What do you name your characters in RPGs?

[gunshottrigun]

Originally Posted by gigaloki

i vote for anime char names xD.. specially those who resembles the character im playing with haha

Yeah I used to do the same thing back in the day, but whenever someone would talk about an ingame character using the default names I would be so lost.

[Kaze]

I voted for anime character and other.

I recently started using Klarth in RPG's, such as Brave Story for the PSP.
But I used to just use Yamada Kaze.


I don't use my own name, it wouldn't fit
It would just be awkward, playing as yourself.

[OceanBlue]

I'm too enamored by the idea of the character being a unique person, so I always go with canonical names or try to find a plain name that fits the universe if there isn't a default.

In MMOs, I tend to use obscure references to anime or add twists to words from something like the periodic table.

[psycho_luny]

hi, i ussually use the same names, those are psycho and angeal, no matter wat type of game i play those are the only names for me.

[Sugar_Prayer]

Hm... Usually after names of my favorite anime characters.

I have a lot of Mai's and Rin's in the games where I play as a female.

Playing as a male, I usually name by character either Kazu or Shinji.

[DragoonKain3]

I usually go for canon names. Never was a namemaker.

But there's some games in which there isn't a canon name (Dragon Quest and Devil Survivor I'm looking at you), in which case I just go with something like Ryuuno 'Ryuu' Kishi if the game forces you to name the character in western order and its set in Japan. Hey, how can you blame me? My first RPG was Breath of Fire (aka Ryuu is MC), and I particularly liked Dragon Warrior I-III (Warrior doesn't seem to have equivalent in Japanese surnames, but I've seen Kishi a couple of times, which I guess is close enough)

Either that or I name the character Denim Powell or Lans Hamilton/Tartare if it's set in a more European/Medieval atmosphere, and its painfully obvious where those two comes from.


Interestingly, here's a site that lets you 'convert' your name into Japanese
http://rumandmonkey.com/widgets/toys/namegen/969

Mine's
石丸 Ishimaru (round stone) 大輝 Taiki (large radiance)
or
三村 Mimura (three villages) 直樹 Naoki (honest wood)
depending on which order I put my name.

Dunno how accurate it is, but it sure is amusing.

[Benoit]

I use the given names. If they're not given, I use my own name for the main character, and friends' names for the other party members.

That Japanese name generator is interesting. However, it doesn't specify how you should enter your name. Family name first? It only mentions the order of the Japanese outcome. I tried both combinations and had different results.

[Vexx]

I have a list of favorite names that I use in any MMO where it isn't totally against the setting. I have special monikers for each class (e.g. my rogue tends to get the same name, etc). Obviously I'm not going to list them here because they're very rarely used by others and I almost never run into a name conflict.

I readily admit being unpleasant towards people who name their characters with griefing intent or with offensive names no matter what the setting

[OceanBlue]

About the Japanese name generator, I don't think it matters what order you put your name in. I used my whole name [family name last] and only my first name after, and both times it came up with the same result. It probably only takes the first word you input.

[Shadow Kira01]

I always use the default name unless there isn't any.

[Kazu]

If I have to make name I choose japanese names that sound good together,but most of the time I name characters after famous rock stars,I found it funny how I named my character in P3 Kurt Cobain,if you know what I mean

[Vincentre]

Depends really.

If it's a game that a Default name is given, then I'll stick with it for my character.

However if it is a game that you have no choice but to give them a name, E.G. Persona 3, then I'm gonna go with whatever the character reminds me of in an anime most likely.

[Kytherno]

I generally use French words for names (pretty weird, I know). But sometimes I'll do different things for names. Sometimes random food items.

[Ending]

Default, because if it's an RPG, I want to immerse myself to the role of the protagonist. So keeping the original name goes with the theme.

If there isn't any, I usually use "Raul." I think it should be a passable, western replacement for the generic "Ryu." Right?

[Larthak]

Originally Posted by Vexx

I have a list of favorite names that I use in any MMO where it isn't totally against the setting. I have special monikers for each class (e.g. my rogue tends to get the same name, etc). Obviously I'm not going to list them here because they're very rarely used by others and I almost never run into a name conflict.

I readily admit being unpleasant towards people who name their characters with griefing intent or with offensive names no matter what the setting

This.


I find it funny that people can't/don't want to use their imagination and have a nice, original sounding name for their chars.

Oh and I absolutely hate those *L0rD_of_DarKne$$-666* types of players.

[TinyRedLeaf]

I use the default name if one is provided, as is usually the case for most JRPGs. If one is not provided, I create my own. Yes, that's right, my own. All my characters have completely original names. I usually spend a fair amount of time thinking of their back stories as well, and I try to match the name with the particular style and feel of the game.

Examples include:

Fallout: Joshua Grant (gifted engineer/technician who volunteered to search for a water chip in post-apocalyptic California).
Baldur's Gate: Ardel (half-elf fighter/mage, an orphan raised in Candlekeep)
Neverwinter Nights: Lentin Calemaya (human fighter/mage, an aristocratic dandy from Waterdeep who got caught in Neverwinter politics)
Final Fantasy XI: Islien d'Avignon (human red mage, adopted son of an exiled elvaan adventurer and now the hero of Bastok)
World of Warcraft: Belvedor the Enlightened (disgraced human paladin who fled the field of battle while escorting refugees in Tirisfal Glades, and who now seeks redemption)
Magic - the Gathering: Lind Merovin (a sky [blue-white] mage who found himself in Alara when his planeswalker spark abruptly ignited during an extraplanar storm at sea)


My stabs at original Japanese names:

Shin Megami Tensei - Nocturne: Kuroda Shinji 黒田 真治 ("black paddy field", "true governance")
Persona 3: Hayashi Makoto 林 誠 ("forest", "sincere")
Persona 4: Muramoto Kiyoshi 村本 清 ("base of village", "pure")



Why do I go through the trouble? Because I enjoy roleplaying — my characters are not me and I am not my characters; they have their own motives and desires, and I usually make in-game choices based on how I imagine my characters would behave in that given situation. Particularly for MMORPGs, I usually end up working in-game experiences into my characters' life stories as well. Islien, for example, is easily my most fully developed character to date. My notes for his character history span over 10 Vana'diel years by now.

RPGs are just a lot more fun and meaningful when I play them this way.

[Dist]

I usually go after my favourite anime character. ( Shana ). But this is like 99% of the time in use, so I might have go with something like iShana or something. However, some MMO's do not allow small letters and then big ones consecutively so I might have to pick entirely different name.

Lately I've been also using Phantom, but not surprisingly, that's nearly always in use.

When creating a character in MMO, I usually waste HOURS trying to think what she/he should look like ( usually she ), ofc get first name so I can customize it after the character. But they always end up being used anyway -_-.

Shana actually was available in Aion CB, but there wasn't hair style ( and color ) fitting her so I had to screw that idea too.

So far the names used : Shana ( or iShana, lShana and so on ), Auron ( or some variations ), Phantom and it's variations. Also created female Templar called Nighthawk on Aion CB today. Dunno where that name even came from, got bored while thinking one.

Why is it this hard to pick a goddamnit name for a character >.<.

Edit : This game was about RPG's, not MMORPG's o.O. Oh well, I guess MMO's could count. For RPG's I use default names, or in occasion : Soul, Lloyd or Phantom again.

[chikorita157]

I usually leave them to the default names, unless it's games like Pokemon... which I use a name of my favorite anime characters...

Then again... I haven't seen a RPG recently that allows you to name your characters anymore... (Example: Final Fantasy XII, Eternal Sonata)

[Crimrui]

If the name is given I go with that, but if it's blank then I usually go with my own name. Depends what game I'm playing anyway, if it's medieval type of game I go with some fantasy one but if it's anime type RPG I choose some Japanese one.

[stevetaylor30]

I give them my cat's name, and then other people I know cat's name