Topic: Good name for a race of telepathic humans?

[EltonJ]

I was wondering if anyone of you can suggest a good name for a race of telepathic humans?  I'm using the name "Fremen," but I don't want to step on Frank Herbert's shoes.

[Druss_the_Legend]

if you include some more details about your game world, races that exist there already or the names of some factions you can input the details into ai such as ChatGPT or BingChat Copilot.
I could suggest many names but they may not fit your vision for your setting.

Am I right in assuming it is a scifi setting or is it more like middle earth?

[EltonJ]

if you include some more details about your game world, races that exist there already or the names of some factions you can input the details into ai such as ChatGPT or BingChat Copilot.
I could suggest many names but they may not fit your vision for your setting.

Am I right in assuming it is a scifi setting or is it more like middle earth?

Actually, it's a fantasy setting.  The World of Greyhawk.  I was going to do a write up for the race for Rolemaster (and AD&D 2nd Edition).  The World of Greyhawk is the first setting to be published for AD&D.  And many adventures were set there.

[EltonJ]

Some more details:
* They have no voice box, no vocal chords.
* They look like us, except males don't have an Adam's apple.  (vocal chords).
* They communicate through the transmission and reading of thoughts.  So their brain's transceiver is highly developed and active (we have a transceiver in our brains too, but it's mostly passive and works in the background).
* They typically go naked.

I can do a race write up for HARP SF too, if anyone would like to see it.

[GrumpyOldFart]

Humans call them Mentas.

They don't have a name for themselves as such. The thought pattern they use to denote themselves "translates" (if there is such a thing) to "people." And yes, that means that they don't consider other races to quite be people.

[MisterK]

Humans call them Mentas.

They don't have a name for themselves as such. The thought pattern they use to denote themselves "translates" (if there is such a thing) to "people." And yes, that means that they don't consider other races to quite be people.

That's actually quite believable. Many ethic groups have actually called themselves a variant of "the people" in their own language.

As a matter of fact, it is obvious that they cannot name themselves. So the 'name of the race' is actually what *other* people name them. Which entirely depends on how they are viewed by those who named them. Think about how native ethnic groups were named by (white) explorers or colonists in our world, removing all the tribe names (because tribe names were self-attributed names), and you'll get an idea. Hint: it's often derogatory, either because of a sense of superiority, a feeling of jealousy, or a feeling of being threatened. In your case, it would probably be a mix of all three.

[Druss_the_Legend]

Mindweavers
Thoughtbinders
Psionic Sages
Mindmelders
Telepathic Kin
Silent Seers
Cerebral Conduits
Echo Minds
Mental Navigators
Psyche Weavers
Whispering Minds

[Druss_the_Legend]

Mindforge Masters
Thoughtbound Brotherhood
Whispering Council
Telepathic Order of Greyhawk
Thoughtseer Society
Psychic Syndicate
Silenceweavers
Mental Meridians
Telethought Conclave

[Hurin]

GrumpyOldFart was onto something there, but I'd go one step further:

Mentos. 

[EltonJ]

These are all good.  Of course, MisterK is right.  They will be called by whomever discovers them a name.  Their name for themselves would translate to "the people."

[jdale]

A lot of those names seem fairly positive. That's appropriate if your intent is that people generally like them. If they are a little iffy, I think focusing on the silence part is more appropriate than the mental part -- name them based on perceived flaws rather than strengths. From the description, they seem mute, simple (in the negative sense), primitive. Madmutes, starkers (which has a double meaning about madness and nudity).

If people regard them with suspicion or negative, could be named based on those strengths but in a negative light, names about what people fear. Overseer, enthraller, imperious, brainsick.

[MisterK]

If people regard them with suspicion or negative, could be named based on those strengths but in a negative light, names about what people fear. Overseer, enthraller, imperious, brainsick.

A race of people who can read minds at will ? What could possibly go wrong ?

(read 'Slan' by Van Vogt if you feel like getting a reference)

[GrumpyOldFart]

GrumpyOldFart was onto something there, but I'd go one step further: Mentos. 

Does that mean you can make them explode by giving them coke?

[GrumpyOldFart]

Silent Ones.

[Hurin]

Haha, I was going to post the gif of Louis del Grande's head exploding from the old Cronenburg movie Scanners (about telepathic humans), but it would be too gory.

[EltonJ]

Silent Ones.

That can work with so many genres.

[Pete_Keller]

I would have gone with Zhodani.

Pete

[Golem]

People call them Z'danzu and only in whispers... (makes the useless sign of protection)

[EltonJ]

I would have gone with Zhodani.

Pete

Hmm. Okay, sounds very slavic.

People call them Z'danzu and only in whispers... (makes the useless sign of protection)

Very good suggestion.

[MisterK]

I would have gone with Zhodani.

Pete

Hmm. Okay, sounds very slavic.

It's also taken straight from Traveller