Khurbyish names

This page is a catalog of names used in the Khurbyish language, including their meanings, origins, and other details related to each name.  It will focus especially on names of Nummorrian origin, as various forms of Khurbyish were being spoken there for ages before it spread beyond its home planet to become the most common language spoken throughout the First Nherbi and beyond.

For the most part, the three primary species of Nummorro each have their own names, though there is some overlap -- both the Numnums and K'hyurbhis have been known to borrow names from the Blurby naming tradition from time to time (most common among the nomadic Numnums and certain K'hyurbhi tribes with a history of good relations with the Blurbys, such as the Dondu and Blubberwukk), and there are even some names shared among all three species.

Numnum Names

The sorts of names traditionally used by the Numnums tend to be shorter than those favored by the K'hyurbhis and Blurbys, with most of them having two syllables at most.  Three-syllable names are uncommon but not unheard of among Numnums, while longer names are extremely rare.  Numnum names usually end with consonant sounds, though there are occasional exceptions.

Throughout much of the species' history, Numnums have had a tendency to include the fragment "Num" in names they gave their children, though in recent times this has somewhat fallen out of favor among the nomadic Numnums that make up the majority of the population.  "Num" names these days are seen as the old-timey, stuffy-sounding sort of name that you might expect an elderly person to have, and are becoming much less common outside of certain families with ties to the Num Kingdom royalty.

• Ayago (ah-yah-goh)
  
  
• Babozu (bah-boh-zoo) -- A very old name with an origin that isn't entirely clear.  Parts resemble the Khurbyish words ba (wave) and bo (wall), but since the name dates back to a time before the modern Khurbyish language existed it's possible that it has Nummian origins or was derived from some combination of Nummian and Ancient Khurbyish.

• Chazeda (chah-zay-dah)

• Daduf (dah-doof)
  
  
• Enno (ehn-oh) -- From the Khurbyish word meaning "wagon" or "cart," commonly used to refer to the rolling storage containers used by nomadic Numnums.

• Gourbik (gohr-bihk)

• Immun (ih-muhn) -- Resembles the Khurbyish words ih (to move) and mun (disguise) at a glance, but it's unclear if the name Immun is actually derived from those words or from an older Nummian source.

• Jyko (jai-koh)

• Kirib (kih-rihb) -- From the Khurbyish word meaning "friend."

• Klah (klah)
  
  
• Kril (krihl) -- From the Khurbyish word meaning "small."

• Kurizo (koo-ree-zoh) -- Likely derived from the Khurbyish word kuriz (to carry or haul.)

• Lelduf (lehl-doof)

• Narmer (nahr-muhr) -- From the Khurbyish words narr (snowy) and mer (forest clearing, open area.)

• Narru (nahr-oo) -- From the Khurbyish word narr (snowy) and oo (one, being, person.)  May have originally been given to a Numnum with entirely white feathers including the usually more-colorful head plume, or perhaps even an albino.

• Nazunba (nah-zoon-bah)
  
  
• Nezu (nee-zoo)

• Numa (noo-mah)

• Numm (nuhm) -- An old and somewhat uncommon name with two possible origins.  Numm may have begun as a nickname for one of the other "Num" names (such as Nummer) and only later saw use as a name in its own right.  Another possibility is that it came about as a result of Numnum parents naming their children after the star that the planet Nummorro orbits, which is most commonly referred to as "Num" (most commonly used in num-hikoyiyaku, or "the Num solar system.")

• Nummer (nuhm-uhr) -- From the Khurbyish word meaning "Numnum-like," used to describe things with some relation to Numnums.  Though fallen somewhat out of favor in the past couple centuries, the name Nummer still has a reputation as being extremely common and is seen as the "generic" Numnum name, similarly to "John Smith" for an English-speaking human (or how "John/Jane Doe" is used for those whose identity is unknown.)

• Nummo (nuhm-oh)

• Nummy (nuhm-ee)

• Siposu (see-poh-soo)
  
  
• Smuya (smoo-yah)

• Snoro (snohr-oh)

• Tetu (tay-too)
  
  
• Togo (toh-goh) -- From the Khurbyish word meaning "green," a name likely given to Numnum children who were born with green feather plumes.

K'hyurbhi Names

Names originating among the K'hyurbhis are noted for varying wildly from one region to the next, which is not surprising considering that they are the most populous of the three major Nummorrian species and over half of their population is divided up between eight tribes spread out across all of Nummorro.

K'hyurbhi names are often longer than Numnum and Blurby names, and almost always end with a vowel sound -- names ending in a consonant sound are often older names, some of them so old that they are derived from Ancient Khurbyish rather than a more modern form, and are used almost exclusively by the Hoi tribe.  Some K'hyurbhi names describe physical features of the individual, such as the colors and locations of their k'hyurbhiwalen markings or other features that stood out to the parents.

• Arkar (ahr-kahr) -- A name with several possible origins.  Arkar is a Khurbyish word meaning "thin" or "bony."  The name could also be derived from ark (to punch or hit) and arr (hand, fist), or perhaps even from either arr or ark in combination with kar (third.)

• Arkdiki (ahrk-dee-kee) -- Likely from the Khurbyish words ark (to punch or hit) and di (center, point), and possibly kihu (west.)

• Arku (ahr-koo) -- From the Khurbyish word meaning "thorn," "small horn," or "spike."  Arku is commonly used to refer to the spikes that grow on K'hyurbhis' heads.

• Araggi (ah-raag-ee)

• Arrati (ah-raat-ee)

• Bitiru (bih-teer-oo)

• Buribolo (boo-ree-boh-loh) -- From the Khurbyish words buri (red) and bolo (foot.)  Until a few centuries ago this name was about as common as the other "-bolo" names, but has fallen out of favor due to the fact that the most well-known Buribolo in recent history is a notorious criminal, a cannibalistic serial murderer currently imprisoned in Anan.

• Buriplo (boo-ree-ploh) -- From the Khurbyish words buri (red) and plo, an older Ancient Khurbyish form of the modern word pluo (face, head.)

• Dodoru (doh-dohr-oo) -- From the Khurbyish words do (up), dor (above), and oo (one.)

• Errei (ayr-ay)

• Hoai (hoh-ai)

• Hui (hoo-ee)
  
  
• Iehro (ee-eh-roh)

• Kaku (kaa-koo)

• Karku (kahr-koo) -- Likely derived from the Khurbyish words ka (three) and arku (spike.)  Another possible origin is from kar (third) and ku (child.)

• Kherber (kuhr-buhr) -- From the Khurbyish word meaning "K'hyurbhi-like," used to describe things with some relation to K'hyurbhis.  Basically the K'hyurbhi equivalent to Nummer, but with even stronger "placeholder name" connotations -- to the point where if a K'hyurbhi introduces themselves simply as "Kherber" without specifying a surname or tribal affiliation, it will be assumed to be an alias rather than their real name.

• Kunukki (koon-uhk-ee)

• Kurb (kuhrb) -- Likely began as a nickname for Kherber, and only later saw use as a name in its own right.

• Mahubolo (mah-hoo-boh-loh) -- From the Khurbyish words mahu (yellow) and bolo (foot.)

• Mahuplo (mah-hoo-ploh) -- From the Khurbyish words mahu (yellow) and plo, an older Ancient Khurbyish form of the modern word pluo (face, head.)

• Obuyo (oh-boo-yoh)

• Orannudum (oh-raan-oo-duhm)

• Peken (peh-kehn)

• Sazbolo (sahz-boh-loh) -- From the Khurbyish words saz (blue) and bolo (foot.)

• Sazplo (sahz-ploh) -- From the Khurbyish words saz (blue) and plo, an older Ancient Khurbyish form of the modern word pluo (face, head.)

• Teyu (teh-yoo)

• Togobolo (toh-goh-boh-loh) -- From the Khurbyish words togo (green) and bolo (foot.)

• Togoplo (toh-goh-ploh) -- From the Khurbyish words togo (green) and plo, an older Ancient Khurbyish form of the modern word pluo (face, head.)

• Tugian (too-gee-uhn) -- From the Khurbyish words tu (to multiply or combine) and gian (muscle.)  A name primarily used by the Hoi tribe, it has its origins in an older form of the Khurbyish language, where tu had an additional meaning similar to the modern tuham (very, a lot) rather than only its current usage.  Tugian could be translated roughly as "very muscular" or "a lot of muscle."

• Ukki (uhk-ee) -- From the Khurbyish word meaning "sneaky" or "stealthy."

• Wakubolo (waa-koo-boh-loh) -- From the Khurbyish words waku (orange) and bolo (foot.)

• Wakuplo (waa-koo-ploh) -- From the Khurbyish words waku (orange) and plo, an older Ancient Khurbyish form of the modern word pluo (face, head.)

• Walyu (wahl-yoo) -- From the Khurbyish words wal (color) and yu (to be.)

• Wapiku (wah-pee-koo) -- From the Khurbyish words wapi (mouth) and ku (child.)

• Yarku (yahr-koo) -- Derived from the Khurbyish words ya (two) and arku (spike.)  Another possible origin is from yar (second) and ku (child.)

• Yegobolo (yay-goh-boh-loh) -- From the Khurbyish words yego (gray) and bolo (foot.)

• Yegoplo (yay-goh-ploh) -- From the Khurbyish words yego (gray) and plo, an older Ancient Khurbyish form of the modern word pluo (face, head.)

Blurby Names

The names of the Blurbys often follow several unusual traditions not found in Numnum or especially K'hyurbhi names.  Many common Blurby names are based on the Khurbyish words for landforms or weather phenomenon, most often ones which were present at the place and time that the young Blurby was given their name -- for example, the name Ondu derives from on (slow) and du (wind), most likely first given to a young Blurby born on a day where the wind was blowing but only very gently.

Others are derived from the words for less physical concepts, often connecting in some way to the principles of the Tahttu which many Blurbys regard as either a sacred text or a good set of guidelines for how to live one's life.  For example, the Tahttu emphasizes the importance of remembering the past and one's ancestors, and a common Blurby name is Sahk, derived from sah (memory.)  Sahk is also an example of another uniquely Blurbian naming tradition, adding a stray consonant sound (or less commonly, an "o" sound) with no specific meaning onto the end of an ordinary word in order to turn it into a name.

• Acralnuo (ah-kraal-noo-oh) -- Derived from the Khurbyish word acralnu, a rapidly-growing Nummorrian shrub that dies and regrows each year, also the namesake of the second month in the Nummorrian calendar.

• Anduo (ahn-doo-oh) -- Likely a variation of Ondu.

• Arruo (ahr-oo-oh) -- Derived from the Khurbyish word arr (hand or fist.)

• Auhak (ah-oo-hahk) -- From the Khurbyish word auha (to connect.)

• Bippi (bih-pee) -- After the Bippi Forest, a large forested area covering much of the central regions of the continent of Blurbonazz.

• Blubbarr (bluhb-ahr) -- From the Khurbyish words blub (to orbit, to move in a circle) and arr (hand or fist.)

• Blurbwazo (bluhrb-wah-zoh) -- Probably derived from Blurby and the Khurbyish word wa (sword.)  The origin of the last syllable is less clear; zo means "shadow" in modern Khurbyish, but since this is an older name it's possible that it may be of Nummian or Ancient Khurbyish origin instead.  It may also be related to wazzu, a type of curved Blurbian sword.

• Bok (bahk) -- From the Khurbyish word ba (wave.)

• Bork (bohrk) -- Possibly derived from the Khurbyish word bo (wall) or from bor (ten.)

• Borre (bohr-ay) -- From the Khurbyish word meaning "hill."

• Botah (boh-tah) -- From the Khurbyish word meaning "cliff."

• Chobio (choh-bee-oh)
  
  
• Chodd (chahd)

• Chodzuo (chahd-zoo-oh)
  
  
• Codobo (koh-doh-boh) -- From the Khurbyish word meaning "valley."

• Crazznu (craaz-noo) -- Possibly derived from the Khurbyish words crah (a sort of tea made from the dried and powdered interior of a crakunut fruit) and noo (to stick or cling.)

• Crikki (crih-kee)

• Darri (dahr-ee) -- From the Khurbyish word meaning "tree."
  
  
• Dohu (doh-hoo) -- Likely derived from the Khurbyish word meaning "north."  Another possible origin is from do (up, above) and hu (beam.)

• Dula (doo-lah) -- From the Khurbyish word meaning "sound of wind."

• Dumazan (doo-mahz-ahn) -- From the Khurbyish words dumoz (windstorm) and on (slow.)

• Dumazo (doo-mahz-oh) -- From the Khurbyish word dumoz (windstorm.)

• Dundu (duen-doo) -- From the Khurbyish words doon (shield) and du (wind.)
  
  
• Eisahk (ay-sahk) -- From the Khurbyish words ei (funny) and sah (memory.)

• Enduo (ehn-doo-oh) -- Possibly derived from the Khurbyish words en (alive, living, to live) and du (wind.)

• Enhak (ehn-hahk) -- From the Khurbyish word enha (to survive.)

• Eruo (eh-roo-oh) -- Likely derived from the Khurbyish word ruoh (the past, before.)

• Etta (eht-ah)

• Fasukh (fah-sook) -- From the Khurbyish word fasu (air, sky.)

• Fuhd (fuhd)
  
  
• Geduma (geh-doo-mah) -- Possibly derived from the Khurbyish words gehu (south) and du (wind); the final syllable "ma" is of unclear origin, but may have been derived from moz (loud noise such as an explosion or thunder.)

• Gehu (geh-hoo) -- From the Khurbyish word meaning "south."

• Grubo (groo-boh) -- From the Khurbyish word meaning "focus," "attention," or "concentration."

• Guchtak (guhch-tahk) -- From the Khurbyish word guchtah (sandstone.)

• Guon (goo-ahn) -- From the Khurbyish gu (weight) and on (slow), perhaps first given to children who were large at birth but moved or grew slowly.
  
  
• Guondo (goo-ahn-doh) -- Likely a variation of Guon.
  
  
• Gutapi (goo-tah-pee) -- From the Khurbyish word meaning "herb."

• Guvek (goo-vehk) -- From the Khurbyish word guveh (grain, seed, nut.)

• Habbio

• Hahsua (hah-soo-ah) -- From the Khurbyish word hah (tough) and sua (beach or coast.)

• Hahwhoomp (hah-woomp) -- From the Khurbyish word hah (tough), also used as a verb meaning "to endure or resist."  Whoomp is onomatopoeia for a heavy impact, so the name carries implications of being able to endure heavy blows.

• Hamwudi (haam-wue-dee) -- From the Khurbyish words ham (tall, big, great) and wudi (forest.)

• Iilu (ee-loo) -- From the name for a small species of Nummorrian flowers known to sprout near the beginning of each year, also the name of the first month on the Nummorrian calendar.

• Izpak (ihz-pahk) -- From the Khurbyish word izpa (to trust.)

• Jadeo (jah-day-oh) -- From the Khurbyish words jah (to clear up) and deo (confusion.)

• Jakarjo (jah-kahr-joh) -- A very unusual name of unclear origin.  May be partially derived from the Khurbyish words kar (third) and jo (knife.)

• Jiju (jee-joo) -- From the Khurbyish words ji (balance, stability) and ju (young, new, fresh.)  Implies the parents' hope for their lives to settle down after the child's birth, or perhaps that caring for the newborn will bring them closer together.
  
  
• Jozo (joh-zoh) -- Possibly derived from the Khurbyish words jo (knife) and zo (shadow.)

• Kar (kahr) -- From the Khurbyish word meaning "third."

• Kihlur (kih-luhr)

• Kikbuht (kihk-buht)

• Kobb (kahb) -- Possibly from the Khurbyish word ka (three.)

• Kuran (koo-raan) -- From the Khurbyish ku (child) and ran (ocean.)
  
  
• Luhi (loo-hai) -- From the Khurbyish word meaning "early morning," "dawn," or "sunrise."

• Marru (mah-roo) -- Possibly from the Khurbyish word mah (weapon) and the fragment ru (used to indicate past tense), implying a hope for peace.

• Matsu (maat-soo) -- Possibly from the Khurbyish word mat (bottle or small jar.)
• Momobo (moh-moh-boh)

• Nokku (nahk-oo) -- Possibly from the Khurbyish word nakta (ice.)

• Norgu (nohr-goo) -- From the Khurbyish words nor (in, inside, internal) and gu (weight.)  Norgu is a phrase used in the Tahttu, and carries a similar meaning to the phrase "inner strength," with implications that a Blurby who was given this name is stronger or "bigger" in some way than their outward appearance implies.

• Ogu (oh-goo) -- Possibly from the Khurbyish words oh (six) and gu (weight.)

• Ondu (ahn-doo) -- From the Khurbyish words on (slow) and du (wind.)

• Porubo (pohr-oo-boh)

• Rilzipi (rihl-zih-pee)

• Sahk (sahk) -- From the Khurbyish word sah (memory.)

• Saka (sahk-ah) -- Likely a variation of Sahk.
  
  
• Sozipi (soh-zih-pee)

• Tanduo (taand-oo-oh) -- From the Khurbyish words tand (body) and uo (soul.)

• Taror (tah-rohr) -- From the Khurbyish words tah (rock) and rohr (to jump or to bounce.)  This name was likely inspired by the sight of a falling rock hitting some surface at just the right angle to bounce back up after impact.

• Toribo (tohr-ih-boh)

• Turb (tuhrb) -- From the Khurbyish word meaning "busy."
  
  
• Ukarnol (oo-kahr-nohl) -- Derived from the Khurbyish words ukaru (crystal, gem) and no (bag, container, to hold.)

• Upchukk (uhp-chuhk)

• Vuo (voo-oh) -- Possibly derived from the Khurbyish word vu (gold.)
  
  
• Vuta (voo-tah) -- From the Khurbyish word meaning "truth," "fact," or "reality."

• Wakuwudi (waa-koo-wue-dee) -- From the Khurbyish words waku (orange) and wudi (forest.)

• Wo'ahak (woh-ah-hahk) -- From the Khurbyish word wo'aha (to understand, specifically in the sense of understanding how things function or how to do something.)

• Wooburs (woo-buhrz)

• Wovu (woh-voo) -- From the Khurbyish word meaning "wisdom."

• Wukk (wuhk) -- From the Khurbyish word meaning "fire" or "flame."

• Yourgh (yohrg) -- Likely derived from the Khurbyish word yohr (ninth), perhaps implying parents who had run out of ideas for names after having eight children -- an unusually large family by Blurby standards.

• Yuyek (yoo-yehk) -- From the Khurbyish word yuye (to give.)
  
  
• Zuo (zoo-oh) -- From the Khurbyish word meaning "future."

Other Names

Some of the names on the following list are names of unclear origin, used across two or more species native to Nummorro with no clear records as to who came up with them first.  Others are Khurbyish names from other Nummorrian species aside from the Numnums, K'hyurbhis, and Blurbys, or from other planets altogether.

• Abaanaan (ay-baa-naan) -- Origin unclear; nan is a Khurbyish word for "cave," but it's possible that this name is at least partially derived from a non-Khurbyish source.  Used by the Guraoo, a species from another solar system that encountered early K'hyurbhi explorers and learned Khurbyish from them.

• Bahbu (bah-boo) -- From the Khurbyish word meaning "tailor" or "knitter."
  
  
• Fasu (fah-soo) -- From the Khurbyish word meaning "sky."  Known to be used by both the Numnums and occasionally Blurbys.
  
  
• Guo (goo-oh)
  
  
• Gurinban (goo-reen-baan) -- From the Khurbyish words gurin (plants) and ban (cape.)  Used by the Guraoo, a species from another solar system that encountered early K'hyurbhi explorers and learned Khurbyish from them.

• Jaru (jahr-oo) -- From the Khurbyish word meaning "farmer."

• Hamu (haam-oo) -- From the Khurbyish ham meaning "tall" or "great."
  
  
• Oomawa (oo-muh-wah) -- From the Khurbyish word meaning "builder."  One of the rare few names used by all three of Nummorro's primary species, though it is more common among Numnums and Blurbys.

• Rahtinban (rah-teen-baan) -- From the Khurbyish words rahtin (brown) and ban (cape.)  Used by the Guraoo, a species from another solar system that encountered early K'hyurbhi explorers and learned Khurbyish from them.

• Sazo (sahz-oh) -- A name used by both the K'hyurbhis and Blurbys, albeit with differing meanings.  The K'hyurbhi version is derived from the Khurbyish words saz (blue) and oh (six), while the Blurbian version comes from sah (memory) and zo (shadow.)

• Shadzu (shahd-zoo)

• Sudzu (sued-zoo) -- From the Khurbyish word meaning "guard," "watcher," or "lookout."

• Teyguo (tay-goo-oh)

• Ukaru (oo-kahr-oo) -- From the Khurbyish word meaning "crystal" or "gem."

• Unarru (uhn-ahrr-oo) -- From the Khurbyish word meaning "right-handed."  Used occasionally by both K'hyurbhis and Blurbys.
  
  
• Uzzi (uhz-ee)

A bit of a fresh start.

So, if you know me (or if you're one of my internet stalkers) you're probably aware of my other blog on here, titled "Fnrrf Ygm Schnish."

This blog isn't a replacement for that one -- the point of it is to split "information about the 40 Nherbis" content away from the "game-making talk, news, and random silliness" of the other blog rather than having the two of them jumbled together haphazardly like I did before.

Part of the reason for this was the massive undertaking that the Khurbyish language project has been.  The Khurbyish Dictionary page on the other blog was so outrageously large that it was almost painful to edit after Blogger's recent-ish updates.  What it is about "updates" to programs, sites, etc. making them run more sluggishly with few to no actual improvements?  But anyway... after that update, adding onto the gigantic page that the Khurbyish Dictionary had grown to be had become nearly impossible.  So the first thing I used this new blog for was to separate out the Khurbyish Dictionary into multiple pages (sorted by English alphabetical order just like how the page was divided up before, of course.)  That split-up should mean that individual pages won't be approaching "too big to comfortably edit" size anytime soon.

Citizens of the Hamster Republic, eaters of Slime Salad, inhabitants of paradoxical castles, and especially anyone who foams at the mouth and screams "Kirby" at the mere sight of a creature with a round body -- I recommend you ignore this blog's existence.  Unless you have a legitimate interest in the 40 Nherbis worldbuilding, this blog is not for you.  You'll find the other one to be a much more hospitable place, as that's the one where occasional updates about my OHRRPGCE game-making projects (and perhaps others) and random rants will be posted.

But anyone who has any actual interest in the 40 Nherbis, this blog is for you -- regardless of whether you're a friend from way back who remembers some of the older versions before I tidied things up a bit, or a friend from college who might've seen me playtesting Okédoké or heard me talk about various other projects, or you don't know me but you played Bok's Expedition or Alleghany Hell School and wanted to find out more about the world(s) you get a glimpse of in those games, or you just enjoy reading about people's made-up worlds and the alien lifeforms that inhabit them.