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Source: https://writers.stackexchange.com/a/34134
License name: CC BY-SA 3.0
License URL: https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/3.0/

Source: https://writers.stackexchange.com/a/34134
License name: CC BY-SA 3.0
License URL: https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/3.0/

This is a useful book, [Writer's Digest Character Naming Sourcebook.](https://rads.stackoverflow.com/amzn/click/1582979200) Each name comes with its original translation of meaning (although some are just 'mythical mother of Jason', or a few per page 'unknown origin'.)

This is a useful website of many links to online naming resources, baby names, character naming apps, etc. [Writing World Links to Naming Resources.](http://www.writing-world.com/links/names.shtml)

With or without a book or online assistance; start a note page for your names with the Alphabet listed, one letter per line. This is both to remember the names you have used, and help you come up with new ones.

A,B,C,D etc.

When you need a name, look at your existing list of names.

For "important" characters (those appearing in more than one scene), try to pick an unused starting letter, or if that is not possible, at least be sure to get a name that sounds (out loud) and looks (in print) distinct from other names starting with the same letter, whether male or female. If you have "Dean", don't use "Deana" or "Diane" or "Dana" or "Dino". But "Drake" would be fine, or "Dimitry". No pair from "Tory" and "Tony" and "Troy".

Star (\*) the names of your "important" characters.

Less important for reader memory is minor characters that they only need to remember for the scene (if they have names at all). For minor characters, it is best if they have unique names, but less important if they happen to be similar to a main character name. I always avoid ANY character name starting with the same letter as my main character, which I also aim to give a fairly rare name. If I name her Alicia (I never have), no other character has a name starting with "A", even if it would sound completely different.

Original score: 9