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[Fensfield]

Well, just a thought I had, after moving to a new map and discovering the landscape allowed for some really somewhat awesome defensive strategies.. which I would probably have named it after had I known beforehand.

Why not shift naming the fortress forward to a moment after you embark?  Oh keep group naming where it is, that's for when you set out, but really, just how many settlements are named prior to the arrival of their founders?

Moving the point at which you name your fortress forward, to after you've had your first glimpse of the area you'll be playing in at gameplay level, would allow for circumstance to have an affect of players' choice on name and all, right?

[Footkerchief]

I like this idea a LOT.  Although I might go a step further and postpone the naming until something noteworthy has happened, like the discovery of a site feature, or striking a vein of valuable mineral, or the appearance of interesting wildlife or enemies.  Then the dwarves could come up with a cool name on their own.  (as could the player, but it's cuter when the dwarves do it themselves)

Or perhaps the fortress could get its main name at embark and an extended name (like killers do) later.  Lots of ways this could go, and various civs might have different conventions for when a settlement should be named (as opposed to just what it should be named, which we do have now).

[Mephansteras]

I like this idea. I have a lot of maps that I'd have named differently after I actually got things settled and running.

Hmm...maybe have the game prompt you for a name the first time the Liason shows up? Assuming you haven't already named it, of course.

[Heron TSG]

if not when the liason shows up (which would make sense) then at least at the first migrant wave or season change.

[Demonic Gophers]

Perhaps the ability to change the name?

[Mel_Vixen]

Well a place could get "nicknames" like people for different stuff.

[Fensfield]

'Not sure about name changing, for my part.. a bit of leeway in the decision makes sense, but doesn't making the name changeable undermine somewhat its value?

[Demonic Gophers]

Well, perhaps.  I mainly figured it would allow people to pick a permanent name at any point they chose.  Also, especially significant events might sometimes merit a name modification.

[Warlord255]

Have the liason ask when he first arrives; "So, what do you call this place?"

Circumstantial auto-naming is a looong ways off.

[Footkerchief]

Circumstantial auto-naming is a looong ways off.

I don't know about that.  There's already some semblance of circumstantial naming for events that occur during worldgen and fortress mode -- "The Fourth Attempted Theft at [Place Name]" and so forth.  It wouldn't be hard to, for instance, associate biomes with the existing word symbol groups, and then maybe throw in creature names as well -- producing names like "The Grove of Dead Goblins" or something.  Not the best example, but hopefully you get the idea.

[Warlord255]

Circumstantial auto-naming is a looong ways off.

I don't know about that.  There's already some semblance of circumstantial naming for events that occur during worldgen and fortress mode -- "The Fourth Attempted Theft at [Place Name]" and so forth.  It wouldn't be hard to, for instance, associate biomes with the existing word symbol groups, and then maybe throw in creature names as well -- producing names like "The Grove of Dead Goblins" or something.  Not the best example, but hopefully you get the idea.

The naming for The Fourth Attempted Theft At [Place Name] is not circumstantial; it follows a strict formula based on a small set of circumstances.

The [number] [event] at [place name].

Where the only "circumstantial" variable is the [event], which right now is limited to Attempted Theft, Attempted Kidnapping, Siege or Ambush.

Circumstantial naming would be drawing from biomes, biology, geology, and events - which is tremendously wide.

In any event, it's not exactly a priority right now. Delayed site naming sounds like a good plan, though.

[betamax]

One of the most infamous features of DF is the random names it comes up with for things. In my opinion, no name choosing should be allowed at all!

[Silverionmox]

Names should be based on the place (Shallowbrook, Springfield, Sandyplain) or the founding group's mission (King's Tower, New Haven, Urist's Refuge) more often, if not always. It should be able to get nicknames or alternatives too (due to events or general trends in production or building, eg. The Fall of Tarezereses the Titan, the Wells of Pewter, the City of Spires), most of which wouldn't be all that memorable or well-known. As the player, you could have an option to try to make one of these names the common name of your fortress. Succes would depend on exporting lots of goods with that name on it, hiring bards etc.

[Granite26]

As a big fan of the potential oregon trail mode, I see the naming done EARLIER.  I.E. when the adventurer gets to the spot and plants the flag.  That way he's creating a group of settlers to go TO a place.