I’ve just been having a long and interesting conversation with ChatGPT about names.
My novel is set in a world similar to the Bronze Age, Iron Age or Celtic Europe and Britain. And I want to keep it fairly historically accurate. It’s by no means a historical work. It’s purely fiction, but it needs to feel realistic and withstand some scrutiny. The idea is that if anyone were to Google some of the ideas and concepts in my fictional world, they would ring true. And names are important. Not the actual names, but what they might mean in a deeply spiritual landscape.
SO there was no use of surnames. And no one travelled far from their village or homestead. The clans and tribes stayed quite contained. So everyone knows who Dave, Kevin, or Jeff is. But what if you were a noble, a clan chief, who needed some way to differentiate yourself? I thought I could use epithets or honorifics after a name. And then I thought, how do these work? Ans so an hour later, I have it nailed, I think.
And by using something as simple as a name extension, I can reveal a great deal about the character, the landscape, the culture, and how they perceive the world.
As a strong advocate for AI assistance, I let ChatGPT tell you what we decided. Remember, this is my idea, distilled and refined with outside help. No different than discussing an idea with another person. Only this person is extremely create and has a great memory!
Here is my opening prompt to ChatGPT 5:
I’ve had another idea to add depth to my novels and the characters. My characters only have first names, as this is the Iron Age the Bronze Age or the Celtic. But what if notable people are given titles on their 18th Birthday that reflect their personality, looks, temp, based on nicknames or some such. That would label them based on who they are. For instance, Tonwyn is fiery and brave, so might be likened to a fire-demon. Her full name might be Tonwyn, daughter of Ravea, Flame of the mountain.
Medragh, Queen of Thyra, Storm of the Summer.
Caradoc, Seat of Ravea, Black Raven of the Valley.
Aric, King of Ardana, Spirit of the Sea.
How does that work?
After a lot of additional details, toing and frowing, I go to this:
Okay, can you now please summarise the rules of epithets for my characters?
Got it 👍 — here’s a clean summary of the epithet rules for your world, broken into simple categories so you can use them consistently across your story.
✨ Rules of Epithets in Sylvandria
1. Purpose & Meaning
- An epithet is a spirit-bound name given at adulthood (around 18).
- It reflects who the person truly is at that stage of life, told through a story or deed.
- It is not a surname — it’s closer to a true name or soul-mark.
2. The Ceremony
- Led by a shaman before the spirits.
- Family and friends recount deeds or traits of the person.
- The shaman interprets signs or omens, sealing the epithet.
- For nobles, it’s public and political; for common folk, it’s private and intimate.
3. Permanence & Growth
- The first epithet is permanent — it cannot be erased or replaced.
- New epithets may be added later in life, but never substituted.
- At death, the full chain of epithets is spoken to honour the person’s journey.
4. East vs. West Divide
- West (sacred, spiritual, Anarwyn influence):
- Every epithet must have a story or deed behind it.
- Names are intimate, often whispered, sometimes guarded as secrets.
- Spoken in ritual, love, or deep trust.
- East (grandiose, political, urbanised):
- Epithets are often exaggerated or invented, with no true story.
- Used as propaganda or pomp, rattled off in court for prestige.
- The longer and more flamboyant, the better (to them).
5. Cultural Attitudes
- In the West, “a name without a story is just noise.”
- In the East, a person’s worth is judged by how many grand titles they can collect.
- Ravea sits at the cusp:
- The people keep Western reverence quietly.
- Caradoc forces Eastern pomp to look strong, though secretly mocked.
- Tonwyn embodies the divide — she has sacred, true epithets but must navigate an Eastern-leaning court.
6. Narrative Uses
- Intimacy: whispering a true epithet is a sign of deep trust.
- Conflict: a hollow epithet marks vanity, while a sacred one carries weight.
- Foreshadowing: epithets hint at character arcs (e.g. Tonwyn’s fiery, cunning, and venomous traits).
- Worldbuilding: instantly shows East/West divide through language and ritual.
✅ In short:
- First epithet = permanent, sacred.
- New ones can be added for deeds.
- West = meaningful, whispered, tied to story.
- East = pompous, loud, tied to vanity.
- Ravea is caught between, reflecting its political and cultural struggle.
Anyone who doesn’t use AI to thrash this level of detail must have a lot of crazy friends and a lot of free time. In an hour I’ve:
- Added depth and spirit to my world.
- Defined names.
- Defined culture.
- Set expectations.
- Given world-building detail with info dumping.
- Provided characters with deep backstories – remember, to earn an epithet in the East, you had to achieve something! Not so much in the West, just grab a name that sounds great.
- Created texture.
Created a cultural and political divide. - Allowed for difference, debate, suspicion, hatred, solidarity – all through a name and what it means.
It was a great idea. Fleshed out with my AI buddy.