So I was working on a backstory for a new character (half-elf) that was left on the steps of the temple of Oghma in Waterdeep as an infant and ended up being raised by a human high priest. Anyway, my question is regarding the naming of said baby. Naturally they would give him a first name, every person needs a name after all, but what about a last name? Under the circumstances they don't know what his family surname would have been. What do you think would have been a common naming practice for nameless orphans in a city like Waterdeep? I thought about maybe having the priest make up a last name for him that references his mixed blood, but I'm having some major writer's block. Any advice would be much appreciated!
Are there existing naming traditions regarding not knowing parentage?
In "bastard" situations in a particular, popular medieval fantasy series, they had rules for naming the kids even though the parentage is known. Supposedly, this was built upon real world history, but I haven't looked into it personally.
Why not have some kind of local tradition regarding children without known parentage such as how they were discovered and/or by whom? An abandoned baby by the river taken in by bakers could be Watertart or something... and eventually throw swords at people as a basis of government.
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Human. Male. Possibly. Don't be a divider. My characters' backgrounds are written like instruction manuals rather than stories. My opinion and preferences don't mean you're wrong. I am 99.7603% convinced that the digital dice are messing with me. I roll high when nobody's looking and low when anyone else can see.🎲 “It's a bit early to be thinking about an epitaph. No?” will be my epitaph.
I use the "Snow" approach. If there's an orphan with no known familial ties or lineage, give them a generic name. In the case for one of my characters, her last name is more an indication of the views her temple has on the parents--"Targin" roughly translates to "betrayed", as in an orphaned child is betrayed by their caretakers.
Now: I as the creator do not share the implications of this view. But autorial perspective doesn't have to match with the world they're creating.
One approach I used; the orphan never knew their parentage, and co-opted the name directed at her by teasing of the other kids. She owned the name, and that is her; not what anyone else calls her. And she doesn't use a last name, because she doesn't identify with a family. If she were to get married she might have to think on it.
Other cultures (some Native American tribes) gave you a name at birth, and they would choose a name at adulthood. Others assign adult names as well. (don't ask me which ones)
They also could take the approach of say [First name] the [descriptor here] instead.
So I was working on a backstory for a new character (half-elf) that was left on the steps of the temple of Oghma in Waterdeep as an infant and ended up being raised by a human high priest. Anyway, my question is regarding the naming of said baby. Naturally they would give him a first name, every person needs a name after all, but what about a last name? Under the circumstances they don't know what his family surname would have been. What do you think would have been a common naming practice for nameless orphans in a city like Waterdeep? I thought about maybe having the priest make up a last name for him that references his mixed blood, but I'm having some major writer's block. Any advice would be much appreciated!
If they were truly adopted by the priest, as opposed to just being taken in, I'd say the character should share the priest's last name.
Are there existing naming traditions regarding not knowing parentage?
In "bastard" situations in a particular, popular medieval fantasy series, they had rules for naming the kids even though the parentage is known. Supposedly, this was built upon real world history, but I haven't looked into it personally.
Why not have some kind of local tradition regarding children without known parentage such as how they were discovered and/or by whom? An abandoned baby by the river taken in by bakers could be Watertart or something... and eventually throw swords at people as a basis of government.
Human. Male. Possibly. Don't be a divider.
My characters' backgrounds are written like instruction manuals rather than stories. My opinion and preferences don't mean you're wrong.
I am 99.7603% convinced that the digital dice are messing with me. I roll high when nobody's looking and low when anyone else can see.🎲
“It's a bit early to be thinking about an epitaph. No?” will be my epitaph.
Thanks guys! You've both given me some great ideas to play with. I can't get Watertart out of my head now lol.
I use the "Snow" approach. If there's an orphan with no known familial ties or lineage, give them a generic name. In the case for one of my characters, her last name is more an indication of the views her temple has on the parents--"Targin" roughly translates to "betrayed", as in an orphaned child is betrayed by their caretakers.
Now: I as the creator do not share the implications of this view. But autorial perspective doesn't have to match with the world they're creating.
One approach I used; the orphan never knew their parentage, and co-opted the name directed at her by teasing of the other kids. She owned the name, and that is her; not what anyone else calls her. And she doesn't use a last name, because she doesn't identify with a family. If she were to get married she might have to think on it.
Other cultures (some Native American tribes) gave you a name at birth, and they would choose a name at adulthood. Others assign adult names as well. (don't ask me which ones)
They also could take the approach of say [First name] the [descriptor here] instead.