Rejected Names

[Rainflush]

Whenever I make a character, the first three or four names are seemingly always rejected, and on a server with under a thousand players online at any time, this seems a bit peculiar to me. I'm fairly creative with naming things, the names I choose are typically recondite words which are appropriate to the character for one reason or another, obscure mythological characters or deities and that sort of thing. Like, why is my name being rejected when it's an Arabic astrological reference? Are the names shared across multiple servers or something?

Perhaps I'm just frustrated having my favourite names rejected and then getting in game to see one in three players in contravention of the naming policy with names like "Killme", "Iluvtrees", and "Healu".

[Slave]

You can never be too creative.

[Barkingturtle]

I have the name Allakhazam, and I would sell it for the right price. Pms please.

[Pico]

yeah i tried making my wood elf ranger legolas and was rejected, wtf

[Slave]

yeah i tried making my wood elf ranger legolas and was rejected, wtf

Did you try XxLegolasxX?

[purist]

ssjsephiroth was taken :(

[Slathar]

my characters name is Bushkn Ewaboutwtc

[Swish]

I'm fairly creative with naming things...

...Like, why is my name being rejected when it's an Arabic astrological reference?

Perhaps the word creative is ironically a subjective term. Sure, someone might start naming their druid Ursa Major after some star constellation but it's still drawing from a given name somewhere else.

But then what isn't? Swish is a noise made by all kinds of things, Krivin (my DE cleric) is basically a Neriak vendor name with an added "I" and my many other alts have something that is swiped or adapted from somewhere.

Try altering spellings slightly (my wizard is Kriven), play around some. You'll be surprised that something you thought would definitely be taken actually isn't after a few more goes at it.

As for the naming policy I see all kinds of names around - my SK's surname got removed for having swearing in it, but not before it got through the filter and I'd attended 2 GM events did it get spotted while I was sat in EC and did I get handed a 24 hour suspension. Best thing is just to tow the line and name responsibly :)

Hope you find one you're happy with - I spend far too long with the names of characters, just sat there at the creation screen staring into space :D

[Swish]

Iegolas was available, and with the default EQ font...you too can be a power ranger!

[Odeseus]

One of the OP's premises is just faulty. True, there are only ever 1000 people on server max at any one time (or there abouts). BUT, because P99 is a free server, and has been active for a few years now, you have thousands and thousands and thousands of toons that are simply never played.

People sign up for a few days, make a few toons and then quit. No harm done to them since its free. Other people have about a ton of alts. Some innovative people created alts just to save names. Pulling numbers out of my ass, but I could easily see there being 40,000 names currently locked up.

[Uthgaard]

Pulling numbers out of my ass, but I could easily see there being 40,000 names currently locked up.

109252

[Zereh]

^^ LOL <3 SQL nerd

[Spud]

There are 109,252 chars on p1999? thats cool to know.

I know personally i have a bunch of a lvl 1 chars i have created just because i felt like it and to reserve the name.

[Athosblack]

109252
^^
I think this thread is officially closed =P

[Hottbiscuits Dreadmuffin]

Who the hell else has the name "Bonbons" >;( I was really looking forward to having a pastry-esque name.

[WizardEQ]

I recommend using the shortest name possible that reflects the message you're trying to convey within it.

For example, a name like Silverfordmustangisanawesomecar is too damn long to type in every time you want to send a PM. Shortened version could be Sford, Silcar, Vercar, or whatever.

If your name is too long you're not going to be getting those amazing tells from those amazing peoples, especially if you're in tell hell a lot.

Xaxian

[Messianic]

I personally reserved the names Electricity, Heat, and Cold as soon as I joined.

[Dr4z3r]

I recommend using the shortest name possible that reflects the message you're trying to convey within it.

For example, a name like Silverfordmustangisanawesomecar is too damn long to type in every time you want to send a PM. Shortened version could be Sford, Silcar, Vercar, or whatever.

If your name is too long you're not going to be getting those amazing tells from those amazing peoples, especially if you're in tell hell a lot.

Xaxian

So what you're saying is that "Cptnplnt" is preferable to the alternatives?

[Klyre]

You would be surprised at some names that are still available. Just try changing the name with a slight spelling variation. There are even some 4 letter combos left.

[Vohl]

"Vohl" worked a few weeks back. :D

[username17]

I wanted to name my wizard 'Burning Sensation' but burning was taken. :-(

Went with Panfalcon Wyvernjack. Random name generators FTW.

[Swish]

Also reflects the Classic/Kunark/etc experience...unless you were among the first on the server you would have to try a bunch of different names before getting one you wanted.

People with decent names no doubt were playing early beta since 1986 etc ;)

[WizardEQ]

Also reflects the Classic/Kunark/etc experience...unless you were among the first on the server you would have to try a bunch of different names before getting one you wanted.

People with decent names no doubt were playing early beta since 1986 etc ;)

That IS early! Most of you were a glimmer in mama's eye (or daddy's).

Personally, I reserved my name in 1961 during the Eisenhower administration. The problem back then wasn't the slow internet, it was those damn female operators flirting with me because of my sexy Bell 103 modem that I got during early beta.

Xaxian

[Halfelfbard]

Halfelf Bard.

Yeah.

[WizardEQ]

So what you're saying is that "Cptnplnt" is preferable to the alternatives?

Let's look at four-lettered permutations, or possible names. There are 26 letters in the alphabet, and each slot can be filled with one letter.

____ _____ _____ _____

If we assume letters can be repeated (like the name Fizz, one of my favorite wizards), then there are 26 choices for each slot.

__26__ __26__ __26__ __26__

Multiplying these together (multiplication axiom of choice), we get 26^4.

Some of those are inappropriate, so a bit less than that, but more importantly most are plain gibberish, like Xcdg, Oaii, and Txjq. For five-lettered names, the are 26^5 choices, and so on.

The question becomes how many possible names are there in total? For us to answer that, we have to know the restriction on the longest name, which should be 2^4-1, or 15 letters. So we have to sum up:

26
26^2
26^3
26^4
....
26^14
26^15

It's a geometric sequence, of which the series sums to 26(1-26^15)/(1-26).

This is 1,744,349,715,977,154,962,390 names. If 100,000 or so are taken, that still leaves quite a bit of room to name your character.

Xaxian

[Messianic]

...

young calculus teacher

Although I appreciate giving everyone hope - there are just a few 4-letter names left! :D

[Anger]

Frodo and Bilbo are taken! No halfling for me.

[WizardEQ]

young calculus teacher

Although I appreciate giving everyone hope - there are just a few 4-letter names left! :D

Pretty basic algebra concepts taught to 7th graders here where I live. Calculus requires a bit more abstraction, don't you think? Related rate problems elude even the brightest 10-year old.

I typically agree with you, but I think what you mean is 4-letter names that make sense???

It's funny to think that most names are taken.

[Messianic]

Pretty basic algebra concepts taught to 7th graders here where I live. Calculus requires a bit more abstraction, don't you think? Related rate problems elude even the brightest 10-year old.

The first part of your question, sure - 26^4 is the number of possible 4-letter names. And i'm sure the concept is taught - but a question that doesn't lead the student on how to answer such as "how many possible names" would stump most 7th graders and plenty of highschoolers - just because they have a rote knowledge of basic math concepts, but don't know how to pull them out and use them on the fly.

Working in higher education myself, I'm pretty confident of that. That kind of math isn't easy to simply pop out and apply to real-life circumstances when you haven't been challenged to do that before.

I typically agree with you, but I think what you mean is 4-letter names that make sense???

It's funny to think that most names are taken.

Yeah, my post was a poor attempt at making a non-offensive joke about people who think all the good names are taken :)

[baalzy]

Somebody already has the name Raptor so I had to settle for Raptyr as my Iksar Monk.

He'll eventually be Raptyr Jesus.

[Amelinda]

Seriously - please name responsibly. Go read the naming (http://www.project1999.org/forums/showthread.php?t=17488) post and stop trying to be vulgar/obscene. even backwards...you aren't cute, you aren't entertaining. Please don't force it into lower case letters.

ooooo and btw....

Racial slurs that are backwards......you know who you are.....

you don't have to come and confess...i'm lookin for you - ima find you.

[Knuckle]

i have to confess im the nigerianchicken, please forgive me.

[Curmudgen]

I got a female ogre SK named Omgwtf

[Amelinda]

i have to confess im the nigerianchicken, please forgive me.

that was uth who got you - had it been me - you'd have sat out a week on that account and if i knew it was you on this account well........both accounts would have sat out a week. :P

don't do it again. you know better.

[Enclave]

You would be surprised at some names that are still available. Just try changing the name with a slight spelling variation. There are even some 4 letter combos left.

Indeed there are. I managed to get Trav just a few days ago.

[Maben]

Somebody already has the name Raptor so I had to settle for Raptyr as my Iksar Monk.

He'll eventually be Raptyr Jesus.

The following types of names are considered unacceptable:
Vile, profane, rude, or racist names including common swear words, anatomical references, racial slurs, and homonyms of these words.
Combinations of words that produce an offensive result (e.g. Hugeazz, Tug Mcgroin).
Names of religious, occult, or significant historic origin (e.g. Jesus, Allah, Satan, Stalin).