Name Generator - Kaiju Realms Encyclopedia

Overview

This generator produces full names in Kamiato's Common language. These names consist of a surname followed by a given name. People with surnames in Kamiato are generally referred to by their surname first, and this generator follows that convention. While people of all ranks (commoners and beyond) have surnames in Kamiato, only members of the aristocracy, samurai, and other individuals of high status are permitted the use of their surname in official capacities. This applies to most rōnin as well. Though many rōnin earn the privilege of using their surnames in official capacities due to their service, or by eventually becoming samurai in their own right. However, many rōnin, even those granted the privilege of using their surname, prefer to go by a descriptive byname, such as a locative describing the place they come from, or an appellation regarding a notable feature of theirs.

Historical basis

General naming conventions in Kamiato's Common language are roughly derived from Japanese naming practices from around the pre-Edo period. Most names, both given names and surnames (family names), consist of two kanji. As do the formal adult names (nanori) of men, which tends to produce a four syllable name. Men tended to receive multiple names throughout their lifetime, but Kamiato lacks such traditions.

Sources on the names of Japanese women, particularly during the pre-Edo period are quite sparse. As a result, many of the naming elements included in the feminine name generator are based on name lists referencing the early-Edo period. Note, however, that these have some crossover with names from the Muromachi period. It should also be noted that Japanese women's names were typically written in kana rather than kanji.

Interestingly, while commoners did have surnames, in the late 17th century, the Edo Shogunate decreed that only samurai were able to use a surname. Therefore, from the late 17th century until the Meiji period, commoners were not allowed to use their surnames in official capacities (on official documents and such things), leading to the misconception that commoners did not have surnames at all. During this period, commoners were instead identified in official documents with locative or occupational bynames. Still, some commoners during this period would be granted the privilege of using their surname in official capacities due to their service to the Shogunate or local samurai.

It should be reiterated here that the Common language of Kamiato does not have kanji, these are only provided in the case that one is interested in the roots of these names. (Kanji used in given names can be hovered or tapped to see associated meanings.) Furthermore, none of the generated given names should be assumed to be historically accurate Japanese names. While the surnames are taken from historical records, the given names are constructed of elements, which may lead to unusual and/or unnatural names.

Naming Conventions

These names are suitable for any character in Kamiato whose ancestors have a Common language background, especially humans. Many non-humans continue to use non-Common names (generators for other cultural/linguistic groups coming soon!), though rōnin will sometimes take on Common pseudonyms for their occupation.

Feminine Names

Certain feminine names produced by this generator may have characteristics that make them unsuited for certain characters.

The most significant of these are feminine given names beginning with o- or containing hime. These are reserved for members of aristocracy and high-ranking women: o- is an honorific prefix, and the hime element is reserved for nobility as it means "princess". (Most names beginning o- are derived from this honorific, though this can be verified by checking the associated characters. If the initial character of the given name is either お or 御, or its given meaning is "honorific" this is a name for nobility.)

Additionally, most commoner women have a bisyllabic given name. Trisyllabic given names are generally reserved with women of rank, while four-syllable given names are exceedingly rare for women, regardless of the individual's social status.

Sources

Masculine name elements and some feminine name elements used in this name generator are derived from this article on Japanese names at sengokudaimyo.com.
Surnames used in this name generator are derived from this compilation of surnames from Sengoku Jinmyō Jiten at sengokudaimyo.com.
Masculine name elements used in this name generator are also derived from this index of men's nanori (formal adult names) by Solveig Throndardottir and the Academy of Saint Gabriel.
The majority of feminine names and name elements used in this name generator are derived from this article on women's names in Edo-era Japan at www.issendai.com.
More details on their sources can be found at their respective links.