It just occurred to me that since lots of real-life names are derived from gods and other religious figures, it would be plausible for something similar to happen on Golarion. I remember reading a lore tidbit about how orphanages give children they take in Cailean as a surname, but I was wondering whether were any other cases, particularly for first names. (In particular, I think Asmodeus being the #1 boy name in Cheliax would be hilarious)
| 3 people marked this as a favorite. |
I would guess derivations thereof are more likely, to avoid outright blasphemy. Asmodeon, Parasmo, Modéu, Asmodellius. I don't think many people ever named their kid "Zeus," but compounds that shake out to "Honored by Zeus" or something were fairly common.
Naming kids after prominent servitors of the gods, in the vein of Michael and Gabriel and so on being biblical angels, would probably also be common. Those Heralds that have given names and not weird titles are probably pretty common among the children of worshippers: Basileus in Cheliax, Thais for Caydenite girls, Thalachos in Kelesh.
Creative Director
|
| 3 people marked this as a favorite. |
It's maybe a fun idea for a PC, but it's an awful idea for print. While in the real world there's plenty of duplicate names (I don't know that there's been a Paizo with only one James working at it since MAYBE the early 2000s), in fiction, it looks like a mistake. We try hard to avoid it, and when we forget (like when I used a favored villain name from my homebrew, "Staunton Vhane", accidentally both as the name of the Forever Man under Magnimar and then again as the major character in "Wrath of the Righteous") it looks like a mistake and/or makes people think the NPCs are related by blood, when they're not.
I love the idea -- one of my favorite PCs, who grew up in a cult of Groetus, is named Rova -- but it just doesn't work in published content.
|
Creative Director
|
| 2 people marked this as a favorite. |
The character I played in Jim Butler's campaign back in the late 90s was a spider-obsessed druid named "Ruvagog." Which at the time, naming him after "Rovagug" was more of an inside joke for me and the one other friend in that campaign who had played in my homebrew game back in college. Wonder what late 90s James would think about that inside joke becoming an outside joke? Or that his GM would one day be his boss? TIME IS WEIRD.
I named a character Sera or more specifically 'Seraphina' which was intended to be honoring Sarenrae because I decided it sounded reasonable to believe some unspecified cultural linkage between the name and the diety.
I also had a Tiefling character whose given name was Asmodheir. (but might be off on the exact spelling, it was a long time ago) It implied by the one whom named him that he was a descendant of the great legal mind. *cough* The name was both supposed to be an honor, but also a play on power for their 'family'. The fun part was of course my character was decidedly good and not interested in helping the family out at all. *chuckle*
And I just have to mention, I heard about a family where I grew up as a teenager. The parents in question had named their two children Zeus and Hera. I found the thought way too disturbing, suspecting that they didn't really have a deep understanding or the core mythology behind the names. It just didn't sit well for me, understanding that Zeus and Hera were both siblings, and the primary examples of husband and wife (and horrible examples at that). I couldn't imagine choosing those two names for my children. And for reference, two of my nephews have names that were chosen from ancestral mythological powers to honor their heritages. (one Norwegian, the other Native American) Also as it was mentioned above. Both of them had their other name (either first or middle) came from one of the Archangels names, chosen intentionally as well.
I think it is an excellent point that for Print you want to keep names unique so they don't collide with other stories, especially for key NPCs. However, it wouldn't necessarily be bad to have some common first names that could be reused, especially for more mundane characters, as they are known, 'common/ubiquitous' names. It might even be good to have some surnames that are almost viral in various regions.
I think it is an excellent point that for Print you want to keep names unique so they don't collide with other stories, especially for key NPCs. However, it wouldn't necessarily be bad to have some common first names that could be reused, especially for more mundane characters, as they are known, 'common/ubiquitous' names. It might even be good to have some surnames that are almost viral in various regions.
this is also how we get more simple verisimilitude. Like oh yeah here's human commoner Beth "the good one" who works at the Good Dog Inn, please don't confuse her with "Mudpie Beth" - who we call Mudpie on account of her terrible cooking what look like mud - over at the Faithful Hound just round the corner!
So there is a concept called a theophoric names, being named in honor of deities or attributes of them. This is why there are many Marys or variations on that for girls in Europe. Why Diana and Micheal are names.
As for names being the same. It is a rule I honestly dont care about. The real world is filled with names that are the same. first names especially.
I really like for example the detail that the church of Cayden Cailean often have orphans adopting the name surname Cailean.
It's maybe a fun idea for a PC, but it's an awful idea for print. While in the real world there's plenty of duplicate names (I don't know that there's been a Paizo with only one James working at it since MAYBE the early 2000s), in fiction, it looks like a mistake. We try hard to avoid it, and when we forget (like when I used a favored villain name from my homebrew, "Staunton Vhane", accidentally both as the name of the Forever Man under Magnimar and then again as the major character in "Wrath of the Righteous") it looks like a mistake and/or makes people think the NPCs are related by blood, when they're not.
That's a good point. I'm just going to assume that it does happen, but coincidentally nobody with such a name happens to be in the right place to be a notable figure in a published adventure.
I would guess derivations thereof are more likely, to avoid outright blasphemy. Asmodeon, Parasmo, Modéu, Asmodellius. I don't think many people ever named their kid "Zeus," but compounds that shake out to "Honored by Zeus" or something were fairly common.
Naming kids after prominent servitors of the gods, in the vein of Michael and Gabriel and so on being biblical angels, would probably also be common. Those Heralds that have given names and not weird titles are probably pretty common among the children of worshippers: Basileus in Cheliax, Thais for Caydenite girls, Thalachos in Kelesh.
In the specific case of the ancient Greeks and their religion I can see why they would very much not want to name their children after their gods, but as far as the fictional world of Golarion goes, where deities are real people, I think that only the ones that look down on prideful behavior would object to it, or on the other end, are extremely prideful themselves and would think the parents are proclaiming their child the deity's equal.
| 1 person marked this as a favorite. |
Since the greeks were mentioned. They did name their children after their gods. The term Theophoric is greek after all.This includes Zeus and Hera.
I believe it was more common for Romans to outright name their children the same name as the gods they venerated while Greeks often used name + suffix. so for example the famous historian Herodotos means something like granted by or given by Hera.
Now what does this mean for Golarion? Well it means there are 2 sorts of theophoric names to use.
So lets use the example of a Chelixian noble family. they could name a son Asmodoros or gift of of Asmodeus. or perhaps they decide to name a son after one of the other divinities in Hell's hirearchy. So instead he is named Furcas after the infernal duke of the same name.
I think this also can be a good way of generating names for characters(PCs and NPCs) need to figure out some random dwarves that the party is speaking to. Well just pick some of the gods and then add some suffixs and name done or just name them after a god.
|
| 1 person marked this as a favorite. |
So lets use the example of a Chelixian noble family. they could name a son Asmodoros or gift of of Asmodeus. or perhaps they decide to name a son after one of the other divinities in Hell's hirearchy. So instead he is named Furcas after the infernal duke of the same name.
That explains Scut Farkas from "A Christmas Story."
|
| 1 person marked this as a favorite. |
There's an extremely famous example of being named for a God.... Hercules.
This the romanization of his greek name Heracles, which means, the glory of Hera. somewhat Ironic, somewhat appropriate.
I would imagine there are tons of names in Cheliax and Taldor that end in ador
Glociador (Glory to Aroden)
Presiodiador (Gift of Aroden)
despite 150 years since the time of lost omens, I have to imagine, especially among the peasentry, those names would still be very common.
and a bit of up actually on the OP. It is the Orphans themselves who chose to (or not to) take the surname Cailean, as the orphanages don't push the faith.