diff --git a/src/bind_region.c b/src/bind_region.c
index 5db39b6fc..e10b22cfd 100644
--- a/src/bind_region.c
+++ b/src/bind_region.c
@@ -228,7 +228,7 @@ static int tolua_region_get_luxury(lua_State * L)
   if (r->land) {
     const item_type *lux = r_luxury(r);
     if (lux) {
-      const char *name = lux->rtype->_name[0];
+      const char *name = lux->rtype->_name;
       tolua_pushstring(L, name);
       return 1;
     }
@@ -268,7 +268,7 @@ static int tolua_region_get_herb(lua_State * L)
 {
   region *r = (region *) tolua_tousertype(L, 1, 0);
   if (r->land && r->land->herbtype) {
-    const char *name = r->land->herbtype->rtype->_name[0];
+    const char *name = r->land->herbtype->rtype->_name;
     tolua_pushstring(L, name);
     return 1;
   }
diff --git a/src/bindings.c b/src/bindings.c
index b5cfef0b5..140e738d3 100755
--- a/src/bindings.c
+++ b/src/bindings.c
@@ -151,7 +151,7 @@ int tolua_itemlist_next(lua_State * L)
   item **item_ptr = (item **) lua_touserdata(L, lua_upvalueindex(1));
   item *itm = *item_ptr;
   if (itm != NULL) {
-    tolua_pushstring(L, itm->type->rtype->_name[0]);
+    tolua_pushstring(L, itm->type->rtype->_name);
     *item_ptr = itm->next;
     return 1;
   }
@@ -820,7 +820,7 @@ static int config_get_resource(lua_State * L)
           lua_newtable(L);
           for (i = 0; itype->construction->materials[i].number; ++i) {
             lua_pushstring(L,
-              itype->construction->materials[i].rtype->_name[0]);
+              itype->construction->materials[i].rtype->_name);
             lua_pushinteger(L, itype->construction->materials[i].number);
             lua_settable(L, -3);
           }
@@ -865,7 +865,7 @@ static int config_get_btype(lua_State * L)
         lua_newtable(L);
         for (i = 0; btype->maintenance[i].number; ++i) {
           lua_pushstring(L,
-              btype->maintenance[i].rtype->_name[0]);
+              btype->maintenance[i].rtype->_name);
           lua_pushinteger(L, btype->maintenance[i].number);
           lua_settable(L, -3);
         }
@@ -884,7 +884,7 @@ static int config_get_btype(lua_State * L)
           lua_newtable(L);
           for (i = 0; btype->construction->materials[i].number; ++i) {
             lua_pushstring(L,
-              btype->construction->materials[i].rtype->_name[0]);
+              btype->construction->materials[i].rtype->_name);
             lua_pushinteger(L, btype->construction->materials[i].number);
             lua_settable(L, -3);
           }
@@ -950,7 +950,7 @@ static int config_get_stype(lua_State * L)
           lua_newtable(L);
           for (i = 0; stype->construction->materials[i].number; ++i) {
             lua_pushstring(L,
-              stype->construction->materials[i].rtype->_name[0]);
+              stype->construction->materials[i].rtype->_name);
             lua_pushinteger(L, stype->construction->materials[i].number);
             lua_settable(L, -3);
           }
diff --git a/src/helpers.c b/src/helpers.c
index ffe1af9e2..8ec55e7de 100644
--- a/src/helpers.c
+++ b/src/helpers.c
@@ -46,7 +46,7 @@ lua_giveitem(unit * s, unit * d, const item_type * itype, int n, struct order *o
   lua_State *L = (lua_State *) global.vm_state;
   char fname[64];
   int result = -1;
-  const char *iname = itype->rtype->_name[0];
+  const char *iname = itype->rtype->_name;
 
   assert(s != NULL);
   strlcpy(fname, iname, sizeof(fname));
@@ -81,7 +81,7 @@ static int limit_resource(const region * r, const resource_type * rtype)
   int result = -1;
   lua_State *L = (lua_State *) global.vm_state;
 
-  strlcpy(fname, rtype->_name[0], sizeof(fname));
+  strlcpy(fname, rtype->_name, sizeof(fname));
   strlcat(fname, "_limit", sizeof(fname));
 
   lua_getglobal(L, fname);
@@ -110,7 +110,7 @@ produce_resource(region * r, const resource_type * rtype, int norders)
   lua_State *L = (lua_State *) global.vm_state;
   char fname[64];
 
-  strlcpy(fname, rtype->_name[0], sizeof(fname));
+  strlcpy(fname, rtype->_name, sizeof(fname));
   strlcat(fname, "_produce", sizeof(fname));
 
   lua_getglobal(L, fname);
@@ -250,7 +250,7 @@ lua_changeresource(unit * u, const struct resource_type *rtype, int delta)
   int result = -1;
   char fname[64];
 
-  strlcpy(fname, rtype->_name[0], sizeof(fname));
+  strlcpy(fname, rtype->_name, sizeof(fname));
   strlcat(fname, "_changeresource", sizeof(fname));
 
   lua_getglobal(L, fname);
@@ -280,7 +280,7 @@ static int lua_getresource(unit * u, const struct resource_type *rtype)
   int result = -1;
   char fname[64];
 
-  strlcpy(fname, rtype->_name[0], sizeof(fname));
+  strlcpy(fname, rtype->_name, sizeof(fname));
   strlcat(fname, "_getresource", sizeof(fname));
 
   lua_getglobal(L, fname);
@@ -315,7 +315,7 @@ static bool lua_canuse_item(const unit * u, const struct item_type *itype)
     lua_getglobal(L, fname);
     if (lua_isfunction(L, -1)) {
       tolua_pushusertype(L, (void *)u, TOLUA_CAST "unit");
-      tolua_pushstring(L, itype->rtype->_name[0]);
+      tolua_pushstring(L, itype->rtype->_name);
 
       if (lua_pcall(L, 2, 1, 0) != 0) {
         const char *error = lua_tostring(L, -1);
@@ -503,7 +503,7 @@ lua_useitem(struct unit *u, const struct item_type *itype, int amount,
   char fname[64];
 
   strlcpy(fname, "use_", sizeof(fname));
-  strlcat(fname, itype->rtype->_name[0], sizeof(fname));
+  strlcat(fname, itype->rtype->_name, sizeof(fname));
 
   lua_getglobal(L, fname);
   if (lua_isfunction(L, -1)) {
diff --git a/src/kernel/item.c b/src/kernel/item.c
index faa6f1611..94b3b8b48 100644
--- a/src/kernel/item.c
+++ b/src/kernel/item.c
@@ -139,18 +139,25 @@ static int res_changeitem(unit * u, const resource_type * rtype, int delta)
 
 const char *resourcename(const resource_type * rtype, int flags)
 {
-    int i = 0;
-
+    if (!rtype)
+    assert(rtype);
     if (rtype) {
         if (rtype->name)
             return rtype->name(rtype, flags);
 
-        if (flags & NMF_PLURAL)
-            i = 1;
-        if (flags & NMF_APPEARANCE && rtype->itype && rtype->itype->_appearance[i]) {
-            return rtype->itype->_appearance[i];
+        if (flags & NMF_APPEARANCE && rtype->itype) {
+            int i = (flags & NMF_PLURAL) ? 1 : 0;
+            const char * result = rtype->itype->_appearance[i];
+            if (result) {
+                return result;
+            }
         }
-        return rtype->_name[i];
+        if (flags & NMF_PLURAL) {
+            static char name[64]; // FIXME: static return value
+            _snprintf(name, sizeof(name), "%s_p", rtype->_name);
+            return name;
+        }
+        return rtype->_name;
     }
     return "none";
 }
@@ -160,7 +167,7 @@ static int num_resources;
 static void rt_register(resource_type * rtype)
 {
     char buffer[64];
-    const char * name = rtype->_name[0];
+    const char * name = rtype->_name;
     size_t len = strlen(name);
 
     assert(len < sizeof(buffer) - sizeof(rtype));
@@ -173,9 +180,7 @@ resource_type *rt_get_or_create(const char *name) {
     resource_type *rtype = rt_find(name);
     if (!rtype) {
         rtype = (resource_type *)calloc(sizeof(resource_type), 1);
-        rtype->_name[0] = _strdup(name);
-        rtype->_name[1] = (char *)malloc(strlen(name) + 3);
-        sprintf(rtype->_name[1], "%s_p", name);
+        rtype->_name = _strdup(name);
         rt_register(rtype);
     }
     return rtype;
@@ -184,7 +189,7 @@ resource_type *rt_get_or_create(const char *name) {
 void it_register(item_type * itype)
 {
     char buffer[64];
-    const char * name = itype->rtype->_name[0];
+    const char * name = itype->rtype->_name;
     size_t len = strlen(name);
 
     assert(len < sizeof(buffer) - sizeof(itype));
@@ -225,7 +230,7 @@ item_type *it_find(const char *zname)
 item_type *it_get_or_create(resource_type *rtype) {
     item_type * itype;
     assert(rtype);
-    itype = it_find(rtype->_name[0]);
+    itype = it_find(rtype->_name);
     assert(!itype || !itype->rtype || itype->rtype == rtype);
     if (!itype) {
         itype = (item_type *)calloc(sizeof(item_type), 1);
@@ -409,7 +414,7 @@ item *i_add(item ** pi, item * i)
 {
     assert(i && i->type && !i->next);
     while (*pi) {
-        int d = strcmp((*pi)->type->rtype->_name[0], i->type->rtype->_name[0]);
+        int d = strcmp((*pi)->type->rtype->_name, i->type->rtype->_name);
         if (d >= 0)
             break;
         pi = &(*pi)->next;
@@ -432,7 +437,7 @@ void i_merge(item ** pi, item ** si)
     while (i) {
         item *itmp;
         while (*pi) {
-            int d = strcmp((*pi)->type->rtype->_name[0], i->type->rtype->_name[0]);
+            int d = strcmp((*pi)->type->rtype->_name, i->type->rtype->_name);
             if (d >= 0)
                 break;
             pi = &(*pi)->next;
@@ -456,7 +461,7 @@ item *i_change(item ** pi, const item_type * itype, int delta)
 {
     assert(itype);
     while (*pi) {
-        int d = strcmp((*pi)->type->rtype->_name[0], itype->rtype->_name[0]);
+        int d = strcmp((*pi)->type->rtype->_name, itype->rtype->_name);
         if (d >= 0)
             break;
         pi = &(*pi)->next;
@@ -1044,7 +1049,7 @@ static int add_resourcename_cb(const void * match, const void * key, size_t keyl
     cb_get_kv(match, &rtype, sizeof(rtype));
     for (i = 0; i != 2; ++i) {
         char buffer[128];
-        const char * name = locale_string(lang, rtype->_name[i]);
+        const char * name = locale_string(lang, resourcename(rtype, (i==0) ? 0 : NMF_PLURAL));
 
         if (name && transliterate(buffer, sizeof(buffer), name)) {
             size_t len = strlen(buffer);
@@ -1095,7 +1100,7 @@ static int add_itemname_cb(const void * match, const void * key, size_t keylen,
         int i;
         for (i = 0; i != 2; ++i) {
             char buffer[128];
-            const char * name = locale_string(lang, rtype->_name[i]);
+            const char * name = locale_string(lang, resourcename(rtype, (i == 0) ? 0 : NMF_PLURAL));
 
             if (name && transliterate(buffer, sizeof(buffer), name)) {
                 size_t len = strlen(buffer);
@@ -1180,8 +1185,7 @@ int free_itype_cb(const void * match, const void * key, size_t keylen, void *cbd
 int free_rtype_cb(const void * match, const void * key, size_t keylen, void *cbdata) {
     resource_type *rtype;
     cb_get_kv(match, &rtype, sizeof(rtype));
-    free(rtype->_name[0]);
-    free(rtype->_name[1]);
+    free(rtype->_name);
     free(rtype);
     return 0;
 }
diff --git a/src/kernel/item.h b/src/kernel/item.h
index 39b5576b8..ade5cd17a 100644
--- a/src/kernel/item.h
+++ b/src/kernel/item.h
@@ -64,7 +64,7 @@ extern "C" {
   typedef char *(*rtype_name) (const struct resource_type * rtype, int flags);
   typedef struct resource_type {
     /* --- constants --- */
-    char *_name[2];             /* wie es heißt */
+    char *_name;             /* wie es heißt */
     unsigned int flags;
     /* --- functions --- */
     rtype_uchange uchange;
@@ -254,7 +254,6 @@ extern "C" {
 
 /* creation */
     resource_type *rt_get_or_create(const char *name);
-//    resource_type *new_resourcetype(const char **names, const char **appearances, int flags);
     item_type *it_get_or_create(resource_type *rtype);
   extern item_type *new_itemtype(resource_type * rtype, int iflags, int weight,
     int capacity);
diff --git a/src/kernel/item.test.c b/src/kernel/item.test.c
index 3613777c8..8d4285a54 100644
--- a/src/kernel/item.test.c
+++ b/src/kernel/item.test.c
@@ -10,6 +10,38 @@
 #include <CuTest.h>
 #include <tests.h>
 
+#include <assert.h>
+
+static void test_resourcename_no_appearance(CuTest *tc) {
+    const resource_type *rtype;
+
+    test_cleanup();
+    init_resources(); // creates R_SILVER
+    rtype = get_resourcetype(R_SILVER);
+    assert(rtype && rtype->itype);
+    assert(rtype->itype->_appearance[0] == 0);
+    assert(rtype->itype->_appearance[1] == 0);
+    CuAssertStrEquals(tc, "money", resourcename(rtype, 0));
+    CuAssertStrEquals(tc, "money_p", resourcename(rtype, NMF_PLURAL));
+    CuAssertStrEquals(tc, "money", resourcename(rtype, NMF_APPEARANCE));
+    CuAssertStrEquals(tc, "money_p", resourcename(rtype, NMF_APPEARANCE|NMF_PLURAL));
+    test_cleanup();
+}
+
+static void test_resourcename_with_appearance(CuTest *tc) {
+    item_type *itype;
+
+    test_cleanup();
+    itype = it_get_or_create(rt_get_or_create("foo"));
+    assert(itype && itype->rtype);
+    it_set_appearance(itype, "bar");
+    CuAssertStrEquals(tc, "foo", resourcename(itype->rtype, 0));
+    CuAssertStrEquals(tc, "foo_p", resourcename(itype->rtype, NMF_PLURAL));
+    CuAssertStrEquals(tc, "bar", resourcename(itype->rtype, NMF_APPEARANCE));
+    CuAssertStrEquals(tc, "bar_p", resourcename(itype->rtype, NMF_APPEARANCE | NMF_PLURAL));
+    test_cleanup();
+}
+
 static void test_uchange(CuTest * tc, unit * u, const resource_type * rtype) {
   int n;
   change_resource(u, rtype, 4);
@@ -26,7 +58,6 @@ void test_change_item(CuTest * tc)
   unit * u;
 
   test_cleanup();
-  register_resources();
   init_resources();
   test_create_world();
 
@@ -103,6 +134,8 @@ void test_findresourcetype(CuTest * tc)
 CuSuite *get_item_suite(void)
 {
   CuSuite *suite = CuSuiteNew();
+  SUITE_ADD_TEST(suite, test_resourcename_no_appearance);
+  SUITE_ADD_TEST(suite, test_resourcename_with_appearance);
   SUITE_ADD_TEST(suite, test_change_item);
   SUITE_ADD_TEST(suite, test_change_person);
   SUITE_ADD_TEST(suite, test_resource_type);
diff --git a/src/kernel/pool.c b/src/kernel/pool.c
index 6f8e378f7..e38c31011 100644
--- a/src/kernel/pool.c
+++ b/src/kernel/pool.c
@@ -61,7 +61,7 @@ int get_resource(const unit * u, const resource_type * rtype)
     if (rtype == get_resourcetype(R_PERMAURA)) {
         return max_spellpoints(u->region, u);
     }
-    log_error("trying to get unknown resource '%s'.\n", rtype->_name[0]);
+    log_error("trying to get unknown resource '%s'.\n", rtype->_name);
     return 0;
 }
 
@@ -80,7 +80,7 @@ int change_resource(unit * u, const resource_type * rtype, int change)
     assert(i == get_resource(u, rtype));
     assert(i >= 0);
     if (i >= 100000000) {
-        log_warning("%s has %d %s\n", unitname(u), i, rtype->_name[0]);
+        log_warning("%s has %d %s\n", unitname(u), i, rtype->_name);
     }
     return i;
 }
diff --git a/src/kernel/save.c b/src/kernel/save.c
index 0180f0ead..092a00d12 100644
--- a/src/kernel/save.c
+++ b/src/kernel/save.c
@@ -411,7 +411,7 @@ void read_items(struct storage *store, item ** ilist)
         rtype = rt_find(ibuf);
         READ_INT(store, &i);
         if (i <= 0) {
-            log_error("data contains an entry with %d %s\n", i, rtype->_name[1]);
+            log_error("data contains an entry with %d %s\n", i, resourcename(rtype, NMF_PLURAL));
         }
         else {
             if (rtype && rtype->itype) {
diff --git a/src/kernel/xmlreader.c b/src/kernel/xmlreader.c
index 18d284e94..bb072d8fa 100644
--- a/src/kernel/xmlreader.c
+++ b/src/kernel/xmlreader.c
@@ -776,7 +776,7 @@ static weapon_type *xml_readweapon(xmlXPathContextPtr xpath, item_type * itype)
 
       parse_function(node, &fun, &propValue);
       if (fun == NULL) {
-        log_error("unknown function name '%s' for item '%s'\n", (const char *)propValue, itype->rtype->_name[0]);
+        log_error("unknown function name '%s' for item '%s'\n", (const char *)propValue, itype->rtype->_name);
         xmlFree(propValue);
         continue;
       }
@@ -786,7 +786,7 @@ static weapon_type *xml_readweapon(xmlXPathContextPtr xpath, item_type * itype)
           (bool(*)(const struct troop *, const struct weapon_type *,
             int *))fun;
       } else {
-        log_error("unknown function type '%s' for item '%s'\n", (const char *)propValue, itype->rtype->_name[0]);
+        log_error("unknown function type '%s' for item '%s'\n", (const char *)propValue, itype->rtype->_name);
       }
       xmlFree(propValue);
   }
@@ -880,7 +880,7 @@ static item_type *xml_readitem(xmlXPathContextPtr xpath, resource_type * rtype)
 
       parse_function(node, &fun, &propValue);
       if (fun == NULL) {
-        log_error("unknown function name '%s' for item '%s'\n", (const char *)propValue, rtype->_name[0]);
+        log_error("unknown function name '%s' for item '%s'\n", (const char *)propValue, rtype->_name);
         xmlFree(propValue);
         continue;
       }
@@ -901,7 +901,7 @@ static item_type *xml_readitem(xmlXPathContextPtr xpath, resource_type * rtype)
           (int (*)(struct unit *, int, const struct item_type *, int,
             struct order *))fun;
       } else {
-        log_error("unknown function type '%s' for item '%s'\n", (const char *)propValue, rtype->_name[0]);
+        log_error("unknown function type '%s' for item '%s'\n", (const char *)propValue, rtype->_name);
       }
       xmlFree(propValue);
   }
@@ -997,7 +997,7 @@ static int parse_resources(xmlDocPtr doc)
 
           parse_function(node, &fun, &propValue);
           if (fun == NULL) {
-            log_error("unknown function name '%s' for resource %s\n", (const char *)propValue, rtype->_name[0]);
+            log_error("unknown function name '%s' for resource %s\n", (const char *)propValue, rtype->_name);
             xmlFree(propValue);
             continue;
           }
@@ -1010,7 +1010,7 @@ static int parse_resources(xmlDocPtr doc)
           } else if (strcmp((const char *)propValue, "name") == 0) {
             rtype->name = (rtype_name) fun;
           } else {
-            log_error("unknown function type '%s' for resource %s\n", (const char *)propValue, rtype->_name[0]);
+            log_error("unknown function type '%s' for resource %s\n", (const char *)propValue, rtype->_name);
           }
           xmlFree(propValue);
         }
@@ -1077,7 +1077,7 @@ static int parse_resources(xmlDocPtr doc)
               xmlFree(propBldg);
             }
           } else {
-            log_error("unknown type '%s' for resourcelimit-modifier '%s'\n", (const char *)propValue, rtype->_name[0]);
+            log_error("unknown type '%s' for resourcelimit-modifier '%s'\n", (const char *)propValue, rtype->_name);
           }
           xmlFree(propValue);
         }
@@ -1112,7 +1112,7 @@ static int parse_resources(xmlDocPtr doc)
           assert(propValue != NULL);
           fun = get_function((const char *)propValue);
           if (fun == NULL) {
-            log_error("unknown limit '%s' for resource %s\n", (const char *)propValue, rtype->_name[0]);
+            log_error("unknown limit '%s' for resource %s\n", (const char *)propValue, rtype->_name);
             xmlFree(propValue);
             continue;
           }
@@ -1125,7 +1125,7 @@ static int parse_resources(xmlDocPtr doc)
           } else if (strcmp((const char *)propValue, "limit") == 0) {
             rdata->limit = (rlimit_limit) fun;
           } else {
-            log_error("unknown limit '%s' for resource %s\n", (const char *)propValue, rtype->_name[0]);
+            log_error("unknown limit '%s' for resource %s\n", (const char *)propValue, rtype->_name);
           }
           xmlFree(propValue);
         }
diff --git a/src/triggers/giveitem.c b/src/triggers/giveitem.c
index edaae77c5..3ed044617 100644
--- a/src/triggers/giveitem.c
+++ b/src/triggers/giveitem.c
@@ -78,7 +78,7 @@ static void giveitem_write(const trigger * t, struct storage *store)
   giveitem_data *td = (giveitem_data *) t->data.v;
   write_unit_reference(td->u, store);
   WRITE_INT(store, td->number);
-  WRITE_TOK(store, td->itype->rtype->_name[0]);
+  WRITE_TOK(store, td->itype->rtype->_name);
 }
 
 static int giveitem_read(trigger * t, struct storage *store)