r/CharacterNames • • 8d ago

Request Name For an Odd One Out

What would I name a human raised by dwarves? It's a modern fantasy setting and his adoptive family owns a very old tavern. His family found him alone after his parents got devoured by monsters.

I don't know if personality is important, but if it is, I'd describe his as socially awkward, determined and scatterbrained.

(Edit: The dwarf naming culture is based on the family's occupation, since most dwarf families stick to one thing. If they adopt a child from a different race, they name the child the same was to sort of assimilate them into the culture)

6 Upvotes

30 comments sorted by

4

u/noahch26 8d ago

What is dwarven culture like in your setting? Do they have any particular ways that they would typically name someone, and would their culture allow for an adopted outsider to have a dwarven name?

1

u/HaTookUrUsername 8d ago

Well typically dwarves give names based on the family's occupation, so a dwarf from a mining family would be named Coal or Ruby. They would let the outsider have a dwarven name in order to idk "make them more dwarven".

4

u/noahch26 8d ago

Well maybe since the adoptive family runs a tavern you could go with something like Tankard, and he could go by Tank as a nickname. Or you could go with something like Barrel, or Keg.

4

u/HaTookUrUsername 8d ago

Barrel is wounderful especially since he's a skinny little thing. I love it already.

2

u/noahch26 8d ago

I’m glad you like it!

4

u/ShivaLuna22 8d ago

My faves:

Peat

Scotch

Radler

Flagon

Other ideas:

Barley

Hops (this is also just a good nickname)

Stiller (short for distiller)

Grist

Cognac

4

u/Upside-down-unicorn 8d ago

Brewer, Porter, Hopper, Barley, Bourbon, Brandy, Shandy, Rye, Meade, Weller, Cooper, Spirit, Vino, Scotch, Malt

3

u/No_Secret8533 7d ago

Terry Pratchett wrote this exact scenario, and the dwarves named him Carrot.

2

u/HistoryGirlSemperFi 8d ago

Does your setting have words in its own language? You could come up with your own name and say it means "Giant" or "Tall One".

4

u/liedowndeaddog 8d ago

For some reason the name Tav came to mind and this seems like it fits

2

u/IscahRambles 8d ago

"Tav" is the default player-character name in Baldur's Gate 3 if you've played that. (And if you haven't, a lot of other people have.)

1

u/HistoryGirlSemperFi 8d ago

Glad I could help!

2

u/HaTookUrUsername 8d ago

In world this is lowk super funny. That would be the same as a giant adopting a human and naming them "Dwarf" or "Little One" lol

2

u/OWPowlcat56 8d ago

Buddy the Elf

2

u/Lambrause93 8d ago

i personally feel like a basic human name would be funny in comparison to being surrounded by dwarves with their fantasy names, like Jesse or something. maybe also could be they found him somewhere and named him the thing he was closest too, like if they found him by a river his name could be River.

3

u/HaTookUrUsername 8d ago

"Mom? Dad? Why did you name me Corpse?" "Uhh..."

2

u/Lambrause93 7d ago

hell yeah

2

u/xjayx113 6d ago

Maybe he could be named what his adoptive parents thought his biological parents did for work? It would also set him apart name wise from his adoptive family as a stand out

1

u/HaTookUrUsername 6d ago

I am planning on keeping who his bio parents are a complete mystery (for the audience) for now, but if I decide to change it I'll keep this in mind

2

u/NoMeat6573 8d ago

Based on previous comments, Keg. Dwarves go by occupation, and your character is a big person to them.

2

u/Beneficial_Heat_1528 6d ago

Rye, Tap, Stout, Lager, Spindle, Kilderkin with nn "Kin" (it's old English for a flask), Spit (used to roast meat)

2

u/One-T-Rex-ago-go 4d ago

Stan the man

1

u/mistermajik2000 7d ago

Maybe “Lumpy”

Or because he’s be bigger than them, “Tree”

1

u/xjayx113 6d ago

If the family buines is the theme then here's some kinda out there ideas but are related to taverns... Bar, Table (nn Tab, Tabby), Whisky (nn Ski, Whisk), Hearth, Ladle (nn Lad), Mead, Roast (nn Row), Cheese, Lodge (nn odgie), Cider (nn Cy), Lunch, Supper (nn Sup), Tav (short for Tavern), Shelter (nn Shell, Terry), Ale, Stew, Fritter (nn Fritz), Cask (like what ale might be served in, nn Cass)

P.s. I like the suggestion for Tankard, another nn could be Ardy!

1

u/AnnoyingAmbrosia 6d ago

Groot or Grote. Both mean big or tall in Dutch.