GW2 Character Naming Resources

This article was shared by BBQman from GW2GURU.

 

All provided information will be put in the OP, unless it has already been mentioned.

PATTERN
Explains the naming conventions of the race.
EXAMPLE NPC NAMES
A list of non-player-characters in Guild Wars and Guild Wars 2 that can be used as reference.
RELATED REAL WORLD CULTURES
A list of real cultures and time periods of our world the race shares names with.
LINKS
A list of useful links related to the race and its naming conventions.

Other Races - Although only 5 races are playable in Guild Wars 2 Vanilla, you can also provide information on NPC races. This may turn out to be useful, should future expansions feature more playable races.

Information for all categories is welcome, so don't be shy and share your knowledge! I am looking at you, Jeff and Ree. ò.o

Playable Races

Asura

PATTERN

• Asuran names often have double consonants.[HellzMailman]
• Females normally end in a vowel whilst males end in a consonant.[Naut]
• Confirmed by Jeff Grubb:
  The asura do not have last names or surnames. They may take on honorifics ("The Mighty") or titles ("Councilor"), but the nature of family is different among them (as seen by Vekk and Gadd). Their names tend to sound like a SFX from Mad Magaine (Ker-Flunk!). Male names tend to end in a consonent. Female names tend to end in a vowel.
• Confirmed by Ree Soesbee:
  The asura are 'not from around here,' so their names do sound a little odd to human ears. Usually, their names consist of a short, sharp first name of one or two syllables ('Vekk'). Those with two-syllable first names, particularly if the second syllable being a -a or -i (Vekka, Vekki) tend to be female – or get teased horribly in Asuran primary studies schools.
  
  In social usage, asurans follow the human tradition of Jobname Name ('Crew Leader Zeen') rather than having a last name as humans would identify it. To the asurans, their job title and their krewe are the most important distinctors that one can have. It's typical for an asura to use his krewe's name as a last name when dealing with humans, although this can also sound funny to those used to Krytan conventions – Fivv of Universal Necrotics, or Blira of Hyperthetical Industries.
  
  There are a few instances in the two hundred plus years between GW1 and GW2 where unconventional asura have taken on a more 'human' naming pattern in order to better socialize with their targets... er... friends. Those instances are rare and fairly uncommon, and other asura make a habit of conveniently 'forgetting' about their friend's embarrassing eccentricity.
  

EXAMPLE NPC NAMES
Oola
Vekk
Gadd
Florggi
Jezza
Blimm
Zinn

RELATED REAL WORLD CULTURES
LINKS

Charr

PATTERN

• Charr like to use nicknames like: Swift, Cowl, Roan, Pyre, Ember.[Pear]
• Charr favor consonants that are brash, like: D, R, T, G, K, etc.[Pear]
• It is possible that names that do not represent real-life concepts such as Ember, Pyre, etc. adhere to certain guidelines that help dictate what names are appropriate for each gender. Ex: Kalla sounds more feminine than Rytlock.[Pear]
• It is easy to supplement additional "r, a, z, d, t, and k" for a more robust charr characteristic.[Pear]
• The first half of the surname is the warband. The second half is some attribute of the charr.[Pear]
• Confirmed by Official Wiki:
  They are given a name to claim, which the cubs within a single warband derive their surnames, such as Fierceshot or Doomclaw.
  
  The primus warband of any legion carries the name of that legion–Ash, Blood, Iron and in the case of the Gold Legion, Flame. This singular legion is hereditary, but the leader must claim the name through blood challenge–a fight between descendants of the Khan-Ur for supremacy within the legion.
  
  Occasionally, non-descendants of the Khan-Ur join the primus warband, taking the name of their leader as their own, as is Charr tradition. But the leader of the primus is always a descendant of the Khan-Ur, the foremost heir of the legion and their rightful inheritor of the crown of leadership among the Charr.
  
  It is also possible for Charr to leave the warband of their youth, either due to a promotion or to perform a specific duty, or even because the Charr cannot fulfill assigned duties. A Charr moved from her original warband still holds loyalties to that first “family” (and therefore, such movements are unusual), however, that Charr must change her name and quickly learn to fit in with new companions or she will be nothing more than meat on the battlefield.
  

EXAMPLE NPC NAMES
Bonwor Fierceblade
Pyre Fierceshot
Swift Fiercejustice
Roan Fierceheart
Cowl Fiercetongue
Seer Fiercereign
Gron Fierceclaw
Hierophant Burntsoul
Bonfaaz Burntfur
Vatlaaw Doomtooth
Garfazz Bloodfang
Rend Ragemauler
Bathea Havocbringer
Kalla Scorchrazor
Rytlock Brimstone
Forge Ironstrike
Gaheron Baelfire
Brinstar Keenmind

RELATED REAL WORLD CULTURES

LINKS