Calyptra's Dark Eldar name generator

[Calyptra]

Coming up with a good name for character is always one of the hardest parts, at least for me, so I got frustrated and created a system.

 

This is my Dark Eldar name generator. It's a bit of a work in progress, so I appreciate any feedback or recommendations. It's also a bit excessive, which I think is fine - the point is to generate unique, appropriate names, so I prioritized using all of my data set over making something more easy to use or, frankly, reasonable. I may have to spread this thing over a few posts.

 

Here's what I did.

 

Written language is a product of spoken language and not the other way around, so I decided to deconstruct Dark Eldar names into phonetic syllables, which could then be randomized. I took down every unique Dark Eldar name from the 3rd, 5th, and 7th edition Codices, Haemonculus Covens, and Gangs of Commorragh. That gave me a data set of 149 unique names, which I dismantled into syllables, but retaining the position of the syllable in the word. Monosyllabic names are obviously a bit of a problem here. For those, I broke them down into first consonant sound, vowel sound, and second consonant sound. The results I've gotten from it have generally worked, but occasionally required a bit of massaging.

 

There's an issue with 4 syllable names, and I think I might need to go back and distinguish between 2nd and 3rd syllable, rather than lumping them all together into "mid syllable." Of course, if you get something that doesn't work, you can always reroll, or just change a letter or two. Sometimes the best use of this sort of thing is inspiration for a name you like even more, rather than dogmatically sticking with the name it spits out.

 

Roll percentile for the number of syllables.

1-13 = 1

14-44 = 2
45-78 = 3
79-100 = 4

 

Assuming it's a multi syllabic name, roll D1000 for each syllable.

 

Yes, D1000. I told you this was excessive. It's just like rolling percentile, but with an extra D10 for the third numerical column. It was either that or make a chart chart to determine what chart to roll on, and I decided rolling a D1000 was both less silly and less dice than involving a chart chart. Remember that the syllables are phonetic, or at least my best guess at it. If the spelling differs from my phonetic interpretation, or if there are various spellings that I thought produced the same sound, they will be in parenthesis.

 

First syllable: roll D1000

1-8        Ab
9-16        Ad
17-48        Ar (Ar, Aur)
49-56        Az (as)
57-64        Bar
65-72        Bor
73-88        Crow (Khro, Cro)
89-96        Dam
97-104        Dar
105-112    Draz
113-120    Drek
121-136    El x2
137-144    Err (Aer)
145-160    Ey (Ae)
161-168    Eye (I)
169-176    Fay (Fae)
177-184    Gar
185-192    Gizz (Ghyz)
193-200    Gon (Ghon)
201-208    Goo (Ghu)
209-216    Har
217-232    Hek (Hek, Hec)
233-240    Hes
241-248    Hex
249-256    Ib (Yb)
257-264    Ikt (Yct)
265-288    Ill (Yll, Yl)
289-304    Im (Ym)
305-320    Ir (Ir, Yr)
321-328    Iss (Ys)
329-336    Jal
337-344    Jir
345-352    Kal
353-376    Kar (Khar, Kar)
377-408    Kay (Qa’, Kae, Kha, Khae)
409-416    Ked
417-424    Kres
425-432    Kroo (Kru)
433-440    Kuh (K’)
441-448    Kerr (Kher)
449-456    Keer (Khir)
457-464    Kel
465-472    Kry (Krai)
473-480    Kuh (K’)
481-488    Kul
489-512    Ky (Ky, Khy)
513-520    Lel
521-528    Lih (Lhi)
529-536    Loo (Leu)
537-544    Luh (Lh)
545-576    Mal
577-592    May (Ma)
593-600    Mel
601-608    Mesh
609-616    My
617-624    Nar
625-632    Noth
633-640    Rak
641-648    Resk
649-656    Sath
657-664    Shay (Shai)
665-672    Sheg
673-680    Sin (Syn)
681-688    Skow (Scau)
689-696    Sliss (Slis)
697-704    Suh (S’)
705-712    Sy (Cy)
713-720    Thel
721-728    Thess (Thes)
729-736    Thin (Thyn)
737-744    Thrill (Thryl)
745-752    Tray (Trae)
753-760    Trel
761-768    Ty
769-784    Uh (A) x2
785-792    Uk (Ak)
793-800    Van
801-808    Vanx
809-816    Vash
817-832    Vay (Vae)
833-840    Vid
841-848    Vil
849-856    Vin (Vyn)
857-864    Vlor (Vhlor)
865-872    Vod
873-880    Vry (Vri)
881-896    Vy (Vhy, Vy)
897-904    Yay (Yae)
905-912    Yer (ur)
913-920    Zae (Za)
921-928    Zak
929-936    Zar (Zhar)
937-944    Zel (Xel)
945-960    Zer (Xer)
961-968    Zev (Xev)
969-976    Zoh (Xo)
977-992    Zuh (X’)
993-1000    Zull (Xul)

 

Middle syllables: roll D1000 for each

1-9        Ae
10-18        Ah (a)
19-27        Ant
28-45        Ar
46-54        Bay (ba)
55-72        Dee (de, di)
73-90        Dill (dyl, dil)
91-99        Dim
100-126    Droo (dru)
127-315    Ee (i, y)
316-324    Eer (yr)
325-369    El (ell, el)
370-378    Em
379-387    En
388-396    Err (er)
397-414    Es
415-441    Ex (ax, ex)
442-450    Eyy (a)
451-459    Gi/Gee (gi)
460-468    Ga
469-477    Gerr (gher)
478-486    Har
487-495    Hev
496-504    Id
505-513    Ih (i)
514-522    Ik (ic)
523-531    Ind (ynd)
532-549    Ith
550-558    Iv
559-567    Kar (char)
568-576    Ken
577-585    Kod (cad)
586-594    Koe (co)
595-603    Lare (lar)
604-612    Lee (li)
613-621    Lin
622-630    Mar
631-639    May (ma)
640-648    Meh (me)
649-657    Mel
658-666    Nee (ni)
667-675    Ode (od)
676-693    On
694-702    Or
703-711    Ot (at)
712-720    Pear (per)
721-729    Quil
730-738    Rass
739-747    Rax
748-765    Ree (ri)
766-774    Roe (ro)
775-792    Rue (ru)
793-810    Ruh (ra)
811-819    Shay (sha)
820-828    Siss (cis)
829-837    Sue (su)
838-846    Thek
847-855    Too (tu)
856-891    Uh (a)
892-909    Uk (ak, aq)
910-918    Ur
919-927    Us
928-936    Var
937-945    Vee (vi)
946-963    Vell
964-972    Von
973-981    Yar
982-999    Yoo (u)

 

Final Syllable: roll D1000

1-8        Ah (agh)
9-48        Ak (akh, ac, aq)
49-56        Ane
57-72        Anth
73-80        Ark (arch)
81-96        Arth
97-104        Ash (asche)
105-112    Ath
113-120    Briss (brys)
121-136    Diss (dys, dis)
137-152    Drak (drach, drak)
153-160    Drik (driq)
161-168    Driss
169-176    Druh (dra)
177-184    Ed
185-208    Eer (ir, yr, irr)
209-216    Ek (ech)
217-248    El
249-312    En (en, an)
313-320    Er (ur)
321-328    Eth
329-336    Ex
337-352    Eye (i, ai)
353-360    Fer (fur)
361-368    Gex (ghex)
369-376    Gast (ghast)
377-384    Hak
385-400    Har
401-408    Hark (harc)
409-416    Hoy (hoi)
417-432    Ik (ic)
433-464    Ill (il)
465-472    Im
473-520    Iss (ys, is, as)
521-528    Ist (yst)
529-536    Ith
537-544    Ix (yx)
545-552    Klith (clyth)
553-560    Kor
561-568    Kuh (ka)
569-576    Kul
577-584    Kuss (cus)
585-592    Kiss (kis)
593-600    Lak (llach)
601-608    Lar
609-616    Leen (line)
617-624    Leh
625-632    Lith
633-640    Lox
641-648    Luss (lus)
649-656    Mesh
657-664    Meth
665-672    Miss (mys)
673-680    Nak (nach)
681-688    Niss (nis)
689-712    Ock (okh, ok, oc)
713-720    Ohs (os)
721-728    Ook (uk)
729-736    Rah (rah)
737-752    Rak (raq, rach)
753-760    Rek (req)
761-768    Resh
769-776    Rohs (ros)
777-784    Sar
785-808    Sis (sis, xys)
809-816    Skrix (scryx)
817-832    Thiss [like "thistle"] (this)
833-840    Thrax
841-848    Tru
849-856    Tim (tym)
857-864    Too (tu)
865-872    Tra
873-952    Uh (a)
953-960    Ul (el)
961-968    Un (on)
969-976    Var
977-984    Vek (vec)
985-992    Vok (voc)
993-1000    Zeh (zhe)

[Calyptra]

Monosyllabic names are generated the same way, but with consonant and vowel sounds instead of syllables.

 

First consonant: roll D20

 

1        Dr
2-3        K (Q, K)
4        Kr
5        L
6        N (Gn)
7        R
8-9        S
10        Shr
11        Th
12-16        V (V, Vh)
17-18        Vr (Vr, Vhr)
19-20        Z (Xh, X)

 

Vowel: roll D20

1-2        Ah [like “ask”] (ae, a)
3        Ar
4-6        Ay (ae, a_e, ay)
7-12        Eh (e)
13        Ih (y)
14        O
15        Oe [like “crow”]
16        Oo (u)
17-18        Or
19        U [like “gulp”]
20        Y [like “why”]

 

Second consonant: roll D20

1-2        [none]
3        Ct
4-8        K (kh, c)
9        Kt (cht)
10-14        L (l, ll)
15-17        N (n, nn)
18-19        Sk (sk, sque)
20        X

[Calyptra]

Final step: Is this name taken?

 

Here is the alphabetized list of names I used to make these charts, because naming your Sybarite "Vect" could get awkward.

 

    A
Abrahak (7th ed)
Achara (7th ed)
Admaranth (Gangs)
Aedimion (7th ed)
Aeriac (5th ed)
Aestra (7th ed)
Akhara(‘Keth) (3rd ed)
Amelica (7th ed)
Araenach (Gangs)
Araqir (3rd ed)
Ariensis (5th ed)
Asdrubael (3rd ed)
Aurelia (5th ed)
    B
Barakhar (3rd ed)
Borkor (3rd ed)
    C
Croniarch (Covens)
Cythrax (5th ed)
    D
Damulus (Gangs)
Darmekensis (Gangs)
Drazhar (3rd ed)
Drecht (Covens)
Drekarth (7th ed)
    E
El’uriaq (5th ed)
Elyra (7th ed)
    F
Faerughast (Covens)
    G
Garantuline (Gangs)
Ghondruil (Covens)
Ghularis (Covens)
Ghyzravar (Gangs)
Gnull (Covens)
    H
Haruk (Gangs)
Hecxys (Gangs)
Hekatii (5th ed)
Hesperex (3rd ed)
Hexim (Gangs)
    I
Idyliane (Covens)
Iridivyst (Covens)
    J
Jalaxlar (5th ed)
Jirik (Gangs)
    K
K’shaic  (5th ed)
Kaelith (7th ed)
Kalmael (7th ed)
Kariok (Covens)
Kariasche (Covens)
Kedrach (Gangs)
Kelithresh (5th ed)
Kell (Gangs)
Khadys (7th ed)
Khaebrys (Covens)
Khael (7th ed)
Khargiel (7th ed)
Kheradruakh (3rd ed)
Khirareq (3rd ed)
Khromys (7th ed)
Khyrassos (7th ed)
Khyvoc (7th ed)
Kraillach (5th ed)
Kresthekia (Covens)
Kro (Covens)
Kruellagh (3rd ed)
Kulyaris (Gangs)
Kvardian (Gangs)
Kyharc (7th ed)
    L
Lelith (3rd ed)
Leucoscryx (Gangs)
Lex (5th ed)
Lhilitu (5th ed)
Lhvellian (Gangs)
    M
Maelian (Covens)
Maestru (Covens)
Malhevoris (Gangs)
Malidrach (7th ed)
Malirr (Gangs)
Malys (5th ed)
Melgheroc (Covens)
Meshael (7th ed)
Mydilian (Covens)
    N
Narcistym (7th ed)
Nothraq (Covens)
    O
    P
    Q
Qa’leh  (5th ed)
Qu (5th ed)
    R
Rak (Gangs)
Rakarth (3rd ed)
Reskyr (Gangs)
    S
S’aronai (5th ed)
Sathonyx (5th ed)
Scaur (Gangs)
Sekh (Covens)
Senn (7th ed)
Shaimesh (5th ed)
Shegmeth (Covens)
Shryke (Gangs)
Sliscus (5th ed)
Syndriq (Covens)
    T
Thelexhoi (Covens)
Theskis (7th ed)
Thrylemnis (Covens)
Thyndrak (7th ed)
Thysk (7th ed)
Traevelliath (5th ed)
Trelexis (Covens)
Tyraxa (Gangs)
    U
Urien (3rd ed)
    V
Vaeghex (7th ed)
Vaekh (7th ed)
Vaeruvec (Gangs)
Vanthis (Covens)
Vanxil (Covens)
Vashrahh (Gangs)
Vect (3rd ed)
Vhane (7th ed)
Vhloriac (7th ed)
Vhyros (Gangs)
Vida (Gangs)
Vileth (5th ed)
Vodzhe (Covens)
Vorl (5th ed)
Vraesque (7th ed)
Vrayne (Gangs)
Vriech (5th ed)
Vylox (Gangs)
Vynquiliac (Covens)
    W
    X
X’ika (Gangs)
X’uskul (7th ed)
Xelian (5th ed)
Xerathis (7th ed)
Xeryndtuil (Covens)
Xevasar (Gangs)
Xholl (7th ed)
Xoelanth (5th ed)
Xorl (Covens)
Xulfur (Covens)
    Y
Yaelindra (7th ed)
Ybdriss (7th ed)
Yctria (Covens)
Ylavondis (Covens)
Ylgasuil (Covens)
Yllithian (5th ed)
Ymarcadas (Gangs)
Ymodrian (Covens)
Yryed (Gangs)
Ysclyth (5th ed)
    Z
Zaelera (Covens)
Zakrodevia (Covens)
Zharokh (3rd ed)

[Epsolonofthe5th]

That is an incredible amount of work! Thank you

[Indefragable]

I got Rex Austin.

 

Oh wait, wrong formula...

 

 

This is an intense amount of work. Great passion and enthusiasm. I really hope this catches on!

[Morbus the Malignant]

This might sound stupid but how do you roll a percentile or a D1000?

[Brother Dallo]

A d100 or "100 sided dice" as used in games like D&D uses two ten sided dice, similar to a d66. One represents the tens digit, the other the singles digit. I imagine a d1000 could be made in a similar fashion, rolling three d10's instead of two. Alternatively, just use a random number generator. A quick google search should pull up a few.

 

Dallo

[Zebulon]

Testing...

 

485: Kul

41: ar

794: sis/xys

 

Kularxys. I like! Quite androgynous.