Sumerian necklaces and headgear discovered in the royal (and individual) graves, showing the way they may have been worn. British Museum. (Photo credit: Wikipedia)

Finding a character’s name can sometimes be the hardest part of building a character. If you’re looking for something different from the usual fantasy sources and more pronounceable that a random name generator, you may find something here you like.

Beyond ‘Fred’ is an occasional series that provides lists of names from real-world cultures, both past and present. In other posts, I’ve covered everything from Italian to Ancient Egyptian. This time, we’re covering names from ancient Sumer. Some of these names are names of gods and goddesses, some are names of kings, and some are names of ordinary people. A few lists didn’t even have names broken down by gender or seemed to be used for either gender. For that reason, I’m including a third category I don’t normally use: unknown gender or gender-neutral names.

An important note: I’m listing names that I think sound cool for rpg game purposes. I’m not worrying about historical accuracy. If you’re looking for a name for historical re-enactment, please check out my list of sources at the end of this post. I also don’t usually cover name meanings, but again, most of my sources list those. Finally, I tend to stay away from names that are currently in common usage. I figure if you were interested in those, you wouldn’t be looking at this list.

Male Sumerian Names

• Aradegi
• Aradlugal
• Babum
• Balih
• Dadazig
• Dumuzid
• Entana
• Enki
• Gilgamesh
• Gudea
• Hablum
• Hadanish
• Ibranum
• Iltasadum
• Kalbum
• Ludari
• Luninni
• Mageshgetil
• Nanni
• Puzur-Suen
• Tuge
• Undalulu
• Yarlangab
• Zizi

Female Sumerian Names

• Aea
• Anunit
• Bau
• Elutil
• Ereshkigal
• Gemekala
• Gesthinanna
• Inanna
• Ishtar
• Kishar
• Lahamu
• Mesh-he
• Nammu
• Nigbau
• Puzur-Nirah
• Uttu

Sumerian names of unknown gender (or gender-neutral)

• Bauninsheg
• Meania
• Sheshkala
• Urusilim
• Zimu

Sources

• Female Sumerian Names by *SeekHim (DeviantArt)
• Sumerian King List (Wikipedia)
• Sumerian Names – Part 1 (Nook of Names)
• Sumerian Names – Part 2 (Nook of Names)
• Sumerian Names A to Z (Our Baby Names)
• Top Sumerian Names

Related articles

• Sumerians, Anunnaki, Gods, Planet Nibiru And Giants! (mysteryworlds.wordpress.com)
• The Sumerians Then! (lessermystery.wordpress.com)
• Sumerian Disappearance (romaissarimi.wordpress.com)
• Inanna’s Return and Bread and Waters of Life By Deanne Quarrie (feminismandreligion.com)

It’s often difficult to come up with names for characters. I’ve seen enough variations on Tolkein names to last me a lifetime, not to mention those based on movie characters and other SF/Fantasy series. But where can you go to find a name that’s different, but not overly so? How about from another culture, historical or otherwise?

Beyond ‘Fred’ is an occasional series that provides lists of names from real-world cultures, both past and present. In other posts, I’ve covered everything from Italian to Ancient Egyptian. This time, we’re covering Persian names, ancient and newer.

An important note: I’m listing names that I think sound cool for rpg game purposes. I’m not worrying about historical accuracy. If you’re looking for a name for historical re-enactment, please check out my list of sources at the end of this post. I also don’t usually cover name meanings, but again, most of my sources list those. Finally, I tend to stay away from names that are currently in common usage. I figure if you were interested in those, you wouldn’t be looking at this list.

[Photo courtesy of hsivonen via Flickr Creative Commons]

Ancient Persian Names

Male

• Aêtava
• Airyu
• Bêndva
• Byarshan
• Chamrav
• Dahâka
• Drâdha
• Datis
• Erezavant
• Erezrâspa
• Frâchithra
• Frânya
• Gaevani
• Gaomant
• Hanghaurvah
• Hvova
• Isvant
• Jannara
• Jishti
• Kaeva
• Karesna
• Mathravaka
• Mazdayasna
• Nanarasti
• Neremyazdana
• Paeshata
• Parshinta
• Ravant
• Sadhanah
• Sâma
• Stivant
• Taurvati
• Tura
• Usan
• Uxshan
• Vâgerezan
• Varâza
• Vyâtana
• Xexes
• Xshtavay
• Yima
• Zairita
• Zavan

Female

• Ahoo
• Amytis
• Atosa
• Banafsheh
• Dughdhô-Vâ
• Eredat-Fedhrî
• Franghâd
• Freni
• Ghazal
• Humayâ
• Hutaosâ
• Hvôv
• Jagkrut
• Kanukâ
• Khoshfarberan
• Lila
• Narges
• Narpestan
• Paêsanghanû
• Pouruchista
• Sarvenaz
• Thriti
• Tûshnâmatay
• Urûdhayant
• Ushtavaitî
• Uxshentî
• Vadhut
• Vanghu-Fedhrî
• Zairichi
• Zeheratzade

Newer Persian Names (19th century)

Male

• Abadi
• Adarvan
• ANOSH
• Bahadur
• Beramji
• Burzin
• Chaxshnush
• Cirrus
• Dadar
• Delir
• Dorabji
• Edalji
• Erach
• Erachsha
• Fardunji
• Firdous
• Freortis
• Gashtaham
• Goberu
• Govad
• Hardar
• Hirji
• Hutan
• Isatvastra
• Ishvat
• Izadyar
• Jahandar
• Javidan
• Jehangir
• Kai
• Kavas
• Kurush
• Mahdat
• Mervanji
• Mohor
• Nadarsha
• Nevazar
• Nima
• Nush
• Omid
• Orvadasp
• Palash
• Pishkar
• Puladvand
• Raham
• Rashna
• Rushad
• Sahi
• Shahen
• Surin
• Tahmtan
• Temulji
• Tizuarshti
• Ukarji
• Ushah
• Ushedarmah
• Valash
• Varshasb
• Vaspar
• Wehzan
• Yadgar
• Yazad
• Yima
• Zal
• Zand
• Zirak
• Zurvan

Female

• Abanhir
• Aimai
• Arzu
• Avabai
• Bahar
• Banubai
• Behruz
• Chaman
• Cheherazad
• Deldar
• Dinaz
• Dinbanu
• Farida
• Franak
• Friyana
• Gohar
• Gulbai
• Gilshan
• Homa
• Hormazbanu
• Hutoxi
• Iranbanu
• Irandokht
• Jahanaray
• Jarbai
• Javaneh
• Kaniz
• Khubrui
• Khushnam
• Lalagul
• Laleh
• Lilya
• Mahzarin
• Meherbai
• Morvarid
• Narenj
• Nezhat
• Nilufer
• Omid
• Oranous
• Orkideh
• Parendi
• Parvin
• Puyendeh
• Rambanu
• Roshni
• Ruhae
• Samannaz
• Shirin
• Sudabeh
• Tehmina
• Thrity
• Tishtar
• Ushtavaity
• Vahbiz
• Vira
• Virbanu
• Yasmin
• Yazdin
• Yazdindokht
• Zarin
• Zer
• Zoish

Sources

• Arabian Nights/Ancient Persian Names (Girls)
• Ancient Persian Girl Names
• Avesta names; Old Persian names
• Original Persian Names
• What are Your Favourite Ancient Persian Names?

Other ‘Beyond Fred’ Posts

• Ancient Egyptian
• Ancient Greek
• Ancient Roman
• Anglo-Saxon
• More Anglo-Saxon
• German
• Italian
• Russian
• Victorian English

Greek writing from ancient greek red figure pottery (Photo credit: Wikipedia)

Looking for a character name that sounds distinctive but doesn’t look like it came out of a random name generator? How about one from Ancient Greece? Often the best names come from real life. Beyond ‘Fred’ is an occasional series that provides lists of names from real-world cultures, both past and present. In other posts, I’ve covered everything from Italian to Ancient Egyptian.

An important note: I’m listing names that I think sound cool for rpg game purposes. I’m not worrying about historical accuracy. If you’re looking for a name for historical re-enactment, please check out my list of sources at the end of this post. I also don’t usually cover name meanings, but again, most of my sources list those. Finally, I tend to stay away from names that are currently in common usage. I figure if you were interested in those, you wouldn’t be looking at this list

Ancient Greek Names

Male

• Abantes
• Agapetos
• Akakios
• Aktis
• Alexios
• Bakis
• Basileios
• Bion
• Burrhus
• Daetor
• Dareios
• Diodoros
• Diokles
• Dryas
• Echemmon
• Eirenaios
• Epiktetos
• Eustorgios
• Eyrx
• Galenos
• Gennadios
• Glykon
• Gurgos
• Harpagos
• Hesiodos
• Hyakinthos
• Hylas
• Iasos
• Iphitus
• Isidoros
• Itheus
• Kadmos
• Kallias
• Karpos
• Kyrios
• Laomedon
• Linos
• Loxias
• Lykos
• Makarios
• Melampos
• Metrophanes
• Myron
• Narkissos
• Nereus
• Nikias
• Nyctinus
• Okytos
• Olympos
• Origenes
• Orthaeus
• Pammon
• Pankratios
• Phaidros
• Philokrates
• Sabyllos
• Seleukos
• Skiron
• Solon
• Talaemenes
• Thales
• Timaios
• Tros
• Xanthos
• Xenokrates
• Xenon
• Xuthos
• Zagreus
• Zenodoros
• Zopyros
• Zosimus

Female

• Achaia
• Agape
• Aikaterine
• Anthousa
• Basiane
• Berenike
• Bito
• Briseis
• Damaris
• Delias
• Demetria
• Drosis
• Eirene
• Euantha
• Eudokia
• Euthymia
• Evadne
• Gaiane
• Galatea
• Galene
• Glyke
• Haidee
• Hagne
• Helike
• Hypatia
• Iaera
• Ino
• Isidora
• Issa
• Kallistrate
• Kallixeina
• Korinna
• Kynna
• Lais
• Lasthena
• Ligeia
• Lyra
• Megara
• Melitta
• Mykale
• Myrrine
• Nemerte
• Nesaea
• Nikaia
• Nysas
• Oitane
• Olympias
• Oreithyia
• Otonia
• Pales
• Pelagia
• Phile
• Pylia
• Raisa
• Rhene
• Rhode
• Rhodope
• Sebasteia
• Semele
• Sostrate
• Sotera
• Thalassa
• Thais
• Timo
• Tryphosa
• Xanthe
• Xanthippe
• Xene
• Xenia
• Zenobia
• Zita
• Zosime
• Zoe

Hints on pronunciation

• Always pronounce the final “e”– it makes an sound like “eh”.
• “Ch” is always pronounced with a “k” sound.
• “Th” is pronounced smoothly, like in “this”

Sources

• Ancient Greek Names – Male. This page contains hundreds of Ancient Greek mens’ names. A good resource if you’re doing a game set in Ancient Greece or don’t like any of my choices.
• Ancient Greek Names – Female. As full a resource as it’s male counterpart, above. Lists of women’s names from the ancient world are often sparse. This is a rare find for female names.
• Behind the Name: Ancient Greek Names. Mixes male and female names together. Also includes the meaning of the names. Not as big a selection as the page above.
• Encyclopedia Mythica: Pronunciation Guide. Lists many names with their pronunciations.
• Hints on Pronouncing Ancient Greek Names. A few quick pronunciation guidelines.

Other Beyond ‘Fred’ Posts:

• Ancient Egyptian
• Ancient Roman
• Anglo-Saxon
• More Anglo-Saxon
• German
• Italian
• Russian
• Victorian English

Everyone has trouble coming up with character names, at least occasionally. Especially GMs, who frequently have to come up with names on the spur of the moment. That’s what this series, “Beyond ‘Fred’” is all about: providing lists of names from other times and cultures so you can find a name that feels right for the time and place of your game.

In this series, I’m more interested in finding names that capture the feel of various game settings. Historical accuracy is not a factor here. In the spirit of my new Castle Falkenstein campaign, here’s a list of names common in Victorian England and America:

Male Names

• Aaron
• Alonzo
• Ambrose
• Barnabas
• Bartholomew
• Bernard
• Byron
• Cecil
• Cyril
• Clarence
• Clement (Clem)
• Clinton (Clint)
• David
• Edward (Ned)
• Edwin
• Eldon
• Ernest
• Ezra
• Francis
• Franklin
• Fredrick
• Gabriel
• Garrett
• Harland
• Harrison
• Henry
• Horace
• Isaac
• James
• John
• Jasper
• Julian
• Lawrence
• Leander
• Louis
• Maurice
• Maxwell
• Merriweather
• Micajah
• Morris
• Nathaniel (Nate, Nathan, Nat)
• Nimrod
• Oral
• Orville
• Patrick
• Perry
• Peter
• Reuben
• Richard (Dick, Rich)
• Samuel
• Simeon
• Thaddeus
• Thomas (Tom)
• Victor
• Walter
• Wilfred

Female Names

• Abigail (Abby)
• Agnes
• Beatrice
• Charity
• Charlotte
• Chastity
• Constance
• Dorothy (Dot)
• Elizabeth (Bess, Betsy, Bessie, Eliza, Liza, Lizzie)
• Eudora
• Eva
• Fern
• Fidelia
• Frances
• Flora
• Geneve
• Genevieve
• Grace
• Hattie
• Helene
• Hester
• Irene
• Ivy
• Jessamine
• Josephine
• Judith
• Katherine
• Lenora
• Letitia
• Lily
• Lottie
• Margaret
• Maude
• Mercy
• Minerva
• Molly
• Nellie
• Patsy
• Parthena
• Permelia
• Phoebe
• Rowena
• Rufina
• Sarah
• Sarah Anne (Sarah Elizabeth)
• Sophronia
• Theodosia
• Victoria
• Winnifred (Winnie)

Biblical names were very popular in the Victorian Era, as were virtues (such as Chastity or Hope), and flowers (primarily for women). Both boys and girls were also given “nature” names, such as Forrest, Fern

Sources

• Victorian Baby Names
• Victorian Baby Names – Girl – WikiParenting
• Victorian Era Names, A Writer’s Guide
• Victorian Names

Other “Beyond ‘Fred’” posts:

• Beyond ‘Fred’: Ancient Egyptian Names
• Beyond ‘Fred’: Anglo-Saxon Names for Characters
• Beyond ‘Fred’: More Anglo-Saxon Names
• Beyond ‘Fred’: German Names for Characters
• Beyond ‘Fred’: Italian Names for Characters
• Beyond ‘Fred’: Roman Names for Characters
• Beyond ‘Fred’: Russian Names

You can’t have a character without a name. Yet, sometimes, creating the name is the hardest thing about making a character. “Beyond ‘Fred’” is a series that lists names from history and other cultures to help you find that perfect character name.

This time, we’re covering Anglo-Saxon names again, they’re just that cool.  I’m doing something I haven’t done before in this series, and that’s giving some pronunciation guides, along with the name’s meaning. That’s because Anglo-Saxon names have meanings that are so perfect for fantasy games. My pronunciations may not be exactly perfect, but they’ll work for fantasy games.

Because of that, I’ve repeated some of my favorite names from the first Anglo-Saxon names post, so that you have an idea of how to pronounce them. Of course, if it’s fantasy, you can pronounce these any way you want to .

As always, I am more concerned with “flavor” than historical accuracy. So, without further ado….

Male Names

Æðelbald (A-thel-bald): nobly bright
Ælfhere (Alf-he-re. These are short “e”s, as in “red”): elf warrior
Ælfred (Alf-red): elf counsel
Ælfwine (Alf-win-e): elf friend
Æthelwulf (A-thel-wülf): noble wolf
Arlys (AR-loos): honorable
Baldric (Bald-ric): bold power
Banan (BAN-an): slayer
Baylor (BAA-oo-lore): horse trainer
Beorhtraed (BE-ore-tread. Short “e”, like “bed”): bright counsel
Betlic (BET-lick): Splendid
Boden (BO-den. With a short “o”, like “pot”): messenger
Cædmon (CAD-mon. With a short “o”, like “pot”): poet
Cæna (CHAIN-a): brave, fierce, keen, warlike
Canute (KA-noot-e): knot
Cedric (CHED-rick): renown leader
Dægal (DA-gall): dweller by the dark stream
Deogol (DE-o-gol): secret
Deorwine (DE-or-win-e): dear friend
Drefan (DRE-van): trouble
Eadmar (E-ad-mar): happy and illustrious
Earh (E-are): coward
Edwyn (ED-woon): valued
Faran (FAR-ann): advances
Firman (FIR-man): traveler
Frithuric (FRI-thu-rick): peace ruler
Fyren (FOO-ren): wicked
Galan (Gaa-laan): sing
Gar (GAAR): spear
Gifre (GIF-re. Short “i”, like “gift”):  greedy
Gim (GIM. Short “i”, like “gift”): gem
Godwine (GOD-win-e): God’s friend
Grindan (GRIN-dan): sharp
Halwende (HALL-wen-de): lonely
Hengist (HEN-yist): stallion
Ida (ID-a): rich
Irwyn (IRR-woon): sea lover
Kenric (KEN-rick): fearless leader
Landry (LAN-dree): ruler
Leodgar (LE-odd-gar): people’s spear
Lufian (LUV-ee-an): love
Magan (MA-gan): competent
Merwyn (MER-woon): good friend
Nyle (NOO-le): desire
Osbeorn (OS-beh-arn): divine bear
Rædan (RAW-dan): advisor
Raynar (RA-oo-nar): warrior of judgement
Raulf (RA-ulf): house wolf
Rowe (Rah-we): red-haired
Sar (SAR): pain
Scead (SKE-ad): shade
Scur (SKOOR): storm
Seleferth (SELL-e-ferrth): hall life
Selwyn (SEL-woon): fitting friend
Sherard (SER-ard): glorious valor. I’m guessing this is actually “Serard”, since I’ve never seen an “sh” sound in true Anglo-Saxon. It’s usually a modern interpretation
Sigefried (SIG-e-fri-ed): conquering peace
Temman (TEM-man): tame
Þunor (THOO-nar): thunder
Thurgis (THOOR-yis): Thor’s hostage
Wassa (WAS-sa): satyr(?)–uncertain about the exact meaning of this
Wilfrith (WIL-frith): resolute peace (my actual guess would be “stern friend”)
Winfrith (WIN-frith): friend of peace
Wulfric (WÜL-frick): wolf ruler

Female Names

Æðelþryð (A-thel-throoth):  noble threatener
Ælfgifu (ALF-gi-voo): elf gift
Ælflæd (ALF-lad): elf beauty
Æryn (AR-oon): elf-like
Ardith (AR-dith): good war
Bemia (BEH-mih-a): battle maiden
Bysen (BOO-sen): unique
Cate (KA-te): innocent
Cendra (KEN-dra): knowledgeable, understands
Cwen (KE-wen): queen
Cyneburga (KOO-ne-burr-ga): pledge of kindred
Darel (DAR-el): little beloved
Eadhild (E-ad-hild. The first “e” is a short e): rich battle maid
Eadlin (E-ad-lin): princess
Edita (E-dit-a): joyful
Eldrita (ELD-rit-a): prudent advisor
Erna (ER-na): reserved, shy
Faina (FA-in-a): joyful
Frithuswith (FRI-thoos-with. Both “i”s are short): peace strength
Gisa (GI-sa): hostage
Hreða (HRE-tha. The “hr” is an unvoiced r. Say ‘H’, then ‘r’ very quickly): an Anglo-Saxon goddess
Hrothwyn (HROTH-woon. The “hr” is an unvoiced r. Say ‘H’, then ‘r’ very quickly): famous joy
Leola (LE-ola. The “o” is short, like in “pot”): deer, swift (as a deer)
Maéda (Ma-ee-da):  maiden
Mildryth (MILLED-rooth): mild pledge
Muriel (Muh-ri-el): myrrh, perfumed
Ora (AH-rah): money
Orfa (AH-fah): courageous
Rowena (RAW-en-a): white skirt
Synne (SOON-ne): gift of the sun
Wilona (WILL-ahn-a): hoped for
Ymma (OOM-ma): work

[Image courtesy of micronova via Flickr Creative Commons]

Sources

• Anglo-Saxon Baby Names & Anglo-Saxon Names
• Female Anglo-Saxon Names
• Guide to Pronouncing Anglo-Saxon, A
• Male Anglo-Saxon Names
• Regia Anglorum: Authentic Names

Other “Beyond Fred” Posts

• Beyond ‘Fred’: Ancient Egyptian Names
• Beyond ‘Fred’: Anglo-Saxon Names for Characters
• Beyond ‘Fred’: German Names for Characters
• Beyond ‘Fred’: Italian Names for Characters
• Beyond ‘Fred’: Roman Names for Characters
• Beyond ‘Fred’: Russian Names