In Final Fantasy XIV, as important as saving the world, if not more important for some players, is the ability to have characters and designs tailored to their individual preferences. One of the best things about this game is all the different ways you can glamour and customise the appearance of you – namely the virtual you that you have made in the game.
We recently got an email from Bastion PR, who, with Square Enix, recently did a questionnaire asking people about how they came up with the name for their character. Some of the names are lore specific, some of them are for funny reasons, and well, others are important because of real-life decisions.
Now here are some of the responses that Square-Enix received as on their questionnaire:
In-Game Name: Karin Schariac
- What was the inspiration for your in-game name?
- The first name is a flipped version of my real name (Katerina). I got so used to it and people referring to me by that name that it feels even more real sometimes. The last name is Schariac, after a long family of valkyries in a different game I used to play (I just liked the sound of it).
- What does your in-game name mean to you?
- It feels like a cooler version of me, I suppose. Sometimes I get inspired by my own warrior of light to be braver and do what I think is right. I really do wish I could be more like her someday.
- Do you see your in-game name as a reflection of you or your in-game character?
- Definitely. I’m very bad at roleplay, so every character I create is mostly just a side of my own personality that I want to explore.
In-Game Name: Amy Kemp
- What was the inspiration for your in-game name?
- I’m a transwoman, and it’s my chosen name.
- What does your in-game name mean to you?
- It was the first place where I was known only by my chosen name and not my deadname, which was very special to me.
- Do you see your in-game name as a reflection of you or your in-game character?
- A bit of both because I made the character to be my transition goals. She’s an idealised version of myself.
In-Game Name: Arcas Wolfheart
- What was the inspiration for your in-game name?
- His first name is inspired by astronomy and the constellation Ursa Minor, aka the Little Dipper, which is fitting given he is a Lalafell haha. I loved the stars when I was younger, and Ursa Minor was the first constellation I was able to point out in the sky on my own, as its tail holds the North Star. His last name was a shared choice between me and the person I first began playing with, and there’s a little bit of FFVIII inspiration in this part.
- What does your in-game name mean to you?
- When I was younger I was fascinated by the stars; as if by fate, I was almost called “Star” by my mum. Arcas, in a way, represents my younger self’s heart’s desire to adventure and to explore new worlds. To meet new people, to learn and widen my horizons. I have thoroughly enjoyed playing as him and embodying these hearts’ desires as we venture forth through the lands of Final Fantasy XIV and share in the stories of our star.
In-Game Name: Yami_Astral
- What was the inspiration for your in-game name?
- So this is a story that comes from when I was 6 or 7 years old. I used to love Yugioh on TV, especially a character named Astral, who was the main helper of the protagonist (and the person who led the MC to the right path). After lots of years went by, I needed to choose an IGN, and I came up with Astral, even if I didn’t remember where it was from. “Yami” is also about a Yu-Gi-Oh! character, but I mainly used it to be unique because I learnt some other people named themselves Astral, so I had to change, and I managed to find the right combination: yami_astral or y.astral. But friends then use just Astral or just Yami.
- What does your in-game name mean to you?
- It is my identity. I had quite an important career in Overwatch 2 some years ago, and in my country everyone knows me with that name, so I hold it with pride because that’s me, and I’m happy about it.
- Do you see your in-game name as a reflection of you or your in-game character?
- Mostly a reflection of me. My dream was that when people heard my name, they would immediately see someone they can rely on and ask for advice or favours.
In-game Name: Cihye Mocchasu
- What was the inspiration for your in-game name?
- I wanted something unique but lore compliant, so I used an online generator and tweaked it until the name felt right.
- What does your in-game name mean to you?
- I started playing FFXIV at a tough point in my life as I transitioned to adulthood. To me, Cihye Mocchasu is a name and character that has grown with me as I’ve struggled to find my place in the world. It’s resilience and belonging when I’ve felt I lacked both.
- Do you see your in-game name as a reflection of you or your in-game character?
- A reflection of my in-game persona, but I will use it when my IRL name is already taken in other games.
I also asked my Discord community on how they came up with their character names; here is a selection of the names that they have submitted.
In-Game Name: Southern Flame/Bulletproof Heart
- What was the inspiration for your in-game name?
- My original name (Southern Flame) was just a randomly generated one in the game. My current one (Bulletproof Heart) is from song lyrics.
- What does your in-game name mean to you?
- It doesn’t mean much, but it’s unique, and music is a very important part of my life.
- Do you see your in-game name as a reflection of you or your in-game character?
- I see it as a character, not myself. I am still attached to my character, but they are not me in any way. They are like a profile picture since my true self always comes out in interactions in the game.
In-Game Name: Nobutaka Fairclough
- What was the inspiration for your in-game name?
- The inspiration for the “Nobu” actually comes from Oda Nobunaga. Fairclough was a randomly generated last name in the game.
- What does your in-game name mean to you?
- In regards to what it means to me. It means a lot. It is what my character goes by. It is what people in the game know me as. It is also a big part of my presence on social media.
- Do you see your in-game name as a reflection of you or your in-game character?
- Originally I didn’t see my in-game name as a reflection of myself. However, it has become one. People who know me from XIV call me Nobu both in game and IRL. I have friends I have grown up with who I also play XIV with, and they call me “Nobu” or “Nobutaka” more often than they call me by my real name. So it has for sure come to symbolise me more than I certainly ever thought it would when I made my character.
Well, I guess if we are talking about all these incredible names, then I really should give mine and how I came up with it.
In-Game Name: Daddy Chille
- What was the inspiration for your in-game name?
- I guess there are actually several different reasons for this name. First off, Chille is a nickname that I have had IRL for many, many years. It was actually the name I used in FFXI too, but back then there were no surnames; that’s a new thing for FFXIV. The Daddy part, well, that came from a Twitch stream in which someone decided to submit it as a name for my character.
- What does your in-game name mean to you?
- I love the Final Fantasy community, and the fact my name was helped by the community means that it is more important to me than if I just named him myself.
As you can see, there are many different reasons for picking your name in Final Fantasy XIV, and they are all valid reasons. Have you stepped into the wonderful world of Eorzea? Have you spent time deciding your character’s name? What did you end up coming up with for your name? Let us know in the comments below.
And don’t forget the Final Fantasy XIV free trial allows new players to experience the base game, A Realm Reborn, and the first two expansions, Heavensward and Stormblood, with no restrictions on playtime. Progress made on a free trial account can be transferred to the full game upon purchase.
Final Fantasy XIV is out now on PS4 and PS5.
Thank you to everybody who took part in this feature.