Can someone explain Shetiona names to me?

I'm having trouble figuring out the naming conventions of the Shetona (Turali Viera).
Is it based on any language?

Looks Zuni inspired, but I could be wrong.

I don't know about inspirations and I'm not sure how you would set about researching it, but I've been keeping note of names and any stated translations so if there is a genuine language that it's based on, this would be a good start for cross-checking.



NAMES

It is unlikely that the names are gendered and there are not enough to be worth separating the list. Elene'shpya, Kaahe and Shunye are male characters; the rest are female.

Apyaahi
Cahciua
Ecaate
Elene'shpya
Elenyate
I'toca
Iyaate
Kuiyki
Naahe
Nahueni
Oshce
Shaloaci ("Shalo")
Shashepya
Shunye
Taapu
Toashiua
Uaauashe
Uah'shepya
Uapyota
Ui'she
Yyopya
Yyopyicana
Yyupye

Additionally, there are a small number of names in the levequests that are one or another of the Xak Turali races but not indicated which -- these are Uapyone, Pananyihe, Shoape, Yimepi and Yoani. I would guess that Uapyone has to be a Shetona name, Panayihe might be Tonawawta and the other three may be Hhetsarro.


CREATURES

Yeheheceyaa (Pteranodon)

Lunyuhiyshahe (Triceratops)

Lunyucaua'pya (Tyrannosaurus)

Yehehetoaua'pyo (Shaaloani elite mark, pteranodon) = words for "blue", "wings" and "extinction" [*1]

Keheniheyamewi (Shaaloani elite mark, chameleon) = "mouth that breathes poison" [*1]

Heshuala (Heritage Found elite mark) = "child of thunder" [*2]

Yyenisheyni Bat (found in caves in East Yyasulani)

Cauahealoa (werewolves/wargs in East Yyasulani)

Cauahepya (wolves gnolls in East Yyasulani)

Elene'shpya = mallard, but probably has a more literal translation. Also tells us that animal names can be used as person names.

Shshuye (jackrabbit minion) = "leaping sun"

Lunipyati (jackrabbit tural vidraal)


LOCATIONS

Pyaayehe'pya = "hill of many wings", nesting ground of the Yeheheceyaa (Pteranodon)

Yyasulani = "where the clouds dry" [*3]

Tesh'pyani = "where the stones howl"

Eshceyaani Wilds (region of Shaaloani)

Shaaloani itself is likely to be a Shetona name, given the recurring "ni" ending for locations.

Niikwerepi River -- uncertain if this is a Shetona name: it is mentioned as important to them in the BTN/MIN questline, but it is located in the region that seems to have mostly Hhetsarro names.

Sheshenewezi Springs -- also uncertain


MISC

Aloauanyeyci -- this is written on the levequest icon showing a Shetona, equivalent to Eorzean "piety" leves.

Uktena -- Shaaloani elite mark, a snake. Uncertain which local language it is named in.


SOURCES

1. Hunt descriptions from Elenyate in Hhusatahwi

2. Hunt descriptions from Loanyine in the Outskirts

3. Quest: "Yyupye's Dirt"

4. Quest: "What She Left Behind" - https://www.garlandtools.org/db/#quest/70698

I would LOVE to know the inspiration behind the various names of the people of Tuliyollal. I wanna make a character that's from Yyasulani, ,but without knowing what the language is based on, or even have some kind of clue of their naming conventions, it's so hard!

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Originally Posted by SquidzureDragoon

I would LOVE to know the inspiration behind the various names of the people of Tuliyollal. I wanna make a character that's from Yyasulani, ,but without knowing what the language is based on, or even have some kind of clue of their naming conventions, it's so hard!

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I hope you find that information just like one of my characters (Minaa Mihgo) is from Thavnair and is Ranaa Mihgo's (DNC quest NPC) twin sister :3

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Originally Posted by SquidzureDragoon

I wanna make a character that's from Yyasulani, ,but without knowing what the language is based on, or even have some kind of clue of their naming conventions, it's so hard!

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If I were you, I'd take the above list of known names, feed it to ChatGPT with a prompt like "Create a name in a fantasy game that matches the following already known names:", and see where I get from there.

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Originally Posted by SquidzureDragoon

I would LOVE to know the inspiration behind the various names of the people of Tuliyollal. I wanna make a character that's from Yyasulani, ,but without knowing what the language is based on, or even have some kind of clue of their naming conventions, it's so hard!

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It seems they're inspired by the ancient Incas culture. Take a look here:

https://www.thearchaeologist.org/blo...found-meanings

No... I will never use ChatGPT. It's full of false information, a plagiarism machine, and is terrible for the environment.

Thank you! I'll definitely take a look at that link! I'm always so fascinated by where SE gets their inspirations for areas and stuff from.

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Originally Posted by Gwenkatsu

If I were you, I'd take the above list of known names, feed it to ChatGPT with a prompt like "Create a name in a fantasy game that matches the following already known names:", and see where I get from there.

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Sorry, I'm on my phone and my reply earlier should've included your message, but no... I'll never use ChatGpt. It's trash

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Originally Posted by Rinoa_353

I hope you find that information just like one of my characters (Minaa Mihgo) is from Thavnair and is Ranaa Mihgo's (DNC quest NPC) twin sister :3

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Thank you! I'm glad you found information you wanted, too! I love Ranaa so much, and that you gave her a twin sister! She deserves more family

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Originally Posted by Gwenkatsu

If I were you, I'd take the above list of known names, feed it to ChatGPT with a prompt like "Create a name in a fantasy game that matches the following already known names:", and see where I get from there.

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Ew. Chathpt is garbage used by uncreative losers.

Quote:

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Originally Posted by SquidzureDragoon

I would LOVE to know the inspiration behind the various names of the people of Tuliyollal. I wanna make a character that's from Yyasulani, ,but without knowing what the language is based on, or even have some kind of clue of their naming conventions, it's so hard!

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The names are inspired by tacos.

Welcome to modern day SE.

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Originally Posted by Rinoa_353

I hope you find that information just like one of my characters (Minaa Mihgo) is from Thavnair and is Ranaa Mihgo's (DNC quest NPC) twin sister :3

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I just really wish we found out where Ranaa's family came from before they came to Thavnair since Miqo'te aren't usual there and they said they moved there when she was a small child. It seemed like a neat story that they didn't delve into.

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Originally Posted by MikkoAkure

I just really wish we found out where Ranaa's family came from before they came to Thavnair since Miqo'te aren't usual there and they said they moved there when she was a small child. It seemed like a neat story that they didn't delve into.

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I just want to point out Ranaa Mihgo in FFXIV (or at least her name), homages Nanaa and Romaa Mihgo from FFXI, two very important mithra npcs in the game.

Nanaa Mihgo was the infamous 'Cat Burglar' of Windurst, who is essentially a massive criminal mastermind in the Federation but keeps running afoul of a group of kids called the Star Onion Brigade (a player starting in Windurst actually encounters Nanaa in the first minute of the game, and, like any good criminal thug quickly tries to extort gil from you!).

Romaa Mihgo is Nanaa's mother and the former Chieftainess of Windurst's mithra military forces in the Crystal War as well as the former Chieftainess of the mithra homeland of Kazham, and has a somewhat estranged and strained relationship with her daughter.

When I saw Ranaa Mihgo in the DNC Job quests in FFXIV, and long being a loyal Windurstian player in FFXI I thought "Hmmmmm, I wonder who she's supposed to reference?" ;)

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Originally Posted by Vintersol

It seems they're inspired by the ancient Incas culture. Take a look here:

https://www.thearchaeologist.org/blo...found-meanings

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Seitona names and Yyasulani are definitely not inspired by Quechua/Aymara/other languages of the south american sphere. Those would probably apply a little more to Urqopacha and its people - which in quechua means Mountain Space/Place, Pacha (place) + Urqu (mountain).

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Originally Posted by SquidzureDragoon

No... I will never use ChatGPT. It's full of false information, a plagiarism machine, and is terrible for the environment.

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It is because a lot of people assume it's "full ai" but this is just a model that reads anything you put online and throws that as info. It's literally like a wiki that just shows you info instantly and it can be false or true. Very risky but can be useful for other things in IT. Otherwise no. Also it's very censored, bloated and devs made it worse. There are other AI models which are far better. Either way, it's best to think your own way.

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Originally Posted by Iscah

I don't know about inspirations and I'm not sure how you would set about researching it, but I've been keeping note of names and any stated translations...https://www.garlandtools.org/db/#quest/70698

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The strongest real-world parallels are:Tupi-Guarani (South American Indigenous, e.g., Brazil/Paraguay):Closest phonetic match: Vowel-rich syllables, glottal stops, and suffixes like "-i" or "-ua" (e.g., real Tupi names/places: Cahciua echoes Caucaia or Guarani place names; Apya resembles Apiaú or Iapó rivers).
Cultural tie: Emphasis on nature/spirit names, similar to how Tupi words describe animals, rivers, or celestial bodies (e.g., yvyra = "tree", akin to Yyopya).
Why it fits: Tupi languages avoid harsh consonants, favor flowing vowels, and use reduplication (e.g., "yy" like doubled sounds in yy for emphasis).

Polynesian Languages (e.g., Hawaiian, Māori, Samoan):Vowel-heavy flow with glides ("y" as /j/, "h" as breathy sounds) and apostrophes for glottals (e.g., Uaauashe feels like Hawaiian Ua "rain" + 'a'au "swim"; Taapu like Māori Tāpu "sacred").
Cultural tie: Oral traditions, nature-based naming (e.g., Hawaiian names like Kailani "sea and sky" parallel the elemental vibes in Shunye or Oshce).
Why it fits: Limited consonants (no "f", "r", "l" often), heavy "a/i/u" vowels, and rhythmic repetition.

Uto-Aztecan (North/Mesoamerican Indigenous, e.g., Hopi, Nahuatl):Subtler match: Glottal stops and "sh/py" clusters (e.g., Nahueni nods to Nahuatl roots like Nahuatl itself; Toashiua evokes Hopi Tuwanasavi place names).
Cultural tie: Desert/mountain lore with animal totems, akin to Shetona's wolf and thunder motifs.
Why it fits less dominantly: More "t/k" sounds than the list's softer palette, but shares the indigenous American "otherworldly" resonance.