Guild Wars 2

Hey all,

Since a lot of people (from my experience at least) prefer to make/play Human characters, I thought it would an idea to compile some naming rules in one place so if they want to, people can choose lore-based names. If you have name suggestions or naming rules for Krytans, Ascalonians, Elonians or Canthans, they are all welcome Please try and keep this thread civil and positive

Check this link: http://www.guildwars2guru.com/topic/11186-gw2-character-naming-resources/

From there you’ll be able to find a lore accurate name of your liking.

^ still use that as a reference guide, though i think i’m set on sylvari (which are the hardest ones to name, i think).

The shortest way to describe them would be the following:
Ascalon: European (mostly english) ex. Logan Thackeray
Kryta: southern European ex. Doern Vasquez
Orr: middle-eastern/Persian can’t really find an example right now
Cantha: Japanese/Chinese ex. Shiro Tagachi
Kurzick: German ex. Holtz Lutgardis
Luxon: Greek ex. Daeman
Elona: African ex. Varesh Ossa
Lion’s Arch: Lion’s arch is basically a melting pot of names so almost any name would go

I have to admit humans are the race I’m least likely to think about the lore when picking names for.

Partially because in spite of all the languages there’s actually a lot of homogeneity in European names, and I’m European myself so lore appropriate names for Krytan, Ascalonian, Kurzick etc. humans feel kind of lazy to me – it’s not so much creating a name for the character as picking a name I come across a lot in every day life and tweaking the spelling and/or family name until I come up with something that’s not already taken.

My main, and only permanent, human character is called Danielle. But that wasn’t chosen for this game, it’s something I’ve used for years, since I was playing Ultima Online.

But when I do want to make an effort I’ll try to pick an older form of a current name, and sometimes check the origin or supposed meanings for something that fits the character.

BrunoBRS.5178:

^ still use that as a reference guide, though i think i’m set on sylvari (which are the hardest ones to name, i think).

If you know some Welsh, or at least Welsh names it’s easy to come up with sylvari names. They’re usually not taken either, or at least only 1 variation will be. Considering I went to uni in Aberystwyth I’d say my Welsh is appalling, but I know enough to act as a starting point and there’s plenty of websites and online translators that can help.

Although I’ve also used Gaelic languages, Latin and Quenyan, or combinations of them. For example I had a white and black sylvari called Bethe Arian, which is the old Irish word for birch, followed by the welsh word for silver. So silver birch.

Danikat.8537:

BrunoBRS.5178:

^ still use that as a reference guide, though i think i’m set on sylvari (which are the hardest ones to name, i think).

If you know some Welsh, or at least Welsh names it’s easy to come up with sylvari names. They’re usually not taken either, or at least only 1 variation will be. Considering I went to uni in Aberystwyth I’d say my Welsh is appalling, but I know enough to act as a starting point and there’s plenty of websites and online translators that can help.

Although I’ve also used Gaelic languages, Latin and Quenyan, or combinations of them. For example I had a white and black sylvari called Bethe Arian, which is the old Irish word for birch, followed by the welsh word for silver. So silver birch.

i hardly know welsh accent much less the welsh language. i’m not a native speaker, nor european (well technically i am, but that’s off-topic) :P

my 3 sylvari are Eileene, Lochlaen (which is funny because there was an NPC called that), and Frannen. of the 3, Frannen is the one i’m kinda meh on, name-wise, but i couldn’t think of anything better at the time and can’t be assed to buy a name-change contract for her.

they always have only one name because sylvaris don’t tend to get second names, whereas my humans always have a surname.

There is an NPC that is very small story-wise but very prestigious in game that surprisingly have the same name as me IRL Lord Rodrigo of Cormoch, it is not common to find a NPC in a fantasy RPG that share your name :P

So yeah, humans are the most flexible one to make a lore friendly name, and I agree that sylvari is the hardest ones.

I’ve said before that when it comes to naming sylvari, I open the map of North Wales and hope for the best. The fact that they themselves don’t always pronounce the names correctly in real life terms allows a little leeway, I think (I’ll never forget Niamh being said as Nigh-am).

I have Geirionydd, which is actually a lake (Llyn Geirionydd), Llannor (a village), Gwynant (either a lake Llyn Gwynant or a valley, Nant Gwynant). In the past I’ve had Llangefni (town on Anglesey), Talysarn (another village), and finally Penrhyndeudraeth ( a "peninsula with two beaches"). Each time I look at the map until I find a name that feels right, can be pronouced (to an extent, I suppose!). The meaning of the name isn’t always such a big deal so long as it feels right. Admittedly Penrhyndeudraeth came about because of frustration with the game’s naming convention. I was pretty sure no one else would have it.

To be fair, I grew up near North Wales, and know a thing or two about Welsh pronounciation. Even our train station signs were in English and Welsh.

I should say, the last human I made was known as Deadly Rotary Fan (duel wielding axes). I’d rather name sylvari any day!

Ceridwen.6703:

Penrhyndeudraeth

penwhat?

BrunoBRS.5178:

Ceridwen.6703:

Penrhyndeudraeth

penwhat?

XD

My husband called him Penhydrant.

BrunoBRS.5178:

Ceridwen.6703:

Penrhyndeudraeth

penwhat?

Pen-rin-doo-draith, I think. My welsh is… non-existant, but that’s how it looks. Welsh seems close to Gaelic, but with far more consonants.

so much for easily pronounceable… >.>

:D Here, I’ll help:

http://www.forvo.com/word/penrhyndeudraeth/

Ceridwen.6703:

:D Here, I’ll help:

http://www.forvo.com/word/penrhyndeudraeth/

will you be offended if i say that didn’t help? >.> the way she pronounces makes it sound like there are like a bunch of extra D’s and R’s in there >.>

point is, i don’t think i’d put the effort to read and figure out how to say it if i saw that in game :P if it was a guildie or a friend i’d probably call them “pen” or “draeth”, probably butchering the welsh in the process :P

Heehee, I’m not offended. Like I said, my husband had to call him Penhydrant. It doesn’t bother me.