So many people enjoyed that post on Sartarite names, so naturally I started playing around with finishing a similar short essay on Praxian names.
Names are given at birth, usually by the mother or the herd queen for girls, and by the father or khan for boys. A child’s name often reflects hopes for survival, strength, or a connection to the herds and the Survival Covenant. At initiation into adulthood, a Praxian may confirm their birth name, earn a new one, or receive an epithet that better reflects their deeds or nature. Great deeds, especially in battle, raiding, or shamanic journeys, frequently replace or supplement the birth name with a lasting nickname or title.
How Praxian Names Work in Speech
Praxian names are usually given as a single word (sometimes with an epithet). They are identified by the name and clan/tribe/beast (e.g., “Harjoon of the Bison Riders” or “Varaneena, who killed the broo at the Paps”). Epithets are common and often replace or supplement the birth name after heroic deeds (Chaos-slayer, Rhino-Rider, etc.). Unlike Orlanthi, family alliteration is rare; names more often reflect the giver’s hopes or a spirit’s blessing.
Some influence from Dragon Pass can be seen with some of the names, which is not surprising given their centuries of contact. Har-, Tar- both show some overlap with Sartarite.
Naming Patterns
Core Roots:
- Waha- / -waha → “Butcher / Founder / Covenant”.
- Eir- / Er- → “Herd Mother / Eiritha” (fertility, protection, earth in the wastes).
- Var- → “True / Faithful” (very common in female names).
- Dur- → “Enduring / Gift of the ground”.
- Org- → “Strong / Storm-like”.
- -grim → “Fierce / Relentless warrior”.
- -ak / -al / -zial → “Hunter / Survivor / Blade”.
- K- / J- / Sh- heavy sounds → glottal stops and gutturals are common in Praxian speech.
Other frequent elements:
- -aya / -eena / -inda → Feminine grace or “daughter of…”.
- -joon / -far / -bal / -rath → Masculine action-oriented.
Male Names
- Akasta — “Aka-” (sharp/keen) + “-sta” (steadfast) → “Keen Survivor” or “Blade-Steadfast”.
- Bastaki — “Bas-” (strong/grounded) + “-taki” (hunter) → “Strong Hunter”.
- Bimabwe — “Bima-” (Impala) + “-bwe” (roar/strength) → “Impala Roarer”.
- Harjoon — “Har-” (high/war-like) + “-joon” (youth/warrior) → “War-like Youth” or “High Raider”.
- Jalgrim — “Jal-” (swift) + “-grim” (fierce) → “Swift Fierce One”.
- Khadazial — “Kha-” (wastes) + “-dazial” (hunter/slayer) → “Wastes Slayer”.
- K’ruta — Glottal “K’ru-” (harsh/desert) + “-ta” (person) → “Desert Son”.
- Mokwaha — “Mok-” (personal) + “-waha” (Waha) → “Waha’s Own” or “Covenant-Bound”.
- N’Krun — Glottal “N’Kru-” + “-n” → “Strong One”.
- Orgdaka / Orgwaha — “Org-” (strong) + “-daka/-waha” (Covenant/Butcher) → “Strong Butcher” or “Waha’s Might”.
- Tarkil — “Tar-” (high/leader) + “-kil” (sharp) → “High Blade” or “Foremost Hunter”.
- Vishiswaha — “Vishis-” (loyal) + “-waha” (Waha variant) → “Waha’s Loyal One”.
- Wahagrim — “Waha-” + “-grim” → “Butcher Fierce”.
Female Names
- Delenda — “Del-” (earth/gift) + “-enda” (enduring) → “Enduring Earth Gift”.
- Duraya / Durinda — “Dur-” (enduring) + “-aya/-inda” (feminine/queenly) → “Enduring Daughter” or “Tough Herd Mother”.
- Eireena / Erinda / Ernyne — “Eir-/Er-” (Eiritha) + feminine ending → “Little Eiritha” or “Herd Daughter”.
- Lalira / Lareel — “La-” (play/free) + “-lira/-reel” (flowing/graceful) → “Playful One” or “Free Flowing”.
- Lomeena — “Lo-” (herd) + “-meena” (beloved) → “Beloved of the Herds”.
- Norayeep — “Nora-” (personal) + “-yeep” (sharp-eyed) → “Far-Seeing One”.
- Saberak — “Sabe-” (sable antelope?) + “-rak” (hunter) → “Sable Hunter” (tribe-specific).
- Varaema / Varaneena / Varaya — “Var-” (true/faithful) + feminine → “True Wind Maiden” or “Faithful Herd Daughter”.
Common Thematic Patterns
- Waha / Covenant Roots: Waha-, -waha, -grim → (“Butcher / Relentless”) — for warriors and khans.
- Eiritha / Herd / Earth Roots: Eir-/Er-, Dur-, -a/-eena → (“Herd Mother / Enduring”) — common for women and herd queens.
- Survival / Wastes Roots: K-/K’-, harsh consonants, -ak/-al/-zial → (“Wastes-Born / Slayer”).
- Strength / Raider Roots: Har-, Jal-, Org-, -joon/-far/-bal → (“High / Swift / Strong”).
A Praxian parent might name a daughter Varaneena hoping she becomes a “True Herd Mother,” or a son Wahagrim expecting a fierce Waha warrior.