* - - NAMING YOUR FELINE

[RAVEN *]

- - CONSTRUCTING A NAME

This is not a list, but a naming explanation and basics referring to names. It's basically a helping guide to naming your feline yourself.

The names of Clan cats are constructed from two words (for example, Bramble+Claw or Squirrel+Flight). Both of these words pertain to things or notions known to the Clan cats, and usually describe the appearance and / or the personality of the cat. These can be of the following:

Colors and Patterns: White, Golden, Dark, Spotted
Attributes: Brave, Sharp, Sweet, Wild
Body Parts: Claw, Heart, Foot, Tail, Fur
Plants and Animals: Birch, Holly, Hawk, Tiger Flower
Nature: Cloud, Sand, Stream, Stone, Moon
Phenomena: Fire, Mist, Night, Storm
Action: Pounce, Running, Leap, Swift

Names are short, containing generally two or three syllables.

- - FIRST NAME

The first part (prefix) is given by the kit's parents upon its birth. The names can be of the following:

Pertaining to the kit's appearance (Fox- for reddish coat, Tiny- for small size, Squirrel- for bushy tail)
In honor of another cat or ancestor (Leaf- in honor of Leafstar and possibly Spottedleaf, Tiger- in honor of Tigerstar, Cinder- in honor of Cinderpelt)
Other, seemingly unrelated to either (Holly-, Petal-)

- - SECOND NAME

Kits, apprentices and leaders have -kit, -paw and -star respectively as the second part (suffix) of their names by tradition.

Examples: Whitekit, Whitepaw, Whitestar

The suffix of warrior and medicine cat names are assigned by the Clan Leader (or Medicine Cat, respectively), though they (or in some cases one of their parents) can request a specific name for themselves, if they wish.

Examples: Whitestorm, Whitetail, Whitewing

- - RESERVED WORDS

The following notions are generally not used in Clan names (although some have been occasionally):

-star, -kit and -paw are reserved as leader, kit, and apprentice suffixes (e.g. Firestar, Cherrykit, Molepaw) However, Tribe names use these words for their names.
Spirit-, as this represents a sacred notion
Shadow-, Thunder-, River-, Wind-, and Sky- in honor of the Clan founders who first had the names
However, Sky- is used as a prefix and suffix with no regard to the tradition since most cats do not know about SkyClan
"Moon-" is not a reserved name. Bluestar's mother was named Moonflower.

- - ADDRESSING EACH OTHER

Clan cats call each other by their full names, even if they are kin. They do not use pet names, shortened names or titles. There are two exceptions to this rule.

It is considered rude and disrespectful to address a cat by his or her former name (that referred to a lower rank), for example, to address a warrior by their apprentice name or a leader by their warrior name.

If a name does not suit a Clan cat anymore, the Clan leader can decide to change their name via a Name Changing Ceremony. This often happens when a cat receives a significant injury, although it also happens when a warrior retires to the elder's den. For example, after Sparrowpelt had lost part of his tail in a fight with a badger, he was renamed Halftail. The Clan leader can also change a name at the request of another warrior.

* - - Stark