Please help with Fantasy World name?

I am writing a fantasy novel. I have all the information and ready to write it, except I'm missing one crucial thing: A name for the world in which the whole story takes place.

(e.g. "Middle Earth," J.R.R. Tolkien, "Narnia," C.S. Lewis)

Anyone have any ideas?

Any help would be very appreciated!!!!

Well, I'll admit to having the same problem, but I remember reading somewhere that C.S. Lews took the Latin name of an Italian town named Narni (Narnia) for his stories. So why not look at some old or foreign maps? Or old foreign maps! xD

But don't let a name keep you from writing your story. For example, I'm using the term "Otherworld" until I think of a better name.

Sorry I couldn't be of better help!

What is this world like? What is important to its people? Is there more than one language?

"Earth" is English and means both the world and its soil, ground, etc. Humans of many different backgrounds speak of one's land, native soil, birthplace, all terms that show how important places, and belonging to a particular place, are to us. Languages related to English convey similar concepts. I can't answer as to non-Indo - European languages, maybe someone else will.

There is an SF novel called "The Word for World is Forest," which instantly tells you how the people of that world see it, and what matters to them. One novel I read had confused aliens wondering why a world with a surface that is mostly ocean would be called "soil" instead of "water."

Do the inhabitants of your world see it as any of these: home, exile, reward, punishment, garden, maze, proving grounds, illusion, work of art, inert matter, conscious being, mother, father, deity? Once you know that, decide if you want to use an existing language, or make one up. Then head to the online foreign dictionaries and baby-naming sites, and find words and names with that meaning, or something close. Pick words that sound good to you, and re-work them yo make them your own.

My world is called Mehero. I started with the German word "mehr" (more), because it symbolizes the possibilities of an unexplored universe. The inhabitants who call it Mehero say that it means "divine manifestation" in their language; they believe they are descended from a goddess who created their world to give birth there.

By the way, it took me a while to find a name.

My vote is for Bovaria!

The only problem I see is that Bovaria is only one letter removed from the German state of Bavaria, so I vote for Varabodia.

If you want to try a very different language, how about Basque? It's probably the oldest language spoken in Europe, and it is not known to be related to any other language in the world. It is also considered fiendishly difficult to learn. Naturally, I jumped at the chance to buy a Basque pocket dictionary!

The Basque word for land is "herri" and the word that means to forget is "ahaztu."

I also recommend Asian languages (other than the usual Chinese, Japanese or Korean) such as Mongolian or Tibetan, or Native American languages, like Navajo. Or get really creative and pick your words from two different languages!

But Varabodia is great. With that ending it actually sounds a little Slavic, and mysterious. Yes, strange things are going on in Varabodia ...

One more example, but not for a place name: I needed a name for the mother goddess who created Mehero. I looked up the names of ancient goddesses, and liked the name "Anat," an ancient Middle-Eastern goddess. (Anat was kind of mean and violent, I just liked the sound of her name.) I wanted a similar sound, but something unique. I went to my trusty Basque dictionary and found the word "aurren," which means "preceding, first." Perfect for a goddess who created a world. The goddess who created Mehero is called "Auruat." She is not nasty or violent -- she is seen as a firm, fair divine mother with high expectations of her offspring.

I'd like to help you, but I'm having trouble also.
My world is one of beauty, despair, monsters, destruction, hatred, kindred, love, noblity, and despise.
More or less, it's your basic fantasy world filled with magicians, knights, monsters, etcetera. The world isn't just a small area, it's an entire planet.

I usually just spew crap off the top of my head until something sounds good and feels like it fits the culture. Here, I'll spew a few. If you like something, go ahead an use it. Being as it's a planet name, I'll keep them short. Easier that way to say things like "Not on X we don't." I'll put a potential origin (race/people) name after.

Rinth (Rinthians)
Neurin (Neurites)
Amorael (Amoraellians)
Ninn (Ninnthians)
Dhust (D'torrians)
Qvel (Qvellish)
Denth (Dentorians)
Kjoal (Kjoalians)
Jrvnsk (Jrvnskii)
Euldn (Euldinites)
Xinit (Xinithians)

Kambolii has a good idea. I'll spin off a few too, feel free to take from me also. I'll let you know in a comment to this one which one I take.

Lapri Tere
Taneve
Clatoa
Retia
Moccovia
Linova
Petrucia
Necronia
Telerae
Mela Prismeraq
Erutia

Are you creating a language for your world? If so, maybe base it off that?

Just don't call it anything ending in -ia. Nowadays, whenever I see a new fantasy world name ending in -ia, it just looks like madeupwordia to me. I don't know what it is, but some made up place names sound like they might be the name of a real place, and some just sound like the author strung together a few random syllables and stuck -ia on the end.

Well... I could give you a list...

Arinine
Aurgolia
Aurgonia
Thurlls
Filsha
Prosda
Grenk
Mennedia
Wellesten
Wharsh
Plushhin
Chrisden
Quurn
Reveura