Forest Elves

Feminine or female names that are rooted within the forest elven culture usually come in the form of herbs, flowers or other flora from the place in which a person was born. Specifically to the western Namdia forests' Taiga biome there is trends within several popular names such as Danielle (inspired by Dandelion, Yarra (inspired by Yarrow) or Sarah (inspired by Wood-Sorrel).

Masculine names that are rooted within the forest elven culture or are considered to be traditionally forest elves names would usually be inspired by or in some way resemble the names of the trees that surrounded the person's homestead or that the child was born under. This includes, Beech, Birch, Oak, and Spruce.

Unisex names that are seen as traditional in elven forest culture are usually rooted in the idea of berries or any wild/natural food native to the person's home or homeland. Cranberry, Blueberry, and Lingonberry are the most famous, however there have some been creative names such as the application of just 'Berry', or trending to words without including the -berry suffix such as Lingon, Cran or Blue. Due to their gender-neutral perception in forest-elven culture these last names are also sometimes applied as middle names or pet names.

Elven family names usually come from two main roots, either from the family's homeland tree, or the family's home type. In the event of a child that does not have any known familial ties, such as a bastard, orphan, or otherwise messy situation, the child will be named after the solar season they were born in or found in.

Family Homeland Names

Of the family/surnames from the family homelands there's several major clans that every forest elf living within the western woods has known about for some reason or another.

Breeze/Breezefolk/Breezeborn

The Breezefolk clan is one of the most famous and easily recognisable surnames for Forest Elves, mostly due to the fact that it originates of the people who lives on the plains and outer rungs of the forest, thus giving them the etymology of their name due to the exposure to the breeze. They are more mercantile leaning than other Forest Elves families/clans and thus have found themselves becoming a rather mixed diaspora of folk rather than the more stalwart pedigree seen further within the forest.

This has led to different strains and sects of the family/clan having slightly divergent names, though they all claim the same ancestry. They are welcomed and treated kindly by Forestfolk irrespective of their somewhat disconnected nature due to their strict adherence to the Forest Elves' value system.

Riverfolk/Riverborn

Riverfolk are Forest Elvenfolk whose family originates from the lands surrounding the crossing of the rivers Irenia and Pothalos within the center-north of the woods themselves. They are hardy folk, that not only have built their houses and structures to harmonise with nature but also to deal with the shifting shape of the river and the riverbed itself. Choosing for an ornate, stilt-like design-motif of decorated pillars that slowly reveals a story as the tides ebb and flow. They consider themselves to be the protectors and cultivators of the tides, and overseeing any trade that comes up and down the river. They are highly revered within Forest Elven culture.

Starborn/Starre

Starborn are the Forest Elvenfolk descended by what they consider to be Forest Royalty. Following the myth of the great meteorite which is the foundational myth of origin in Elven culture; and also which created the great clearing which became the site of the Elven Palace.

Forest Elven myth dictates that Starborn are the chosen few who were given the meteorite's powers and thus were given power to uphold and provide for the Forest Elves as a whole. The Starborn see it as their duty and rite to rule and govern the Forest Elves and enforce the Nature's rule. They arbitrate actions and the political ties of the region, acting as semi-royalty within the forest.

Family Homestead Names

Another large subset of surnames comes from the type of house the family lives in. This is usually for those who are part of a clan but with no large or formidable ancestries or lineages that can be traced back. It stands as a signifier of the origins a person comes from still, but more broadly and openly.

An elf may choose to change their last name from a clan's last name to a home last name if they feel more disconnected from their clan or want to be more connected to their life and new family that they've built.

Treetop

Treetop houses are defined by the elves as houses that are made out of, or within the upper branches of a tree, somewhat similar to treehouses children might have in human settlements, but these are larger and more ornate. Treetop houses are usually a living structure, with rooms and decorations being added as more purposes, people, or needs deem them. They grow up and around the tree, but there is great taken to manage the weight and make sure that the house only frames and enhances the tree but does not swallow the tree whole. They usually create woven communities via rope bridges and ziplines, and can slowly branch from one family into an entire neighbourhood. Those with the last name Treetop will have heritage or lineage to one of these communities or have a strong connection to that lifestyle.

Cottage

Cottages are small houses usually bundled together in clearings or amongst the forest floor. They usually are made out of clay or cobbled stone and have a quaint but cozy feeling. People with the last name Cottage come from either a singular cottage settlement, or a small cottage town and feel a deep connection to their roots and lineage amongst this way of life.

Forest elves strive for a natural and simplistic look, which honours their values of enhancing and harmonising with nature instead of attempting to override it entirely. Creativity in enhancement is an added goal, especially with using 'natural' resources such as crushed dyes smudged on the eyelids, high cheeks, or tip of the ears, or adorning yourself with leaves, berries, and even preserved mushrooms.

Ideal Physique

Ideal Physique amongst forest elves usually consists of someone who has enough fat and muscle to capably move and get around without issue. Elvenfolk usually tend to lean towards a more naturally lanky build, although it isn't uncommon to see curvier or stockier elves, especially those of mixed blood.

Gender is not as heavy as a topic as compared to humans, Forest elves will often seek to be the most authentic and 'natural' version of themselves and present as what comes easiest to them. Most Forest Elves regard human genders, or rigid genders as something distinctly synthetic and thus repulsive, and will strive for an androgynous look along the spectrum of the gender that they feel most comfortable within.

Forest Elves will assign their progeny a gendered name, although this is mostly a societal aspect made to aide with courtship and intimacy, and there is no strong societal pressure for certain genders to present metaphysically as either of the gender binary.

Courtship is seen as a giddy, but beautiful thing amongst the forest elves. In their culture, there is alot of romanticising of spontaneous handcrafted gifts, such as wooden trinkets, woven baskets or bags, and homecooked delights, picnics and quality time together, and overall just honest and clearhearted displays of affection. Specifics of a relationship/courtship and the goals within can very vastly differ between each couple, or group of people.

Forest elves value friendship and are very communal folk, usually gathering in small towns of villages of closely related family-communities and branching out occasionally to meet new people and experiences more of the wider forest.