Job: Names

[DimeBagHo]

Several factions have a short supply of names, and the names for Saba are borrowed from the Eastern Factions. If someone feels inclined to do some research the following would be useful:

Saba: A whole new list of names - first names for men, surnames with the form "of [placename]", and first names for women.

Armenia: More first names for men, surnames with the form "of [placename]", and first names for women.

Pontus: More first names for men and women.

Thrace: More first names for women.

Scythia: More first names for men and women.

[Kara Kolyo]

For Thrace - Bendidora, Berenika, Pirusala, Pitadora. Will try to find more.

[Sparta1233]

Armenia - Aram, Antranig, Armen, Atraxiad

Pontus - Abderus(Male), Abellone(Female), Acestes(Male), Admetus(Male)

Thats just some of the ones I found.

[Hippias]

How about Amazon names for the scythian women?

http://www.amazonation.com/FamousAmazons.html

[LucretiusTC]

Here´s a long and promising list of Armenian names, both male and female first names. Just have to careful not to pick up too modern names (e.g. Christian names):
http://www.hyeetch.nareg.com.au/armenians/names_p1.html

Some ancient names that were used by Armenian rulers:
Tigranes, Tiridates, Tiribazos, Artaxias (Artashes), Zariadris (Zareh), Mithranes.

Luc

[Poulp]

ask Barbarossa on TotalWar.org, he made a new file of names for eastern factions on his VBM v4 or 5 mod

The range of names for women in the Pontic, Armenian and Thracian factions has been increased to reduce the problem of repetitive family names. In pure vanilla it has been known for a general from one of these cultures to have a wife and three daughters all with the same name! Thrace and Pontus have gained some carefully-selected and appropriate names from the Macedonian list, while Armenia has received a small number of names from the Parthian list. These are culturally appropriate and historically justifiable (at least no less historic than pure Vanilla).

here's the link
http://forums.totalwar.org/vb/showthread.php?t=90798

I shamelessly plagiated (sp?) his idea to use new skins for captains on the campaign map too

[Deiphobos]

I was looking for male Thracian names some time ago and stumbled onto this page: http://members.tripod.com/~Groznijat.../thrac_4b.html

Maybe it is of some help.

[LucretiusTC]

Here´s something I´ve been thinking about those Armenian names. Maybe we could use those first names that have some special meaning in Armenian language, and they don´t seem to have any particular connections to later Christian Armenians and the Bible.

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Armenian Male Names (124):
http://www.20000-names.com/male_armenian_names.htm

Some suggestions for the names of the noble gentlemen:
Abaven – ”protector”, Antranig – ”first-born”, Ari – “brave”, Arshavir – “attack”, Artashes – same as Artaxias, founder of the dynasty, Azad – “free”, Badouagan – “honourable”, Diran – “dominant”, Garabed – “forerunner”, Hrag –“fire”, Jirair – “hard-working”, Kachig – “brave and young”, Karayan – “dark”, Lernig – “little mountain”, Mardig – “warrior”, Nishan – “sign”, Pertag – “small castle”, Sebouh – “noble”, Shahan – “profit-maker”, Shant – “thunderbolt”, Shnorkh – “grace”, Takvor – “crowned”, Tsakig – “youngster”, Vahan – “shield”, Varoujan – “bird of prey”, Vem – “stone”, Vrej – “vengeance”, Zeroun – “wise”, Zoravar – “powerful”.

Locations in Armenia and Sophene (for the surnames):
Arshamashat, Armavir, Ani-Kamakh, Van, Yervandakert, Yervandashat, Erebuni (ancient name of Yerevan), Nakhichivan, Vardkesavan (later known as Vagharshapat), Zarishat, Shamiramakert, Arkayishat, Karkathiokerta, Kabalaka (in Albania), Mtskheta (in Iberia), Shamushat (Samosata in Kommagene), Nokalakevi (in Kolkhis), Artashat (founded 166 BCA), Tigranakert (founded 77 BCA).

http://www.armenica.org/cgi-bin/armenica.cgi?501222349710954;=1=3==Armenia=nada=1=3=AAA

Armenian Female Names (136):
http://www.20000-names.com/female_armenian_names.htm

Some suggestions for the names of the noble ladies:
Almasd – “diamond”, Anoush – “sweet”, Arevalous – “sunlight”, Arkina – “priceless”, Azadouhi – “free woman”, Berjanoush – “elegant and sweet-tempered”, Berjouhi – “elegant lady”, Dalita – “virgin”, Dzaghig – “flower”, Dziadzan – “rainbow”, Hamesdouhi – “modest”, Hourig – “little fire”, Hratchouhi – “fire-eyed”, Jbdouhi – “smiling”, Keghezig – “beautiful”, Keghouhi – “fair”, Kohar – “jewel”, Lala – “doll”, Manishag – “violet flower”, Meghranoush – “sweet as honey”, Nazeli – “pretty”, Nouver – “gift”, Pergrouhi – “cheerful”, Shoghagat – “splendour”, Siran – “lovely”, Toukhdzam – “brunette”, Yerazig – “little dream”, Vosgedzam – “golden hair”.

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Luc.

[Kara Kolyo]

some of the names like Azadouhi can be used for parthia too, since it's a persian word

[Seleucos of Olympia]

For Saba I've found this list of ruler names:
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Rulers_of_Saba_and_Himyar

I'm assuming they're all male.
I'm not sure how their naming custom works, but if each king's first name is his actual first name (in the sense we're looking for), then the following first names can be identified from that list:

Yatha
Yada
Samah
Yakrib
Karab
Akh
Zamir
Wahab
Anmar
Nasha
Alhan
Far'am
Sha'ram
Yazil
Hayu
Sa'd
Murthid
Tharin
Shamdar
Hutar
Shahar
Rab
Malki
Ab
Hasan
Sharhib
Mu'di
Luhay'ath
Nawfim
Murthid
Yusif

As for female names, so far I've only come across the biblical queen of Sheba, who is called Makeda in Ethiopian tradition and Bilqis in Islamic tradition.

[Hippias]

Possible female saba names (some islamic - some not)

http://www.sudairy.com/arabic/fem.html

[chazap]

the more i search, the more appreciative i become, as this is proving quite frustrating....i have a couple of links that i will acquire some Scythian names from (i'll post them later), but since its all internet search, i cannot vouch for the validity of such....

http://www.1911encyclopedia.org/Scythia
or
http://books.google.com/books?id=xsJ...scythian+names page 196 #8

[DimeBagHo]

I've added in the Armenian names from LucretiusTC, and the Sabaean names from Seleucos. I also added a bunch of names from the list that Hippias found, sticking mostly to the ones that were described as "old Arabic" names.

[LucretiusTC]

Here are more names for Pontus!

PONTIC NAMES

Some background information about Pontus:
http://www.cais-soas.com/CAIS/Geography/pontus.htm

“There were three main cultural strands in the population: Greek (mostly on the coast), Persian, and native Anatolian, both associated more with the interior.

The most famous member of the family, Mithradates VI Eupator (q.v.; ca. 120-63 BCE), although undoubtedly presenting himself to the Greek world as a civilized philhellene and new Alexander, also paraded his Iranian background: he maintained a harem and eunuchs in true Oriental fashion; he gave all his sons Persian names; he sacrificed spectacularly in the manner of the Persian kings at Pasargadae; and he appointed "satraps" (a Persian title) as his provincial governors. And although there is only one inscription attesting it, he seems to have adopted the title "king of kings." The very small number of Hellenistic Greek inscriptions that have been found anywhere in Pontus suggest that Greek culture did not substantially penetrate beyond the coastal cities and the court.”

Some locations:
Amasia, Sinope, Cotyora, Cerasus, Cabeira, Pharnacia, Trapezus, Themiscyra, Amisus, Phanaroea, Chiliocomum, Comana (later known as Hierocaesareia), Ameria, Zela.

Some rulers, satraps, and commanders in Asia Minor before and after Alexander the Great (e.g. Pontus, Cappadocia, Phrygia, Lydia, Cilicia):
Mithradates , Pharnaces, Ariobarzanes (kings of Pontus); Ariarathes(king of Cappadocia), Archelaus (general of Mithradates VI),Artabanus, Artaphernes, Autophradates, Datames, Gordios, Hecatomnus (king of Caria), Lycomedes (high priest of Comana), Mazaios, Orontas, Orophernes, Pharnabazus (satrap of Phrygia), Pissuthnes, Polemon, Spithridates, Tiribazus, Tissaphernes (satrap of Lydia), Tithraustes.

Some female rulers:
Hypsicratea, Queen of Pontus, the wife of Mithradates VI.
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Hypsicratea
Pythodoris, Queen of Pontus; Laodice, Regent of Pontus.

Old Persian masculine names:
http://www.avesta.org/znames.htm#op

Ardumanish, Ariaramnes, Arsames, Artavardiya, Artostes, Aspathines, Athiyabaushna, Bagâbigna, Bardiya, Dâdarshi, Dâtuvahya, Fravarti, Gobryas, Hydarnes, Intaphernes, Mardonius, Megabyzus, Nabonidus, Otanes, Phraotes, Taxmaspâda, Vahauka, Vâyaspâra, Vaumisa.

I think we could use some of these Persian names as they were written in Greek as a sign of Hellenism; and maybe we should exclude those best known names of Persian kings like Cyrus / Kyros (Khorvash/Kurush), Cambyses /Kambyses(Kambujiya), Darius/Dareios(Darayavahush/Darayavahu), Xerxes (Xshayârshan) and Artaxerxes (Artaxshasa). On the hand Darius and Cyrus seemed to be a rather common male names.

Some further suggestions for Persian masculine names in Pontus:
http://www.20000-names.com/male_persian_names.htm
Alborz, Behruz (fortunate), Feroze (successful), Jamshed (shining river), Kianoush (royal), Naveed (good news), Sher (lion), Urvakhsha (cheerful).

Some suggestions for Persian feminine names in Pontus:
http://www.avesta.org/znames.htm#op
Aban (waters), Artdokht (righteous daughter), Aturdokht (daughter of fire), Bahar (spring), Behzad (well born), Delara (beloved),Kaniz (maiden), Kerbanu (lady of felicity, strength, and power), Meherafrid (created by love), Morvarid (pearl), Nekdel (of good heart), Ruhae (a woman of good fortune), Sanober (a name of an evergreen tree like the cypress), Shirdokht (brave daughter),Tanaz (having a delicate body) Tishtar (angel of rain), Vira (heroine).

Some further suggestions for Persian feminine names in Pontus:
http://www.20000-names.com/female_persian_names.htm
Arzu (desire), Banu (lady), Darya (sea), Firuza (successful), Gulzar (rose garden), Jaleh (dew), Laleh (tulip), Mahdokht (daughter of the moon), Mahvash (moon-like), Mojgan (eyelashes), Naheed (immaculate), Nasrin (wild rose), Nilofer (water-lily), Omid (hope), Parvana (butterfly), Roshanak (lustrous woman), Shahnaz (king’s pride), Shirin (sweet), Yasmin (jasmine flower), Ziba (beautiful), Zuleika (brilliant beauty).

If we suppose that the Pontic rulers and nobles were mainly adopted an old Persian culture, then we could probably use some of these Persian names. If we want to give more credit to the coastal area and the Hellenic influence, then maybe there could be some Greek names too for Admirals, Diplomats, Spies, Wives, and Daughters.

Finally here’s a promising link about ancient coins:
http://www.snible.org/coins/hn/index.html

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Luc.

[chazap]

okay...here are some names i gathered for the Scythians.....some are names of kings while others were just notable scythians....i make no distinction...

Ateas, Spargapeithes, Lycus, Gnurus, Saulius,
Anacharsis, Idanthyrsus, Ariapeithes, Scyles,
Scilurus (Skilurus), Octamasadas, Ariantas, Teres?, Prototi, Madi, Palukus,
Eihidia, Istia, Lipoxais, Arpoxais, Colaxai - Koloksai, Fenius Farsa, Taxakis, Skunkha,
Scopasis

Scolo-ti : king of the Scoloti or Scyths
Spargapethes: Lord of heaven
Ariapithes: noble lord; excellent lord

Scythian gods
Tabiti: fire goddess
Papaeous: father of gods and men
Apia: earth;land; country
Oitosyrus: bright shining sun
Artimpasa: questionable--- moon goddess of virgins?
Thamimasadas: god of water

Scythian words
Oior: a man
Pata: to kill
Arima: one
Spu: one eye
Temerinda: mother of the sea
Graucasus: white with snow
Brixaba: a ram’s forehead
Phryxa: hater of evil
Araxa: hater of damsels
Exampaeos: holy roads

if we are short on names...perhaps combining a few of these to generate more...
i.e. Skunkha of Phryxa (Skunkha hater of evil); Octamasadas Exampaeos (lord of water and holy roads--guessing).....just an idea.....