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Dennis
Great Reader
9933 Posts |
 Posted - 23 Mar 2012 : 22:40:50
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Most names we read in fantasy are not easily forgotten because of how good they sound or how they remind us of the many things we wholeheartedly like...
What are your Top 10 Favorite Names in Fantasy? [Please indicate the gender and the books where they appear, just in case some folks are not familiar with them.]
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Every beginning has an end. |
Edited by - Dennis on 23 Mar 2012 22:42:02
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Dennis
Great Reader
9933 Posts |
Posted - 23 Mar 2012 : 22:41:26
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Here are mine:
1. Ayden (male, Song of the Fallen series by Rachel Haimowitz)
2. Elminster Aumar (male, Elminster Saga by Ed Greenwood)
3. Milamber (male, The Riftwar Cycle by Raymond E. Feist)
4. Seregil (male, Nightrunner Series by Lynn Flewelling)
5. Rivalen Tanthul (male, Return of the Archwizards Trilogy by Troy Denning and The Twilight War Trilogy by Paul S. Kemp)
6. Martris Drayke (male, Chronicles of the Necromancer by Gail Z. Martin)
7. Jace Belleren (male, Agents of Artifice by Ari Marmell and The Purifying Fire by Laura Resnick)
8. Damien Vryce (male, Coldfire Trilogy by C.S. Friedman)
9. Arthas (male, World of Warcraft novels)
10. Amirantha (male, The Riftwar Cycle by Raymond E. Feist) |
Every beginning has an end. |
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Kilvan
Senior Scribe
Canada
894 Posts |
Posted - 23 Mar 2012 : 23:26:40
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| Hmm, I don't have any top 10 yet, but the first name that comes to mind is Drasek Riven (Erevis Cale Trilogy). It just sounds good and for some reason, it fits the character perfectly. |
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Lord Karsus
Great Reader
USA
3737 Posts |
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Dennis
Great Reader
9933 Posts |
Posted - 24 Mar 2012 : 00:05:56
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quote:
Originally posted by Kilvan
Hmm, I don't have any top 10 yet, but the first name that comes to mind is Drasek Riven (Erevis Cale Trilogy). It just sounds good and for some reason, it fits the character perfectly.
Indeed. I like the name as much as the character, and probably should be in my list of 'Honorable Mention.'
quote:
Originally posted by Lord Karsus
-Can't say I have a specific list or anything, but I approve of all names that contain 'ae' somewhere in them.
Some I approve of (like Aeron), many I don't (like Galaeron). Though admittedly, it's likely more to do with my dislike towards the ugly - er, 'fair folk,' than the names per se. |
Every beginning has an end. |
Edited by - Dennis on 24 Mar 2012 00:08:30 |
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Aulduron
Learned Scribe
USA
343 Posts |
Posted - 24 Mar 2012 : 01:34:57
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| Off the top of my head,: Aragorn, Alustriel, Aisling Noon (WoT) (Yes, I guess I like names that start with A), Bruenor Battlehammer, |
"Those with talent become wizards, Those without talent spend their lives praying for it"
-Procopio Septus |
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Artemas Entreri
Great Reader
USA
3131 Posts |
Posted - 24 Mar 2012 : 03:13:02
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Here are a few:
Allanon, Garet Jax- Shannara
Kylar Stern- Night Angel Trilogy
Biagio- Tyrants and Kings
Drizzt- duh!
Jimmy the Hand- Riftwar
Eddard Stark, Tyrion Lannister- Song of Ice and Fire
Locke Lamora- Gentleman Bastards
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Some people have a way with words, and other people...oh, uh, not have way. -Steve Martin
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Dark Wizard
Senior Scribe
USA
830 Posts |
Posted - 24 Mar 2012 : 03:36:48
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I can't say I have a favorite that comes to mind immediately.
Ah, fantasy names, bit of a love-hate thing for me. Love when I see one I like. I love to make them up, but hate that I spend ridiculous amounts of time on them. |
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Dennis
Great Reader
9933 Posts |
Posted - 24 Mar 2012 : 06:54:34
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quote:
Originally posted by entreri3478
Jimmy the Hand- Riftwar
Isn't it rather common? |
Every beginning has an end. |
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Artemas Entreri
Great Reader
USA
3131 Posts |
Posted - 24 Mar 2012 : 12:26:50
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quote:
Originally posted by Dennis
quote:
Originally posted by entreri3478
Jimmy the Hand- Riftwar
Isn't it rather common?
There are MORE common names. There is an accountant at my company named Drizzt Smith.  |
Some people have a way with words, and other people...oh, uh, not have way. -Steve Martin
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Artemas Entreri
Great Reader
USA
3131 Posts |
Posted - 24 Mar 2012 : 12:28:51
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| I only put 9 on my list so i will add Durzo Blint from the Night Angel Trilogy |
Some people have a way with words, and other people...oh, uh, not have way. -Steve Martin
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Zireael
Master of Realmslore
Poland
1190 Posts |
Posted - 24 Mar 2012 : 13:50:09
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My favs:
1. Aragorn (male, LotR)
2. Tyrion Lannister (male, Game of Thrones)
3. Amlauril (female, Evermeet)
4. Lamruil (male, Evermeet)
5. Xhoron & Zhoron (male, Evermeet: The Island of Elves)
6. Liriel (female, Daughter of the Drow)
7. Viconia (female, Baldur's Gate)
8. Jaheira (female, Baldur's Gate)
9. Pharaun (male, War of the Spider Queen)
10. Ghenni'tiroth (female, War of the Spider Queen/Starless Night)
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SiNafay Vrinn, the daughter of Lloth, from Ched Nasad!
http://zireael07.wordpress.com/ |
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Lord Karsus
Great Reader
USA
3737 Posts |
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Markustay
Realms Explorer extraordinaire
USA
15724 Posts |
Posted - 24 Mar 2012 : 14:50:19
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In no particular order...
1) Aslan
2) Aragorn
3) Atreides (Dune)
4) Belgarath (The Belgariad)
5) Danica (Cleric Quintet - one of the few RAS names I like)
6) Elminster
7) Legolas
8) Malkith (Dark Elf, Marvel Comics)
9) Prometheus
10) Sauron |
"I have never in my life learned anything from any man who agreed with me" --- Dudley Field Malone
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The Hooded One
Lady Herald of Realmslore
5056 Posts |
Posted - 24 Mar 2012 : 15:01:42
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Ah, yes, Jimmy the Hand. Great name.
Was a great name for the first four gangsters who used it (one on the New York docks, the other three in Chicago, over about a century, making headlines from time to time), which is presumably where Feist borrowed it from. Two of them even managed to die in their beds, rather than in hail of bullets. 
love to all,
THO |
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Wooly Rupert
Master of Mischief
USA
36779 Posts |
Posted - 24 Mar 2012 : 15:28:15
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I don't know that I have a list of top ten favorite fantasy names...
But one I always liked was Trannus Kialton. I still think that was too cool a name to use on a throwaway character.
And even though the names are strange, I've always really liked the naming convention for Alias and her sisters. We have names for three of the sisters -- Zhara, Cat, and Jade More. Three of the four named "Alias vessels" (to use the term from the Realms Bestiary, Volumes 1 & 2 by Eric L. Boyd and Thomas M. Costa) have names that are common words. And the fourth may have a name that's a common word, as well -- Zhara is quite close in spelling to an Arabic word that means "star" or "flower".
That's part of the reason that I decided to name the Waterdhavian Alias vessel Sapphire -- I wanted to use that name, and it followed that naming convention. |
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Mournblade
Master of Realmslore
USA
1287 Posts |
Posted - 24 Mar 2012 : 15:41:35
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1. Elric
2. Thor
3. Darth Vader
4. Elrond
5. Sauron
6. Chewbacca
7. Drizzt
8. Aragorn
9. Galadriel
10. Cymoril
8. |
A wizard is Never late Frodo Baggins. Nor is he Early. A wizard arrives precisely when he means to... |
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Dennis
Great Reader
9933 Posts |
Posted - 25 Mar 2012 : 00:23:15
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quote:
Originally posted by Mournblade
2. Thor
Now, that's one I should also put on my Honorable Mention list. That's one of the names that fit well its character.
quote:
Originally posted by Lord Karsus
-Als'o, do'n't fo'rget t'hat 'all pr'oper fa'ntas'y na'm''es ne'ed 'a' fe'w ap'os't'ro'phe's for go'od me'a'sur'e.
It often annoys me, and not just because it appears like a naming convention for elves.
quote:
Originally posted by entreri3478
quote:
Originally posted by Dennis
quote:
Originally posted by entreri3478
Jimmy the Hand- Riftwar
Isn't it rather common?
There are MORE common names. There is an accountant at my company named Drizzt Smith.
And there's a baker I know named Liriel. |
Every beginning has an end. |
Edited by - Dennis on 25 Mar 2012 00:25:16 |
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Light
Learned Scribe
Australia
231 Posts |
Posted - 25 Mar 2012 : 02:47:44
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Only one springs to my mind.
1. Arkinas Gath (male, Baldur's Gate II: Shadows of Amn) |
"A true warrior needs no sword" - Thors (Vinland Saga) |
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Kentinal
Great Reader
4685 Posts |
Posted - 25 Mar 2012 : 03:15:20
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| F'nor, Dragonriders of Pern |
"Small beings can have small wisdom," the dragon said. "And small wise beings are better than small fools. Listen: Wisdom is caring for afterwards."
"Caring for afterwards ...? Ker repeated this without understanding.
"After action, afterwards," the dragon said. "Choose the afterwards first, then the action. Fools choose action first."
"Judgement" copyright 2003 by Elizabeth Moon |
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Thauranil
Master of Realmslore
India
1591 Posts |
Posted - 25 Mar 2012 : 14:32:29
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quote:
Originally posted by entreri3478
Here are a few:
Allanon, Garet Jax- Shannara
Kylar Stern- Night Angel Trilogy
Biagio- Tyrants and Kings
Drizzt- duh!
Jimmy the Hand- Riftwar
Eddard Stark, Tyrion Lannister- Song of Ice and Fire
Locke Lamora- Gentleman Bastards
What no artemis entreri!  |
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Thauranil
Master of Realmslore
India
1591 Posts |
Posted - 25 Mar 2012 : 14:51:23
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Galadriel - Lord of the Rings
Tyrion Lannister- Song of Ice and Fire
Drizzt- Surely there is no need to elaborate
Riven and Erevis Cale- Best named characters in the realms
Dujek Onearm- Fall of the Malazan Empire
Anomander Rake- see above
Caladan Brood- " "
Darth Vader- yes i know its not technically fantasy
Mask- great name for a god of thieves
Kaela Mensha Khaine- Warhammer 40k
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Wooly Rupert
Master of Mischief
USA
36779 Posts |
Posted - 25 Mar 2012 : 15:35:03
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quote:
Originally posted by Thauranil
Kaela Mensha Khaine- Warhammer 40k
Gods, I hate that name... Kaela is a girl's name, to me, and Mensha is just horrible. I would have liked the name a lot better if it was what I thought it was before I first saw it in print: Kaelamen Shakaine. |
Candlekeep Forums Moderator
Candlekeep - The Library of Forgotten Realms Lore
http://www.candlekeep.com -- Candlekeep Forum Code of Conduct
I am the Giant Space Hamster of Ill Omen! |
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Artemas Entreri
Great Reader
USA
3131 Posts |
Posted - 25 Mar 2012 : 15:36:32
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quote:
Originally posted by Thauranil
quote:
Originally posted by entreri3478
Here are a few:
Allanon, Garet Jax- Shannara
Kylar Stern- Night Angel Trilogy
Biagio- Tyrants and Kings
Drizzt- duh!
Jimmy the Hand- Riftwar
Eddard Stark, Tyrion Lannister- Song of Ice and Fire
Locke Lamora- Gentleman Bastards
What no artemis entreri!
Nah, love the character but the name doesn't do much for me |
Some people have a way with words, and other people...oh, uh, not have way. -Steve Martin
Amazon "KindleUnlimited" Free Trial: http://amzn.to/2AJ4yD2
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Wooly Rupert
Master of Mischief
USA
36779 Posts |
Posted - 25 Mar 2012 : 15:36:35
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| A couple of people have mentioned Tyrion Lannister... That is a great name. And he's one of my fave from the series, thus far, as well (I've read the first three books now). |
Candlekeep Forums Moderator
Candlekeep - The Library of Forgotten Realms Lore
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I am the Giant Space Hamster of Ill Omen! |
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Thauranil
Master of Realmslore
India
1591 Posts |
Posted - 25 Mar 2012 : 15:42:04
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| He is pretty much the only Lannister who commanded respect along with fear. The rest must make do with fear and deceit which forms a much weaker bond of loyalty. |
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Artemas Entreri
Great Reader
USA
3131 Posts |
Posted - 25 Mar 2012 : 18:14:07
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quote:
Originally posted by Wooly Rupert
A couple of people have mentioned Tyrion Lannister... That is a great name. And he's one of my fave from the series, thus far, as well (I've read the first three books now).
I love him. I need to remind myself when reading the series that he is a dwarf. I also think that the actor from the HBO series did a fantastic job in his portrayal. |
Some people have a way with words, and other people...oh, uh, not have way. -Steve Martin
Amazon "KindleUnlimited" Free Trial: http://amzn.to/2AJ4yD2
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Nicolai Withander
Master of Realmslore
Denmark
1093 Posts |
Posted - 25 Mar 2012 : 18:59:50
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I like the names of:
Justin Case
Ben Dover
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The Sage
Procrastinator Most High
Australia
31701 Posts |
Posted - 26 Mar 2012 : 01:39:29
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quote:
Originally posted by Wooly Rupert
quote:
Originally posted by Thauranil
Kaela Mensha Khaine- Warhammer 40k
Gods, I hate that name... Kaela is a girl's name, to me, and Mensha is just horrible. I would have liked the name a lot better if it was what I thought it was before I first saw it in print: Kaelamen Shakaine.
I don't mind Khaine, but it always struck me as odd that an alien race would have such a "human-sounding-name" for an entity they hold in great reverence.
Funnily enough, I think Mensha works better. |
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Entromancer
Senior Scribe
USA
388 Posts |
Posted - 26 Mar 2012 : 02:43:32
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Also, a before e. ;)
Rhamidarigaaz--Time Streams, Invasion, Planeshift (Mtg Novels. Male dragon.
Roland Deschain--The Dark Tower by Stephen King. Male.
Isak--Male, from The Twilight Reign by Tom Lloyd.
Kastan Styrax--Male, from The Twilight Reign by Tom Lloyd.
Sang-drax--The Death Gate Cycle by Margaret Weis and Tracy Hickman;. (It? Serpent-dragons were never discussed as having a given gender).
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"...the will is everything. The will to act."--Ra's Al Ghul
"Suffering builds character."--Talia Al Ghul |
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Dennis
Great Reader
9933 Posts |
Posted - 26 Mar 2012 : 03:51:56
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quote:
Originally posted by Entromancer
Also, a before e. ;)
Rhamidarigaaz--Time Streams, Invasion, Planeshift (Mtg Novels. Male dragon.
Long one-word names often strike me as stupid, and irks me to no ends. When I read that name in the Invasion Cycle, I made a mental note to cut it into 'Rham.' |
Every beginning has an end. |
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Topic |
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Top 10 Favorite Names in Fantasy
