I wanna make a gnome who is like super duper rich and I like the idea of them having a bazillion names (or 5?) got any advice?
Names for other races are welcome too if you have any fun ideas, I'm always making characters.
Bumpity Bump Bump
The classic name/title for a rich and powerful person of gnomish stature would be Mr. Big.
Maximillion Quintius Archengold XIII Esq.
| 2 people marked this as a favorite. |
Gnorman, Gneil, Gnathan, Gnatasha, Gnatalie, Gnancy.
Gnorman, Gneil, Gnathan, Gnatasha, Gnatalie, Gnancy.
these are good gnames
| 1 person marked this as a favorite. |
One way that I make gnome names more fun is to remember that names have meaning. In Gnomish culture, almost any event can be celebrated with a name, and significant events can become familiar history and passed down as names. So a gnome might have a dozen names, all of which actually mean something, and writing a name is writing a backstory.
Here are some examples, taken from real-world culture. (Bonus points for the people who can tell me which cultures the customs are from....)
Gnomes are usually given "milk names" at birth, the names of recently-dead relatives, so if the Angel of Death needs to take the life of "Quintius Archengold," he will be confused by the fact that he just collected Quintius only a year ago, and spare the child. Once a child is old enough to join the church, she is given a confirmation name, usually related to some aspect of the divine (as a protective charm). When a gnome becomes an adult, she will take yet another (self-chosen) name, which is what she is usually called by her friends. In addition, most gnomes have one or more epithets or nicknames related to events in their pasts (for example, after a particularly unsuccessful -- or successful -- incident at the forge, a gnome might become known as "Ishkabibble Firebeard.")
Almost all gnomes have six familial names - a parental name (usually but not always the father's self-chose name followed by a suffix equivalent to "-son" or "-dottir"), plus the family names (of both the father and mother (usually with the one of higher status last). In addition, families are grouped into clans of related families and "houses" of related clans -- family names are usually related to a a traditional profession (e.g, "Gardner" or its equivalent), while houses take their name from a legendary founding hero. A married gnome of either sex will often take one of the familial names of his/her spouse as well. Many gnomes have locatives as well, explaining where they come from.
Most gnomes who practice a trade have an honorific title (like "Doctor") and many have a trade name under which they actually practice their trade (you don't think that it says "Sting" on his birth certificate, do you?). Most gnomish authors use pen names when they publish. Finally, most Bleachlings will renounce their names and take a single name as part of their new life.
And, of course, any or all of these names might be given or inherited in any language.
So we might get a gnome named something like
Magister Lokoumades Eleazar Amtiel Fafhrdsson Xanthisson Holodwer Taylor-Geltmann Florianopolous Oxoniensis of House Martel
Breaking it down (again, these are based on real languages and customs, bonus points for deciphering)
Magister -- traditional honorific for a spellcaster
Lokoumades -- self chosen name
Grasscutter -- epithet from a previous adventure
Eleazar -- milk name, after grandfather Eleazar
Amtiel -- confirmation name, meaning "truth of God"
Fafhrdsson Xanthisson -- parents were named Fafhrd and Xanthis
Holodwer -- married to Holod
Taylor-Geltmann -- Father's family are traditionally tailors, mother's are bankers (and v. wealthy indeed)
Florianopolous -- of the city of Florian
Oxoniensis -- in the district of Oxford
of House Martel -- and a member of House Martel (named after a famous warrior several millennia ago)
Of course, his friends and family call him Lokoumades or Grasscutter. He signs his checks as Lokoumades Xanthisson. Professionally, as a wizard, he goes by 'The Great and Powerful Gazoo."
Gnorman, Gneil, Gnathan, Gnatasha, Gnatalie, Gnancy.
You sir are truly a genius
Also
@Grandlounge - I will definitly be stealing that line xD.
and finally @Orfamay Quest - WOW thats brilliant xD
Okay so this is what I'm working on
Veiled, Goldus, Glintsnatch, Milk Name, King, Speckleson, Glindason, Tinker, Weaver, City name, District Name, of the house of The Lantern King.
Okay so
Veild -- honorific to denote illusionist and trickster
Goldus -- self chosen name
Glintsnatch -- epithet from a previous adventure
Missing -- milk name
King -- As in Lantern King, an Eldest
Speckleson Glindason -- parents were named Speckle and Glinder
Not married
Tinker - weaver -- Father is tinkerer, mother is weaver
blank -- of the city of blank
blank -- in the district of blank
House of the Lantern King.
Who would introduce himself as The Veiled Goldus I (as in pronounced eye) but meaning first, of a line he plans to sire.