City of Heroes: Live Forum Archive

A Guide to Creating a Name for New Hero Characters

Dustnite

By Dustnite,
Posted on: 2005-07-28 14:30 in Player Guides

 

Posted

So you think all the good names are taken, do you? You've tried using foreign words, foreign names, changing the 'c' to a 'k' at the end of the name? Then here are some tips for you!

Is the Name Taken?

If you want to check to see if a name is taken, there are two easy ways to go about it (at least until the Devs let us choose our name first, hint hint to the Devs):

1) Log on to the game and type in /friend plus the desired name for your hero. If the name is already taken, it will be added to your friends list. If not, you're free to use it. Quick! Go to the character generator before someone beats you to it! You only have a few seconds!

2) Don't design your character, just hit all the buttons to get to the final screen, then type in a name. If it gets through to the Tutorial, delete the character and then go back to actually design your character. Do it now, tomorrow will be too late! There are hoards of comic geeks who just had the same idea you did!

Websites to help you come up with a name:

For definitional purposes only, go to dictionary to look up spelling if you want the exact word. For words with a similar meaning, it has a companion button, or go to thesaurus

Want all the work done for you? Head to Silly Superhero Name Generator
They have a link on the left-hand side specifically for super heroes, but I gave the web address for the main page, since it has links to generators all over the web. Over on the right side, for example, one link is THE SWAMI'S GENERATORS , which has multiple links, such as a link to a scientific title generator, in case you want your hero to be a Science Hero with an impressive-sounding title. Explore seventhsanctum and all its links, you'll be sure to find something that works for you. Their latest is a Candy Generator, just in case you want to name a hero after something sweet! Also works for villains, in case you need help for CoV.

Still not satisifed? Then step on over to
Lee's Useless Super-Hero Generator

You can generate names, include adjectives, and become heroes such as The impossible Super Avenger or The philanthropic Robot Falcon. If you don't want to have the names generated for you, just click on the source links next to the super-hero button, and you can read the wordlists that are used to generate everything.
Also works for villains, team names, and a possibilities box which will display a few variations on each one, if you like a name that shows up, but want something just a little different. The Kewlifier option will do things like this:
Blackstrike -> Blakstryke
Copper Hawk -> Kopper Hawke

and the Alienator option will add in special characters and make things look like leetspeak, if you're into that. Plus, you can combine all of these options!

Want to get a little more sophisticated? Try phrontistery, a site for English words and language resources.

It has lists of unusual and rare words, lipograms, prefixes and number hints, nautical terms, and even a list of more than 80 terms involving killing. I found a new hero name I wanted for CoV just scanning one link.

Still not able to come up with a name? Go to a search engine like google or vivisimo and type in these search terms:
super hero generator

Presto! Tons of other sites that will automatically provide you with suggestions and lists from which to choose.

If anyone has a favorite site that is not mentioned here, feel free to add it to the guide.

These sites contain endless hours of fun and opportunities for finding a good, original name. Good hunting!

I have an idea! No wait...it's just gas.
Hellscorp

 

Posted

For some reason the dictionary link didn't show up correctly: dictionary

I have an idea! No wait...it's just gas.
Hellscorp

 

Posted

Great little guide. Don't forget, though: A person can get really creative and go to their local library and look up words in the Oxford English Dictionary. Etymology made fun!

Back after 18 months away!

 

Posted

I've got a much better website for name generators HERE

I use it all the time to generate great names.

 

Posted

[ QUOTE ]
I've got a much better website for name generators HERE

I use it all the time to generate great names.

[/ QUOTE ]

Umm...
Yeah.

That's the seventhsanctum site, the main weblink which I referenced in the first post:
[ QUOTE ]
Want all the work done for you? Head to Silly Superhero Name Generator

[/ QUOTE ]

Not so much a better site as... exactly the same site, except I referenced the main page, where you have links on the left to help you pick names via options like humor, darkness, technololgy, etc., instead of just the superhero topic you picked.

I have an idea! No wait...it's just gas.
Hellscorp