NationStates Jolt Archive

Over 1,200,000 countries have been created. Only about 150,000 actually still exist. Why is that, once someone uses a name, no one else can ever use it again, even if they are no longer using it? Now, I can see restricting it to the use of one existing country per name, but why should a name used once back in 2002 and never again still be restricted from use by anybody else to this very day?

I ask this because I've just spent the last day or so trying to create a new country and I can't do it, because I can't find a name that no one has used before. I've put in about fifty names and they all came back "RESERVED." It got to the point where I went to an obscure Chevy Chase movie from the early '90s to find the name of the town that he was trapped in...and someone had already used it. Of course, they aren't using it right now, but why should that mean that anyone else can have a go at it?

I am officially out of ideas. I never dreamed that I would be required to come up with this many to get one name. Can anyone explain why it is that I am?

I found this one on the first try...

I'm not sure why, but I went through the same thing...can you believe Sporkistan was reserved?

Haha, but whats wrong with the name your posting this thread under?

I've used it. But I want to have another country, one that's the opposite of the dictatorship I have.

Actually, "Borrogravia" is spelled wrong. In the original source material I got it from, it was spelled "Borogravia." But, of course, that was reserved by someone who stopped using it long ago.

Well that does suck, maybe they should start clearing some of the names that havent been used in like half a year or so..

If worse comes to worse maybe you should try to google up a country/nation name generator or something, anyway hope it works out for ya..good luck.

Nation names are "reserved" by deceased nations for a very good reason.

My nation "ceased to exist" a couple month back when thing in my life got really busy and I couldn't get on NS to check up on my nation like I would have liked too. Between the end of the college semester, a friend getting married, the holiday season beginning, and my social life, I just could not get the time to check up on NS, and my nations ceased to exist. This month I returned to NS and asked the mods to ressurect my nation. They did, and here I am back in NS.

But what if, when my nations ceased to exist someone else used my name. Then I wouldn't have been able to come back. Not just that, that someone could have impersonated my nation.

Its for this reason that the names are reserved. So never again is a nation repeated, and so that former players can return to their old nations.

There's a damn sight less than 150000 nations in existence in NationStates. :p

The most we've ever had at any time is about 135000.

Anyway, as for more nation names being released (some were released a few months ago - interestingly enough, the first name to be released was 'God'), that is something that will be done sometime, but when, I do not know.

What I dont understand and dont agree with is
why nation names of nations that got in trouble for
violations are not released?

The nation name will now be under new manegment,
the population will now start at 5 million, the
nation will have new statistics, the nation history will
be deleted and a new history will be created.

Or am I wrong on these points?

I dont see a problem there is someone remembers
the nation name and dosent like the old management,
a simple explanation of new management will do,
they cant flame it or anything.

Does anyone agree with me on any of this?

Thank You.

Although there are names I would like to use that are reserved, a name is an identifier. Nations who have been at odds might not accept you under the name of their old enemy. Best just let it lie.

Besides, the extinction of old names forces you to be created and funny.

What I dont understand and dont agree with is
why nation names of nations that got in trouble for
violations are not released?

The nation name will now be under new manegment,
the population will now start at 5 million, the
nation will have new statistics, the nation history will
be deleted and a new history will be created.

Or am I wrong on these points?

I dont see a problem there is someone remembers
the nation name and dosent like the old management,
a simple explanation of new management will do,
they cant flame it or anything.

Does anyone agree with me on any of this?

Thank You.


No, I'd think because firstly, no one would know if it was the same guy, secondly, most DEAT offenders carry around that rep...

Indeed, it would be problematic if Klamath suddenly re-appeared.

A new sticky rule:

If you see an old nation name that you know violated a rule be advised that the nation is under a new founder
with a new history.


Win or loose my argument I am thinking of making a public poll on nation names, especially the ones that violatied a rule whose names should be released with
the above sticky as a sulution to the problem.

But for now what do you think of my sticky rule?

could also be posted on the page that introduces us all to
nationstates and its rules to create our nation so that all new nation persons (I coinded that new phrase into the english language and nationstates I think) can see it and
know about it.

Nation names are "reserved" by deceased nations for a very good reason.

My nation "ceased to exist" a couple month back when thing in my life got really busy and I couldn't get on NS to check up on my nation like I would have liked too. Between the end of the college semester, a friend getting married, the holiday season beginning, and my social life, I just could not get the time to check up on NS, and my nations ceased to exist. This month I returned to NS and asked the mods to ressurect my nation. They did, and here I am back in NS.

But what if, when my nations ceased to exist someone else used my name. Then I wouldn't have been able to come back. Not just that, that someone could have impersonated my nation.

Its for this reason that the names are reserved. So never again is a nation repeated, and so that former players can return to their old nations.
Okay, if you've been gone for a few months I can understand that. But for people who have been gone for a year or longer, the names should no longer be reserved. I mean, you might have some people who completely forgot about NationStates but their country's name is still reserved.

By the way, if a nation is "resurrected", does it keep its old stats or does it get wiped? Because if it gets its old stats then that means a copy of it is kept somewhere. And all that is doing is taking up space.

On another note, I was lucky enough to get my nation and my two puppets on the first try. I can understadn why "Kaze Ryuu" wasn't picked before but I honestly expected someone to grab "Vanguard Reich" before me.

Worst case, if stuff dont works, modify it.

I coined the word Xtremia somewhere around 10 years ago, I never read it anywhere, I just came up with it myself.

However, it was taken anyway, and so I just made E-Xtremia... simple.

As Borrogravia pointed out, his intended nation was taken, so he doubled the r. As long as these are all former nations and not present nations, I do not think there is a problem for a close spelling.

A new sticky rule:

If you see an old nation name that you know violated a rule be advised that the nation is under a new founder with a new history.
Coming from someone who hasn't the power to implement it, I don't think it's much of a rule. It might be a suggestion to the admins, but I can assure you that they've addressed and dismissed it before.

First, most players have no idea how many nationnames have been deleted for rulebreaking. There are a LOT that never see the forums, never get reported except in modspace. The player who created it knows it's gone, as does the mod who deleted it, and the mod actions are recorded so that other mods and admins can review it. Apart from that, it's nobody's business.

Second, nations deleted for cause will never be revived. If it was an offensive name, the reason is obvious. If it was offensive behavior, then the reputation would follow the new owner, regardless of any sticky rule.

Finally, the vast majority of retired names belong to players who were bored with the game, or simply wandered off for whatever reason. The admins were planning on releasing some of those names, but the project ran into a technical snag and was put on hold. It's quite possible that program will be reinstated, but it's low priority right now.

If you look at the Pacifics, you will see new nations being created every day. They all manage to come up with names. It's not a real problem, just a bit of wishful thinking. Learn to live with the status quo, because it's not changing anytime soon.

Coming from someone who hasn't the power to implement it, I don't think it's much of a rule. It might be a suggestion to the admins, but I can assure you that they've addressed and dismissed it before.

First, most players have no idea how many nationnames have been deleted for rulebreaking. There are a LOT that never see the forums, never get reported except in modspace. The player who created it knows it's gone, as does the mod who deleted it, and the mod actions are recorded so that other mods and admins can review it. Apart from that, it's nobody's business.

Second, nations deleted for cause will never be revived. If it was an offensive name, the reason is obvious. If it was offensive behavior, then the reputation would follow the new owner, regardless of any sticky rule.

Finally, the vast majority of retired names belong to players who were bored with the game, or simply wandered off for whatever reason. The admins were planning on releasing some of those names, but the project ran into a technical snag and was put on hold. It's quite possible that program will be reinstated, but it's low priority right now.

If you look at the Pacifics, you will see new nations being created every day. They all manage to come up with names. It's not a real problem, just a bit of wishful thinking. Learn to live with the status quo, because it's not changing anytime soon.


I wonder if the reputation of a nation deleted for offensive behavior would still be attached if the nation has been in deleted status for as long as say 5 years or longer. Would there not be a length of time for which such offenses would have concievably have been forgotten?

Just a theoretical question for Fris or any of the other mods.

I just wanted to see if other nations agreed to it with the sticky rule, if the mods with the administration do not agree than I learn to live with it no problem.
Thank you.

I have stated many times before that I dont ever want to break a rule that would have me deleted, I love nationstates to much for that,
I dont think I flame other nations even though I stand up for my views.
I have always stated I welcome all telegrams except join region on any subject positive or negative, all telegrams will be answerd, the only problem is I have to many nations to check,
Thank you all.

By the way, if a nation is "resurrected", does it keep its old stats or does it get wiped? Because if it gets its old stats then that means a copy of it is kept somewhere. And all that is doing is taking up space.

Yes, resurrected nations are given their stats at the time of their "ceasing to exist". You can note my join date on this post for instance is May 2003, yet I just resurrected about a week or two ago. My posts were also all restored, as were all my national stats, telegrams, and even the issues I hadn't answered when I disappeared (hows that for service). And many thanks to all the Mods and Game Staff for all that, its awesome.

Staggering back to Borrogravia's orignial post, here are some ideas for creating nation names (I'm not sure whether they're mine or I've been storing them from previous threads on the subject, but anyway ...)

1. Think of a person, place, object or idea you really love/really hate.

2. Spell it backward OR

3. Make an anagram out of it OR

4. Mix up the syllables, then

5. Add on a nation-sounding suffix, such as -opia, -onia, -istan, -land, -ia, -a, -ica, -ivia, -avia, -isle, -terre, -terra, OR

6. Pick one of the town-sounding suffixes, such as (for English-speakers) -bury, -burgh, -ville, -villa, -ton, -town, -castle, -bridge, -ford, -ing, -hill, -vale, -dale, -dell, -grove, -wood, -bank.

You can vary these by adding Upper or Lower, North, South, East or West, Major, Minor or Minimus, any number in any language you know bits of (eg, Mouseville Prime, Mouseville Secundus, Mouseville Tertius), New, Nova, Neo, Old or Reborn, or by making it possessive and then adding a suitable noun, eg, Watchitt's Crossing, Watchitt's Pride, Watchitt's Folly ... Landing, Hill, Crag, Valley, River, Place, Farm, Selection, Deed ...

Other good ideas for nations naming include:

1. Naming it after your leader. Examples like Dread Lady Nathicana and Melkor Unchained are nations that have used this convention.

2. Naming after your people. Although less common, there are a few examples (Artificial Entities, and Atlantian Outcasts are examples of this).

3. The Corporate approach is more popular. I.E. The Resi Corporation, CoVar Corporation, etc., etc., etc.

And then there are the just random names like Social Incompetence.

I've created 150 puppets since I started NationStates, and all of them were original and unused names. Some of them (i.e. Banduria, Mauvasia) were conventional nation names. Some were named after the founder (i.e. Jeffie); some after the citizens (i.e. The Enslaved People); some after a feature of the nation (i.e. "86th Street" was just a long street; "Steel and Fire" was just a military paradise). Some of them were just crazy (i.e. Fuzzy Macaroons, Rocking Horses and Nylon). I had a lot of fun. :D

in my nation names, I have 28 nations so far, and I have thought of about 12 other nation names not in used or reserved, I have been thinking of letting some die and creating the new ones, posting it and calling it the dismantling of an empire.

But first I should create the new ones then let die the others. I dont keep my main nations based on my personal subject as I am sure many of you know what it is
a secret. The others some of you can probably guess by
a few of my coments not necessarily my views on issues.

Please direct most of the telegrams to this nation name
that would make it easier, a nation person once posted
he uses one nation for all telegrams and the nation has
an appropriate name for that purpose.
Thank you.
La Habana Cuba.

I think that people should be able to release names of their dead nations.

In a couple weeks, "Kedusha", a Jewish theocracy I created and promptly abandoned when I had difficulty logging on to Mirkana, will be deleted. I authorize - actually, I REQUEST - that Kedusha be released so someone else can create a nation like it. This is because "Kedusha" comes from "Kadosh", Hebrew for "holy", and it will likely be one of the first things to come to mind for someone trying to create a Jewish theocracy.

As for creating nation names, I simply mix and match syllables. There are 26 letters in the English alphabet. That mean literally MILLIONS of possible combinations.

No can do. You could try giving it to someone if you don't want to keep it.

A name is just a name. people will just use it to talk to you. the important thing is what kind of person you are, even in NS.
You shouldn't worry yourselves about nation names. If it was already taken, try another, there are lots that weren't...