What's in a Name?

Alright, so let's start with something i often get asked about. Matthais777? What's that about?

Believe it or not, this name is almost as close to me as my real one. I came up with it years ago when i joined the Wizards of the Coast boards, mostly to post on the mature forums, since at the time their was a online 3.5 role play going on. So here is the basics, Matthias was the guy in the bible who was the thirteenth disciple. "But wait Matt!" you might say, "There where only 12 Disciples!" how right you are little budding bible scholar! However, after Judas offed himself, the Disciples got together and decided that leaving it at 11 just wouldn't do, so they voted in this guy Matthias, who was young and eager. But they didn't vote exactly. The title came down to Matthias and some other guy named Justus, so they Cast Lots (Yay divine dice tie in) and Matthias won, so it's sort of a luck thing to. I mean, when these guys weren't sure who should be given the divine job of spreading the word and getting called a disciple, they trusted in the dice/bones to show them what was up. Pretty good for a Table Top player like me, eh? I dunno, sometimes my mind goes strange places.

Why is it misspelled? Because as a kid i didn't know any better, and thought that was how it was spelled! However, since then the name has grown on me and i rarely use it in the proper format.

Next, 777. Le huh? Simple buddies. 7 is the divine number. 6 is humanity. 666 is the number of the devil/antichrist. Therefore, at least in my head, 777 is the second coming. Or it just means i'm holier than thou. Who knows? Again, my mind is strange, but let's face it, you ALWAYS need extra numbers when registering things, and 666 didn't seem to fit, and i didn't want my age since that changed, and i can never remember random numbers, so 777 it became.

Now, you may be wondering, and quite rightly, what in the world this has to do with Table Top gaming? I'll tell you what. The ever maddening topic of trying to finally decide on a name for a character. Some people take a rather haphazard approach to naming, with such things as "Bob" or "Sue", some spout something appropriately setting random. "Exlandora!" Or "Zantarotuso!" Yeah, i got no clue what those mean, but they sound cool don't they? It seems to almost be a rule with strange fantasy names that the more flips and hurdles your tongue has to do to say them, the cooler it is. Check out this Fantasy naming Generator and you'll get a feel for what i mean! (First rule of fantasy names, the more Zs and Xs and apostrophes you can throw in, the cooler they sound! ((Please oh god don't take that seriously... Your DM will hunt me down in the night and slay me.)))

Then, their are guys like me. I feel that every new character i make is my own little brain child, and should be treated as such. When i begin to look for a name, i treat it like i would if i where naming my firstborn child. Except this is one unruly child who i can actually guarantee will live up to their name.

I check the Internets for the base of names. I go to Latin translators (Latin is my favorite, but other languages do, again depending on the setting. Here is a fun free online one!) and type in the basis. When that fails me, i go for something that SOUNDS cool, but has meaning to it as well. For example, Suki, my bard who could blow things up with her voice. Her name sounds cool, but in my head was a corruption of the word "Song" to sound mildly eastern. My paladin Bromden, my first ever really thought out and serious character's name's original meaning has since been forgotten, but i forever will remember how the syllables seemed to represent what kinda guy i wanted him to be. Brom-Den. It sounds harsh, but it's more like a heavy drum type of sound then a screaming noise. After trying it out on This Baby name Search Engine I think i might have made it as a corruption of the name Brendon, which means prince. It fit him, that good old paladin who rode Pumba the warthog (Hey, i said i thought out my character's names, said nothing about their familiars/companions!).


But whatever path you choose, the key to it all is this. Ya gotta pick a name you'll never regret, and that the goblins/Kobolds won't be chanting obscene versus about.

Sincerely
Matthais777