NOTICE - This article was constructed from correspondence on the Dragons Laire Mail list. Oct. 2002  for inclusion in the Arts and Science Archives of the Barony of Dragon's Laire. Copyright to the contents of this file remains with the authors While the authors will likely give permission for this work to be reprinted in SCA type publications, please check with the author first or check for any permissions granted at the end of this file.  ----Thank you, Rycheza z Polska, webminster

Some Viewpoints on Names

A newcomer asks: 

 Being new to the SCA, I am unsure about how to proceed with designating a name for myself. I have found some information on the web (from extant documents), and have settled on a given name (Christiana) and am still ruminating on a surname, but am wondering what the next step is. Should I register the name with the College of Heralds? Is this necessary, or can I simply start using the name? I have noticed that some gentles use only a first name, some have surnames. Does the use of a surname require registry, whereas using only a given name does not? 
 
 I would greatly appreciate any help that is given!
 

Jacques Answers:

Other Points to Ponder from Eric

    I'm going to give you some contrarian advice with regards to SCA  names. You may wish to delay selecting your SCA name until you are sure  it fits you and your persona's culture. The reason for this is that once you start using an SCA name, changing it can be very difficult. People will continue to use the old name for years after the change.

  I have the following advice regarding selecting names which may or  may not be applicable to your situation.

   (1) Make sure it is something that other people can pronounce. It doesn't have to be so simple that even a field herald can say it, but have mercy on the rest of us.

   (2) Never invent a name. If you can't document it, the heralds will never approve it. In fact, you might wish to obtain documentation for a name first, run it by the herald, then start to use it. Find out from our book herald about the type of names the College of Herald's will approve. Find out what the rules are.

   (3) Make sure that the name will be relatively unique in an SCA context. In other words, find out if there are people in the SCA that are so well known that you will only be known as the "other ______ ". Never take the name of anyone who has been king or queen. It is also bad to have the same name as the biggest SOB in the kingdom. Even on the local level it can cause problems if you adopt the same name as other people in your local branch. When I first started playing in Dragon's Laire there were five of us who had the modern or SCA name of Eric. I had to have the others killed off.
(H. L. Artontius, our Book Herald, is also the keeper of the baronial directory. He can do a quick check of his database to see if someone else is using the name locally.)

   (4) Once you are sure that you have found the right name start using it. If it fits, register it. There are several reasons for registering a name right away besides the possibility of someone else beating you to the registration. One is that it can take forever. The first time I tried to register my name, which was eventually approved, the Kingdom Herald threw my application and check in the garbage and didn't tell me for two years. Two is that the fees keep going up.

   I hope this helps.

         H. L. Eric de Dragonslaire

   You are never actually "required" to register your name - unless you are attempting to register a device. Then you have to have a name that is "approved" by the College of Heralds.

   I'd suggest starting slow, use Christiana only for a while. Make sure you really like it. :) 

   If you decide you don't like it, or that there are simply too many "Christianas" running around, you can change it without having to go through any very time consuming paperwork.

   If you really do like it, start doing some research into what would be a proper surname (if any) for your persona. Get together with the Baronial Herald, they can help you avoid having name conflicts with someone you have never met, but has a similar name, but lives in Texas. (Not that I know about this personally or anything...<g>)

   If you really like your name and want to make it all yours forever, go through the process of registering it. You have to at least do that if you ever want a device registered.

   It only took me 2 years to get my name and device registered. Tyrus did it in 6 months. I know others who have been at it for 7+ years. But as I say, you can always just tell people what to call you, regardless of what the College of Heralds say.

  A votre service,
        Monsigneur Jacques Louis de Normandie   (Not to be confused with Jacquline de Normandie from the other side of the country....)

Some additional information from our Book Herald

M'Lady,

   I really can not improve upon the advice given to you from Monsigneur Jacques. But my personal opinion is  to start the registration process as soon as possible simply because it DOES take so long to register a name these days (the average right now is running 8-9 months). 

   My name 'Arontius of Bygelswade' started the  registration process in 1992 and was finally registered  in 1999. To be honest though, I was stubborn and started  with an un-registerable name taken from a role-playing  game. You have started out on the right path from the  start. :-)

   If you want to look at some books for possible  surnames, I have a growing  reference collection of book sources for naming.  Anything from English to Russian to Mongolian. :-)

   You can get the forms on line for name and device  submissions at antir.sca.org . Or you can get with me to  fill them out in person. (If you decide to be more  adventurous and go the process on your own, I would sure  appreciate a set of your forms for the Baronial Record. At my own expense for copying of course). :-)

   I got off track though. If you decide on a name now  and register it and you decide in two or three years  that you want to change it, you can do so. It will be  another submission process, but it is commonly done. 

   Another point, in the SCA you are allowed to  register TWO names (and a household name, but that is  something else). So if you are torn between cultures and  time periods, don't let that stop you, take both! :-) I  have two names registered to my heraldry 'account'. My  alternate name is Justin Case. Justin has a pretty cool  badge registered to him too. :-)

   Last point, I promise. When you think that you  might want to have a device attached to your name,  Dragon's Laire has some fantastic artistic resources  from which to draw.

   Heraldry looks difficult and frustrating, and in  some instances it is. I used to absolutely hate the SCA  heraldry process. But over time I've really grown to be  fascinated by it. It is really fun to do.

   I'd be happy to help in any way possible, don't  hesitate to call or e-mail. 

   Arontius.
     Deputy Herald of Book.
     Dragon's Laire.

 

Copyright 2002 by Jacques Louis de Normandie aka Jim Wingren, Arontius of Bygelswade aka M. Aaron Rogers and Eric de Dragonslaire aka Eric Bosely.  -  taken from correspondence on the Dragons Laire Mail list. Oct. 2002 posted Nov 2002

 Permission is granted for republication in SCA-related publications, provided the author is credited and receives a copy. Contact the webminster@dragonslaire.org for more information or additional permissions.