Linguistic Archaeology: Goblins of Greyhawk

Apparently Gary Gygax amassed a collection of Fantasy names for D&D races. Here are small humanoid names (goblins).



Small humanoid names
1. ach
2. adz
3. ak
4. ark
5. az
6. balg
7. bilg
8. blid
9. blig
10. blok
11. blot
12. bolg
13. bot
14. bug
15. burk
16. dokh
17. drik
18. driz
19. duf
20. flug
21. ga
22. gad
23. gag
24. gah
25. gak
26. gar
27. gat
28. gaz
29. ghag
30. ghak
31. git
32. glag
33. glak
34. glat
35. glig
36. gliz
37. glok
38. gnat
39. gog
40. grak
41. grat
42. guk
43. hig
44. irk
45. kak
46. khad
47. krig
48. lag
49. lak
50. lig
51. likk
52. loz
53. luk
54. mak
55. maz
56. miz
57. mub
58. nad
59. nag
60. naz
61. nig
62. nikk
63. nogg
64. nok
65. nukk
66. rag
67. rak
68. rat
69. rok
70. shrig
71. shuk
72. skrag
73. skug
74. slai
75. slig
76. slog
77. sna
78. snag
79. snark
80. snat
81. snig
82. snik
83. snit
84. sog
85. spik
86. stogg
87. tog
88. urf
89. vark
90. yad
91. yagg
92. yak
93. yark
94. yarp
95. yig
96. yip
97. zat
98. zib
99. zit
100. ziz

Popularity of use
A         %         E        %        I         %        O        %         U         %
47        47%    0        0%      28      28%   15      15%    11        11%

B         %         C        %        D         %        F        %         G         %
12       12%     1        1%      10       10%    2       2%        47       47%

H         %         J       %        K         %        L        %         M         %
9          9%       0       0%      33       33%   23      23%    4          4%

N         %         P        %        Q         %        R        %         S         %
15        15%     2        2%      0         0%     20       20%    17       17%

T         %         V        %        W         %        X        %         Y         %
13        13%    1        1%      0          0%      0         0%      7         7%

Z        %
13       13%


Popularity of use
47% A, G: Ga, Gag,
33% K, A, G: Kak, Gak, Ak,
28% I, K, A, G:
23% L, I, K, A, G: Likk, Lig, Lak, Lag, Glig, Glak, Glag,
20% R, L, I, K, A, G: Rak, Rag, Krig, Irk, Grak, Gar, Ark,
17% S, R, L, I, K, A, G: Slig, Slai, Skrag,
15% O, N, S, R, L, I, K, A, G: Sog, Snik, Snig, Snark, Snag, Sna, Slog,
        Rok, Nok, Nogg, Nikk, Nig, Nag, Gog, Glok,
13% T, Z, O, N, S, R, L, I, K, A, G: Ziz, Zit, Zat, Tog, Stogg Snit, Snat,
         Rat, Naz, Loz, Grat, Gnat, Gliz, Glat, Git, Gaz, Gat, Az,
12% B, T, Z, O, N, S, R, L, I, K, A, G: Zib, Bolg, Blot, Blok, Blig, Bilg,
        Balg,
11% U, B, T, Z, O, N, S, R, L, I, K, A, G: Skrug, Nukk, Luk, Guk, Burk,
        Bug, Bot,
10% D, U, B, T, Z, O, N, S, R, L, I, K, A, G: Nad, Gad, Driz, Drik, Blid,
         Adz,
9% H, D, U, B, T, Z, O, N, S, R, L, I, K, A, G: Shuk, Shrig, Khad, Hig,
       Ghak, Ghag, Gah, Dokh,
7% Y, H, D, U, B, T, Z, O, N, S, R, L, I, K, A, G: Yig, Yark, Yak, Yagg,
       Yad,
4% M, Y, H, D, U, B, T, Z, O, N, S, R, L, I, K, A, G: Mub, Miz, Maz,
       Mak,
2% F, P, M, Y, H, D, U, B, T, Z, O, N, S, R, L, I, K, A, G: Yip, Yarp, Urf,
       Spik, Flug, Duf,
1% C, V, F, P, M, Y, H, D, U, B, T, Z, O, N, S, R, L, I, K, A, G: Vark, Ach,
0% X, W, Q, E, J

Conclusions
47% Gag, Ga. Assuming this Ga- prefix indicates a goblin only group, they encounter and interbreed with kobolds at 33%.

33% Ak, Kak, Gak. If -ak suffix indicates kobolds. Kobold and Goblin interbreed producing the Goblin-kobold offspring Gak.

28% Name Band-gap. Although Language develops to include I, there are no new names suggesting a disruption in the long term stability of the tribe (no offspring yet sufficiently creative goblins and kobolds or Phonetic Trade occurs).

23% New names occur with language growth from this point forward. Li- phonetic in use covers the linguistic bandgap phonetic i. Complex phonetic formation suggests major language growth.

15%-13% represent the significant growth in names before cultural growth drops away.

1% Vark is the last in the line of those carrying the ar- prefix while Ach is the last of those carrying the A- prefix, the ch suffix replacing -ak.