How do you come up with names?

[Breakdaddy]

I normally use Gygax's Extraordinary Book of Names.

 

[Kris]

For elivish names and such I usually use Tolkien's Sindarin for my games ...however I avoid putting any such names on my maps (just in case it infringes on any copyright stuff) and instead give those place names an approximate Latin translation (just a rough conversion that is probably constructed all wrong - that I get from online dictionaries etc.). I then treat this approximate Latin language as an ancient tongue of men that has only survived on maps etc.

For example, one forested area on a map of mine is called 'Luna Silva' (roughly Latin for 'Moon Wood' ...I hope ) but it's true elvish name is Ithiltaur - which could be translated to mean 'The Forest of the Moon'.

For human and halfling stuff I generally use old-english/anglo-saxon, though humans of royal blood or ancient lineage may have some Latin element to their name (or elvish if applicable )

Not surprisingly I use old Norse for dwarf names and their settlements - and although gnomes have not played a big part in my world thus far, I have started using a Cornish online dictionary for the odd NPC that has started to appear.

For an Orcish/black-speech kinda thing... I've been using a simple formula I came up with one day to convert English words into more harsh sounding words... so from 'grim-tooth' I get 'Thôtmorg' or from 'scars' I get 'Sárekz'

I also find it cool to give certain weapons/items of legend various names... so the elves may refer to something as 'Angecthel' - but it may be known as 'Irengâr' by men ...and if a PC knows any of these languages I will generally tell them the literal translation of the word(s)

hmm... I probably put too much thought into this stuff ...maybe I need to get out more

(I haven't actually studied any of these languages (though I read up a bit on Tolkien's languages the once) and just use online dictionaries to find words that I can use ).

 

[Kwitchit]

IKEA catalogue.

ROFL.

Anyway, it depends on what game. For L5R characters, for instance, I used a list of Imperial Japanese Navy ships. For instance, Daidoji Zuikaku sounded cool, and it fits (he was a rich Crane Clan merchant, and Zuikaku (Shokaku class aircraft-carrier, launched 1941, sunk 1944) translates as "fortunate crane").

For DnD, I often use names from Warhammer. For instance, there are Dwarves with names like Grimnir, Ulther, Alrik, Kurgaz, etc...

 

[Gentlegamer]

I also repurpose OD&D and 1E iconic elements -- "Gleep Wurp the Eyebiter" may not be a realistic or plausible name . . .

That name uses Old English, so it is both realistic and plausible.

My advice: don't try to make any name sound "cool." Give it a name, and allow its context in game to make it cool.

 

[Angel Tarragon]

Sometimes I base a name off of a [Earth]foreign language. If I am playing a druid or ranger, I may consult the two books I own about trees. If I am playing a dwarf I may use the cahrt in Races of Stone or my Audobon Society Guide to Rocks and Minerals, so on and so forth.

 

[Dannyalcatraz]

My sources for names:

1) Characters from fiction or legend (any media format), or names derived therefrom
2) Music
3) Historic personages, or names derived therfrom
4) Baby name books
5) Interesting Noun/Verb/Adverb/Adjective combos: Blue Lotus, Flying Death, etc.
6) Other language versions of any of the above
7) Random syllables

 

[Tetsubo]

For place names, I use historical atlases. I am usually stealing a culture, so why not steal the place names? Most of the names have changed over time and, if you pick smaller places, you can easily get names that no one other than a scholar of the culture has ever heard of.

You clever lass...

 

[Tetsubo]

I use this list (link to Word doc), something from other lists I've accumulated, or make them up. I try to write down words that sound interesting and useful for character names. Things I misheard, words that other people mistype or misspeak, names other people have used, even wierd sources like ingredients from shampoo. Names that people use for their ID's on message boards or in posts talking about their characters.

Thanks for the list...

 

[Tetsubo]

My favorite site for names:

http://www.zoope.com/about/about_names.html

 

[diaglo]

off the top of my head. which makes it hard to do sans a mirror.