PROLOGUE:
UNDERSTANDING WARRIORS
For one, we'll start early on in Warrior lore. To be a warrior, a cat must be generous and must understand self-sacrifice, because the foundation of the Warrior Code is, essentially, that the Clan comes first. If that fact is disregarded, it could be said that the cat is no longer a warrior, or doesn't understand the ways of warriorhood. This is the purpose of apprenticeship, to teach the warrior-in-training not only to hunt and fight, but to serve the Clan as a true warrior.
It isn't a good name that makes a warrior, but the character of the cat. However, with a good name, every other cat will know just how well they behave, what they're best at and what they're known for, or how highly revered they are in the Clan. This is why a Deathreaper or Boneclaw is unacceptable. This disregards not only the warrior code, but reality. We'll discuss this soon!
A warrior is an honorable, respectable cat, and one of the best ways to represent that good reputation is a good name. Below are a few examples, before I show you just how it works. :)
Sandstorm: Sandkit undoubtedly describes a very pale kitten, an obvious name to give a light ginger cat at birth. As Sandpaw grew up, she developed a very harsh and spiteful personality, which we can see is illustrated in her warrior name: Sandstorm. Sand, being rough, illustrates her personality in being both unfriendly and rude. So, therefore: Sandstorm is a pale ginger tabby, with a habit of being very snappy and blunt. (You will notice that even as Sandstorm grows older and more mature, she is still a whirlwind of thought, and is still known mostly for her very sharp and witty tongue.)
Fireheart: Firepaw, as Bluestar stated, was named for his fiery coat, that held the light of a blazing fire when the sun was upon it. (But, little known fact, he was named almost solely for the prophecy of Spottedleaf). His suffix, Bluestar also explained (somewhat, and not in-depth), represents his caring personality. He cared for every cat, every Clan, and made it obvious, even if it broke the rules of being a warrior. He wasn't afraid to support and take care of others, which meant he had heart, a very brave, and considerate heart. Fireheart, therefore, represents a dark ginger tom with a passionate personality.
The above names could be written in this equation, of sorts: appearance + personality (they are also noun + noun, and very, very few names work out that well). There are other equations!
Goldenflower: This name describes two things, the cat, and the flower. The flower we know is yellow, and the cat we know is golden and very motherly. The double meaning is a step ahead of the former names, mentioning the cat and an object that represents them for what they look like, and how they behave.
Here we see a naming equation that resembles something like adjective + noun, which describes (because of the adjective in the prefix) both the cat and the suffix! You've hit two birds with one stone.
This isn't a very common way to name warriors, because it is a very delicate process, but it can sometimes be the most highly revered and best ways to consider. (This is very similar to the names above, but don't get them confused. The former names describe the cat's appearance and personality separate, and do not denote a second image found in nature. -- Sandstorm could be considered iffy, but it denotes more her personality, as sandstorms don't occur in heavily forested or grassy areas like where the cats live.)
However, certain names only describe what the cat looks like by using this equation: adjective + noun. Similar to the above, but the suffix here is solely a part found on the cat's body. Here, you are directly describing the cat in question and nothing else. These names are simple, but very direct.
Bluefur: A very simple, obvious name, very average and easy to remember. Names like these are the best of the best, denoting physical features only, and painting that solid image of what the cat looks like. This is undoubtedly the most traditional and canon way of making names, and though they do not immediately stand out, they are very much a name.
Then, there are the special names, that no true equation appears to fit. It is not suggested that one name their cat in this manner, as it can be a controversial subject in and out of roleplay.
Leafpool: Rarely are cats named after previous members of the Clan, but everyone knows that Leafpool was named after Spottedleaf and Leafdapple, and that her suffix came from finding the Moonpool. This is not always the best way to name your cat, because most often, events are not important enough to hold in regard, and past family members or loved ones will not be remembered once they're gone. To name a kit after some other cat is very selfish of the mother, whether or not the kit has qualities of that name. (It makes little sense to begin with that Leafpool was named after the Moonpool, as the cat that found the Moonstone was not named after it.)
CLAN NAMING STYLES
Everyone's heard of the legendary cat Clans, LeopardClan, TigerClan, and LionClan, and that cats do get prefixes from these particular cats. No, these Clans did not--and do not--exist where the current four Clans live (or lived, if you want to be technical), and are merely myths that the cats tell. They're inspirational stories, sort of like nursery rhymes for kids today. We can safely assume that because leopards, tigers, and lions are all real cats, and that because domestic cats (such as the warrior ferals) have lineage in them, that the Clans would understand what they were.
It's completely acceptable to name your cat after one of these Clans, because they are not sacred or spiritual. Think of it as naming your little boy John, Abraham, or Mathew--if you catch my drift. They're good names for strong representation of ancestry and appearance, and work really well for traditional, canon cats.
SkyClan Cats
SkyClan was always known for naming their cats in an absurd fashion, or at least, in a way that was very different from the other four Clans. Names like Echosong, Cherrypaw, or Sharpclaw weren't oddities to them, so therefore that is why Firestar gave the new warriors of SkyClan such names. It isn't, however, a practiced tradition of the other Clans. It wouldn't be expected to see an Echo/suffix or Sharp/suffix in ThunderClan, WindClan, RiverClan, or ShadowClan.
Odd Names
This section is no longer being kept up to date..
Everyone knows that the series has its fair share of names that don't apply to these, and here they are, with their own explanations:
★ Brokentail/star: Brokenkit was named so as punishment, more or less. Yellowfang broke the warrior code in having him, but Brokenkit also had a hooked tail when he was born, so the name essentially has two plausible meanings.
"Yellowfang says that the queen she gives her kit to must think he was named as so for his tail, when she named him for the way her heart felt when she left the nursery; like it was broken." -- Thanks Jade!
★ Raggedstar. See the ShadowClan naming techniques.
★ Talltail/star: It is completely possible that a kit can be born with longer legs and a noticeably longer tail. It wouldn't be a completely uncommon name or build to come from lean, agile cats.
★ Crookedstar: Crookedstar might have been a rename, we don't know, but he probably wasn't born with a crooked jaw. Crookedstar was renamed for playing too rough on Sunning Rocks, and twisting his jaw in an accident. :) Thanks Wildheart for pointing this out in CotC!
★ Clawface: EDIT Clawface was born a rogue! We don't know if he was born in the Clan or not, but given he was a ShadowClan cat during the reign of a terrible leader, we can assume that he was not particularly Clan-born, and was possibly a rogue like many other ShadowClanners at the time.
★ Ferncloud: Like Hawkfrost, Ferncloud's name has meaning too. Fern/bracken (the same thing) is given to cats of neutral color (gray and brown) as seen with Brackenfur.
★ Greenflower: She hasn't been mentioned since Forest of Secrets. There's no reason to assume that she is an important or plausible character. She isn't listed in the allegiances either, and apparently she lacks an appearance.
★ Hawkfrost: The prefix came from his fur color, the suffix from his eyes. A bad combination, but the name does have meaning, despite what people claim.
★ Jaggedtooth: He was also a rogue, and joined ShadowClan during a time when honor and respect was not relevant to them.
★ Pouncetail: Kits can't pounce during the time of naming, it has no physical meaning, and only sounds nice. Plus, what warrior wants to be recognized for behaving like a kit? Pouncing on tails instead of hunting and fighting? That's the way of the warrior, these days, I guess. I can't justify this name, I hope no one else thinks they can, either. It's ridiculous.
★ Runningwind: A very Native American name, but it isn't plausible for a warrior. One, because warriors are literal, and two because the name doesn't describe the cat. There is no such thing as a wind that runs in reality, and neither word describes him. He is described as a "swift tabby tom", but how would a queen know her kit was swift when he was born? If he had been injured (or, lol, killed!) wouldn't that be a sad-to-do? So, Runningwind is most probably one of the strangest of the strange. Pretty, but does it dignify a cat? No, it doesn't.
★ Rainwhisker: "Rain" is not an uncommon prefix, and is handy when it comes to describing a fluid blue-gray kit. The suffix in Rainwhisker's name most likely comes from dark, long whiskers.
★ Squirrelflight: She has dark ginger fur, not uncommon in a European red squirrel. It's not uncommon to name cats after animals that have relative appearances. Her suffix comes from her speed and agility, and works well with her prefix. Squirrels jump from branch to branch, almost like they're flying.
★ Sneezekit: Cute, but this name doesn't have a place in traditionalism at all... I don't know what mother would fancy really naming her kit after a cold--what if the cold had aspired to greencough? And essentially, the Erins said he was named because it was cute, with little other thought put into it. :( Again, a name no one can justify.
★ Bumblekit: No one cares that it's a cute name, it's pointless.
★ Tumblekit: No one cares that it's a cute name, it's pointless.
★ Leafpool: Named both for Spottedleaf and Leafdapple, Leafpool acquired her suffix from the discovery of the Moonpool. This is not the appropriate fashion for naming the average Joe of a cat--which we know Leafpool is not.
★ Yellowfang & Runningnose: Personally, I have never seen anything wrong with this name--given that we don't know for a fact if she was renamed or not. Seeing as there are several medicine cats with strange names from ShadowClan (Runningnose, for instance), we can't be sure that medicine cats aren't renamed. Runningkit, Yellowkit? They don't make sense for kit names, but you'll notice that the name applies most definitely to the adult cat. Yellowfang is unkempt and brutal, with dirty yellow fangs. Runningnose has a never ending cold. These names apply to the adult, but not the kit. Because they don't apply to the kit, we can't assume that they were given at birth without solid proof. Then again! We do know that both of these cats belong to ShadowClan, who, as we know from past experience, do not honor cats with plausible names.
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Naming Traditions Between the Clans
Each Clan seems to have their own interest when it comes to naming. Below we'll discuss what those are.
ThunderClan: Carefree and untroubled, ThunderClan tends to name their cats in a way that reflects... well, carelessness. Birchfall is undoubtedly a troublesome name, but ThunderClan's optimism and high spirits normally don't interfere with naming. They are, after all, known to accept loners and kittypets into the Clan, without forcing cats to take on the name of a true warrior. Naming is not an important tradition to ThunderClan cats these days, that much is obvious. Has the spotlight softened their courageous outer shells?
RiverClan: Possibly the most reasonable Clan (at the moment), RiverClan names their cats most carefully and sensibly, based on appearance. Most cats in RiverClan are sleek and gray, much like the river they live beside, and tend to be named after natural objects. Mistyfoot, Stonefur, Feathertail, Silverstream, and Graypool are only a few examples (most often their names reflect their most prized resource: Water). Their names tend to be very reasonable, and accent the cat they were given to for their most notable attributes.
WindClan: Very much like ThunderClan, WindClan have something of a strange streak to their names. They technically do not describe the cat for their basic appearance, as we can see from Tallstar, Onewhisker, Heatherpaw, and Breezepaw. However, other names are very obvious--but they tend to illustrate darker cats. Mudclaw, Crowfeather, and Nightcloud for example. WindClan seem to have very little reason behind the majority of their names, unlike RiverClan and certain ThunderClan cats.
ShadowClan: The weirdest of them all... ShadowClan do not seem to name their cats in reasonable manners, but then again, that's expected. ShadowClan are known for their crudeness, even if we see a soft side to them every now and then. Perhaps with Tawnypelt's, formerly of ThunderClan, new kits, we will begin to see a brighter, new respect for cats in ShadowClan. But, for the most part, cats that grew up in the reign of Raggedstar or Brokenstar (or certain leaders before then), will not have respectable names, because their leaders were uncaring and undignified (or at least, somewhat so).
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Naming Generators
Do NOT trust these with ANYTHING. Whether it's the generator on the official Warriors site, or the one at Warriors Wish, do NOT use these. The combinations are very poor, and needless to say, they do not follow rules of traditionalism. Names from generators are also less personal and meaningful, and it is not suggested that anyone use them.
Strange Suffixes
FLIGHT : A common suffix for bird or other flighty animal prefixes. It would be a good word to use to describe a cat's agility and swiftness, though it would make little sense if not used with a prefix that already indicated speed (Sparrowflight, Crowflight, Robinflight, etc). It's a very easy word to look over in rating, however, and many people tend to give it bad scores because it's "common".
STEP : Only a word you'll want to use with an animal prefix, or an adjective prefix (colors do fall under the "adjective" category). Names like Softstep may indicate a fluffy cat with a gentle stride, or Tigerstep for a muscular, well balanced cat. However, "step" does not work well with other nouns, such as Fernstep or Cloudstep, as better suffixes can be chosen to accent the prefix if it's a noun. For example, an agile cat with the prefix "oak" would probably get a suffix such as "foot", which will be more inclined to describe both the color of the cat and their most noticeable feature--their feet. "Step" may indicate any type of gait, but should be accented by the prefix--if possible.
CALL/SONG : This name does not belong in traditionalism, as "song" is a SkyClan suffix. However, it can be used with animal prefixes if you intend to roleplay in a setting that is irrelevant to the previous four Clans.