Name Games Guide

• FN: First name
• MN: Middle name
• LN: Last name
• NN: Nickname

Family structures:

• AD: Adopted daughter
• ADD: Adopted dear daughter
• ADS: Adopted dear son
• AS: Adopted son
• BF: Boyfriend
• D: Daughter
• DBF: Dear boyfriend
• DD: Dear daughter
• DF: Dear fiancee
• DGF: Dear girlfriend / Dear grandfather
• DGM: Dear grandmother
• DH: Dear husband
• DH'sDD: Dear husband's daughter (= stepdaughter)
• DH'sDS: Dear husband's son (= stepson)
• DS: Dear son
• DW: Dear wife
• DW'sDD: Dear wife's daughter (= stepdaughter)
• DW'sDS: Dear husband's son (= stepson)
• GF: Girlfriend / Grandfather
• GM: Grandmother
• H: Husband
• SO: Significant other
• StepS: Stepson
• StepD: Stepdaughter
• W: Wife

Other abbreviations:

• AN: Author's note
• BtN: Behind the Name, the title of this website
• CAF: Create a family
• Combo: A name combination. A first name + one or more middle names
• ETA: Edited to add
• GP: Guilty pleasure
• HHP: Heaven, hell, purgatory
• KUY: Keep up yourself
• (m): More (when written on the subject line this indicates there is more text in the message inside)
• NMS: Not my style
• NT: No text (the message is entirely within the subject line, no message inside)
• NTNB: Name the next baby
• Sibset: Set of siblings
• PNL: Personal name list
• PP: Punctuation Pet ("adopted" superfluous punctuation marks)
• WFL: Will finish later

The game host provides a template for the players to complete about their (made-up) families and with questions in regard to the children they'd like to adopt. The players reply with the filled out templates. The host responds to each player with a description of the child(ren) they have been allowed to adopt. The game can end here or the player can reply to this with a short description of how the children are doing in their new families.

Template example:

LN:
SO1:
Occupation:
SO2:
Occupation:

Do you have any current children? (if so, provide names and ages)
Do you have any pets? (if so, provide species and names)

Current location:

How many children would you like to adopt (max.4)?
What location would you like to adopt from?
Preferred gender:
Preferres age range:
Continent/country you'd like to adopt from:

Are you okay with adopting siblings?
Are you okay with adopting pregnant teens?
Are you okay with adopting a child with a disability?

Find these games tagged #adoptionagency

The host provides rules for people to create their alien name. The players reply with the names they've created in the subject line.

Example:

Host

1 Take the first 3 letters of your father's middle name
2 Take the last 2 letters of your best friend's name
3 Take the 3rd and 4th letter of your mother's maiden name

Player reply, with Subject: Petnerk

(1 Peter gives PET, 2 Jane gives NE, 3 Parker gives RK)

Find these games tagged #alienname

The game host lists a few names for the players to bash/roast. The players post a reply telling what they like or better yet dislike about a name in a brutally honest or rude way. In contrast to opinions on the Opinions Board it is not encouraged to be politically correct or friendly when giving opinions. So as an example, while one might say "This name is too dated for me to picture on a young child" on the Opinions Board, one would bash it as: "This names screams old grumpy man who always shouts at the neighbourhood kids to get off of his lawn".

Find these games tagged #bashmynames

This game is played in rounds. In an original Congrats the host usually keeps track of a limited amount of players (because of the work involved on the host's part) and will start out with a sign up round. The idea of this game is to slowly build a family, where each round signifies a number of years that have gone by and a new family member is added by the host. The players name the new family member according to the rules provided by the host and post the full new family in a reply. In the next round the host lists all the families from the first round (and sometimes changes all the ages according to how much time has passed) and adds a new family member to it, which the players will then have to name again accoding to the rules provided. The game continues until the host signals that a certain round will be the final round of the game.

There are a some variants to this game.

Congrats with questions
In addition to the Congrats rules above, the host can ask players to answer a multiple choice question. The answer to this question will determine something within the game. It could be that the answer determines the number of children you get (e.g. everyone who replied option A gets twins) or another variable unrelated to the new family member (e.g. everyone who replied option C will also have a new cat added to the family).

Writing Congrats
In this variant the players will all write (usually at least a paragraph) about the family they have created. The host can also provide events that will help to make the stories more interesting. It could be combined with multiple choice questions, like in the variant above. Example: Everyone who chose option B will have lost their jobs, or everyone that chose option D had one of the family members have a very serious accident. Writing congrats tend to be higher maintenance and will usually have limited sign ups.

KUY (keep up yourself) Congrats
In this variant the game host will not keep track of the families and their ages. Instead, the host provides a link to the previous rounds so players can look up their own families and change them according to the rules provided by the host. The same rules apply to each player. Because of the relatively low effort on the part of the host, KUY Congrats typically do not have limited sign ups, and players can even jump in later in the game by just player the previous rounds in the links provided.

Year Game
This game is similar to a Congrats game except that it takes place all in one post. Players typically roll a dice to determine the characteristics of their starting couple. The player can choose how many "years/rounds" to complete (the game is structured to be able to play as many or few "years" as the player wants). Each "year", the player will roll a dice to determine what event happens to the family (usually these are new additions or changes in the family's status). The player keeps track of their own family and adds one year to the ages of their family for each new "year/round" they decide to play. Once the player is finished, they post their family and the events that took place each year all in one post. Some players decide to write a story about their family as they go, while some write a sentence or two about each event, while others don't write anything at all and just add new additions into the family.

Landmine Congrats
This is typically a KUY Congrats. At the end of each round, the players are asked to choose from a selection of options. Their choice is included somewhere in their post (either within the message or in the subject). Then, during the next round, each option from the previous round will have its own namebank. Users use the namebank that corresponds with their previous choice. In each round, there will be at least one "Landmine" namebank that consists of largely unfavorable name choices. Rules on how you use the namebank are pretty lax. You can choose to add on to your family by adding additional biological children, adopted children, pets, or even build on further generations. Unlike most Congrats games, users are able to add as many family as they want as long as the names come out of the corresponding namebank.

Find these games tagged #congrats

In this game the player gets to create the names of an entire family. A regular CAF has two parents with children, but a Generation CAF will have grandparents, their children and their children's children included. Often the parents and number of sons and daughters is set by the host, but sometimes either the player can choose them or the host provides rules to determine the number and gender of the children.

There are a number of variants to this game.

(Themed) Namebank CAF
All names must come from a (themed) namebank provided by the host.

CAF with choices
A small namebank is provided per family member either for the full combo or it has a namebank for a firstname and a namebank for the middle name.

Initial CAF
The whole family's initials have been provided by the host, the player makes combos with them.

CAF with instructions / Rules CAF
The names are to be decided according to certain rules (ie. a first name has to be of a certain origin and a middle name start with a certain letter).

This or that CAF - variant 1
This is a hybrid between the "This or that" game and a CAF. For each family member's name a player can choose between two name options the host provides.

This or that CAF - variant 2
The choice made between the provided options determines what rules the player has to use for naming the family members.

Judged CAF
The CAF will get a reply from the host saying which combos made were best or which family was best.

Elimination CAF
This game is a hybrid between a CAF and an Elimination game. The game host posts a family template filled in with about 12 choices for each family member's first name and middle name. The first player reposts the family, minus one choice for each list. So each family member has a list of 11 choices per name now. The next player takes one choice per list away as well and then reposts the family. This continues until there's one choice left, making this the final family.

Number CAF
The game host posts a family template with number ranges instead of names, one range for the first name and one for the middle name. The game host has a list of names where each number corresponds to a name (could be made up or for example a popularity list) the players pick a number out of the given range and post their choices. The host replies with the families they've created.

Example:

Host

DH: (1-50) (51-100)
DW: (1-50) (51-100)
DS: (51-100) (1-50)
DD: (51-100) (1-50)

Player reply

DH: 22 55
DW: 3 89
DS: 66 6
DD: 73 44

Host reply (using in this case Popularity chart of England 2015)

DH: Alexander Hugo
DW: Emily Darcy
DS: Charles Charlie
DD: Maria Holly

The player is free to reply to this post giving their opinion on the family they created, but isn't obligated to.

Dice CAF
Basically a Number CAF, but the numbers are chosen at random through a virtual die, rather than chosen by the players. The game host usually provides a link to a suitable virtual die. Not to be confused with a Dice game (see: Game of life).

Count Along CAF
This is a Dice CAF with the only difference being that the namebank is provided in advance so each player can count along themselves to figure out which name each toss of the dice represents. The player replies with the complete named family.

Create a ....
Instead of a family other groups of people can be named to, like a class of student.

Find these games tagged #CAF

The game host starts by posting a list of names, usually around 12 (long lists aren't suitable because of the layout of the Games Board). The first player eliminates one of the names of that list, states which one was taken and then reposts the original list without the eliminated name. The second player replies to the first player's post. The second player eliminates one name as well, states which one was eliminated and reposts the first player's list without the eliminated name. This goes on until there is one name left. Usually the last poster to eliminate a name will post the winning name in the subject line.

Example:

Host

Mary, John, Kate, David

Player 1

Mary, John, David (eliminated Kate)

Player 2

Mary, David (eliminated John)

Player 3

David is the winner! (eliminated Kate)

Variant: Three strikes (and you're out)
This starts with the game hosting posting a list of about 12 names as well. Instead of eliminating a name straight away, the first poster can mark 3 least liked names with an X behind it. The second poster takes the first poster's list (all the names with three of them having an X behind them) and types and X after the three names they like least as well. It's possible for a name to have two X's behind it now. The thrid poster takes the second poster's list and marks three names with an X behind it as well. Now it's possible for a name to have three X's behind it. When this happens, the name gets eliminated from the list. This continues until there's only one name left without 3 X's behind it. If the last player(s) has 3 or less names to choose from, mark all but one of the names. The last poster can announce the winner in the subject line.

Host

Mary
John
Kate
David

Player 1

Mary X
John X
Kate
David X

Player 2

Mary XX
John X
Kate X
David XX

Player 3

Mary XXX OUT!
John XX
Kate X
David XXX OUT!

Player 4, with Subject: Kate is the winner!

Mary XXX OUT!
John XXX OUT!
Kate X
David XXX OUT!

Variant: Reversed elimination
Basically the same thing as an elimination game, except players take out the name they like best, instead of the names they like least, thus ending up with the losing name instead of the winning name.

Find these games tagged #elimination

The game host provides a list of names. The players write down the very first thing that pops into their heads after each name. It doesn't matter how silly it might be. The challenge is to really write down your very first impression or thought.

Find these games tagged #firstthought

The game host provides an extensive set of elements for each family member that can be determined by throwing a virtual die. The player can throw a (virtual) die to determine each of the elements the host provides. After that they are all given names according to the rules the player got from throwing the die.

Example:

Host's post

- First you throw the die to determine the parents’ attributes.
- Then you throw the die to determine what happened at the first birth, and throw to determine the naming rules and colouring of that child (/for each of those children).
- Then you throw the die to determine what happened at the second birth, and throw to determine the naming rules and colouring of that child (/for each of those children).
- Then you throw the die to determine what happened at the third birth, and throw to determine the naming rules and colouring of that child (/for each of those children).
- Feel free to add ages or any other description / story to your family.

Here's the die: https://dice.virtuworld.net/

DH: (name) (hair colour, eye colour) (occupation)
DW: (name) hair colour, eye colour) (occupation)

Format for kids: (name) (hair colour, eye colour)

First name rules
1: A name with 8 or more letters
2: A unisex name
3: A name you consider either boring or trendy
4: A name that is more often used as a nickname
5: A name that ends in –a or –ah for boys, and –o or –an for girls.
6: A rare or unusual name

Middle name rules
1: A city / country / other location name
2: Any variant of John or Alexander
3: A nature name
4: A biblical name
5: A one-syllable name
6: A very old fashioned or dated name

Hair colour
1: Brown
2: Blonde
3: Strawberry blonde
4: Auburn
5: Black
6: Red

Eye colour
1: Blue
2: Gray
3: Green
4: Dark brown
5: Hazel
6: Light brown

Occupation
1: High school teacher (you can choose the subject ie. math, biology, Spanish etc.
2: Manager (you can choose the department ie. finance, marketing, human resource etc.)
3: Artist (you can choose what kind ie. dancing, painting, music etc.)
4: Unemployed / stay-at-home-mom/dad
5: Secret agent (you can choose the ‘cover’ occupation)
6: Military (you can choose their rank / function)

First birth
1: Twin girls (if identical, throw only ONCE for hair + eye colour)
2: A boy
3: A boy
4: Twin boys (if identical, throw only ONCE for hair + eye colour)
5: A girl
6: A girl

Second birth
1: A boy
2: Triplet boys (if identical, throw only ONCE for hair + eye colour)
3: Boy / girl twins
4: Triplet girls (if identical, throw only ONCE for hair + eye colour)
5: Girl / boy twins
6: A girl

Third birth
1: A girl
2: A boy
3: Triplets: 2 boys and a girl (if identical boys, throw only ONCE for hair + eye colour)
4: Triplets: 2 girls and a boy (if identical girls, throw only ONCE for hair + eye colour)
5: A girl
6: A boy

Find these games tagged #gameoflife

The game host provides one or more names for the player to make as creative as they can, while still being pronounced roughly the same as the original. This game can either be for fun or judged. With the judged version the host will announce a creatively spelled winner for each original name. The judged version lends itself well to be played in rounds as well, where one or two names are provided each round, and when the next round is posted, the winners of the previous round are announced.

Host

Catherine and James

Player reply

Qathrynn and Jeymz

Find these games tagged #kre8tive

The game host lists an even number of names, all placed in 'Purgatory'. The first player moves the two names they like best to 'Heaven', and the two names they like least to 'Hell'. The second player, and every player thereafter will move two names to 'Heaven', two names to 'Hell' and will move one least liked name from 'Heaven' back to 'Purgatory' and one best liked name back to 'Purgatory' from 'Hell'. To make it easy for everyone to see what's happening use this template to describe which names each player moved, as a game host it's convenient to include this is your post:

Moved to Heaven:
Moved to Hell:
Back to Purgatory:

When only two names are left in 'Purgatory', the last player only gets to move one to 'Heaven' and one to 'Hell', no names are moved back to 'Purgatory', otherwise the game would have no end. The winners are all the names that and at the end of the game in 'Heaven'.

Example:

Host

Heaven:
Purgatory: John, Kate, David, Mary, Adam, Susan, James, Amy
Hell:

Player 1

Heaven: Mary, Adam
Purgatory: John, Kate, David, Amy
Hell: James, Susan

Moved to Heaven: Mary, Adam
Moved to Hell: James, Susan
Back to Purgatory: N/A

Player 2

Heaven: Adam, David, Kate
Purgatory: Mary, James
Hell: Susan, John, Amy

Moved to Heaven: David, Kate
Moved to Hell: John, Amy
Back to Purgatory: Mary, James

Player 3

Heaven: Adam, David, Kate, James
Purgatory:
Hell: Susan, John, Amy, Mary

Moved to Heaven: David, Kate
Moved to Hell: John, Amy
Back to Purgatory: N/A

Find these games tagged #HHP

The game host provides rules and the player provides names they'd give their own children (or pets, depending on the host's rules), if they had to abide by those rules in real life.

The game host provides 4 combos (FN + MN). Player 1 replies and keeps the FN of one of the combos (and changes the MN), keeps the MN of another combo, swaps one combo around and keeps the initials of the last combo. Player 2 replies to player 1's post and does the same with the combos the first player created.

Example:

Host

Mary Beth
Henry James
Susan Joan
Bill Robert

Player 1

Mary Sue (FN kept)
James Henry (swapped)
Sarah Jane (intials kept)
Peter Robert (MN kept)

Player 2

Judy Sue (MN kept)
Jordan Haley (intials kept)
Sarah Marian (FN kept)
Robert Peter (swapped)

Find these games tagged #keepswapchange

The game host lists several sibling sets that REALLY exist. Of each set, one sibling has been replaced with a question mark and the gender specified. At the bottom a namebank with all the names of the siblings that were taken out of their sibsets are listed, usually separated by gender. The players have to try and correctly match the names from the namebank with the sibsets, replacing each question mark with one of the names from the namebank. The host will then reply to the poster telling them how many they had guessed correctly. After a day or so the game host will reply to their own post with the correctly matched families, so players can see what they guessed wrong and right. This post should have "answers" as the subject.

Example:

Host

John, Jack, (m)?
Ruby, (f)?, Sandy
Dora, (m)?, Greta
(f)?, Julia, Maurice

Namebank: James, Mary, Marcus, Claudia

Player 1

John, Jack, MARCUS
Ruby, MARY, Sandy
Dora, JAMES, Greta
CLAUDIA, Julia, Maurice

Host reply

You've guessed 2 sibsets correctly

Host reply to original post after an unspecified amount of time

The real families:
John, Jack, JAMES
Ruby, MARY, Sandy
Dora, MARCUS, Greta
CLAUDIA, Julia, Maurice

Find these games tagged #match

The game host provides a namebank and asks the players to make a certain amount of combos with them. The players reply with the combos they've come up with.

Find these games tagged #mixandmatch

This game is played in rounds. The game host lists a few unfinished families. The host adds new babies each round to every family for the player to name with guidelines of what kind of name the parents are seeking for the new addition to the family. Players list their suggestions to the families. In the next round the host posts the families with new babies and the chosen combo of all the suggestions by all the players as an older sibling with the name of the player who created it in brackets behind that combo. The game ends when the host posts the final families without providing new siblings.

Example:

Host, with Subject: My NTNB (round 1)

DW: Mary Kate
DH: John David
DS: ?
Mary and John would like to give their child a Biblical first name and a middle name that starts with an A.

Player 1

DW: Mary Kate
DH: John David
DS: Adam Alexander

Player 2

DW: Mary Kate
DH: John David
DS: Lucas Andrew

The host chooses the combo they like best and posts the next round:

Host, with Subject: My NTNB (round 2)

DW: Mary Kate
DH: John David
DS: Lucas Andrew (Player 2)
DD: ?
Lucas has gotten a baby sister. Her parents want her to have a French first name and want to honour her grandmother Johanna Elizabeth with her middle name.

Find these games tagged #NTNB

The game host asks name related quiz questions and the players reply what they think the answers are (preferably without looking around on BtN for the answers). The host can reply to each person telling them how many questions they got right. After a while the host replies to the original post with the answers, putting 'Answers' in the subject line. The questions can be open questions or multiple choice questions or a mix. The only rule for them is that they have to be name related in some way.

Example:

Which name was more popular in the US in 2018?
A) Jack
B) Jackson
C) Jaxon

Which name means 'lame, crippled'?
A) Julia
B) Maria
C) Claudia

Of what name is Lizzie a diminutive(/pet name)?

What is the original spelling of Kiera?

What is a feminine form of Charles?

Find these games tagged #quiz

The game host provides full names and the players reply with (unusual) nicknames for those names. It can be played the other way around as well, where the host provides nicknames and the players reply with full names for those.

The game host starts the game and states the rules, but doesn't provide anything else yet. Players come up with a number of combos set by the host and post them in a reply (usually 2 boys and 2 girls combos). Each player then replies to each of the other players with a number of combos set by the host, to create the perfect the sibset. Since this game is only fun if each player gets a lot of replies, you have to reply to everyone else if you have played as well. The host can participate in this like any regular player.

Find these games tagged #perfectsibling

The game host lists two name options and the players reply with the ones they like best. The hosts usually lists several pairs of options for the players to choose from.

Find these games tagged #thisorthat

The game host provides a list of names. The players reply with what they'd say if they encountered someone with that name in real life and they also state what they'd actually think if they met someone with that name.

Find these games tagged #youthinkyousay