In English, most names that "sound right" have one or two syllable first names, and one or two syllable surnames.
In other languages, names tend to be longer or shorter.
Here are the names I've used recently:
Nasir al-Mardani (Starsoul bloodline sorcerer)
Agda Haskell (Paladin. Name is a very obscure pun.)
Azar Varthuun
Corben Senjak
Neve Pardell (First name is "Nehv")
Grabthar the Elder
Brokethegm Steeltusk. (The first name is pronounced "Brok-a-thame")
Take the ingredients list from a processed food product. Write down the ingredients backwards. See if anything sounds attractive.
Don't feel like you need to come up with something outlandish.
If you want a little flavor you can take normal names and just swap them to more archaic sounding. Ex: Michael becomes Mikael (Mi-kay-el).
Or just think of something that sounds kind of like something their race would use.
Ex: Half-Orcs I've always pictured as having very guttural sounding names, heavy on phlegm an growl. SO I named my Half-Orc Monk Navorak. Probably a terrible name in the specific sense but I think it gets the point across.
And the foreign name thing is always an option.
Take a word. Dragon.
Change a Letter. Eragon!
If it is good enough for a bestseller fantasy book and the corresponding movie it sould be good enough for roleplaying ;)
I have this problem where I hate every character name I come up with that isn't Paul or Geoffrey or some other name that actually exists.
Actually, those are very old, traditional names. So they should fit just fine in a medieval themed fantasy game.
Also, keep in mind that character names should not sound strange to the characters in the setting, so what is wrong with using real world names.
What naming systems do people use and how do you get over the inherent cringe factor of making up your own names for your characters?
Often I like to use a baby naming website for character names. I try to approximate the culture of the area to a real world equivalent.
For example with your Kitsune, I would look at actual Japanese names.
If you DO use a pun-name, please, for the sanity and play-immersion of the other players at the table, make it subtle.
Two of the names in my earlier post are mildly pun-names. Most people never catch the puns when I say the names at the table.
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Here's how I name characters:
Method 1 - One Letter Method
Take a real name and then change one letter. Vowels should stay vowels, consonants should remain consonants.
Let's try with Adam.
Adam.
Edam.
Alam.
Adem.
Adax.
To generate lastnames I almost always choose compound words, particularly ones that relate to a race.
An elf would be Edam Starsong.
A dwarf would be Alam Grogbeard.
A human would be Adem Smith.
A half-orc would be Adax Bloodrage.
Method 2 - Puns!
Be careful with puns, be subtle where possible. Some pun characters I've played:
Hollow Graves (Human Necromancer)
Ash Q'Asheem (Human Summoner) and his Eidolon Sharumander. (Legacy of Fire)
Two of the names in my earlier post are mildly pun-names.
And one is a Galaxy Quest reference, I assume.
What I have dome once or twice was using the names of stuff that was lying around but turned around.
Like Aloc (Cola).
Another example of something I have just here: Lohtnem (Menthol) Snobnob (Bonbon)
Not everything works well but sometimes nice names result.
Hmm, baby name websites and the culture I used as inspiration is how I name my PC/NPC(s).
That said I have a list of 12 names that I put in various orders for all my PC's. Though nothing beats randomly rolling and getting Fayt Grave.
Heck, use the explanation of Why the Native Americans commonly took European names. It makes it easier to travel amongst them.
For Japanese names I always look up manga/anime characters...
That reminds me. I have a Lycanthrope Rogue named Connor Kenway. We played the game with him the day before I learned the name of Assassin Creed III's protagonist.
Since I didn't see it mentioned yet, I like using this site.
Go to Kate Monk's Onomastikon.
[url]www.behindthename.com[/url]was the broken link from before.
This is actually a great resource that I use all the time:
Literally contains thousands of male & female names (and their meanings) from history and culture... I'll often use them straight from here or bastardise them with slightly more fantasy flavoured spellings/letter choices.
As for surnames once I've settled on a characters first name, I'll go hunting for words I associate with them in the chosen language...
My Rovagite antipaladin character Albrekt Wreth is a prime example;
Wreth is Old Saxon/Frisian for anger or evil... sums him up nicely!
I like to watch movie credits for interesting names. Check it out sometime. I can always find a few, jot them down, then I just log them in a spreadsheet for later use.
Looking at author names in book list always works for me also.
I'm always typing a cool name into my handy phone's notes area whenever I run across one.
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I tend to prefer short names. Fantasy names only get frustrating when you don't know how to spell it upon hearing it or pronounce it based on reading it.
Alexander Whitestone
Ume Lynn
Elizabeth Hamilton
Miranu Pinak
Anna McDougal
Sen Picnic
Lance
Iriedove Hollysword (Always shortened to Irie)
Adair Moonfire
Krisdove Hollysword (Always shortened to Kris)
Inaba Pegason
Naan
Another obscure resource is the Treasury of Archaic Names from Judges Guild. You might try looking for it at NobleKnightGames.com.
I understand your problem, because some fantasy names are really, really bad. Here are some of the methods I have used.
Names that resemble real world. Jonathan becomes Jarnathan. Caitlin becomes Azalyn. I "created" Ali K'shenta. Ali is obviously real, while K'shenta is obviously not. Brother Thadeod, which is recycled from the former Brother Thadeus.
Use a gaming book! I used the 3.5 Races of Stone book to piece together the dwarven name Glorivard. Odd name for a part-time necromancer. Telfin Greenbottle and Zook Garrick were both from PHs.
Real world. I have played characters named Patrick - which I decided was appropriate for a one-off as a minotaur - and Norman B Page - which I picked from a phone book. Some of my favorites in earlier editions were Buck and Stalin the Burly.
Joke names. My first 4th edition character was named Shi'thead, but the joke was used to death in a mere two sessions by another player. My current is Noe.
I borrowed Pip, obviously, from Tolkien, but I'm sure he didn't make it up either.
Then there are legitimate fantasy names. If you're willing to put some actual thought into these can end up as the best ones. Sevros Elfsplitter was one of my favorites.
Two of the names in my earlier post are mildly pun-names.And one is a Galaxy Quest reference, I assume.
Nope. Never seen the movie.
One of the Basic methods is to add accents and switch up the pronunciation of the name.
Give your character the same name as you have. Even if you hate it, you've probably gotten used to it by now.
Two of the names in my earlier post are mildly pun-names.And one is a Galaxy Quest reference, I assume.
By Grabthar's Hammer...what a savings...
Remember that many names historically come from some pretty interesting origins.
Take Azaelas Fayth. Where do you think it is from my head or some real life name?