What's In A Name? · 9:49pm Nov 20th, 2015
All the time you see fics, not to mention the show itself, give ponies names made from nouns and verbs and whatnot. In the usual interactions between a human and a pony you might see a human say something along the lines of, 'our names don't have meanings,' but the truth is that interaction may simply be a product of modern English.
When you research a name such as I did with mine, you realize that many of them are holdovers from much older languages such as greek or hebrew. My first name, by the way, is Philip (suprise suprise). I thought it was hilarious that it was a modified version of the name Philippos, assuming I spelled that right, and it means *drum roll* friend or lover of horses. Funny.
Anyway, the point is that many if not all of our names may have a denotative meaning. I know for sure that in some other languages, names are quite ponylike. I know someone whose name in Turkish means Righteous Grandfather. Not the most perfect example but my point stands.
This was just a little thing I wanted to share.
Also, I am getting back into writing more. There are like half a dozen story ideas I've had and I may approach the point where I start uploading them soonish. My current stories may also be revived.
There was a thread like a year ago in a group here where they were discussing this. Many users were posting what their names meant and what would their profession be in equestria(seeing how name generally matches their occupation). Many had simple names like in equestria but others, like me, ended up with a very long and strange name. For instance, the definition of my names were He will add/The new house, which if simplified would be House Builder or House Bringer so basically a constructor.
3556618 My first name supposedly means "high noble" I say supposedly because the name is ancient Celtic. My middle name means "defender of man" in ancient Greek. My last name basically means "farmer" in old French. So what would I be.
My name really doesnt work for this "God is with me(John) Dispenser of provisions(Spencer) Broad chested(Brady)"
My first name means "Courageous One" in Hebrew, my last name means "Pale One" or "One Hundred." I could be the "Pale Knight," or something. Maybe Brave Bright.
My names literally a verb (Chase) so I kinda don't believe there's much more to it.
But hey you never know
All three of my names are French, although some have deeper origins. My first name is, at its deepest level, an homage to an Hebrew prophet who (supposedly) wrote a couple books of the Old Testament. My middle name means 'small' and 'humble.' The first is certainly applicable; I plead the fifth on the second. If heard many interpretations of the meaning in my last name, ranging from 'Little town on the curve' to 'loving village.' I have no idea which one is accurate.
3556664 Yours could be Noble Shield, only taking first and middle names like me, and you'd most likely be a guard. Including both last names would complicate it too much.
My first name means Fox or Fox Hunter
Anyways, welcome back.
I am Brave Supplanter, Southern Son of the Right Hand.
So apparently my destiny is total world domination by being the Obviously Evil Royal Chancellor, behind the Puppet Ruler.
I am alright with this. Red and black have always been my favorite colors after all... .
So, according to the internet, my name (counting first and last names together) means "Lily, of the dark house". I am intrigued by this but not sure how that would translate into Pony.
I suppose I'm a flower seller or something, but that doesn't really work given that I hate touching plants. I wonder where else I could take that... Hm.
Edit: Alternately, my middle name apparently means "brown warrior", so... I suppose can be a Lily Warrior or something, that has interesting- oh wow, too many new story ideas based on random names. Anyway, I suppose I'm now Lily Warrior, of the dark house, and that's something that might end up in a story should I ever get around to actually writing anything.
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I suspect we have some Alexanders here. There is a story where the main character's name is Alex and with the translation spell the ponies always hear defender of man whenever he says his name. You two made me think of that.
For most RPGs, I peruse a baby name website when naming my characters. Usually the Gaelic and Nordic and Old English sections and with an added Epithet.
"Blüdbjorn the Fortitudinous" for example. Or Fridericus Ulkighut the Wise.
The DM vetoed Otto von Flitzekacke, my Hogan's Heroes-esqe Teutonic Cleric.
If feeling extra geeky, a formal Roman name.
http://www.novaroma.org/nr/Choosing_a_Roman_name
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Roman_naming_conventions
This is always kind of a fun thing. Mine would be Crowned One, brightly shining, whom God has heard. I'm not sure what kind of pony name that might translate to, but I'd be interested to hear interpretations from anyone else.
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Perhaps "Noble Mender" An earth pony that has learned the shamanic arts to defend ponies from sickness.
I think that might be an interesting way to bring in both the middle and last name as the idea of a healer who might grow their own remedies.
3557781 I would go with Regal Speaker
3557795 I think at this point I should also tell you that the Celtic name also means strong and hill
My first name comes from the greek for "crown" and my last name is a variant of "laurel"...
I think there's already a background pony named Laurel Wreath, isn't there ? Is that identity theft ?
3558427 If you're actually curious, I can tell you it is not.
I got interested in the meanings behind my name about 5 years ago when I found out my last name was actually Roman Latin instead of German.
The literal meanings using just first and last names was rather amusing. My first name has a Greek origin meaning "manly" and my last name is Latin for "clan" so ponifying my first and last names ends up being "Manly Clan" which is downright hilarious.
I'm not sure how to ponify my middle name and add it in there, however, since it's a Hebrew name asking the rhetorical question "who is like God?" Implying that no one is. I have no idea how to boil that down into a single word though...
3565185 My ponderings on that could not find any good words that both worked and were ponylike.