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The "What's a good name for this?" thread

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Flyboy Decemberist from the United States Since: Dec, 2011
Decemberist
#1276: May 12th 2012 at 6:56:42 PM

I need a mythological reference of some kind (preferably not Greeco-Roman and a proper name, not a generic; i.e. like Zeus, not griffon) to name an American-made experimental aerial superbattleship.

To give a vague idea of what the thing is, it's something like five times the size of the next-biggest aerial dreadnaught and carries nothing but laser banks and Tesla batteries, in a retro-futuristic alternate history 1950s Cold War-gone-hot setting. Simply put, it's big, it's mean, and it wipes the floor with enemy fleets.

"Shit, our candidate is a psychopath. Better replace him with Newt Gingrich."
Parable Since: Aug, 2009
#1277: May 12th 2012 at 7:44:49 PM

How about Thunder Bird? From various Native American mythologies. Or use one of the Indian names for it.

Lakota: Wakiya

Nootka: Kw-Uhnx-Wa

Ojibwa: Animikii

Flyboy Decemberist from the United States Since: Dec, 2011
Decemberist
#1278: May 12th 2012 at 7:46:19 PM

I like Wakiya. The ICS Wakiya. Yeah, that could work, thanks!

"Shit, our candidate is a psychopath. Better replace him with Newt Gingrich."
Parable Since: Aug, 2009
#1279: May 12th 2012 at 7:48:44 PM

Now I'm curious as to what ICS stands for.

Flyboy Decemberist from the United States Since: Dec, 2011
Decemberist
#1280: May 12th 2012 at 7:54:53 PM

Incorporated Confederate Ship. In this timeline, around ~1938-39 or so, the US Government was replaced by a large-scale holding company which owns stock in most of the other monopolies and big corporations in the country. Ayn Rand is a big political player, and the entire thing is Objectivist-flavored and is reminiscent of a technologically- and aesthetically-updated version of the 1880s.

I may end up changing the name though, because I originally had a different idea of what the country was like and the name is now kind of a relic of that.

edited 12th May '12 7:57:05 PM by Flyboy

"Shit, our candidate is a psychopath. Better replace him with Newt Gingrich."
TeraChimera Since: Oct, 2010
#1281: May 12th 2012 at 7:56:21 PM

While we're on the subject of alternate history Cold War scenarios, I need a name for a country that split from China when China, as a slightly-less-than-borderline superpower, was seeking détente with the US and this new country didn't want what they viewed as surrender.

Parable Since: Aug, 2009
#1282: May 12th 2012 at 7:57:16 PM

I am vaguely reminded of Fahrenheit 451 for some reason. Have fun writing.

[up] Everyone seems to like the Three Kingdoms era so maybe New Wei, New Shu, or New Wu? South China? East China? North China? West China?

edited 12th May '12 8:00:26 PM by Parable

Flyboy Decemberist from the United States Since: Dec, 2011
Decemberist
#1283: May 12th 2012 at 8:01:33 PM

While we're on the subject of alternate history Cold War scenarios, I need a name for a country that split from China when China, as a slightly-less-than-borderline superpower, was seeking détente with the US and this new country didn't want what they viewed as surrender.

The People's Democratic Republic of Greater China for the Guardianship of the Glorious Revolution.

I am vaguely reminded of Fahrenheit 451 for some reason. Have fun writing.

Hm. I can see that. Just with less book-burning (except the Bible, of course) and more worship of rich people.

edited 12th May '12 8:02:37 PM by Flyboy

"Shit, our candidate is a psychopath. Better replace him with Newt Gingrich."
TeraChimera Since: Oct, 2010
#1284: May 12th 2012 at 8:10:08 PM

[up][up] and [up]: I probably also should have mentioned that I want to avoid "(Direction) China", so I can call one just plain China and the other something else. The conflict between the two plays a somewhat major role in the story, and it'd be harder to differentiate between the West Chinese and the Chinese. By no means impossible, but it could still get a little confusing.

[up][up] New Shu sounds promising, and is catchy to the English ear. Would an inhabitant of that be a Shuan? Or just a Shu?

The People's Democratic Republic of Greater China for the Guardianship of the Glorious Revolution.

I lol'd, simply because of its length.

edited 12th May '12 8:12:46 PM by TeraChimera

Parable Since: Aug, 2009
#1285: May 12th 2012 at 8:16:00 PM

Based on vague Wikipedia articles, I think a person would be just Shu.

TeraChimera Since: Oct, 2010
#1286: May 12th 2012 at 8:22:15 PM

And vague Wikipedia articles can never be wrong! That should be good, thanks. And if I need some more names, Wikipedia also has a list of the various names of China.

Flyboy Decemberist from the United States Since: Dec, 2011
Decemberist
#1287: May 12th 2012 at 8:24:03 PM

I question the wisdom of using an ancient Chinese name, though. Wasn't Communist China (when it was actually hardcore Maoist) disdainful of its past because, you know, Imperial and Nationalist China were kinda awful from a Revolutionary standpoint?

Maybe I'm wrong, though. My Chinese history is shitty shit.

"Shit, our candidate is a psychopath. Better replace him with Newt Gingrich."
TeraChimera Since: Oct, 2010
#1288: May 12th 2012 at 8:26:42 PM

I don't know. My Chinese history is probably even worse.

Also, Huaxia is a name sometimes used to make clear the difference between the "civilized" people in ancient China and the "barbarians". That'd be just about perfect, thanks to the connotations.

Flyboy Decemberist from the United States Since: Dec, 2011
Decemberist
#1289: May 12th 2012 at 8:29:05 PM

Indeed, that seems like it would work.

"Shit, our candidate is a psychopath. Better replace him with Newt Gingrich."
CrystalGlacia from at least we're not detroit (Living Relic)
#1290: May 12th 2012 at 8:34:23 PM

During the sixties, China had this supposed 'Cultural Revolution' where hundreds of old buildings, gardens, writings, religious relics, and other objects of historical origin were destroyed. This propaganda poster from that time even sports a caption translating to 'Destroy the old world, built a new world' and emphasized, like all Communists, building up the country for the people.

Just thought I'd throw that out there. Chinese history and infrastructure were what we spent my Chinese language class learning, so at least this stuff is somewhat useful.

"Jack, you have debauched my sloth."
Parable Since: Aug, 2009
#1291: May 12th 2012 at 8:35:09 PM

Since I'm here, can someone offer me words that begin in "L" that would sound good for warship? I already got RVS Lancer, Lion, and Lapis Lazuli. I just need countless more.

nrjxll Since: Nov, 2010 Relationship Status: Not war
#1292: May 12th 2012 at 8:36:25 PM

Anything specific, or just L names in general?

Parable Since: Aug, 2009
#1293: May 12th 2012 at 8:38:54 PM

Toss me anything.

Except proper nouns.

edited 12th May '12 8:39:11 PM by Parable

TeraChimera Since: Oct, 2010
#1294: May 12th 2012 at 8:39:55 PM

Lucifer. Leviathan. Labyrinth(?). Landless(?). Ledger(?). Legend(ary). Leonidas.

Wait, no proper nouns. Editing.

edited 12th May '12 8:40:52 PM by TeraChimera

Flyboy Decemberist from the United States Since: Dec, 2011
Decemberist
#1296: May 12th 2012 at 8:50:16 PM

Lancaster.

"Shit, our candidate is a psychopath. Better replace him with Newt Gingrich."
TeraChimera Since: Oct, 2010
#1297: May 12th 2012 at 8:59:00 PM

I've got more. Lucre. Longeron. Locus. Larrigan. Lamella. Lector. Lycanthrope and its derivatives. Lucre. Legion. Legislation(?) Lux. Lodestar.

nrjxll Since: Nov, 2010 Relationship Status: Not war
#1298: May 12th 2012 at 9:00:02 PM

[up][up]Proper noun...

Liberty, Lightning, Longbow.

edited 12th May '12 9:00:28 PM by nrjxll

Parable Since: Aug, 2009
#1299: May 12th 2012 at 9:03:13 PM

Woah, where's my dictionary?

Thanks guys. These sound cool.

Legislation. Huh, this would have been perfect except the characters haven't invented the Legislature yet.

Flyboy Decemberist from the United States Since: Dec, 2011
Decemberist
#1300: May 12th 2012 at 9:03:39 PM

Proper noun...

Is it? Oh, wait, it's something from Britain, isn't it? I couldn't remember where I knew it from. Ah well.

"Shit, our candidate is a psychopath. Better replace him with Newt Gingrich."

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