One of the hardest things to do when writing a book is to choose the character names. It's almost as difficult as when an expectant parent searches for a baby boy name or baby girl name. The names should be enduring and memorable so that the readers will be able to easily distinguish between characters.
Character Names are Important
All names carry a connotation. Some are considered cool names, depending on the era. Other names are considered evil because of an infamous real person, such as a murderer. Damien is a popular name for evil characters, and who can forget Miss Honey, the sweet and caring teacher in Roald Dahl's Matilda? The name should capture the personality of the fictional character. Disney character names blatantly do this.
When choosing names, be careful to not pick ones that begin with the same letters. If a story has characters named Brian, Brad, Brenda, and Bryton, the readers may get confused. Keep a list of names in alphabetical order while writing a story to avoid this problem.
Social standing and setting will affect the names chosen for a character. If there is a Ginny in a royal court, readers will immediately think she is a scullery maid or parlor maid. Elizabeth or Anne would be a more traditional choice for royalty.
Popular names go in cycles, and when a name is in vogue it is seen everywhere. It requires a conscious effort for an author to choose names that will not be lost in a sea of similar ones. One way to avoid that is to give the characters nicknames.
Character Names in Fiction Genres
Each genre has its own naming conventions. Reading widely in a genre helps a writer become more aware of the types of names readers expect.
Historical fiction requires that the name be authentic to the period. Mainstream romance typically has unusual names, although that isn't a hard and fast rule. Westerns need names that reflect the nature of life on the range, especially for the male protagonists. They require monikers that connote strength. Fantasy and role playing games have their own distinct names. Many of them are based in the myths and legends of various cultures, or are based on archetypes.
Using a Generator for a Name and Name Makers
Especially when choosing fantasy names and for role playing games, authors use random name generators and name makers. When using one of these, it's important to make sure that search parameters reflect the environment and type of story. The names produced may carry a history that will affect how readers view the character.
To find name generators that suit the needs of a work in progress, just do an Internet search. The results will be extensive, and can be narrowed down by genre or other parameters.
Use a Character Naming Sheet
A character sheet helps the writer get to know the fictional person. It can reveal likes and dislikes, outward appearance, inner and outer conflict, friends, enemies, and personal history. Once the writer knows the character, choosing a name becomes less difficult.
It's possible to write a novel and be halfway through it and realize that the character name for someone just doesn't fit. Many authors change the names of characters while writing. Just use the search and replace feature in the word processing program to rename the character.
Names and meanings are important in the reader experience. Using a generator for names or baby name books to find cool names, unusual names, or fantasy names will help the writer find the perfect moniker for each character. Other sources are all around in everyday life, as seen in the article, Selecting Character Names for Fiction and Screen.
Suzanne Pitner - Suzanne Pitner is a teacher and published writer. A member of RWA and YARWA, she writes fiction as Suzanne Lilly.
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