#wanted to post this mostly because i thinkm y own naming system is kind of sick LOL

[boughclan-clangen]

BoughClan Naming System

boughclan and its neighbors along the coast abide by a strict naming system which is simple, but effective for cats of the clans to quickly identify each others' skills and life stories. naming ceremonies are not only held for major life transitions, but also for cats who display new proclivities for skills they hadn't shown before, such as cats who retire and become particularly adept at telling stories. name changes are celebrated not only within the clan, but also at each gathering as part of clan news.

as such, most suffixes have specific meanings, and many are reserved only for cats who take up specific roles. for cats who are generalists, or who have not yet displayed a particular proclivity for a specific skill, there are generalist suffixes which usually serve to affirm the cat's given prefix. attitude toward generalist suffixes varies between clans and individuals; some find these prefixes to be an honor and a sign of a dependable cat, while others find them boring and uncreative.

prefixes are generally given at birth based on the color of the kit's fur. in exceptional circumstances, such as an outsider joining the clan, they can also be based on other striking features such as eye color, body size, or, very rarely, scarring.

name changes are never issued on the basis of disability, nor are cats ever forced to retire if they have a disability.

below the cut is a list of suffixes the clans of the coast use and their meanings, separated by the role they are reserved for.

Doctor Suffixes

-feather : receives many omens, adept at dream interpretation

-leaf : especially good with herb & berry mixtures, superb healers

-pool : great memory for lore-keeping, rely on their knowledge of clan history to give personal advice

-sight : forward-thinker, reliable advisor for leaders & deputies making decisions affecting the future of the clan

Mediator Suffixes

-tail : good at carefully navigating delicate political situations

-whisker : good-natured and light-hearted demeanor

-shine : charismatic and easy to like

-face : unbreakable composure

Warrior Suffixes

-heart : true to oneself, especially strong ideals

-fern : especially thoughtful

-moss : especially thoughtful

-stream : good swimmer

-belly : good swimmer/diver

-fall : playful, mischievous

-claw : strong, good fighter

-fang : strong, good fighter

-eye : excellent hunter

-nose : excellent hunter

-ear : excellent hunter

-leg : great climber

-foot : great climber

-swoop : great climber

-wing : especially fleet of foot

-flight : especially fleet of foot

-cloud : introspective

-storm : ambitious

-flower : generous, kind-hearted, selfless

-dawn : generous, kind-hearted, selfless

-shade : good at stealth, sneaky

-dusk : good at stealth, sneaky

-ghost : tends to be visited by StarClan or the Dark Forest frequently

-spirit : tends to be visited by StarClan or the Dark Forest frequently

Elder Suffixes

-song : good storyteller

Generalist Suffixes

-pelt : affirmation of given prefix

-fur : affirmation of given prefix

-stripe : a tabby cat or a cat who has one bold stripe

-blaze : a tabby cat or a cat who has one bold stripe

-dapple : a spotted, marbled, mottled, or tortoiseshell cat

-spot : a spotted, mottled, or tortoiseshell cat

-speckle : a spotted, mottled, or tortoiseshell cat

-swarm : a spotted, mottled, or tortoiseshell cat