[Rodo]

Just like the newest constellations, use a name scheme based on scientific devices translated to Latin?

[Snail]

Herra, if you want to get nitpicky about the Terrans coming up with the naming scheme after the extinction of the ancients,   then what is the point, really, of giving the ancients any Earth names?  You would be forced to come up with a whole new language, like Klingon.  But then that would throw off the players because there would be 2 names for ships and stuff, one in madeupese, and the other in the already pre-determined naming scheme.

That'd be more realistic. If we think about it from an "in-universe" perspective, the fact that the Ancients used Terran names for their own ships makes no sense whatsoever.

[rubixcube]

Actarians maybe?

[General Battuta]

Actarians maybe?

Noooooo

[Enioch]

Good job, you caught me being lazy and I said Minoan instead of Mycenian.

Errare humanum est...

The naming scheme should be centered around those place names and so forth, and also words in Mycenian we do know.

At least don't use modern Greek names. I suppose it'd be OK to use ancient Cretan site names, like Gortys (GOR-tees), though.

Ancient Phoenician names could be used as well, because the Phoenicians had a presence on Crete for a time if I am not mistaken.  Could you verify that?

Well, yes and no. If you mean: did they have a colony there? then no. But the Phoenicians were criss-crossing the Mediterranean throughout the antiquity. A few imported Near-Eastern vases have been found in Crete, but they could have been imported by the Minoans themselves.

About us knowing what the Minoans called themselves: we don't. But we know what the other peoples called them. Perhaps you could use this:

The Egyptians called them Kaftiu (Caff-TIEW). The Hebrews called them Caphtorim (Caff-to-RIM).

I like Caphtorim. 

[Colonol Dekker]

Call them Kevin.

[rubixcube]

Actarians maybe?

Noooooo

Okaaaaaaaay, how about Tellusans

[Goober5000]

The fact that Turtledove (who, for all his fictional merits, is an awful teacher)

Eh?

[General Battuta]

The fact that Turtledove (who, for all his fictional merits, is an awful teacher)

Eh?

He didn't leave a great impression at the workshop when I worked with him. Very attached to a certain presentation about general literary business, very certain that this was the presentation he wanted to give, and not particularly interested in deviating from it. He might have just been stressed or something. Or crowdshy, though god knows it was a small selective group.

Actarians maybe?

Noooooo

Okaaaaaaaay, how about Tellusans

I'm just not a big fan of either the Tolkienesque or pulp SF methods of generating alien names.

[Narwhal]

I'll go with "Lovecraftian" names because I believe it fits the trope, but it's just me. Two in particular would be fine :

Mi-Go
Yithians

[Herra Tohtori]

Herra, if you want to get nitpicky about the Terrans coming up with the naming scheme after the extinction of the ancients,   then what is the point, really, of giving the ancients any Earth names?  You would be forced to come up with a whole new language, like Klingon.  But then that would throw off the players because there would be 2 names for ships and stuff, one in madeupese, and the other in the already pre-determined naming scheme.

This is a conundrum indeed...

Well, Lord of the Rings was translated from Westron to English for the convenience of the readers.

Hobbits & Co. don't really speak English.

Their names aren't the ones used in the books either. Meriadoc Brandybuck's actual name was Kalimac Brandagamba, Peregrin Took's name was Razanur Tûk, and Samvais Gamgee's (or Samwise Gammidgy's) name was Banazir Galbasi.

And the planet is called Endor. In Quenya. Arda in Westron, and Middle-earth in English.

[Jeff Vader]

And the planet is called Endor.

Seriously? I am shocked. Shocked, I tells you! No wait, it appears that Endor has been used in quite a few places.

[sigtau]

Call them Kevin.

I love you.

[Snail]

Yeah I agree Kevin is the best name so far. Fits in with the whole "parallel to humanity" thing they have going.

[S-99]

I see you're all still stuck on the "BEEPHKAKES".

[Goober5000]

The fact that Turtledove (who, for all his fictional merits, is an awful teacher)

Eh?

He didn't leave a great impression at the workshop when I worked with him. Very attached to a certain presentation about general literary business, very certain that this was the presentation he wanted to give, and not particularly interested in deviating from it. He might have just been stressed or something. Or crowdshy, though god knows it was a small selective group.

You attended a writer's workshop with Harry Turtledove?  Cool!

[General Battuta]

The fact that Turtledove (who, for all his fictional merits, is an awful teacher)

Eh?

He didn't leave a great impression at the workshop when I worked with him. Very attached to a certain presentation about general literary business, very certain that this was the presentation he wanted to give, and not particularly interested in deviating from it. He might have just been stressed or something. Or crowdshy, though god knows it was a small selective group.

You attended a writer's workshop with Harry Turtledove?  Cool!

Tim Zahn, Theodora Goss, the surprisingly awesome Catherine Asaro, and a few others you probably haven't heard of.

[Wobble73]

Methuselah's, as the oldest known living race, would seem appropriate some how!

[Ravenholme]

Methuselah's, as the oldest known living race, would seem appropriate some how!

Well, we could take a stab that the Shivans are possibly older, the Ancient Monologues imply it IMO.

Plus, that's far too Richard K Morgan (Read Altered Carbon)

[SypheDMar]

How about the most recent dead race?