Now you have a world of characters, who speak different languages, but don't have names. How do you find "good" names for your characters? Well, there are several different methods.

One method of naming characters is to use a baby book. There are all sorts of baby name books available for use. You can find classic names, exotic names, modern and archaic names. It's up to you to decide which names fit your characters. You can match names up to profession (Sloane means "warrior"), or colors (Douglas is "dark blue"), or other attributes. I often do this to try to find "good" names for wolf characters. This method also ensures that you won't choose a name that is an insult in another language, or means something counter-productive (such as the car Nova, which, in Spanish, means "no go"). It's best if you try to fit names to the sound of the language, as well. For instance, when I say the names Ekaterina, Wolfgang, Manuel, Reneé, Miko, and Richard, most people automatically think Russian, German, Spanish, French, Japanese, and English, in that order. They fit their respective languages. If your world's languages coincide with Earth languages, you can usually find names from those langauges that will work well. You can also borrow from other languages, since some have several different origins. Not only can you find baby name lists in books, you can also find them online. Just open your favorite search engine and type "baby names" in the search field.

You can also make up names for your characters. This works in much the same way as making up words to fit in your languages. Try to find something that sounds consistent with the language, and with the other names of that race. An exception to the "consistency among race" guideline is when a member of one race is raised by another race. For instance, members of my raptori race raised a human as one of their own. He was given a raptori name (Fereneth), instead of a human one. Usually, different races/cultures have a cast to their names that distinguish them. Russian names don't usually have a /th/ sound, because that sound doesn't exist in Russian. German names are somewhat clipped and gutteral, following German sound patterns, while Spanish and French names are more fluid.

There are different methods to constructing your own names. One common way is to roll various names and variants on them around in your mind until you come up with something you like. My characters Aewa and Tythin were named that way.

Another way is to take an existing name and to alter it. Change letters, pronunciations, and spellings until you find something you like. I got Tami and Jeanna from that method (from Tammy and Gina).

A third way is to write out a sequence of consonants (usually about five) and insert vowels between each letter. I got the name Cajemon through that method. This can be done with friends, as well. Have them choose the consonants, and then the vowels.

You can also use the above method in an alternating way. Write the consonants, but then play around with their sounds rather than adding vowels, until you find something you like. I got the name Weslen through this method.

You can use whatever methods you like for naming your characters. The same goes for naming towns and villages. However, you will not usually use a baby name book for finding village names, unless something interesting strikes you, or it's a village like Coble's Kill.

Towns and villages can be named for their locations: Bywater, Mountaintop, Riverhold. They can be named for their origins: Surge's Rest, Kieftel's Victory, Slavetown. They can be named for an aspect they have: Stonewall, Coldwater, Fishmarket. They can be named in a local style: Eagle Cry, Kyane, Neph-ri-ti. They can be named for founders: Coble's Kill, Kingsbane Par, Irene's Hold. They're not usually named impossibly (Kthlkt) unless it's dictated that way by the local language. You come up with something you like.

Greater towns and cities are usually named with a bit more strength or flourish to them, because they are more noticeable on your map: Dragonstone, Shadowcry, Nephania (longer and fancier). Crown cities are sometimes designated so by their names, though this is not always true. Some capitals I have are Heartstone (the center), Black Gryphon (named for the creature that designates who is king), Throne City, Crown City, Monarch's Reach. You choose a style you like.