What Do You Name Your RPG Characters?

[Jolly Co-operator]

For some reason, I find myself using the name "Kosk" a lot. I don't know why I came up with it; it just randomly popped into my head one day, and I decided I liked the sound of it.

More recently, I've been using the name "Anomander", in reference to a character from the book series I'm currently reading. Even though the characters I make never match the awesomeness of their namesake, I still like to use it.

I'm also fond of the name "Pearl". I first used it in Pokemon Pearl, as a little joke. The protagonist of Pokemon Red was named "Red", so I thought I'd name the protagonist of Pokemon Pearl "Pearl". While the joke was admittedly unfunny and I should be ashamed of myself for thinking of it, I did come to like the way the word sounded when used as a name. It has a short, snappy nickname-ish sort of sound to it.

(Coincidentally, Pearl is also the name of another character from the book series I'm currently reading. Kind of funny, considering I first played Pokemon Pearl about five years ago, and only started reading that series a few months ago.)

 

[Maximum Bert]

I always make anew name for every character and its just what I think of at the time however with the FF series I always name the first character I control ROG (yes all capitals) if I can name them anyway.

I dont know why I decided to do this but I did and every nameable hero(ine) is now called ROG in the FF games and thats the way its gonna stay, oh and I never use the name elsewhere in any game.

 

[suntt123]

I use the name Jaxon Heights. That's the name of one areas in one of the Need for Speed game (though with a 'ck' instead of an 'x'). I saw the name and thought "THAT WOULD MAKE A SICK NAME!!"

 

[IllumInaTIma]

I think my most common name in RPG is "Kane". For some reason I find that name really badass. Closely followed by "Heffer" because I love Rocko's Modern life.

 

[Jimmy T. Malice]

Names I can remember: Manleigh Aledrinker (Skyrim), Jerizor (Dark Souls), Bolthur (WoW)

 

[StormShaun]

I usually choose from these ...

Shaun (my name)
Sean (Another way to say my name. Name of my Halo Spartan)
Shawn. (Fallout 3/NV character)
Shorn. (Fire Emblem me.)

So yep, I choose those ones.
If not I would go with something similar to these.

 

[KarmaTheAlligator]

Most used name is "Trouble" or "Lil'Trouble", because I play however I want, regardless of rules and such. And it works for both male and female characters.

 

[FalloutJack]

In cases where a prior suggestion is not given, I tend to fill it in with characters that I have created.

The MC for Persona 3 is where I inspired one Hakuro Kuroda, though a different version of him is an inquisitive and strange hat-and-trenchcoat wearer who seems obsessed with the weird and unique because he himself is actually kind of ordinary.

The MC for P4 I tend to give a western name (Evan Ramsey) because he doesn't look overtly Japanese, so he could be like only part-so. His light hair and use of glasses make him fit for a character of mine who puts knowledge and education first in his life.

The Demi-Fiend of SMT fame gets the name Kazu Harada with the nickname 'Ricochet', because he takes after a rather serious-faced mercenary character. (Also used him as a gun-user in the SMT: IMAGINE onnlone game.)

The MC for the original Persona takes the name of my legendary 'impossible child' character, Drake Kazuna. (He's adopted.) Drake was part of a much-bigger RP/story thing in which his parents were old friends who'd been handpicked for powers of light and dark that should never mix. They did, and so Drake happened. I set him in Persona because part of his story DID have him taken in by a part-Japanese family for a while.


In Fallout games (Yes, they do count.), I used Jack alot, hence my title here. Although, I didn't for New Vegas because technically Jack #3 was still alive while the other three games were removed by entire generations. He was called Andrew and he looked like David Hasselhoff.

Cases where I re-named characters who had names were Red-XIII (FF7) to Nanaki because that's his real name, Bartz (FF5) to Joe because he reminds me of another character of mine called Joe Hockner, Robo (Chrono Trigger) to Rusty because of the Big Guy And Rusty show (as well as Frog to Glenn because he's frigging Glenn), HARV-5 (Shadow Madness) to Reaper-X because he's a scythe-wielding robot and it sounds cooler,

 

[nevarran]

Just a random name that comes to my mind. Usually influenced by a book I've read, a move I've seen, whatever...

 

[spartandude]

My go to male name is Gideon, no idea why it just is
My go to female name is Lynah, again i have no idea why. i guess i just like these names

 

[DaKiller]

I was lazy and used the random name thing in Star Wars: Knights of the Old Republic and got the name Jace Nasa. I liked it so much that it's the name I use for everything now.

 

[purplecactus]

I usually have a hunt around for something in a different language. Usually it ends up being something in Gaelic, for example, if I've created something mage-like then I'll look up associated words and pick whatever sounds best. I hate the naming process, I really do, I put way too much thought into it. Apart from when I went through a phase of naming characters after the colour of the top I was wearing at the time...

 

[blink]

PEOPLE USE ACTUAL NAMES??

I always just name my character something insulting and childish

"Drongo eater"
"Senior tacoburrito"
"McDoodleButts"
and my personal favourite:
"I, farted"
which is perfect for when NPC's have an exclamation and then say your name. "Oh, I farted, you came just in time!"

heuheuheuheuheu

 

[Dominic Crossman]

Mc(whatever character name is) Shorty
Or a swear word, I can childish like that

 

[Anathrax]

Er... Probably whatever the default name is. Sometimes I like using the name Gismor or Ulthane. Or perhaps asiodhasipd if I don't give a damn

 

[Xaio30]

Got a pair of names paired up with just as many archetypes of characters.
I like to pretend that it is the same character whenever i use that particular name.
Gives it all a broader perspective, you know?

 

[Arcane Snowman]

It entirely depends on the game and the setting in which I'm playing, as well as the feel I want to evoke in the character.

 

[The Funslinger]

I think my most common name in RPG is "Kane". For some reason I find that name really badass. Closely followed by "Heffer" because I love Rocko's Modern life.

I assume Heffer is always a tank.

OT: Well, in Elderscrolls, my first character is always a brown haired Nord called Valdyr Svellherra.

It's Norse, with Valdyr meaning Wolf, Svell meaning ice, and Herra meaning Lord.

In Pokemon, I always name my characters after myself.

 

[chikusho]

"Kosk" "Anomander", "Pearl".

Kosk sounds really unique and awesome. I approve. I haven't heard of the source material of Anomander, but linguistically it sounds just as unique as "Kosk". If a bit less so. It gives the character some _character_, if you know what I mean.
Pearl, while a name that is used IRL from time to time, can help define the type of character you are playing. I'm thinking a neutral to lawful good that prioritizes loyalty as a core value.

I usually spend _way_ too much time searching for a name for my characters. Mostly I go for something from either history, science or mythology, and focus on those that have some relation to the character I'm going to play. Although, I have some go to, nonsensical names I keep around just because they sound cool.
Some examples:

Diablo 3

Female Monk, named: XiWangmu, after a chinese goddess known as the "Western-" or "Queen Mother", which I was first introduced to in the sci-fi epic Xenocide, by Orson Scott Card.

Male Witch Doctor: Houngan, the term for "male priest" in Haitian Voodoo.

Female Demon Hunter: Durga, the hindu goddess known as the invincible goddess of power.

World of Warcraft

Female Undead Warlock: Arocheae, the latin name for a poisonous mushroom.

Female Undead Priestess: Mechtild, a historical medieval mystic and nun.

Male Death Knight: Mowbray, named after 14th century Thomas de Mowbray, a brittish noble turned rebel who was beheaded in his struggles.

 

[fenrizz]

If male: Jurij, Yurij or Fenriz

If female: Guderia

I tend to use the default names if supplied though, like in Final Fantasy and Pokemon.