One day I aspire to write a fantasy series, I'm currently working on a short story at the moment but I'm struggling to come up with original names. Anything I DO think of is trite and the kind of name you'd expect in any generic fantasy book, which I obviously don't want. So if you have any ideas for fantasy names (or any other fictional name for that matter) then post 'em here! Thanks in advance.
are we talking about names for different races? Or only human? If you want stereotypical tolkein-esque fantasy names, pick up a copy of the Dungeons and Dragons player's handbook, it lists tons of names, as well as things that might help you in physical description, language description, etc. Here's a few suggestions off the top of my head: Human, Male: John Daniel Thomas Garton Kett Torren Human, Female: Brenna Leigh Ella Kathie Elven, Male Quell Lysoth Slaeth Kael Thuelth Aelth Elf, female Estallanessa Quellenthana Sannatenna Sennatani Gannastenni Dwarf, male Bretok Tarkon Kodlas Lotton Dennot Dwarf, Female Britten Ellten Dannit Kennan Bartik
Pretty much for fantasy, all you need to do is take some syllables you like and put it together, or take a word you like and change some letter and sounds around. It should be about what you like and not about whether it is trite or not. I came up with my user name by just throwing syllables together. Lets see, your username can become...Venidish, or Videnish, and that's only switching the letters around. *does not want to share my personal list* ::Random names off the top of my head of places, peoples, etc.:: Almira Rilus Amil Alriscentia Rifalden Olveris Flirinir Efitia Perenea Narlferesthis Okies, too lazy to think of anymore. Have fun.
I suppose there's always Behind the Name. I usually liked to have themes for my stories- in the current one, commoners have typical English names while the upper classes have a mix of continental European names and more unconventional ones.
Think of the type of race, and then think of a language that fits it. For elves, I would want to use French or Latin words. Or some other romantic language. For a more ruff species, like Drawfs, perhaps German, Arabic, Hebrew, or some other gutteral language. Be sure to pick easy to prounce words. You can find foreign words, and then alter them. Beresheet, in the beginning. Then you can name a character Bresh, Baresh, Beresh, Brosh, Rosh, Rashet, etc.
