Fantasy Names

[shadow]

How do you create names for your characters and cities? Over the years, I've noticed a number of different styles of fantasy names (some better than others) ranging from the realistic sounding to the completely outlandish. However, it recently struck me that most fantasy names, no matter how exotic they appear, follow English phonotactic rules. That is to say that they all use sounds that appear in English, and combinations of consonants that appear in English words. Anyone who has studied a foriegn language or speaks a second language knows that other languages make use of sounds not found in English. (For example the trilled r found in the Spanish word "perro", or the "ch" in the German word "Bach") Also many language use consonant clusters not found in English. (For example, in Greek the initial "p" is pronounced in words like psyche, not silent like it is in English.)
I suppose that most fantasy names follow English rules for ease of pronounciation. (However the Kingdoms of Kalamar deviates a little with names such as Svimohzia). Being a linguistics major and a language geek, I thought it would be interesting to add a little variety to my fantasy names. In my home brew world, I've been working out some rudimentary language rules for the various racial langauges. My goal is to make more consistant names for characters and places, and to add flavor and "realism" to my world.
How do you handle fantasy names? Do you take the simple route for ease of pronounciation, or do you try to add some spice and make names a little more exotic?

 

[Chauzu]

I add some spice.

 

[Xilo]

I've been wondering the same thing. More for PC names than anything else. There have been some good articles in Dragon but does any one else know of a aite where you can find names?

 

[Xarlen]

I like to use http://www.kabalarians.com/html/surf-by.htm.

Baby names by language, as well as other things like Made Up Names, Creature, etc.

 

[BiggusGeekus]

I start with my made up countries and I pick a RL culture for them.

Launhym - Welsh
Calisia - French
Remaria - Rome
Shintoi - Japan
Gadhoig (orc) - Cherokee

I pick a word from English, translate it to that language, and then "fantasy-ize" it. Which means I write it down as best I can pronounce it.

For other countries, like the Elf, Dwarf, and Halfling, ones ... I just rip from generic fantasy.

 

[Tonguez]

I take a map of the world and choose a region and then look for some interesting place names. Once I find the interesting place name I then do a google search and final people names - so I now have a half-elf named Nubilat (Eastern Europe, Central Asia and Africa are useful for 'unusal names')

ps exactly how do you pronounce Kyrghyz

 

[Azure Trance]

I start with my made up countries and I pick a RL culture for them.

Launhym - Welsh
Calisia - French
Remaria - Rome
Shintoi - Japan
Gadhoig (orc) - Cherokee

I pick a word from English, translate it to that language, and then "fantasy-ize" it. Which means I write it down as best I can pronounce it.

For other countries, like the Elf, Dwarf, and Halfling, ones ... I just rip from generic fantasy.

Same as him. My human countries usually have a definitive RL world equivalent to them (renaissance age) to help easily identify with players. Nonhumans are usually Tolkienish / made up fantasy.

 

[Salad Shooter]

ps exactly how do you pronounce Kyrghyz

Uh....Kergiz? Sounds like a headscratcher. Hehe...anyway...For names, I either stick with base english ones, or I come up with some funky sounding collection of letters. I will also, occasionally, stick together names from various fantasy books and settings.

 

[InvaderSquoosh]

What you really want is to study invented languages:

http://www.zompist.com/kit.html

But I warn you, it's too easy to geek out and spend forever in that hobby instead of writing the game!

 

[Taloras]

Hmm.....does anyone know of a good Norse town-generator? Ive got a list of names, but i need town names......im trying to create a norse campaign.