Naming a golem

[Daniel Ferguson]

I find myself needing a name for a Golem. It's better if you don't ask why. *stares dramatically into the middle-distance*

However, I have no idea what kinds of names Golems would have. Objects? Good old-fashioned British names? I just thought of a walking clay/stone/metal automaton with a monocle and top hat!

 

[Thaluikhain]

What type of golem? What are they made of, and what will they be used for?

 

[Keoul]

I think creatures, especially mythical ones deserve a more meaningful name that sounds mysterious and such not just "Paul" or something.
Galio, just a fancy name for a golem from a fancy game.
Ozymandius, No matter how perfect you create your golem he will fade away in time.
Ishikai'i, Pronounced Ishikai, Stone Oddity
Gollurk, Because pokemon

 

[Revnak_v1legacy]

Go with something obscenely Jewish sounding. Like Bernstein.

 

[DoPo]

Erm, what is the context? Is this a historical-ish piece (so, we're talking Jewish golems) or is this a fantasy one? At any rate, the name would be related to where it comes from, given to him by the creator but according to rules based on the society and setting. I believe in the majority of cases, golems are named after the function they are expected to do - we have, for example, Mr Pump from the Discworld who was pumping water (not any more, though). You don't have to name them after objects, if a golem is created for the reason to protect somebody/something, they could be named "protection", for example. Alternatively, they could be named after something/somebody that is associated with their function - think Sherman tanks, for example, just apply it to a golem.

Of course, you could spice it up by naming them in a different language, so a Jewish golem would likely have a Hebrew name. The most appropriate languages here are old ones, since golems tend to be durable, it could also be tradition - "we should name them in the ye olde because that's how we've always done it".

 

[King Billi]

Clem.

Clem the Golem.

 

[Amethyst Wind]

You could call him Dorfl. Make sure you bake him a tongue though. He's no slave either, Dorfl works for a living.

 

[Lazy Kitty]

Golems with top hats and monocles?

Are you playing Thaumcraft?

Well, maybe Jeeves or Alfred or Brick or some kind of buttler name.
Or Magical Automaton Servant Tasks Executed Randomly. M.A.S.T.E.R. for short. Possibly with a number behind it. Like M.A.S.T.E.R. #3

 

[Shoggoth2588]

Go with something obscenely Jewish sounding. Like Bernstein.

Considering the origins of Golems I have to agree with this. I would give it the name of an unassuming Jewish food personally...like Matzah or something. That's just me though. Of course you could always take the low road and name your Golem Flint Stone. Alternatively there's Ingut Silver.

 

[Hero in a half shell]

Keanu Reeves

If it's more of an industrial style golem you could give it a serial number designation, like the droids from Star Wars.

 

[Frungy]

Well, it depends on who named him.

If he named himself then I recommend "Lord Fluffybuns Montigue the Third"... why? Because when you're twice the size of anyone else and made of a mineral then you get to name yourself whatever the hell you like, and no-one laughs... well, not twice anyway. Also, bunnies are fluffy and cute, which are characteristics I might aspire to if I was a walking block of masonry.

If he was named by his creator then you'd need to consider the creator's personality, why he created the golem, and the golem's backstory generally. Was the golem a surrogate child for a wealthy magically inclined nobleman who for some reason couldn't have children? Does the golem house the personality of the nobleman in a desperate bid for immortality? Is the golem merely a bad joke?

Those are my thoughts... as strange and twisted as they are.

 

[Fijiman]

My only suggestion is Gol'sook.

 

[bananafishtoday]

Clearly the right answer is Smeagol.

 

[Tom_green_day]

Greg or Greggy. Greg the Golem has a ring to it.
Or Garth. Garth the Golem sounds awesome to.
Gary or Garry just doesn't have the same pizazz if you ask me.

 

[Tahaneira]

Dor-

You could call him Dorfl. Make sure you bake him a tongue though. He's no slave either, Dorfl works for a living.

Dammit!

Anyways, it really depends on what kind of golem it is. Is it a classic Hebrew-style golem? One of the multitudes of D&D-style golems? Frankenstein's monster-type? Some other kind? Golem can mean many different things these days, so it's important that the name fits what they are and what they do, or were supposed to do.

 

[RaikuFA]

I would name him Jumbo. Golems are considered big.

Or Rabbi Kickass since they're from Jewish lore.

 

[Combustion Kevin]

name it Pebble, or Tin if it's made of metal.

 

[crimson sickle2]

If I was trying to be a dick, I'd name him blue buff.
Otherwise, go with an uncommon name that sounds awesome. It's important for the golem or its creator(s) to name it within the first week though. Else they'll explode in a magnificent flash!

 

[Kyber]

Boh'm. It's the most Golem-like name i can think of, it sounds big and slow.

 

[Therumancer]

I find myself needing a name for a Golem. It's better if you don't ask why. *stares dramatically into the middle-distance*

However, I have no idea what kinds of names Golems would have. Objects? Good old-fashioned British names? I just thought of a walking clay/stone/metal automaton with a monocle and top hat!

Galatea is a classic for a female golem for obvious reasons.

That said, if this is an RPG-type scenario the big question in naming a golem is the personality of the creator, since a golem is by definition a creation. Unless of course the golem is supposed to be simply a body and have the mind of someone else inside of it, whereupon I'd imagine they would continue using their given name.

Having messed around with White Wolf's Promethean in the past though I sort of see where your coming from, I found it a bit of a chore to name some of my characters in that game.