[Semi-OT] Names, names, names

[Anime Kidd]

I've always had trouble with creating names and whatnot that I tend to just slam on the keyboard until something intresting pops up. What sort of resources could I use for names? I know about using books on baby names, but else? Any sites with an extensive listing?

Another thing. I was recently looking through a baby name book and found the meaning/origin behind my name; Eric. Its a short form of Frederick, which means peaceful ruler. Also Scandinvanvian for ruler of all. And English for brave ruler.

Whats the meaing/origin behind your name?

 

[Robbert Raets]

Robbert, from medieval Robrecht, 'Shining Fame'. >Swells with pride<

 

[Buttercup]

Here are several name resources:

http://www.kabalarians.com/html/surf-by.htm

http://rinkworks.com/namegen/

http://spitfire.ausys.se/johan/names/default.htm

http://www.seventhsanctum.com/gens/

Enjoy!

 

[Sir Trent]

My name means A traveler or One who takes tolls and also indicates some one very large. Does that mean I'm a obese homeless man living under a bridge?... Actually, that does describe me pretty well.

 

[Tsyr]

Found on http://www.behindthename.com/
DAVID m English, Jewish, French, Russian, Czech, Biblical

Pronounced: DAY-vid

Possibly derived from Hebrew dod meaning "beloved". David was the second and greatest of the kings of Israel, ruling in the 10th century BC. Several stories about him are told in the Old Testament, including his defeat of Goliath, a giant Philistine. Jesus was supposedly descended from him. Other famous bearers of this name include the 5th-century patron saint of Wales, two kings of Scotland, empiricist philosopher David Hume, and explorer David Livingstone. This is also the name of the hero of Charles Dickens' semiautobiographical novel 'David Copperfield'.

 

[Desdichado]

My name means A traveler or One who takes tolls and also indicates some one very large. Does that mean I'm a obese homeless man living under a bridge?... Actually, that does describe me pretty well.

That beats being an obese motivational speaker who lives in a van down by the river!

 

[Tonguez]

My name means 'Descendant of Heaven' - so I must be half-celestial!

As to names I use the Bible for a lot of ideas (see my character Malachi for example) or look at the character background and get inspired (Malachi's surname is Legba after the Voodoo Loa of the Crossroads)

I also might get a name (and character) I like and keep recycling them eg I have had four incarnations of Orbril the Gnome - 2 of them (1 online, 1 irl) are still active (its fun to see the same character taking divergent paths bassed on the circumstances of their life in-game)

 

[Omega Lord]

My name means "little firey one" in gaelic (sp?). Hrmm.. not quite sure what to make of that one .

 

[Matt Black]

The ultimate name resource: Kate Monk's amazing Onomastikon:

http://www.gaminggeeks.org/Resources/KateMonk/


The Society for Creative Anacronism is incredibly anal about choosing historically accurate names. This is the web resource they recommend:

http://www.panix.com/~mittle/names/


And lastly, a random name generator where you can choose the base name type. As well as covering pretty much every language group (incl. made-up languages), it's got generators everything from Vancian spell names to Pokethulhu character names (recommended by Bunnilathotep, the thousand-formed rabbit):

http://www.ruf.rice.edu/~pound/


MB

 

[Andrew D. Gable]

Andrew = means strong (Greek), one of the apostles (natch)
Dylan = the name of a Welsh sea god, supposed to be the father of the Lady of the Lake (although I was named for Bob )
Gable = Gabel is German for fork. Although my German teacher said that Gabel/Gable/Goble is more often a surname in Netherlands.