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{{trope}}
{{trope}}
When [[Randomly Generated Levels]] are big enough, they include cities, planets, or other objects that need names. Even if not, other content can be random, and what content is more common and is in need to be varied more than names?
{{trope workshop}}
Tabletop RPG often do the same, mainly for the sake of the setting atmosphere - both on computer and in tabletop pulling "[[Hello, Insert Name Here]]" on the players without relevant experience ends in self-inserts or [[The Loonie|loonie]] names more often than not. And eventually the designers figured out that once you have a list of names, you can turn it into a ready tool simply by printing it as a table with corresponding column of numbers (or number ranges).
{{tropestub}}

When [[Randomly Generated Levels]] are big enough, they include cities, planets, or other objects that need names. Even if not, other content can be random, and what content is more common and is in need to be varied more than names? Tabletop RPG often do the same, mainly for the sake of the setting atmosphere - both on computer and in tabletop pulling "[[Hello, Insert Name Here]]" on the players without relevant experience ends in self-inserts or [[The Loonie|loonie]] names more often than not.


{{examples}}
{{examples}}
== Part of the work ==
==Part of the work==
=== Tabletop Games ===
===Tabletop Games===
* All lines of [[Warhammer 40,000]] RP have character name tables in several different styles.
* All lines of ''[[Warhammer 40,000 Roleplay]]'' have character name tables in several different styles.


=== Video Games ===
===Video Games===
* ''[[Battle for Wesnoth]]'', unusual for a strategy, includes names in new unit randomization.
* ''[[Battle for Wesnoth]]'', unusually for a strategy game, includes names in new unit randomization.
* ''[[Dwarf Fortress]]'' world generator, of course, have to name everyone and everything - and now that the system is here, applies it to things other than individual creatures, peoples and places - such as [[Named_Weapons]]. Sometimes the results are [[Awesome McCoolname|awesome]], sometimes [[Unfortunate Names|laughably bad]]. Among the player settlements, [[Boatmurdered]] is far from the weirdest.
* The ''[[Dwarf Fortress]]'' world generator has to name everyone and everything, of course; the game also has a random name generator for things other than individual creatures, peoples and places - such as [[Named Weapons]]. Sometimes the results are [[Awesome McCoolname|awesome]], sometimes [[Unfortunate Names|laughably bad]]. Among the player settlements, ''[[Boatmurdered]]'' is far from the weirdest.
* ''[[Neverwinter Nights]]'' has the naming script. Since NPC are pre-made or generic, it's mostly for PCs and user-created content.
* ''[[Neverwinter Nights]]'' has the naming script. Since NPC are pre-made or generic, it's mostly for PCs and user-created content.
* ''[[The Elder Scrolls: Arena]]'' and ''[[The Elder Scrolls II: Daggerfall]]'' name all unimportant NPCs using one. It works simply by combing a random beginning and end from ~15 options (as well as a random middle for Imperial NPCS). Stores are also named in this way, with multiple words randomly combined
* ''[[The Elder Scrolls: Arena]]'' and ''[[The Elder Scrolls II: Daggerfall]]'' name all unimportant NPCs using one. It works simply by combing a random beginning and end from ~15 options (as well as a random middle for Imperial NPCS). Stores are also named in this way, with multiple words randomly combined
* The ''[[X-Com]]'' series generates named soldiers simply by selecting random "<First name> <Last Name>" from the lists. EU2012 and successors also generate mission names, which became a [[X-COM (Video Game)/Memes|meme]] in itself, in part due to inevitable cases of tautology or ''Dwarf Fortress'' grade unintentional hilarity.
==== Action Adventure ====

==== Action ====

==== Adventure ====

==== Beat 'em Ups ====

==== Fighting ====

==== First-Person Shooters ====

==== Hack and Slash ====

==== MMORPG ====

==== Party ====

==== Platformers ====

==== Puzzle ====

==== Racing ====

==== RPGS ====

==== Shoot 'em Ups ====

==== Stealth Based ====

==== Survival Horror ====

==== Third-Person Shooters ====

==== Other ====

== Standalone ==
== In-Universe ==

=== Advertising ===

=== Anime and Manga ===

=== Comic Books ===

=== Fan Works ===

=== Film ===

=== Literature ===

=== Live-Action Television ===

=== Music ===

=== Myths and Legends ===

=== Newspaper Comics ===

=== Oral Tradition ===

=== Pinball ===

=== Podcasts ===

=== Professional Wrestling ===

=== Puppet Shows ===

=== Radio ===

=== Tabletop Games ===

=== Theater ===

=== Video Games ===

=== Western Animation ===

=== Web Animation ===


=== Web Comics ===
==Standalone==
* ''[[Does Not Play Well With Others]]'' has the cast trying to play improvised [[My Little Pony: Friendship Is Magic]] tabletop RPG. [http://www.doesnotplaywellwithothers.com/comic/pwc-0119 Bill mixed up random name generators].


=== Web Video ===
===Web===
* [http://www.generatorland.com/ "Name Generator Central" GeneratorLand.com] is [[Exactly What It Says on the Tin|dedicated to random text generators]], mainly name-generators.
** For example: ''[http://www.generatorland.com/glgenerator.aspx?id=145 Pirate Name Generator]'' gives "<Name> [the] <Nickname>" and has the start button labeled "[[Talk Like a Pirate|Arrrrrrh!]]", so that there can't be much confusion as to what it's about.
* ''Seventh Sanctum'' has a [http://www.seventhsanctum.com/index-name.php Name Generators section.]
* ''[http://www.behindthename.com/ Behind the Name: Random Name Generator.]'' It also tries to generate non-English names, but [[Gratuitous Foreign Language|isn't good at this]].
* ''[http://gangstaname.com/ The Original Gangsta Name Generator.]'' Again, pirates are second on the list.
* The ''[http://www.rinkworks.com/namegen/ Fantasy Name Generator]'' by Samuel Stoddard.
* ''[[Deviant ART]]'' has [http://www.deviantart.com/browse/all/?section=&global=1&q=name+generator some fandom-specific ones].
* The official ''[[Dungeons & Dragons]]'' Character Name Generator, found [https://www.wizards.com/dnd/article5.asp?x=dnd/dx20010202b here.]
* ''[http://webspace.webring.com/people/pz/zircher/ang3.htm Alien Random Name Generator]'' by Todd Zircher. There are 10 pre-made types (e.g. "The Lizards" preset [[Sssssnaketalk|is munificent with the letter "S"]]) and more user-defined forms.
* ''[https://www.fantasynamegen.com/ Fantasy Name Generator]'' - also includes English (modern) names, Lovecraftian names (e.g. "Chaugq'ythgoth"), Superhero/supervillain names (e.g. "Doctor Apparition"), [[Operation Blank|Military Operation names]] (e.g. "Operation Legal Bireme") and [[Good Name for A Rock Band|Names for a rock band]] (e.g. "Kian and the Chestnuts"), and you can choose short/medium/long names.
* ''[http://www.namegeneratorfun.com/ Name Generator Fun]'' ("cool names, fantasy names, random names, fake names, elf names, vampire names, fairy names") - including "Steampunk" (i.e. Victorian British).
* ''[https://www.name-generator.org.uk/ Name Generator]'' .org.uk (Quick Name, Character Name, Pen Name, Band Name, Baby Name, First Name, Middle Name, Last Name, Nickname, Rapper Name (e.g. "Inspectah Fluffy"), Fantasy Name, Username)
* ''[http://www.namegenerator.biz/ NameGenerator.biz]'': Baby Name Generators, Screen Name Generators, Random Name Generators (Random, Last, Middle, Boat, Pseudonym Generator, Medieval, Japanese, Scene), Game Name Generators (Game, Xbox GamerTag, WoW, D&D, Star Wars), Fantasy Name Generators (Fantasy, Elf, Vampire), Place Name Generators (Place, Kingdom), Team Name Generators (Team, Clan).
* ''[http://chaoticshiny.com/ Chaotic Shiny]'' has name generators section (Modern, Fantasy-Style, Place, Name Mixer, Name Jumbler).
* ''[https://www.bandnamemaker.com/ Band Name Maker]''.
* ''[https://www.namegenerator.co/ Name Generator]''.
* ''[https://www.bestlittlebaby.com/baby-name-generator.aspx Baby Name Generator]''.
* ''random-generator.com'' (a random generator collection hosted on a wiki) has an entire [http://www.random-generator.com/index.php?title=Name_Generators Name Generators section] -- from real names and ''Motorcycle Gang'' to ''B-Movie Title generator'' and ''Orc Tribe Name''.
* ''[https://web.archive.org/web/20200902150137/https://www.elfnamesgenerators.com/ Elf Name Generator]''. (All types of elf names generator like, Dark Elf, Blood elf, DND Elf Names, wood Elf Names, Void Elf Names, Orc Names, high elf names and half elf names).
* ''[https://www.codenamegenerator.com/ Codename Generator,] which can also be used for codewords or project names generator.''
** The site is explicitly mentioned in ''[[Full Frontal Nerdity]]''. ("[[Operation: Blank|Operation:]] [http://ffn.nodwick.com/?p=1961 Fuchsia Tiger Asteroid]")


=== Other Media ===
=== Software ===
* ''[https://web.archive.org/web/20161228182042/http://ebon.pyorre.net/ Everchanging Book of Names]'' by Sami Pyörre. <ref>MS Windows 32/64-bit</ref>
* A few ''[[Forgotten Realms]]'' specific ones by Ron Pearsall can be found [http://www.candlekeep.com/library/treasures.htm#Software on the fan site]. <ref>MS Windows, but all 3 work in ''wine'' without any setup</ref>
* [http://zzo38computer.org/textfile/miscellaneous/namegen.js namegen.js] <ref>Any computer with Node.js</ref>
* ''AI Weirdness'' demonstrates new and hilarious uses for neural network<ref>[https://github.com/karpathy/char-rnn an open-source neural network framework from Andrej Karpathy]</ref>.
** This includes [//aiweirdness.com/post/140829108357/superheroes-designed-by-neural-network superhero names], [//aiweirdness.com/post/161131639137/80s-action-figures-designed-by-neural-network 80′s action figures] ([//aiweirdness.com/post/161267410992/more-80s-action-figures-from-the-neural-network part 2]), [[Star Wars]] [//aiweirdness.com/post/163491778652/darth-net-star-wars-characters-invented-by-neural characters] and [//aiweirdness.com/post/163209106347/star-wars-planet-names-generated-by-neural-network planets], [//aiweirdness.com/post/166814009412/a-neural-network-designs-halloween-costumes Halloween costumes], [//aiweirdness.com/post/162396324452/neural-networks-kittens cat names], [//aiweirdness.com/post/161854386267/neural-networks-can-name-guinea-pigs guinea pig names], [//aiweirdness.com/post/162263942282/more-neural-network-guinea-pig-names more guinea pig names], [//aiweirdness.com/post/164560090962/new-my-little-ponies-designed-by-neural-network New My Little Ponies], [//aiweirdness.com/post/159027130687/pokemon-generated-by-neural-network Pokemon], D&D [//aiweirdness.com/post/159363915392/new-dd-magic-spells-designed-by-neural-network spells] ([//aiweirdness.com/post/165373096197/a-neural-network-learns-to-create-better-dd next attempt]) <ref>the first fell flat due to being grown on a small dataset of 365 entries from D&D4. The improvement used all 1,300 or so spells from D&D4. Which is about 4 times better, if still isn't 4 tomes of Wizard Spell Compendium + 3 tomes of Priest Spell Compendium of AD&D2, or even [https://web.archive.org/web/20191221174239/http://archive.wizards.com/default.asp?x=dnd%2Flists%2Fspells the official list of spells] from D&D 3.x books (1606 entries).</ref>, [//aiweirdness.com/post/159027130687/pokemon-generated-by-neural-network Pokemon] and [//aiweirdness.com/post/162668008357/harry-potter-and-the-neural-network-fan-fiction Harry Potter fanfics].
** As well as [//aiweirdness.com/post/160014619217/story-titles-invented-by-neural-network story titles], [[Doctor Who]] [//aiweirdness.com/post/159509399932/the-neural-network-writes-the-episode-list-for episode titles], [//aiweirdness.com/post/159062141927/irish-tune-names-invented-by-neural-network Irish Tune names], [//aiweirdness.com/post/162939563362/terrible-broadway-musicals-imagined-by-neural Terrible Broadway musicals], [//aiweirdness.com/post/160407271482/metal-band-names-invented-by-neural-network Metal band names], [//aiweirdness.com/post/161317006492/the-neural-network-will-name-your-next-band more random band names] -- and [//aiweirdness.com/post/171776876562/the-bands-of-south-by-southwest-interpreted-by band names for all genres], really. And [//aiweirdness.com/post/185248506967/neural-net-names-effects-pedals effects pedals].
** [//aiweirdness.com/post/164825121477/a-neural-network-invents-diseases-you-dont-want Diseases], [//aiweirdness.com/post/170383876487/new-insect-species-dreamed-by-neural-network insect species], [//aiweirdness.com/post/167343465812/the-neural-network-meets-its-match-fish fish species], [//aiweirdness.com/post/168537453207/when-ai-gets-into-birding bird species], [//aiweirdness.com/post/159211716882/the-neural-network-invents-fruit-names-that-may fruits].
** [//aiweirdness.com/post/166324392317/computer-algorithms-invented-by-a-computer Computer algorithms], [//aiweirdness.com/post/159235450142/disexplications-video-game-titles-created-by-a video game titles], [//aiweirdness.com/post/161572187967/sports-teams-designed-by-neural-network sports teams], [//aiweirdness.com/post/165081046962/dont-use-a-neural-network-to-name-your-next-pub English pubs], [//aiweirdness.com/post/166075083502/trendy-beer-names-invented-by-neural-network beers] <ref>[https://oldnationbrewing.com/the-fine-stranger/ one] of those even got [[Defictionalised]]</ref>, [//aiweirdness.com/post/167736100922/a-neural-network-invents-some-pies pies] and paint colors ([//aiweirdness.com/post/160776374467/new-paint-colors-invented-by-neural-network Part 1] -- with such pearls as Ghastly Pink, Homestar Brown, Bunflow, Bank Butt, Caring Tan<ref>it's gray, however</ref> Stoner Blue, Turdly; [//aiweirdness.com/post/160985569682/paint-colors-designed-by-neural-network-part-2 Part 2] -- Queen Slime, Poser Cans, Hathole Gray, Lime Pink, Rose Violet, Toes Brown, Pester Pink, Sugar Green, Gray Candy, Frosty Stone, Bright Beach, Dorky Brown, Dry Custard).
** [//aiweirdness.com/post/159754901307/a-neural-network-generates-car-names Cars] and [//aiweirdness.com/post/183611932422/sky-shark-sun-princess-windsprite-sandy boats]. Some are good: "Sky-Shark", "Sun Princess", "Windsprite", "Sandy Bear", etc. Some are not so good: "Saily Sea", "Blue Of The Wind", "Merry Biggles", "The Fun".


=== Real Life ===
==Discussed in the works==
===Web Comics===
* ''[[Does Not Play Well With Others]]'' has the cast trying to play an improvised ''[[My Little Pony: Friendship Is Magic]]'' tabletop RPG. [http://www.doesnotplaywellwithothers.com/comic/pwc-0119 Bill mixed up the random name generators.]


{{reflist}}
{{reflist}}


[[Category:{{BASEPAGENAME}}]]
[[Category:{{BASEPAGENAME}}]]
[[Category:Game Tropes]]
[[Category:Pages Original to All The Tropes]]
[[Category:Video Game Tropes]]
[[Category:Randomness Index]]

Latest revision as of 08:38, 12 October 2022

When Randomly Generated Levels are big enough, they include cities, planets, or other objects that need names. Even if not, other content can be random, and what content is more common and is in need to be varied more than names? Tabletop RPG often do the same, mainly for the sake of the setting atmosphere - both on computer and in tabletop pulling "Hello, Insert Name Here" on the players without relevant experience ends in self-inserts or loonie names more often than not. And eventually the designers figured out that once you have a list of names, you can turn it into a ready tool simply by printing it as a table with corresponding column of numbers (or number ranges).

Examples of Random Name Generator include:

Part of the work

Tabletop Games

Video Games

  • Battle for Wesnoth, unusually for a strategy game, includes names in new unit randomization.
  • The Dwarf Fortress world generator has to name everyone and everything, of course; the game also has a random name generator for things other than individual creatures, peoples and places - such as Named Weapons. Sometimes the results are awesome, sometimes laughably bad. Among the player settlements, Boatmurdered is far from the weirdest.
  • Neverwinter Nights has the naming script. Since NPC are pre-made or generic, it's mostly for PCs and user-created content.
  • The Elder Scrolls: Arena and The Elder Scrolls II: Daggerfall name all unimportant NPCs using one. It works simply by combing a random beginning and end from ~15 options (as well as a random middle for Imperial NPCS). Stores are also named in this way, with multiple words randomly combined
  • The X-Com series generates named soldiers simply by selecting random "<First name> <Last Name>" from the lists. EU2012 and successors also generate mission names, which became a meme in itself, in part due to inevitable cases of tautology or Dwarf Fortress grade unintentional hilarity.

Standalone

Web

Software

Discussed in the works

Web Comics

  1. ↑ MS Windows 32/64-bit
  2. ↑ MS Windows, but all 3 work in wine without any setup
  3. ↑ Any computer with Node.js
  4. ↑ an open-source neural network framework from Andrej Karpathy
  5. ↑ the first fell flat due to being grown on a small dataset of 365 entries from D&D4. The improvement used all 1,300 or so spells from D&D4. Which is about 4 times better, if still isn't 4 tomes of Wizard Spell Compendium + 3 tomes of Priest Spell Compendium of AD&D2, or even the official list of spells from D&D 3.x books (1606 entries).
  6. ↑ one of those even got Defictionalised
  7. ↑ it's gray, however
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