A galleria is defined as "a roofed, usually glass-enclosed promenade or court." I don't know anyone who has enough glass to enclose a structure (that would be quite an expense!) but this is a place to browse through names from around the ancient world. Most of these names come from places I can walk to. The personal names from past civilizations are recorded in their libraries and monuments. Other names come from oracles about the future. Some of these names come from a distant traveler who washed up on the western edge of the Great Sea. She came from a previously unheard of land far to the west. If, in the course of your travels, you find other web sites or lists of ancient names, please let me know.
Mariamne, daughter of Philemon, Librarian of the Peiraeus Public Library, 67 A.D.
Note: This site was created to help people name characters in role playing games set in ancient times. It was originally created to help people role playing on Ancient Sites.
I am now active on
The World:
Names of Europa - - Names of Libya - Names of Asia - Names of the Americas -
Medieval Names Galleria has names from the Anglo-Saxons, Aztecs, Byzantines, Chimu (Chan Chan) Empire, Chinese, Incans, Irish, Mayans, Scandinavians, Toltecs, and Visigoths/Ostrogoths of Spain.
Renaissance Names Galleria has names from England, France, Ireland, Italy, the Netherlands, and Spain and Portugal.
For something completely different, go to Science Fiction Name Galleria for names from Babylon 5 and Lord of the Rings.
Return to the main room of the Peiraeus Public Library.
Sources for the images include:
Please let me know if I have forgotten to credit someone. You may reach me at mariamnephilemon@yahoo.com.
The maps were hand-drawn by Mariamne Philemon.
Note: Another great link for help in choosing historical names for various periods is the Medieval Names Archive
Updated March 7, 2011