Support NeoGAF

[Blank Space Invader]

I put a lot of time and thought into naming characters in games. I guess you could say it is even a source of minor anxiety and stress for me. I know that sounds strange and unhealthy, even. I just have a very strong association with names and characters and their identities in games. Right now, I am sitting at the character name screen in Granblue Fantasy: Relink and I am stumped lol. It is what prompted me to make this thread.

For a long time I just used a default online handle that I have on most of my internet and media accounts, but I have recently lost interest in using that name.

Sometimes I use funny, simple stuff like Dude, Guy, Bro/Bruh, Bud, etc..
I've also used really dumb stuff, like Cabbage Blaster, Squash Buckler, and other assorted intentionally weird names for comedic effect.

Other times I really try to find something lore-specific and friendly, or that seems to fit the theme and tone of the game and character.

How much thought do you put into naming characters in games?
Have you ever used a name generator? (I have.)
Do you have any funny stories related to character names in games? (Typos are always fun!)

 

[DownLikeBCPowder]

Quite a lot at first - but not much anymore. I use the same set of names for the most part that I developed 20-30 years ago.

 

[bender]

I just do what everyone should be doing and name all my characters bender.

 

[Kacho]

I use the same handful of names depending on the class I'm playing.

 

[jshackles]

Default Name -> Start Game

That much

 

[Mr Moose]

Not much. I know from the start what I will name it.

 

[HRK69]

A lot. Most of my online character are called "Dig Bick Daddy" or a variation of it

 

[I collect VHS tapes]

I assumed most people just use their first name like me

I find doing this makes the experience more immersive for me

 

[bender]

Default Name -> Start Game

That much

 

[Robb]

Not much. If there's a default option, like "Link" in most Zelda games, I usually just go for that.

 

[I collect VHS tapes]

Not much. If there's a default option, like "Link" in most Zelda games, I usually just go for that.

renaming Link just feels wrong

 

[AJUMP23]

Normally just type in my own name

 

[Danjin44]

Not much I usually named based on my favourite characters.

For example when replayed MHW Iceborne I named my Hunter Nuwa and my Palico Mikhail.

Nuwa from SMTV

Mikhail from Drakengard 3

 

[adamsapple]

 

[Robb]

renaming Link just feels wrong

Yeah, but I feel that way about most games where you're not forced to use a character creator.

I don't think I've ever re-named a Pokemon in the Pokemon games either. Even as a kid.

 

[Crownttano]

Demon's Souls:
HoleSeeker
StiffStaffShaft
HoleSmasher
BlessedBelow
KneeTapper
NoGutsNoGloryHoe
ThirdJoyStick
HoleStuffing
HoleInspector
HoleFiller

Bloodborne:
The Plougher
ThePenetranator
CazzoSlinger
StimulusInserter
DownToTheAnkles

Dark Souls 3:
BackInSerter
FrontInSerter
DownToTheKnees
ProperPounder

Elden Ring:
ThirstyThruster
JoyStickProvider
3rdLegDexterity

 

[Reizo Ryuu]

not much, I have two names I cycle between, one for male characters and one for female, for games that want you to play with multiple characters like diablo 4, I just use their random generation.
for pets I always name it dog.

 

[Crayon]

I get pressured when my wife asks me to name her characters. She always wants "boy names". Like Vaginasaurus Rex. Or Curvis Widecock. A name you know a boy made up, as she would say.

 

[FoxMcChief]

I use the same 3-4 names.

 

[AngelMuffin]

 

[Aenima]

Dosent matter if a character is a male, female or some Alien thing, if im controling it, its Aenima or Ænima.

 

[Bernardougf]

Zero.. all in default

 

[dottme]

<<<---- I re-use the same name all the time.

 

[hououinkyouma00]

I have 1 name for males and 1 for females. If the default name is good enough then I don't both. Well technically it's 2 for each as I have a name for Western game, and 1 for Japanese/Korean games.

 

[Arachnid]

80% of the time it's either my name or default.

The other 20% is split between the same 2 cool names I've been using depending on if I'm playing male or female. The female one is rarely used since I prefer playing as a male.

 

[Humdinger]

When I first started gaming, I put a lot of thought into my character names for RPGs. I don't do that anymore, though. I usually decide on a name fairly quickly.

 

[Icymanipulator]

Depends on the game and what type of game, but when I do end up taking it seriously, it can take a long time, maybe 20+ mins

 

[ahtlas7]

I tend to use power names that when read is derogatory to the reader, if I'm playing online competitive. "You have been killed by: UrFacPizzer"

 

[Killjoy-NL]

Quite a lot at first - but not much anymore. I use the same set of names for the most part that I developed 20-30 years ago.

Pretty much this.

I have basically one or two that I always use.
3 since I just use my gf's name nowadays for a female character.

 

[DelireMan7]

I do it usually quick (few minutes). I like to find a name that correspond to the character's personality, background etc... I want.

Fun fact : one of my character in Dark Souls (a gravelord servant, raised in the cult of Nito, exposed to various poison during her chilhood making her resistant to it and turn her hair purple-ish) was called "Talioé" as a french. I really love the sound of it and wanted to name my daughter like that. Despite the name being on our final list, the mother preferred another name and I think she was a bit uncomfortable with it because it was not a "real" name so I agree on the other name (which I also liked but not as much as Talioé).

Find out my old build : Talioé the Gravelord Servant. (Sorry just geeking out on my favorite build of my favorite game)

 

[Midn1ght]

I named my chickens Lala, Lili, Lolo and Lulu in my recent Story of Seasons play-through.

So yeah, that much.

 

[xrnzaaas]

I always name my female characters Xena, naming a male character depends on what the game looks like and on my current mood.

 

[yamaci17]

not much. whatever comes to my mind randomly
my elden ring character name is gondul
that's how random it is

 

[GymWolf]

None, the males are called GymWolf, if it's a chick it's gonna be Gymma, if it's a dog it's gonna be dudu, if it's an horse it's gonna be Gymmo.

 

[DownLikeBCPowder]

Pretty much this.

I have basically one or two that I always use.
3 since I just use my gf's name nowadays for a female character.

I just created feminized versions of my male names to use. One of which I ended up using for my daughter.

 

[Dacvak]

Oh, you gotta have good names. There have been dozens of worlds saved by the likes of Pork Rind Johnson, Gooch Vandross, Pud Slurpton, Chaz Nuttlebottom, Jack Clapnuts, Chode Wellington, Shaft Hogan, Rod Meatdrip, Queef Latifa, Biff Boof, Dr. Hambone, Crunkle Dumplins, Hogarth Finklebean, Turgid Stanley, Nardly Peterson, Spud McNubbins, Frunk, Amy Beefwhip, Girthquake Jones, and many more.

 

[rotorfire]

I have a few go to names for one off characters but for any game where I'll play multiple characters (arpgs, MMOs etc.) I'll theme my character's names together. Maybe they all share the same suffix, or are all abstract nouns, or are biscuit related. For jrpgs where there's a cannon name, I'll use that.

 

[Brakum]

Pretty much zero

 

[Doctor Hades]

I use my own name for sports games but for RPGs I usually crib from the rich repertoire of characters in Michael Moorcock's sublime and incredibly awesome fantasy books which I read religiously as a teenager: Jherek Carnelian (from the Dancers at the End of Time, a personal favourite), Jerry Cornelius, Dorian Hawkmoon, Count Brass, Oswald Bastable, Duke Elric, Ulrik von Bek, etc, etc. Why reinvent the wheel?

 

[ssringo]

Established characters get their default name. Created characters get the same names I came up with decades ago. If for some reason I can't use those (very rare) then I pick from the list of names given to David Ryder in the Space Mutiny episode of MST3K. Dirk Hardpec, Slab Bulkhead, Bob Johnson (wait...)

 

[Lupin3]

This old meme always springs to mind in threads like these. I wish every game made choice this easy.

Otherwise I just usually go with ass or asshat in RPG's that I play for 10 minutes and never touch again.

 

[Holammer]

I overthink a lot when I come up with names. But I have a stable of names I use. Holammer came from brainstorming for 30 minutes trying to come up with a name when I rolled a Dwarf Cleric in Everquest. Used it in WoW too, or any dwarfy/healer'ish characters in other games. If it's a pilot call-sign I always go with NinjaBee which was inspired by one of Mai Shiranui's special moves (Hissatsu Shinobi Bachi).

This is for anything with a character creator, if there's a default name for characters, I never change them.

 

[Blank Space Invader]

Oh, you gotta have good names. There have been dozens of worlds saved by the likes of Pork Rind Johnson, Gooch Vandross, Pud Slurpton, Chaz Nuttlebottom, Jack Clapnuts, Chode Wellington, Shaft Hogan, Rod Meatdrip, Queef Latifa, Biff Boof, Dr. Hambone, Crunkle Dumplins, Hogarth Finklebean, Turgid Stanley, Nardly Peterson, Spud McNubbins, Frunk, Amy Beefwhip, Girthquake Jones, and many more.

Lately I've been tempted to use some new ones when a game lets me, such as:

Jerk McGerkin
Willy Wobblemeat
Sum Hung Dong
Beefy Smellington

 

[Blank Space Invader]

I accidentally added a space at the end of my character's name in Granblue Fantasy: Relink, and the game included it in all text when my name appeared lol. Luckily we are able to edit our character name and I removed the added space lol.

I also wonder about all of the posts that mention a default name in games that don't have default names. Not all games have a default or lore name for the character we play as. I suppose in the game I'm playing that the default name might be "Captain" but that is a title and not a name.

 

[cinnamonandgravy]

offline rpg?

gaylord or something like that.

 

[bundylove]

Everything revolves around my penis.
Sometimes i use the name 10 inches of death.

 

[mafon2]

About half an hour. Sometimes I have to put off game for later. because I can't come up with a good name.

 

[ToughestSoul]

When I play Valheim I actually look up Viking names

 

[DeVeAn]

I don't like naming a character that was already created.

Otherwise I use DeVeAn or Axen. Sometimes MacGyver lol

 

[CLW]

I have two:

John Galt
Keith Myath