Fantasy Arabian Nights Names

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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