NPC Name game...

[Imperioratorex Caprae]

In playing games that allow you to edit NPC names (e.g. X-COM) do you find yourself going with a specific character set, original names or do you just not bother?
My examples:
In X-COM (the original, haven't got around to playing the new one all that much though its wonderful) I tend to name my peeps after X-Men characters... I'm an X-Men mark, sue me.
In Worms (almost every iteration) my team consists of Angelic and Demonic names (Uriel, Azrael, Gabriel, etc.)
In RPGs which allow NPC naming I tend to be original, but recurring names: Damiana, Dweera, Zeveen Ro (strictly Star Wars female character named after an TTRPG character I created years ago)...
So what are your popular choices?

 

[Ldude893]

I usually pick original names, and try not to repeat them when applying NPC names for other games. But usually, I just rely on the random name generator.

I'm never naming a video game character 'Cosmos' again. After saving Earth in one round of XCOM EU, I'd hate to disrespect the memory of that awesome psychic sniper who almost ALWAYS has a killing shot.

 

[Vern5]

My gaming persona is generally Vern so I just tend to make up names that use the same four letters or basic sound.

Variants include: Vern, Vernis, Varyn (This one is for Dunmer in TES games), Ervin, Ven, Naryv (For fantasy girls), etc.

I think the most fun I've had with this is when I named myself "V for Verndetta" while I was playing Counterstrike: Source.

 

[lRookiel]

I either include names from the Baldur's gate series or from my own personal friends, which sucks if they die but it does give me some enjoyment

 

[Tom_green_day]

I found in XCOM letting my troops have the random names gave them their own personalities and lives, I prefered that.

 

[tippy2k2]

Generally, I will name the NPC's after friends. If the characters are established characters with their own names (like Final Fantasy 7), I will let them default.

I have a XCOM Let's Play here on The Escapist so I use forum names for that but I will usually use friends names.

 

[DoPo]

I usually choose a random game, if possible. Unless I really want to have a theme going on but that's rare.

In Worms (almost every iteration) my team consists of Angelic and Demonic names (Uriel, Azrael, Gabriel, etc.)

My worms are named in alphabetical order, so I know which comes after which And the first one is Agent, the second one is Plan B, because those are the best names ever: "Agent does this or that" and the ultimate "It's time for Plan B" (alternatively "Plan B kills a worm", "Plan B missed", etc). I don't have a pre set names for the rest, I just go with something that makes sense. Although, D is usually for Doctor.

 

[ultrachicken]

Usually I go for a theme. For example, in FTL I always name the energy being aliens after atomic particles, and in XCOM I usually name the close-quarters assault classes after melee weaponry.

 

[Hazy992]

First example that pops into my head is calling your rival in Pokemon something stupid like 'Dickface'.

I think I called my rival in Diamond 'Gunther' just 'cause.

 

[JET1971]

I always name my game characters "Stupid" because I usualy just end up doing stupid shit like throwing cans at metro cops in HL2 so they will chase me, too bad I cant name my character in that game lol.

 

[MasterMasamune]

In Disgaea, I name all of my custom units after Final Fantasy characters.
In Pokémon, my party is named after Greek and Roman gods, while the PC and rival are given their canon names because I'm boring.
Back when I played Harvest Moon, my dog was always named after a Persona 4 character.
In Rune Factory, though, I went with random fantasy-sounding names for the PC. The only exception to that was RF3, where I went with the default name because a friend of mine has the same name.

 

[josemlopes]

They are usually Dude, Random Guy, Bro, NPC...

If its a medieval game it will be something like Sir. McDouchebag, Random Peasent...

My main character is usually something pornographic though

 

[Ulquiorra4sama]

In Pokemon i named my party after gods of various myhtologies depending on what'd be suitable.

In Worms i name them as such: Baker, Pertwee, Tennant & Smith. See if you can figure out what that's referencing >.>

 

[Maximum Bert]

Generally just name characters whatever I feel like at the time but in Final Fantasy games I always name the main character Rog whenever possible dosent matter what sex they are they are always Rog. Also never use that name in any other game.

First time I played FFVII I named Cloud `Rog` Barrett `Rogs Pal` Tifa `Rogs Gal` and then I just went numerically with `Rogs Pal 2`, `Rogs Pal 3` etc ah good times.

 

[Mr Fixit]

I always have to have a Bob & Steve at least. I'll pick a few other specific ones, but mostly just something random.

 

[YingDerpington]

If the character in question to be named happens to be a massive badass and could probably tackle an entire platoon by himself then I feel obliged to give them latin names, inspired by their use for many a Space Marine in WH40K. Whenever I play a squad based game I always make sure to take the 2 most epic guys I have and call them Alpharius and Omegon and make them my elite go to guys for when all else fails.

If I have to play a character that uses a mixture of cunning and quick killing I often name them Corax. Similarly, any magical characters must be called Magnus or Kyras. All this assumes the characters are human though.

Foreign species characters I prefer to name them something that matches up with names suited to their race (like Dah-Jee for an argonian I made in Skyrim).

Absolutely all of this goes out the window though if I ever get myself dragged into online games, most of the time I end up calling myself YingDerpington. Or Ying.

 

[Owyn_Merrilin]

I usually keep the random names -- it's one of my favorite little aspects of emergent gameplay. In fact, mods that add new names and descriptions to the random tables are usually one of the first things I download when I get a game that has them. I've got one for FTL that adds 400 names and a few new random events.

 

[E3137]

I usually name characters with overly average, old or normal names, such as 'Pete', 'Dave', 'Steve' and 'Alan'. It just seems funny to have the world being saved by Dave rather than someone with a wild and exotic name

 

[Clowndoe]

Whenever I name anything, I go for the first thing that pops into my head, type it as fast as possible, and leave-in any typos I make.

Generally I end up with a lot of 4-letter words in combination with body parts. Like mOReRibd