.com/yafnagen

[tiakall]

Rinkworks's is my favorite.  It's very flexible and has generators for both fantasy names and various ethnicities. 

I've also been using a word scrambler to come up with names of planets and so on. 

[Quillfeathers]

Yeah I used to have the Character Naming Source book but like it was the libraries and I had checked it out/in so many times that I had it from Feb 09 - Dec 09 and the library wanted it back for other people to use...

My friend penmaster came up with 3 elevn names that I was able to use. They were Eimor, Korin and Merrick. I probably would have used Latin or cletic/english/wales sort fo names for them. I still need a few more random elf names... maybe 3 girl ones and 3 more guy ones. They don't follow that patern that you listed. It's too unpronouceable for my targeted audiance.

Um I would probably use a whole mix of cultural names meaning warrior, strong, brave etc because there are a lot of nationalities, other beings etc in the army.

No I didn't really look into name generators as most of my names are pretty well made up on the spot. But I figured that with so many characters it's kind of hard to do that with all of them.

Thanks for your assitance thus far!

[Carol R. Jaye]

Yeah I used to have the Character Naming Source book but like it was the libraries

That's what I thought I understood from your earlier post.   Glad to know we're talking about the same book.  I'm happy to look things up for you in my personal copy--to be your new "library," so to speak.  Aunt Carrie's Reference Service. 

They don't follow that patern that you listed. It's too unpronouceable for my targeted audiance.

Oh, good heavens, dear!  I never meant to imply that anyone should adopt my own campaign-world naming system!  I was only using it as an example of what I meant by "naming patterns."  I wanted to know whether you had a pattern of some sort, that I needed to follow in helping you make up names for your characters.  (Incidentally, my elven names are actually quite easy to pronounce, once anyone learns how.  "Mh'yrrh'idion," for instance, is said just like meridian.  But you don't need to worry about that, since you're not an elf on my RPG game map.) 

My friend penmaster came up with 3 elevn names that I was able to use. They were Eimor, Korin and Merrick. I probably would have used Latin or cletic/english/wales sort fo names for them. I still need a few more random elf names... maybe 3 girl ones and 3 more guy ones.

Okay.  If you still need those, I'll see what I can do.  I can use the Celtic, Arthurian Legend, Gaelic, Irish, Scottish, and Welsh lists from Kenyon's book (among others), if you're looking mainly for Celtic names.

Um I would probably use a whole mix of cultural names meaning warrior, strong, brave etc because there are a lot of nationalities, other beings etc in the army.

I think I can handle those, too.   

Thanks for your assitance thus far!

No problem, QF.  I'll PM you with anything I come up with . . . unless you think my continuing to post in this thread might benefit someone else, as well?

Which reminds me . . . I am also willing to act as "reference librarian" for anyone else who needs it, if I have the materials on hand to be of any use (or if Internet research is involved.  Research is "what I do."  )

--Carrie

[Quillfeathers]

Yes I can still use the elf names.

posting in here may benifit others idk.

once again thanks. 

[Carol R. Jaye]

posting in here may benifit others idk.

Well, in that case . . . here goes.

I guess these names are "up for grabs" to any who need Celtic- or Latin-sounding names.

All of them come from Sherrilyn Kenyon's Character Naming Sourcebook (the earlier edition, from 1994).  Currently there are 50 female names and 77 male names, collected below.  I have so far consulted the Arthurian Legend (AL), Celtic (C), and Welsh (W) names lists, but can also move on to the Gaelic, Irish, Latin, Scottish, or Teutonic lists.  Everyone, just let me know if you'd like more from which to choose.   

After each name, I have typed the meaning Kenyon provided (if any), although for Arthurian Legend names, she gives only a reference as to the type of character or place to which a name was assigned (e.g., "a king," "a mountain," "a burial place," "a knight")--no actual etymology behind the names.

I have paid special attention to those that had the same sound as the elven names you're already using, QF, as well as to any that meant "soldier," "warrior," "strong," "shield," ETC.--just as you requested.  The "warrior/strength" names are in case you wish also to choose from this list, the names of the soldiers for your army--not just the names of your elves.

Let me know if I should keep looking, or if you've changed focus (i.e., if you would like me to look for names with other meanings than you specified before, or with a non-Latin, non-Celtic sound). 

Female Names:

Adara—catches birds (W)
Adyna—wretched (W)
Aithne—fire (C)
Alastriona—defends mankind (C)
Albiona—white (AL)
Angharat, Angharad—loved greatly (AL; W)
Anwen (W)
Aphria—agreeable (C)
Arial—vigourous (W)
Arian, Ariana—silver (W)
Arienh—oath (C)
Avaron, Avarona—versions of “Avalon” (AL)
Brenna—raven (C)
Briallan—primrose (W)
Brizna—strong (C)
Caniad—song (W)
Chelinda—Tristan’s grandmother (AL)
Cinnia—beauty (C)
Deira (AL)
Donella—dark-haired elfin girl (C)
Donia—dark-skinned (C)
Drysi—thorn (W)
Edana—passionate (C)
Enite—faithful/abused wife (AL)
Esyllt, Eyslk—forms of Isolde, meaning “fair” (W)
Etain—a faerie (C)
Ettare—lover of Pelleas (AL)
Fianna—legendary tale (C)
Galiene—a lady (AL)
Ganieda—Merlin’s sister (AL)
Gorawen—joy (W)
Keelin—slender and comely (C)
Kieve—myth name (W)
Lausanne—Lake Geneva (AL)
Lilybet—God’s promise [a form of Elisabeth] (W)
Lunet—a servant of Laudine, who was a widow (AL)
Morna—dearly loved; also “tender and mild” (C)
Nola—famous (C)
Oriana—blonde (C)
Rhan—fate (W)
Rhiain—maiden (W)
Saeth—arrow (W)
Sebille—a faerie (AL)
Seren—star (W)
Tarian—shield (W)
Telyn—harp (W)
Terrwyn—brave (W)
Ula—sea jewel (C)
Vanora—white wave [related to “Guinevere” in all its forms] (W)
Yserone (AL)

Male Names:

Aglaval—brother of Percival (AL)
Airell—nobleman (C)
Alis—brother of Cliges (AL)
Andret—King Mark’s nephew (AL)
Annan—from the stream (C)
Arlen, Arlyn, Arlan—oath (C)
Balin—brother of Balaan (AL)
Barra—a good marksman (C)
Bevyn—a young soldier (C)
Blaise—a cleric (AL)
Bowen, Bowyn—son of Owen (C)
Brenius—a supposed king of Britain (AL)
Britomartus (C)
Cacamwri—servant (AL)
Cameron—crooked nose (C)
Camlann, Camelon—site of Arthur’s last battle (AL)
Celidon (AL)
Corann—myth name [a druid] (C)
Cullen—cub (C)
Devyn—poet (C)
Donaghy [pron. DON-a-hee]—strong fighter (C)
Dorran—stranger (C)
Druas—a murderer (AL)
Elidor—myth name [a monk] (C)
Elidure (AL)
Escalibor—a variation on Excalibur, Arthur’s sword
Evadeam—a dwarf (AL)
Evalac—name of a king (AL)
Evan—young fighter (C)
Fiacra—eagle (C)
Gahariet, Gaheris—sons of Lot (AL)
Galahault—name of a prince (AL)
Galatyn—Gawain’s sword (AL)
Galeron—a knight (AL)
Galvarium—a knight (AL)
Galvyn—sparrow (C)
Gildas (AL; the Celtic name Gildas—for males or females—means  “s/he serves God”)
Gorvenal—a knight (AL)
Guiderius (AL)
Gwyr (AL)
Heilyn—myth name [son of Gwyn] (C)
Iden—wealthy (C)
Karney, Kearney—fighter (C)
Kei—son of Ector (AL)
Kent, Kentigern—head chief (C)
Kilian, Killian—blind (C)
Lamorak—brother of Percival (AL)
Leigh—healer (C)
Llychlyn (AL)
Mariadok—King Mark’s servant (AL)
Melechan—Mordred’s son (AL)
Meliadus—Tristan’s father (AL)
Nascien (AL)
Neal, Niall, Neill [etc.]—champion (C)
Olwydd [pron. OLE-with]—tracker (W)
Oth—legend name (W)
Owen, Owyn, Owain—young fighter (C)
Peredur (AL)
Phelan—wolf (C)
Pheredin (AL)
Pryderi—care (C)
Quin, Quen, Quinn—wise (C)
Rion—a pagan giant (AL)
Ronan—oath (C)
Saffire (AL)
Sloane—fighter (C)
Tanguy—fighter (C)
Taran (C)
Tortain (AL)
Traherne—strong as iron (C)
Trevrizent—Percival’s uncle (AL)
Urien, Uryen—name of a king (AL; W)
Vortigern—name of a king (AL)
Weylin—son of the wolf (C)
Ynyr—legend name (W)
Ysberin—legend name [son of Fflergant] (W)
Ysgonan—legend name (W)

[Quillfeathers]

O_O omword... thank you! You just solved my name problem for like good!
I feel a little guilty taking away from your noveling time though. I know how long it takes looking up neames etc.
Thank you 100xs!

[Carol R. Jaye]

Please, don't feel guilty in the slightest, I was happy to do it, and am thrilled if these were indeed a help to you.    (Hey, my moniker at this site isn't "The Research Fanatic" for nothin'.    )  I'm only sorry that it took me so long to get the list together--I was afraid that by the time I posted, you wouldn't need the names anymore! 

Definitely let me know if you would like to see more/other names, as well.  I have no problem checking other lists from the same book, or even lists in other books, for you--or for anyone else out there in need of character or place names.    Aunt Carrie's Reference Service is open to everyone, 24/7 . . . so long as requests don't necessarily need to be addressed within a certain timeframe!   

As for my own novelling . . .    I would just at present describe it as . . .    So I needed a break from it, for just a teensy-weensy while.

[Hardymum]

I created my own language (well, part of one anyway) simply to come up with coherent names.  But I'm not going to post it here because it was too much work!    It's sort of a mix of Latin, English, French and Hungarian and anything else I could think of.

It's just a bunch of syllables which have certain meanings, and can then be strung together or contracted to create place and character names.  I try to keep them pronounceable, and not use apostrophes in the middle.  That is one of my pet peeves.  (My apologies to those who like them.  It's just a matter of personal taste.)

[Talvikki]

Thanks for sharing! I found a name I could use off the list (let's see how long the character keeps it though..he's already changed names four times since I started the novel ). May refer back later if I need more names....