Nifflas' Support Forum

Released Games => Knytt Underground => Pre-release topics => Topic started by: Nifflas on March 08, 2011, 19:55:51

Title: Character name
Post by: Nifflas on March 08, 2011, 19:55:51: Still need a good name for the main character. It was originally meant to be Mi but I scratched that when I realized it's too similar to what Nintendo calls the Wii avatars. It's a bit of a shame though, 'cause I imagine her having a very short name and that one sticked.

As with any game character I do, I do not imagine a standard English name. The game industry have too many of those already, and characters (apart from enemies) from other places than America and Europe are heavily underrepresented.

Figuring out a name is always a project. I think I found Saira at this site (http://www.behindthename.com/). They have a neat random name generator too (http://www.behindthename.com/random/), it's at least good for laughs. I selected "Feminine" and checked "Rapper" and "Hippy" and got "Queen Playa Lovedream" and "Puff Freak VanillaKilla Solardropper" (she's not a rapper btw, I picked that option for fun) . I have to put a character somewhere in the game with the second name just for the randomness of it, it's gonna be a dolphin crystal new age hip-hop dj girl. I got some nice names when combining "Chinese" with "Transformer" too, Shui Hot Rod Xun type of stuff.
Title: Re: Character name
Post by: nat1192 on March 08, 2011, 21:18:13: Looks like an Anatu to me.
Title: Re: Character name
Post by: Grookie on March 08, 2011, 21:49:28: Some which I've invited: Alessye, Krillam, Suanna, Åmmanie, Hilgerbura
Ooh and some short: Ulj, Hüt, Ünna, Åéna, Myrgn

This might look very silly XD
Title: Re: Character name
Post by: egomassive on March 09, 2011, 03:10:17: Nairi (Armenian) country of rivers
Maina (Indian) bird
Meena (Indian) blue gem stone
Megha (Indian) cloud
Isra (Arabic) travel at night

I like Megha best, even though I'm not sure how it's pronounced.
Title: Re: Character name
Post by: LPChip on March 09, 2011, 09:21:11: For some reason, when I look at the character, the first name that pops up is:

Sue
Title: Re: Character name
Post by: Miss Paula on March 09, 2011, 12:53:46: I like Ava, as far as I remember it means "water" in old german or something. and I know a girl of that name who's kind of a hippy and has lovely curls and sometimes dreadlocks.....
Aya sounds nice too and is also short. :P

and my boyfriend's suggesting Tiana and Tsé. weeeeeeee
X)
Title: Re: Character name
Post by: Widget on March 09, 2011, 14:10:37: Quote from: Miss Paula on March 09, 2011, 12:53:46
and my boyfriend's suggesting Tiana and Tsé. weeeeeeee
X)

Maybe just Tia. I'm sure I've come across that one somewhere.. at some point :^^:
Title: Re: Character name
Post by: jetio4 on March 09, 2011, 14:40:48: Isla is a feminine Scottish given name, a variant of the name Islay, which is the name of an island off the west coast of Scotland. It is also the name of two Scottish rivers.
Idk, just a random name.
Title: Re: Character name
Post by: jimj316 on March 09, 2011, 14:48:09: I made a program once that can generate random words that are always pronounceable, based on criteria such as exclude hard/soft sounds, number of syllables etc. (once, it generated "ewarhgai", showing how much my programs care for their creator) I'll see if I can salvage it from my old HDD, or else remake it.
Title: Re: Character name
Post by: Yukabacera on March 09, 2011, 17:21:36: I like Ava and Nairi.

=|=
Title: Re: Character name
Post by: Nifflas on March 09, 2011, 17:27:13: I wonder how or if it changes how the player percieves the character if (s)he names her when starting a game.
Title: Re: Character name
Post by: jetio4 on March 09, 2011, 18:28:51: Wellllll.....
I normally name characters after myself. If I'm naming a female, I'd be in trouble.
How about you have one or more preset names, and those appear if you choose a "no idea for name" button or something. Like Mother 3, and possibly earlier games in the series.

Edit: Just used that random name generater, got "Pia". Thought it sounded decent for her.
Title: Re: Character name
Post by: egomassive on March 09, 2011, 20:46:05: Default names are useful for talking about a game. Without one we'd have to call her the Player Character from KnyttWaDF. Also, I perceive nameless playable characters as soulless. With a name I can imagine she has a history reaching back to her birth, rather than the moment I started playing.

I prefer using the developer's carefully chosen name since I don't know what the character is like when a game starts. I also prefer when the name is unusual so I don't associate the character with people I know, and then my perception of the character isn't altered by anything outside of the game.
Title: Re: Character name
Post by: LPChip on March 09, 2011, 21:49:55: I agree with Egomassive. Everyone talks about Juni and everyone knows this is Knytt Stories. You talk about Barn, and you talk about Knytt. If the name isn't decided, you automatically have to revert to the game itself, making it less personal towards the game.
Title: Re: Character name
Post by: Gorfinhofin on March 09, 2011, 21:54:18: Ava sounds good to me.
Title: Re: Character name
Post by: sergiocornaga on March 10, 2011, 06:56:38: I also quite like Ava.
Title: Re: Character name
Post by: PONTO on March 10, 2011, 10:03:39: LPChip can thus call her Ava Tar.

This came to me: Mara
Title: Re: Character name
Post by: Nifflas on March 10, 2011, 10:24:15: Haha, errrm, that doesn't have the best associations. clicky (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Mare_%28folklore%29) and clicky (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Mara_%28demon%29) ;)
Title: Re: Character name
Post by: mato on March 10, 2011, 15:16:11: Zoe
which is greek for "life"

or Neda which is supposed to be a greek river godess. more river god names here:
http://www.theoi.com/Potamos/Potamoi.html

Brainstorming for names is fun but I'm having too much fun with it and have trouble picking one.
Title: Re: Character name
Post by: AA on March 10, 2011, 21:49:18: Since you were going to name her Mi, why not call her Fa (the next musical note)? X)

Ava sounds good, although it reminds me of a certain detergent.

Other random names I thought of: Une (from Alraune), Gita, Fia
Title: Re: Character name
Post by: jetio4 on March 10, 2011, 22:32:13: I approve of Fia or Fa... :/

Idk why, but I don't really like Ava...
Title: Re: Character name
Post by: sergiocornaga on March 11, 2011, 00:54:26: Zoe might be my second choice...
Title: Re: Character name
Post by: Pick Yer Poison on April 01, 2011, 15:16:04: Mina?
Title: Re: Character name
Post by: Nifflas on April 01, 2011, 15:30:48: Actually, I like that one. Perhaps that's one I should go for? :turtle:
Title: Re: Character name
Post by: egomassive on April 01, 2011, 22:18:29: Quote from: egomassive on March 09, 2011, 03:10:17
...
Maina (Indian) bird
Meena (Indian) blue gem stone
...

I was so close. :)
Title: Re: Character name
Post by: Zelakon on July 26, 2011, 21:31:07: I hope my input isn't too negative here, but Mina sounds pretty similar to Juni. Is that really what you want?
Title: Re: Character name
Post by: PeppyHare4000 on July 26, 2011, 23:51:44: Elena... I don't know of a name to think of

I don't think i would of thought of Juni as a main characters name...
Title: Re: Character name
Post by: Nifflas on July 27, 2011, 14:24:55: Zelakon: Yeah, it's probably too similar. The name Mi got stuck quite early, I still like that name best though then people will think I stole it from Nintendo and removed an i X). Mina was sort of similar to the original name so I guess I liked it for that.

Elena is a nice name, I know one :)
Title: Re: Character name
Post by: Threrra on July 27, 2011, 16:00:52: ...Regarding Mina. People could think you stole it from Nintendo and removed a 'd'. (--> Midna)
Or has nobody played Zelda:Twilight Princess? ;)

No, seriously, I understand the urge to have a unique name.
I sometimes have the same problems with characters.
Then you make something up.
Then you have a wonderful, beautiful, unique name with some 'k's and 'y's in it.
Then, people come and ask how to pronounce it. C)p

I personally like 'Mi'. It just fits in there, in the grand ancient Knytt scheme. Gather 'round, let me explain: :^^:
After all, it will be the third 'major knytt character' after (ummm..,) the first knytt and juni.
In japanese, three is written as　三, which has the readings さん(-->san) and み(-->mi).

I have some more japanese/chinese analogies at hand,
but this post would become quite large, so this shall suffice.
Title: Re: Character name
Post by: Mr Fish on July 27, 2011, 17:10:02: I theink she should be called Nora...
Title: Re: Character name
Post by: Zelakon on July 27, 2011, 19:51:15: Well - Ava is a character from a RuneScape quest, and Naira is too similar to Naija (from Aquaria).

My friend suggests Zecora but I reckon that's a little too lengthy. She appears somewhat African so I'd imagine some hard, double-consonant effect (like Nkiru or Ssanyu) but those lack the femininity you want to capture.

Whoever suggested Tsé, I think that fits quite nicely!
Title: Re: Character name
Post by: Dj Gopher on July 27, 2011, 20:02:38: It's rather interesting I think that almost everyone's name idea has an I + A combo.
Very Junglesque :P
I noticed that when my first thought was Sia or Sya (See - uh), and then saw other people posting Tia, Mina, Fia..

I also thought of Kia or Kya (Key - uh), but that is very similar to this. (http://avatar.wikia.com/wiki/Kya) (Pronounced Kai - uh)I don't think the reference is necessarily a bad thing, though, as they both appear to be born to more native customs, and both (appear to be) separated from larger civilization.

Sia/Sya and Kia/Kya are still my top choices, though :)

Edit:
I also like Tsé, edited in response to Zelakon :P

Edit again:
I tried out that random name generator and I think I found some nice ones:
Nagi (http://surnames.behindthename.com/name/nagi)
"Variant of the Arabic Naji, from an Arabic word meaning 'close friend'."
Tariro (http://www.behindthename.com/name/tariro)
"Means 'hope' in Shona."
Title: Re: Character name
Post by: Nifflas on July 27, 2011, 21:42:17: Nice ones!
Title: Re: Character name
Post by: Mr Fish on July 27, 2011, 21:44:47: have you made any desicions yet?
Title: Re: Character name
Post by: LPChip on July 27, 2011, 22:18:01: Quote from: Mr Fish on July 27, 2011, 21:44:47
have you made any desicions yet?

I'm very sure he will post so if he does. So feel free to suggest more names.
Title: Re: Character name
Post by: Grookie on July 27, 2011, 23:10:27: Hmm will the Ball and the Knyttes do have different names?
XD I think so.

So what about Ingrid? Or some familiar forms, such as Ina or Inka. I had a classmate with such this name and she looked a bit like this character O.o (we called her Inka, now they call her Innu)
Title: Re: Character name
Post by: Dj Gopher on July 28, 2011, 03:07:07: Quote from: Grookie on July 27, 2011, 23:10:27
Hmm will the Ball and the Knyttes do have different names?
XD I think so.

So what about Ingrid? Or some familiar forms, such as Ina or Inka. I had a classmate with such this name and she looked a bit like this character O.o (we called her Inka, now they call her Innu)

I like Ina and Innu :D
Title: Re: Character name
Post by: sergiocornaga on July 28, 2011, 12:50:05: Quote from: Zelakon on July 26, 2011, 21:31:07
I hope my input isn't too negative here, but Mina sounds pretty similar to Juni. Is that really what you want?

Quote from: Threrra on July 27, 2011, 16:00:52
...Regarding Mina. People could think you stole it from Nintendo and removed a 'd'. (--> Midna)

I remember Mina primarily as the name of a protagonist in Dracula. In that it's short for Wilhelmina. It's also, I believe, a name on its own originating from Germany a long time ago meaning 'love'.
Title: Re: Character name
Post by: Knyttster on July 28, 2011, 17:36:13: I saw that name generator and go Nuru.
Title: Re: Character name
Post by: Ganoan on July 28, 2011, 22:42:37: What are you all and especially you, Nifflas, thinking about following ones?

Riqa, Quinn, Taja, Lena, Vinja
Title: Re: Character name
Post by: Ultigonio on July 28, 2011, 22:56:21: Nesa, Nessa, or some derivative of that; the cool element of these names is that they could be related to the Latin word esse, meaning "to be," and... well, you "are" your character, I suppose.
Title: Re: Character name
Post by: Min on July 29, 2011, 10:41:11: I like both Mi and Mina ( I wonder why... :nuts: ). I don't think you should worry too much over if the name is similar to another, you should go with the name you think best fits the character and the game.

For the sake of adding something to the topic: Moa, Sansa.
Title: Re: Character name
Post by: sergiocornaga on July 29, 2011, 11:56:57: @Min: Moa...? (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Moa) :/
Title: Re: Character name
Post by: Min on July 29, 2011, 12:26:58: Moa is a somewhat common swedish name, I think it is cute. :) Not the bird though... <_<
Title: Re: Character name
Post by: Nifflas on July 29, 2011, 13:59:09: I think I might go for Mi after all because it's so stuck that I can't picture her having many other names. I guess Mi can be the most common way to shortern her name while she have a longer name which people will use in more formal discussions.

Lots of nice suggestions though, I'll dig into this thread everytime I need to name an NPC.
Title: Re: Character name
Post by: Yonowaaru on July 30, 2011, 15:20:44: Looking at this thought about Mi, I get a feeling for...

Mai
Title: Re: Character name
Post by: Miss Paula on August 01, 2011, 18:22:18: haha, a predecessor for Juni? (German may, june=mai, juni) X)
Title: Re: Character name
Post by: LPChip on August 01, 2011, 18:59:39: Or Mei :P (dutch version of may)

Or Maj (swedish)
Title: Re: Character name
Post by: J on August 01, 2011, 23:39:49: Maybe Finnish? Toukokuu.

Hm, no. Doesn't work.
Title: Re: Character name
Post by: Yonowaaru on August 03, 2011, 10:07:53: Isn't Mei more japanese-ish? I'm Dutch myself and I don't know anyone named Mei.

(For the record, the month thing was unintended X-P)
Title: Re: Character name
Post by: Min on August 05, 2011, 11:55:36: What do you think of Elmira as her longer name? It can be shorterned to Mi and I think it suits her.
Title: Re: Character name
Post by: dave.germain on August 09, 2011, 16:36:47: Mi or Mi Mi ("me me") means secret in Mandarin.

Mi Na ("Me na") could means to catch or grab a secret.
Title: Re: Character name
Post by: Yonowaaru on August 10, 2011, 09:34:04: Also, Mimi is Japanese for ear. Not too sure if that's what you're going for, though
Title: Re: Character name
Post by: GrayFace on September 01, 2011, 04:33:11: Yana, Milla, Mira?
Title: Re: Character name
Post by: Miss Paula on September 01, 2011, 14:11:32: Hahaha, at first I read "Vanilla" there. X)
Title: Re: Character name
Post by: Nifflas on September 15, 2011, 13:31:40: Actually, as it looks now it'll be Mi only. I realized something about the name I'll expand on quite a bit. I shouldn't spoil it though.
Title: Re: Character name
Post by: Zelakon on September 21, 2011, 23:08:59: I guess we can live with Mi...
Title: Re: Character name
Post by: Saml on May 23, 2012, 05:56:49: What do you want to bet there's gonna be some silly play on words with a character named Yu? :shifty:
Title: Re: Character name
Post by: Maxwell on May 03, 2014, 15:13:50: Quote from: Nifflas on March 09, 2011, 17:27:13
I wonder how or if it changes how the player percieves the character if (s)he names her when starting a game.
I played the game its Mi. :hiddenstar: :ring:
Title: Re: Character name
Post by: LPChip on May 03, 2014, 20:09:06: Quote from: Sonic24688 on May 03, 2014, 15:13:50
Quote from: Nifflas on March 09, 2011, 17:27:13
I wonder how or if it changes how the player percieves the character if (s)he names her when starting a game.
I played the game its Mi. :hiddenstar: :ring:

Yes, we all know. This topic is almost 2 years since the last reply. Back then it was unknown how it all worked.