A few weeks ago I showed up to run AG&G with a big list of Norse names, and we had us some Norse AG&G. Clinton carries around a book of baby names for the same reason. I've been repurposing existing languages or using Kate Monk's onomastikon for years, because I think names are important, and consistency makes everything that much cooler. There are a bunch of games you can pull off the shelf and run with minimal prep (PTA, AG&G) that benefit from having a fun list of names around, and it obviously serves more prep-heavy games as well. When Andy saw my name list, he said "hey, we should totally have about a hundred of those" and so we decided to see if people were interested in contributing.

Here are the rules:

1. Your submission will be CC attribution/noncommercial/sharealike licensed. If we get enough we'll make them into a book and put it up on Lulu at cost, or marked up a couple of dollars for charity or something. The individual files will also be freely available somewhere - 1km1kt maybe, or the Bully Pulpit Games site.

2. Everything in multiples of exactly 20. This is a lazy asshat filter for submissions and allows a random roll if you are into that. The absolute minimum is a list of 20 male names, 20 female names, and (if appropriate) 20 surnames. More lists (place names, cool insults, multiple male name lists, sword names, etc) are pure gravy.

3. Submit stuff you can actually imagine somebody getting some utility from. Be as specific as is practical - Miwok, not Indian. Fantasy, science fiction, and whimsy are fine. Anything you don't own (Tolkien, etc) is not so much. Duplicating another person's list is fine (Mall rat names list 1, Mall rat names list 2), particularly if you have a different spin. Add notes if you want and give your list a title.

4. Send you entries to me as a text file, preferably unicode formatted, to jmstar at gmail dot com.

Here are some examples of what we're talking about. I hope you'll help out! I'd love to have a little book of name lists from around the globe and beyond!

Twist arms, Mo! Regional lists for the subcontinent would be amazing. Ireland, too.

I hadn't thought about a deadline, actually. How about Halloween!

Um... I guess I'm not 100% sure what you're looking for here. For our recent d20 D&D game I did a fat cut & paste of Russian names (cuz they're kewl). Buuuutt... liiikkkeee... I don't know how I could participate in this project. Take my favorite 20 from each of the male & female lists?

-Eric

Yes, yes I see them. I'm just not sure how you arrived at your particular lists and why those particular names made your lists. Either I'm missing something essential about what you're trying to do here, or I think Googling for names is more convenient.

-Eric

edit PS: Soo... what I mean to say is that I'm assuming that I'm missing the point, not that I think yer st00pyd.

ooooh... in your bag!!

You're talking about something to publish? Cuz that would totally rock. Dibs on the Russian names. I'm already half done with that. Expect an email with my contribution by this evening.

-Eric

edit PS: Somehow my eyes totally glossed over the fact that you mentioned printing it at Lulu in point 1. I'm suck a dork.

Thanks. Shreyas, I know you have some crazy-ass lists in you.

Byname?

Can people post some ideas for lists, even if you don't have time to fill them out yourself? 'Cause I've got some free time in the next couple of weeks, but I'm a little brain-dead from the last month, which was rough, so I could use some kick-starting ideas.

I've got a list of Amazigh (Berber) names that I can send along, though, as soon as I retrieve my data from my 'splodey computer. :)

--Jess

Here's a few ideas I'm having...

• Names of angels (I need these for Ninegun anyway so I'm gonna make it)
• "Kinda wrong" or archaic versions of other familiar languages, like Jason's English one; I'd be excited to see Old French, a Moorish Spain (influenced by Arabic)...
• Polynesian names of various derivation

Things you can bundle with name lists--

• Foods & places, as above
• Variation by time period
• Gods &/or legendary persons
• Similarly, mythic beasts and monsters
• Local customs that are fraught with peril

Jason, what do you think of little intros with naming customs, like these:

These people use common nouns as names. It's taboo to say the name of a living blood relation, and as a result it's become a mark of refinement to be able to invent clever and unique circumlocutions to talk about things.

or little kits like

To make a monk's name, take one item from List 1 and fuse it with one item from List 2. These items are never used in lay names.

or

The names of the dead use the suffix -nata. For example, the late Hezhi is Hezhinata.

Everybody who includes the names of foods, I kiss your feet!

For food, do you want the names of actual dishes?

Also, I volunteer (silly) Filipino nick/names. Seriously, I have an Uncle Bong and an Uncle Boy and an Auntie Girl. My friend has an *Auntie* Boy and *Uncle* Girl.

For no readily apparent reason, I'll cover Ethiopian food unless someone out there is an expert.

How about "obscure biblical"? I can probably also throw together an Aramaic and/or Sumerian list.

--Jess

The angels list should get matched with a list of demons, but I think the list should be a list of demon names not commonly found in say, Cthulhu or In Nomine.

Awesome ideas, all. If you're wondering "Is it ok if I do X (X=culture/lang/etc)?" the answer will always be Yes! So let's get crackin!

After I do the Japanese ones, I'm gonna see if I can do like fantasy horror names that sound like characters in a Russian Rap-Rock video where the band members LARP. TVORGIZNAK DAKKARLAIVE, the dual-classed Sorcerer/Tsar, who weilds a battleaxe-guitar.

Shreyas,

The and Tree of Life are good places to start.

And the Demon Encyclo or Delerium's realm would do well for other demony stuff.

That reminds me...

Jason, put me down for Tricksters.

Alex, Come and See is one of my favorites. Absolutely harrowing. I've been reading about some of the German anti-partisan units in the east in connection with Grey Ranks and it's just breathtaking how monstrous they were.

Thanks for the virtual kick in the pants, Andy! Let's see some listz0rz!

After I do the Japanese ones, I'm gonna see if I can do like fantasy horror names that sound like characters in a Russian Rap-Rock video where the band members LARP. TVORGIZNAK DAKKARLAIVE, the dual-classed Sorcerer/Tsar, who weilds a battleaxe-guitar.

Andy, I want to play this game. Make sure I'm invited.

Chinese Menu - Primitive Names

This is a pair of lists that are meant to go together. Pick an element from the first list and one from the second list and mash 'em together. If you get excited, use more than one from a list.

This particular set works for primitive cultures close to the natural world.

Column A 1 Green 2 Red 3 Black 4 Brown 5 Barren 6 Fat 7 Wise 8 Smoking 9 Singing 10 Barren 11 Strong 12 Laughing 13 Dancing 14 Crazy 15 Mad 16 Silent 17 Bright 18 Crippled 19 Serene 20 < None; skip this column >

Column B 1 Dawn 2 Tree 3 Bear 4 Brook 5 Field 6 Wolf 7 Knife 8 Fire 9 Hand 10 Stone 11 Moose 12 Mountain 13 Song 14 Pipe 15 Spear 16 Cat 17 Leaf 18 Sky 19 Moon 20 < None; skip this column >

(When I get home, I might put one of these together for Englishy surnames like Warfield, Fenford, and Chesterfox.)

Jason-

Two items on my list.

1) Female name #19 somehow lost it's first letter. That should be "Yalens" not "alens"

2) [bad accent] Ees no Red Box, senior. Ees d20! [/bad accent]

-Eric

Hey list enthusiasts, I received a great submission last night that didn't have any male or female names. So this is your reminder to go back to the first post and re-read the submission guidelines! And then submit something!

I wrote:
(When I get home, I might put one of these together for Englishy surnames like Warfield, Fenford, and Chesterfox.)

Oh my god was this a terrible idea. Simple, yes? Three quick lists, yeah? OH GOOD GOD NO. Eight lists later, I'm done with this one. However, I may never need to think to come up with an Englishy-sounding place name ever again.

Mornington, yes. Crescent, no.

How many other Crescents are there? I don't think it's very common.

Walking a little late to the plate, might I suggest taking a look at Kate Monk's Onomastikon? I'd wgetted it locally to my hard drive some time ago, I suggest you do the same.

Physically, my go-to supplement is the Everyone Everywhere List, easily the best six bucks I've ever spent in gaming- better than dice. It's twenty-four pages of names, organzied by ethnicity and gender, and includes surnames. I'd ask your FLGS to try and order it from Alliance if possible. I've asked the author about the possibility of collaborating on PDF sales, but it panned out.

MDK

Actually, interesting observations: Jason's probably more familiar with the Onomastikon than anyone I know, however we're aiming for something that can be printed (or bought in paperback form), thrown into the "gaming bag", and left there as you go to your sessions. Then, if you're inspired to run a game set in Rome, you can just yank it out and _boom_ 20-60 names in no time flat.

I haven't heard of the Everyone Everywhere List, but that sounds like exactly what we're doing here, but more open.

Oh, hells yes check this out:
http://www.rpg.net/news+reviews/reviews/rev_4699.html
A review back in 2001 for the Everyone Everywhere list. And look at the review comments, by one JMSTAR. Hmmmmm. :-)

Also, I did more hunting, and it appears that this supplement isn't available anywhere anymore. Too bad, I'd love to see it. But that just means another opportunity for us to do better, and give to blind kids in the process.

-Andy

Hey Josh,

Alphabetically, here are a selection of UK Crescents (london unless otherwise marked)

Alcester
Blenheim
Cavendish
Dennis Park
Elgin
Firgrove (portsmouth)
Grovesnor
Herbert
Ilchester (nr Bristol)
Jessop (Bristol)
Kings (where I used to live)
Lansdowne
Mornington
Norfolk
Oxendon (canterbury)
Pelham
Queen's
Royal
South
Tavistock

Vicar (Barnsley)
Warrington
Xanadu (Rothwell) [edit - eck! This is in Oz, actually. but - cool name!)
Yew (Oldham)

I am thanful that this is the one thread where I can't be accused of clearly having too much time on my hands. If this is in any way useful to your lists have at 'em.

I think the street on the front of this forum should be renamed Story-Games Crescent.

Well done, man. The space cowboy list is just right.

Typo-catching: You need a space in Sealer of the Guilty.

Jason,

I must be sending my lists to the wrong addy. I sent them to the same addy that you used to send me your Roach ad.

You should have Ethiopian Food and Irish Folk Names.

Here's a recap of other lists about which people have expressed some intention:

Biblical/Aramaic
Japanese
Slavic Rock Gods of Atlantis*
Fantasy/ethnic with mangled foreigner versions
Filipino
Berber
Tricksters
Indian subcontinent
Polynesian
"Kinda wrong" Moorish Spain

*Andy, I'll kill you if you don't write this one up!

I bet we could rope Andy Kitowski into a Polish name list.

Do we have ancient Celtic? That would seem useful.

My first list (Berber names & symbology) is winging its way through the ether to you!

I'm also going to do:
- Roman (I have done a TON of research about Rome for GM)
- Greek
- Aramaic
- Common biblical and/or obscure biblical
- Twenty most popular male & female names in America in different time periods (from census.gov)

In fact, I think I'm going to get my players to help me brainstorm at Gloria Mundi tonight about what Greek/Roman stuff would be useful to provide. After that, we'll see what else needs filling in. The periodic posting of "Lists Someone Should Do" is awesome and makes me want to do nothing but make name lists all day!

--Jess

I'll totally append cool extras onto lists if the list author is good with it, or if you authored it in the first place (to a point). I'd love to see sets dripping with story-hook-worthy extras, but don't send them without basic names as well.

Jess, your Berber list is live now. Very nice. Your other ideas are gold.

Larry, we have Irish but not straight Celtic. I nominate you to fix that.

Take your filthy crescent-talk somewhere else.

We're up to 22 23 24 lists - I just added Andy's stellar Japanese set, a little Assyrian flava from Vincent Baker, as well as Aztec/Nahuatl and Polish.

I'll do an Old English name list, covering personal and placenames, but I won't be able to do it for the next couple of days owing to deadlines. Shouldn't be difficult otherwise, though. Putting together Old English names is actually a lot of fun.

Hey, Mark, that's me! I used my generators to throw up an Inuit and Space Cowboy set already.

Old English = Old Awesome, James.

Alejandro: Here's where I'd start

Wow.

Now I want Chicago, New York, and LA in 1929 - 1935ish. This is my unreasonable request. I'd also second Josh's suggestion about professions or jobs or whatever - especially ones you wouldn't think of first off.

In the mean, I could do a list of Urdu/Pakistani names or Persian names, or Arabic names. Or the names of the Indian subconinent....

This way leads to doom, doesn't it?

Man, Jess, nice job raising the bar...

I just did common and uncommon American names (from census data) and American jobs (yanked from different job posting lists) -- and then realized I didn't know where to send them.