Hydaelyn Role-Players
Agonizing Over Character Names... - Printable Version

+- Hydaelyn Role-Players (https://ffxiv-roleplayers.com/mybb18)
+-- Forum: Community (https://ffxiv-roleplayers.com/mybb18/forumdisplay.php?fid=8)
+--- Forum: RP Discussion (https://ffxiv-roleplayers.com/mybb18/forumdisplay.php?fid=13)
+--- Thread: Agonizing Over Character Names... (/showthread.php?tid=8901)

Pages: 1 2

Agonizing Over Character Names... - UltraFennec - 11-08-2014

Anyone else do it? I find it's a trap I often sink into in computer RPGs, where I can't just erase the name and write in a new one like in tabletop games.

Typically I end up right back where I started anyway! Blush

RE: Agonizing Over Character Names... - Aya - 11-08-2014

I tend to try to think of the right name until I find it.  Sometimes it takes a while, sometimes it doesn't :-]

RE: Agonizing Over Character Names... - UltraFennec - 11-08-2014

How long is Too Long, I wonder? Does it need to be perfect, or is a good gut feeling about it good enough to let it grow on you?
I started overthinking this while I was overthinking my name ideas, so that's probably a sign, but what the hey, insomnia forum posting is fun.

RE: Agonizing Over Character Names... - Zelmanov - 11-08-2014

Well if you have a race and origin and the like in mind and you want to obey naming conventions, it does not hurt to hit the generate button on character create because it will do just that. 

If you want something else. Well, that comes with time, I've only come with a handful of acceptable names for my characters over the course of my RP life. 

and recycled them where they fit. My current go to fantasy name happened to just work REALLY well with final fantasy hyur naming conventions.

RE: Agonizing Over Character Names... - Ciel - 11-08-2014

There's also this:

http://fandango.exp.jp/name-generator.php

Just pick your race, clan, and gender and hit the button.  Sometimes it seems like name options are limited, but if you see a first name you like and a last name, but they never seem to generate together, just take whichever ones you want to combine.  I've used this a few times just for NPCs.

RE: Agonizing Over Character Names... - ProvaDiServo - 11-08-2014

Got "Pathetic Grape" in the Hellsguard category

I laff'd, now I just HAVE to use that.

RE: Agonizing Over Character Names... - Dasair - 11-08-2014

*lays down*  I always have this problem, it's terrible.

I typically spend forever figuring out a character's name, and even longer if there are lore-given naming conventions, because then it's like figuring out a name twice.  Having something in mind, fitting it to conventions, re-checking it via accurate name generators and lore, yet keeping the 'sound' of it true to what's wanted.... Names, man.  Names.


That or I just am like 'screw it' and settle for something secretly fitting and lore abiding with some dumb hidden meaning for my own amusement. 

That said, I'm always amused by nicknames given by other characters, because often times they're pretty much the best.

(Use the Pathetic Grape.  Do it.)

RE: Agonizing Over Character Names... - Ciel - 11-08-2014

I've also found that if I can't find a name I like in the name generator, I'll go to something like babelfish and throw words at it until it gives me something I like.  Especially if it has to be an Elezen name.

RE: Agonizing Over Character Names... - FreelanceWizard - 11-08-2014

If I don't already kind of have a name in mind for a character (L'yhta was already in my mind, as were Aurelie and Elsbeth), I'll usually flip through the random generator until I see a name, or a part of a name, where I get a "hey, that looks neat" feeling. Then I'll flip through some more until I get a flash of, "Aha! This is the name I want!" That's how I named all of my retainers, for instance. I try to avoid overthinking names and just go with my gut feeling. If my character decides he or she isn't fond of their name in the future, that's just a potential source of RP. Smile

RE: Agonizing Over Character Names... - Foxling - 11-08-2014

I could and have spent literal hours trying to think up names. My problem comes into play when the character's name has to conform to a certain format. Plain, modern names? Those are fine, those I can do. FFXIV based names because they have a certain 'lore' to fit in with, bane of my life.

Spent ages trying to think up a Roe name simply because I was too stubborn to use the name generator. It's a nice idea and easy to use but certain names have been done so many times from it. I literally just hit the Roe dictionary in the end and hoped for the best.

RE: Agonizing Over Character Names... - Marisa - 11-09-2014

I have a friend who spends far too much time on character names, and he's not even a roleplayer. I've seen him spend upwards of 3 hours naming a character, just to come up with Dudeman Bromate. 

I, on the other hand, have a pretty easy time of it. Usually. In any game that gives you a first and last name, it's super easy, especially for men. My go-to male names are Barrett, Tiberius, or Lawrence. Russell too, on occasion. If it's a Star Wars universe, or if I'm an elf, I use Varen. If all of those are taken, that is when I become lost and helpless. 

For females, it's usually Rin, Ryoko, Kyeri, or Kalia. I chose Ryoko before I knew I'd be RPing in this game, but fortunately I can BS it into a Miqo'te name (Rhiokoh) and thus far nobody has called me out on it.

RE: Agonizing Over Character Names... - Parvacake - 11-09-2014

If there's basic lore for it, I follow it, otherwise I go with whatever fits the race or character! I came up with Altair all on my own since it was human sounding, and found out later its actually from a video game lol

RE: Agonizing Over Character Names... - Odin Agmundr - 11-09-2014

(11-09-2014, 04:15 AM)Ryoko Wrote: I have a friend who spends far too much time on character names, and he's not even a roleplayer. I've seen him spend upwards of 3 hours naming a character, just to come up with Dudeman Bromate. 

I, on the other hand, have a pretty easy time of it. Usually. In any game that gives you a first and last name, it's super easy, especially for men. My go-to male names are Barrett, Tiberius, or Lawrence. Russell too, on occasion. If it's a Star Wars universe, or if I'm an elf, I use Varen. If all of those are taken, that is when I become lost and helpless. 

For females, it's usually Rin, Ryoko, Kyeri, or Kalia. I chose Ryoko before I knew I'd be RPing in this game, but fortunately I can BS it into a Miqo'te name (Rhiokoh) and thus far nobody has called me out on it.


Those are cliche names in the roleplay universe... it pretty much depends on the branch you're trying to roleplay in... let's say you're an highlander. Highlanders' name originate out of German and Nordic names. Nordic names like Fjolnir, Fraegr, Billrost, Hreimorr, Hergunnr, Geironul, Byggvir are all viable if you're trying to roleplay as an highlander. Do some datamining depending on your race and pick yourself a name. If you're not that lore-friendly and you're just looking for some light roleplay, then you can go on with whatever you want.. good luck

RE: Agonizing Over Character Names... - Marisa - 11-09-2014

(11-09-2014, 04:35 AM)Odin Agmundr Wrote: Those are cliche names in the roleplay universe... it pretty much depends on the branch you're trying to roleplay in... let's say you're an highlander. Highlanders' name originate out of German and Nordic names. Nordic names like Fjolnir, Fraegr, Billrost, Hreimorr, Hergunnr, Geironul, Byggvir are all viable if you're trying to roleplay as an highlander. Do some datamining depending on your race and pick yourself a name. If you're not that lore-friendly and you're just looking for some light roleplay, then you can go on with whatever you want.. good luck

Well, I would never RP a Highlander to be honest. I like Nordic names, but I find no appeal whatsoever in XIV highlanders (no offense, just personal taste). Midlanders are more my thing. As for the names being cliche... why does that limit me to light roleplay? Humans use common names. There are a million Johns on Earth, but not one of them has every been told "I don't consider you a real person because you have the same name as some other people". Barrett and Lawrence are proper English names, which is what most of the Midlanders in Final Fantasy use. And I'm not trying to be a special snowflake. My characters are meant to be everyday people, so it's entirely on purpose that they don't come with names like "Aldegeveryathajarion the Almighty God Slayer and Immortal Hero of the Northern Plains". 

Personally, if I were a Midlander parent, I'd give my kid a normal midlander name. Because if he's got a name like Geironul, he's gonna get his ass kicked by the other midlander kids.

It also occurs to me that the 'light roleplay' comment was probably directed more toward the OP than myself. I get pretty defensive about my Barrett name, though. Been using it for years across dozens of games, but this is the first one where people have ever taken issue with it, because apparently there was some dude in FF7 with that name.

RE: Agonizing Over Character Names... - Odin Agmundr - 11-09-2014

(11-09-2014, 05:27 AM)Ryoko Wrote:
(11-09-2014, 04:35 AM)Odin Agmundr Wrote: Those are cliche names in the roleplay universe... it pretty much depends on the branch you're trying to roleplay in... let's say you're an highlander. Highlanders' name originate out of German and Nordic names. Nordic names like Fjolnir, Fraegr, Billrost, Hreimorr, Hergunnr, Geironul, Byggvir are all viable if you're trying to roleplay as an highlander. Do some datamining depending on your race and pick yourself a name. If you're not that lore-friendly and you're just looking for some light roleplay, then you can go on with whatever you want.. good luck

Well, I would never RP a Highlander to be honest. I like Nordic names, but I find no appeal whatsoever in XIV highlanders (no offense, just personal taste). Midlanders are more my thing. As for the names being cliche... why does that limit me to light roleplay? Humans use common names. There are a million Johns on Earth, but not one of them has every been told "I don't consider you a real person because you have the same name as some other people". Barrett and Lawrence are proper English names, which is what most of the Midlanders in Final Fantasy use. And I'm not trying to be a special snowflake. My characters are meant to be everyday people, so it's entirely on purpose that they don't come with names like "Aldegeveryathajarion the Almighty God Slayer and Immortal Hero of the Northern Plains". 

Personally, if I were a Midlander parent, I'd give my kid a normal midlander name. Because if he's got a name like Geironul, he's gonna get his ass kicked by the other midlander kids.

It also occurs to me that the 'light roleplay' comment was probably directed more toward the OP than myself. I get pretty defensive about my Barrett name, though. Been using it for years across dozens of games, but this is the first one where people have ever taken issue with it, because apparently there was some dude in FF7 with that name.


I was talking to the OP. I just take stuff realistic and go with lore-friendly names. It's all preferences, man.