A recent persona sheet requiring a name change made me remember I've been meaning to post this as sort of a fun topic.
Since I doubt Melissa will mind if I pick on her... Galen, which she used, is a fairly common name in the Southern US, spelled as Gaylen as well. (she respelled as Gaelen)
I once had a member at PS argue with me that Nadine was *not* a name here on Earth, but their personal creation. I offered to send them a photocopy of my Aunt Nadine's birth certificate. *g*
I graduated high school with a young lady named Jayla...
Jaryd, my most "common terran" named persona began life as Jerryd. The name was changed when he was imported to Triad because we already had a Jerryn and that could have been confusing.
What other names in YOUR area that are fairly common have shown up in fandom with you? Ones that you actually know a person with that name (or more than one), not just a name you saw in a baby name book.
Aislynn is an Irish girl's name. My next-door neighbor when we rented a cottage in Ireland was named Aislynn. It means "dream" or "vision" in Gaelic. (Doesn't it suit Aislynn so well? :D) Sefanya comes from Sefanja, my neighbor's au pair's name. Kaelan is from Kael, my month-old baby cousin's name.
Well, you wanted to know. :D
Visalia - a customer with this name called in and I thought it was really pretty.
Just a note: Ailyn is taken from the chinese word Ailin which means husband. :) (or, if I am correct, I believe it means beloved one or something, but I could be wrong). :)
Edit: How could I forget about Lisbet? That was another customer with whom I spoke. I tend to write down interesting names when people call.
I have a habit of sneaking in Gaelic names when I can...and I've noticed a couple of other variations of Gaelic Celtic names:
Aislynn, which as Karolyn says means 'dream'.
Kellwyn *g*
Danu (okay, so it's a canine, but huge Celtic origins)
Then there's Dayla, who while not popular, I have seen in different variations.
Galen and Gaelin are both Celtic in origin, although I've never heard of them being overly popular.
I think it's hard to believe that even after centuries the lingual shifts would have eradicated all Terran names completely, although they might be greatly altered.
Obviously many on Pern take part of the mother and father's names to create new ones, but I'm sure many of the names *those* are taken from might have had a beginning in English/Celtic/Russian etc...
~Nici
PS: And Nadine, while not overly common is most *certainly* a Terran name--hell, there's a freakin' MOVIE with that name in it. Me thinketh the PS member was a bit deluded, personally.
I really like names and meanings so most of mine have some background/meaning and commonly are very Terran but Celtic, Greek, Hebrew, Norwegian or other derivations. I chose Galen because (although I'd not heard it used here in the NW US) it a Greek form of healer.
I had a friend in college named Dayla, which also has a Hewbrew derivation of water or branch. My husband had an uncle by the name of Valand, but he has a strong Norwegian lineage and I think that this may be from old Norse mythology. I've had three different clients by the name of Triston. I know two families with the last name of Donnigan (though no one with that first name). And I had two friends growing up by the name of Shae (one boy and one girl!).
Names are fun! Language in general is fun in my opinion!
ah, that reminds me, the manager of the managers at work is named Shae; a guy. :)
Some of my came from the name generator on the website, I have a real hard time thinking of names.
But the few that I can think of are pretty simple in orgin.
Cratyan (Clayton) just rearranged and two letters changed.
F'del (Fidel) is my Father-in-Law's name.
Ieshia- if I remember correctly, I either read it somewhere or I knew someone with a similar name.
Donnigan is such a terran name. I got it from one of my books. He was the main male character. I so stole it.
And I think Eeho is from the bible but I'm not sure cause I also use a link my sister sent me to get names.
I also like for my names to mean something, or have some connection.
Occhipinti is named after my friend Joe Occhipinti, who actually CAN tan hides.
K'yme is named for my god-daughter Kim who decided if her Uncle Michael can spell it Mikel, and spell fish Ghoti, then she can spell Kimmy Kyme.
Jhonnel, a former ANPC (thank you, Loretta), was named for my best friend, John L. When playing RPG's his elves are invariably named Jhonnel. And the family I made for him are all based on his.
Some names are chosen with the help of www.Babblefish.com (http://www.babblefish.com) where there lives a translation service.
Dyrbehersker the Beastcraft Master
means "Beast Master" (His an ANPC folks)
Lacuna, created for a specific reason for a short time, means "A Brief Interlude"
Wanna guess where M'kal came from?
well i spotted an adoptable called Niils on the site - I used to work with a Danish guy called Niils
There's also a Derron - there's a magician on TV here called Derron Brown!
Actually, Nici, Galen is listed as Greek in most baby books, since there's a rather famous Greek physician historically. Also there's another famous Galen: Galen Rowell, a rather reknowned wildlife photographer.
hehe... my persona names and origins that weren't imaginary or hopefully so.
L'daven - nickname "Davey" - I started with the nickname and worked backwards.
D'val - originally "Dorval" - from an island in the Sunrunners series. Mahrkin - also from the Sunrunners series (Maarken). Daimhin - named after an Anne Bishop character (Daemin). Kelvarand ("Rand") - I'm sure folks are familiar with Wheel of Time? ;) Melisendra is from Don Quixote.
Cairistiona, Dawyn are Gaelic.
Johara is Arabic.
Noelani is Hawaiian.
Rhendan and Rhylar I actually got off a Utah baby-names list.
Adreya was Adrianne, respelled.
Alesia was Alicia.
Juliar was Julian.
Leanorre was Lenora (my aunt's middle name, based of Eleanor).
Lucan was Lucas.
Cayce was a rather interesting name I saw at a recent job fair on a resume.
Retired personas:
Maegyn (Megan)
Kindri (Kendra)
T'nitan (from Tristan)
And last but not least - Jadeah's youngest son, Ahren, is an honorary name.
The only persona I have any real orgin for is my greenrider at DCW, Cherlyn. My mothers name is Cherly Lee spelled Cheryle. I just tweaked it a bit. Everyone else is from a name genorator or just something that poped into my head,
Wow, I didn't think any of mine had come from anywhere but my own imagination until I actually sat and *looked* at them and remembered where I got some of them.
Ariadne was a horses name in a book I read.
Kalina (pronounced Kaleena) was the name of a character in 13 Ghosts.
Caellin was just a variation of my daughters name.
Vivvi was a name used by a vampire in one of the books I have read.
Daile was the name Dale with just an I added to it.
I think that's it. But, then again, most of the others persona's the names were already chosen or I adopted them. LOL So, I guess I draw pretty heavily on RL for the names I choose afterall! *g*
The names I pick for my 'sonas are loosely based on Terran names. I pick syllables that I like, like "tian" in Irastian (from the name Christian). Berella comes from Isabella. Blennen comes from Brenna.
Aish...didn't realize I wasn't signed in. The post above was mine.
:halo:
I can't believe I forgot one of my personas.
Elendiel. I got this name from a girl who was a childhood friend of my husband's. That's her middle name; her mother just made it up.
Aysle: This one I got from another person writing a character. She actually spelled it Alyse and I accidently mispelled it, but liked the result. :)
Xuxha: Based off the name of a woman who had a show (and the show was her named after her). I think it pronouced either Shoo shah or Zoosha. Anyway, Xuxha is based off of that and I pronounce it 'Zooshah'.
QuoteOriginally posted by emma
well i spotted an adoptable called Niils on the site - I used to work with a Danish guy called Niils
*Lift's a hand* I created Niils, it's a scandinavian name, sometimes spelled Nils.
I lean heavily on scandinavian names. Rigmor, Axina and Chorel are actual names I've seen people use. (I collect interesting names I come across in papers I handle)
I usually alter the spelling a bit. (Gayla is Paula with letter changes, although I've seen name Kayla used somewhere.) Finnish names make good dragonnames: Jari =Jarith.
Aileyan was originally Aileen, and too terran, Kjarliheth, her dragon's name, comes from Norwegian word meaning love (kjaerlighet)
BTW Lexy, Ariadne is also used as a woman's name in Scandinavia.
Added later:
I also use mythology, M'non and Telemon both come from greek-mythology: M'non->Memnon->Agamemnon, Telemon->Telekhmon.
Burkina came from a country in Africa (Burkina Faso)
Lywnth is a play on my mother's name, Lynne
Aslyn is a version of Aislynn
Yatya came from the name of a child that was in my two year old class, Yatyn
Melath is a play on a greek family name (Melas)
Kiya is Egyptian, she was a queen at the time of Nefertiti
Rivkah is my Hebrew name (It translates to Rebeckah)
Late, I know, but I love hearing about names!
Jinya came from Jenny, just because I like that name (and very nearly got named it myself).
And speaking of ethnic names, I'm partial to Russian ones, thus Akim, Savva, and Akim's grandparents Egosha and Evgenia. Avin, a steward I had for a bit was also Russian.
Long ago I had a very sweet girl (hehe) called Ananna. Her name came from Inanna, a Sumerian queen of heaven and a symbol of the destruction of the indestructable. That, in turn, came to my attention several years ago when we very nearly started up a non-Pern PBeM and I was writing for the goddess of Death. Her temple was called Inanna.
Caishat's just a variation on Caitlin, which a good friend (a Jenny herself, actually) often used as a pseudonym.
Anyone ever notice how often the same people who are interested in Pern (and fantasy in general) are also interested in Celtic stuff? Maybe because so much of fantasy seems to be Celtic-inspired. I went to the local Highland games once (I danced...badly...) and half the guys there could pass for LoTR's Legolas. Anyhow. Just a thought.
*drools* Wish we had Highland games around here...
Let's not forget that there's no such thing as an 'original' idea either. I recently submitted a persona who's name turns out is in some Rawn book as well as in Tolkien--neither of which I've read, although I'd admit that since I've seen the movie, I might have heard it there. I'll have to rewatch it.
Oh, I recently saw a Joselyn get approved. Hello...that's Terran. I've a cousin named that.
*G* Hard to stick to the 'no usey the Terran/common fantasy namey' ain't it?'
~Nici
I'm my own name generater :)
Scriber...that one's obvious, he was a long work in progress and had already been introduced in another club before I took him out, and then he lived in my head for quite a while, but he's always been Scriber.
Roana - I liked the word Roan, and I was playing with the letters and moving them around, when I just said :razberry: and stuck an A on the end. :D
Sasima - she ahhh you know I think I started out with a bit of her name that I liked, but I changed it so many times before she was submitted that I can't remember anything about it. But it just stuck, and it works.
I love baby name books though. I found Dante and Case and all these other ones it there. I'm using those for a Stalker (he's a tall kangaroo/dog type thingy sona named Dante, but only after he's died) and then Case was my betta, but he died :sniffle:.
I made a list one time...O! I have to remember to return my library books cause now I want to go over some baby name books, Squee...
Here's you a funny, Nici, on the fantasy-book issue.
Actually two.
Many moons ago, when I was still rather new to pbeming, it took me FIVE tries to come up with a name the Persona Approver at that club (no, not Ridges, they weren't that strict) didn't associate with some fantasy novel. I'd have to say the woman had a mind like a steel trap for character names!!!
And in the funnier vein, I'm reading a novel by David B. Coe, and in one of the Prologue type chapters, the character has a lover named... Renelle. I read that section in major amusement, since the name's an ex-persona of mine.
Truly original names in fantasy are probably next to impossible. Eventually someone will like the look or sound of the syllables you chose at random, and viola! *g*
Oh - and a wonderful source of "Terran Names" that can be used in fantasy endeavors: http://www.webnursery.com/ (http://www.webnursery.com/) Sometimes I feel for the kids who have to learn to spell and pronounce those names!
Can't believe I forgot Raederle... I stole Raederle's name out of a book I read by Patricia McKillip :halo:. A very cliche character. A princess, red-haired, 'fiery', and the second-most beautiful woman in the country to boot! Wow, what an original character!
And a friend of mine made up Ranali's name. I, the unoriginal, asked her for inspiration. She asked for three consonants and two vowels, and Ranali was born. My next persona name is also invented by her. I just do not have an imagination. :confused: I think the only persona I have whose name I actually made up is K'far.
I also know a Joselyn, Nici. And it's funny how many variations of Teressa are in the club - Tarissca, Tarissa, Taressa (a very nice persona at OCH-BH - oh, how fun it would be to write for a female apprentice with Dyrbehersker, no?)
I didn't know that Jari was a RL name at all! I named Jarri that because... I forget why. It's also the name of the Hittite God of Disease, IIRC. Poor girl!
Kellwyn and Danu *are* celtic, or variations thereof. *g*
Firsa is a reincarnation of one of my first characters, and IIRC her name was based on the word 'fire'.
Gilas I had trouble coming up with. I think it was origionally based on 'Gilbert' which is an awful name, but somehow stuck. :P
And there are a lot of Terissa's! And an 'Yvonne' variation, which I think is awesome. ;) And one 'Sarah' that I know of (Tsaera).
I'm coming up a blank for the rest of my persoans at the moment, though!
I have a confession...any printed word is instant inspiration to me for a persona...sometimes to their detriment...
Kohler--you know, the faucets. Trilby caught this one! Poor man--and then I had to work backwards and pick out the family names etc...Leralira somehow lucked out...
Auren--Got that off the spine of some book that was on my scanner at the time...lol...
Lantha--derived from one of my really bad (as in evil) characters from my LKH chat rpg days.
Voltar--'He' said it sounded cool...and I was into 'v' and 'x' and 'z' names that day....and I'd just re-read an old DAW classic, Vazkor, Son of Vazkor by Tanith Lee...lol...so I REALLY had to buy a 'V' that day! ;)
N'klos--before Impression was Nikolos...derived from Nicholas, obviously. Very common name for a very uncommon persona...*g*
~Nici
Here's a great one. While I know that Camilia is a somewhat common name I kinda thought that it suited my persona.
It wasn't until last week I found out that one of the evil goats (she used to knock me over when I was 4 by head butting my on my butt) that my aunt used to have was named Camilia.
That's really strange. The other goat was named after some type of liquor. Don't remember which though.
We were flipping through a baby name book today, trying to name my kitten when I started to notice that a few (not a lot) of Anne McCaffery's characters' names appeared in the book.
Miriam in particulatr stood out. Apparently it means "Bitter" that gave me a good laugh.
Which just goes to show that even Miss McCaffrey has to start somewhere. :D I always got the feeling that she made up some of the names from the first book when she was in full-fantasy mode and then, when she went back to actually write about the first landing, had to deal with having some weird names for regular Earth people, since as far as I can tell Sorka isn't a very common name.
Karaya, comes from my email adress and a book I am in the process of writing. Ita just Araya witha K added.blush:
Zial is a name I made up for a diffrent book series I am writing. It just Popped out onto my notes one day. Go figure.:dunce: