Calyptra's Dark Eldar Name Generator

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)

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

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)

I've always struggled with making names for DE characters so I appreciate this, looks like a great way of generating a fairly unique DE name.

Holy cow! That's awesome!

Let me know how it works for you! I'm definitely interested in feedback.

The charts are weighted based on the frequency of a given syllable in that position. In the middle syllables, by far the most common sound is "ee" (i), with 21 occurances in the set. Unfortunately, when you're generating a 4 syllable name, "ee" (i) doesn't combine well with some of the other syllables, including itself. You can end up with "dee"-"ee" or "ee"-"eer" or "ee"-"ee".

The easiest solutions are to separate them with a glotal stop (ie "Treli'yresh") or hyphen, or just keep rolling until you get something that works better.

I'm going to try separating the mid syllables into two charts for 4 syllable names and see what happens.

Looking at it now, I notice that it's possible to generate "Yriryrirr," and I'm honestly not sure if that's a problem or not.

...I did say it was a work in progress.

If it was computer generated, instead of hand-rolled, you could take into account the number of time a syllable is used with a previous one. Exemple, if you see a "Meth" is never used after a "Ken", you can lower the probability, while if you notice a "El" is often followed by a "Tru", you can raise the probability.

dumpeal wrote:

If it was computer generated, instead of hand-rolled, you could take into account the number of time a syllable is used with a previous one. Exemple, if you see a "Meth" is never used after a "Ken", you can lower the probability, while if you notice a "El" is often followed by a "Tru", you can raise the probability.

I thought of that, and you're right, but there's one major drawback to that approach, which is that I don't know how to do it.

I do, however, know how to count and write things down, so I went with that.

There are other advantages to this approach. The randomizer isn't intended to necessarily think for you; it also functions as a source of inspiration and an analysis of the naming structure. I think it's objectively more useful if you can see all its parts laid out.

My first random roll up is Vashuhmelkuh. It feels like it needs some kind of break in the name but has a Drukhari style to it. My instinct is a 3 syllable name will work better, so curious to see what things look like with a table for second middle syllable.

Seriously, I would like to recommend this to be a grisly trophy, as it works, and, clearly, a lot of work has gone into this project.  I also highly recommend using Random.org for getting that randomness.

Well done @Calyptra !

725, 3 syllables
98, Dar
462, Ga
584, Kuss

DarGaKuss.

I modified it to Dhagarkuss,
pronounced: Deh-Gar-Kush,
with a heavy emphasis on the “h”

Absolutely loving this!

awesome, thanks for putting in the hard work

This needs to be stickied. Absolutely amazing man, and now I want to create some way to make this generator.

This is awesome. How long did it take you to prepare?

Thanks!

I think this took me something like 8 hours to make, maybe more.

Everyone else I've shared this with has been bemused, which, honestly, is pretty much the correct reaction and what I expected. But I'm really happy that people here understand and appreciate it. I think I needed the morale boost.

I wanted feedback, but I also want it to be something that other people can tweak to suit their tastes or projects better. I can provide the lists of number of occurances for each syllable in each position if anyone is interested. It should be relatively straightforward to swap or add your own syllables, remove any you don't like, or shift the weight of probability. I made very few executive choices because I wanted to know what could happen just from shuffling the data set.

There's a single 5 syllable name (Zakrodevia), so I treated it as 4. I also treated Vorl-Xoelanth as two names instead of one.

When I arranged the lists, I got something you could actually roll on (albeit in a rather silly way) by multiplying by 8 (first and last) or 9 (middle), but to make it fit I removed a single instance of the most common syllable from the first and last lists.

I also made a list of all syllables regardless of position. My thinking was that it would probably be a rather unstable alternate method that you could just keep rolling on until you got something useable. The resulting list has 364 possible results, and I have not figured out how to math it into a thing that can be rolled on. (I should probably check out random.org.)

So those are the next steps: new charts for 4 syllable names, and figure out how to actually roll on the ill-advised syllabic smorgasbord chart.

Also, in less than two weeks (!) we will have a new codex. With new names. I told myself I wouldn't incorporate them into this, because that would take a lot of time and this thing is big enough as it is. I told myself that, and I meant it, but having spent a fair amount of time with myself I also know that when I'm holding the new book and looking at those new names, I'll start thinking the same sort of dangerous, 3 am thoughts that led to 8+ hours of space elf name analysis in the first place.

I understand. Enjoy the work! It is really cool.

Hi, I hope you don't mind but I came across this post and wanted to be able to generate names real quickly so I made an excel spreadsheet that generates the names randomly.

Here's a link if anyone finds it useful.

mega.nz/#F!rfITSIiQ!2X0-t2dAsS-Vxe7ddTbPSw

1st attempt: Archon Eyuhexuh (ae-a-ex-a), kinda sounds like Ayahuasca. Psychedelic!
2nd attempt: Archon Vryvareeiss (Vri-var-e-as) sounds like something Khaleesi would say to her dragons.

WTF!!!! That's just awesome.

I might use this to determine the names my children will get someday.

1st try: Garlin Ar'sis ... nice
2nd try: Luhvell Har'gex ... mhh, don't know if appropriate for human beeing

What are you talking about?! He will have one of the best names ever!