D&D Name Help

[how-obscure.livejournal.com]

My brother is starting a Dungeons & Dragons campaign and he's working on naming the big NPCs so he looked to me for help. He wanted English names from roughly 1400-1600s. Now, during that time, most men were named John, Thomas, William, Richard, or Robert and most women were named Elizabeth, Joan, Margaret, Alice, Agnes, or Isabel. Other names existed, of course, but my research indicated these names comprised roughly 70% of the population. I did give him lists of and links to other names that were used, but a lot of them are still common today. That's what I seemed to find anyway.

While he appreciates what I sent him and finds it very helpful, he would like some more unusual names. He needs to name kings, mages, dukes, etc. I guess he's looking for aristocratic names and old names that are unusual. I'm in the process of making a list, but I thought I'd recruit you guys to give me some of your favorite names of this type.

Off the top of my head, I've come up with: Alistair, Barnaby/Barnabas, Bertram, Cedric, Cyril, Cornelius, Felix, Hyperion, Phineas, Rupert, Silas, and Theodore

Thanks!

Comments

[arrien.livejournal.com]

Thaddius is the first that came to mind.

Found a neat list:

http://www.s-gabriel.org/docs/bruges/given-list.html

[arrien.livejournal.com]

more general link related to the one above
http://www.s-gabriel.org/names/

[sandtree.livejournal.com]

Echoing the above poster, the Medieval Names Archive is going to be his best bet. A couple more specific links (the one given above is for Bruges, which isn't English):

For women: http://www.s-gabriel.org/names/talan/reaney/

Men and women (very common, common, slightly less common): http://www.s-gabriel.org/names/christian/fairnames/givennames.html#men

The section of the site for English names 1450-1600: http://www.s-gabriel.org/names/eng1450to1600.shtml

The name Cedric was invented in the early 1800s. Not sure how much realism he's going for, but it's something to consider.

[how-obscure.livejournal.com]

Those links are actually where I got some of my original list I sent him. Thanks anyway though. It was a really useful site!

I know not all of the names I listed are from the time period I mentioned. It's a fantasy world so there's no timeline for it to match. Now that he's seen the list of names used in the time period similar to his setting, I think he wants some more unusual names to throw in. :)

[sandtree.livejournal.com]

Well, if he's willing to dig a bit more in those links, there are definitely a lot of uncommon names listed.

[http://users.livejournal.com/___heyvanity/]

Does he want real names or kind of made up names? I tend to use made-up names in my D&D games...

[how-obscure.livejournal.com]

Well, he did ask for some Middle-Earth names as well so I guess made up names are fine. I think he's just looking for names with a certain kind of feel...I'm just not sure how to describe the vibe. Heh. If you have any real or "non-real" names feel free to comment! (Just let me know if they're ones you made up, from another fantasy world, or whatever so I can let him know.)

[http://users.livejournal.com/___heyvanity/]

Hmmm well I'll give you the links I found... not sure how credible they are.

http://www.themiddleages.net/people/names.html

Ailwin
Aldred
Alured
Amaury
Amalric
Baldric
Bertram
Bennet
Blacwin
Helyas
Engeram
Eustace
Fordwin
Gamel
Giles
Hamond
Harding
Herlewin
Leofwin
Masci
Odo
Osbert
Ranulf
Samer
Savaric
Theobald
Waleran
Wimarc

Adelina
Albreda
Aldith
Aldusa
Annora
Avoca
Basilea
Celestria
Dionisia
Estrilda
Fina
Golda
Gundrea
Idonea
Leticia
Amabilia
Mazelina
Nesta
Petronilla
Primeveire
Roesia
Sabelina
Wymarc

http://medieval.stormthecastle.com/medieval-names.htm

Tybalt
Borin
Fendrel
Hadrian
Barda
Terrin
Letholdus

Hildegard
Maerwynn
Godiva
Gussalen
Angmar
Ayleth
Cedany
Malkyn

http://answers.yahoo.com/question/index?qid=20110113153949AA433AP

Here's a list of different types of names that may be useful:

http://www.gaminggeeks.org/Resources/KateMonk/England-Medieval/index.htm

[how-obscure.livejournal.com]

Thanks for all of the links! Historical accuracy isn't his priority so I'm not too worried about site credibility. He's just looking for names with a certain sound and I think these links will be quite useful. :)