Thread: How do you come up with character names?

I enjoy using real life referrals, how about you?

Regards,

Adrian

I tend to use the same names over and over, so usually I'll ask a friend to come up with one. Not only do I get more realistic (if not clunky) names this way, it also helps me avoid getting too clever with the naming process. Only after I had a character named "Caine" kill another character named "Abel" did I realize I was being a bit too obvious. Then again, if you can get away with naming a traitorous character "Benedict" (as in Benedict Arnold), and no one catches on, go for it!

First or last names? Firsts are easy- just be random (I know that some people just pull a book of baby names off the shelf and grab one that's cool). Lasts are a bit tougher because in them you have a certain amount of cultural heritage that is implied, so what your selection is will differ depending on the character in question. If you just need generics, however, then something I do is grab athlete's names.

Cleverness and significance within a name really only matters if you're dealing with a Chosen One or if you're attempting to write allegory. Otherwise, just find names that a character's family might have named them, and go with it. Don't overthink, that's really all I can say.

I actually avoid real life referrals, because if I only associate a name with my character and no one else, the character seems more real. I get my inspiration partially from names I like, but more often from those "name meanings" websites. I like leaving Easter eggs in my stories like that for sharp-eyed readers.

Originally Posted by rane

Then again, if you can get away with naming a traitorous character "Benedict" (as in Benedict Arnold), and no one catches on, go for it!

I'm pretty sure you can't do that. It's like naming someone Judas; the name is far too deeply entangled with implications for an author to get away with it.

Originally Posted by Gamer_2k4

I'm pretty sure you can't do that. It's like naming someone Judas; the name is far too deeply entangled with implications for an author to get away with it.

Sure you can! I had a trilogy I'd written a few years back featuring a character named Eileen Benedict. Just flipped the gender, changed a first name to a last name, and boom, clever little egg for sharp-eyed readers, but not too obvious. I'd say it worked from the feedback I received.

I use real life referrals but I do not implement their characteristics into the story. Like my brother, his name is Ryan but people call him Cap for short. I added a character named Cap yet he is nothing like my brother.

And for the surnames, I avoid it since my characters are often not even called by their real names.

Regards,

Adrian

A book of baby names works. So does pulling names randomly out of the phone book. You could also start by giving your character an ethnic or cultural heritage then give him or her a name that fits. Some ethnic groups are associated with certain parts of the US. If your character is from New Orleans, give him a French name. If from Chicago, give him or her a Polish name. Scandinavian names are common in the upper midwest (Wisconsin, Minnesota). If your character is Catholic, give them an Irish, Italian, or Polish name. If Protestant, give them a British, German, or Dutch last name. Or if your character has a multi curltural heritage, name him Carlos O'Brien or something like that. C.M.

I like to use either a website or a real life referral. When using a real life referral I tend to change last names if I use any characteristics but most of the time the person ends up being someone completely different anyways. Sometimes coming up with names is so hard though.

I take a while with names. A bad name can ruin a character.

I've taken from real names for some characters but every now and then I'll come up with one myself which has a ring to it.


I tried keeping a 'name bank' a while ago but I find that those names only became more absurd with time. A name should be improvised during the story, I feel.

I just make them up. Sometimes I'll take words and rearrange the letters.

I prefer unique names to common ones.

For example, in a story I had a character named "Ketchup" and, in another, a man named "Drobiff".

Take a name like "Spencer".. I'd switch a vowel to make it "Spancer".. then drop the r.. "Spance". Voila, there's a new character name, one that is quite unique.

I feel that as the reader gets to know the character through his or her actions, the name will begin to "fit", no matter how absurd the name is. That's just my opinion, though.

Usually when I'm developing a character, I focus on who they are as a person and their general attitude and then try to find a name that fits. Oftentimes I'll have a general idea of the "sounds" I want a name to have, and then try to search for an appropriate word.

Reoccurring names I have used so far have been;

Aiech
Caine
Sante
Claire
Mia
Chubbdallah

Regards,

Adrian

I make mine up on the spot and I hate it if I don't have a name for a character, it causes me to stop writing until I have one. I just try to think of a name that would fit the character. I tend to be of the opinion that names can be changed later if necessary so don't bog myself down too much finding the right one at the time of writing.

Hard to explain but I just know them, first, last, middle. It always just comes to me as soon as I think of the character.

Depends.

For fantasy names, I make something up based on how it sounds in my head. Sometimes it helps just uttering a sound that sounds like a name without thinking. If that fails, I use an online generator to randomize something.

For real-life names, I go over lists of first names and surnames and try different combinations over and over until I find the one that fits.