Halfling names

Some of the hobbit names from LOTR were taken from such medieval languages or even older languages. (Frodo is derived, as I recall, from Old High German, and was originally Froda. (A male name. OHG,as I recall, had a few male names with -a endings.) Fredegar, as in Fredegar Bolger, is also of Germanic origin while I believe Peregrin was derived from Burgundian.

So, one solution to halfling names is to work with real world names and possibly make alterations to them. Remember, the same name can sound different in various dialects of a language. Also, you can play around with a name. Many of the names in the World of Greyhawk are based on real world names, sometimes spelled backwards. Dwarmij. Zagyg.

My advice is to chose whatever method works for your campaign.
 

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I tend to make my halflings have a jokey last name. I just ran a pugilist named Milos "Noseby" Featherbeater. Always introducing himself as Milos, ". . but now that ya knows me, call me Noseby." He was a major contender in halfling boxing circles about to be in a title match for the paperweight crown.

A friend of maine had a gnome barbarian named Badgerpaw that was pretty darn neat.
 

I always had weird halfling names. Well usually. Previous halflings included:

Dirk Farrell- a running joke in my gaming group was every campaign had to have a Dirk in it. Dunno where that one started other than from Dragon's Lair. Another running joke was the Farrell family that were a tad psycho (they had 'visions'). One player had always named his character after a famous basketball player with the Farrell family name, even if he was a dwarf, orc, elf, etc. Strange family tree.

Akuna Matata - from Lion King. Catchphrase was "No worries."

Klaatu Barada Nikto - from The Day the Earth Stood Still and Army of Darkness. IIRC he had a relative named Ash and a pet named Gort.

Rupert Ignacious Pendleton - from a list of really weird names. Also his initials spelled RIP like others on the list to make stuff like DEA, DOA, MIA, MCI, etc.

Humperdink H(umperdink). Humperdink III - from Prince Humperdink of The Princess Bride with some Hunter Hearst Helmsley (WWE's HHH) influence. Also from the same list as Rupert.

Brother Peldin Thistlefoot of the Black Lotus Order - My first 3E character who was also a monk. The DM even suggested all halflings should have some sort of foot in the last name.

Rygel Quinn Dargo (current rogue) - Rygel and Dargo are Farscape characters.
 
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I play a halfling in the PBP non-iconics adventure, who is simply named Taz.

I also play a halfling in our P&P D&D campaign currently, who is named Lorian Lightfoot.

And I once created a halfling ranger with the name Wheeny.

Bye
Thanee
 


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