In ye olde times, I'd use a phone book and switch letters around a bit to make them sound fantasy-ish but plausible. Nowadays, I'd probably do the same with a baby name webpage. I was never big on names like Ethilwyne Nightstarbird or Grong, Son of Gorrr. I also used to make note of cool sounding names I'd come across.
Alternatively, you could just hit the keyboard and then edit:
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I usually take a syllable from a word relating to the character, and jumble stuff to fit around it in my head until it sounds good. I have one druid NPC, she is little, wears some blue, and happy. I came up with Soppy Aquarius. It just sounded adorable, the water and blue seemed to fit, and her last name came from the water part.
I don't have a method per-say, since I do just think of random things usually, but to me at least, I think the names I make up sound appropriate.
I usually use names or words from different languages. Like maybe German names for dwarves and French names for elves.
I do this as well! Mapping real world languages to fantasy languages works really well. Toss in Google Translate, and you can translate whole paragraphs of "Common" into "Orcish" ( although typically I streamline and simplify the pronunciation and spelling ).
The next step would be to flip it all into an appropriate font, and now you have written text in fantasy languages.
It's not Tolkien level work, nor even Conlang level work - but it's good enough for an RPG.
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I got bored, looked up the most popular names in different cultures, collected them in to a spreadsheet, and then made a random generator. I did the same with surnames, and the prefix/suffixes that go along with them. I also added a number of titles, such as sir, mrs., king, or princess.
However, if you're not of a mind to do that much work, it's much easier just to look up names using a name website and print off a few pages.
I usually use archaic versions of names or common but foreign names.
My "samurai's" name for example is : Katarina von Silberbaum Siegwaerdstochter bei Anna-Maria vom Wald, Markgräfin Altmark and she says it out full pretty much she meets anyone worth introducing herself to. Her tressym pet (she actually doesn't like cats, so ... uh... it's an involuntary pet) is named Karl-Heinz. I think there is a Gustaf in her backstory. So, clearly, German themed: Katarina, Siegwaerd, Anna-Maria, Karl-Heinz, Gustaf. I had another NPC called Birgitte.
Otherwise, I have a character whose (pseudo)name is Barnibus Willoughsby (A form of Barney), you might also see Chadwick or Percival, Eustice, Bernard, Wilberforce, Hudson, Malcolm, Reginald-- generally British sounding names.
So, I just give them ... normal names, as long as they sound exotic to a native 21st century English Speaker. Unless I choose to break that rule. For example, I just wrote an NPC this week named "Sam". But even naming him that makes him even more unusual than he already is. I mean, there are enough characters with invented names that are difficult to remember.
For Elvish names, I use Parf Edhellen. Just put in bits and pieces of words you want in your character's name, and pick and choose syllables to put together. If you are a Tolkien purist, you can pay attention to the warning that says not to combine Quenya and Sindarin (etc) words together, but if you just want elfy sounding names, grab anything you want and smack it together.
For example, one of the words for Badger is Oryat, one of the words for black is Morco, so you can make a character named Morcoryat (Black Badger.)
Edeleth Treesong (Aldalire) WoodElf Druid lvl 8 Talaveroth Sub 2 Last Tree StandingTabaxi Ranger, Chef and Hoardsperson lvl 5, Company of the Dragon Team 1 Choir Kenku Cleric, Tempest Domain, lvl 11, Descent Into Avernus Test Drive Poinki Goblin Paladin, Redemption, lvl 5, Tales from Talaveroth Lyrika Nyx Satyr Bard lvl 1, The Six Kingdoms of Talia
Personally, when I create NPC's I try to give them a particular trait or feature that makes them memorable. Then for the name, I use google translate. Let's say I have a desert caravan that is lead by a striking beautiful but cruel woman. since it is a desert i will choose a language that fits in this case Arabic Beautiful in Arabic is Jamila and Cruel is Qasy. this is now a unique and appropriate name, Jamila Qasy. It's grounded in reality which keeps me from coming up with anything too crazy or unpronounceable and makes sure I don't end up with names all sounding similar. This example works perfectly but sometimes you'll need to play with it a bit. but its never too difficult.
I usually take inspiration from literature, whether it's Tolkien or a D&D sourcebook or whatever. But I make sure to drop in a casual Bob, Hank, or Larry just to get my players off guard. And as predicted, it is that mundane Bob that my players actually love and they want to adopt them
I usually use https://www.fantasynamegenerators.com/ But I also sometimes use latin versions with simplified pronunciations/spellings, e.g. fire wizard --> Venecous Igneo
Names are important in any world/campaign. My world is not just a version of Medieval Europe, populated with people named John, Thomas, or Alice. So, long ago I created a google doc with just names. Whenever I hear a cool name, I stop what I'm doing and add it to the doc. I do the same with landscape images, and battle maps.
I just fit in the name with the person I am naming it, for example I have a neutral evil Dragonborn rouge and I name him Salazar Blackfang.
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“And the Lord spake, saying, 'First shalt thou take out the Holy Pin. Then, shalt thou count to three, no more, no less. Three shall be the number thou shalt count, and the number of the counting shall be three. Four shalt thou not count, nor either count thou two, excepting that thou then proceed to three. Five is right out! Once the number three, being the third number, be reached, then lobbest thou thy Holy Hand Grenade of Antioch towards thou foe, who being naughty in my sight, shall snuff it.'"
I have a file where I record names that I like. My latest addition is based on the Chariots of Fire musician, Vangelis. Others are names I've found in various literature, or corruptions thereof.
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I've been writing my adventure for a while now and the hardest thing for me is coming up with names for NPCs.
How do you come up with names?
In ye olde times, I'd use a phone book and switch letters around a bit to make them sound fantasy-ish but plausible. Nowadays, I'd probably do the same with a baby name webpage. I was never big on names like Ethilwyne Nightstarbird or Grong, Son of Gorrr. I also used to make note of cool sounding names I'd come across.
Alternatively, you could just hit the keyboard and then edit:
tadoijsfn = Tadoji Sifen
wrijm = Wori Joom
I use behind the name. I search by meaning and find names that fit characters based on that.
https://www.fantasynamegenerators.com/
They have literally 100s of name generators for all aspects of a Fantasy setting
My DM Philosophy, as summed up by other people: https://drive.google.com/file/d/1rN5w4-azTq3Kbn0Yvk9nfqQhwQ1R5by1/view
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That’s what I use too!
Professional computer geek
I usually take a syllable from a word relating to the character, and jumble stuff to fit around it in my head until it sounds good. I have one druid NPC, she is little, wears some blue, and happy. I came up with Soppy Aquarius. It just sounded adorable, the water and blue seemed to fit, and her last name came from the water part.
I don't have a method per-say, since I do just think of random things usually, but to me at least, I think the names I make up sound appropriate.
I usually use names or words from different languages. Like maybe German names for dwarves and French names for elves.
I do this as well! Mapping real world languages to fantasy languages works really well. Toss in Google Translate, and you can translate whole paragraphs of "Common" into "Orcish" ( although typically I streamline and simplify the pronunciation and spelling ).
The next step would be to flip it all into an appropriate font, and now you have written text in fantasy languages.
It's not Tolkien level work, nor even Conlang level work - but it's good enough for an RPG.
However, https://www.fantasynamegenerators.com/ usually has a name generator for most of the languages I use.
My DM Philosophy, as summed up by other people: https://drive.google.com/file/d/1rN5w4-azTq3Kbn0Yvk9nfqQhwQ1R5by1/view
Disclaimer: This signature is a badge of membership in the Forum Loudmouth Club. We are all friends. We are not attacking each other. We are engaging in spirited, friendly debate with one another. We may get snarky, but these are not attacks. Thank you for not reporting us.
I got bored, looked up the most popular names in different cultures, collected them in to a spreadsheet, and then made a random generator. I did the same with surnames, and the prefix/suffixes that go along with them. I also added a number of titles, such as sir, mrs., king, or princess.
However, if you're not of a mind to do that much work, it's much easier just to look up names using a name website and print off a few pages.
I usually use archaic versions of names or common but foreign names.
My "samurai's" name for example is : Katarina von Silberbaum Siegwaerdstochter bei Anna-Maria vom Wald, Markgräfin Altmark and she says it out full pretty much she meets anyone worth introducing herself to. Her tressym pet (she actually doesn't like cats, so ... uh... it's an involuntary pet) is named Karl-Heinz. I think there is a Gustaf in her backstory. So, clearly, German themed: Katarina, Siegwaerd, Anna-Maria, Karl-Heinz, Gustaf. I had another NPC called Birgitte.
Otherwise, I have a character whose (pseudo)name is Barnibus Willoughsby (A form of Barney), you might also see Chadwick or Percival, Eustice, Bernard, Wilberforce, Hudson, Malcolm, Reginald-- generally British sounding names.
So, I just give them ... normal names, as long as they sound exotic to a native 21st century English Speaker. Unless I choose to break that rule. For example, I just wrote an NPC this week named "Sam". But even naming him that makes him even more unusual than he already is. I mean, there are enough characters with invented names that are difficult to remember.
Fantasy generators (linked earlier in this thread) and seventhsanctum.com, especially for ship names and organizations and the like.
My Homebrew Backgrounds | Feats | Magic Items | Monsters | Races | Subclasses
For Elvish names, I use Parf Edhellen. Just put in bits and pieces of words you want in your character's name, and pick and choose syllables to put together. If you are a Tolkien purist, you can pay attention to the warning that says not to combine Quenya and Sindarin (etc) words together, but if you just want elfy sounding names, grab anything you want and smack it together.
For example, one of the words for Badger is Oryat, one of the words for black is Morco, so you can make a character named Morcoryat (Black Badger.)
Edeleth Treesong (Aldalire) Wood Elf Druid lvl 8 Talaveroth Sub 2
Last Tree Standing Tabaxi Ranger, Chef and Hoardsperson lvl 5, Company of the Dragon Team 1
Choir Kenku Cleric, Tempest Domain, lvl 11, Descent Into Avernus Test Drive
Poinki Goblin Paladin, Redemption, lvl 5, Tales from Talaveroth
Lyrika Nyx Satyr Bard lvl 1, The Six Kingdoms of Talia
Personally, when I create NPC's I try to give them a particular trait or feature that makes them memorable. Then for the name, I use google translate. Let's say I have a desert caravan that is lead by a striking beautiful but cruel woman. since it is a desert i will choose a language that fits in this case Arabic Beautiful in Arabic is Jamila and Cruel is Qasy. this is now a unique and appropriate name, Jamila Qasy. It's grounded in reality which keeps me from coming up with anything too crazy or unpronounceable and makes sure I don't end up with names all sounding similar. This example works perfectly but sometimes you'll need to play with it a bit. but its never too difficult.
Go to a biology type book that lists the scientific and common names of something.
Go to a foreign language dictionary, you can even have a group all have the same name, but as each is in a different language, they all are different.
I usually take inspiration from literature, whether it's Tolkien or a D&D sourcebook or whatever. But I make sure to drop in a casual Bob, Hank, or Larry just to get my players off guard. And as predicted, it is that mundane Bob that my players actually love and they want to adopt them
I usually use https://www.fantasynamegenerators.com/ But I also sometimes use latin versions with simplified pronunciations/spellings, e.g. fire wizard --> Venecous Igneo
Names are important in any world/campaign. My world is not just a version of Medieval Europe, populated with people named John, Thomas, or Alice. So, long ago I created a google doc with just names. Whenever I hear a cool name, I stop what I'm doing and add it to the doc. I do the same with landscape images, and battle maps.
Started playing AD&D in the late 70s, took a 40 year hiatus, re-started with 3.5 and 5e in 2023
Hey, I kinda like Grong, son of Gorr
Think I'll use it
I just fit in the name with the person I am naming it, for example I have a neutral evil Dragonborn rouge and I name him Salazar Blackfang.
“And the Lord spake, saying, 'First shalt thou take out the Holy Pin. Then, shalt thou count to three, no more, no less. Three shall be the number thou shalt count, and the number of the counting shall be three. Four shalt thou not count, nor either count thou two, excepting that thou then proceed to three. Five is right out! Once the number three, being the third number, be reached, then lobbest thou thy Holy Hand Grenade of Antioch towards thou foe, who being naughty in my sight, shall snuff it.'"
I have a file where I record names that I like. My latest addition is based on the Chariots of Fire musician, Vangelis. Others are names I've found in various literature, or corruptions thereof.