Human Naming Conventions

in the Old Empire and the New Continent

Here is a standard set of rules for creating consistent names for human characters. While some players have voiced disagreement with these ideas, no one has proposed anything better. So here's something that works until another system comes along. These rules apply to Human and Human-oriented cultures in the Old Empire and the New Continent. Nonhumans use other conventions.

There are two Human cultures co-existing in the New Continent: the ruling newcomers and the original inhabitants. They name themselves in very different ways.

Newcomers (From New Avalon and the Old Empire)

First, like Teth, the world we came from, the common Tongue here on Lothar is a form of Greek. References to English in the following paragraphs are in reality to Greek -- but since Greek is our native tongue, treating Greek like English accurately reflects our perspective.

The arcane languages of magic, on the other hand, differ from planet to planet. You don't need to know either language to be a mage, but you might need this knowledge to research spells.

On the continent of Ahnktosl, all recent newcomers from the Old Empire all have a forename (a given name).

Among commoners, this is generally a one or two syllable common English word. For example, commoners could be named Pair, Slim, Quickly, Handsome, Toddy, Hope, or Steadfast. Sometimes these names are given for a reason, other times not.

Among the aristocracy, a forename is an English-sounding but meaningless word. For example, nobles could be named Tammell, Des, Wheven, or Sheresha. These names have generally been passed down through generations.

Many commoners have no surname at all. The rest have simple titles or describers that they pick for themselves or that their friends give them. For example, Stitch the Assassin, Glower Smith's-son, etc.

Aristocrats have hereditary family names. Curiously, these all take the form of plural Real World forenames. For example, Grauvire Benedicts, Frevets Doras, Howent Samuels. Except for very very informal and friendly situations, aristocrats never use their forenames alone. A casual acquaintence would never say, "Hi Frevets! How's it going?" Instead, in everyday use outside the family, people address nobles by the singular form of the surname. For example, Benedict, Dora, or Samuel. This is true regardless of gender -- to these aristocrats, their family names are gender-neutral. A merchant would generally address a noble of the Georges family as "George." In some cases, usually if the family name is unknown, the honorific "Ser" is used for both genders. In the most formal of circumstances (weddings, funerals, oath-takings, etc), both forename and surname are used.

Middle-class people who want to put on airs might also use aristocratic first names, but they would have no family surname unless elevated into the nobility (a rare thing!). Or they might use names that are uncommon or obscure English words, like Parge (a kind of plastering) or Epopee (an epic poem). Other common folk may scorn them for being above themselves.

Aristocrats who have fallen from their station in life might still use aristocratic first names, even if they have lost their traditional surname. Many adventurers in Albany fit into this category -- with family back home fallen on hard times, unable to keep up appearances in court, stripped of the family name, these adventurers can (just barely) afford training in a character class and passage to the New World to seek a fortune. Others retain their family name although their station in life hardly merits it now.

Originals (Mountain and Jungle People)

The original people of the area have names that follow these rules.

Use any vowel or combination of vowels except U.

Use any consonent by itself only -- combinations including ST, TR, BR, CH, SCHR, GL, etc. are forbidden. BUT these exceptions ARE allowed: TH (sounds like the TH in thin) and DH (sounds like the TH in these). Z (sounds like the Z in zoo) and ZH (sounds like the Z in azure or the S in leisure). CH (sounds like the CH in chew) and J (sounds like the J in Justice).

So the only consonents allowed are B, D, F, G, J, K, L, M, N, P, R, S, T, W, TH, DH, CH, ZH, and Z. Only consonents start and end a name, and the allowable consonents for ending names are: F, K, L, P, S, T, TH, CH, and Z. The final consonant in a name is doubled except for TH and CH. This doubling indicates that the primary stress in every word is always on the last syllable.

Names always alternate consonent / vowel / consonent / etc.

With these rules, the following names can be made:

Morokitt, Waeneniss, Dhelarakaff, Gach, Paroinell.

But these examples are incomplete. Names always take the form Verb-Preposition-Noun. The verb and noun portions follow the above rules. The prepositional joiner between them is always a vowel or combination of vowels. It is written lowercase and linked with hyphens. For example:

Merett-ae-Dofethakk (means "Run-from-Danger")

Vepp-i-Zhalimasath ("Nibble-with-Delicacy")

Jabidakk-a-Razz ("Fight-in-Controlled Fury")

Nicknames among the originals generally take the form of the last one or two syllables of the last part of the name. For example, Thakk or Fethakk, Sath or Masath, or Razz.

There is no written form of the language of the Original People. The Cam priests use mystic symbols, but these are not a true language.

Sample Names

Game Masters who need to come up with consistent names fast can grab any of these. But let me know if you use them so I can take them off as they are used.

Commoner Newcomers: Mink, Pitch, Copy the Scribe, Soapbark, Knobby the Liar, Shrill.

Middle-Class Newcomers: Proem, Creel, Horary, Plumose, Atheling, Ovine.

Nobles: Sahder Holbrooks, Tholifor Williams, Powsey Joans, Garmed Edgars, Naha Clives, Phorado Normans.

Originals: Kilopithill-ie-Dharaepp, Jekk-ee-Jekk, Baedell-ie-Nach, Saleff-oe-Sacheff, Temenepp-i-Wotenitaegg.