Naming characters in a fantasy universe
If you were to try and name characters in a fantasy universe, how would you go about it? Do you think you’d use real names, (consciously) draw inspiration off real names, or try to invent completely new names? If you were to invent new names, how would you go about it? Would you think of patterns on how the names would ‘work’, or just make up sounds that work together? I’d be interested in different people’s ideas, this is just out of curiosity.
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Replies
Hi!
It depends on the story and where / when it is set. Urban fantasy is very different from high fantasy. Then a story full of fairies is different from a dystopic story or a sci-fi in an alternative universe with aliens and so on.
If I were a writer I had chosen any time a cluster of names specific for each plot.
It depends on the story and where / when it is set. Urban fantasy is very different from high fantasy. Then a story full of fairies is different from a dystopic story or a sci-fi in an alternative universe with aliens and so on.
If I were a writer I had chosen any time a cluster of names specific for each plot.
A combination of real and invented, depending on the character. For something like a dragon, invented euphonious string of syllables whereas the humanoids would likely get something at least baeed in reality, perhaps archaic but not a complete invention.
Mostly use real, but obscure names. Especially in a fantasy world based on medieval Europe.
For example:
Leucus
Auley
Malyen
Corvin
Yeager
Cléanthe
Zeo
Sicard
Nevenoe
Osric
Eida
Zabeth
Tellus
Korona
Hyssop
Fennore
Evetke
Affery
Gladusa
Ydain
For example:
Leucus
Auley
Malyen
Corvin
Yeager
Cléanthe
Zeo
Sicard
Nevenoe
Osric
Eida
Zabeth
Tellus
Korona
Hyssop
Fennore
Evetke
Affery
Gladusa
Ydain
If its for a fantasy world I would damn sure take advantage by using
nature names
word names
girl names on boys
mixing sounds together
names from literature, pop culture or mythology
compound names with no hyphen
names that are unusually short or unusually long
For example:
A boy named Mahve, Mave or Mayve from Meave
A girl named Annmarissa (Just Ann and Marissa together)
A boy named Claw
A King called Featherhymer
A pet named Gargoyle (who is not a gargoyle)
A woman named Wingley
Something like that. So much more fun than real-life naming culture.
nature names
word names
girl names on boys
mixing sounds together
names from literature, pop culture or mythology
compound names with no hyphen
names that are unusually short or unusually long
For example:
A boy named Mahve, Mave or Mayve from Meave
A girl named Annmarissa (Just Ann and Marissa together)
A boy named Claw
A King called Featherhymer
A pet named Gargoyle (who is not a gargoyle)
A woman named Wingley
Something like that. So much more fun than real-life naming culture.
Thank you! I agree it would totally be a lot of fun to be free to use whatever names you wanted in any way.