Post by GRIM || on Feb 18, 2010 14:10:25 GMT -5
The naming rules on this site are strictly traditional. Please do not try and claim names like PrinterPaper as traditional.
SECTION I What does it mean to have traditional names?A traditional name in warrior cats is a name that describes either the cat's appearance, or personality. A kit is named after it's fur color, or it's behavior in between the moment he/she is born, and up to a few days after he/she is born. To follow tradition means to name warriors after only what warriors know and see.
SECTION II What are some examples of traditional names?Let's say, you have a white she-cat. When she was born, the mother wanted to name her after her pelt color. The following names are a few examples of what the she-kit may have been called.
- Whitekit
- Snowkit
- Frostkit
- Icekit
- Dovekit
Typically, when that kit turns into an apprentice, and trains to be a warrior, she will be given a name that describes her personality or just an added appearance suffix. Here are some examples for the she-cat if she had been named "Whitekit" from birth.
- Whitefur- A simple, but very traditional name for a cat with white fur.
- Whitepelt- Another simple and traditional name.
- Whiteheart- A name for a white cat with a clear, calm heart, or good spirit.
- Whitestorm- A name for a loyal warrior willing to fight hard for their clan.
- Whitetail- A name for a white warrior.
- Whiteclaw- A name for a fierce fighting, white warrior.
I tried to balance out appearance and personality based names for above. Feel free to use these names for your cats.
Now let's say, you have a mother who wishes to name her kit after her personality. The mother has the choice of waiting a few days to name her kit, or to name the kit immediately. Traditionally, personality based names are not chosen for awhile after the kit is born only because there is no clear view of the kit's personality. Here's an example for a strong-spirited, healthy, energetic tabby tom.
- Tigerkit- This is a name that can describe both appearance and personality. While tiger may refer to the tabby stripes, it can also refer to the fierce, wily energy of the cat.
- Lightkit- Very unusual for a tom. It is more a girls name. It describes the clear, high spirit.
- Wildkit- A less traditional, but still acceptable name for a wildly fierce young kit.
- Stormkit- Storm refers to the fierce, quick moving personality of the kit.
Now let's say, while growing up the tom was still energetic, although a bit more adaptable and less reckless than he was as a kit. These are some more possible names if the kit was named "Tigerkit".
- Tigerheart- A wild, fierce young tom with a strong heart.
- Tigerclaw- Like in the warriors series, a powerful fighter.
- Tigerstripe- Named for appearance, a cat with tiger-like stripes.
- Tigerfur- Again, named for a cat with tiger-like stripes.
- Tigerstorm- Named for a short-tempered, wild tom.
So you see there are plenty of good possibilities when coming up with a name for a warrior. You just have to be reasonable.
SECTION III What are some examples of untraditional names?
This is far more easier than traditional because untraditional can be anything, including items that no warrior in the series would know of. How far does it go? Well, take a black she-kit, and let's see what names I've seen for them.
- Firekit- Named perhaps... For an invisible brand of red on the she-cat?
- Blazekit- This one had red eyes, which are not allowed on this site for realistic purposes.
- Doublekit- This cat had two different colored eyes. Although more common on white cats, they are not allowed on this site.
- Shadowkit- Not a bad name other than the fact that ShadowClan was one of the clans on that site. Cats may not be named after the clans on this site.
- Jaykit- Honestly, a jay is a bird, with blue or light gray-flecked feathers. Black, has nothing to do with it.
- Berrykit- The only berry's known in the warrior's series are red and blue. There are no blackberries mentioned in the series.
So you see, there are limits as to what makes sense and what doesn't. Here are some warrior names that I've seen for black cats.
- Whitefur- Wouldn't be a bad name if it was for the fact that the she-cat had black fur.
- Blanketfur- I don't know what blanket has to do with anything.
- Grayclaw- The cat is black, not gray. And cat claws cannot be gray; it's unrealistic.
- Flamefox- Flame typically means orange or ginger, and fox means orange or ginger, not black.
- Ghostfur- It would be a nice name if warriors knew what ghosts were. Ghosts are made up by figments of human imagination, and we describe them as light gray, or white, anyways.
Traditionalism is quite easy if you have the common sense. The names above are apparently lacking.
SECTION IV How do I choose a name?Choosing a name is easy. Come up with a realistic appearance for your cat, and first, decide whether you want the prefix to be appearance or personality. With personality you will have to describe in your history that the mother waited until she saw how his/her personality could go in with the name. For appearance, just chose a word that warrior cats would know that describes that color.
Now, once you have figured out what the name of your cat would have been like for a kit, decide on a rank. If you have an apprentice or leader, you get off easy. But for leader you have to explain what and why they were given the warrior name they had. Once you've got a good name figured out, make the bio and give it a try. If you paid attention in this thread you shouldn't be denied acceptance for a naming error.