When I started creating Balphrahn, I wanted to base it on the Celtic cultures. To keep it all consistent, I took my names from the various Celtic languages. The trouble with Gaelic and Welsh is the aren’t pronounced with English rules. They have letter combinations that don’t sound like we think they’re supposed to, so of course the names are tricky.

Hindsight being what it is, I’d love to go back and maybe choose easier names, but the first book is out, so we’re in for a penny, in for a pound. When we decided to do the second edition to add the map, we figured it might make reading easier to have a pronunciation guide.

I’ll be compiling these resources as we go along on a separate page here on the website, but since I haven’t yet coordinated with my lovely and talented webmistress, I’ll post it here.

PEOPLE

Ailin—Ae-lyn
Aengus--Angus
Aithne—EYE-th-na
Arwyne—AR-win
Briant—Brian-t
Ceann—Shawn
Cruthadair—Crew-ha-dare
Dermod—DER-mod
Dougal—Doo-gal
Elan—EE-lan
Hamish—Hay-mish
Lassair—Lass-air
Laoch—LAY-ock
Maccha--Maka
Magda—Mahg-da
Moira—Moy-ra
Murine—Mern
Murchad—Mer-kawd
Raya—Ray-a
Ruan—RU-an
Sine—Sheen
Siril—Seeril, sort of like cereal but without the a

DRAGONS

Aegon—Ay-gon
Gautier—Go-tee-ay
Oriel—Oh-ree-el
Peio—Pay-o
Saphir—Safeer
Tiemer—Teemer
Vieux—Veeyuh

PLACES

Balphran—Bal-fran
Mevan—Mee-van

JOBS

Raca—RAH-ka
Wreiddon—RIDE-on
Wybren—WHY-bren

CURSES

Galla—gah-la
Uffern—OO-furn