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Names
https://archive.holyworlds.org/viewtopic.php?f=24&t=106		 Page 1 of 1
Author:  PrincessoftheKing [ October 24th, 2009, 6:35 pm ]
Post subject:  Names
I was wondering how you guys make your names. (As in people names, place names, etc.) I always have trouble making up names for my worlds, so I was just wondering how you all do it!
Author:  Arias Mimetes [ October 24th, 2009, 6:40 pm ]
Post subject:  Re: Names
I decide what letter I want the name to start with, add one or two vowels, and finish the name in whatever random way sounds good.
Which is why I can't name things... :P
Author:  Liagiba [ October 25th, 2009, 6:49 am ]
Post subject:  Re: Names
I have three strategies. The first is to write our names backwards and change letters (like the name Liagiba or Natahn). The second is to take names from our world, combine them with other names or change letters, like Erynne. But normally they just kind of come to me. I think of a lettering I like (like Ilien) and then work on changing it to make it have a good name.
A few names I've come up with:
Eshyklah (Consuming Fire in Hebrew, combined and changed a little)
Natanyl
Fyrstar
Izlaieda (elven city)
Aiyilina
Eliondyre
Nitelirk
Clethdyr (Demons)

And my personal favorite - Aiyezlani.
Author:  Zoe M. Scrivener [ October 25th, 2009, 6:17 pm ]
Post subject:  Re: Names
My place and creature names are tweaked Irish Gaelic. My names for 'Earthlings' are just names I happen to like or that sound good. The names I use for individual creatures just come to me. :D

examples:

Eanaugh: my bird-like creatures (Ean is Irish Gaelic for bird, and then I tweaked it)
Riocht: my land's name (direct from Irish Gaelic)
Eiolynn: made up, fantasy-sounding name for a character
Author:  PrincessoftheKing [ October 25th, 2009, 8:31 pm ]
Post subject:  Re: Names
Thanks everyone! Those are all really great ideas!
I've been using an Old English dictionary to make some words, and that's helped a lot.
I'll have to try the other things! :D
Author:  Liagiba [ October 25th, 2009, 8:49 pm ]
Post subject:  Re: Names
Abby: Behind the Name and Mindy E.'s Generator are both helpful hints to start brainstorming.
Author:  Willow Wenial Mimetes [ October 26th, 2009, 4:45 pm ]
Post subject:  Re: Names
Usually, I come up with a character trait that describes them, and use that as the beginning letter of the name, and then I'll build the name based on what I think looks nice in print.:)

Or I'll take a name for a character based on its meaning, and then change it around to make it sound right.
Author:  PrincessoftheKing [ October 26th, 2009, 7:40 pm ]
Post subject:  Re: Names
Mindy E. wrote:
Usually, I come up with a character trait that describes them, and use that as the beginning letter of the name, and then I'll build the name based on what I think looks nice in print.:)


I've been known to change i to y and stuff like that to make names look better too. :D
But good idea!!!
Author:  Liagiba [ October 26th, 2009, 8:50 pm ]
Post subject:  Re: Names
Another one I like is e to i or a to e, and s to z. Or add double letters, like Erynne, double n's and an e on the end. That name is simply Erin, changed i to y, double n's and add an e. Simple! Hope that helps. :)
Author:  Neil of Erk [ October 28th, 2009, 8:54 pm ]
Post subject:  Re: Names
I usual just come up with random names, as the mood strikes me. But, one name in that holds particular significance also have quite a history.

I have a city called Tek-Baan. It was long ago determined that this city would be the capital of a great evil empire. Eventually, my brother decided that the evil lord of Tek-Baan would be named Baan. Later I decided that Tek-Baan would actually mean Possession of Baan. Baan is similar to Caesar, in that it was once a name that became title.

Tip: Evil names that start with 'Mor' are almost always good, provided they aren't too similar to Morgoth.
Author:  Arias Mimetes [ October 28th, 2009, 9:17 pm ]
Post subject:  Re: Names
Neil of Erk wrote:
Tip: Evil names that start with 'Mor' are almost always good, provided they aren't too similar to Morgoth.


Except Mordor, but that's a place.

I also named the evil wizard in my allegorical story Mordoc... and I once named a evil charrie Morden, but I never actually used her. I renamed her later.
Author:  Whythawye [ October 29th, 2009, 11:37 am ]
Post subject:  Re: Names
I decide what the language is that the word is in, then figure out from that what the structure and style and phonics are, then I think of the essence of what the word should sound like, then I try a few to see what is best, then I ask my siblings (especially Patrick, he is a veritable fountain of names!), then I choose. That is why my names are slow in coming. But I like them when I get them. :)
Author:  Willow Wenial Mimetes [ November 6th, 2009, 2:25 pm ]
Post subject:  Re: Names
I've also noticed that naming characters after their qualities, Their...personality, or essence if you will, can help too. For instance, my character, Aesta is named that because she's a passionate, fire and ice person, and aestus is Latin for 'seething' (and a few other things.:D)
Author:  Elestar [ November 7th, 2009, 11:43 pm ]
Post subject:  Re: Names
It depends. First, on what story. With my main story, I've used quite a mish-mash of methods.

The name of my main country is a name that I just made up when I was ten (not for this story, a different one that I decided to honor by reusing the name)

Since I'm making my own languages for my world, but haven't come up with all of them yet ( :roll: ), when naming a country, I usually try to just come up with a word that sounds like something the people there would use.

The only things that I take from our world are names, and that is usually just for humans (and even those I prefer to use European names, especially of the Celtic/Irish/Gaelic origins). The others I base off my elvish language(s).
Author:  Lady Eruwaedhiel [ November 23rd, 2009, 6:27 pm ]
Post subject:  Re: Names
Some fun name generator links:

Fantasy Name Generator
Seventh Sanctum
Serendipity

I get my names from here, or I look for unusual names on a site like:
Baby Names
And here's a neat article on naming characters:
Character Names

Some of my names include:
Laecla (land of the elves) Generated name
Carseld (Old English for Home of Care) My country name
Dirk (German for Famous Ruler, also a type of knife) Found it in a names book
Earis (Name I came up with :)) pronounced like ee-ar-iss
Andun (Generated name) neighboring country...invades Carseld before the beginning of the story
Fairivel (Name I came up with-at 3:00 in the morning, no less ;)) not used yet
Author:  wRen [ November 26th, 2009, 12:55 am ]
Post subject:  Re: Names
I usually use Latvian. I have no clue why, but I was looking for cool translations in different languages and Latvian always sounded the coolest! I have really odd, short names for my water/mystical birds that I still have to change but I like simplicity!

King Kunin: Kunin is Latvian for king with tweaks.
Kard: is Latvian for tempter shortened.
Author:  Arias Mimetes [ November 26th, 2009, 3:02 pm ]
Post subject:  Re: Names
Something else you can do is type the word backwards, then change some letters (which usually the end result looks nothing like the original, but anyway :P)

Say you are naming a flower. Try typing flower backwards then change a letter or two until you get a word you like.
Author:  PrincessoftheKing [ November 26th, 2009, 7:57 pm ]
Post subject:  Re: Names
lol... I might try that.
Lady Eruwaedhiel: Thanks for the sites! They look great! :D
Author:  Lord Kieren Mimetes [ April 7th, 2010, 9:58 am ]
Post subject:  Re: Names
I came up with a bunch of syllables and there meanings and just combine them to form names. So my names will even have meanings. Unfortunately, I didn't think of that until after I named my MC... :(
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