Looking for Ideas · 10:16pm Nov 4th, 2014
I'm sketching out things a ways down the line and I need to come up with some names for the noble houses. It is what informs the themes of the names of the children born. What House a Herd falls under is usually decided upon when the marriage contract is drawn up. "Last names" or noble houses are things that only the nobles have.
The Apple family is legally a noble house, and the Earth Pony nobility have about an even split between like the Apple family and more classical nobles.
Pegasi have a few houses that are (still) heavily militaristic rather than classically noble (pompous asses).
And the unicorns have the largest number of noble houses, having set the standard for 'classic' nobility, with a few better houses like Twilight's.
For example: Twilight and her family are part of the House of Light
Rarity is trying to 'create' the House of Belle
So! Ideas? Suggestions? Fan spawned? Personal ones with OCs in them? Etc. Etc.
You could always ask if you can use the houses from:
The Platinum Crown
The Foal of the Forrest continuum
The King is Dead, Long live the Emporer (for Crystal/Changeling houses)
The Ambassador's Son (for Dragon houses)
Suggestions huh?
Well for Earth Ponies, they were all mostly farmers so it would make sense for the noble houses to be named after the fruits/vegetables they were 'rulers' over, and had to take care of for the 'Earth pony kingdom' as a whole. So you have the house of Orange, the house of Berry, etc. House Orange and house Apple were most likely bitter rivals in the distant past for reasons forgotten by everyone until a wedding brought the two houses together. Although there may be a few in the family who still have a distrust of the other.
Since Pegasi are more militaristic, their names would resemble something athletic or powerful sounding. "Streak", "Glory", "Rays", and "Bolts" would be such names. Heck, even "Dash" could be such a name, though Rainbow Dash herself may or may not be a descendent from a noble.
And Unicorns would most likely have names that are considered 'beautiful'. "Light", "Bell", "Ballad", "Hearts", "Gem", "Sunset", "Rose", "Ribbon".
These ideas have been made from viewing the giant List of Ponies showing both fan made names and official names exists. It may help you come up with more if you need it.
I'm leery of the entire concept- the ponies are named after puns and phrases as well as actual horse names and while that works with appending place names like Applejack of Ponyville (and I always saw Rarity as a Madonna-just-Madonna type) it's *really* hard to think of a dozen clever descriptive things that have a single word in it.
Star Light, Night Light, Sun Light, Bright Light, Night Light, Dawn Light - so long as you're describing a feature of something like Tight Wad, Tight Lips, Tight Friend, Tight Rope- you can do it, but it gets silly fast.
If you want prominent families use prominent ancestors instead. Applejack decendant of Rodeo, Twilight descendant of Eureka etc.
I'm thinking that the names don't have to be literally derived from the house name. That would get very restrictive very fast.
Instead have the house name be the base concept for the name. For example: the house of Light could have members such as Shining Armor and Sunset Shimmer, as both "shining" and "shimmer" refer to light in some way.
With that caveat, I agree with 2574065
In that case you need a "House of Night". A minor house that cynically renamed itself for Luna to curry favor. Maybe also trying to wed a son to the Moon Princess? (Don't know how you are handling breeding rights/marriages with the Princesses. Blueblood would imply that Celestia gets laid from time to time)
I don't like the idea of Twilight being from a large scale/main Noble House. Maybe uplifted after Celestia took her on? Her shyness/remember teasing would imply she was not top tier prior to her exam. (also lack of formal introduction to the princess)
I have on OC from a story I'll probably never write called Decadent Indulgence. From the house of Prosperity. He is one of the most powerful of the Nobles currently out there (He's been trying to force Twilight to marry him since Celestia became her tutor. Real nasty piece of work, underhanded but never quite enough to get in legal trouble) Shameless plug
Glad to see you are generating new stuff can't wait for the date and the real plot to kick off.
2574084
No no no - If I got it right, the name of the House just implies the theme of the members names. The actual House Name itself would not be used outside of official introductions and announcements.
Example: "Now introducing Lady Twilight Sparkle of House Light!"
After all, her father is Nightlight and her mother is Twilight Velvet, while her brother is Shining Armor. All names that have something to do with light. Although which parent joined the House, or if they were both already members but distant enough cousins hasn't been established.
Rarity trying to start House Belle just shows that she either doesn't quite grasp the thematic aspects, she's attempting to start a matriarchal House, or she's trying to honor her little sister.
House Apple is most likely tied to House Orange, but may have rivalries with House Pear and House Lemon (orchards being more likely to be owned by nobility, even if relatively poor nobility as the Apples seem to be).
If Rainbow Dash is from a noble House, likely House names might be Chrome, Prism, Refraction, Aurora, Swift, or Zephyr.
The Cakes (and Rarity) fall under the heading of artisans and craftsponies, and are thus part of the middle class. This would put Pinkie Pie in the odd position of possibly being a member of the nobility apprenticed to a baker family if it turns out that the Pies really are related to the Apples...
Hmmm... I'm kinda wondering if there wouldn't be a different term for each kind of 'nobility', seeing as the three tribes hail from different systems. Perhaps in some way they could function similarly to the Houses, but with a spin that would be unique to all three cultures.
For example, I am more akin to thinking of Earth ponies gathering in Families rather than Houses. Like the Apple Family, better ring to it, in my opinion. It could have a bit of an electoral process to determine the next head or heir. Say, Applejack is the one in charge of the farm rather than Big Mac, or at least that's what I remember from show canon. It could be that the Clan felt she had a bigger passion and drive (plus a few other qualities like sociability). In line with this, pegasi could have something more of a meritocracy. In that family inheritance is more determined by high exploits and accomplishments. I could imagine Rainbow Dash being a headache in that she is capable of extraordinary feats but is also a bit lazy and, more importantly, frequently in life or death situations. Or maybe I'm just completely off track from what you want.
But hey, if you want a few names, I was thinking 'noble' pegasi would go by bird names (something like Flight Raptor, Flight Peregrine, Flight Flamingo) or weather phenomena (maybe Flock/Flight/Nest: Derecho, Foehn, Zud, (yes, those are all associate with weather)).
Earth ponies would need something about strength, durability or plant life. I wonder if the Caduceus should be used here (as in commerce or medecine? Are those more earth pony or unicorn?)
Unicorns could have stuff related to magic, astronomy and arts. Arcana, Nebula, Eclipse, Syzygy (if you ever need to have a Pinkie-like house of unicorns), Constellations, perhaps.
Well, each tribe would have different ways of representing 'Noble Families'. I have thought of different ways to show that...
Unicorn nobles would best represent their families as 'Houses of whatever' to add a sense of royalty that could be traced back to era of Princess Platinum before Equestrian Unification. Examples
House of Blood, being 'Prince Blue Blood' and family. Their house focuses on heritage and exploration of their bloodline. Along with business, trade, and investments in Equestria.
House of Light, Could include Night Light, Twilight Sparkle, Twilight Velvet. Their house focus on magic development and astromony.
House of Shield, OC's house focused on battle magic specfically. Both offence and defense magic.
House of Moon, Focus is illusion, enchanting, and ward magicks.
These are four major unicorn houses in Equestria. Their role are important in the ways of the economy, magic, and protection of the kingdom.
Now Earth pony noble houses are very different in that they are close knit communities instead of blood relatives. Their house are based on the thing they focus on in general. Earth pony house are like communities that help one another, but have no real one leader to draw attention. This allows them keep tight bonds with family, but also allows a bond with fellow ponies with similar interests. Which gives Earth ponies more of a friendly personality among Equestria.
House of Fruit, would include the Apple clan, Carrot Top, And any other pony that deals with fruit in general.
House of Flower, would include Roseluck, Lily Valley, Daisy, and others.
House of Stone, would include the Pie family, and others.
It is to be noted that the Earth pony houses do not have to have members that have special talents in any certain field. Example, Pinkie Pie special talent is celebrations, but she still has knowledge handled down to her by her family on rock farming. She does have a talent toward stone in any way, but is accepted into the House of Stone because of family. Another example is, Hayseed Turniptruck distant cousin of the Apples, but has no talent for fruit in general still accepted in House of Fruit by family.
Now lastly Pegasi nobles. They base their noblity by who their descended from, like Commander Hurricane and Private Pansy. Pegasi are more emotional than the other tribes. They tend to express them selves more openly. Rainbow Dash being stubborn, and confident. Fluttershy being kind and shy. Pegasi show larger amonts of their most dominating characteristics. Noble house examples are...
Descendant of Hurricane
Descendant of Pansy
And others...
Now all that I have typed are just my ideas of noble houses in Equestria. I am not saying these should be taken for fact or anything close to that, just my ideas. I would explain more indepth on each, but I just wanted to put in my two bits.
Oh, an opportunity to plug our OCs under the guise of 'helping'! No, but seriously, I do have a couple I made for a story of my own.
House Star, an earth pony house known for its scholars and advancements in geomancy (subtle manipulation, not 'earth bending'). The Pies (in my own story) are a branch of House Star, which is where their rock farming techniques came from. A common family trait is a white mark on the forehead of various shapes. It has prompted several rumors, but in truth has no special meaning. They also have a proud history in the guard, most males serving at least five years in service.
The other being House Charm, a unicorn family known for advancing the fields of enchanting and ancient magic. At least one Charm has been a professor at Canterlot University every year for the past three hundred years. Being more interested in science and magic, they care little for politics, putting them on Celestia's list of favorite noble houses.
I have a couple OCs for each if you'd like.
2574200
Pretty sure all of CoU Equestria is matriarchal.
2574474 Fair enough, but if that is the case, she's being far more blunt about it than the existing Houses by stating it outright in her intended House name.
Also, keep in mind that not all nobility saw each other on equal terms. And with the added complication of the three tribes and resultant cultural contamination over the generations, not all the Houses would rank each other in the same way.
In general, House rankings tend to go roughly by Greater => Major => Minor => Lesser => Fallen, with Fallen Houses being those which were either displaced by other Houses from a higher rank, disgraced by the actions of one or more important members, in exile (more severe version of the previous), or simply lacking a suitable Head of House for whatever reason.
Now, House rivalries within the tribes might go as follows, based on social values:
Earth Ponies: Land vs. Family vs. Craft
A fairly simple balance of values, with some Houses valuing one or two aspects over the remaining, but each being seen as valuable and worthwhile.
Unicorns: Prestige vs. Lineage vs. Knowledge vs. Power vs. Duty
A complex mess of values with a somewhat labyrinthine ranking system to determine which Houses are currently in ascendance and which are in decline.
Pegasi: Merit vs. Duty vs. History vs. Glory
While each value is seen as valid by all Houses, the balance is both fairly simple and rather dynamic, sometimes even within a single house, let alone how the Houses interact with one another.
For example, Rainbow Dash clearly values skill (Merit), loyalty (Duty), and accomplishment (Glory), but tends to devalue History (if it's not current, who cares?).
Fluttershy's problems may even stem by her setting some of those values so high that she fails to see herself as ever being able to measure up to them.
"Gilded" with "Guilded" as a possible "branch" or "bastard" part of the line.
House Stella and House Silver have merged in order to create a monopoly on copper wire. This move was pushed past the Royal Society for the Observation and Prohibition of Cartels through a Marriage between their only heirs. Silver Tongue believed himself incredibly clever for "tricking that stupid Stella Brat" while Stellar Performance thought she had "that smarmy idiot wrapped around her finger."
The whole thing was sold as two starcrossed lovers standing against their Parents, who were the bitterest of rivals.
Now, when two ponies love each other very much, the Magic of their Love can make a foal together...
Only when two ponies love each other NOT AT ALL, there's nowhere the Magic for their children can come from, so their first son was something that is nearly unheard of in Equestria: A stillbirth.
That was a huge Scandal and their Marriage was annulled by the crown and they had to pay huge fees on their Copper wires. Only... Finding out that the other partner didn't love them they got to talking. And they were for the first time in three years honest with each other, finding out who their spouse really was: A greedy, blackhearted, backstabbing Fiend of a treacherous snake.
This time they were REALLY starcrossed lovers, with the whole of Equestrian society against them and after multiple petitions and psych-evals they finally managed to get their marriage reinstated. Together now they fight for the fees to be returned, happily and lovingly crushing their political and economical opponents and backstabbing together happily ever after.