gabriella

I like creating names. As for how I do it, I take one - or several - common names and fiddle around with them until I get something I like. It's a long procedure, and I don't stop until it's clicked.

There are times when I use common names. For example, with the novel I'm writing now my main character's name is Eric, and it fits his kingly/godly status in life. There was never a better name. His wife is Ana, and for the life of me I can't figure out why I was trying to think up something so hard and complicated. When I looked in names books I looked under "M" and "K" because I thought my Eric's name started with a K. Browsed the E because there was nothing else and there it was, almost shining. E - R - I - C. Another character is named Martyn. It's not that I felt it'd be cool to put a Y. I was looking in my name book at the variations of Martin - Marten, Martien, etc - and Martyn just seemed to scream "pick me! it's me you want! meee!"

I agree with you, Dark Avein. But I like symbolic names for a different reason. In life, everyone will amount to their name. It's fate. If you were asked to name your best friend, or your sibling, something else, you wouldn't be able to, would you? They look and act like they're name. It fits them, now. Nothing else would fit them as well as they're current name, no matter how hard you looked. My name is Gabriella, and that means Messenger of God. And in a way, I live up to that. People call me Gabby for short, which is all good because I talk a lot.

Though you won't think anything of naming your baby girl Danielle, she's going to live up to it. It's something that just happens, and that's why it's impossible to name somebody something else.

You grow used to it, and everything else sounds, well, weird. Try naming Hitler something else. Jack, maybe? Or Jesus? Perhaps Paul? Or why don't you name you're good old Uncle Mich Daniel? You just can't.

That's why when you're naming your baby you don't randomly pick out a name and bam, that's it. There could be a name - say Emma - that you've liked your entire life and always wanted to name your baby that. Well, when you're staring at your baby, you realize that it just doesn't fit right. That doesn't mean you're having a premonition of the future, but you just get a feeling of what fits and what doesn't. The name that clicks, is your baby's name through life, and she will grow up to that.

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nilster

tolkein did that. Aragorn came fro the spanish kingdom of aragon. and Bilbo came from bilbao, a place in spain.

Ceridwen

I find naming characters in your own story fascinating and fun to do. Obviously, this is the most easiest part (that is, next to creating a plot). I don't know if you'll (or anybody here) accept my suggestion, but's its okay anyway, I'm just suggesting right?
In naming characters: Sometimes I derive the names from symbolic things, matters, or even places (as what the other people above me says). Sometimes, I name my favorite and much-loved character with special names I like. Talk about "special names" you should choose your name carefully...I mean, the name should suit the character, the character's name and the main genre of the story. If your story is about sci-fi, names that sound futuristic should be used, or, if it's a fantasy genre--names that sound mysterious and uncommon are used.

Hope I helped you even a slightest bit. Good luck!

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I learn and learn and learn...

Armon

If I come across a name I like, be it from TV, movies, books, or wild dreaming, I file it away in a spreadsheet. When I start writing and need another character name, I just look through the spreadsheet until I find one that fits. I then mark that name in the spreadsheet as being used and add a few notes.

I find this works well for reusing characters, and summerizing the ratio of genders in my stories.
Needless to say, gender hasn't really mattered in many of my stories yet, so long as it looks balanced. I might switch systems as I get more into character development.

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A society that puts equality ahead of freedom will end up with neither equality nor freedom. - Milton Friedman

Government is not eloquence, it is not justice, it is force. Like fire, it is a dangerous servant and a fearsome master. - George Washington

iggz

I do that also. It helps if you know multiple languages also I think. For example Tolkien's names seemed to fit in perfectly into his stories. He knew tonnes of different languages and used aspects from each of those when he created the names for his characters. The way I see it, if it is a fantasy story, why limit yourself to only the English language? If you look into other languages I think it becomes a bit easier to come up with your names. What I like to do is think of a word to describe your character, and put it into Babelfish. Go through the different languages it offers until you find something that fits the character, and then manipulate that a bit.