Character Names - Guild Wars Forums

Fabian Torrent · Aug 16, 2011, 09:52 PM // 21:52

So I plan on making either a ranger or a necro, and I don't know what to name it, I use some Name websites and I don't find anything I like. so I was wondering, what websites do you guys use to find names? or do you create the names yourself?

Star_Jewel · Aug 16, 2011, 10:23 PM // 22:23

A billion different sources for names.

Try looking at the appearances at character creation -- sometimes a look can inspire you to imagine a personality or backstory; finding a name from there can be easy.

Prestige · Aug 16, 2011, 10:28 PM // 22:28

I love Chris/Prestige :P !

(Hey Fabian it's your favorite dervish

!)

You could always call it Fabian ''Put Random Adjective''...

davehall · Aug 16, 2011, 10:28 PM // 22:28

Google is your friend.

Personally, I keep a list of character names (first names / last names) that I pull "random" names out of when I decide to make a new character. Every now and then I will add newly "discovered" names to the list. And depending on my mood I may decide on a naming scheme (or theme).

Zebideedee · Aug 16, 2011, 10:45 PM // 22:45

You could use your p0rn star name. I seen this on tv a couple of days ago, apparently you make it buy having your first pets name (forename) then your mothers maiden name as the surname. Just an idea.

Star_Jewel · Aug 16, 2011, 10:52 PM // 22:52

Quote:

Originally Posted by Zebideedee

your first pets name (forename) then your mothers maiden name as the surname.

I thought it was pet's name + street you grew up on? I think you'd get a more exotic result that way. Unless you grew up on 7th Street or something.

Beliarchia Targon · Aug 17, 2011, 01:42 AM // 01:42

Based on what I see in game, you could spend an hour thinking of the stupidest name that you can possibly imagine - and it will still be less stupid than half of all characters' names.

Venganza · Aug 17, 2011, 02:03 AM // 02:03

Quote:

Originally Posted by Beliarchia Targon

Based on what I see in game, you could spend an hour thinking of the stupidest name that you can possibly imagine - and it will still be less stupid than half of all characters' names.

Well said.

It never ceases to amaze me that some people wish to be known as often utterly inane or downright idiotic names for all their GW careers.

Do try to put some thought into it won't you?

**cosyfiep** · Aug 17, 2011, 03:31 AM // 03:31

names.....you can use your favorite food, your favorite sport, your favorite .....

what are the names of your other characters--you could make one of them have a sibling...

do you have a hero? someone you look up to? a favorite actor/athlete.....and I could go on for THOUSANDS of pages.....

the only thing I would add:
dont make it a stupid name, people have been banned for stupidity.

Masseur · Aug 17, 2011, 06:37 AM // 06:37

I usually have Sage in my name so people recognize me and then something to do with the character. Like my Mesmer, Sage Mind Control (Illusion, etc...), Sage of all Forces (Ele), Cursed Sage (Nec), etc... Just a thought, though maybe without a name in it.

Gill Halendt · Aug 17, 2011, 08:43 AM // 08:43

I usually go for fictional, novel-like names. These names tend to appear neutral and out-of-time at first, but they usually betray the character's origins or some of their backstory. My female ranger, for example, has a soft spot for wolves, so her last name is Lovett, meaning "young wolf".

Canthan characters usually get chinese names suggested by my chinese partner. These names always have some meaning related to their physiognomy.

Frozen_Chips · Aug 17, 2011, 08:44 AM // 08:44

On a related note, I???d plead for everyone ??? for their sake as much as mine ??? to just bite the bullet and start afresh if a desired name is already taken. If ???Lord Deathblood??? was a lousy name to begin with, ???X Lord Deathblood X??? is even worse...

**Marty Silverblade** · Aug 17, 2011, 08:49 AM // 08:49

If I was really stuck, I'd jump straight onto a name website, but you said that didn't help you so here's what I normally do: pick a normal first name that I like or is from a book/movie/game/etc, then compound two profession specific words together. For example, Marty Silverblade, Ashin Mistdreamer.

HigherMinion · Aug 17, 2011, 09:44 AM // 09:44

Mine always had a pattern; generally some psychological disorder and "Minion" on the end.

gremlin · Aug 17, 2011, 09:57 AM // 09:57

My character names come from either books, I pinched some discworld names for 2.

From fantasy name generators of which there are many online that got me half a dozen character names I used.

Foreign baby name lists or name generators Japanese one for my assassin and a Tibetan one for my Monk

Myths when I did my paragon I used the name of a Valkyri

My mesmer was named after a famous Illusionist from the past

Sapho · Aug 17, 2011, 10:07 AM // 10:07

I kinda treat all my alts as a family, so they all have the surname "Feathers" (inherited from my WoW main - a Moonkin called Sapho, who I genuinely miss which is just weird).

So I guess my criteria are:
- surname to make them family
- forename that suits their class or their personality. It helps if you switch your brain into a slightly RP-ish mode. So my Necro is called Nocturne, which seemed appropriately gothy. My Dervish is Mistral (a type of wind).

I've been known to spend hours trying to come up with a name, but it really is worth making some effort. You're gonna be stuck with it. And I find it adds character to your character, so to speak. I don't RP, but each alt definitely has its own personality, and for me that does add a bit more life to the game.

Outerworld · Aug 17, 2011, 10:21 AM // 10:21

Quote:

Originally Posted by HigherMinion

Mine always had a pattern; generally some psychological disorder and "Minion" on the end.

Similar to this, I always go with "Outerworld" followed by something generic that relates to the profession itself. Far from creative, but it gets the job done.

HigherMinion · Aug 17, 2011, 12:00 PM // 12:00

Quote:

Originally Posted by gremlin

My character names come from either books, I pinched some discworld names for 2.

Too bad "Six Beneficient Winds" is too long

I'd snap that name up right away.

*Darcy* · Aug 17, 2011, 01:01 PM // 13:01

I started an extended family in the merchant/trader business so that the family would be widespread across the world. I picked a last name which most of my characters use and then picked first names from different languages based on their meaning. My characters are the restless younger generation who are not keen on the family business.

This method allows me to pick any first name I wish as the family name is not something another player would be using.

Godrik Gandolfi · Aug 17, 2011, 02:35 PM // 14:35

You could also find names from a hobby - I have an interest in photography and classic cameras, and named a few of my characters after famous brands of old camera - hence Godrik Gandolfi, named after a brand of large format view cameras rather than Tolkien's wizard. I also used the names Arbin Wista, Vizu Leica, Walker Titan for some of my heroes and alts. A friend of mine who also plays uses the names of diseases for his necro characters - such as E Bo La, Mel Area, Sister Somiasis etc

Aug 16, 2011, 09:52 PM // 21:52	#1
Fabian Torrent Academy Page Join Date: Jan 2011 Guild: Death With Dignity [DWD] Profession: E/	Character Names So I plan on making either a ranger or a necro, and I don't know what to name it, I use some Name websites and I don't find anything I like. so I was wondering, what websites do you guys use to find names? or do you create the names yourself?

Aug 17, 2011, 03:31 AM // 03:31	#9
cosyfiep are we there yet? Join Date: Dec 2005 Location: in a land far far away Guild: guild? I am supposed to have a guild? Profession: Rt/	names.....you can use your favorite food, your favorite sport, your favorite ..... what are the names of your other characters--you could make one of them have a sibling... do you have a hero? someone you look up to? a favorite actor/athlete.....and I could go on for THOUSANDS of pages..... the only thing I would add: dont make it a stupid name, people have been banned for stupidity. __________________ where is the 'all you can eat' cookie bar?

Aug 17, 2011, 08:49 AM // 08:49	#13
Marty Silverblade Administrator Join Date: Jun 2006	If I was really stuck, I'd jump straight onto a name website, but you said that didn't help you so here's what I normally do: pick a normal first name that I like or is from a book/movie/game/etc, then compound two profession specific words together. For example, Marty Silverblade, Ashin Mistdreamer. __________________

Aug 16, 2011, 10:23 PM // 22:23	#2
Star_Jewel Jungle Guide Join Date: Mar 2010 Location: Denizen of Tyria since Feb. 2009	A billion different sources for names. Try looking at the appearances at character creation -- sometimes a look can inspire you to imagine a personality or backstory; finding a name from there can be easy.

Aug 16, 2011, 10:28 PM // 22:28	#3
Prestige Frost Gate Guardian Join Date: Jul 2011 Location: Canada [GMT -5] Guild: Krazy Guild With Krazy People [KrZy] Profession: D/A	I love Chris/Prestige :P ! (Hey Fabian it's your favorite dervish !) You could always call it Fabian ''Put Random Adjective''...

Aug 16, 2011, 10:28 PM // 22:28	#4
davehall Lion's Arch Merchant Join Date: Nov 2005 Guild: NA Profession: W/Mo	Google is your friend. Personally, I keep a list of character names (first names / last names) that I pull "random" names out of when I decide to make a new character. Every now and then I will add newly "discovered" names to the list. And depending on my mood I may decide on a naming scheme (or theme).

Aug 16, 2011, 10:45 PM // 22:45	#5
Zebideedee Jungle Guide Join Date: Sep 2007 Location: 55?? 57' 0" N / 3?? 12' 0" W Profession: N/Me	You could use your p0rn star name. I seen this on tv a couple of days ago, apparently you make it buy having your first pets name (forename) then your mothers maiden name as the surname. Just an idea.

Aug 17, 2011, 01:42 AM // 01:42	#7
Beliarchia Targon Ascalonian Squire Join Date: Aug 2011 Profession: N/Mo	Based on what I see in game, you could spend an hour thinking of the stupidest name that you can possibly imagine - and it will still be less stupid than half of all characters' names.

Aug 17, 2011, 06:37 AM // 06:37	#10
Masseur Wilds Pathfinder Join Date: Dec 2005 Location: Southern California Profession: R/Mo	I usually have Sage in my name so people recognize me and then something to do with the character. Like my Mesmer, Sage Mind Control (Illusion, etc...), Sage of all Forces (Ele), Cursed Sage (Nec), etc... Just a thought, though maybe without a name in it.

Aug 17, 2011, 08:43 AM // 08:43	#11
Gill Halendt Desert Nomad Join Date: Mar 2008	I usually go for fictional, novel-like names. These names tend to appear neutral and out-of-time at first, but they usually betray the character's origins or some of their backstory. My female ranger, for example, has a soft spot for wolves, so her last name is Lovett, meaning "young wolf". Canthan characters usually get chinese names suggested by my chinese partner. These names always have some meaning related to their physiognomy.

Aug 17, 2011, 08:44 AM // 08:44	#12
Frozen_Chips Ascalonian Squire Join Date: Mar 2011	On a related note, I???d plead for everyone ??? for their sake as much as mine ??? to just bite the bullet and start afresh if a desired name is already taken. If ???Lord Deathblood??? was a lousy name to begin with, ???X Lord Deathblood X??? is even worse...

Aug 17, 2011, 09:44 AM // 09:44	#14
HigherMinion Forge Runner Join Date: May 2008 Location: East Anglia, UK Guild: Order of [Thay] Profession: N/	Mine always had a pattern; generally some psychological disorder and "Minion" on the end.

Aug 17, 2011, 09:57 AM // 09:57	#15
gremlin Furnace Stoker Join Date: Oct 2006 Guild: GWAR Profession: Me/Mo	My character names come from either books, I pinched some discworld names for 2. From fantasy name generators of which there are many online that got me half a dozen character names I used. Foreign baby name lists or name generators Japanese one for my assassin and a Tibetan one for my Monk Myths when I did my paragon I used the name of a Valkyri My mesmer was named after a famous Illusionist from the past

Aug 17, 2011, 10:07 AM // 10:07	#16
Sapho Ascalonian Squire Join Date: May 2011 Location: UK Profession: Me/R	I kinda treat all my alts as a family, so they all have the surname "Feathers" (inherited from my WoW main - a Moonkin called Sapho, who I genuinely miss which is just weird). So I guess my criteria are: - surname to make them family - forename that suits their class or their personality. It helps if you switch your brain into a slightly RP-ish mode. So my Necro is called Nocturne, which seemed appropriately gothy. My Dervish is Mistral (a type of wind). I've been known to spend hours trying to come up with a name, but it really is worth making some effort. You're gonna be stuck with it. And I find it adds character to your character, so to speak. I don't RP, but each alt definitely has its own personality, and for me that does add a bit more life to the game.

Aug 17, 2011, 01:01 PM // 13:01	#19
Darcy Never Too Old Join Date: Jul 2006 Location: Rhode Island where there are no GW contests Guild: Order of First Profession: W/R	I started an extended family in the merchant/trader business so that the family would be widespread across the world. I picked a last name which most of my characters use and then picked first names from different languages based on their meaning. My characters are the restless younger generation who are not keen on the family business. This method allows me to pick any first name I wish as the family name is not something another player would be using.

Aug 17, 2011, 02:35 PM // 14:35	#20
Godrik Gandolfi Frost Gate Guardian Join Date: Mar 2011 Location: Canterbury, UK Guild: The Path Least Travelled Profession: W/	You could also find names from a hobby - I have an interest in photography and classic cameras, and named a few of my characters after famous brands of old camera - hence Godrik Gandolfi, named after a brand of large format view cameras rather than Tolkien's wizard. I also used the names Arbin Wista, Vizu Leica, Walker Titan for some of my heroes and alts. A friend of mine who also plays uses the names of diseases for his necro characters - such as E Bo La, Mel Area, Sister Somiasis etc