Gygax's Extr. Book of Names & Ravenloft

[LordGodefroi]

Tired of silly fantasy names (even in many RL products), I recently picked up Gary Gygax's Extraordinary Book of Names, an excellent historically-based well-researched tome of names (incl. place names), their origins, and uses.

As the book itself says, "Names bring characters and backgrounds to life. The right names help evoke the setting and add colour and interest to the game." I think this is even moreso with Ravenloft with its near-European analogues in its domains and cultures.

Part of keeping the verisimiltude of a culture or location in a game is consistency with names. To that end, I want to assign name groups from the Book of Names to the various RL domains and their cultures and I'd like the opinions of folks here, especially those familiar with the Book of Names.

Some, of course, are obvious. For example, evoking the flavor of Mordent would definitely require English names. However, some which one would think would be obvious actually aren't. For example, Gypsy (Roma) names actually don't fit the Vistani. (Vistani names, as seen in examples in the RL PHB, are generally Hungarian.)

Although Gary Gygax's Extraordinary Book of Names features names from African, Asian, and Northern / Central American cultures, I think it's safe to narrow down selections for Ravenloft to European names. So, with that, here's the list of European name groups from the BoN's table of contents. Whattya think ?:

Anglo-Saxon
Cornish
English & Medieval English
Scottish & Medieval Scottish
Irish & Medieval Irish
Gaelic
Welsh, Medieval Welsh & Briton (Old Welsh)

Armenian
Dutch & Medieval Dutch
Finnish & Medieval Finnish
French & Medieval French
Celtic
German & Medieval German
Germanic
Gypsy
Hungarian & Medieval Hungarian
Norse
Norwegian & Medieval Norwegian
Polish & Medieval Polish
Portuguese & Medieval Portuguese
Russian & Medieval Russian
Spanish & Medieval Spanish

Arabic
Greek & Ancient Greek
Italian & Medieval Italian
Roman
Jewish & Hebrew
Phoenician

[Charney]

Sounds like a very interesting book, especially if it has the origins of the names!

Finally we might see the end of names with "G" and "K" to make them sound "medieval"

[Joël of the FoS]

I've already got GG's Living Fantasy and World Builder, two books I often refer to when I look for details.

Finally we might see the end of names with "G" and "K" to make them sound "medieval"

[Scarycount]

Finally we might see the end of names with "G" and "K" to make them sound "medieval"

I don't get it.

[DeepShadow of FoS]

I use the Everchanging Book of Namesto create region-appropriate names. It's a downloadable program that can be personalized all sorts of ways. We could design chapters specifically for RL domains.

[Charney]

Finally we might see the end of names with "G" and "K" to make them sound "medieval"

I don't get it.

You have to watch a Quebecker comedy about how naming a D&D character Boba Fett isn't worse than putting "G" or "K" to make a medieval name.

[LordGodefroi]

Sounds like a very interesting book, especially if it has the origins of the names!

To be clear, the book includes the origins of the names (such as German, Scottish, etc.) but doesn't include the etymology of the names. But, the etymology of the names isn't necessary for RPGs.

So, which name groups (as listed above) should be assigned to the various RL domains/cultures ?

[Bluebomber4evr]

Anglo-Saxon - Verbrek, Halflings
Cornish - ?
English & Medieval English - Mordent, Paridon, Ghastria, Staunton Bluffs
Scottish & Medieval Scottish - Forlorn
Irish & Medieval Irish - Tepest
Gaelic - Tepest, Shadow Rift?
Welsh, Medieval Welsh & Briton (Old Welsh) - I use this for native elves (with the exception of Sithicans, I use the Dragonlance campaign's naming conventions for Silvanesti in that case)

Armenian - I used this for the Thaani
Dutch & Medieval Dutch - I used this for Kartakass
Finnish & Medieval Finnish - ?
French & Medieval French - Souragne, Dementlieu and Richemulot
Celtic - ?
German & Medieval German - Falkovnia, Lamordia
Germanic - ?
Gypsy - Vistani?
Hungarian & Medieval Hungarian - Gundarak
Norse - I used this for the people of Graben Island and for dwarves
Norwegian & Medieval Norwegian - Nova Vaasa, Kartakass, Valachan, Hazlan
Polish & Medieval Polish - Nova Vaasa
Portuguese & Medieval Portuguese
Russian & Medieval Russian - Falkovnia and Vorostokov
Spanish & Medieval Spanish - ?

Arabic - Some would claim Pharazia, but that's more Persian than Arabic
Greek & Ancient Greek - I use this for gnomes
Italian & Medieval Italian - Odiare
Roman - Vechor, Darkon
Jewish & Hebrew - I would recommend Mordent for some of the more common names such as "David"
Phoenician - Kalidnay?

Also, you could use the following, if they're in that book:

Indian - Sri Raji
Ancient Egyptian - Har'Akir and Sebua
Persian - Pharazia
Japanese - Rokushima Taiyoo
Turkish - Hazlan
Romanian - Barovia, Invidia, Borca, G'henna

[LordGodefroi]

I use the Everchanging Book of Namesto create region-appropriate names. It's a downloadable program that can be personalized all sorts of ways. We could design chapters specifically for RL domains.

Went to the site. Cool software. Too bad its Windows only. I guess I'll have to manually plug in the Gygax Book of Names lists into CrystalBall for my Mac.

[LordGodefroi]

Anglo-Saxon - Verbrek, Halflings etc.

Thanks for your input Blue Bomber. It's a good start and a great help for me.

[JinnTolser]

I use the Everchanging Book of Namesto create region-appropriate names. It's a downloadable program that can be personalized all sorts of ways. We could design chapters specifically for RL domains.

Thanks for the link! I think I'm gonna try that software.

[Spiteful Crow]

Anglo-Saxon - Verbrek, Halflings
English & Medieval English - Mordent, Paridon, Ghastria, Staunton Bluffs

Don't forget Nidala!

[Brandi]

To me, there's a strong irony in seeing Gygax's named attached to this book given that he came up with NPC and sample character names that would've had Silver Age comic writers going 'Um... yeah.' (Really-- look up the tournament PCs for the original Against the Giants module. They're ridiculous.)

[Bluebomber4evr]

Anglo-Saxon - Verbrek, Halflings
English & Medieval English - Mordent, Paridon, Ghastria, Staunton Bluffs

Don't forget Nidala!

Gah! I knew I had to be forgetting a few domains! Still, I'd probably give Nidala Celtic names, seeing as how they worship Belenus.

[Sylaire]

Finally we might see the end of names with "G" and "K" to make them sound "medieval"

I don't get it.

You see it now and again...especially on the back covers of historical romances and cheeseball fantasy. "Erick" instead of "Eric," for example.