Need a D&D Character Name? These Old-School Quaker Names Are Here to Help

Coming up with RPG character names can be tricky. Until you realize just how wild real-life names can be. Just ask Charity Nutt.

Starting a new character can be extremely daunting. Not only do you have to figure out what this character is going to do, mechanically, which is its own thing. You also have to figure out a character name. Which is the hardest thing to do in the world.

It’s why you end up playing a Goblin named…Boblin. Or something like that. You might think you have to be perfect, right? Well. If you’ve been on the internet at all the last day or so, you’ve probably seen that list of Quaker names. And if you haven’t, you’re about to.

Because they’re here to show you just how wild you can get with names.

RPG Character Names – Quakers, Not Just For Oats

And they had surprisingly progressive views on sex and gender!

One of the current things lighting up the RPG corner of the internet is this list of the “wildest early Quaker names” from historian and researcher Isabella Rosner. And it’s not hard to see why. Just look at the list:

It shows a range of names. You could easily be named after a virtue with a last name that describes your job/situation, like Temperance Poor, Patience Fish, Discipline Matthews, and Charity Nutt.

But you could also make your name a sentence. Like Thank Holland. Or Comfort Cripes. Even just take a couple of ideas that you like and put them together, like Revolution Sixsmith or Experience Cuppage.

They might already translate to a fantasy genre. There’s no way Constant Shield isn’t a Fighter.

But names like Discipline Matthews or Tryphona Wassey also feel like they’d fit right in as you scramble for your starfighters. Or you could just as easily throw a little more specificity in there. Playing in a sci-fi setting you might get something like:

• Returned Null
• Silence Hacker
• Starfighter Brown
• Laser Shield

Or to be a little more fantasy, you might try:

• Spellbook Williams
• Digworthy Wandsmith
• Jane Fireball
• Resurrected Elgar

And so on. Take a fantasy or sci-fi verb or a noun and just give it a little spin. Or just take any of these names above, no notes.

In fact, we’ve done just that. Here are five RPG characters, based on the names alone, no changes needed.

Experience Cuppage

Experience Cuppage was once a member of a small performing troupe, before discovering that their talents lay as much in swordplay as they do in wordplay. This discovery came about after two separate spouses of two of Experience’s lovers came to duel them.

Since then, Experience Cuppage has swashed and buckled across the noble courts, leaving behind upended plots and satisfied smiles, wherever they roam.

Revolution Sixsmith

A blacksmith who discovered he could no longer abide by the oppression of the corrupt, local court, Revolution no longer strikes his hammer against his anvil. Instead, he brings it down upon those who would abuse their power, and exploit others for their own personal gain.

He seeks to one day end the system that funnels power ever upward, concentrating it in the hands of the spoiled and unworthy.

Returned Elgar

Elgar was executed as a thief. Most of the village remembers this. They also remember the day Elgar returned, looking paler, but otherwise none the worse for wear.

Now, Returned Elgar hunts the shadowy power that brought him back, seeking to understand the mysterious curse he labors under.

Wonderfull Warwicke

Wonderfull Warwicke sells potions and elixirs of dubious quality and effects. Her skill at alchemy is renowned and her legends always seem to be a step or two ahead of angry customers who’ve been transformed by her concoctions.

Robert Were Fox

Robert Were Fox is a Werefox named Robert, masquerading as a noble in a country estate not far from the capitol.

What names would you play with?

Author: J.R. Zambrano

Bell of Lost Souls Staff Writer and DM, J.R. covers RPGs of all stripes and on occasion eats sandwiches. You can ask him about either at [email protected]