Random Names

[willpell]

Here is one page of 200 names from the Random Name Generator by Sly Flourish. I will be going through this list and assessing the quality of these names on a five-point scale. The best names (five out of five stars) will then be turned into NPCs for my Whiteleaf setting, at which point I will give this thread the [Whiteleaf] tag.

1/5 - Kylie Dirtwind
2/5 - Collys Willowsorcerer
3/5 - Meryell Jewelsteel
4/5 - Turstin Swordwalker
4/5 - Fauna Dragonmaul
3/5 - Gianna Dustriver
1/5 - Euenos Treebrissle
2/5 - Kleobis Mudwhisper
3/5 - Tanaquil Killcaster

Liam Songchuckle
Sinope Crowcaller
Eva Thornboard
Typhon Grayheart
Catillus Gloomrend
Benedict Wyrmgust
Purnell Graveheart
Dodona Gentlestinger
Robyn Stonestar
Jago Fireforger

Miles Shieldbelly
Rianna Foxson
Gloriana Scalesinger
Carmen Flameglove
Ismay Kingbuckle
Eli Hawkchange
Thomas Needlespear
Esdeline Drumlaugher
Memphis Catglacier
Jonathas Rainkick

Hilda Goblintromp
Dylan Knifebane
Agnys Rattoes
Valentine Silversong
Petronilla Flowerknee
Paige Doomchest
Josephine Starstorm
Alys Wiselover
Arabella Moonhammer
Dauid Herohouse

Gembert Latebound
Ruby Oxhair
Richarde Shadowsoul
Estrild Bronzeear
Emmet Whitehowler
Tyche Goosecowl
Tarvorwen Quickstone
Ella Lawgaze
Belath Greenborn
Jackson Earthdance

Paz Glasstalker
Bernaith Hollychaser
Aisakos Broadmaker
Pike Doghide
Eustace Arrowflinger
Tantalos Ebonkiss
Mydrede Lionchewer
Juliana Leafcleaver
Grimbald Duskfinger
Ian Dawncrippler

Claire Longrazor
Pelias Grasskin
Ealdwine Riddlebright
Sysley Freesharp
Audrey Cloudfang
Davyd Stalebrow
Bacchus Halfknee
Dekelos Emeraldtooth
Sophie Hillslicer
Bernaith Anvilrock

Redwald Eagletraveler
Jago Bluesmile
Maisenta Trailcloud
Pieria Forgeseeker
Maddeline Gravelclaw
Alkmene Harphand
Katelyn Redgiver
Admiranda Millblade
Petronilla Spellcry
Reona Stormboot

Phrixos Titanviper
Esmour Siegebottom
Ysmeina Lightteeth
Jemime Wormsail
Rosa Spiritharp
Carmen Monsterrain
Sreda Bearrunner
Cared Nightcutter
Thelxion Bullspur
Radolf Brightwing

Derkynos Spinetouch
Gethrude Faeriehelm
Adalyn Swiftvalley
Rose Ghoulblood
Syndony Strifebrood
Ysabel Icewhisker
Blavier Gustcloak
Aldous Macehood
Oswyn Irontrail
Gerhardt Wolfhoof

Morys Northmaster
Colin Drakehound
Deryk Felcarol
Alison Springthumb
Ethan Hairsmasher
Estienne Copperbond
Birch Spiderhunter
Cameron Giantfall
Hebir Tigerwillow
Blake Frostwatcher

Elyzabeth Goldstorm
Inferi Angeltongue
Halla Tallknocker
Lillian Sharpdazer
Drake Beastdancer
Wyatt Glorystalker
Cecily Foebeard
Anna Darkspur
Jezebel Oaksinger
Hadrian Mountainrock

Pike Gemtouch
Sadie Ghostheart
Helenor Nightsmile
Leopold Stonesoother
Dryope Riddlecarol
Galateia Titancutter
Theophane Monsterwatcher
Adrian Macegust
Arianna Duskbrissle
Adwait Copperstorm

Caplan Redtromp
Wineburg Greendance
Pelinne Harpknee
Ywain Shieldglove
Berte Oxcaller
Aigyptos Bearborn
Kyknos Flowertraveler
Deitrich Needlesmasher
Echo Graveknee
Echetlos Draketalker

Arnald Hawkseeker
Ischys Mountainharp
Zephyrus Rathand
Lily Goosefinger
Aegipan Hillknocker
Swift Siegedazer
Deloys Northhood
Taran Dragontongue
Hilith Silverfall
Linyeve Gustsorcerer

Leah Eaglechange
Nicia Bluemaster
Tristan Spinefang
Vorlan Doomrain
Gloriana Scalegaze
Raoul Grassmaker
Metis Whitebane
Elatus Foehammer
Griffith Thornsong
Fawkes Shadowwind

Wyatt Lawvalley
Clancy Strifeslicer
Margry Wolfhound
Paul Dawnteeth
Austin Staleboot
Caroline Glassgiver
Echo Spiderwillow
Pieria Arrowwalker
Leopold Treewhisper
Tiphina Goblinbottom

Hildegard Swordblood
Oberon Wormriver
Aitne Anvilrazor
Ismenia Hairstalker
Kaunos Bronzehunter
Aigyptos Ironcloak
Wadard Wisechuckle
Cunovin Gentlestone
Ozias Gloryblade
Hebir Crowheart

Margeria Broadforger
Samson Kniferunner
Maya Sharphouse
Wymond Spiritclaw
Tristan Ebontrail
Reagan Springsharp
Aldebrand Halfcleaver
Avelyn Beasthoof
Piers Songtooth
Norman Drumcowl

Caspar Gravelbright
Rychyld Icecry
Margarete Tigermaul
Eunomos Giantstinger
Gared Catchewer
Carson Cloudviper
Cameron Smilebuckle
Symond Longchest
Joseph Goldhowler
Hippotes Lightrend

[willpell]

Forgot all about this. Time to do another set of ten.

1/5 - Kylie Dirtwind
2/5 - Collys Willowsorcerer
3/5 - Meryell Jewelsteel
4/5 - Turstin Swordwalker
4/5 - Fauna Dragonmaul
3/5 - Gianna Dustriver
1/5 - Euenos Treebrissle
2/5 - Kleobis Mudwhisper
3/5 - Tanaquil Killcaster

1/5 - Liam Songchuckle
3/5 - Sinope Crowcaller
2/5 - Eva Thornboard
5/5 - Typhon Grayheart
3/5 - Catillus Gloomrend
4/5 - Benedict Wyrmgust
2/5 - Purnell Graveheart
1/5 - Dodona Gentlestinger
4/5 - Robyn Stonestar
2/5 - Jago Fireforger

Whee, that was more fun than I remember it being the first time. Expect batch 3 sometime before the middle of 2019.

[Isuru]

Interesting idea. I've been messing around with random name generators and forgot about Sly Flourish's script.
I hadn't thought about giving each output a rating to sort through them, I just tend to pick out ones that stick out on a repeat process to winnow down the choices.

What is your criteria for a 5/5 name?

[willpell]

Whee, that was more fun than I remember it being the first time. Expect batch 3 sometime before the middle of 2019.

How about that, it actually worked out that way....

What is your criteria for a 5/5 name?

I'm guessing you're asking because I only have one in the previous batch of 20, when statistically there ought to have been as many as four. The answer to that is simply that I have high standards. I'm not going to spell out exactly what those standards are, because I don't want to be lawyered about doing something inconsistent; my way of evaluating names (or anything else) isn't meant to be something that anyone can live up to in any predictable fashion, but rather a "I'll know it when I see it" methodology.

Still, more for my own benefit than because I want to be held to it, I'll lay out a VERY vague guideline to what I mean by these "star" ratings (as of my current evaluation of a crop of 10, based largely by looking over the previous two batches).

1: Sounds dumb, clumsy, unfortunate-in-implications, or otherwise awful. Definitely do not use!
2: Uninspired and awkward - typical of the names that Wotco's writers often used when filling out a book with padding.
3: Cliché but kinda neat - more harmonious-seeming versions of category 2, exemplified by the deliberate parody names chosen in Order of the Stick. (The difference between "Haley Starshine" and "Redgar Blacksword" is a subtle one, I'll admit that.)
4: Above-average - I find myself disagreeing with some of my past decisions in this regard, with some of them perhaps deserving a 3 and others maybe managing to reach a low 5.
5: Near-perfect, absolutely deserving of use. Should probably be something that automatically inspires me to *want* to use it, or at least seems deserving of going into a novel or the like, something that I wouldn't be moved to criticize *at all* if I came across it.

1/5 - Kylie Dirtwind
2/5 - Collys Willowsorcerer
3/5 - Meryell Jewelsteel
4/5 - Turstin Swordwalker
4/5 - Fauna Dragonmaul
3/5 - Gianna Dustriver
1/5 - Euenos Treebrissle
2/5 - Kleobis Mudwhisper
3/5 - Tanaquil Killcaster

1/5 - Liam Songchuckle
3/5 - Sinope Crowcaller
2/5 - Eva Thornboard
5/5 - Typhon Grayheart
3/5 - Catillus Gloomrend
4/5 - Benedict Wyrmgust
2/5 - Purnell Graveheart
1/5 - Dodona Gentlestinger
4/5 - Robyn Stonestar
2/5 - Jago Fireforger

1/5 - Miles Shieldbelly
3/5 - Rianna Foxson
4/5 - Gloriana Scalesinger
2/5 - Carmen Flameglove
1/5 - Ismay Kingbuckle
2/5 - Eli Hawkchange
2/5 - Thomas Needlespear
1/5 - Esdeline Drumlaugher
1/5 - Memphis Catglacier
1/5 - Jonathas Rainkick

So, looks like no new 5's this time. But I should probably finally act on my previous commitment to actually make an NPC out of the single 5 we've had so far, Typhon Grayheart. One character by himself isn't enough to make this a [Whiteleaf] thread as yet; we'll see if I can find any more good names. If, somewhere in the year 2047, I actually finish this list and haven't found enough of these randomly generated names to be worth anything as-is, then I may begin carving them apart and assembling them into new combinations which I like better (for instance, in that last name, "Jonathas" is a pretty solid 4, and mixing it with halves of the surnames of the other 1/5s from the same batch, I came up with "Catshield" and "Raindrum" as distinct possibilities, though neither is probably better than a 2).