Solamnia Naming Conventions

D&D 3e (3.0/3.5) Rules

by Simon Lipscomb

I have tried to keep Solamnic first names fairly Saxon-sounding. For inspiration, look at any history book detailing 500-1000AD Britain, or failing that, Tolkien's Rohirrim. A certain Germanic trend is acceptable too (reflecting, in Krynnish terms, Ergothic influences). Of course, Solamnia has long been exposed to a variety of outside influences, so names based more on Plains, Istar or even Elven roots are acceptable.

Craftsmen and peasants tend not to have family names, instead using their craft or place of origin as a second name if necessary (eg. Althan the Smith, or Althan of Crosspath). Senatorial and Elector families use the family name as a second name. These are the Latin-sounding names like Mordainus, Vurtainus etc (Mordana and Vurtana for women), or the concatonated "fantasy" names like Brightblade or Tallhelm. In general, the Latin names represent older families, especially Senatorials, and the English names (in Krynnish terms, Common Tongue) are used by Electoral families. However, some Electors take on airs and have translated their names into Solamnic, and some names have been changed following the Cataclysm to disguise Knightly origins.

Many of the Knightly family names stem from nick-names originally, and have been carried down through generations. These nicknames can accumulate, giving Senatorial and Elector families very long full names indeed, as the person inherits their ancestors nicknames and may acquire one of their own. Eg. Lady Katarina Mordania Sularia, Crown Knight. Her names work out to mean Lady Katarina, of the Mordanus family, person of honour.

Lord Knights also add the name of the place of which they are Lord, at the end of their name preceded by "uth", the Solamnic word meaning "of". Eg. Lord Gunthar uth Wistan is Lord of Wistan (a phonetic corruption of "Whitestone"). Lord Cedric Mocanthus uth Vingaard is of the Mocanthus family, Lord Knight of Vingaard.

Again, concerning family names and honorifics, these can sometimes be in languages other than Solamnic and Common. To have an Ergothic or Elven name is considered prestigious or pretentious (depending on the opinion of one's peers). Some Knightly families use dwarven names, to indicate how hardy they are. Some families use Istarin names, and some rare folk use Plains names.

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