The hottest Names Substack posts right now

Dune's worldbuilding strikes a balance between the familiar and the strange, making it unique and engaging.
Language in worldbuilding should reflect a balance of otherness and familiarity to enhance themes and characters.
Worldbuilding language should evoke reader imagination while still maintaining readability and evocativeness.

Place and species names often reflect who named them, usually white men, which can ignore the stories of local people and cultures. It’s important to understand the history behind these names.
The American Ornithological Society wants to change bird names that honor problematic people to make them more inclusive and focus on the birds themselves. This change means letting go of some historical stories that are tied to those names.
Exploring new names can help build connections to nature and understand different perspectives. Learning from the local knowledge of traditional communities can enrich our appreciation of the natural world.

To understand a group's history, it's often complicated by their changing names and identities, especially in secretive environments like wartime propaganda.
Different organizations used various cover names, making it hard to track who was working for whom and what they were actually doing.
The identities of individuals, especially those in wartime roles, often shifted significantly, complicating research and understanding their true contributions.

The short story delves into the meaning and significance we attribute to names, exploring how different interpretations can impact our experiences.
The narrative showcases a town where buildings have names instead of numbers, reflecting unique beliefs and values of their owners.
The story blends philosophical musings about time and creativity, highlighting how diverse perspectives shape the creation and perception of timepieces.

Culdesacs evoke warmth, family, and home for those who grew up in suburbia in the 80s or 90s.
Culdesacs are car-free areas that promote safety and provide space for play.
Living in a culdesac often means closer-knit neighbors and premium selling points in a subdivision.

Get a weekly roundup of the best Substack posts, by hacker news affinity: