Hello again, everyone. So, some of you may have seen a similarly named topic in the series forums, but I decided I'd check here as well for additional info. This is still bothering me and I could use all the help and advice I can get.

So, I wish to try and create a Breton name or two, and yet I've had issues before. When I realized there was a Breton with the Delacroix surname I became discouraged and unsure of the Bretons. I can no longer deny they are my favorite race and one I find the most interesting due to their lore - their history, their culture, abilities, etc, as well as being able to identify with them in some RL ways. I previously had a Breton, long ago, named Tristan Delacroix - making use of French names to make them, but now I have no desire to use those names - nor any name used already by an NPC. I like my names to be original, you see.... Sorry, let me get back on topic.

I have a few questions concerning Breton names and naming. I'm familiar with the differences in naming conventions from the first game, Arena as well as Daggerfall, to Morrowind through Skyrim, and maybe even Online (I currently do not play Online but look and research every now and then about NPCs for naming's sake). However, my first question is this - what is the decided/"accepted" real-life inspiration for Breton names? Is is the French names of Morrowind to Skyrim and maybe Online - if anyone knows what names inspire the Breton names of Online, feel free to correct me - or is it a mixture of sorts? Are Breton names considered regional and have various types with lore to support regional naming?

Part of this topic's purpose is to help give me some sort of clarity and understanding...and help my indecisive and picky self decide once and for all what to do about a fresh restart. If all else fails and I find myself unable to create a Breton - perhaps I could go with an idea of mine and make an Altmer, a Bosmer, and a Orsimer for a trinity of sorts....any thoughts on that idea as well, out of curiosity?

Thank you all for bearing with me and I wish you all a wonderful night/day.

I believe their influence of RL is French and Welsh. Are you French Delacroix?

No, although there is a chance. The only heritage aspects I know of are German, English, Irish, and Scottish. But there's a chance.*shrugs*

I believe the Breton race and culture is an amalgamation of most Anglo-Saxon cultures and "classic" medieval fantasy, along with various Pagan and occult religions (particularly in the Witchmen of the Reach).

At this point, I'd say the primary real-life anolog for Breton names is French, although they haven't retconned the original Anglican names, and I'm unsure what the real-world inspiration for Reachmen names is.

For reference:

http://uesp.net/wiki/Category:Skyrim-Breton

http://uesp.net/wiki/Category:Oblivion-Breton

http://uesp.net/wiki/Category:Morrowind-Breton

http://www.tamriel-rebuilt.org/?q=namegenerator

I'd agree with this.

I've mentioned it here before and I've no solid basis for this, but it's my personal theory that the 'French' influence on Breton naming convention comes from Direnni influence. The only thing I have to go on with that idea is that many Altmer names seem to have an element of Romance language influence in them (male names ending in -o, for example). That and we know how much of a big impact the Hegemony had on the culture of the old Nedic peoples of the area.

I think the Welsh and old Briton-esque names come from pre-Direnni days when the cultures and toponmy of the Nedes of High Rock and their cousins in the Reach were a lot more similar. And I think the further west you travel in High Rock, the less French names you'll hear and the more "Audrey"s, "Banning"s and "Cedric"s you'll start to come across.

Real-world Breton names would, of course, be a happy middle-ground.

Some of the pre-Redguard personal names look like fantasy anglicised Welsh names, but otherwise I haven't seen any Bretons with Welsh names. The English names are well remembered because they were in Daggerfall, but they've gone the way of Dunmer called Lilith T'rizul, Khajiit called Ak'bar Mohammed and Nordic patronymics. The names now seem to be French style for most Bretons and whatever the Reach style is for Reachmen.

I don't think any regional difference have been stated beyond the Reach/Western Reach vs. Greater Bretony/Dellese Islands. There may be more Germanic names in places historically settled by Nords who may have caused something like the reverse of the Norman influence on Old English*. They founded Daggerfall, Camlorn, Reich Gradkeep (called Anticlere in Daggerfall) and Alcaire and probably other places like Jehanna. I think they might have settled in the Wrothgarian Mountains too.

*Actually did the Franks achieve something like that?