What is in a name? It sets you apart from the rest of the gaming community, giving your character a sense of identity in a world full of sometimes similar models.

I'm sure we can all think of names that teetered on the edge of appropriateness, but still made us chuckle. The naming policy isn't put in place to take fun out of your character, but instead to ensure that the gaming experience is pleasant for as many people as possible.

In most cases, a name that is found to be in violation will be changed to something of your choosing. If the offense is on a more serious level, it is possible to have your name changed to 'Fluffy' and your naming privilege revoked.

Sony Online Entertainment encourages creativity when creating names, but do keep in mind what is not allowed when choosing what to call your character:

  • First and foremost, try to keep your name within the genre of the game you are playing. While Silentstalker may be acceptable (albeit creepy) in PlanetSide, it certainly doesn't fit in the fantasy world of EverQuest.

  • No self-given titles; let Elvis continue to be The King.

  • Shy away from creating names that intend to cause harm to SOE employees.

  • No profane names or homonyms. We're thinkers over here at SOE. We know the secret meaning of 'Smartazz.'

  • No names that reference popular fiction or media characters. Leave 'Britknee Speers' alone.

  • Religious names are a big no-no. If you choose to use these, a higher being might smite you. Beware.

  • Racial slurs are not only distasteful, but they're also probably the easiest way to get banned!

  • Refrain from giving yourself a non-recognizable name. If you desire being called something that appears unpronounceable, just use the random name generator.

  • Don't borrow the name of an NPC. We see enough of Fippy as is.

  • Trademarked names, even if misspelled, are not allowed.

  • Remember: there's only one, The One. Don't use proper names from the various titles (e.g.; Firiona, Vader, Neo)

    • A more thorough version of the official naming policy for SOE games can be found in the Knowledge Base.

    What to do if you see a bad name?

    Cover the eyes of your children.

    Once the innocents are protected, you can use the /petition command in most SOE games. PlanetSide players can utilize the /appeal function, and those in Star Wars Galaxies can press "H" to open the external browser window.