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Fantasy Arabian Nights Names

December 20, 2011 2:41 pm / 1 Comment / Chris
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Jeremy writes:

A table (however many you feel up to) of 1,001 Nights-esque NPC names and their possible motivations.

First of all: this is not an attempt to create real world names. I don’t know much about that culture and what words mean or how they are put together. This is a hack. Real Arabic speakers, players or GM’s, please  make something better. Also, look through Al-Qadim, as I’m sure there’s some help there (never read it).

First, look here for how names work.

First Names

I can suggest two sources of random first names.

Popular male names are here. Popular female names are here.

If you want to keep it random roll 1d30*, ignoring anything over 26.  Count up from 1=A to get your first letter of the first name. Then roll the smallest die you have that covers all the available names for that letter and throw out the rolls that go too high.

Or you can use this table, taken from Biblical Arabic names from Wikipedia:

1d30 Arabic name Hebrew name English name
1 Alyasaʿ Elišaʿ Elisha
2 Andraos – Andrew
3 Ayyūb Iyyov, ʾIyyôḇ Job
4 Binyāmīn Benyamin Benjamin
5 Dāwūd/Dāvūd Davīd David
6 Efraim Efráyim Ephraim
7 Hārūn Aharon Aaron
8 Hawwā’ Havah Eve
9 Ibrāhīm Avraham Abraham
10 Ilyās Eliyahu Elijah
11 ʿĪsà/Yasūʿ Yehoshua* Jesus, Joshua
12 ‘Isḥāq/Ishak Yitzhak Isaac
13 ‘Ismāʿīl Yišmā`êl, Yišma`el Ishmael
14 Isrā’īl Yisraʾel, Yiśrāʾēl Israel
15 Jibrīl Gavriʼel Gabriel
16 Jād Gad Gad
17 Maryam Miriyam Mary
18 Mattà Matatyahu Matthew
19 Mikhā’īl Mikha’el Michael
20 Mūsà Moshé Moses
21 Nūḥ Nóaḥ Noah
22 Sārah Sara Sarah/Sara
23 Sulaymān Shlomo Solomon
24 ʿUbaydallāh Obhádhyah,Ovadiah Obadiah
25 Yaʿqūb, Jakub/Jakup Yaʿqov Jacob, (James)
26 Yaḥyà/Yūḥannā** Yôḥānnān John
27 Yūnus Yona Jonah
28 Yūsuf Yosef Joseph
29 Zakariyā Zekhariah Zachary or Zechariah
30 Sokurah (From The Seventh Voyage of Sinbad)

Again, roll 1d30*  and pick a name. I added one name to make it an even 30. If its the wrong gender, reroll. So you have a first name. If your random choice is tied to a real world religion and you’d rather avoid that, then roll again or go with Jafar or Fatima. Those are good ones.

Surnames

If you want to include one or more ‘son of X, son of Y’ names, roll as above for father’s name and grandfather’s name.

Then get a Surname by rolling 1d171 (or roll 2d100 and subtract 1). This table, also from Wikipedia, is taken from a list of stars:

1d171 (2d100 -1) Arabic name (transliteration) Meaning Common name
1 Akhir an-Nahr End of the river “Another River” Acamar
2 Akhir an-Nahr End of the river “Another River” Achernar
3 Al-‘Aqrab The scorpion Acrab
4 Az-Zubana The claw Acubens
5 Ad-Dafirah The curl “Plexus” Adhafera
6 Al-‘Adhara The maidens “Virgins” Adhara
7 Al-Dhayl The tail Adhil
8 Al-dhi’b The wolf Adib
9 ‘Ain the “eye” of the Bull “Eye” Ain
10 Al-Bali’ The swallower Albali
11 Al-Khiba’ The tent Alchibah
12 Al-Dabaran “The follower” of the Pleiades Aldebaran
13 Adh-Dhira’ al-Yamin The right arm Alderamin
14 Al-Firq The flock “Difference” Alfirk
15 Al-Jabbar The giant Algebar
16 Al-Jady The goat “Capricorn” Algedi
17 Al-Janb The flank “Side” Algenib
18 Al-Jabhah “The forehead” of the lion “Front” Algieba
19 Al-Ghul The ghoul Algol
20 Al-Ghurab The raven Algorab
21 Al-Han’ah The mark of the brand Alhena
22 Al-Jawn The black horse “John” Alioth
23 Al-Qa’id “The leader” of the mourning maidens “Commander” Alkaid
24 Al-Ka’s The cup Alkes
25 ‘Anaq al-Ard The caracal “Hug the Ground” Almak
26 Al-Maisan The shining one “Libration” Almeisan
27 An-Nayyir The bright one “Yoke” Alnair
28 Al-nasl The arrowhead “Blade” Alnasl
29 An-Nidham The string of pearls “Systems” Alnilam
30 An-Nitaq The belt “Scale” Alnitak
31 Al-Fard The solitary one “Individual” Alphard
32 Al-Fakkah “The broken” ring of stars “Humorous” Alphecca
33 Surrat al-Faras The navel of the stallion “Navel Persians” Alpheratz
34 Al-Risha’ The ropes Alrescha
35 Al-Athafi The tripods for cooking on Sigma “Andiron” Alsafi
36 Suhail Untranslatable Alsuhail
37 Al-Nasr At-Ta’ir “The flying” eagle Altair
38 At-Tais The great serpent “Goat” Altais
39 At-Tarf “The glance” of the lion “Party” Alterf
40 Al-‘Udhrah The maidenhead “Faces” Aludra
41 Al-Qafzah al-Ula “the first leap” Alula Australis
42 Al-Qafzah al-Ula “the first leap” Alula Borealis
43 Al-Alyah The fatty tail of a sheep “Mechanism” Alya
44 “small cloud”[4][5] “little cloud” was the Arabic name for the modern Andromeda Galaxy, which was first discovered by Al-Sufi, and mentioned in his Book of Fixed Stars Andromeda Galaxy
45 ‘Arjat an-Nahr Curve of the river “Winding River” Angetenar
46 Al-‘Anka’ Phoenix Ankaa
47 Al-‘Urqub The heel-tendon “Achilles” Arkab
48 Al-Arnab The hare Arneb
49 Ar-Raqis The dancer Arrakis
50 Al-‘Atiq “The shoulder” of the Pleiades “Responsibility Chandelier” Atik
51 Al-‘Awwa’ The barker “Howl” Auva
52 Al-Udhi The hatching-place Azha
53 Al-Biham The livestock Baham
54 Batn Qaytus Belly of Cetus Baten Kaitos
55 Al-Baid The eggs Beid
56 Banat Na’sh Daughters of the bier Benetnash
57 Yad al-Jauza’ Hand of Gemini Betelgeuse
58 Al-Butayn The little belly Botein
59 Al-Kaff “The palm” of the Pleiades Caph
60 Kalb ar-Ra’i The shepherd’s dog Celbalrai
61 Al-Kharat The rib Chort
62 Al-Kursi The chair Cursa
63 Sa’d adh-dhabih The lucky star of “the slaughterer” Dabih
64 Dhanab ad-Dajajah Tail of the fowl Deneb
65 Dhanab al-Jady Tail of the goat Deneb Algedi
66 Dhanab ad-Dulfin Tail of the Dolphin Deneb Dulfim
67 Dhanab Qaytus Tail of Cetus Deneb Kaitos
68 Dhanab al-Asad Tail of the lion Denebola
69 Ad-Difda’ Al-awwal The first frog Diphda
70 Al-Jabhah “The forehead” of the scorpion Dschubba
71 Kahil Ad-Dubb The back of the bear Dubhe
72 Adh-Dhi’ban The two wolves Dziban
73 Adh-Dhikh The hyena Edasich
74 An-Nath The butting El Nath
75 At-Tinnin The great serpent Eltanin
76 Al-Anf The nose Enif
77 Ar-Ra’i The shepherd Errai
78 Fam al-Hut Mouth of the whale Fomalhaut
79 Al-Furud “Individual” stars Furud
80 Al-Janah The wing Gienah
81 Al-Ghumaisa’ The bleary-eyed one Gomeisa
82 Hadar Civilization Hadar
83 Al-Hamal The ram Hamal
84 Al-Haq’ah The white spot Heka
85 Sa’d al-humam The lucky star of “the high-minded Homam
86 Al-Izar The girdle, or, The loin-cloth Izar
87 Al-Jabhah “The forehead” of the scorpion Jabbah
88 Qabd Al-E’nan The rein hold Kabdhilinan
89 Al-Kaff al-Jadhma’ The cut-short hand Kaffaljidhma
90 Al-Qaus The southern one of “the bow” Kaus Australis
91 Al-Qaus The northern one of “the bow” Kaus Borealis
92 Al-Qaus The middle one of “the bow” Kaus Media
93 Al-Qaid The broken egg-shells Keid
94 Qit’at al-Faras Part of the horse Kitalpha
95 Al-Kaukab Planet Kochab
96 Al-Qurhah “The blaze” on a horse’s brow Kurhah
97 Al-Las’ah The sting Lesath
98 dhanab al-asad the lion’s tail Luh-Denebola
99 Al-Mi’sam The wrist Maasym
100 Al-Ma’z The he-goat Maaz
101 Al-Mirfaq The elbow Marfik
102 Mankib al-Faras “The shoulder” of the horse Markab
103 Sa’d Matar The lucky star of “the rain” Matar
104 Al-Mabsutah “The outstretched” paw Mebsuta
105 Al-Maghriz “The insertion-point” of the Bear’s Megrez
106 Al-Maisan The shining one Meissa
107 Al-Maqbudah “The pulled-in” paw Mekbuda
108 Mankib Dhi-al-‘Inan Shoulder of the rein-holder Menkalinan
109 Al-Minkhar The nostril Menkar
110 Al-Mankib “The shoulder” of the Pleiades Menkib
111 Al-Maraqq The loins Merak
112 Kahkashan[3] is the Persian word for the Milky Way Milky Way
113 Al-Mintaqah The belt Mintaka
114 Al-Mi’zar The loin-cloth Mirak
115 Al-Mirfaq “The elbow” of the Pleiades Mirfak
116 miʾzar apron Mizar
117 Al-Muthallath The triangle Mothallah
118 Al-Mufrid The solitary one Muphrid
119 Al-Murzim The roarer Murzim
120 Sa’d Nashirah The lucky star of Nashirah Nashira
121 An-Nasl The arrowhead Nasl
122 Al-Baqqar The cattleman Nekkar
123 An-Nihal The camels quenching their thirst Nihal
124 An-Nasaqan The two series Nusakan
125 Al-‘Uqdah The knot Okda
126 Al-Fakhitah The dove Phact
127 Al-Fakhidh The thigh Phad
128 Al-Farqad The calf Pherkad
129 Ra’s al-Asad Head of the lion Rasalased
130 Ra’s al-Jathi Head of the kneeling one Rasalgethi
131 Ra’s al-Hawwa’ Head of the snake-man Rasalhague
132 Ra’s ath-Thu’ban Head of the snake Rastaban
133 Ar-Rijl The foot Rigel
134 Rijl Qanturus Foot of the centaur Rigilkent
135 Ar-Risha’ The rope Risha
136 Ar-Rukbah The knee Rukbah
137 Ar-Rukbah The knee Rukbat
138 As-Sabiq The preceding Sabik
139 Sa’d al-Akhbiyah Lucky star of the tents Sadachbia
140 Sa’d al-Bari’ Lucky star of the excellent one Sadalbari
141 Sa’d al-Malik Lucky star of the king Sadalmelik
142 Sa’d as-Su’ud Luck of lucks Sadalsuud
143 As-Sadr The breast Sadr
144 As-Saif The sword Saiph
145 As-Sa’id The shoulder Scheat
146 Ash-Shaulah The raised tail of the scorpion Shaula
147 As-Sadr The breast Shedir
148 Alshelaiyak – Sheliak
149 Ash-Sharatan The two signs Sheratan
150 Surrat al-Faras Belly-button of the female horse Sirrah
151 As-Saq The leg Skat
152 As-Sulhafat The tortoise Sulafat
153 Athalitha The southern one of the third leap Talitha Australis
154 Ath-Thalithah The northern one of the third leap Talitha Borealis
155 Ath-Thaniyah The southern one of “the second” leap Tania Australis
156 Ath-Thaniyah The northern one of “the second” leap Tania Borealis
157 At-Tarf “The glance” of the lion Tarf
158 Ath-Thu’ban The snake Thuban
159 The Pleiades Thuraya
160 ‘Unuq al-Hayyah Neck of the snake Unukalhai
161 Al-Waqi’ “The stooping” eagle Vega
162 Wasat as-Sama’ “Middle” of the sky Wasat
163 Al-Wazn The weight Wazn
164 Al-Wazn The weight Wezen
165 Al-Yad The succeeding one of the Snake Man’s hand Yed Posterior
166 Al-Yad The preceding one of the Snake Man’s hand Yed Prior
167 Az-Zawiyah The angle Zaniah
168 Az-Zawraq The boat Zaurac
169 Zawiyat al-‘Awwa’ The angle of al awa Zavijava
170 Az-Zuban al-Janubi “Southern Claw” Zubenelgenubi
171 Az-Zuban ash-Shamali “Northern Claw” Zubeneshamali

Then string them together as such:

Boys: First Name ibn (pronounced ‘bin’) Father’s Name ibn Grandfather’s Name + Al- Surname

Girls: First Name + bint + Father’s First Name + bint Grandfather’s First Name + Al- + surname  (or if your world is more egalitarian, use the mother’s names)

Examples:

Male: Yunus ibn Efraim Al-Jabhah

Female, matrilineal: Alyasa bint Hawwa Yad al-Jauza’

If the surname already has Al- or Ad- or other A prefix, don’t add Al-. You can also add royalty and positions in there either at the beginning or end.

That’s a quick and dirty way to create some names for your campaign. Because these were not curated for poetics, you need to say it aloud to make sure it works for you.

*(Or roll 1d3 (that’s 1d6 divided by 2, round down) and subtract one. Then multiply by ten and add 1d10.)

You also asked for motivations, but I must beg for mercy and ask that I may address that in a later post.

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YARPP
Posted in: campaign window dressing, legacy D&D / Tagged: bring it, names, npcs, settings, tables

One Thought on “Fantasy Arabian Nights Names”

  1. Rorschachhamster on December 26, 2011 at 4:10 am said:

    Aren’t motivations already built in in the meaning of the surnme? I could work with that… 😉

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