Good place to go for character-name inspiration?

abell39

I'm trying to think of a name for a new character I'm wanting to make when I get enough AD for some Zen, and I'm hitting a wall. Usually I'll go to behindthename.com and browse around their name themes for something I like the sound / meaning of if I can't come up with a name on my own, but nothing sticks out at me right now. So naturally, I thought I'd make a thread:

What do you guys do when you need inspiration to cook up a name for a character?

(Yes I'm aware of the in-game name generator, but I like having a unique given name -- if not surname also -- to avoid being one of the billions of Irann Swordhands in the game.)

doogie74

You can google search fantasy name generators. You can do specifics like elf name generators to find a site and have fun till you generate a name you like.

ordensmarschall

I usually go hit one of my history books on either the Celts, Norse, Summerians, or Persians for inspiration. Plus the Online Etymology Dictionary is also good, for example magic started as Old Persian as 'magush' (priestly or learned class). Combined with the Persian myth of Vohu Manah (the Intelligent One) you can get a mage named Magush Vohu Manah. Many different variations you can use, plus very easily manipulated into something more to your liking.

Of course you know it's just another version of "Merlin" or "Gandolf", but for most others it will seem original, and it's different enough that you won't feel like one of a 1000 Drizzts.

valwryn

As a last resort you can use: "Drizzt Infinity x Infinify +1"

nwntalon

Please avoid using names from pop fiction or sci/ fantasy books/ games. I'm so tired of seeing GOT characters running around because someone has HBO. Or a million Drizz'ts, etc. However, I can see using those for inspriation. ie Clan Battlehammer.

luluzealander

Naming a character is very different depending on what kind of race and concept I play. For elves and drow I often use these sites:

http://www.angelfire.com/rpg2/vortexshadow/drownames.html
http://www.angelfire.com/rpg2/vortexshadow/names.html

Or I use online translators in Drow, Celestial or Elven to make a mixture of words until it sounds right.

This site is also quite amazing for more realistic names: http://www.20000-names.com/

I usually sum up what kind of character I play: e.g with a human Paladin, I could easily find inspiration in old biblical names, angels etc.

Google Search is an AMAZING tool for discovering cultural names, all depending on what concept you play

But as stated above, please please please do not rip off names from Books or pop fiction. It's so unoriginal!