[This post was created as part of Nexon PEAK activities.]

Hello, I’m 꽤돼.

When you play MapleStory, you find yourself naming characters more often than you might expect.

That’s especially true when you’re creating characters of different classes to build your Legion—you have to keep coming up with new names.

At first, choosing names I liked was easy. But as I created more characters, I gradually ran out of ideas.

When that happens, I often tweak words I use regularly or look up words that interest me in other languages.

Here, I’ll share the methods I use, along with some ideas to help you create distinctive in-game names.

Try making small changes to familiar words

One method I often use is to make small changes to familiar, everyday words.

For example, you could take the Korean word for blog, “블로그,” and change it to “쁠로그.”

Using a tense consonant, such as the Korean double b (ㅃ) or double s (ㅆ), in an ordinary word can give you a name that feels familiar but a little different.

Here are a few more words you can change in the same way.

Original word	Example name
블로그 (blog)	쁠로그
사탕 (candy)	싸탕
소다 (soda)	쏘다
보라 (purple)	뽀라
바다 (sea)	빠다

Of course, not every word will sound natural when changed this way.

The key is to change just one or two letters without losing too much of the original word’s feel.

I find this method quite useful in games like MapleStory, where you need to create multiple characters.

After all, a single word you use regularly can give you several different names to try.

Look up words you like in other languages

My second method is to look up words related to my interests in other languages, such as English or Spanish.

Start with a subject you like, such as the moon, stars, or sky, then look for words with the same meaning in other languages.

Meaning	English	Spanish
Moon	Moon	Luna
Star	Star	Estrella
Sky	Sky	Cielo
Light	Light	Luz
Flower	Flower	Flor

Even an ordinary word can make a good character name in another language because of its different sound or feel.

With the wide variety of classes in MapleStory, it’s also worth choosing a word that suits your character.

For a mage, you might choose a word that evokes a sense of mystery, like moon or star. For other classes, you could draw inspiration from your favorite colors, nature, or animals.

​

Sometimes, while looking up words this way, I discover a name I like even more than the one I originally had in mind.

Just keep in mind that the same word can have slightly different meanings or uses across languages. Once you find a word you like, it’s worth double-checking what it means.

Find names in songs and everyday expressions

You don’t have to limit your search for names to a dictionary.

When I find a syllable or word I like in the lyrics of a favorite song, I sometimes use it to create a name.

Take a closer look at the lyrics of songs you normally listen to without much thought. You may be surprised by how many expressions could work as names.

Adding a few letters or making a small change can turn one into a name with personal meaning.

​

Another method I like is turning phrases people use in everyday conversation into names.

That’s how I came up with my blog nickname, “꽤돼.”

I created “꽤돼” from “나 좀 꽤 된다,” meaning “I’m pretty good.”

There’s nothing complicated or elaborate about it, but I like it because it’s short and carries the meaning I wanted.

Shortening an everyday phrase or an expression you use often can be another good way to come up with a name.

You might find a name you like in something you often say, rather than having to search for an unusual word that hardly anyone uses.

Base your Legion characters’ names on your main character

One final method I use is to base my other characters’ names on my main character’s name.

Since building your Legion in MapleStory means creating multiple characters, I’ve found it helpful to give their names some consistency.

For example, if your main character’s name is “꽤돼,” you could look for words containing “꽤,” or use “돼” instead to create a new name.

​

I like this approach because each character has a different name, but they still feel connected.

Of course, you don’t need to give all your characters similar names. But as you keep creating Legion characters, you’ll often find yourself short on ideas. When that happens, I think your main character’s name is a good starting point.

​

I don’t think there’s one right answer when it comes to choosing a character name.

Some people like cool names, while others prefer cute or funny ones.

Personally, I think the best name is one you like enough to use for a long time, rather than one that stands out to other people.

If you’re having trouble naming a Legion character in MapleStory, try looking for ideas in words you like or in your main character’s name.

That’s all from 꽤돼.