Naming Kingdoms In Your Fantasy Story

So generally, based on where the kingdom is located on the globe, I usually start out with some idea what the cultures might be like there. In the past, I've gone with names that reflect that type of culture. In other words, (except in rare instances where a name was truly unique) I find a real-world culture with some of those characteristics and look up names/words in one of the languages spoken there. Mash syllables together, move letters around, until a word resonates and feels right.

Examples from Tanerra, the world I write nearly all my fantasy stories in these days: a northern country called Savedya, which has a Russian sound to it. Akta, a warm rocky country that's very Greek in inspiration. Khazdan, Middle Eastern in flavor. Etc, etc.

Obviously this method won't work for folks who want to name things outside the real-world box. (but it does keep things narrowed down in a way that keeps the process from becoming paralyzingly overwhelming, there are too many possibilities)

I have regretted a few of my choices years later, mainly in my Falcons series (which was the first world I ever invented and I didn't have the resources I have now). So I was more careful with Tanerra, the second world I invented, and still love most of the names I went with. If I've not written about a place yet and decide a long time after that I don't like the name, it's easy enough to change it. If I've published a story and decide later I don't like a name, I leave it, maybe invent some historical event that results in a name change, but usually suffer it forever.

For certain, finding names is exhausting in itself. Overstimulating maybe? Like grocery shopping? I can't figure out why. Whenever I'm writing a story and realize I need a new name for a place or character, I've learned to just keep writing, because if I stop to look for a name I'll be too shot to continue that day. I just plug in "???" and keep hammering out story. Finding that name can come later on an off-writing day when words aren't flowing.

It was the same thing when naming all the gods in the Tanerran pantheon. Whew, how I came up with some of those names, I'll never know, but like you say, the name reflects the thing they rule over. The only one I regret is the name of the god of darkness, chaos, destruction (the nemesis god), which of course, is the one referenced most in my stories.   So that forever sux.

I mean, c'mon, these names are perfect: Helakius, God of Fire. Ahilis, God of Air. Lilaya, Goddess of Water. Vatanne (where Tanerra comes from), Goddess of Earth. Lividina, goddess of love. Odissae, goddess of hate.

But then there are all these lesser god names that I have no idea how or why: Sann Vasta, goddess of fresh waters, Manyalach, god of the seas. Feiliathys, goddess over green, growing things, and her brother Ili Faraenyx, god of animals. Tirnach An, the storm. Etc, etc.

I love love love these names, but where they came from? I blame the nine Muses.

I really should buy Vulgarlang. It's only friggin $20 for all time. I did that for Wonderdraft and never regretted it. Would I use it as often and thoroughly as you do, however? LOL, probably not.

My question: does each language have a unique sound? I'm afraid each language would end up ultimately having a similar sound, even if they follow different construction rules.

I guess this is totally , however. We have a conlang thread somewhere. I should ask over there instead...

Edit: Never mind! Check that. I read the "How it works" page and found where you pick a real-world language for it to emulate.

Most of my naming conventions haven't been nailed down a 100%, outside of: My cat sat down on the keyboard, this is what her butt wrote, or when I go over stuff seeing what my dyslexia made up before I fix it.

Presently in the book I am working on, I have the three main elf empires set up. My High Elf Kingdoms are named after precious stones (Diamonds, Rubys, and Sapphires for instance) and precious stone like materials (like Amber and Pearls). Dark Elves have scientific names of spiders, and wood elves have different scientific or genus names for various animals (horse heavy kingdom has the domesticated horse, the industrial ones have donkeys, the part with lots of dryads named after stick insects and so on).

I would find a rhythm that works for you.

For my Dark Fantasy YA story, the kingdom my main character resides in is named Solheim. Because of its winter environment it's partially named after the winter solstice while the rest takes cues from Norse Mythology as the bulk of the world it resides in is Norse Mythology inspired. Originally, I was going for Wingard but I fear it would sound a little too much like Winter Fell so I went with a name that is less on the nose.