Faerunian Names
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A few players have asked how I come up with the names for my characters, so I thought I would share the list I found in the FRCS. These are the more common examples and are also a good base to form additional names that would be found in a particular home region. The traditions listed under each race are taken from the PHB.
Faerunian Names
Faerun is vast. Among humans alone, its inhabitants bear literally thousands of names. Some folk have no surnames, others have a common clan name, and others have a “son/daughter of” appellation. In Tharsult, Tashalar, and the Border Kingdoms, the word “sar” is much used. It means “of the blood of” and denotes a famous ancestor – or falsely claimed ancestor – so that a farmer might be the “Bear sar Thardizar,” after the famous warlord of centuries ago.
Older usage such as “of the” and the name of trade or place (such as Ruthar o' the Forge and Sammert o' the Hollow) are falling out of favor and are now rarely heard. Only wizards and the most haughty adventurers use personal achievements in their names, such as Dastrin of the Three Thunders or Belgaert of the Deadly Stand, and this too is dying out. Occupations can be seen within names, however, Tel is an old word for “works at” or “works with, “ forar once meant traveler or peddler, belder was a guard or warrior on patrol, turnskull was a digger, and turnstone a miller.
The names given here are by language, since areas sharing a common tongue tend to use the same names.
Dwarven
A dwarf's name is granted to him by his clan elder, in accordance with tradition. Every proper dwarf name has been used and reused down through the generations. A dwarf's name is not his own. It belongs to his clan. If he misuses it or brings shame to it, his clan will strip him off it. A dwarf stripped of his name is forbidden by dwarven law to use any dwarven name in its place.
Male: Barundar, Dorn, Joyin, Khondar, Roryn, Storn, Thorik, Wulgar.
Female: Belmara, Dorna, Joylin, Kiira, Sambril, Tace, Umil.
Surnames: Beszirzma, Crownshield, Gordrivver, Horn, Skulldark, Stoneshield.Elven
When an elf declares herself an adult, usually some time after achieving her hundreth birthday, she also selects a name. Those who knew her as a youngster may or may not continue to call her by her “child name,” and she may or may not care. En elf's adult name is a unique creation, though it may reflect the names of those she admires or the names of others in her family. In addition, she bears her family name. Family names are combinations or regular Elven words and some elves traveling among human translate their names into Common while others use the Elven version.
Male: Aravilar, Faelar, Mourn, Nym, Orlpar, Saevel, Respen, Rhistel, Taighen.
Female: Amra, Hacathra, Imizael, Jastra, Jhaumrithe, Quamara, Talindra, Vestele.
Surnames: Amalith, Braegen, Calaudra, Eveningfall, Laelithar, Moondown, Tanruth.Gnome
Gnomes love names, and most have half a dozen or so. As a gnome grows up, his mother gives him a name, his father gives him a name, his clan elder gives him a name, his aunts and uncles give him names, and he gain nicknames from just about anyone. Gnome names are typically variants on the names of ancestors or distant relatives, though some are purely new inventions. The dealing with humans and other who are rather “stuffy” about names, gnomes learn to act as if they have no more than three names: a personal name, a clan name, and a nickname. When deciding which of his several names to use among humans, a gnome generally chooses the one that's the most fun to say. Gnome clan names are combinations of common gnome words, and gnomes almost always translate them into Common when in human lands (or into Elven when in elven lands, and so on).
Male: Burgell, Colmarr, Dorgan, Falrinn, Halbrinn, Orlamm, Rondell, Stolig.
Female: Calanddra, Eriss, Iyiss, Jaree, Lissa, Meree, Nathee, Zelzadda.
Surnames: Blackrock, Blimth, Greatorm, Rivenstone, Tavartarr, Uvarkk, Whitehorn.Half-orc
A half-orc typically chooses a name that helps him make the impression that he wants to make. If he wants to fit in among humans, he chooses a human name. If he wants to intimidate others, he chooses a guttural orc name. A half-orc who has been raised entirely by humans has a human given name, but he may choose another name once he's away from his hometown. Some half-orcs, of course, aren't quite bright enough to choose a name this carefully.
Orc
Male: Besk, Durth, Fang, Gothog, Harl, Kesk, Orrusk, Tharag, Thog, Ugurth.
Female: Betharra, Creske, Edarreske, Duvaega, Neske, Orvaega, Varra, Yeskarra.
Surnames: Dummik, Horthor, Lammar, Sormuzhik, Turnskull, Ulkrunnar, Zorgar.Halfling
A halfling has a given name, a family name, and possibly and nickname. It would seem that family names are nothing more than nicknames that stuck so well they have been passed down through the generations.
Male: Blazanar, Corkaury, Dalabrac, Halandar, Ombert, Roberc, Thiraury, Wilimac.
Female: Alonirra, Calathra, Deldiira, Melinden, Olpara, Rosiden, Tara, Weininda.
Surnames: Aumble, Bramblefoot, Dardragon, Hardingdale, Merrymar, Starnhap.Human
Human names vary greatly. Without a unifying deity to give them a touchstone for their culture, and with such a fast breeding cycle, humans mutate socially at a fast rate. Human culture, therefor, is more diverse than other cultures, and no human names are truly typical. Some human parents give their children dwarven or elven names (pronounced more or less correctly).
Aglarondan
Male: Aelthas, Courynn, Folcoerr, Gaedynn, Mourgram, Sealmyd, Yuiredd.
Female: Blaera, Courynna, Lynneth, Maera, Mourna, Wydda.
Surnames: Aengrilor, Dulsaer, Gelebraes, Jacerryl, Telstaerr, Uthelienn.Alzhedo
Male: Aseir, Bardeid, Haseid, Khemed, Mehmen, Sudeiman, Zasheir.
Female: Atala, Ceidil, Hama, Jasmal, Meilil, Seipora, Yasheira, Zasheida.
Surnames: Basha, Dumein, Jassan, Khalid, Mostana, Pashar, Rein.Chessentan
Male: Aeron, Daelric, Eurid, Nicos, Oriseus, Pharaxes, Theros, Xandos.
Female: Ariadne, Cylla, Eriale, Halonya, Idriane, Mera, Numestra, Sinylla.
Surnames: Aporos, corynian, Heldeion, Morieth, Nathos, Sphaerideion, Zora.Chondathan
Male: Darvin, Dorn, Evendur, Gorstag, Grim, Helm, Malark, Morn, Randal, Stedd.
Female: Arveene, Esvele, Jhessail, Kerri, Lureene, Miri, Rowan, Shandri, Tessele.
Surnames: Amblecrown, Buckman, Dudragon, Evenwood, Greycastle, Tallstag.Chultan
Male: Atuar, Kwalu, Losi, Mezoar, Nsi, Osaw, Selu, Weshtek.
Female: Azuil, Chuil, Fipya, Isi, Lorit, Mainu, Sana, Tefnek.
Surnames: None.Damaran
Male: Bor, Fodel, Glar, Grigor, Igan, Ivor, Kosef, Mival, Orel, Pavel, Sergor.
Female: Alethra, Kara, Katernin, Mara, Natali, Olma, Tana, Zora.
Surnames: Bersk, Chernin, Dotsk, Kulenov, Marsk, Nemetsk, Shemov, Starag.Dambrathan
Male: Aethelmed, Houn, Rhivaun, Umbril, Waervyn, Zarnarra, Zraela.
Female: Chourm, Glouris, Maeve, Hayaera, Sevaera, Zamarra, Zraela.
Surnames: Calaumystar, Lharendo, Mristar, Talaudrym, Wyndeal.Durpari
Male: Charva, Duma, Hukir, Jama, Kilimut, Oskut, Pradir, Rajaput, Sikhil.
Female: Apret, Bask, Erilet, Fanul, Hist, Mokat, Nismet, Ril, Tiket.
Surnames: Beszizma, Datharathi, Melpurvatte, Nalambar, Saqarastar, Tiliputakas.Halruann
Male: Aldym, Chand, Hostegym, Meleghost, Presmer, Sandrue, Tethost, Uregaunt.
Female: Aithe, Alaethe, Chalan, Oloma, Phaele, Sarade, Vosthyl.
Surnames: Avhoste, Darants, Gedreghost, Maurneril, Stamaraster, Zorastryl.Lantanese
Male: Eberc, Fodoric, Koger, Lambrac, Midoc, Norbert, Samber, Tibidoc.
Female: Avilda, Bersace, Chariss, Melsany, Phaerilda, Ravace, Umbrasy.
Surnames: Angalstrand, Decirc, Lamstrand, SeKorc, SeLangstra, SeMeildreic.Illuskan
Male: Ander, Blath, Bran, Frath, Geth, Lander, Luth, Malcer, Stor, Taman, Urth.
Female: Amafrey, Betha, Cefrey, Kethra, Mara, Olga, Silifrey, Westra.
Surnames: Brightwood, Helder, Hornraven, Lackman, Stonar, Stormwind, Windrivver.Mulhorand
Male: Aoth, Bereris, Ehput-Ki, Kethoth, Mumed, Ramas, So-Kehur, Thazar-De, Irhur.
Female: Arizima, Chathi, Nephis, Nualar, Murithi, Sefris, Thola, Umara, Zolis.
Surnames: Ankhalab, Anskuld, Fezim, Hahpet, Nathandem, Sepret, Uuthrakt.Rashemi
Male: Borivik, Faurgar, Jandar, Kanithar, Madislak, Ralmevik, Shaumar, Vladislak.
Female: Fyevarra, Hulmarra, Immith, Imzel, Navarra, Shevarra, Tammith, Yuldra.
Surnames: Chergoba, Dyernina, Iltazyara, Murnyethara, Stayanoga, Ulmokian.Shaaran
Male: Awar, Cohis, Damota, Gewar, Hapaw, Laskaw, Moktar, Senesaw, Tokhis.
Female: Anet, Bes, Dahvet, Faqem, Idim, Lenet, Moqem, Neghet, Sihvet.
Surnames: Cor Marak, Hiaw, Harr, Laumee Har, Moq Qo Harr, Taw Harr, Woraw Tarak.Tashalan
Male: Angwe, Dumai, Gharbei, Indo, Masambe, Morife, Ngongwe, Sepoto.
Female: Ayesha, Bhula, Lashela, Intingi, Mashai, Shevaya, Shesara, Ushula.
Surnames: Damarthe, Ghomposso, Ishivin, Jalamba, Konge, Maingwe, Wasatho.Turnic
Male: Anton, Diero, Marcon, Pieron, Rimardo, Romero, Salazar, Umbero.
Female: Balama, Dona, Faila, Jalana, Luisa, Marta, Quara, Selise, Vonda.
Surnames: Agosto, Astorio, Calabra, Domine, Falone, Marivaldi, Pisacar, Ramondo.Uluik
Male: Aklar, Hilur, Liruk, Namiir, Selmik, Uknar, Tirmuk, Wariik.
Female: Chamuk, Irikik, Kagiik, Lelchik, Nirval, Talchuk, Valiir, Wenvik.
Surnames: None.Untheric
Male: Azzedar, Chadrezzan, Gibbur, Horat, Kassur, Numer, Samar, Ungred.
Female: Chadra, Ilzza, Jezzara, Marune, Saldashune, Xuthra, Zeldara.
Surnames: Seldom used, patronymics preferred. -
This is EBoN (Everchanging Book of Names), a neat little utility for generating names I downloaded recently. Its probably the best name generator I've come across. Rather than simply putting syllables together or having a list of random names, it uses numerous criteria to construct new names out of the logic of existing names, drawn from individual lists specific to the setting you are working with. This allows for new names to be unique, yet keep the flavor of the setting. On the Downloads page of the site you'll find FR "chapters" to download.
The only downside is that it is true shareware, so it has limited functionality with all chapters (name lists) except the core chapters it comes with. All this means is that you can only generate one name at a time, and chapters close after five names are generated (but can be immediately re-opened). All in all, I've already found it to be an invaluable resource, and I'll probably pay for the full version (only ten bucks!) as soon as I have ten bucks to spare (and can be bothered to get off my lazy butt). :)
Anyhow, thought I'd share this with anyone that hasn't heard of it.
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While you might not use the actual name generator, it helps to just skim through the list.
At some later date I'll add the human and dwarf names I have stashed in my computer to that directory.
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Here's a useful link, with thanks from Lillysmurfen.
As always, many things like this are personal choice. However, there is always the restriction that anything substantive such as a heraldic title must be applied for.
