Creating Unique Names - one method

[Crimhthan The Great]

Once you have created a list of real world names, then you can start creating unique names for your campaign. One way to do this is to look at real world variants of names to get ideas for tweaking names to create unique ones.

For instance, take the name Kathleen and look at all of the variants (yes I know that Kathleen is not the "offical preferred spelling"):

Caitlin
Caitlin
Caitriona
Cara
Caren
Carin
Carin
Caron
Caronne
Carran
Carren
Carron
Caryn
Catalina
Catarine
Cateline
Caterina
Cathaleen
Catharin
Catharina
Catharine
Catherina
Catherine
Catherleen
Catheryn
Cathi
Cathie
Cathleen
Cathrene
Cathrine
Cathryn
Cathy
Catrin
Catrina
Catrine
Catriona
Catriona
Kara
Karan
Karan
Karen
Karen
Karenne
Karenza
Karina
Karon
Karran
Karren
Karyn
Katarina
Kate
Katerina
Katey
Katharina
Katharine
Katharyn
Kathay
Katheleen
Katheline
Kathereen
Katherin
Katherina
Katherine
Katheryn
Katheryne
Kathi
Kathie
Kathileen
Kathleen
Kathlyn
Kathlynn
Kathrene
Kathrine
Kathryn
Kathryne
Kathy
Kathyrine
Katie
Katina
Katleen
Katrena
Katrina
Katrine
Katriona
Katryna
Kattrina
Katy
Kerry
Kittie
Kitty
Koreana
Korina
Treena
Trina


If you apply this many variants to every name you have, you will soon have an enormous number of unique names to choose from. There are many other things you can do to systematically to give a group of names a certain flavor for different areas of your campaign world. Maybe it will not pass muster with a linguist, but if you are not publishing it for profit, that is not really a big deal.

[Crimhthan The Great]

Take the name Karen for instance and tweak it as follows:

Aaren
Baren
Caren
Daren
Earen
Faren
Garen
Haren
Iaren
Jaren
Karen
Laren
Maren
Naren
Oaren
Paren
Qaren
Raren
Saren
Taren
Uaren
Varen
Waren
Xaren
Yaren
Zaren

[Crimhthan The Great]

Here's the same idea, but with vowel substitutions:

karan
karen
karin
karon
karun
karyn
keran
keren
kerin
keron
kerun
keryn
kiran
kiren
kirin
kiron
kirun
kiryn
koran
koren
korin
koron
korun
koryn
kuran
kuren
kurin
kuron
kurun
kuryn
kyran
kyren
kyrin
kyron
kyrun
kyryn

[Crimhthan The Great]

Lets carry this a little further with generating names when starting with just Karen:

Aaren
Baren
Caren
Daren
Earen
Faren
Garen
Haren
Iaren
Jaren
Karen
Laren
Maren
Naren
Oaren
Paren
Qaren
Raren
Saren
Taren
Uaren
Varen
Waren
Xaren
Yaren
Zaren

or

Aeren
Beren
Ceren
Deren
Eeren
Feren
Geren
Heren
Ieren
Jeren
Keren
Leren
Meren
Neren
Oeren
Peren
Qeren
Reren
Seren
Teren
Ueren
Veren
Weren
Xeren
Yeren
Zeren

or

Airen
Biren
Ciren
Diren
Eiren
Firen
Giren
Hiren
Iiren
Jiren
Kiren
Liren
Miren
Niren
Oiren
Piren
Qiren
Riren
Siren
Tiren
Uiren
Viren
Wiren
Xiren
Yiren
Ziren

or

Aoren
Boren
Coren
Doren
Eoren
Foren
Goren
Horen
Ioren
Joren
Koren
Loren
Moren
Noren
Ooren
Poren
Qoren
Roren
Soren
Toren
Uoren
Voren
Woren
Xoren
Yoren
Zoren

or

Auren
Buren
Curen
Duren
Euren
Furen
Guren
Huren
Iuren
Juren
Kuren
Luren
Muren
Nuren
Ouren
Puren
Quren
Ruren
Suren
Turen
Uuren
Vuren
Wuren
Xuren
Yuren
Zuren

or

Ayren
Byren
Cyren
Dyren
Eyren
Fyren
Gyren
Hyren
Iyren
Jyren
Kyren
Lyren
Myren
Nyren
Oyren
Pyren
Qyren
Ryren
Syren
Tyren
Uyren
Vyren
Wyren
Xyren
Yyren
Zyren

[Crimhthan The Great]

Aaran
Baran
Caran
Daran
Earan
Faran
Garan
Haran
Iaran
Jaran
Karan
Laran
Maran
Naran
Oaran
Paran
Qaran
Raran
Saran
Taran
Uaran
Varan
Waran
Xaran
Yaran
Zaran

or

Aaren
Baren
Caren
Daren
Earen
Faren
Garen
Haren
Iaren
Jaren
Karen
Laren
Maren
Naren
Oaren
Paren
Qaren
Raren
Saren
Taren
Uaren
Varen
Waren
Xaren
Yaren
Zaren

or

Aarin
Barin
Carin
Darin
Earin
Farin
Garin
Harin
Iarin
Jarin
Karin
Larin
Marin
Narin
Oarin
Parin
Qarin
Rarin
Sarin
Tarin
Uarin
Varin
Warin
Xarin
Yarin
Zarin

or

Aaron
Baron
Caron
Daron
Earon
Faron
Garon
Haron
Iaron
Jaron
Karon
Laron
Maron
Naron
Oaron
Paron
Qaron
Raron
Saron
Taron
Uaron
Varon
Waron
Xaron
Yaron
Zaron

or

Aarun
Barun
Carun
Darun
Earun
Farun
Garun
Harun
Iarun
Jarun
Karun
Larun
Marun
Narun
Oarun
Parun
Qarun
Rarun
Sarun
Tarun
Uarun
Varun
Warun
Xarun
Yarun
Zarun

or

Aaryn
Baryn
Caryn
Daryn
Earyn
Faryn
Garyn
Haryn
Iaryn
Jaryn
Karyn
Laryn
Maryn
Naryn
Oaryn
Paryn
Qaryn
Raryn
Saryn
Taryn
Uaryn
Varyn
Waryn
Xaryn
Yaryn
Zaryn

[Crimhthan The Great]

Aaran
Baran
Caran
Daran
Earan
Faran
Garan
Haran
Iaran
Jaran
Karan
Laran
Maran
Naran
Oaran
Paran
Qaran
Raran
Saran
Taran
Uaran
Varan
Waran
Xaran
Yaran
Zaran

or

Aeran
Beran
Ceran
Deran
Eeran
Feran
Geran
Heran
Ieran
Jeran
Keran
Leran
Meran
Neran
Oeran
Peran
Qeran
Reran
Seran
Teran
Ueran
Veran
Weran
Xeran
Yeran
Zeran

or

Airan
Biran
Ciran
Diran
Eiran
Firan
Giran
Hiran
Iiran
Jiran
Kiran
Liran
Miran
Niran
Oiran
Piran
Qiran
Riran
Siran
Tiran
Uiran
Viran
Wiran
Xiran
Yiran
Ziran

or

Aoran
Boran
Coran
Doran
Eoran
Foran
Goran
Horan
Ioran
Joran
Koran
Loran
Moran
Noran
Ooran
Poran
Qoran
Roran
Soran
Toran
Uoran
Voran
Woran
Xoran
Yoran
Zoran

or

Auran
Buran
Curan
Duran
Euran
Furan
Guran
Huran
Iuran
Juran
Kuran
Luran
Muran
Nuran
Ouran
Puran
Quran
Ruran
Suran
Turan
Uuran
Vuran
Wuran
Xuran
Yuran
Zuran

or

Ayran
Byran
Cyran
Dyran
Eyran
Fyran
Gyran
Hyran
Iyran
Jyran
Kyran
Lyran
Myran
Nyran
Oyran
Pyran
Qyran
Ryran
Syran
Tyran
Uyran
Vyran
Wyran
Xyran
Yyran
Zyran

[Crimhthan The Great]

Aarin
Barin
Carin
Darin
Earin
Farin
Garin
Harin
Iarin
Jarin
Karin
Larin
Marin
Narin
Oarin
Parin
Qarin
Rarin
Sarin
Tarin
Uarin
Varin
Warin
Xarin
Yarin
Zarin

or

Aerin
Berin
Cerin
Derin
Eerin
Ferin
Gerin
Herin
Ierin
Jerin
Kerin
Lerin
Merin
Nerin
Oerin
Perin
Qerin
Rerin
Serin
Terin
Uerin
Verin
Werin
Xerin
Yerin
Zerin

or

Airin
Birin
Cirin
Dirin
Eirin
Firin
Girin
Hirin
Iirin
Jirin
Kirin
Lirin
Mirin
Nirin
Oirin
Pirin
Qirin
Ririn
Sirin
Tirin
Uirin
Virin
Wirin
Xirin
Yirin
Zirin

or

Aorin
Borin
Corin
Dorin
Eorin
Forin
Gorin
Horin
Iorin
Jorin
Korin
Lorin
Morin
Norin
Oorin
Porin
Qorin
Rorin
Sorin
Torin
Uorin
Vorin
Worin
Xorin
Yorin
Zorin

or

Aurin
Burin
Curin
Durin
Eurin
Furin
Gurin
Hurin
Iurin
Jurin
Kurin
Lurin
Murin
Nurin
Ourin
Purin
Qurin
Rurin
Surin
Turin
Uurin
Vurin
Wurin
Xurin
Yurin
Zurin

or

Ayrin
Byrin
Cyrin
Dyrin
Eyrin
Fyrin
Gyrin
Hyrin
Iyrin
Jyrin
Kyrin
Lyrin
Myrin
Nyrin
Oyrin
Pyrin
Qyrin
Ryrin
Syrin
Tyrin
Uyrin
Vyrin
Wyrin
Xyrin
Yyrin
Zyrin

[Crimhthan The Great]

Aaron
Baron
Caron
Daron
Earon
Faron
Garon
Haron
Iaron
Jaron
Karon
Laron
Maron
Naron
Oaron
Paron
Qaron
Raron
Saron
Taron
Uaron
Varon
Waron
Xaron
Yaron
Zaron

or

Aeron
Beron
Ceron
Deron
Eeron
Feron
Geron
Heron
Ieron
Jeron
Keron
Leron
Meron
Neron
Oeron
Peron
Qeron
Reron
Seron
Teron
Ueron
Veron
Weron
Xeron
Yeron
Zeron

or

Airon
Biron
Ciron
Diron
Eiron
Firon
Giron
Hiron
Iiron
Jiron
Kiron
Liron
Miron
Niron
Oiron
Piron
Qiron
Riron
Siron
Tiron
Uiron
Viron
Wiron
Xiron
Yiron
Ziron

or

Aoron
Boron
Coron
Doron
Eoron
Foron
Goron
Horon
Ioron
Joron
Koron
Loron
Moron
Noron
Ooron
Poron
Qoron
Roron
Soron
Toron
Uoron
Voron
Woron
Xoron
Yoron
Zoron

or

Auron
Buron
Curon
Duron
Euron
Furon
Guron
Huron
Iuron
Juron
Kuron
Luron
Muron
Nuron
Ouron
Puron
Quron
Ruron
Suron
Turon
Uuron
Vuron
Wuron
Xuron
Yuron
Zuron

or

Ayron
Byron
Cyron
Dyron
Eyron
Fyron
Gyron
Hyron
Iyron
Jyron
Kyron
Lyron
Myron
Nyron
Oyron
Pyron
Qyron
Ryron
Syron
Tyron
Uyron
Vyron
Wyron
Xyron
Yyron
Zyron

[Crimhthan The Great]

Aarun
Barun
Carun
Darun
Earun
Farun
Garun
Harun
Iarun
Jarun
Karun
Larun
Marun
Narun
Oarun
Parun
Qarun
Rarun
Sarun
Tarun
Uarun
Varun
Warun
Xarun
Yarun
Zarun

or

Aerun
Berun
Cerun
Derun
Eerun
Ferun
Gerun
Herun
Ierun
Jerun
Kerun
Lerun
Merun
Nerun
Oerun
Perun
Qerun
Rerun
Serun
Terun
Uerun
Verun
Werun
Xerun
Yerun
Zerun

or

Airun
Birun
Cirun
Dirun
Eirun
Firun
Girun
Hirun
Iirun
Jirun
Kirun
Lirun
Mirun
Nirun
Oirun
Pirun
Qirun
Rirun
Sirun
Tirun
Uirun
Virun
Wirun
Xirun
Yirun
Zirun

or

Aorun
Borun
Corun
Dorun
Eorun
Forun
Gorun
Horun
Iorun
Jorun
Korun
Lorun
Morun
Norun
Oorun
Porun
Qorun
Rorun
Sorun
Torun
Uorun
Vorun
Worun
Xorun
Yorun
Zorun

or

Aurun
Burun
Curun
Durun
Eurun
Furun
Gurun
Hurun
Iurun
Jurun
Kurun
Lurun
Murun
Nurun
Ourun
Purun
Qurun
Rurun
Surun
Turun
Uurun
Vurun
Wurun
Xurun
Yurun
Zurun

or

Ayrun
Byrun
Cyrun
Dyrun
Eyrun
Fyrun
Gyrun
Hyrun
Iyrun
Jyrun
Kyrun
Lyrun
Myrun
Nyrun
Oyrun
Pyrun
Qyrun
Ryrun
Syrun
Tyrun
Uyrun
Vyrun
Wyrun
Xyrun
Yyrun
Zyrun

[Crimhthan The Great]

Aaryn
Baryn
Caryn
Daryn
Earyn
Faryn
Garyn
Haryn
Iaryn
Jaryn
Karyn
Laryn
Maryn
Naryn
Oaryn
Paryn
Qaryn
Raryn
Saryn
Taryn
Uaryn
Varyn
Waryn
Xaryn
Yaryn
Zaryn

or

Aeryn
Beryn
Ceryn
Deryn
Eeryn
Feryn
Geryn
Heryn
Ieryn
Jeryn
Keryn
Leryn
Meryn
Neryn
Oeryn
Peryn
Qeryn
Reryn
Seryn
Teryn
Ueryn
Veryn
Weryn
Xeryn
Yeryn
Zeryn

or

Airyn
Biryn
Ciryn
Diryn
Eiryn
Firyn
Giryn
Hiryn
Iiryn
Jiryn
Kiryn
Liryn
Miryn
Niryn
Oiryn
Piryn
Qiryn
Riryn
Siryn
Tiryn
Uiryn
Viryn
Wiryn
Xiryn
Yiryn
Ziryn

or

Aoryn
Boryn
Coryn
Doryn
Eoryn
Foryn
Goryn
Horyn
Ioryn
Joryn
Koryn
Loryn
Moryn
Noryn
Ooryn
Poryn
Qoryn
Roryn
Soryn
Toryn
Uoryn
Voryn
Woryn
Xoryn
Yoryn
Zoryn

or

Auryn
Buryn
Curyn
Duryn
Euryn
Furyn
Guryn
Huryn
Iuryn
Juryn
Kuryn
Luryn
Muryn
Nuryn
Ouryn
Puryn
Quryn
Ruryn
Suryn
Turyn
Uuryn
Vuryn
Wuryn
Xuryn
Yuryn
Zuryn

or

Ayryn
Byryn
Cyryn
Dyryn
Eyryn
Fyryn
Gyryn
Hyryn
Iyryn
Jyryn
Kyryn
Lyryn
Myryn
Nyryn
Oyryn
Pyryn
Qyryn
Ryryn
Syryn
Tyryn
Uyryn
Vyryn
Wyryn
Xyryn
Yyryn
Zyryn

[Crimhthan The Great]

And with all that we are still barely scratching the surface of the words that can be generated starting with just one word. We haven't yet changed the final "n" or the middle "r" to something else which would increase the above considerably if the n and/or r was replaced in all cases with each of the other 25 letters available. All that and we still haven't moved from a 5 letter word to a 6 or 7 letter word.

There is an article by M.A.R. Barker in issue 4 of The Strategic Review concerning the random generation names for the Empire of the Petal Throne. He defined a grammar for the names of one particular culture, with tables of permitted vowel and consonant patterns and letter combinations. Then by rolling on these tables, you can generate random names which are consistent with the grammar.

The general approach could be adapted to any style and you would  just use different pattern and letter tables for each particular culture.

[Crimhthan The Great]

You can create place names in a lot of different ways. For instance in rural areas you can easily name them in a "realistic" way by naming them just like people do in RL.

For example:

Little Rock
Big Rock
Black Rock
Red Rock
Yellow Rock
White Rock

Little Rock Creek
Big Rock Creek
Black Rock Creek
Red Rock Creek
Yellow Rock Creek
White Rock Creek

Little Rock Mountain
Big Rock Mountain
Black Rock Mountain
Red Rock Mountain
Yellow Rock Mountain
White Rock Mountain

ETC

[Crimhthan The Great]

Other examples:

Shale Creek
Broken Creek
Shattered Hills
Black Forest (you have to have one of these)
Slate Creek
Gravel Creek
Great Smokey Mountains
Rocky Mountains
The Roof of the World

ETC

[Crimhthan The Great]

Another thing that I do is to add different letters to the words.

Add an a to the end:

Ayryna
Byryna
Cyryna
Dyryna
Eyryna
Fyryna
Gyryna
Hyryna
Iyryna
Jyryna
Kyryna
Lyryna
Myryna
Nyryna
Oyryna
Pyryna
Qyryna
Ryryna
Syryna
Tyryna
Uyryna
Vyryna
Wyryna
Xyryna
Yyryna
Zyryna

or add an o

Ayryno
Byryno
Cyryno
Dyryno
Eyryno
Fyryno
Gyryno
Hyryno
Iyryno
Jyryno
Kyryno
Lyryno
Myryno
Nyryno
Oyryno
Pyryno
Qyryno
Ryryno
Syryno
Tyryno
Uyryno
Vyryno
Wyryno
Xyryno
Yyryno
Zyryno

or an ia

Ayrynia
Byrynia
Cyrynia
Dyrynia
Eyrynia
Fyrynia
Gyrynia
Hyrynia
Iyrynia
Jyrynia
Kyrynia
Lyrynia
Myrynia
Nyrynia
Oyrynia
Pyrynia
Qyrynia
Ryrynia
Syrynia
Tyrynia
Uyrynia
Vyrynia
Wyrynia
Xyrynia
Yyrynia
Zyrynia