Naming Guide

[Jay]

Here at Badlands Clans, we follow a traditional naming scheme in that each name has a meaning.

Kittens are named only after the color of their fur. As kitten eyes are closed at birth, naming kits after their eyes is not allowed.

When they have earned their suffix as warriors, there are a specific few that can be used. They each have a meaning in the clan traditions and you must choose one that is appropriate.

To name a cat, first pick the prefix that matches their fur color best. If you're starting with a warrior rather than a kit or apprentice, you will need to select a suffix. Think about what your cat is good at! Are they a good hunter? Good at fighting? Can they climb really well? Maybe they'll make a very good parent.

Note that every prefix and every suffix is gender neutral. There are no feminine or masculine names in clan tradition.

SUFFIX LIST

Claw - represents any cat with a distinctively exceptional fighting ability and talent in combat.
Tail - represents an agile cat with a notable sense of balance.
Fang - represents a cat who is reasonably good at both hunting and fighting.
Whisker - represents a cat with unusually honed hunting skills.
Foot - represents a cat that is very good at running, and very fast on their paws.
Nose - represents a cat that is a particularly good tracker.
Cloud - represents a cat that is gentle in nature, patient and not easily perturbed by anything.
Gaze - represents a cat that is perceptive and easily reads other cats.
Stream - represents a cat that is very good at swimming and catching prey that lives in or near the water.
Storm - represents a cat with an unpredictable and dynamic nature.
Heart - represents a cat with a strong sense of belief in themselves and an idealistic notion of right and wrong.
Flower - represents a nurturing cat who is incredibly good at raising kittens.
Face - implies a good-looking cat of either gender, with no other outstanding talents or areas of expertise.
Fur/Pelt - represents an “average” cat; they have no outstanding abilities, such as fighting or hunting, and their personality is not notable enough to warrant a suffix, such as -cloud.
Stripe - represents an “average” cat with no outstanding abilities or personality traits; they do, however, have distinctive tabby markings.
Step - Only with an animal prefix; describes a cat who steps like the animal they're named after.

Medicine cat specific:
Only medicine cats can have these, but that doesn't mean medicine cats can ONLY have these. The full list is also available to them.
Leaf - represents a medicine cat that is exceptional in the craft of healing.
Feather - represents a medicine cat with good nest-side manner. Noted for being good with cats as well as herbs.

PREFIX LIST

Here's a list of suitable prefixes, of fauna and flora found in the badlands that our clans are set in, and more basic ones. This isn't to say these are the only options! We probably missed a lot. When in doubt, research it and then check with an admin to see if it's okay before proceeding.

Please avoid general nouns like Bark- and Flower-. What kind of flower? What kind of tree?

(To easily navigate this, press ctrl+F and search for the color you want!)
Coyote - gray, brownish, reddish
Rat - tan, white, gray
Squirrel - tan, brown
Vole - grayish, brown, yellowish
Deer - tan, gray
Mouse - gray, reddish brown
Shrew - hazel, brown, gray
Rabbit - gray, brown, tan, white
Chipmunk - brown, white, grayish, good for a tabby
Bat - black, white, brown, light brown, dark brown
Skunk - bicolor cats, black and white
Ferret - cream, dark brown
Sheep - grayish brown, yellowish white
Badger - yellowish-gray, white, blackish
Fox - red, silver, tan
Swift - bicolor black-white
Owl - brown, white 
Hawk - dark brown, white, brown, reddish, black
Vulture - two-toned gray and black
Plover - brown, tannish brown, with white
Sparrow - brown, brownish gray, buffy brown
Pigeon - gray and black
Lark - brown, dusky brown, black
Falcon - buffy brown, light tan
Kestrel - reddish brown, slate blue
Shrike - blueish-gray, gray
Wren - spotted, grayish brown
Eagle - dark brown
Longspur - black, brown, spotted white
Raven - black
Crow - black
Merlin - blue-gray, brown, light brown, tan
Finch - yellow, red
Swallow - chestnut, cream, brown, dusky brown, grayish
Starling - dusky brown, grayish brown, white spots
Robin - dark gray, red
Dove - tan
Toad - brown, yellow, gray
Snake - black, brown, red, yellow, tortoiseshell
Lizard - light brown, brown, gray
Pheasant - brown, reddish, gray
Grouse - white, brown
Turkey - black, brown, tan
Swan - white
Bison - brown
Pronghorn - tan and white
Sheep - brown, tan
Elk - brown, tan
Porcupine - dark brown, brown
Hare - Tawny undercoat with dark brown and grey overcoat. Butterscotch points.
Weasel - Solid or slightly mottled medium brown.
Badger - black white bicolor
Raccoon - Dark grey undercoat with smokey or solid black stripes and/or points.
Duck - Cool toned medium browns with warmer light brown points and dark classic tabby stripes.
Loon - black white bicolor
Cuckoo -tan, white, brown
Gull -gray, white, with black
Tern - gray, white, with black
Rail - brown, gray, tan
Sora - blue-gray, brown, tan
Grebe - White underbelly with light grey undercoat and dark grey classic tabby stripes
Curlew - Light tan or grey with darker grey mackerel stripes
Coot - gray, black
Godwit - tan and brown
Ibis - brown, gray
Phoebe - light tan, gray, light brown
Vireo - light tan, light brown
Magpie - black and white
Warbler - gray, yellow, brown, tan
Chat - yellow, gray
Parula - light gray, yellow
Thrush - light brown, light gray
Thrasher - reddish brown, brown, tan
Tanager - red, black
Junco - black, light gray, gray
Bunting - Black with any coloured spots or points.
Oriole - black, yellow, orange
Pipit - brown, tan
Chickadee - black, white, gray
Redpoll - little red, gray, white, tan
Chipmunk - tan, brown, light gray
Vole - gray, tan, light brown
(Ground) Squirrel - tan, brown, light brown
(Prairie) Dog - light brown, tan
Marmot - brown, light brown
Gopher - brown, tan
Goose - white, brown, black
Pelican - white, brown
Heron - blue-gray, gray, brown
Crane - gray, white, light gray
Turtle - brown, tan, gray
Eel - dark brown
Shad - silver, gray
Smelt - silver, gray
Minnow - gray
Carp - golden, brown
Shiner - silver, tan, black
Herring - silver
Gar - silver
Salmon - silver
Perch - yellow, orange
Bass - tan, dark brown
Darter - tan, dark brown
Trout - speckled, brown
Chub - gray, dark gray,
Muskie - tan, light tan, light brown
Saugeye - tan, brown

Plants
Clematis - white, yellow
Hawthorn - red, white
Willow - yellow
Currant - yellow
Onion - white
Aster - white, yellow
Vetch - white
Clover - white
(yellow)Bell - yellow
Primrose - white
Cactus (flowers) - orange
Mallow - orange
Marigold - yellow, orange
Hawthorn - white
Acorn - brown
Oak - gray

Miscellaneous
Dark - black, dark gray
Shadow - black, dark gray
Dusk - dark gray
Bright - patched, with white
Dust - brown
Fawn - tan
Mud - brown
Rock - yellow, light orange
Stone - yellow, light orange
Tawny - tan tabby, ginger, light golden brown, tortoiseshell
Dawn - light orange
Fire - deep reddish orange
Flame - bright sunset orange
Cinder - light, sometimes patterned grey
Soot - dark warm grey
Silver - silver, light grey undercoat with dark overcoat
Brown - rich loamy earth
White - can also have silver points on overcoat
Black - pure black, not bleached by the sun or with brown undercoat
Red - like rich clay
Cloud - fluffy, silver and white
Storm - gray
Mottle - patchy, piebald, or brindle
Patch - patchy, tortoiseshell, calico
Speckle - like a robin's egg
Spotted - as though painted
Smoke - neutral grey
Ember - dark red-orange, as though singed
Frost - pure white, or with white overcoat as though "frosted"
Snow - pure white with no other colours
Light - pale colors
Pale - pale colors
Sand - yellow, tan
*Note: Apologies for the differences in some of the descriptions. One mod is very verbose, the other is super lazy.

NAME CHANGES

If your cat suddenly goes through a massive physical change, such as losing a body part, or if they lose an eye, or become maimed they might apply for a name change.
Name changes are pretty simple! For example, Crookedstar in the series. Crookedjaw was his warrior name, reflecting his broken jaw. You can do the same, but it has to be appropriate and not too out there for our traditions and rules.

RESTRICTED NAMES

Sun-, Moon-, and Star- are never to be used. These things are sacred to the Badlands Clans. Names like Tiger- and Leopard- are also not allowed. In the badlands culture, they have no idea big cats exist, except for probably mountain lions.

For now, the name Wolf- is also not allowed, but only because of plot reasons.