Name Generator

Use this to generate character names for a species-culture combination. The cultures are described in my character creation post, but the names should be self-explanatory. For species not on the list, choose the 'Other' option to randomize, or pick a standard species that has a similar vibe:

Species-Culture Name Generator

Species: Aasimar Dragonborn Dwarf Elf Gnome Goliath Halfling Human Orc Tiefling --- Other

Culture: Caravan City Factory Farmland Freehold Mystic Nomad Orchard Outcast Slum Suburb Tribal

Discussion

There are a lot of fantasy name generators out there, and I don't like them for two reasons:

First, they mainly just generate dumb collections of random syllables that try to evoke a certain feel. I want all of my names to have meanings. Almost all names originally meant something, before they became stuck as linguistic fossils as the language changed. I think character names are more fun and evocative when they are real words.

Second, different cultures should have different naming patterns:

Caravan names are a given name and current affiliation, which could change several times over a lifetime. A Caravan character might change their name to that of their adventuring party if the party has good cohesion and/or becomes notable, and this would be a significant character-development moment.

City culture is the only one that assigns middle names, because those only developed in societies that had larger populations. The last name comes from one of several associated cultures.

Factory culture has profession-based last names. You decide if your character had this job, or if it was an ancestral name that was passed down.

Farmland culture assigns last names based on place or, occasionally, family.

Freehold names are based on a location. You decide if the location name is based on a feature of that location, or on the person who settled it. If named after the settler, you decide if this was a member of your character's family, and how recent the settlement was.

Mystic names are based on profession or affiliation with an element or object. You decide if this is a personal nickname or a family name.

Nomads typically live in small groups and just use their given name, adding a color descriptor to distinguish themselves if necessary.

Orchard names are based on location, either current or ancestral.

Outcast names are patro- or matronymic. You decide. You can also change the gender-neutral 'kind' to 'son' or 'dottir' if appropriate.

Slum names are a nickname and a given name, although official documents will often make the nickname permanent.

The Suburb culture makes the last name a portmanteu of both parents' names, a system that I invented.

Tribal cultures typically list the group name first, then the given name.

This generator is gender-neutral, to keep the code simple and the characters diverse. Most cultures in the game world are gendered, some oppressively so, but they all have different ideas about what names should be attached to what genders. If you end up with a male character named Lily or a female named Wolf, work with it. Decide if that is a normal-gendered name for your species and culture, or if your name is gender non-conforming.