Hello! This is a Stormlight names and culture discussion; things like gender roles, etc.

[momadrac they/them]

So one thing I noticed in particular is Laral's name. Theoretically, lighteyes should have names that are close to symmetrical, or else they would be too holy, right? Or so Kabsal says on page 635 of the tiny paperback version. Names like Shallan are one sound off. Well, Laral is a lighteyes. Is it a mistake, or is it intentional, like Wistiow wanted his daughter to have a holy name? What do you guys think?

[Belandrius Ohhmar He/Him]

Wistiow sees like the kinda guy to want his daughter to have a holy name though it is not perfectly simetrical if it would be semetrical It would probably have to be Larral or something. I do not look deeply into vorin gender rolls but...

[BigBadBagsworth He/him/his]

In WoR,

Spoiler

The book distinctly mentions that Ialai has a perfectly semetrical name. it's something that happens, it just doesn't happen often.

 

[momadrac they/them]

That's fair

[Duxredux he/him]

If I remember right, Ialai's name is slightly taboo - it's one of the things that drew Torol Sadeas to her. Perfect symmetry is a mark of divinity in Vorinism, so to also claim perfect symmetry and by extension perfection has a degree of blasphemy to claim such holiness to their children. (WoR, chapter 29) No idea in Wistiow's case, 

This symmetry is not restricted to women, but can also be seen in the Vorin names for the Heralds. Kelek, Talenelat, Jezerezah, Vedeledev, Shalash to name a few. The "h" can be used as a placeholder when making a word symmetrical. I think it's suspected that some people notable to Vorinism have been given symmetrical names posthumously, like Nohadon, who is known as Bajerden or Behardan in other cultures though it is not know if this is his original name.

Within the Vorin kingdoms, you'll see some patterns as names are derived from the Heralds, though it looks like they may not follow gender roles. Shallan for example is derived from Shalash. Talanor, Talanan probably come from Talenelat. Vedekar, one of Sebarial's Lighteyed officers, presumably has a name derived from Vedel, the Herald of healing and Edgedancers.

It is worth noting that various people note that Kaladin's name is one of a Lighteyes, so there is a division in naming schemes between lighteyes and Darkeyes. At least of the Rosharan names starting with "kal", they all are lighteyed. 

[Returned he/him]

The truly symmetrical ones seem like they're designed to shock, if only slightly, but there clearly isn't a religious prohibition on them. Maybe it carries a whiff of pretention or mild impropriety at worst. Vorins also know it to be the case that the Heralds' symmetrical names were not their real names but were arbitrarily created at some point long after their births, and so their symmetry is a cultural artifact rather than one that actually derives from the religion itself.

I've tended to think of it like the name Jesus in the real world. In many cultures with a strong history of Christianity the name simply isn't used, but no one seems at all upset to meet someone with the Spanish name Jesus.

The Alethi polities seem to have a relatively loose daily connection to the Vorin faith anyways. Cultural strictures are more important, like those outlined in Arts and Majesty (and even those seem casually discarded in private), but the Vorin faith doesn't seem to have much hold on most of the characters we see.

Edited May 15, 2025 by Returned

[earthexile]

One of the things we're shown about these taboos is that they're most heavily enforced on the higher classes, probably just because they have more eyes on them. And likely also because they pay a lot for their Ardents and devotaries, and operate with Vorinism's blessing. Science, education, craftsmanship, battle training, you need a good batch of Ardents if you want your people to learn and prosper. You can't afford to be on their bad side. Some tavern keeper can.

Ialai's name raises eyebrows because she's a Highprince's wife, but Laral is from such a low-end rural Lighteyes family that some of the adults think there's a reasonable chance she'd marry Kaladin.