NOTE: This is an evolving post until we get official word on how names are constructed.
I need to add more FFXI names to that part of the list as I found that their Near Easyern names are used in more areas than I originally looked at.
---
I compiled a list of Thavnairian character names to work out the naming conventions, and it seems to be a very basic constructed set of names - just a list of "first half" and "second half" elements and they generally seem to be unisex. Some name elements seem to be gendered, but the overall pool of names is too small to be certain this is intentional and not down to chance.
Midlander, Highlander and Auri NPCs all share the same naming system, derived from Ottoman Turkish (as stated at NA Fan Fest 2023). They apparently have translatable meanings but we have not been provided with a dictionary for this.
Arkasodra are separate, with names taken from Sanskrit, and are not covered in this post.
Part 1: Existing character names
Female character names
Awareen
Balteeyu
Bhateeyu
Cihanbaht
Cihanti
Dahaaba
Darfiye
Darpasa
Djinaleel
Djinazade
Fahrunnah
Fahveydah
Imfiye
Imshayra
Kadjaya
Khufiye
Khureen
Khuteeyu
Mahruvvet
Mahti
Mahveydah
Mehbaht
Mehdjina
Mehryde
Mehvan
Mihleel
Mihreen
Mihsaja
Miladeen
Nahbshayra
Nashmeira
Nashreen
Nuhashir
Pasareen
Qeryde
Rashti
Rhulfiye
Rhulmeira
Rhulshahn
Sajabaht
Shirabaht
Shirazade
Varpasa
Varsarudh
Varsra
Viraban
Vishbaht
Vishryde
Yahsra
Yedjina
Zeymeira
Male character names
Afiraz
Ahewann
Apasa
Ardaraca
Ardashir
Awaheen
Azahma
Bahafiraz
Balshahn
Bhazahma
Davaaz
Dazahl
Djinabaha
Fahruvvet
Hasveydah
Hasyah
Imhudi
Imteeyu
Jalheen
Jalvaaz
Jalzahma
Jalzahn
Jubkhal
Jubraca
Khaldeen
Khalzahl
Khuleel
Khuzahl
Kuihlud
Mahnuha
Mehrahd
Mehrunnah
Milasheraf
Mulnith
Mulrunnah
Mulsarudh
Nahbdeen
Nahbrifhal
Nashrifhal
Nashvan
Nesvaaz
Nuhadeen
Nuhashahn
Pasasun
Qefiraz
Qerasaf
Qetanur
Racashir
Rahdvira
Rashvaaz
Reensarudh
Ruhewann
Sajareen
Sajavaaz
Shiraheen
Sramul
Vanhudi
Varshahn
Virazahn
Vishrahd
Yahsarudh
Yeruvvet
Yezahn
Zasshal
Zeycihan
Zeynuha
Zeytahnur
Names used as surnames for female characters
Aphmau
Ardati
Rusheraf
Shinan
Vaazmeira
Names used as surnames for male characters
Fahleel
Mihrasaf
Pashe
Qulhudi
Shirashir
Names of unconfirmed gender
Bharifhal
Jubleel
Ruveydah
Name origin notes for non-NPCs
- Balshahn and Ruveydah come from locations in Radz-at-Han that appear to be named after people: Balshahn Bazaar and Ruveydah Fibers
- Bharifhal and Jubleel are levequest clients for a number of leves in Kugane.
- Awaheen is an oddity: the quest scripts on Garland Tools use this name for Ahewann, suggesting it was an earlier version of that character's name. It seems to be a valid name as there are other "Awas" and "heens" in the list, so I have included it.
- Nuhashahn is the author of a book in the quest "Restricted Reading".
Part 2: Character name deconstruction
The names clearly have repeating fragments, so I divided them up into first and second halves. Some fragments can appear in either half.
A small number of character names (Aphmau, Kadjaya, Pashe, Shinan, Kuihlud, Zasshal) seem fully unique and so I have left them out of the list, unless we get additional characters that share parts of those names.
Coloured dots indicate that the name was used in a male●, female●, female surname●, male surname● or unidentified● name, and how many times it was used.
(It is unclear whether surnames always reference the father's name or it varies by gender.)
First half
A ●●●●
Arda ●●●
Awa ●●
Baha ●
Bal ●●
Bha ●●●
Cihan ●●
Da ●●●
Dar ●●
Djina ●●●
Fah ●●●●
Has ●●
Im ●●●●
Jal ●●●●
Jub ●●●
Khal ●●
Khu ●●●●●
Mah ●●●●
Meh ●●●●●●
Mih ●●●●
Mila ●●
Mul ●●●
Nahb ●●●
Nash ●●●●
Nes ●
Nuha ●●●
Pasa ●●
Qe ●●●●
Qul ●●
Raca ●
Rahd ●
Rash ●●
Reen ●
Rhul ●●●
Ru ●●●
Saja ●●●
Shira ●●●●
Sra ●
Vaaz ●
Van ●
Var ●●●●
Vira ●●
Vish ●●●
Yah ●●
Ye ●●●
Zey ●●●●
Second half
baha ●
baht ●●●●●
ban ●
cihan ●
deen ●●●●
djina ●●
firaz ●●●
fiye ●●●●
haaba ●
heen ●●●
hewann ●●
hudi ●●●
khal ●
leel ●●●●●
meira ●●●●
mul ●
nith ●
nuha ●●
pasa ●●●
raca ●●
rahd ●●
rasaf ●●
reen ●●●●●●
rifhal ●●●
runnah ●●●
ruvvet ●●●
ryde ●●●
saja ●
sarudh ●●●●
shahn ●●●●●
shayra ●●
sheraf ●●
shir ●●●●
sun ●●
sra ●●
tahnur/tanur ●●
teeyu ●●●●
ti ●●●●
vaaz ●●●●●
van ●●
veydah ●●●●
vira ●
yah ●
zade ●●
zahl ●●●
zahma ●●●
zahn ●●●
Names that appeared in both halves of the list
Baha ●|●
Cihan ●●|●
Djina ●●●|●●
Khal ●●|●
Mul ●●●|●
Nuha ●●●|●●
Pasa ●|●●●
Raca ●|●●
Rahd ●|●●
Reen ●|●●●●●●
Saja ●●●|●
Sra ●|●●
Vaaz ●|●●●●●
Van ●|●●
Vira ●|●
Yah ●●|●
Note that it is possible that more name fragments exist than have turned up in the existing pool of character names.
Part 3: FFXI Near Eastern names
Throwing a further element into the mix, an interview with the lead localiser (who developed the character name lists for Thavnair) mentioned drawing on legacy names from FFXI. Having looked into this, there is clear overlap in the lists, though the FFXI names have more variety.
I have no familiarity with FFXI so I have had to rely on other people's suggestions of what to look at specifically, along with some guesswork. This list contains names from Hume and Elvaan characters listed as affiliated with Al Zahbi in the Gamer Escape wiki, minus some that seemed to be clearly following other naming conventions, although it is possible some have been overlooked.
Overall the vibe of the names is similar, but the FFXI names are less repetitive than the Thavnairian names with their obvious repeating elements.
Interestingly, Raubahn's name comes from this list rather than Highlander naming conventions. Was his surname "Aldynn" meant to be something more like "al Din"?
Character names
Female Al Zahbi NPCs
Adeeha
Amajal
Amnaf
Aphmau
Atiza
Biyaada
Bujahwa
Dahaaba
Danaaba
Faihal
Faluuya
Fayeewah
Gadaana
Hadayah
Hadibal
Hajawaa
Halbeeya
Hashayra
Kalimahf
Kantila
Karazahm
Kudjreel
Kwadaaf
Lathuya
Mariyaam
Matifa
Mazween
Meyaada
Mushayra
Nafiwaa
Najelith
Nareema
Nasheefa
Nashmeira
Nudahaal
Numaaf
Quhaaja
Qulsun
Qutiba
Rajaaha
Rubahah
Sajaaya
Sajahb
Salaifa
Saluhwa
Tafeesa
Tateeya
Tazhaal
Yafaaf
Yahsra
Yanshaal
Yasmeel
Zafif
Zwinam
Male Al Zahbi NPCs
Abquhbah
Ahaadah
Ahgdeen
Arzizah
Asrahd
Balrahn*
Bajahb
Balakaf
Balarahb
Banjanu
Bashraf
Bernahn
Bharifhal
Bjibar
Bornahn
Brujeel
Dabhuh
Dahaeel
Daswil
Djinabaha
Dkhaaya
Drahbah
Eunheem
Falzum
Falzuuk
Famad
Famatar
Foudeel
Fubruhn
Gadalar
Gajaad
Galzweesh
Gameem
Ganmuul
Gasharyad
Gathweeda
Gavrie
Gaweesh
Ghahnis
Ghanraam
Giehnz
Hadahda
Hajaom
Hamnahb
Hishahma
Iphaaf
Isdebaaq
Jalzahn*
Jarafah
Jasweem
Jumaaf
Kabihyam
Kamnahb
Kazween
Krujaal
Kuhmden
Kuihlud
Kushdeel
Mafwahb
Malfud
Maudaal
Mhasbaf
Milazahn
Mishhar
Mulnith
Mulwahah
Musdahl
Muyadah
Nadeey
Nahshib
Najaaj
Nijaom
Qahzwin
Rahdjab
Ratihb
Raubahn
Razfahd
Rhagmakah
Rhushouf
Rishfee
Riyadahf
Rughadjeen
Ryaaf
Rytaal
Salimuhl
Saliyahf
Shahau
Shahayl
Shahbizu
Shajaf
Shayadar
Sujyahn
Sulbahn
Suldiran
Talhaal
Talruf
Talwahn
Tyamah
Ubahrid
Ugahar
Ugrihd
Ulamaal
Umarid
Uzhahn
Wabjahl
Wahboud
Wahnid
Wahraga
Waoud
Wazyih
Yafahb
Zabahf
Zaranf
Zarfhid
Zasshal
Zhamwaa
Zimahd
Zubyahn
Zwaluh
Zwiyaam
Zyfhil
Names of unconfirmed gender
Ulthalam of House Majaab*
* the names Balrahn, Jalzahn and Ulthalam are from rings rewarded in the FFXI quest The Empress Crowned.
Names that were directly reused as Thavnairian names
Aphmau
Bharifhal
Dahaaba
Djinabaha
Jalzahn
Kuihlud
Mulnith
Nashmeira
Qulsun
Yahsra
Zasshal
Most Thavnairian characters introduced prior to Endwalker have used FFXI-derived names, with the major exception being Ardashir - although it is possible that the name is found somewhere in dialogue or other references. I have not gone through the list of items.
Part 4: Surnames
Prior to the release of Encyclopaedia Eorzea III
Early surname examples (including from EE1) were usually presented as a straightforward Forename Surname construction or sometimes referring to House Surname.
Balyk: Ardashir Balyk
Barik: alternate translation of Balyk*
Daemir: Jalzahn Daemir; regular mentions of House Daemir as famous alchemists
Dzak: Kugane levequest client "Thavnairian Consulate Clerk, Bharifhal Dzak"
Hazaar: Kugane levequest client "Imperial Princess Captain, Jubleel of House Hazaar"
Sener: House Sener, owners of the Uznair treasure vault
* Ardashir's surname was first translated as Balyk for his profile in the Encyclopaedia Eorzea, but when his family was mentioned in Endwalker sidequest "Tidings from Afar" it was translated as Barik. This was subsequently pointed out (I'm sure there was a post in the Localization forum but I can't find it) and the quest script altered to reflect the earlier committed-to-paper version. However, given that it was done alongside more Thavnairian names, Barik is probably the "more Thavnairian" of the two spellings as a starting point for further name ideas.
Surnames in Encyclopaedia Eorzea III
Characters listed in EE3 use some kind of ancestor's name as surname, with the joining element "bin" for male or "bihn" for female. No actual explanation is provided.
Female characters
Qulsun bihn Aphmau
Shirabaht bin Ardati ("bin" is likely a spelling error as she is referred to with female pronouns for the rest of the article)
Pasareen bihn Rusheraf
Mehryde bihn Shinan
Mehvan bihn Vaazmeira
Male characters
Ahewann bin Alzadaal
Racashir bin Fahleel
Khalzahl bin Mihrasaf
Nahbdeen bin Pashe
Yezahn bin Qulhudi
Qerasaf bin Shirashir
Most of the names seem derived in the same mix-and-match way as the majority of character names, though Shinan and Pashe seem to have been invented out of nowhere and Aphmau is FFXI-derived (as is Qulsun, being a character not seen in game and only mentioned in EE3).
It is not clear whether the surname is meant to indicate a parent's name or distant ancestor.
"Ahewann bin Alzadaal" suggests that the name references an ancestor, and it seems logical that the ruling family would emphasise their connection back to the founder of the city.
On the other hand, and while I have noted previously that it is hard to divide Thavnairian names by gender, the surnames of female characters lean towards also being feminine. Aphmau is a female name in FFXI and the endings -meira and -ti have only been used in female Thavnairian names.
It seems unlikely that people would keep track of ancestral names on both sides of the family for that purpose, so seems more likely to be along the lines of female names referencing their mother and male names referencing their father, with a potential exception either just for the Alzadaals or for anyone who want to make a point of their more famous but less immediate ancestor.
WORK IN PROGRESS - Part 5: Thavnairian fashion
Rough list:
GEAR USED BY THAVNAIRIAN NPCS
Thavnairian sets
Bonewicca Soother/Shadow's chestpiece and Manusya equivalents (healing/scouting)
Ravel Keeper headpieces, especially the high-arching feather headband
Star Velvet/Hemiskin set
Palaka sets
Radiant Host wear that armour set
Nabaath casting pants (originally from Ala Mhigan crafting set)
Quan
guoc
Alchemists wear Ovim wool and Ala Mhigan tunics and sometimes bottoms
Ala Mhigan gathering set / Nabaath scouting pants and shoes
Miners wear Mineking's shirt
Azahma: Tackleking bandana and gloves (with Palaka)
Cihanbaht: Boltking's cap and gloves, Ronkan earrings, with crafter set (weaver)
Jalvaaz: Blade's acton and Paglth'an fingerwraps (Faculty of Medicine storyline)
Rashti: Paglth'an chestwrap, Warg caster tights and shoes
Shirazade: Blade's striking set - she is at the entrance to the treasure vault accompanied by characters wearing the Ivalician Holy Knight and Moonward caster outfits, so probably not representative of Hannish gear.
Dahaaba, Darpasa, Hasveydah, Khalzahl, Mihsaja, Yedjina are noted as having custom gloves; have checked Mihsaja and Yedjina and they just seem to not be wearing any gloves.
One person at the airship landing has the oversized alchemist gown
Nashmeira wears Hannish wool top and alchemist pants
High Crucible alchemists wear Star Velvet caster set dyed turquoise
Materia melders also in High Crucible gear
Ruveydah Fibers farmers (mulberries and silkworms) wear Bonewicca top and Thavnairian sarouel
Ruveydah weavers wear Thavnairian crafter set; often fingerstalls and distinct hat
Storehouse guards wear heavy Palaka set
---
DRAFT TEXT
While not directly related to naming conventions, if you're creating a Thavnairian-themed character then you are likely looking for glamours for them as well.
In addition to the outfits specifically labelled as Thavnairian, characters in Thavnair also wear some outfits previously introduced as Ala Mhigan and some specific dungeon sets.
Also, despite being one of the labelled Thavnairian sets, the Thavnairian Bustier outfit does not seem to be worn by anyone as normal clothing (though the armlets and sandals are used in combination with other sets). The only time it is referenced as an outfit that exists in the setting is the level 68 weaver quest where it is specifically described as a dancing girl's outfit. So we can assume it is not commonly worn outside of that context.
OVERVIEW
Headgear: Turbans from the Palaka sets are common; some also wear the older design Thavnairian turban. Another commonly worn piece is a veil which is unavailable to players (actually the veil section from the turban).
Body gear:
Dancers performing at the meyhane are wearing both male and female versions of the level 80 dancer gear.
OPTIONS BY GEAR EQUIPPABILITY
For all classes:
Thavnairian bolero set (turban, bolero, halfgloves, sarouel, babouches)
Thavnairian bustier set pieces (only the armlets and sandals are commonly used)
Incomplete list
Update history
August 2023:
- Some additional information from the NA Fan Fest lore panel.
- Added Surnames section.
- Added character Vanhudi to the list and consequently the name-fragment Van is now added to the "first half" and "both halves" list.
December 2023:
- Added list of FFXI characters.
January 2024:
- Added character names and surnames from Encyclopaedia Eorzea III and some new elements to the name deconstruction lists.
- Also confirmation that historical character Kadjaya seems to be a Thavnairian Hyur and can be added to the character name list here.
April 2024:
- The FFXI item Jalzahn's Ring was mentioned in a discussion elsewhere recently and I realised that the name is not in my list of FFXI characters, so that has been corrected now along with adding the names Balrahn and Ulthalam from the same quest source.
October 2024 (patch 7.0):
Adding 7.0 characters Virazahn and Zeycihan, and Pasasun from the Aloalo Island quests.
Miscellaneous/workspace
Non-FFXIV Reddit discussion brings up the name Ardashir as belonging to a Persian king.
https://www.reddit.com/r/AskHistoria...mment/e5lxmh5/
A indicates that they are changing Persian names spelt with "sh" to "š" – this might be relevant if I try digging into name origins.
Thavnairian naming conventions
Printable View
-
09-01-2022, 07:18 PMIscahThavnairian naming conventions
-
08-03-2023, 04:59 PMIscah
Fan Fest 2023 gave some more information to work from and upended my assumption that the names were just random syllables that "sounded right". To be fair, I had seen previous claims that the names were Persian-based and yet they bore little resemblance to Persian names when I looked them up, so I assumed it was just an inspiration while not actually using the real names.
Thavnairian names were briefly discussed the lore panel on Day 2 - the panel starts at about 6:48:?? on Fan Fest Day 2 YouTube stream and discussion of Thavnair at 7:25.
It turns out that Thavnairian names are not derived from Persian as I previously read, but from Ottoman Turkish.
Lead localiser Kate says that she looked at records of names from the Ottoman Empire to find distinctive sounds that would convey the theme while resembling legacy names taken from FFXI.
She also says that she created specific meanings for all of the Thavnairian characters' names, so (I conclude) it seems that the apparently limited pool of names I previously discovered is due to whatever source she was working on.
Specific character names that were given in the panel:
---Quote:
Varshahn = crowned with words
Mehryde = joy wrought of love
Nahbdeen = knower of justice
Later in the panel (7:49:17 on the video) we also got a brief slide regarding the migration of the Auri Raen to form their various cultures, though with the curious remark that "the details are a secret for now". The broad description is still quite useful:
I don't think we've seen any Au Ra in Bozja, so perhaps they were still nomadic at that point and just passed through without establishing a population there, but it sounds possible that they may have settled in Corvos.Quote:
Azim Steppe > Yanxia > Nagxia and Hingashi
Nagxia > Dalmasca and Bozja > Corvos
Corvos > Thavnair and Werlyt
---
It may be a useful project to go through name meaning lists to try to connect things up with the Thavnairian name fragments above. Or if we're lucky, they will provide a dictionary in the Encyclopaedia Eorzea III. -
08-04-2023, 10:41 AMAyaime
This is really awesome, any idea on surnames for Au Ra? Or probably just something Ottoman Turkish.
-
08-04-2023, 11:05 AMClereticThe raen in Thavnair don't seem to have different naming schemes to the hyur in Thavnair, so yeah, just Ottoman Turkish. It holds for Ahewann in the EE3 preview, which I think is the only Thavnairian Raen surname we know?Quote:
Originally Posted by Ayaime
It is worth noting that Ahewann's stated full is 'Ahewann bin Alzadaal', though; 'bin' basically means 'son of', so chances are the surnames of Thavnairians in general are taken from a parent or ancestor like that. -
08-04-2023, 12:56 PMKageTokage
The Raen seem to just fully integrate into the cultures they live with as even the Hingan ones don't use names specific to their race.
I am a little curious about the continued hush-hush surrounding their background ever since they teased there being a third clan that predated the Raen/Xaela way back when. -
08-04-2023, 10:09 PMIscahI did make notes on the characters with surnames mentioned - I've added it to the main post now.Quote:
Originally Posted by Ayaime
On a separate note, it just occurred to me to go check the FFXI wiki about the legacy names mentioned in the lore panel and there are a lot of now-Thavnairian ones there. So I'm a little confused now by Kate saying that she made all the names have meanings - was there a dictionary for them back in FFXI? Has she assigned meanings to the pre-existing noises?
https://ffxi.gamerescape.com/wiki/Ca...:Al_Zahbi_NPCs
Are there other zones to look at? Do I need to look through all of the FFXI character names to super-expand the lists for FFXIV names? I feel a very large rabbit hole opening up here, right when I thought I was about done with my 5000-name-long list of characters... -
08-04-2023, 10:25 PMSannaR
You would only need to look at Treasures of Aht Uhrgan if not maybe Seekers of Adoulin. As those would be the two expansions most likely to have those common names.
-
08-04-2023, 11:31 PMIscahThe wiki seems to arrange NPCs by location, so what are the other ones to look up?Quote:
Originally Posted by SannaR
Also, what about for other FFXIV races? My long-term plan is to do these write-ups and name lists for all the races (playable or not) and this is making me realise I will at very least need to go through the Mithra names because they're looking like a treasure-trove expansion of the very limited Keeper name list. -
12-21-2023, 03:56 AMZero-ELEC
I've heard Encyclopædia Eorzea III gives more examples of names with "bin", and also names with "bihn" which seems to be the equivalent to irl "bint", applying to women. The examples given were Yezahn bin Qulhudi and Pasareen bihn Rusheraf.