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Magean
Acolyte
7 Posts |
 Posted - 25 Jan 2022 : 22:46:41
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Hey everyone,
Something that's long bugged me: how did Forgotten Realms authors make up all those odd names, from Drizzt to Fzoul Chembryl to, well, pretty much every other Realms names?
And how am I supposed to come up with fitting names of my own?
Some follow the classic fantasy procedure of starting off with a real-world culture. Calishite names are an obvious example. Or those English or Western-inspired names you can see here and there.
But for the majority of Realms names I'm just baffled, I'd never have thought of calling NPCs Hunn Irlbast or Shalush Myrkeer (just picking random names from Westgate characters out of Cload & Dagger).
It feels like they randomly drew from a table of syllables assembled from a lot of languages.
Do we know how they achieved that? And do you make up your own names too or simply draw from lists of FR names when needing one?
Thanks in advance.
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George Krashos
Master of Realmslore
Australia
6648 Posts |
Posted - 25 Jan 2022 : 23:54:29
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Ed has said that he makes up names, says them out loud, modifies as necessary and then they are done. I make up all my own names and occasionally recycle Realms names for different individuals (Cormyr should have lots of Azouns and Tanalastas, for example). The published Realms however has been very wary regarding repeating names because it thinks it would be too confusing for the feeble brains of us fans. If you search hard enough there fantasy name generators on the web as well as lists of "Realms names" or names created by Ed, etc. I enjoy a good name - my most recent example was "Lord of the Eyrie Targandar Belabranta" (the Belabrantas are a Waterdhavian noble family". Earlier in that piece I had Saerth Bormorar and on the weekend I came up with the wizard Randartho Glimhollow and his ranger brother Thalmaro. Just give it a go, it's not so hard really.
-- George Krashos |
"Because only we, contrary to the barbarians, never count the enemy in battle." -- Aeschylus |
Edited by - George Krashos on 26 Jan 2022 00:05:03 |
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Azar
Master of Realmslore
1297 Posts |
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Ayrik
Great Reader
Canada
7974 Posts |
Posted - 26 Jan 2022 : 01:30:22
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An active and enthusiastic gaming group can invent many names per session. A savvy DM will happily claim or repurpose names submitted by his players.
I think it's evident that many of Ed's early characters - OGB-era stuff - were originally named in this fashion. |
[/Ayrik] |
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Azar
Master of Realmslore
1297 Posts |
Posted - 26 Jan 2022 : 01:57:02
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quote:
Originally posted by Ayrik
A savvy DM will happily claim or repurpose names submitted by his players.
Ski mask optional. |
Stand with anybody that stands right. Stand with him while he is right and part with him when he goes wrong.
Earth names in the Realms are more common than you may think. |
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sleyvas
Skilled Spell Strategist
USA
11704 Posts |
Posted - 26 Jan 2022 : 11:47:21
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Take something Yosemite Sam used to say and turn it into a name (i.e. Dagnabbit )
Take two common words native to a region of our world and put them together, then twist their wording (i.e. Bistro Batenrooj)
.... stir.... stir .... stir .... |
Alavairthae, may your skill prevail
Phillip aka Sleyvas |
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Delnyn
Senior Scribe
USA
890 Posts |
Posted - 26 Jan 2022 : 17:57:50
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quote:
Originally posted by sleyvas
Take something Yosemite Sam used to say and turn it into a name (i.e. Dagnabbit )
Take two common words native to a region of our world and put them together, then twist their wording (i.e. Bistro Batenrooj)
.... stir.... stir .... stir ....
So RAS used Looney Tunes as his name inspiration? |
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Gary Dallison
Great Reader
United Kingdom
6354 Posts |
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Azar
Master of Realmslore
1297 Posts |
Posted - 27 Jan 2022 : 02:29:09
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quote:
Originally posted by sleyvas
Take something Yosemite Sam used to say and turn it into a name (i.e. Dagnabbit )
Take two common words native to a region of our world and put them together, then twist their wording (i.e. Bistro Batenrooj)
.... stir.... stir .... stir ....
Runabout Kickastone!
Nanfoodle! |
Stand with anybody that stands right. Stand with him while he is right and part with him when he goes wrong.
Earth names in the Realms are more common than you may think. |
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Ayrik
Great Reader
Canada
7974 Posts |
Posted - 27 Jan 2022 : 03:04:16
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Sir Loyne of Beafe? Dud'onahorz?
Many of the now famous names from Greyhawk were anagrams based on player names. A few (like Rary and Melf) were originally conceived as shameless and tasteless puns. The names of many characters from Dragonlance (like Raistlin and Caramon) were based on various forms of wordplay.
But the conceptual origins for the names of Greenwood's and Salvatore's most famous characters don't seem quite as well documented. |
[/Ayrik] |
Edited by - Ayrik on 27 Jan 2022 03:08:14 |
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sleyvas
Skilled Spell Strategist
USA
11704 Posts |
Posted - 27 Jan 2022 : 12:02:24
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quote:
Originally posted by Azar
quote:
Originally posted by sleyvas
Take something Yosemite Sam used to say and turn it into a name (i.e. Dagnabbit )
Take two common words native to a region of our world and put them together, then twist their wording (i.e. Bistro Batenrooj)
.... stir.... stir .... stir ....
Runabout Kickastone!
Nanfoodle!
I think I'm gonna make a haregon character named Var'mint Sayerprairs and have him be friends with an anikiwah (elk centaur) named Namby-Bamby of the Reograndy (the Reograndy being a clan of anikiwah that live along a river). Then they're gonna meet an owlin from the forest on the western side of Anchorome named Hutiness'Tutinest and his brother Rutyness'Shutinest. They'll also befriend the woodland urskan (bearfolk) Ferberyn Cryttir. They'll have to face off against the evil young green dragons, Rackafrackyn, and its sister, Rassafrassyn. |
Alavairthae, may your skill prevail
Phillip aka Sleyvas |
Edited by - sleyvas on 27 Jan 2022 12:53:17 |
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Diffan
Great Reader
USA
4430 Posts |
Posted - 27 Jan 2022 : 14:07:19
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| I take common names and then change them to be more unique or take ideas from literature and modify |
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bloodtide_the_red
Learned Scribe
USA
299 Posts |
Posted - 31 Jan 2022 : 04:07:55
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To make up a name you just start with a vague sound, and then work it out to sound just about right. An elf has a light, soft sounding name; a dwarf has a short hard name; a goblin has a 'creepy' name, and so on.
g
An easy trick is to just take a real name and switch around a couple letters. Bob Smith then becomes Vod Kmith or Nancy Jones becomes Wancy Lones.
Taking a word that describes the character, and twisting it around works great. A tough character can be Tourg or Tog or Tuho.
Brand names work, often with a twist. Sony becomes Zony or Aony; Pepsi becomes Yepsi or Gepsi. |
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ericlboyd
Forgotten Realms Designer
USA
2067 Posts |
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Azar
Master of Realmslore
1297 Posts |
Posted - 31 Jan 2022 : 12:40:18
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Adjective+Noun, Noun+Noun, Noun+Adjective and Noun+Verb are easy to produce and rarely objectionable; at worst, they're merely simple. I recommend merging consecutive identical consonants.
Examples ->
"Sablemane"
"Richhelm/Richelm"
"Firehill"
"Golddelver/Goldelver"
"Auroraborn"
"Fortbroken"
"Wealcraft"
"Copperfetch"
--- --- ---
--- --- ---
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quote:
Originally posted by sleyvas
quote:
Originally posted by Azar
quote:
Originally posted by sleyvas
Take something Yosemite Sam used to say and turn it into a name (i.e. Dagnabbit )
Take two common words native to a region of our world and put them together, then twist their wording (i.e. Bistro Batenrooj)
.... stir.... stir .... stir ....
Runabout Kickastone!
Nanfoodle!
I think I'm gonna make a haregon character named Var'mint Sayerprairs and have him be friends with an anikiwah (elk centaur) named Namby-Bamby of the Reograndy (the Reograndy being a clan of anikiwah that live along a river). Then they're gonna meet an owlin from the forest on the western side of Anchorome named Hutiness'Tutinest and his brother Rutyness'Shutinest. They'll also befriend the woodland urskan (bearfolk) Ferberyn Cryttir. They'll have to face off against the evil young green dragons, Rackafrackyn, and its sister, Rassafrassyn.
What be a "haregon"?
Here's a name for a Green Dragon: "Nahzteebress". |
Stand with anybody that stands right. Stand with him while he is right and part with him when he goes wrong.
Earth names in the Realms are more common than you may think. |
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sleyvas
Skilled Spell Strategist
USA
11704 Posts |
Posted - 31 Jan 2022 : 14:57:27
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quote:
Originally posted by Azar
quote:
Originally posted by sleyvas
quote:
Originally posted by Azar
quote:
Originally posted by sleyvas
Take something Yosemite Sam used to say and turn it into a name (i.e. Dagnabbit )
Take two common words native to a region of our world and put them together, then twist their wording (i.e. Bistro Batenrooj)
.... stir.... stir .... stir ....
Runabout Kickastone!
Nanfoodle!
I think I'm gonna make a haregon character named Var'mint Sayerprairs and have him be friends with an anikiwah (elk centaur) named Namby-Bamby of the Reograndy (the Reograndy being a clan of anikiwah that live along a river). Then they're gonna meet an owlin from the forest on the western side of Anchorome named Hutiness'Tutinest and his brother Rutyness'Shutinest. They'll also befriend the woodland urskan (bearfolk) Ferberyn Cryttir. They'll have to face off against the evil young green dragons, Rackafrackyn, and its sister, Rassafrassyn.
What be a "haregon"?
New race from "The Wild Beyond the Witchlight". Rabbit humanoid (think the rabbit from Alice in Wonderland or rabbit from Winnie the Pooh or Bugs Bunny wearing clothes). Size varies by your choice (either small or medium). Jumps far. Bonus to init. Proficiency in perception. Use your reaction to roll 1d4 and add it to a failed dex bonus. The name of course comes from Yosemite Sam (as do all those... if you say them aloud, you'll get it).... the haregon's being "Varmint, Say your Prayers". |
Alavairthae, may your skill prevail
Phillip aka Sleyvas |
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Wooly Rupert
Master of Mischief
USA
36781 Posts |
Posted - 31 Jan 2022 : 16:35:37
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I don't mind the idea of rabbit people, but come on, "haregon"? That's just weak sauce. It's either "let's add a syllable onto a word for rabbit" or "let's make a play on 'here 'n gone' since rabbits are quick!"
Rabbits are part of the order Lagomorpha... So call these rabbit people Lagora or Lagoran. It's not as obvious a lift and it's not as silly a name.
Sometimes I don't know if the designers aren't trying, or if they think people want jokes and pop culture references in their RPG material, or both. |
Candlekeep Forums Moderator
Candlekeep - The Library of Forgotten Realms Lore
http://www.candlekeep.com -- Candlekeep Forum Code of Conduct
I am the Giant Space Hamster of Ill Omen!  |
Edited by - Wooly Rupert on 31 Jan 2022 16:37:25 |
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Azar
Master of Realmslore
1297 Posts |
Posted - 31 Jan 2022 : 19:21:05
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quote:
Originally posted by sleyvas
New race from "The Wild Beyond the Witchlight". Rabbit humanoid (think the rabbit from Alice in Wonderland or rabbit from Winnie the Pooh or Bugs Bunny wearing clothes). Size varies by your choice (either small or medium). Jumps far. Bonus to init. Proficiency in perception. Use your reaction to roll 1d4 and add it to a failed dex bonus. The name of course comes from Yosemite Sam (as do all those... if you say them aloud, you'll get it).... the haregon's being "Varmint, Say your Prayers".
Oooh. That is horrifying. |
Stand with anybody that stands right. Stand with him while he is right and part with him when he goes wrong.
Earth names in the Realms are more common than you may think. |
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sleyvas
Skilled Spell Strategist
USA
11704 Posts |
Posted - 31 Jan 2022 : 23:36:26
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quote:
Originally posted by Wooly Rupert
I don't mind the idea of rabbit people, but come on, "haregon"? That's just weak sauce. It's either "let's add a syllable onto a word for rabbit" or "let's make a play on 'here 'n gone' since rabbits are quick!"
Rabbits are part of the order Lagomorpha... So call these rabbit people Lagora or Lagoran. It's not as obvious a lift and it's not as silly a name.
Sometimes I don't know if the designers aren't trying, or if they think people want jokes and pop culture references in their RPG material, or both.
They could have followed the trend and named them Hasenpfeffers
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=m4UWdlfH86s |
Alavairthae, may your skill prevail
Phillip aka Sleyvas |
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Magean
Acolyte
7 Posts |
Posted - 02 Feb 2022 : 20:46:09
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Good advice all over, thank you guys - and for the laugh too :-)
quote:
Originally posted by ericlboyd
I start to notice common syllables for different cultures and then mix them up.
Yup, this seems to be the best way to preserve a specific cultural theme.
Keith Baker wrote about this regarding languages of Eberron.
With that said, it doesn't answer the original question, which was the method employed by Greenwood and the main FR contributors. |
Edited by - Magean on 02 Feb 2022 20:46:30 |
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Azar
Master of Realmslore
1297 Posts |
Posted - 02 Feb 2022 : 21:58:08
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quote:
Originally posted by Magean
Good advice all over, thank you guys - and for the laugh too :-)
quote:
Originally posted by ericlboyd
I start to notice common syllables for different cultures and then mix them up.
Yup, this seems to be the best way to preserve a specific cultural theme.
Keith Baker wrote about this regarding languages of Eberron.
With that said, it doesn't answer the original question, which was the method employed by Greenwood and the main FR contributors.
Why not try reaching out to Ed Greenwood? |
Stand with anybody that stands right. Stand with him while he is right and part with him when he goes wrong.
Earth names in the Realms are more common than you may think. |
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How did authors come up with all those names?
