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Local Authors => Reading Excuses => Topic started by: Revast on February 13, 2009, 07:52:13 PM

Title: Names names, I need more names.
Post by: Revast on February 13, 2009, 07:52:13 PM: I realize you all haven't seen much of my story so far (not even the first chapter yet lol). But I have reached a point where I need to flush out the structure of clan government I'm creating.

Things to consider.

When you reach a point in the clan where you are considered a warrior, not just a boy playing at war, you are given a name. The naming is not in some big ceremony, nor is it always a great name. It is most often just a description that stands out to the other members of the clan.

Example character:

Tracker - He is a scout. Someone who is able to avoid being scene by others while spying.
Smiley - He's a rascal, an uncouth fellow. As such he smile's a lot, even when he's scared out of his mind.
Red Hat - Always wears a red hat.
Earless - He's actually a rather brutal looking man. Scars, missing fingers, teeth, etc... but well he doesn't have Ears.
Talker - He never says much. A sarcastic name.
Whisper - Battle wound crushed his throat. He can hardly speak, but when he does it is at a barely audible volume.

Many of these characters have very minor roles, some have very large roles. And strange as it may sound I am having difficulty coming up with more of them that I really like.

So if you wouldn't mind helping me I would appreciate it. If you want to, please just list any names you think are good, or funny, or vicious, or whatever. If you want to tell me what you think a good reason they could have gotten the name would be, please feel free to do so.

Thanks :)
Title: Re: Names names, I need more names.
Post by: maxonennis on February 13, 2009, 07:58:21 PM: I take names I like and mess with the sounds until I come up with something I like.
Title: Re: Names names, I need more names.
Post by: Necroben on February 13, 2009, 08:12:11 PM: Walker-- walks really far-- longshanks
Prickly-- rather argumentative, or weird hair.
Thorn-- wrong end of an argument with a thorn bush.
Stick-- really skinny.
Lefty-- missing right limb, or favors left hand.
Scar-- prominent scar on face or body.
Peg leg-- missing leg.

You may want to look at some Native American names to get some more ideas.
Title: Re: Names names, I need more names.
Post by: Revast on February 13, 2009, 09:13:05 PM: Quote from: maxonennis on February 13, 2009, 07:58:21 PM
I take names I like and mess with the sounds until I come up with something I like.

Ya, I do similar things with other characters who are not part of this clan group. It's a cultural thing. The name isn't just a name, but more of a description.
Title: Re: Names names, I need more names.
Post by: Shaggy on February 15, 2009, 04:29:37 PM: Shadow– shady kind of guy, maybe a spy. [like the rhyme? :P]
Arrow– sharpshooter.
Two-Face– had accident (fire?)–half of face is burned /or\ was a thief/criminal already, and scammed people [like Camon in
Mistborn], so he did a lot of disguised work
Leaf-Burner (or just Burner)– was an arsonist before; fascination with fires. (maybe there was a story, like the clan found him [I don't
know if this would work with your story] because he was burning leaves in the forest and they saw the light, so they took him)
Bull– really big guy (strong), kind of like one big muscle.

That's all I have for now. If you want, more will come later on.
Title: Re: Names names, I need more names.
Post by: Rane on February 16, 2009, 03:18:12 PM: Colon Cleanser-A really bad cook
Title: Re: Names names, I need more names.
Post by: Karl on February 18, 2009, 04:58:00 PM: Sometimes names given to people weren't exactly descriptive of their talents, and were sarcastic.

Historically, Charles the Bald wasn't. Neither was Phillip the Fair (as in good looking).

Also consider the classic mafia names: Tony 'the nose' Garabaldi. John 'the iceman' Rigerio. These are made up, but I'm sure you could ask Mr. Wiki about other real names.

When I was young I was in the Y Indian Guides. My brother's Indian name was Whirling Thunder, my dad's was Sleeping Bear and mine was Silver Tongue.
Title: Re: Names names, I need more names.
Post by: Shaggy on February 19, 2009, 01:16:55 AM: Don't use 'Silver Tongue.' 'Silvertongue' is a name in a series already. (A published series. Obviously.)
Title: Re: Names names, I need more names.
Post by: Karl on February 19, 2009, 04:59:23 PM: Quote from: Shaggy on February 19, 2009, 01:16:55 AM
Don't use 'Silver Tongue.' 'Silvertongue' is a name in a series already. (A published series. Obviously.)

Batch of copycats! I should sue them!!
Title: Re: Names names, I need more names.
Post by: Shaggy on February 19, 2009, 10:40:51 PM: Ummm…why??
Title: Re: Names names, I need more names.
Post by: Karl on February 20, 2009, 06:44:39 AM: Quote from: Shaggy on February 19, 2009, 10:40:51 PM
Ummm…why??

Unless the book you cite is more than 35 years old, my name was Silver Tongue first!

Besides, I wouldn't be much of a US citizen if I wasn't fond of extraneous lawsuits, now would I?
Title: Re: Names names, I need more names.
Post by: Shaggy on February 21, 2009, 03:10:57 PM: Oh, you actually had it printed in a book?? Like a real published one??
Title: Re: Names names, I need more names.
Post by: Karl on February 23, 2009, 08:49:40 AM: I'm sure it's documented somewhere! That's for the lawyers to hash out.
Title: Re: Names names, I need more names.
Post by: Karl on February 23, 2009, 08:52:34 AM: Actually, they could avoid the lengthy legal battle if they simply wanted to lease my name from me. Showering me in hundred dollar bills would persuade me to drop the litigation. I'm not a difficult person to deal with.
Title: Re: Names names, I need more names.
Post by: Shaggy on February 23, 2009, 11:37:58 PM: Yeahh…or they could just use it anyways and make millions of dollars on the books.
Title: Re: Names names, I need more names.
Post by: Flo_the_G on February 24, 2009, 12:48:25 AM: Quote from: Karl Montoya on February 23, 2009, 08:52:34 AM
I'm not a difficult person to deal with.
True, I'm willing to testify as a character witness. That naturally has nothing at all to do with the possibility of my potentially receiving the tiniest trickle of your dollar bill-shower.
Title: Re: Names names, I need more names.
Post by: Rane on February 25, 2009, 01:56:55 AM: This could all be settled by the whole space in the middle thing. If you ever decided to actually use Silver Tongue in writing, documentation that it was used before that would be legal protection.
Title: Re: Names names, I need more names.
Post by: Shaggy on February 28, 2009, 10:26:12 PM: Which means that we have wasted several days discussing this. Great.