Naming Conventions

[Falconer]

I did a search through several past threads, but couldn't find anything substantial on the topic of naming conventions for characters.  Is there any canon - either documented or merely in the eyes of players and staff - regarding names on Zalanthas?  I'd be particularly interested in seeing the distinctions between races, castes, and geographies (does a Tuluki mul slave have a different plethora of suggested names than an Allanaki human noble or a tribal elf?)

Any input from players or staff would be greatly appreciated.  Thanks!

[Larrath]

Slaves are generally given names by their trainers, including many captured slaves.  In spite of this fact (which basically means nobles and templars give many slaves their names), most slaves tend to have simple names.  This is particularly true for muls.
"Yuaro" is probably as complex as a mul's name will get.

Half-giants usually have very simple names, presumably so they don't forget what they are or simply due to a lack of inventing skills.

Elves are intelligent and generally smooth talkers, but I think I speak for many when I say I don't want to see 'Elven' names spanning two dozen syllables.  Sometimes an elf will have a second name for use outside of his tribe - the second name tends to be either a nickname, a shorter version of the true name, or some household item.

Humans' names vary greatly on their social status.  As a rule, very simple names hint at a low-level breeding, so you're not going to run into any Jojo Borsails or Jay Kadius.  Noble and templar names can sometimes involve phonetic exercise (ie Aeashavenir) while Merchant names tend to be a little simpler.  Nobles and Templars also seem to collect hard-to-remember middle names, and apparently the more middle names a noble has, the larger their genitalia is.
'Rinthi humans also seem to follow the elven convention of having an outside name, though since humans aren't tribal they probably won't share their true names at all.

Tribal humans usually have their own conventions for naming, I imagine, and they seem to have somewhat more complex names than most commoners.

Half-elves will, naturally, vary.  Most of them are used to being called a whole assortment of names, though, ranging from 'you stupid fucking breed' to 'you stupid ugly fucking breed piece of shit'.

I like Oriental-sounding names (Arabian, not Japanese) much more than Greek.  Names ending with K or T sounds are awesome, and so is a liberal use of the KH sound most of you people can't make.

Finally, I leave you with the golden rule: when in doubt, call them Amos.

[Angela Christine]

Humans' names vary greatly on their social status.  As a rule, very simple names hint at a low-level breeding, so you're not going to run into any Jojo Borsails or Jay Kadius.  Noble and templar names can sometimes involve phonetic exercise (ie Aeashavenir) while Merchant names tend to be a little simpler.  Nobles and Templars also seem to collect hard-to-remember middle names, and apparently the more middle names a noble has, the larger their genitalia is.
'Rinthi humans also seem to follow the elven convention of having an outside name, though since humans aren't tribal they probably won't share their true names at all.

I agree that working class commoners tend to have simple names.  But sometimes low-class characters go for slightly absurd ornate names, what I like to call "princess names".  I think some people call them ghetto names.  One of my mom's friends (welfare mom with two kids (and two daddys) named her daughter Armani.  Yes, like the clothes.  It could have been worse, she was thinking of giving the poor girl a car name . . . Ferarri, I think.   :roll:   Names that a low-class person thinks sound classy or beautiful, but that may come off as merely odd or pretentious.  So I wouldn't bat an eye at a 'rinther with a wierd name like Lacharista or something.


AC

[williamson]

To my knowledge, there is no documented character nomenclature canon with possible exceptions being the nobility and the Tan Muark. However, I frequently employ capricious randomness, personal preference, and historical names with alternative spellings.

   I believe that the staff allows quite a bit of freedom with naming characters so long as the names remain within the Zalanthan theme. Describing this theme is no easy task, especially to new players. However, it appears to me that people interested in playing a fantasy text-based computer game intuitively grasp naming characters.

   When making your character, I recommend adding several nicknames and aliases in advance. Once you've made them, be sure you write them down somewhere. This way you enter the game with a false name to give the templarate during questioning.

Warmest regards,

-Williamson

[Rindan]

I tend to stick to very simple one syllable names or Arabic sounding names.  Occasionally my criminal types who might have grown up in gangs and tribal gangs take on the name of a noun (The Hand, Mek, The Black Scrab, exc).  That said, there really are no naming conventions.  Pretty much anything goes.  The best I can say is that in Allanak the name "Amos" has through player action been come to known as a common Allanaki name.  I recall at one time there were at least three Amos playing at once.

One thing that I have never seen but I think might be interesting, is if people named themselves after dead famous players.  I could see a mercenary naming his son Sujaal, a northern dwarf naming his son Thrain, or a southern merchant or aid naming his daughter Pearl.

I am curious if commoners would name their children after famous nobles and Templars.  Would it be considered an insult for a commoner to take on a famous hero noble or Templar's name, or a way of showing respect and honor?

[Vesperas]

I have put honest consideration in naming one of my future characters something like, Beth.  I don't see too many 'normal' names, and I have yet to give one my PCs one... I normally randomly assemble vowels and consonants until I find one that is pronouncable and gives off a particular 'tone' befitting the class and personality.

Much like I randomly choose a color and then build a PC around said color.

[proxie]

The best name generator I've found. I've used it since someone showed it to me, and you wouldn't know my generated PC names from my original ones.

Enjoy!



http://rinkworks.com/namegen/


Proxie

[Alamos]

Though not enforced in any way, I believe a popular naming convetion for southern Nobility draws on Greco-Roman styles.  In my experience, House Borsail has exemplified this the most.

Both human and elven tribes often have a syntax for names which often give reference to a tribal's mother, father, family, or a combination of those.

I have also come to enjoy the 'street names' that players in the Labyrinth come up with.  Most often these are merely one or two simple words which serve to raise intriguing inquiry as to their origin, to affirm some physical characteristic or personal attribute, or to simply scare you.

Also, some desert tribes mimick Native American styles (Sun Runners in particular, I think?).  For example, Blue Whirlwind, Leaping Jozhal, or Black Sand.

And, as Pantoufle pointed out, magickers must have spooky names.

Personally, I favor Egyptian and Sumarian style names for unaffiliated northern characters and Arabic and Indian names for unaffiliated southern characters.  Why?  Cause it's how I do.

[Tamarin]

If you play a non-gemmed magicker, it is required that your name sound like that of a Power Ranger.

[Cale_Knight]

Just once, I'd like to see.

Code Select Expand

The frightening, cold-eyed templar returns your nod, sitting at a small table.

At your table, you say, in sirihish:
    "How may I be of assistance, Faithful Lady?"

At your table, the frightening, cold-eyed templar says, leaning forward slightly, in sirihish:
    "Lately, our trade routes have been plagued by a witch intent on harming the ivory. He is extremely powerful and commands an army of the undead."

You raise your eyebrows slightly, frowning.

At your table, you say, in sirihish:
    "Yes... I've heard of this one. The Pink Rattlesnake, yes?"

The frightening, cold-eyed templar shakes her head.

At your table, you say, in sirihish:
    "The Grey Tregil?"

The frightening, cold-eyed templar shakes her head.

You snap your fingers.

At your table, you say, in sirihish:
    "The Vermillion Vestric!"

At your table, the frightening, cold-eyed templar says, in sirihish:
    "Amos. They call him Amos."

[jmordetsky]

Given Arm's environment and culture, I usually turn to arabic names for the base.

My system for commoners or Tribals:

1_ Goto: http://www.ummah.net/family/masc.html

2_ Pick one

3_ Look it over and modify it so it's unique, add stuff like double a' "aa" and harder consenants to make them seem more deserty.  For example: one of the names under B is Bassam, I would change into Baasak or something like it.

My system for nobles is based off roman names as well:

1_Goto
http://www.legionxxiv.org/nomens/

2_ Pick one

3_ Mod it as described above.


Last thing I use at times is biblical names for commoners and flat sounding nick names for Rinthi's.

Another cool name site: http://www.cool-baby-names.com/search-categories-biblical.htm

One last thing, I've seen which is cool is taking Zalathan plants and modding them slightly to be names. Like Pesheki, from Peshek.

[Packersfan]

I have put honest consideration in naming one of my future characters something like, Beth. .

While we are at it, let's just stop roleplaying all together.

[spawnloser]

I still want to play a HG named something completely and totally indicative of what he is...and then go play in the wrong area for that type of character.  Seriously, the interaction would priceless.

the HG merchant named Coin living in Red Storm.
the HG magicker named Magick...though, maybe not in Tuluk :wink:

If you play a non-gemmed magicker, it is required that your name sound like that of a Power Ranger.

Heheheh.  While not true, it certainly does seem this way sometimes.  Of course, these names aren't their real names, and that's what this'd be about. :wink:

This same thing would go for the 'Rinthi's someone mentioned.

In real names that I've known of some of these characters, there is wide diversity.  Maybe there should be some sort of convention come up with for closer-knit groups, like noble and merchant houses, tribals and the like?

[LauraMars]

Someday I'm going to have a string of eleven short-lived characters named after the days of the week.

Seriously though, I think it's very Zalanthan to have names based around things of that world.  Animals, plants, days, and elements are all creative fodder for you, writers.

[amoeba]

Seriously though, I think it's very Zalanthan to have names based around things of that world.  Animals, plants, days, and elements are all creative fodder for you, writers.

So that would explain why I see so many people in RL these days named Oak, Birch, and Tumbleweed.   :wink:

er of course on the same vein I do know of someone that named his daughters, Porshe, Mercedes, Infinity, and Lexus. (true)

[LauraMars]

So that would explain why I see so many people in RL these days named Oak, Birch, and Tumbleweed.   :wink:

er of course on the same vein I do know of someone that named his daughters, Porshe, Mercedes, Infinity, and Lexus. (true)

I knew a pair of sisters named Winter and Autumn.  Maybe we could name some of our characters after...well, I guess there's no seasons.  Temperatures?  Desert, Heat, Lotsaheat, Hothotheat.  Warm.

[Larrath]

So that would explain why I see so many people in RL these days named Oak, Birch, and Tumbleweed.

That's pretty common in Hebrew, naming people after plants, trees or flowers.  You won't run into people called 'Mint', but Oak, Rakefet (too tired to translate), Hazelnut, Palm Tree and a whole bunch of other names are pretty common.

My sister's name is Yaara, which is the Hebrew word for the Honeysuckle plant/flower.  Needless to say it has no sexual connotation in Hebrew.

I once met a character named Jihae.  That was great.

I also met a character IG named Ness.

[spawnloser]

I also met a character IG named Ness.

Wow...I doubt they'd let us get away with staff names any more for character names...but I'd love to play Naiona.  :twisted:

[Cale_Knight]

So that would explain why I see so many people in RL these days named Oak, Birch, and Tumbleweed.   :wink:

http://www.babynames.com.au/search-categories-flowers-plants.htm

[Manhattan]

 Desert, Heat, Lotsaheat, Hothotheat.  Warm.

HAHAHAHA

HI, MY NAME'S WARM


HAHAHA WTF

[LauraMars]

O_O

[flurry]

Sometimes I use the fantasy name generator linked from the docs.

One time I used a name that had some Zalanthan historical significance.

One time I went to a baby name list, and found a cool Czech name that I loved.  (Turns out to be my least favorite past character, but I still love that name).

One time I used a name vaguely similar to a (pretty obscure) fictional character.   There was really no rhyme or reason to that, though.  The concept had nothing to do with that character.

One time I started out with an acronym for some silly phrase, and then Zalanthanized the name a little.

[Morfeus]

Funny thing. I believe there are only very few players from Czech (three at most), but this is second character I know about which had Czech name - and not used by any of these three.

[flurry]

Heh.  Yeah, I was just thinking about that.  I have no idea if it was a common Czech name.   Hopefully not.

[Morfeus]

Heh.  Yeah, I was just thinking about that.  I have no idea if it was a common Czech name.   Hopefully not.

Tell us so we can laugh!  :twisted:

Anyway, I myself usually come with some totally made up name. One of my characters got name from a book I loved, but that was real exception. I am just playing with sound of words to find what would make a perfect name for next character.

[Larrath]

While on the topic of silly names, I once saw a Krathi called Ashann.
In Hebrew, Ashann means 'smoke'.  In Hebrew, we also say 'Ein ashann bli esh' - there's no smoke without a fire.

About the Ness PC, by the way, I was informed by the staff later that day that her name was changed to Nessa because she kept getting mis-sends aimed at the real Ness.

[flurry]

Heh.  Yeah, I was just thinking about that.  I have no idea if it was a common Czech name.   Hopefully not.

Tell us so we can laugh!  :twisted:

Okay.  I'm curious about it now, too.  The name was Vaclava.

[Maybe42or54]

It is actually a feminine version of another name though. Wencenslas?

"Means "more glory" from the Slavic elements ventie "more" and slav "glory". Saint Wenceslas was a 10th-century duke of Bohemia murdered by his brother. He is the patron saint of the Czech Republic. This was also the name of several Bohemian kings."

[Morfeus]

Vaclava? Ha ha ha.

Erm...

Sorry...

I could not help that, you know.

But anyway, Maybe42or54 is right. Vaclav and Vaclava is musculine/feminine version of the same name (same as Miroslav and Miroslava, Jan and Jana...) and Sv. Vaclav (St. Wenceslas or Wenceslaw) is one of patrons of Czech. And also, the main square in Prague is named after him.

Hmm, maybe my next char should be called Bohumir?  :twisted:

EDITEed to add:
This makes me curious. Are more people here choosing names for characters from foreign languages?

[flurry]

Oops!  Well, no offense intended.

After giving a quick look at Wikipedia, I see this St. Wencelas is the guy in that Christmas carol "Good King Wencelas".

Good King Wenceslas looked out on the feast of Stephen,
When the snow lay round about, deep and crisp and even;
Brightly shone the moon that night, tho' the frost was cruel,
When a poor man came in sight gath'ring winter fuel.
[/i]

And here I just thought I had just picked an obscure cool-sounding name.

[moab]

Sometimes I'll take a staff name and mix it up a little:

Savak = Vaskas

[Tuannon]

I had an idea about using mesoamerican names for Tuluk and Arabic/Egyptian names for Allanak. But I really need to practice what I preach and actually do that.

I agree that commoners would have less complicated names than nobles.. a dung seller with the name Barnabus Farnsworthy the Third is a little unlikely in my opinion. While a noble may not always have

Street names in the rinth are usually a form of protection as well. I mean who would mess with a who they had never seen (without caution) if said guy or girl had a tough sounding street name?

[LauraMars]

I'm so picky about names.  The worst part of making a new character is finding a name that I like.

I have a general rule that I don't go over one or two syllables.  I like names that end in "e".  Simple names that often have a deeper or more obscure meaning than you might expect.  However if there are specific naming conventions with distinctive Zalanthan flavor, I haven't found any.  I've seen characters named everything from nouns to something with a lot of vowels and Ys that you might expect to find in Tolkien.

[Hymwen]

I found this.

http://www.geocities.com/lastard/n_official.htm#general

[Wykydtronn]

http://www.babynamesworld.com/

You can do an advance search and find names by a certian meaning/Origin.

Its been an amazingly helpful site when it comes to naming characters.

[Anonymous]

And on the other hand, if you ever see a PC with a 26 letter long name, and no keyword shorter than 13 characters, it's me.  

I like to fuck with people like that.

[Wykydtronn]

And on the other hand, if you ever see a PC with a 26 letter long name, and no keyword shorter than 13 characters, it's me.  

I like to fuck with people like that.

Code Select Expand

The atramentous-featured half-elf is stand here.

Kill Atrameotus
That person is not here.
Kill Artametous
That person is not here.
The Atramentous-featured half-elf walks west.
Kill Atramentous
That person is not here.


FUCK!

[John]

And on the other hand, if you ever see a PC with a 26 letter long name, and no keyword shorter than 13 characters, it's me.  

I like to fuck with people like that.

Actually you'll have "man", "woman", "male", "female", "dwarf" or something like that as a keyword. So yeah, you'll just be the most missed person. "Oh shit. Didn't mean that man, meant the other one.  Oh no, not that one. Shit, hang on, I'll type keyword. Oh fuck, someone just walked out stuffing up the number, I'll re-type keyword. Aaah shit someone just walked in. Fuck this, no more emoting while davien's in the room."

[Anonymous]

This started when I joined the Tan Muark.  At the time, the gypsies weren't very well looked upon by most of the people in my circle.  They were spoiled, too magical, and soap opery.

So I made a char named Izharazhaina who was something like the dusky-blue-eyed woman

Brazen (who was the clan imm at the time) forced me to take a keyword so she could deal with me. heh.

Since then, I've had Djalladjarani and Boopsiefiel, too.

I LOVE it.

[spawnloser]

And on the other hand, if you ever see a PC with a 26 letter long name, and no keyword shorter than 13 characters, it's me.  

I like to fuck with people like that.

Code Select Expand

The atramentous-featured half-elf is stand here.

Kill Atrameotus
That person is not here.
Kill Artametous
That person is not here.
The Atramentous-featured half-elf walks west.
Kill Atramentous
That person is not here.
FUCK!

> kill half

[jstorrie]

dickens-whelp

[Wykydtronn]

And on the other hand, if you ever see a PC with a 26 letter long name, and no keyword shorter than 13 characters, it's me.  

I like to fuck with people like that.

Code Select Expand

The atramentous-featured half-elf is stand here.

Kill Atrameotus
That person is not here.
Kill Artametous
That person is not here.
The Atramentous-featured half-elf walks west.
Kill Atramentous
That person is not here.
FUCK!

> kill half

You and your logic can GTFO

[Angela Christine]

And on the other hand, if you ever see a PC with a 26 letter long name, and no keyword shorter than 13 characters, it's me.  

I like to fuck with people like that.

Code Select Expand

The atramentous-featured half-elf is stand here.

Kill Atrameotus
That person is not here.
Kill Artametous
That person is not here.
The Atramentous-featured half-elf walks west.
Kill Atramentous
That person is not here.
FUCK!

> kill half

And hope a half-giant doesn't walk in just as you hit enter.

[Xygax]

I would have chosen "kill featured" in that situation, personally.

-- X

[amoeba]

Cut and paste is your friend.

[Treestone Capricorn]

Thanks to a certain un-named celeberity, I'm considering naming my next character - Ocitillo wine.

I know I mis-spelled that, I just know it. bleh

[Anonymous]

Ocotillo.

[Morgenes]

So would you choose the Physician subguild and go around as 'Doc Oc'?

[Maybe42or54]

I think he'd by a sorc.

[Anonymous]

So would you choose the Physician subguild and go around as 'Doc Oc'?

Does that follow with The Green Gith?
Or the Man-Gortok?