Thinking about whether to use a new name, or change THIS character's name...?

[Terin]

I'm planning to create an entirely new character at the release of Heavensward. Frankly, I don't care what you think about that; it's what I'm doing, and that's that.

Where I would appreciate some feedback, though, is in whether to use an entirely different name for my new character, or rename *THIS* character to something else?

Let me delve into the name "Daemon Gildas" first. Many people commonly associated the name "Daemon" with "Demon" -- and for good reason; that's one direct translation of the name, and why many Fantasy settings use the word "daemon" to refer only to the highest form of demon. Yet, the name has another translation; in Gaelic, it means "Guardian". Now, the name "Gildas", which means "He who serves God", which is also Gaelic.

Thus, the name "Daemon Gildas" could effectively be translated as either "Demon who serves God", or "Guardian who serves God", both of which are surprisingly fitting for a Dark Knight. Given that we know nothing of the Xaela naming-conventions, this seems a very fitting name. I actually came up with the name back in middle-school, when I was trying to write a comic, which eventually went the way of starting a short novel, which I eventually gave up on (in hindsight, it was garbage, but hey, probably fairly ambitious for a teenager).

Now, as for why I chose that name for my Miqo'te Monk, here? Well, in all honesty, I never intended to play this character seriously when I created him; I'd just started the game, and wasn't enjoying my Midlander Gladiator very much (in hindsight, I simply wasn't used to the controls), and really didn't like the existing races, so I created him just to goof around a bit, before my free-month expired. Despite never doing anything with the comic/novel idea, I've used the name "Daemon Gildas" several times, even as my old Xbox 360 gamertag. The name "Daemon" seemed to "fit" him, so I just took the surname, too, since I didn't know anything about the racial naming-conventions.

Here's the thing, though; a huge part of why I'm starting a brand-new character is because, whatever my feelings on the actual race is, I'm actually pretty attached to my character now. The Devs did an amazing job making him feel "alive" with a unique, friendly, cheerful personality. When I look at him, I feel like he's an actual character, not just "my face in the game". However, I also identify him as "Daemon", and I sort of worry I would have a hard time adjusting to a different name (I don't know why, I always pegged my character having an Irish name for some reason...).

At the same time, though, the name "Daemon Gildas" just seems *SO* fitting for a Dark Knight. Yet, not knowing anything about the Xaela, I did manage to come up with a back-up name. I came up with the name "Drashuga" in WoW, for my Orc Warrior, just because it sounded tough, serious, and primative. The issue, obviously, is that FFXIV required both a first AND last name.

My initial thought was something like "Warlord Drashuga" -- since I envision him being the type of character that angry with his lot in life, and seeks to carve out a place for him and his people, through raw, primal violence, if necessary. Yet, I also know that NPC's are always going to refer to him as "Warlord" as a name, instead of a title (ie. "Well, well, if it isn't my buddy Warlord...").

Then, I thought, maybe something like "Drashuga Kane" might work? Since the first name is elaborate, I thought "Kane" would compliment it nicely, while still fitting the theme of being "strong" and "rugged". But then... well, it still doesn't seem much like a "real name", does it?

I know some of you guys will laugh this off, but I would genuinely appreciate you guys' input on this. Stuff like this is hugely important to me, and since both characters will be on the same server (I really like my FC), I can't have the names overlap or anything. I also want to avoid butchering the names with deliberate misspellings or anything; like I said, to me, they're *characters*, and I want each one to have a different "vibe", and that includes a different name.

Also, in case any if you guys are really good at this sort of thing, here are some other names I've come up with over the years, that I think sound good enough to warrant using:

- Terin (been using it since I was a kid, kind of a long story, but never came up with a fitting surname)

- Andaris (never came up with a surname)

- Professor Camley (don't it fitting either character as-is, but "Camley" always sounded kind of interesting, to me)

- Drashuga (which I already sort of explained)

- Mac (seems to be banned in a lot of MMO's, but always liked it; plus, it was what my grandpa always went by)

- Gigaslash (admittedly, it's a pretty cringe-worthy surname, but I went by "Terin Gigaslash" in a number of games when I was a teenager, back when I thought it sounded "cool"; maybe should embrace the stupidity, or "tweak" it a bit, to sound more like a real name?)

[Skeith-Adeline]

Err, whatever you feel like honestly? It's kinda hard to give insight into what you should do since you said you were planning to create a new character no matter what lol. It's... confusing at the most. If we knew why you were creating a new character, we'd be able to tell you easier if changing your current name is a better option :x

[Renik]

I know Daemon Gildas has a back story and a deep meaning, but i think you had an awesome name for an Au Ra right in front of you, Daemon Kane sounds awfully awesome, think about it.

[rina_inverse]

I know Daemon Gildas has a back story and a deep meaning, but i think you had an awesome name for an Au Ra right in front of you, Daemon Kane sounds awfully awesome, think about it.

i second Daemon Bane

[kyuven]

My advice? Don't put titles in your character's name. It comes off as tacky when all the NPCs call you something like "Warlord" over and over.

[Stupiduglytaru]

Just created a ton of ALTs using all those names in your world

[Santherelle]

Yep, Lalas are evil.

[Balipu]

It depends on how you play your character. Some people change character names, genders and races twice a week wiothout much thought. I only used one fantasia so far. The reason why I am named Balipu Nakamu as a female Mi'qote is that I was originally a male Lalafell and according to my ingame story I just drank some booze at a party that changed me on the outside, but I am still the same person. I don't let my name bother me. Of course after I fantasia into an Au Ra Xaela I will change my name into something I didn't decide yet as according to my story I am secretly a sleeper agent sent to Aldernard with false memories and under a glamour untill I am strong enough to realise my destiny as the chosen one and united the warring tribes of the Xaela in a glorious war that will be remember throughout the ages. My memories will come back at the beginning of 3.0

TL,DR version. If you don't want to change your name you don't have to. You can be any race inside regardless of what you look in the outside.

[Ashkendor]

Eh. Honestly, I'll just stick with my current name. It's not lore-friendly for a Miqo'te and probably won't be for an Au Ra, but it's the name I've been going by since I started this game; the first name followed me from two years use on a previous game. I'm not much of a roleplayer, at least not on this game. My IGN is just a tag for people that know me to identify me, really. If I was into the arpeez, I could probably come up with a story for the name.

[kyuven]

Eh. Honestly, I'll just stick with my current name. It's not lore-friendly for a Miqo'te and probably won't be for an Au Ra, but it's the name I've been going by since I started this game; the first name followed me from two years use on a previous game. I'm not much of a roleplayer, at least not on this game. My IGN is just a tag for people that know me to identify me, really. If I was into the arpeez, I could probably come up with a story for the name.

I had no idea about Miqo'te naming conventions when I made my character (they don't really spell that out at character creation), but it turned out my name COULD fit the "rules" for a Miqo'te from Doma...with the insertion of a single apostrophe.
Chen Kotomi->C'hen Kotomi
*shrug*