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Aug 3, 2008
737
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Hello modders!

In much-maligned real life, I work as a classics research fellow. A byproduct of a recent research project I’ve been involved in are compilations of 100% genuine names of the 3rd and 2nd centuries BC, mostly Greek and ordered by region. Literary, epigraphical, numismatical and papyrological evidence of the period were used to compile the lists, and from this evidence, it can be ascertained that people of these various names did at least spend the major parts of their lives in a certain geographical area; what can at times not be determined beyond a doubt is that they were actually born there.

I wanted to make these names available to modders interested to deepen the historicity of EU: Rome. Every single one of those names has been checked and double-checked to the standards used in scholarly research, and is rendered in its correct, scholarly transcription. I’ll start out with some groups of names and add others over the next few days, when I have time.

Macedonian Names

Male

Abreas
Aeropos
Agathokles
Agathon
Agenor
Alexandros
Alketas
Alkimachos
Amantas
Amyntas
Amphoteros
Anaxippos
Andromenes
Andronikos
Androsthenes
Antenor
Antigonos
Antikles
Antipatros
Apollophanes
Archelaos
Archias
Aretas
Agaios
Ariston
Arrhabaios
Arrhidaios
Arseas
Asandros
Asklepiades
Attalos
Balakros
Bikon
Charikles
Derdas
Didas
Dropidas
Echekrates
Epimenes
Epokillos
Eurylochos
Dimnos
Glaukias
Gorgias
Gorgos
Halkyoneus
Harpalos
Hekataios
Hektor
Hephaistion
Herakleides
Herakon
Hermolaos
Heromenes
Hippostratos
Iollas
Kalas
Kallines
Karsis
Kassandros
Kebalinos
Kleandros
Kleitos
Koinos
Krateros
Krateuas
Laomedon
Leonnatos
Leontios
Lysimachos
Machatas
Makartatos
Marsyas
Megaleas
Memnon
Menelaos
Menes
Menidas
Menon
Menos
Metron
Nearchos
Neoptolemos
Nikanor
Nikomachos
Onomastos
Orestes
Pantauchos
Pantordanos
Parmenion
Patrokles
Pausanias
Peithagoras
Peithon
Pelopidas
Perdikkas
Peroidas
Perseus
Peukestas
Philippos
Philon
Philonides
Philotas
Philoxenos
Pleistarchos
Polemon
Polydamas
Polyperchon
Proteas
Ptolemaios
Simmias
Sopolis
Sosthenes
Sostratos
Stasanor
Taurion
Thoas
Zopyrion

Female

Europa
Eurydike
Eurynoe
Gygaia
Kleopatra
Kynna
Kynnane
Meda
Nikaia
Phila
Philinna
Thessalonike

Greek Names in the Seleucid Empire

Male

Achaios
Alkimos
Alexandros
Anaxarchos
Andragoras
Andromachos
Antiochos
Aphrodisios
Apollodoros
Apollodotos
Apollonios
Apollophanes
Aristodemos
Artemidoros
Artemidotos
Bakchides
Boethos (Authenticity in slight doubt!)
Demetrios
Demodamas
Dikaios
Diogenes
Eisigonos
Erasistratos
Eudoxos
Eutychides
Helidoros
Helenos
Hermesianax
Hermias
Hierax
Hyakinthos
Ikadion
Kallixeinos
Kephalon
Kineas
Kleomenes
Lachares
Lysimachos
Megasthenes
Memnon
Menedemos
Mnaseas
Molon
Nikanor
Nikarchos
Numenios
Patrokles
Peithon
Philetairos
Philippos
Philokles
Philotas
Phyromachos
Seleukos
Sotas
Stasanor
Tauriskos
Thoinias
Timarchos
Tryphon
Zeuxis

Female

Antiochis
Apame
Laodike
Monime
Phila
Stratonike

Cultic Epitheta of Seleucid Kings
These were not given at birth but added to the given name either as heir apparent or upon ascending the throne, to be used in the state religion. It was added after the proper name and become from that point on what can be considered an integral part of the proper name. Please note that these names cannot be used as additional proper names for normal characters, as they have exceedingly “holy” meanings and would otherwise be limited to deities.

Epiphanes
Euergetes
Eupator
Eusebes
Kallinikos
Nikator
Philadelphos
Philometor
Philopator
Sidetes
Soter
Theos

Greek Names in the Graeco-Bactrian Empire
If there are mods extending the map to the east, the modders will know who the Grace-Bactrians were; all others can just use these names for the Seleucids.

Male

Agathokles
Alexandros
Amyntas
Antialkidas
Antimachos
Antiochos
Apollodoros
Apollodots
Apollophanes
Archebios
Artemidoros
Artemidotos
Deinippos
Demetrios
Demodamas
Deriades
Dikaios
Diodotos
Diomedes
Dionysios
Epandros
Eukratides
Euthydemos
Heliodoros
Heliokles
Hermaios
Hippalos
Hippostratos
Lysias
Menandros
Nikephoros
Nikias
Pantaleon
Peukolaos
Peukolaos
Philoxenos
Platon
Spalyris
Straton
Theodamas
Theodoros
Theodotos
Theophilos
Zeionises
Zoilos

Female

Agathokleia
Apame
Kalliope
Kleio
Laodike
Sophe
Stratonike
 
Last edited:

Woody Man

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Excellent job :)
 

Cheexsta

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Very interesting, though it's sadly not possible to have names for each individual culture - all cultures within a culture group have the same names. Though, it would be possible to separate them all into their own culture groups...

Still, very, very cool list. I'm sure lots of mods (especially the likes of Magna Terra and RIMP) will be glad to use them!
 
Aug 3, 2008
737
1
English Patriot
Thanks. I gathered this data for another reason, but that doesn’t mean that it could not be put to use elsewhere, right?

Cheexsta
It’s a pity about the names being unassignable to geographic locations. There was of course much crossover, but there also were totally local names which would not be found anywhere else. The male names Ammonios, Apion, Horapollon, Isidoros, Philammon and Sarapion and the female names Nephoris and Thoeris, among others, were for instance exceedingly common in Ptolemaic Egypt, but virtually unknown outside of it.

Still, I’m going on presenting the names by geographical locale, as this is how I already have them arranged. :)

Greek Names in the Ptolemaic Realm

Male

Achillas
Achilleus
Agathokles
Agathon
Alexandros
Alketas
Ammonios
Androsthenes
Antikrates
Antiochos
Antipatros
Apion
Apollodotos
Apollonios
Apollophanes
Archelaos
Argaios
Aristarchos
Aristobulos
Aristogenes
Aristomenes
Aristion
Ariston
Aristonikos
Artemidoros
Bolos
Chairemon
Chrysippos
Deinokrates
Demetrios
Demophanes
Demophon
Didymos
Dikaios
Diodoros
Dion
Dionysidoros
Dionysidotos
Dionysios
Diophanes
Dioskurides
Dositheos
Ergamenes
Eulaios
Galaistes
Glaukias
Harmodios
Helenos
Heliodoros
Heliodotos
Hephaistion
Herakleides
Herakleitos
Herakleodoros
Herakleodotos
Hermaiskos
Hermias
Hermon
Herodes
Herondas
Hierax
Hippomedon
Horapollon
Isidoros
Isidotos
Kallias
Kallikrates
Kallimachos
Kallixenos
Keraunos
Kineas
Kleitarchos
Kleomenes
Komanos
Kritias
Ktesibios
Lagos
Lenaios
Lysimachos
Machates
Magas
Makron
Meleagros
Menedemos
Menekles
Menelaos
Menestratos
Menippos
Menyllos
Metrodoros
Moschion
Nikagoras
Nikanor
Nikias
Nikokles
Nikon
Ophellas
Paniskos
Petakos
Philiskos
Phanias
Philammon
Phileas
Philippos
Philotas
Philoxenos
Platon
Polemon
Polykrates
Potheinos
Praxagoras
Protarchos
Ptolemaios
Pyrrhos
Sarapion
Simonides
Skopas
Sophron
Sopolis
Sosibios
Sosigenes
Sotades
Straton
Taurion
Theodoros
Theodotos
Theon
Theophilos
Timoxenos
Tryphon
Zenodoros
Zenodotos
Zenon
Zoilos
Zopyros

Female

Apollonia
Arsinoe
Artemisia
Athenais
Belistiche
Berenike
Demo
Eurydike
Histieia
Isidora
Kallista
Kellanthis
Kleopatra
Libys
Lysandra
Lysis
Mestris
Nephoris
Oinanthe
Philotera
Ptolemais
Selene
Theoxene
Thoeris
Tryphaina
Zosime

Cultic Epitheta of Ptolemaic Kings
These were not given at birth but added to the given name either as heir apparent or upon ascending the throne, to be used in the state religion. It was added after the proper name and become from that point on what can be considered an integral part of the proper name. Please note that these names cannot be used as additional proper names for normal characters, as they have exceedingly “holy” meanings and would otherwise be limited to deities.

Epiphanes
Euergetes
Neos Dionysos
Philadelphos
Philometor
Philopator
Soter

”Generic” Greek Names
These are givennames of Greeks who lived during the 3rd and 2nd centuries BC in the Mediterranean and Black Sea area, but outside one of the great Hellenistic realms. They should be most appropriate for regions like Rhodes, Sicily, southern Italy, Massilia and the Crimea.

Male

Agatharchides
Agathokles
Agelaos
Agesipolis
Agis
Aischines
Akrotatos
Anaxikrates
Antialkidas
Antikles
Antiphates
Antiphilos
Antisthenes
Apollodoros
Aratos
Archidamos
Archimedes
Archippos
Aretas
Areus
Aristarchos
Aristobulos
Aristodemos
Aristogeiton
Aristomachos
Aristonikos
Aristophanes
Aristophon
Aristoteles
Athanadoros
Athenodoros
Bryaxis
Chabrias
Chairestratos
Charinos
Chairondas
Chares
Charidemos
Chremes
Chremonides
Chrysippos
Damokrates
Damophon
Damoteles
Demades
Demetrios
Demogenes
Demokleides
Demokritos
Demophanes
Demosthenes
Dikaiarchos
Diodoros
Diodotos
Diogenes
Dion
Dionysios
Ekdemos
Empedokles
Epameinondas
Epikuros
Epikydes
Erasistratos
Eratosthenes
Erigyios
Euainetos
Euandros
Eubulos
Eudamidas
Euhemeros
Eukleidas
Eukleides
Eukrates
Euktemon
Eumenes
Euripides
Euthykrates
Euthykritos
Euxenippos
Gelon
Gylippos
Hagesandros
Hegemachos
Hegesias
Hekataios
Hermarchos
Hermias
Herophilos
Hieron
Hieronymos
Hiketas
Hippokrates
Hyperbatas
Hypereides
Iphikrates
Ismenias
Isokrates
Kallisthenes
Kallistratos
Karneades
Kephisodoros
Kephisodotos
Kephisophon
Kineas
Kleanthes
Klearchos
Kleombrotos
Kleomenes
Kleonymos
Koroibos
Krates
Krenides
Ktesikles
Lachares
Leonidas
Leonnatos
Leosthenes
Leostratos
Leukon
Lydiadas
Lykurgos
Lysandridas
Lysandros
Lysippos
Lysistratos
Machanidas
Megasthenes
Menandros
Menedemos
Metrodoros
Milon
Mnesidemos
Nabis
Neaichmos
Nearchos
Nikagoras
Nikandros
Nikeratos
Niketes
Nikias
Nikodoros
Nikokles
Nikokrates
Nikokreon
Nikomachos
Nikostratos
Olympiodoros
Onomarchos
Ophellas
Paionios
Pelops
Pherekles
Philemon
Philetairos
Philetas
Philinos
Philokles
Philopoimenos
Phrynichos
Phyromachos
Platon
Polemon
Polybios
Polydoros
Polyeuktos
Polygnotos
Poseidippos
Poseidonios
Praxibulos
Praxiteles
Pyrrhias
Pytheas
Pythodelos
Simonides
Sosistratos
Stilpon
Straton
Stratonikos
Teisikrates
Thearidas
Themistios
Theodotos
Theokritos
Theophrastos
Thoinon
Thrasykles
Timaios
Timarchos
Timoleon
Timotheos
Xanthippos
Xenares
Xenokrates
Xenophon
Zenon

Female

Agiatis
Ariadne
Damarate
Daphne
Kratesikleia
Lanassa
Pamphile
Phthia
 
Last edited:

lucaluca

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very nice! I think they tried to represent the "dynastic names" in the game when they added the feature that makes the name of the son likely to be the one of the grandfather, same for the daughter. Infact for example in Seleucia there were 2 dynastic male names (Antiochus and Seleucus) and 2 female names (Apama and Laodice). In Egypt I think just Ptolemy for the males and Berenice/Cleopatra for the females.

I tried once to add the nicknames Soter etc., but this made every greek character have them, so it was silly... i think the best way to represent them is to make them titles to be assigned only to the rulers and his wife, and the effect could be an increase in popularity...
 

Cheexsta

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very nice! I think they tried to represent the "dynastic names" in the game when they added the feature that makes the name of the son likely to be the one of the grandfather, same for the daughter. Infact for example in Seleucia there were 2 dynastic male names (Antiochus and Seleucus) and 2 female names (Apama and Laodice). In Egypt I think just Ptolemy for the males and Berenice/Cleopatra for the females.
By my understanding, it was pretty common in the Greek world to name your son after your father. The Guisgard may certainly correct me on this, though :)

I tried once to add the nicknames Soter etc., but this made every greek character have them, so it was silly... i think the best way to represent them is to make them titles to be assigned only to the rulers and his wife, and the effect could be an increase in popularity...
I agree, the best way to do this would probably be as titles that are earnt once they do something or other as heir apparent or as the ruler. For example, "Soter" ("the Savior") was given to Ptolemy I after lifting the siege of Rhodes from Demetrios Poliorketes, so if a Hellenic king/heir does something notable they can be given a similar title.

Guisgard, is there any chance of getting a rough definition of those epithets? I know that Soter = Savior, Nikator = Victor and a few others, but there are a fair few I don't understand. It'd be handy to have a brief definition of the term in the text for those epithet titles :)
 

Hardradi

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I love these greek nicknames as well.

Here are a few that are particularly prominent in my mind (keep in mind I am very far from an expert in languages):

Antigonid
Antigonus I Monophthalmus "the One-eyed"
Demetrius I Poliorcetes "The Besieger". I read that this one was possibly granted to him by his political opponents, as sarcasim for not taking Rhodes.
Antigonus II Gonatas "knock-knees"
Antigonus III Doson ??????? - I have a very distant and clouded memory that some people interpret this as "cousin"
Demetrius Kalos, "the Fair, "beautiful", "blond" ????

Ptolemiac
Ptolemy Keraunos "thunderbolt"
 
Aug 3, 2008
737
1
Infact for example in Seleucia there were 2 dynastic male names (Antiochus and Seleucus) and 2 female names (Apama and Laodice). In Egypt I think just Ptolemy for the males and Berenice/Cleopatra for the females.
Actually, Achaios, Alexandros and Demetrios were also very common names for males of the Seleucid family, and Apion and Lagos for Ptolemaic males. The Ptolemaic women were, apart from Berenike and Kleopatra, commonly called Arsinoe, Ptolemais, Selene and Tryphaina, and Antiochis is actually even more common than both Apame and Laodike for Seleucid princesses.

And the epithets above were certainly not even anywhere close to nicknames – they were cultic names affixed to members of the royal families’ names and used in religious services. Ptolemaios XII’s epithet was for instance “Neos Dionysos”, but he also had a nickname given him by disrespectful subjects – “Auletes”, meaning “the Flutist”. Hardradi’s examples are cerainly nicknames, though; my favourite one is by the way “Kybiosaktes”, given to a Hellenistic king who had risen from very humble origins; it means “Monger of Salted Fish”. :D

Antigonus III Doson ??????? - I have a very distant and clouded memory that some people interpret this as "cousin"
(...)
Ptolemy Keraunos "thunderbolt"
Doson means “He Who Hands Down” – the rule, that is, as he was not king himself, but only regent for a the later Philippos V, who was only a boy when his father died. And Keraunos does indeed translate as “thunderbolt”, but it was also not just a nickname, a perfectly common Macedonian given name.

Which brings me to this:
Guisgard, is there any chance of getting a rough definition of those epithets?

Gladly.

Epiphanes – The Revealed God
Euergetes – Benefactor (literally Doer of Good)
Eupator – He Who Is Descended From A Most Noble Father
Eusebes – The Dutiful
Kallinikos – The Gloriously Victorious One (originally an epihet of Herakles)
Neos Dionysos – New Dionysos (meaning Dionysos not in his aspect as deity of booze, but as deity of fertility, plenty and abundance)
Nikator – Th Victor
Philadelphos – The Sibling-Loving
Philometor – The Mother-Loving
Philopator – The Father-Loving
Sidetes – From Sidon (the town from which he hailed)
Soter – The Saviour
Theos – The God

By my understanding, it was pretty common in the Greek world to name your son after your father.
Actually, it was most common to name (firstborn) sons not after their father, but after their father’s father; thus in many families, name would alternate every other gneration. The complete Greek name formula, as can be found in contracts and inscriptions, would be “Name, son of Name”, or shorter “Name of Name”. Alexandros, the son of Philippos, would be “Alexandros Philippou hyios” or just “Alexandros Philippou”. If names did not alternate, if the son of Philippos would usually be called Philippos, too, this would have looked slightly silly – “Philippos Philippou”.

Ok, on with the show:

Persian Names
The following are Persian names in their Grecizised form. I don’t have the names in original Persian, and in many cases, the actual Persian form could not be reconstructd with any great probability. In any case, as Greek was during the timeframe of EU:R the lingua franca, I don’t consider the Grecizised form entirely unsuitable.

Male

Abulites
Achaimenes
Anaphes
Arbupales
Ariabignes
Ariaspes
Ariobarzanes
Aristozanes
Arsames
Arses
Arsites
Artabazos
Artaphernes
Artayntes
Artaxerxes
Artochmes
Artostes
Aspastes
Aspathines
Atizyes
Atropates
Autophradates
Bagoas
Barsaintes
Baryaxes
Barzanes
Batis
Belesys
Bessos
Bisthanes
Bubales
Chorienes
Dareios
Datames
Dataphernes
Datis
Gergis
Harmamitres
Haustanes
Histanes
Hydarnes
Hystaspes
Ithamitres
Katanes
Kophenes
Kyros
Madates
Mardonios
Masistes
Mauakes
Mazakes
Mazaios
Mazaros
Megapanos
Mithradates
Mithraustes
Mithrines
Mithrobaios
Mithrobuzanes
Nabarzanes
Niphates
Ochos
Oiobazos
Okontobates
Omares
Onthotopates
Ordanes
Orontes
Orxines
Otaspes
Oxathres
Oxyartes
Oxydates
Petines
Pharasmanes
Pharnabazos
Pharnuches
Pherendates
Phrasaortes
Phrataphernes
Prexaspes
Rheomitres
Rhoisakes
Sabakos
Sataspes
Satibarzanes
Siromitres
Sisamnes
Sisines
Smerdomenes
Spitamenes
Spithridates
Tiriaspes
Tissaphernes
Tritantaichmes
Xerxes

Female

Amastris
Apame
Artakama
Artanis
Arystone
Atossa
Orypetis
Parmys
Parysatis
Rhoxane
Sisygambis
Stateira
 
Last edited:

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The_Guiscard said:
Actually, it was most common to name (firstborn) sons not after their father, but after their father’s father; thus in many families, name would alternate every other gneration. The complete Greek name formula, as can be found in contracts and inscriptions, would be “Name, son of Name”, or shorter “Name of Name”. Alexandros, the son of Philippos, would be “Alexandros Philippou hyios” or just “Alexandros Philippou”. If names did not alternate, if the son of Philippos would usually be called Philippos, too, this would have looked slightly silly – “Philippos Philippou”.
That's what I meant: it was common to name your son after your father (ie, his grandfather) ;)
 

Descartes

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Hmm, I don't think I made it clear in my last post: This really is a modder's resource, Guiscard, and I'm sure it will be used in many future mods. Even though the Greek dialects belong to the same culture group in Imperium (which means that they use the same names), I'll keep your lists in mind when I add random characters.
 
Aug 3, 2008
737
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That's what I meant: it was common to name your son after your father (ie, his grandfather) ;)
And that’s indeed also what you have written quite clearly; my bad. :eek:o

Hmm, I don't think I made it clear in my last post: This really is a modder's resource, Guiscard, and I'm sure it will be used in many future mods. Even though the Greek dialects belong to the same culture group in Imperium (which means that they use the same names), I'll keep your lists in mind when I add random characters.
Thanks; I thought that this data I have sitting on my harddrive and that just needs a bit of structuring might be useful to some modders. The data may be a bit too restrictive, as it does really only include names attested within a certain area and a certain timeframe and does omit names within that area that are only attested earlier or later, but that’s just how I have the data. Wel, at least every single name is thus 100% authentic.

It’s just a pity that there are so few women’s names handed down to us, but they just were mentioned so very rarely.

Illyrian Names
The following are Illyrian names in their Grecizised form – that is neither their Latinized nor their original, native form. I don’t have the names in the latter, but as with the Persian names I consider the Grecizised form rather appropriate, as Greek was during the timeframe of EU:R after all the language used in international relations.

Male

Agron
Aitoris
Andes
Aplios
Aplon
Arbon
Audaros
Auluporis
Auluzon
Ballaios
Baraliris
Bardos
Bardylis
Baton
Besklebes Authenticity in slight doubt
Beuzas
Darmokos
Daston
Dazas
Dazios
Dizon
Dropion
Enchelis
Epikados
Epetinos
Epulon
Genthios
Germos
Glaukias
Grabos
Kleitos
Kokaios
Labrikon
Longaros
Monunios
Mytilos
Panes
Panios
Pinnes
Pladomenos
Pleuratos
Pleurias
Seion
Skenobarbos
Skerdilaidas
Staton
Taton
Teres
Tergites
Zibynes Authenticity in slight doubt

Female

Andena
Andia
Antis
Apla
Batina
Birkenna
Boria
Bosona Authenticity in slight doubt
Dasantilla
Etleua
Etuta
Genthena
Madena
Melitte
Pantia
Tatta
Taulanta
Teuta
Triteuta
 

Cheexsta

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Hmm, I've tried messing around a bit with accepted cultures, but it looks like that mechanic has been removed from the game, despite the add_accepted_culture code still being in the .exe. Looks like I can't even add these names as separate cultures and then just link them all as accepted cultures :(

With that in mind, how plausible do you think it is to have some of these names be common between all Hellenistic states? Wouldn't be completely authentic, but would at least give a bit more variety...

Anyway, I'm loving these lists, keep them coming!
 
Last edited:
Aug 3, 2008
737
1
With that in mind, how plausible do you think it is to have some of these names be common between all Hellenistic states? Wouldn't be completely authentic, but would at least give a bit more variety...
All names from the “Generic” Greek Names list would definitely fit every Greek everwhere, as would many names from the regional lists, though some caution is advised here. The Greeks did often construct names from deities’ names, frequently (but not exclusively) by adding either –doros (meaning “given by”) or –dotos (meaning “gift of” to the deity’s name, and this can really be a pitfall if authenticity is a high priority. Some gods were only venerated locally, and names constructed from such a god would not be used everwhere. This is true of many of the names from Ptolemaic Egypt – names like Apion, Horapollon, Isidoros, Isidotos, Philammon and Sarapion would not be used elsewhere, among others. And names like Dionysidoros, Dionysidotos, Dionysios, Heliodoros, Heliodotos, Potheinos, Ptolemaios and Tryphon, while exceedingly common in Egypt, would have been very rare elsewhere.

Roman Names
The following are exclusively names of Romans who were alive sometime between 300 BC and 100 BC, with the names given in the linguistically elder form, the one predating the fall of the Republic – e.g. Poblicola instead of Pulicola. Like many of you will know, a proper Roman male name has usually three parts, as in Gaius Iulius Caesar. The first is the praenomen, corresponding to our Christian name, the second is the nomen gentile, a kind of clan name shared by all members of an extended family, and the third one is the cognomen, differntiating the different branches of an extended family. In rare cases, this third part, the cognomen, can sometimes be missing; Marcus Antonius would be the most famous example.

Male Praenomina
Romans had a very limited number of first names, and some among them very used only very rarely. In the following list, the rare names are singled out by an R; if a modder is interested in authenticity, he should try to implement that the other names are at least three times as common as these rare ones.

Aulus
Appius
Agrippa R
Decimus
Gaius
Gnaeus
Kaeso R
Lucius
Mamercus R
Manius R
Marcus
Numerius R
Opiter R
Publius
Postumus R
Proculus R
Quintus
Sextus
Servius
Spurius R
Titus R
Tiberius R
Volero R
Volumnius R

Nomina Gentilicia
These are the “clan names”; while not every male Roman will have all three names, everyone, without exception will have a praenomen and a nomen gentilicium. The typical thing about nomina gentilicia is that they do practically always end with –ius; of the many thousands known, no more than about ten do not end with –ius.

Acilius
Aebutius
Aelius
Aemilius
Afranius
Anicius
Annius
Antistius
Antonius
Apuleius
Apustius
Aquilius
Asinius
Atilius
Attidius
Aufidius
Aurelius
Baebius
Caecilius
Caedicius
Calpurnius
Caninius
Carvilius
Cassius
Claudius
Coponius
Cornelius
Coruncanius
Curius
Decius
Didius
Domitius
Duilius
Ennius
Fabius
Fannius
Flaminius
Flavius
Fonius
Fufius
Fulvius
Fundanius
Furius
Gabinius
Gellius
Genucius
Herennius
Horatius
Hortensius
Hostilius
Iulius
Iunius
Iuventius
Laelius
Laetorius
Laronius
Licinius
Livius
Lollius
Lusius
Lutatius
Maenius
Mallius
Mamilius
Manilius
Manlius
Marcius
Marius
Minucius
Mucius
Mummius
Nautius
Nonius
Octavius
Ogulnius
Opimius
Oppius
Orchius
Otacilius
Paetilius
Papirius
Pedius
Petilius
Petronius
Plautius
Poetelius
Pompeius
Pomponius
Popilius
Porcius
Postumius
Propertius
Publilius
Pupius
Quinctius
Roscius
Rupilius
Scribonius
Sempronius
Sergius
Sertorius
Servilius
Sextius
Sosius
Sulpicius
Tarquinius
Tatius
Terentius
Titinius
Trebonius
Triarius
Tullius
Ulpius
Valerius
Varius
Vatinius
Ventidius
Veturius
Vilius
Vinicius
Volcatius
Volumnius

Cognomina
This is the third part of the male name, often developed out of a nickname that went on to be used to differentiate different branches of an extended family.The vast majority of Roman families used a cognomen, but not all did. And, oh yes – I've deliberately omitted cognomina that might ring too much of a bell, like Caesar, Cicero and Scipio.

Acidinus
Afer
Agermus
Agricola
Agippa
Ahenobarbus
Albinus
Ambustus
Amerinus
Aper
Aquila
Arvina
Asina
Asprenas
Atratinus
Atticus
Augurinus
Aventinensis
Avila
Baecula
Balbus
Barbatus
Barbula
Bassus
Bestia
Bibulus
Blaesus
Blasio
Brutus
Bubulcus
Burrus
Buteo
Caecus
Caepio
Caldus
Calenus
Calvinus
Calvus
Camerinus
Camillus
Canina
Capito
Carbo
Cato
Catullus
Catulus
Caudex
Caudinus
Celer
Celsus
Centumalus
Cinna
Claudus
Clepsina
Corculus
Corvinus
Corvus
Cossus
Cotta
Crassus
Crispinus
Crus
Curio
Cursor
Decula
Dentatus
Denter
Dolabella
Eburnus
Falto
Felix
Figulus
Fimbria
Flaccus
Flamininus
Flamma
Florus
Fronto
Fullo
Fundulus
Galba
Gallus
Geminus
Glabrius
Glanus
Glaucia
Glicia
Gracchus
Gurges
Hapax
Hispalus
Hortalus
Hortator
Iudex
Iustinus
Laenas
Laevinus
Labeo
Labienus
Lamia
Lentulus
Lepidus
Libo
Ligus
Livianus
Longus
Lucanus
Lucullus
Lupus
Luscus
Malleolus
Mamercinus
Mancinus
Marcellus
Maro
Matho
Maximus
Megellus
Merenda
Merula
Messala
Metellus
Milo
Murena
Mus
Nasica
Naso
Nepos
Nero
Nerva
Niger
Nobilior
Noctua
Norbanus
Paetinus
Paetus
Palma
Papus
Paterculus
Paullus
Pansa
Pera
Perperna
Philippus
Philo
Picens
Pictor
Piso
Pius
Plancus
Plautus
Poblicola
Porcina
Potitus
Priscillus
Priscus
Proculus
Pulcher
Pulex
Pullus
Purpurio
Quietus
Rebilus
Regillus
Regulus
Rex
Rufus
Ruga
Russus
Rutilus
Sabinus
Salinator
Sapiens
Scaeva
Scaevola
Scapula
Scaurus
Scorpio
Seius
Seranus
Silanus
Sophus
Spinther
Spurinus
Strabo
Sulla
Superbus
Sura
Tamphilus
Tapulus
Taurus
Thalna
Thermus
Tibullus
Torquatus
Trebia
Tremulus
Tucca
Tubertus
Tuditanus
Tullus
Turrinus
Varro
Varus
Vatia
Venox
Verres
Verrucosus
Vetus
Violens
Visolus
Vitulus
Vulso

Female Names
Roman female nomenclature was extremely dull – all daughters of one father were named identically, this name being just their father’s noem gentilicium with the –ius ending replaced by an –ia ending. All daughters of Marcus Tullius Cicero would have been named Tullia, and all daughters of Gaius Iulius Caesar Iulia. To differentiate sisters, Romans actually used either cardinals affixed to the name, or else added an nickname, often based on the nomen gentilicium of a relative of the mother. If modders want to simulate this, they can simply use assign a random name from the list of nomina gentilicia, with the –ius ending converted to an –ia ending. Alternatively, the following would be the Latin cardinal numbers from first to sixth, in their female grammatical form:

Prima
Secunda
Tertia
Quarta
Quinta
Sexta
 

AlCord

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Just a quick question to the specialists:

how do I add new names / characters to the game? I know where, there are already plenty of them but these are only existing ones.
How do I add characters, that aren't born? Just without a born date and the game creates later the characters?
 

Cheexsta

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@AlCord:
All names are contained within common\cultures.txt. To add names to a culture group, just copy the names you want and paste them into the appropriate field, in alphabetical order (not sure how important this is, though). Names are read by the game as individual words, so it doesn't matter whether you separate them by a space, tab or line break. You can also include multi-word names by enclosing them with double quotation marks, IIRC.

So, if I wanted to add the male name "Ariaspes" to the Persian culture group, I'd just open cultures.txt, find where it would fit alphabetically in that list (in vanilla, it would be between "Ariovast" and "Arkha") and simply add a space after the previous name and enter "Ariaspes".

Adding pre-set characters only allows them to appear if their birth date is before the scenario's start date. Just copy/paste one of the existing characters in history\characters and change things as needed. Their names don't necessarily need to match those in cultures.txt.
 
Aug 3, 2008
737
1
Can I include it to our mod too ?
Please feel free to. The names are not copyrighted or something, I put them up for anybody’s taking – no need to ask.

Carthaginian Names
The following are names of Carthaginians and Phoenicians who were alive sometime between 600 BC and 100 BC. For purists, I have marked the names of Phoenician origin with a P; it is very likely, but not certain, that these names were also in use in Carthage – I am not a specialist for Carthage and won’t give my word on this.
The names are rendered not in their Semitic forms (where the endings –milkar would for instance be -melqart and –bal -baal), but in a mixture of Greek and Roman transliterations. It is therefore the least authentic list up to now – not inasfar as the names themselves are not authentic, but inasmuch as their rendering is inconsistent. Sorry, I took them from sources using different system of transliteration, and I lack the skill in ancient Semitic languages to confidently unify their rendering.

Male Names

Abbar P
Abdaios P
Abdalo P
Abdastar
Abdemo
Acharbas
Adherbal
Adramilkar P
Ailymas
Akinbal P
Arines
Azibal P
Azimilkar P
Balator P
Banno
Baslechos P
Bomilkar
Bodastar P
Bostar
Chelbes P
Eknibal P
Emunazar P
Ethbal P
Gillimas
Gisgo
Hamilkar
Hampsikora
Hannibal
Hanno
Hasdrubal
Hastos
Himilko
Isalkas
Ittobal P
Karthalo
Mago
Maharbal
Malchos
Masgabas
Mastanabal
Matho
Matten
Merbal P
Milphio
Misdes
Muttines
Narauas
Ormilkar P
Sekarbal P
Synalo
Tabnit P
Tigillas
Zarzas

Female Names

Batbal
Elissa
Izebal P
Giddenis
Sophonisba

Thracian Names
Apart from Thrace itself, these names would historically also be found in early Bithynia. After about 200 BC, one should probably rather use Greek names for Bithynia, though.

Male Names

Abrupolis
Amadokos
Autoleon
Barsabas
Bas
Bassakes Authenticity in slight doubt
Bergaios
Berisades
Bessos
Bithyas
Bolinthos
Boteiras
Brentas Authenticity in slight doubt
Darsas Authenticity in slight doubt
Diegylios
Doidalsos
Drenis Authenticity in slight doubt
Dropion
Getas
Hybrizelmis
Iolaos
Kersas Authenticity in slight doubt
Kersebleptes
Ketriporis
Kotys
Langaros
Maisades
Mantyes
Medistas
Medokos
Oktamasades Authenticity in slight doubt
Patraios
Pigres
Rhabokentos
Rhaskos
Rhebulas
Rheskuporis
Rhoigos
Rhoimetalkes
Sadalas
Sadokos
Seuthes
Sitalkes
Skostokos
Skyles
Sparadokos
Spardakos
Syrmos
Teres
Thyrimmas
Zeilas
Ziselmios
Zipoites

Female Names

Ditizeme Authenticity in slight doubt
Etazeta