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Source: https://writers.stackexchange.com/a/31643
License name: CC BY-SA 3.0
License URL: https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/3.0/

Source: https://writers.stackexchange.com/a/31643
License name: CC BY-SA 3.0
License URL: https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/3.0/

An easy way to get names is to first **define a few characteristics** about the person you want to name. Are they:

- humble?
- fast?
- strong?
- reliable?
- tall?
- tiny?
- beautiful?

Then **enter these words into a translation engine of your choice in a handful of languages** and look at the result. You will probably get a few **ideas for possible names by playing around with these translations**. It definitely helps in getting to know your character more, so this procedure can't hurt. And even if you don't find a good name, you might get ideas for nicknames.

Examples from above with google translator:

- humble -\> Latin: humilem -\> _Humi_ sounds like an interesting nickname 
- fast -\> Greek: grígora -\> _Grigor_ sounds like a good name, similar to Gregor
- strong -\> Irish: láidir -\> _Laidir_ sounds similar to _leader_; possibly a good name for a person of high rank
- reliable -\> Hungarian: megbízható -\> _Megbiz_ sounds interesting and _Meg_ as a short nickname sounds pretty normal, which is unusual and therefore interesting in fantasy
- tall -\> Belarusian: vysoki -\> _Vysok_ sound good after taking out a single letter
- tiny -\> Arabic: saghir jiddaan -\> _Sagh Jiddaa_ sounds like a good name for a noble person
- beautiful -\> Malagasy: tsara tarehy -\> _Tsara_ sounds like a good name already and I even got a second name, _Tarehy_

You should probably use a language that your readers might not necessarily be familiar with so that the names sound more _foreign_ - using a German translator for a German audience might not yield the best results for example.

If you already have a preference for the orignating language you can should of course focus on that one in your translator-assisted search. But getting input from other languages can be good, too. In some cases you may want to combine one or two of them. Or you could use the names for something else.

From the examples above:

- I could use _Laidir_ as a rank in my fictional military, not as a name. Then I focus on the strongest warriors being able to get into that rank. Suddenly I have a perfectly valid name for a part of my military structure, with a defining characteristic that I can use to portray members of this rank. 

- I could use the name _Grigor Megbiz_. Doesn't sound like anything I have ever heard, shows two characteristics and the last name looks quite memorable, making it a perfect start for a family that values honour highly. 

- I could make the names I found titles like "The honourable _Sagh Jiddaa_ enters the room: _Tsara Tarehy_. Under their breath I can hear people murmur her nickname from the time when she was still in the army: _The little charmer._ Nobody would expect someone with such an appearance, small and with eyes that would entice everyone who dared to look into them, to fight this fierce in battle. People were afraid - and thrilled at the same time." Suddenly I have a title and a full name, leading to a backstory that I could potentially use. Normally it would be the other way around, but if you use this approach you might learn something about your characters you didn't know before. 

Probably only a handful of readers, if any, will realize these connections, making your names for characters, organizations, ... feel authentic and assisting you in always keeping in mind their most defining characteristics.

Original score: 9