Jul
4th
2014
Gilgamesh wants YOU! Voting opportunity. · 4:48am Jul 4th, 2014
So the Canterlot Wedding is coming up and that means one thing: Changelings. But I need a hand deciding one thing: The Changeling Naming system. Comment with your vote.
1. Insect related names (Thorax, Pupa, etc.)
2. Job and personality names (similar to ponies).
3. Numbers and ranks (drone 32, Royal Guard 40, etc.)
4. Foreign sounding names.
5. Something else entirely.
Personally I'm leaning towards one or two. What about you?
3
5 name them after food
I say you go for a combo of 1 and 2. To mix it up a bit.
2256300 I'm not sure which I want more: this or 1.
2256383 think about it A changling named Taco
2256384 Or a changeling named Gazpacho.
2256386 one named Pie
2256387 And one named Apple! And Pie and Apple are in a relationship of some sorts!
I vote 5: Give them totally common human names, such as Frank, Bill, Langley, and Big Bill.
Or if that's not allowed then 4 I guess.
Number 2.
5) Xerox, Doppel, Ganger, Mimeo, Mirror, excreta. Puns based on either the fact that they copy appearances or That they serves as infiltrators. Agent, Informer, Spotter, Mole, Spy.... Have fun with it, abuse the hell out of your thesaurus.
5, and I have two options. One, you name them after pokemon, or two, you give them generic names like Bob, Carl, Michael, John, Sam, Marge, Alex, Cat, so and so. The latter has been done before but the first is just too ludicrous to be pulled off.
Or we could us enames of side characters and such from Harry Potter
One. Also, OCs?
i vote either 1 or 2
4. The changelings are all French.
2256300 I agree
Maybe combos
Let's make some
tasty foodchangeling namesScratch that FOOD
insect names !
1
I say either 3 or 4
Huh, I was totally sold on number one when I read this but now I think I want the frenchies to be here or some food names like from Chowder. Some of the more foreign dishes or maybe some more meat related ones, further expressing that they are totally different!.
Give them all French names. French sounds like some strange bug language anyway.
I vote number 4
1 and 2 is what I try to aim for with my changeling names. Though I suck with coming up with names. Especially changeling one. Only good one I got is Deimos who eats fear in addition to love.
I think you should go with either number 3 or give em German names
......In case that wasn't obvious, my vote is number one.
1 or 3, be a bit different
Whoops i meant 1 or 4
4 or 5, a mixture of all the above?
I don't know if this idea is any help, but as a person who loves reading fic that focus on Changelings, I've got a rather complex scheme, so it might not be of help, unless they end up being a main focus later on, but I'm personally really fond of this 3 tired naming scheme:
All of the Changelings first have the number system, ("I'm Changeling 3527-379") with the hive mind thing streaming information, so that calling someone (someling?) by what is basically their SOS number isn't a mouthful, and gets rid of the need for nicknames.
What make this version interesting is that if a Changeling gets promoted high enough, or does something noteworthy, they get to choose a name, usually something related to what they did, or who they are, similar to pony names, but usually less strict (a big guy who is notable for being strong could be "Big Bug", but could also be something like "Pecs" or "Strong Arm") which should give more variety to the names and show off how the Changeling thinks (a creative Ling would have something flowery or meaningful, a simple minded Ling would have something basic, an arrogant Ling would have something long-winded and pretentious, etc.).
Finally, at the top, those who are born high ranking, like the Queen or those who are born specifically to be leaders or advisers or maintain the hive mind for the Queen, etc. would be the only ones who can have insect names like Chrysalis, Pupa, Thorax, Mandible, etc. The twist here is that if one of the ones who was a drone is promoted up to this point, they would get a name like them as well (such as a negotiator and adviser named Smooth Talk the Mandible), and these few are looked up to as they have shown dedication and skill surpassing their birth, rather than the typical noble sentiment of "filthy commoner who does not belong here".
Sorry if that's a bit long winded, but it's what I like. Another, simpler idea is to go the Hollow route, and just use basic naming convention, but in another language, Spanish would give them smoother, more elegant names (if playing up the intelligent infiltrators) or German should sound good if you are going for the proud warrior race thing (like Klingons). This would be better if they are not going to be a main focus for the rest of the story, but rather be side characters in some form. Personally, with how your stories are focused, this is what I would advise, but my preferred idea may at least give you some ideas.
3
1. Nibble, noble and fucktard 5000,
Oh that's not how it works.
All royals and nobles get bug-related names; and all the rest get ranks and numbers.