The Name Thread

[Mindfire]

Hahaha, awesome. This floating darkness/tentacles reminded of a quite unrelated but crazy and gritty illustration I saw once. I can't link it here, it's a little disturbing (nothing related to japanese tentacles ok?).

the less said about Japanese tentacles the better.

 

[Anders Ämting]

I have a small name dilemma, but I honestly didn't think it was enough to merit its own thread. I was going to post in an older, already existing thread, but I couldn't find an appropriate one. So, a new thread it is. Perhaps this can become a sort of unofficial "I'm stuck on a name" thread for everyone? That way, I wouldn't feel so self-indulgent.

Anyway, my name issue is this: I've mentioned in a couple threads here and there about one of the cultures I'm developing. I'm stuck on what to call them. The culture itself is a combination of Mongol, Japanese Samurai, Maori, and a few other things. They will either be nomadic or semi-nomadic warriors, farmers, and herdsmen. They have an unusual sense of honor and some barbaric tendencies. A few more details about them can be found here.

I've scribbled out some names and I've whittled the list of possibles down to a few options:

• Kudan
• Nivoans
• Qadanu
• Chaogar

I'm not fully satisfied with any of these, so I'm open to new suggestions. If I think of any others I'll add them on in subsequent posts.

I'd go with... Chaoga. Lose the R at the end.

 

[Mindfire]

Thanks for the input, but I came to a decision on that issue.

 

[Sheilawisz]

To me, a Draith would be a creature similar to a brown bear, but with black fur, red eyes and much larger than a normal bear, about the size of a school bus. The Draith would have a vicious nature and terrible strength, capable of destroying entire towns easily and take a lot of damage before finally dying.

Maybe some Draiths could be trained to serve in war, imagine that in a battle!!

The wild Draiths would live in deep caverns, coming out mostly at night (their eyes gleam) and they would sleep through the Winter, emerging more vicious than ever in Spring =)

 

[Mindfire]

To me, a Draith would be a creature similar to a brown bear, but with black fur, red eyes and much larger than a normal bear, about the size of a school bus. The Draith would have a vicious nature and terrible strength, capable of destroying entire towns easily and take a lot of damage before finally dying.

Maybe some Draiths could be trained to serve in war, imagine that in a battle!!

The wild Draiths would live in deep caverns, coming out mostly at night (their eyes gleam) and they would sleep through the Winter, emerging more vicious than ever in Spring =)

I already have something like what you're describing, except I named it an ursine.

 

[Devor]

Perhaps this can become a sort of unofficial "I'm stuck on a name" thread for everyone?

Since I've been working on names today, I might as well ask this here.

I need to name the "Eastern Steppe," an elevated flatland on the side of a big mountain range. It's an Asian-styled setting, so I was looking for something representing the Dragon, which guards the east in those mythologies. But "East Dragon Steppe" is too blunt. Any ideas?

 

[Mindfire]

Since I've been working on names today, I might as well ask this here.

I need to name the "Eastern Steppe," an elevated flatland on the side of a big mountain range. It's an Asian-styled setting, so I was looking for something representing the Dragon, which guards the east in those mythologies. But "East Dragon Steppe" is too blunt. Any ideas?

It sounds like you're describing a plateau. You sure this is a steppe? Or can you have a steppe on a plateau?

How about "the Dragon's Table" ?

 

[Devor]

For a variety of reasons I can't use plateau. Table is good - since you mention it, I think I call it a table in some old notes somewhere. I'll go with table, thank you for that.

It's "dragon" that I'm finding too blunt, though. I don't want readers to get the wrong idea. Are there softer ways of referring to a dragon? Should I just go with something else?

 

[Ireth]

You mentioned the dragon being a guardian of the area, so maybe "The Guardian's Table"?

 

[Mindfire]

For a variety of reasons I can't use plateau. Table is good - since you mention it, I think I call it a table in some old notes somewhere. I'll go with table, thank you for that.

It's "dragon" that I'm finding too blunt, though. I don't want readers to get the wrong idea. Are there softer ways of referring to a dragon? Should I just go with something else?

Does your story not actually have dragons?

You could use lung, the Chinese word for dragon. For example, Shen Lung means "Invisible Dragon." Would Shen Lung Table work? If Chinese doesn't work, you could try other Asian languages. "Ryu" is the Japanese word for dragon I think.

 

[Devor]

Does your story not actually have dragons?

You could use lung, the Chinese word for dragon. For example, Shen Lung means "Invisible Dragon." Would Shen Lung Table work? If Chinese doesn't work, you could try other Asian languages. "Ryu" is the Japanese word for dragon I think.

Of course there's dragons. They're just elsewhere.

I've got too many tough Asian names as it is. I'm trying to keep the geography to English and use languages only when I have to. I just converted a lot of place names to character names, actually.

You mentioned the dragon being a guardian of the area, so maybe "The Guardian's Table"?

Thanks, that's much closer to what I'm looking for.

 

[Devor]

If anyone's interested, the name I decided on for those tablelands is Eastwind Perch.

 

[Mindfire]

If anyone's interested, the name I decided on for those tablelands is Eastwind Perch.

That's pretty cool. Wish I'd thought of it. It sounds kinda like the style of place-name that GRR Martin uses. Simple, yet compelling. I may not completely get his stories, but I greatly admire his worldbuilding.

 

[Mindfire]

I'm currently trying to name my barbarian warlord, but for whatever reason nothing seems to stick. I'm trying to come up with something that has an Asian ring to it. So far the best I can do is Wukaan, but I'm not satisfied with it.

 

[Devor]

I'm currently trying to name my barbarian warlord, but for whatever reason nothing seems to stick. I'm trying to come up with something that has an Asian ring to it. So far the best I can do is Wukaan, but I'm not satisfied with it.

*looks at list of crossed out names*

Wufeng.

I can't use it because I'm using feng in too many places.

 

[Mindfire]

Hm... I like the feng part... I think I'll try blending the two together.

 

[crash]

Here's some suggestions that aren't too "stereotypical" *cough*Chinese*cough*

Behind the Name: Kazakh Names
Behind the Name: Mongolian Names
Behind the Name: Turkish Names
Behind the Name: Azerbaijani Names
Behind the Name: Iranian Names

 

[Nobby]

Nivoan, for me (without the s)

Never could bide any naming convention with a Q or Z myself.

Don't get me started with apostrophes either...

 

[Ankari]

A general question concerning names. Do you see any benefit in creating names for real world flora/fauna? I'm basing a part of my world on the southern US/Mexico (when it comes to flora/fauna). Do you think it odd to call an avocado an avocado, or too offputting in naming it a "leatherfruit"? Likewise, does it take you out of the story if I use mulberry, or would you prefer "redhive berry"?

 

[Jess A]

A general question concerning names. Do you see any benefit in creating names for real world flora/fauna? I'm basing a part of my world on the southern US/Mexico (when it comes to flora/fauna). Do you think it odd to call an avocado an avocado, or too offputting in naming it a "leatherfruit"? Likewise, does it take you out of the story if I use mulberry, or would you prefer "redhive berry"?

For almost all occasions I would stick with the real name. If it's a wolf it's a wolf. It's easier and faster for the reader to identify it. However, making variations like 'blue-maned wolf' might be interesting. It's a wolf with a blue ruff...

But some words might be seemingly too 'modern' or different and seem strange or out of place. Avocado might sound that way (though obviously an arguable point of preference). With berries I think it's perfectly acceptable because it gives it a bit of a unique flavour. I like both the names you suggested there. I just invent berries a lot of the time.

But, on the other hand, if you have to go into a lot of effort to describe the leatherfruit so that the audience realises it's an avocado, it might be a waste of time renaming it.