Naming Cities and towns in your homebrew settings

[the_cowley]

So I've got my own setting that I'm building and I'm trying to come up with names for the towns and cities. its based off ancient Egypt, but I don't want to just rip straight from history. Does anyone have any tips for naming cities and towns for homebrew settings?

map for reference

 

[trancejeremy]

Honestly, I use a random generator (namemage, which I don't think exists anymore) for the given culture that region is mimicking, sometimes making up my own tables and using them.

 

[Gilladian]

I would rip from ancient sources, then fiddle with minor changes. Grab syllables that appear in many names and add bits to them. Or try this: https://donjon.bin.sh/fantasy/name/#type=ancient_world;ancient_world=Egyptian Town

 

[Sunseeker]

Usually I go to the language I want to use from the culture I'm taking inspiration from and look up words for things my towns and cities are built near. Major locations are often named for gods or famous individuals involved in founding/conquering them.

Unfortunately Egyptian isn't a language we can readily translate to and from, so you might consider using arabic names. Don't worry about being too complex, the actual city of "Medina" is literally named "the city".

 

[Jhaelen]

They're based on real places all over the world matching the general region/culture, sometimes with some slight modifications.

 

[Eltab]

Traveller had a mechanism for generating words in the in-game languages, by putting together semi-random consonants and vowels to make syllables, 1d6 syllables per word.
You could do something similar with Ancient Egyptian.

 

[jasper]

I just use modern names. If I say Atlanta my group already has an idea about the city.

 

[Sunseeker]

I just use modern names. If I say Atlanta my group already has an idea about the city.

Wouldn't that be highly regional? So given you're in Alabama, local players would "get it" but if you were to move to say, Sioux Falls SD, the local players there might not?

EDIT: I suppose I answered my own question, as if you named all of your locations after places the "local players" weren't familiar with, you might as well have given them make-believe names anyway.

 

[jasper]

Wouldn't that be highly regional? So given you're in Alabama, local players would "get it" but if you were to move to say, Sioux Falls SD, the local players there might not?

Then I would get a regional map. Cut and past out Atlanta with similar feeling. Of course I would butcher Albert dean, Yankee ton, and Bert billion until I get the local way of say things down.
The op is asking for homebrew naming suggestions, not international publishing suggestions.
What would be some similar cities like Atlanta near Kasper? Given you live in Kasper and are not a friendly spook?

 

[Mercule]

Depending on my mood when starting a campaign, I'll either go for something that sounds right to the ear (i.e. make it up) or just accept that most ancient cultures named things pretty simply.

Sounds right:
* Kheptu
* Tennek
* Hordi
* Garro
* Ran Ho-bin

Simple/untranslated:
* Khep's Seat (the capital)
* Oceanport (the eastern port city)
* Amberport (the western port city, the drier climate makes the land appear more yellow)
* West Branch (midway along the west branch of the river, towards Amberport)
* Foot of the Rising Sun (in those eastern mountains)
* Greenmarch (that eastern most town that looks like it'd be the first line of defense from anyone attacking from the northeast)