Character names loosely based on your real life?

[Sullivans Bastard]

How many of you do this - create your character name based on your real name?  Maybe with a little tongue in cheek exaggeration...

I'm new to all of this and am creating my character/persona in preparation for my first visit to a major Ren Faire (KCRF).
This is what I'm considering:

I am an amateur luthier, so intend to make my Ren persona also a luthier. ( maybe vend in the future?)
The name on my birth certificate, although not the one on my Driver's license, is James Hughey.  My IRL biological father was named Sullivan, & my mother's was Hughey.

So, my persona name shall be James Ó hEochaidh, pronounced O'Hughey.  My persona is supposedly the bastard son (paternity denied) of Donal Ó Súilleabháin, chieftan of the Ó Súilleabháin Béirre clan.  He was killed in 1563 before he could fulfill a promise to my mother to acknowledge me as his son and rightful heir.  I was named James by my mother's English husband, who refused me a good Irish name as well as his own last name. The townsfolk referred to me as Sullivan's Bastard so often that the name stuck.

So, meet James Ó hEochaidh, aka Sullivan's Bastard.    I build psalteries, harps, pipes and flutes.

[Lady Nicolette]

Definitely! 

My persona is "Lady Nicolette," the "lady" was given to me a long time ago.  But even longer ago, at my birth, my mother named me "Nickie" after my grandfather, "Nikola."  I was baptized a few years later and the Catholic priest from the old country, insisted that my mother give me a "Christian [sic. feminine] name," so she decided on "Nicolette."   So either first name is considered legal.  And the proper "Lady" was later bestowed properly upon me by Syrilla and BLAKDUKE here at RF.com.   

Enjoy your persona and your endeavors in building musical instruments.

[RSLeask]

Well, I did for VARF, name I used is my actual first name and the clan I'm descended from.  It makes it easier when you're being called by friends who are used to calling you by that, anyway.  Since most of my friends are used to calling me "Sly" anyway (family nickname), it doesn't matter.

However, I've been considering changing the name I use, as my first is more Irish than Scottish (Ryan).  I've been toying with the idea of taking on the name of the dwarf I play in RPGs (WoW of late), partly because I'm more used to being called that nowadays when I'm in a roleplaying mode anyway.  So it would befit me to change to that, particularly if I'm in kilt.  Which means I would go from Ryan Leask, to Tiergan Leark.  I'm still considering, however, since he's always been more the straight-forward brawler, and I play more as the woodsman/mysterious traveler type.  And I want to do some research to see if the Leask Clan used the more exotic Gaelic names during the time period.  It's just all consideration, but I will probably start trying it out at MDRF this year, so I can shore up whether I use that permanently once I go home to MIRF.


And by the by, excellent persona and backstory.  ^_^

[Lady Renee Buchanan]

Renee is my first name and Steve is my husband's.  We tried to use other names but never remembered to answer when someone spoke to us.

Buchanan isn't our last name, so we incorporated our real names into our ficticious last name. And our real last name is actually a Sept of the Clan Buchanan, so that's why we picked it.

[sealion]

I chose Ciana Leonardi di Firenze to keep the same initials as my real name. To my knowledge I don't have Italian ancestors. When researching women's names in renaissance Florence (which by the way are MUCH harder to find than men's names!) I didn't want a common name and Ciana caught my eye since it combines the Ci of Cindy with Ana/Anna which was my maternal grandmother's name. When submitting it as my SCA name I was pleased to learn that there are only three or four Cianas registered but imagine my surprise when a woman I met in a class introduced herself as Ciana!

[Sullivans Bastard]

I chose Ciana Leonardi di Firenze to keep the same initials as my real name. To my knowledge I don't have Italian ancestors. When researching women's names in renaissance Florence (which by the way are MUCH harder to find than men's names!) I didn't want a common name and Ciana caught my eye since it combines the Ci of Cindy with Ana/Anna which was my maternal grandmother's name. When submitting it as my SCA name I was pleased to learn that there are only three or four Cianas registered but imagine my surprise when a woman I met in a class introduced herself as Ciana!

I'll be real surprised if I meet another Sullivan's Bastard! 

[Rellspire]

Not me, my name comes solely from a story I'd written.  Though the Rellspire in the story is the name of a mountain range

[Angus]

I sort of blend an "Alter" ego with my own reality, I don't use my real first name, but I do use my heritage, and lineage to some extent...

I am:
The Right Honourable Lord, Sir Angus McHatton, Earl of Bute.
Keeper of the Faith, Holder of the Power, Son of James, Son of Earnest who fell at the Battle of Flodden defending the King, James IV.

Born on the Isle of Bute, Scotland. December 20th in the year of our Lord 1551
Second Son to the Earl of Bute.

Educated in Edinburg as a Medical Doctor, however served with the Military as a Soldier and Bodyguard to the Earl, distinguished in Battle at St. Bartholomew and awarded ancestral lands on the Isle of Bute after the death of his elder brother.

With Royal permission, married Lady Paige Matthews of Oleander, Lady in waiting to Elizabeth I.

Fathered 6 sons and 1 daughter with Lady Jean, Grandfather to 3 Grandsons, and 1 Granddaughter.

I can trace my family back through, Ireland, England to Scotland almost 1100 years...  

I am directly related to Sir Christopher Hatton, (along with about 12,000+ other folk.)

(...some names were changed to protect the innocent!)

[BLAKDUKE]

My Name is Allen and the character I have developed into 2 different walks of life.  The first was a simple nobleman who is (of all things) both Saxon and Plantagenet.  a Plantagenet father and a Saxon mother.  The naming was simple it became ALLYN and since at the time of this characters development I was living on Salisbury St in Rochedter NY I became, Sir ALLYN Duke of Salisbury.
Since my garb tended to be mostly black it was extended to Sir Allyn Duke of Salisbury ere'wise known as the Blakduke.  When I started performing as royalty it was then developed into King ALLYN the Only, the most unknown King in English history.

[Capt. Morgan]

Morgan Dunne....

"Dunne" is my real Irish Family name...From my stories "Morgan" is a variation of my immortal character who was dubbed "Morrigan" when she fought along side Boudicca. "Morgan" also evolved from her mortal name "Muirgen" which means "Born of the Sea" and "Morgan" also fits for the times when my character is disguised as a male.

[tiberiusflynn]

My nickname is Jack...and I named my pirate Jack (which I figured was a common enough pirate/sailor name).....but then another Jack came along that ruined it for any pirate named Jack...so I'm at a loss. I can't tell you how many times I get called Jack Sparrow, even though I nor my pirate looks anything like Sparrow........sigh.......

[Lady L]

When researching English names, I discovered that my husband's first and last name were *authentic faire names*, as well as my oldest son's first name! His father was of English descent.

His mother was a Stewart and his grandfather was from Ireland and further back, ancestors from Scotland, but we haven't gone that direction.

Most of my ancestors (that I have traced) are of German heritage. I paint fine art images, so I can't be a peasant. So, I became "Lady" and the "L" is my real first initial. I know it isn't that much of a stretch, but then, my real name is on my sign and on all my pieces of fine art, so I really need to stick with that.

My husband's first name is Roger, so he became "Sir Roger." On the days he wears his Woodland Elf garb, he becomes "Hawthorne Deciduous Oakwood." When he wears his pirate garb, we call him Capt. Roger. When he wears his Middle Eastern Arabian garb, someone at faire named him "Ishmael."
I suppose he should use "______Stewart" for Scottish weeknd. This year, he had Wizard garb, but no name as yet.

[Rin]

Well, I've not really done much as far as character development, but  yes. My character's first name is similar to my real name. I did this because everyone at fair that's known me forever calls me 'Rin' this comes from my real name 'Corinne.'  In order to keep everything simple I looked for names with 'Rin' in them that would fit in the time in history I was shooting for... and came up with 'Marrin.'

[raevyncait]

I've not really developed a full character... although my character's name is
Lady Raevyn Caitrina Clark, and is based on my real first name Raenell, and Clark is the maiden name of one of my grandmothers.
The only development I've done is that my mother is of Scottish descent, and fell for a dark haired & dark eyed gypsy, who was ultimately lost to her, and she returned to her family, with her young daughters (me and my BFF who is also dark haired & dark eyed)

[Betty Munro]

I'll be real surprised if I meet another Sullivan's Bastard! 

Really?!?  From what I hear Sullivan has many bastards.
LOL - teasing - I just couldn't resist!

[Dinobabe]

My name is Natasha Sue McCallister.  My character name is Anastazia Desmond McCallasdair, which means "Resurrection, Gracious Defender of Mankind".  I figured that instead of racking my brain for a character I would have fun with who I really am.
While doing genealogy I found that my husband and I come from the same parent clan, McLeod, which means we could have really married back then.
I won't post it here but my entire back story is the historical version of my real life (with a few embellishments ).  Worked out quite well, actually! 

[Ken]

Currently I use my own given name, Kenneth Dickinson.  "Kenneth" is period enough, being an Anglicization of the Gaelic "Coinneach" or "Cinaed".  "Dickinson" is a spelling/pronounciation variant of "Dicson" or "Dickson", a Scottish surname which dates to at least 1307.

In years past I had a French cavalier persona and I used the name Valere de Valmont, elements of which I drew from "The Three Musketteers" and from "Les Liaisons Dangereuses".

~Ken

[DonaCatalina]

My husband and I chose Spanish names to go with our garb.
Since pre-1550 Spanish garb is more suited for the Texas climate than most Henrician or Elizabethan, that is mostly what I make for us.

[dragongirl]

Well my mundane name is Bettilou, a good southern name wasted on NY Puerto Rican, but whatever.  I originally toyed with variations of my name like Isobella Lousia and they were too common or just didn't sound right.  One day while researching a case on overtime, one of the clients were named Hermina.  I loved the sound of the name and when I researched it, in spanish it means Lady of the Earth.  It is also a very old eastern european name.  My last name is De Pagan which is because she does not want to reveal her true family name.

[Wolfhawker]

William "The Hawk" Kerr
----------------------
My real life:
Well I used my real first name of William and my 2G-grandmother's maiden name of Kerr and I have a nickname of Wolfhawk due to my tattoo's and connections with both animals.

Wolf: Growing up in South TX, I lived on a farm and ranch. About one mile away from the house was some original brush that was over 100 yrs old and about 150 ac size.  Hugh mesquites trees and brushs thick you would think nothing could pass thru it.  I would walk down there to a game trail that I found that came out of it. I found an old Indian campground deep in the thicket where the Indians would camp to harvest flint from an embankment.  I would find old arrow heads and spear heads that were broken while making. I found I could call up coyotes from this thicket at night from my house.  These would come up to the house withing eye distance and you could see thier eyes in the dark wondering where this coyote was that they heard. I trekked all over the place by foot; to a friends house almost 5 miles away. My companion, a coyote/dog that one of our females gave birth to and was the only one to live from the birth.

Hawk: All my life, I have been close to Red-tail Hawks.  They have come to live near me at each and every place I have lived in. I lived at once place north of where I presently live and had 3 nesting pairs move on to my property. They would hunt in my front pasture and sit/nest in my 100 yr old Oaks and Pecan trees.
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My character's life:
I am a Scotsman who has spent most of his life as a bodyguard or a tracker or a merc in different regions from as far south as the Border Marchs and as far north as the Inverness. His life has followed the general layout of my life.

[Merlin]

Not even close...
Merlin has been one of my favorite characters for as long as I can remember.


Now...when I'm kilted... "Scott the Scot" is just who I am.

[Elistariel]

I tried using a different name once. Total failure. Although considering I can only go for a few hours one day out of the year IF I can go, it wasn't that big of a deal. 
I tried using the name of one of my ancestors. I guess unless the name starts with the same sound as my real name, I won't respond. At. All. That little bell in my head that tells me someone wants my attention just doesn't ding.

My mundane name - Abby (No it is not short for Abigail.)
The name I tried out - Isabel aka Izzy.

I don't see any need to come up with a name. I'm just a one day for a few hours a year patron. I'd love to go more than one day a year when I can go, but when it's my turn to drive I have to fill my car up again before I can get home. It's just too far away.

[Drudonn]

I had decided I wanted to create a wizard persona (I've always loved long flowing robes), and I wanted to do them in brown (a different color for me), to create a woodland wizard character. My ancestry is primarily Scottish (Clan Davidson), so I looked into Gaelic.

Dru--from 'Druid,' "dru-" means wise
Donn--"donn" means brown, so I am a brown wizard--my name is a portmanteau of Druid-donn (Brown druid)

Since my persona is a wizard, I wanted to look into real pagan magical practices for finding a name. When you assign every letter a number value (a=1, b=2, etc.), the letters of my full name, when added together until one digit is reached, equals 3. This is the magic number of my name. So I looked for a similar numerical value for my wizard name--I had to come up with a surname, 'Thorn,' which works with the woodland wizard persona; when the numerical value (the magic number) of "Drudonn Thorn" is calculated, it also equals 3.

So I'm Drudonn Thorn, Wizard of the Wilds.

[Merlin the Elder]

Not even close...
Merlin has been one of my favorite characters for as long as I can remember.
.....

That's my boy!

[Alphonse]

My middle name is Alphonse,it was my grandfather's first name on my father's side of the family. I never cared much for it while growing up but when I took up my wizard's robes it seemed a natural fit. The name has two possible origins and can mean, noble or battle ready depending on which root one chooses. I like to think that both are apt descriptions. The title "the green" has to do with the fact that I am a woodland hedge wizard of sorts and to reflect that my mantle is green. In my "real" life I live in the woods, a dense pine grove and talk to birds every day, a certain cockatiel hen has the crazy notion that I am indeed her mate. There are many differant traditions associated with wizards, I like best the European ones. A wise man who possesses and preserves knowledge from a past age that is now lost. I am master of the astrolabe and wear one as a badge of my craft, and by use of it am a master of both time and space. With it I can track the stars, tell the month, day and even the hour. It permits me to triangulate so I always know where I am at, where I am going and how best to get there. With it I can square, level and plumb, giving me the ability to build anything that our ancient forebarers have wrought. Lastly and perhaps the most dangerious knowledge the astrolabe grants me is, by it's use in conjunction with certain esoteric formula it is possible to prove that the earth is indeed a globe and not flat at all. But let that be our little secret for I fear if the Church was to know that I spread such hearsays I would be forced to flee even deeper into the depths of my woodland grove to avoid being burnt upon a stake...

[Lord Clisto of York]

The name I have as Clisto is from a D&D character, but, the person I mainly portray and garb I wear is actually from my family history at the time of Richard I, when we had a Marques in the family who helped run part of his mother, Eleanor of Aquitaine's estates.