Names?

[JoeGKushner]

I know it comes up every now and again, but what is everyone using for name resources these days?

I remember way back in the day having a spiral bound product that had names broken up by races and classes but have long since lost that sucker. Using some standard naming books, baby names, historical names, etc...

Just wondering what everyone else is doing.

 

[amnuxoll]

I use the notebook approach as well though it's a text file on my hard drive. I find that if I'm always looking for a good name that they turn up often.

 

[Vicente]

I keep using the old but great Everchanging Book of Names:

ebon.pyorre.net

I haven't found anything better than it

 

[Gilladian]

I use this site a lot: 20000-NAMES.COM: 20,000+ Names from Around the World--baby names, pet, pets, sim, story character, meaning, origin, etymology, etymologies, meanings, origins

However, it is LOADED with pop-up and "fly by" ads - enough to drive me crazy some days. So make sure you have java turned off!

It is really too bad that the Everchanging book of names is not mac-friendly. I'd use it if I could...

 

[Pbartender]

Behind the Name: the Etymology and History of First Names is a good one.

 

[Man in the Funny Hat]

The file found here:
http://www.enworld.org/forum/5095886-post143.html
And my own "collection" of names which is SO long I have to keep a "hotlist" version of it, plus I STILL just make them up occasionally.

 

[IronWolf]

I find coming up with names one of the biggest mental blocks I hit. I typically use either some random name generator on the web, but that usually takes me quite awhile to find a name I am happy with. I also have recently been using the random name generator in PC Gen and getting results I like a little faster that way.

 

[Pbartender]

I find coming up with names one of the biggest mental blocks I hit. I typically use either some random name generator on the web, but that usually takes me quite awhile to find a name I am happy with. I also have recently been using the random name generator in PC Gen and getting results I like a little faster that way.

If you're running a modern-ish game, or aren't looking for overtly fantasy-ish names, this one is great.

It uses real first and last names from the last US Census. You can adjust it for "obscurity", and generate lists of up to 30 names at a time. At Obscurity 99, you get names like:

1. Rikki Chareunsri
2. Herena
3. Patrina Monrroy
4. Frederica Barjenbruch
5. Elden Bodyfelt
6. Loni Lazurek
7. Indira Benthusen
8. Celine Lekan
9. Altha Olverson
10. Jae Finocan

Most of which are useable, even for non-human NPC.

 

[IronWolf]

If you're running a modern-ish game, or aren't looking for overtly fantasy-ish names, this one is great.

It uses real first and last names form the last US Census. You can adjust it for "obscurity", and generate lists of up to 30 names at a time. At Obscurity 99, you get names like:

.... list removed ...

Most of which are useable, even for non-human NPC.

Excellent! I had found some census generated lists, but that obscurity option set to 99 really helps find some usable names, even in the fantasy games I run. Added to my resources - thanks!

 

[Pbartender]

Excellent! I had found some census generated lists, but that obscurity option set to 99 really helps find some usable names, even in the fantasy games I run. Added to my resources - thanks!

It's one of my favorites to use for Star Wars games.