Name Troubles - Writers Forum

imrhati · 02-01-2006, 09:33 AM

hey, i am beginning a short story about people trying to survive global warming. Everything is coming great but i am stumped for thinking of names for them. I will show you all the primary characters and something to describe them. any suggestions are appreciated.

main character- age 15 logical and intelligent-
mother- age 46 caring mother
little brother- 11 trouble maker

group of people trying to escape from the "hot zone"
oldest guy- age 27 leader of group
older guy- age 18 a punk out for no one but himself
younger guy- age 15 somewhat selfindulgent
girl- age 15 that one girl that all the guys are attracted to

Zermonth · 02-01-2006, 09:38 AM

Here is a great site that might jog your creative potential. It has an excellent compliation of name generators. It has a lot more than just names, too. Some great utilities here. Sometimes it comes in quite handy!

www.seventhsanctum.com

Stewart · 02-01-2006, 09:44 AM

You may want to read an early JG Ballard novel, entitled The Drought.

imrhati · 02-01-2006, 10:04 AM

thanx zermoth that helped i have all the names now

aisha · 02-01-2006, 04:03 PM

You should know your characters so well that you can put a name to them yourself. Pretend you're having an intimate conversation with one, names sometimes slip up. And if a name doesn't fit a character, they should almost turn around and say 'You've gotta be kidding right!?'. You should know everything - which is their fave piece of cutlery, would they rather die on their backs or upside down, which is their fave fairytale. EVERYTHING. Even if it's nothing to do with your story. And remember, parents don't name a kid because of it's personality, they give us a name, and we slip into it. Your character should be so great, it could be called S**t-head and people would still be totally convinced.

Good luck.

Dephere · 02-01-2006, 04:13 PM

I agree with aisha, no one can place a name to your characters but you. Any other types of names seems somehow fake...well at least to me.

osiris · 02-03-2006, 05:37 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Zermonth

www.seventhsanctum.com

That is just excellent. I wouldn't use it for names perhaps, but it can actually really help inspire some of your more dreary passages of nonessential things and characters...

aisha · 02-05-2006, 02:50 PM

Also, if you need more inspiration for names, a quick search on google for foreign names (arabian, japanese etc...) can bring up great results. Depending on what genre you are writing within.