Help me name a female faun character

[Skald the Rhymer]

I'm working on a fanttasy short story set in a alternate world peopled by mythological and legendary creatures rather than humans. Part of my conceit for the story is that, though it's impossible to communicate in a systematic away between the fantasy world and Earth, there is nevertheless a pre-conscious connection between the two worlds that pops up in dreams, culture, and language. In other words, Carroll may have had dreams of this world from which Wonderland were based, and a Kentauride novelist there might write an epic fantasy (from her POV) about a terribly destructive war that ends with a mushroom cloud. There's a city in this world named Agora, which literally translates as "the marketplaces" in their language; obviously this is akin to the greek agora.

I am trying to name a major character who is a female faun. I want her name to be (phonetically) reminiscent of something having to do with fauns, satyrs, Dionoysus, or goats; the name can come from English or another human language. I don't want the name to begin with A, because I have another female faun character (mother to the first) named Amalthea, after the goat who suckled Zeus. I also don't want the name to begin with M or F. I do want the name to be euphonious. Right now I'm calling her "Klaudin," which is a reference to the French sculptor who created this . But I don't care for that name especially.; it seems to masculine.

Thoughts, anyone?

[Zuul]

What occurs to me immediately is "Capra", which has a feminine sound to it. The allusion might be too obvious for what you're going for, though. A more subtle name might be Maena.

[Oliveloaf]

K'id

[Oliveloaf]

SHÊP

[Oliveloaf]

Laam

[Skald the Rhymer]

What occurs to me immediately is "Capra", which has a feminine sound to it. The allusion might be too obvious for what you're going for, though. A more subtle name might be Maena.

I was using a variation of Meana (you're referring to the Maenads, no?) and discarded it because, though it's euphonious and feminine, I have another major character whose name begins with M and I don't want to have two such, nor do I wish to change the other characters name.

Hmm... Capra. Somehow I hadn't thought of that. it does sound feminine and is reasonably pleasing to the ear, but it too obviously means "goat." I'll put that down as a "maybe."

I've been combing my Greek mythology references, as I was considering using the name of a Maenad (followers of Dionysus, who was closely associated with satyrs), but every one I've come across is someone who does something horrible as a result of being cursed by the youthful wine-god. I'd almost forgotten what a shit he was.

[Cluricaun]

Fatty Knuckles.

[criminey.jicket]

Fatty Knuckles.

FTW



All I can think of is Dionae.

[Skald the Rhymer]

Fatty Knuckles.

FTW



All I can think of is Dionae.

from Dione? Why?

[criminey.jicket]

No, just trying a feminization of Dionysius.

I was actually trying to think of something related to the cross-world dreaming. Still thinking!




[ETA: Nevermind. Good as is.]

[jali]

Fauntasia.

[Baldwin]

What's the character like? If she's a novelist, how do you feel about Clio?

[Orual]

Semele?

[OneCentStamp]

LaFawnduh.

[criminey.jicket]

Maybe something like Sibylline, from "prophetic"





Cluricaun, I'm sorry but you didn't misplace your trophy; OneCent has stolen it.

[Skald the Rhymer]

Semele?

Hmm.That one's so obvious that I don't know why I didn't think of it. I'm placing it in the "Kapra" file.

What's the character like? If she's a novelist, how do you feel about Clio?

She's a deckie on a merchant ship.

[Orual]

You could also try something like Oinia or Oinopa, but I don't know how euphonious that really is. "Symposia" is too recognizable, I think.

[Orual]

If she's a sailor, "Oinopa" might be apt. (It means 'wine-dark' and is one of Homer's favored epithets for the sea in The Odyssey.)

[Skald the Rhymer]

If she's a sailor, "Oinopa" might be apt. (It means 'wine-dark' and is one of Homer's favored epithets for the sea in The Odyssey.)

Yeah, I know.

Fauns aren't routinely sailors in this universe, because they aren't routinely anything; the races don't have Trek-style monolithic cultures. The character once known as Maena is the daughter of a soldier and granddaughter of a doctor. The fauns' nation is inland, though, so I'm not sure that words like "wine-dark" would naturally be a part of their language.

But Semele works. Another part of my conceit is that the fauns basically worship Dionysus (but not the rest of the Greek pantheon), so "Semele" is likely as common to them as "Mary" is to us.

[SilverTygerGirl]

He's already shot down my suggestions, which I won't repeat to keep this SFW.

[Oliveloaf]

Muttonelle?

[Skald the Rhymer]

He's already shot down my suggestions, which I won't repeat to keep this SFW.

:: snorting ::

The first two syllables of her suggestions rhyme with "weenus." The third is homophonous with "file." The s'katster has a dirty mind, which is why I love her best.

[SilverTygerGirl]

I told him all the fauns should have dirty names (I suggested Priapus for a guy to give you an indication), with nicknames that everybody used. He shot it down saying he wasn't 12. Admittedly sexual names are actually more suited to satyrs than fauns, but if I recall correctly there are no female satyrs, so I'll take what I can get. I still think it's a good idea.

[Oliveloaf]

So, what gives?

Is there a name? You went with Muttonelle, didn't you? Score!

[Skald the Rhymer]

So, what gives?

Is there a name? You went with Muttonelle, didn't you? Score!

Semele, actually, with a minor variation.

[Oliveloaf]

This is very disappointing.

[Orual]

If she's a sailor, "Oinopa" might be apt. (It means 'wine-dark' and is one of Homer's favored epithets for the sea in The Odyssey.)

Yeah, I know.

Sorry! Useless, Classics-related geekoid rambling sometimes leaves my fingers before I realize I've typed it.

But yay for Semele! I feel faintly useful!

[Skald the Rhymer]

If she's a sailor, "Oinopa" might be apt. (It means 'wine-dark' and is one of Homer's favored epithets for the sea in The Odyssey.)

Yeah, I know.

Sorry! Useless, Classics-related geekoid rambling sometimes leaves my fingers before I realize I've typed it.

But yay for Semele! I feel faintly useful!

Very useful. It so exactly fit the criteria I mentioned in the OP that I feel stupid for not thinking of it myself. Moreover, as I mentioned above, it's just the sort of name that would be common in a society of sentients who worship Dionysus as Xtians worship Jesus.