Monday, August 23, 2010

I'm writing a medieval fantasy story, and need a name for the world and countries in it. Any suggestions?

To the medieval mind, the "world" didn't have a name; it was just the world. So to give your world a name already something of a modern conceit. Which is to say, I wouldn't give the world a name. If a character needs to refer to it, just call it "the world".





As for countries, that would really depend on the kind of cultures you are setting up. If you're countries are sunny-Mediterranean-types, use Latin-ish name. If they are cold, snowy, Scandinavian like, use Norse, or Teutonic-inspired names.





Of course, another tried and true route is to name the countries after important people or tribes in your story. This will reflect a medieval mind-set. Think of "England", orginally "Anglecynn" or "Angle-Land", land of the Angles. Or "Norway", land of the Northmen. France is named for the Franks (a tribe), Belguim for the Belgae (another tribe), etc.





Good luck!

I'm writing a medieval fantasy story, and need a name for the world and countries in it. Any suggestions?
Well that would really depend on the world and the countries in it but most medieval fantasy stories have very ancient names to them that are somehow related to the latin verbs or nouns. Not to mention that most story's have a hero so your titles could somehow be based around your hero and where he is from like Archilles or Orbin or Alpin - something like that which not alot of people have heard before


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