Choosing character names is a constant difficulty

I wish there was a single reference book for given names from around the world, but I haven't been able to find one. I have a couple of books on my shelves that have been quite helpful:

Concise Dictionary of First Names (OUP) http://ukcatalogue.oup.com/product/9780198662594.do

African Ethnics and Personal Names (Ariko) [ new user, so I can only post one link - google it! ]

There are a lot of 'baby naming' websites out there; they tend to be pretty poor quality and unhelpful, but others may have better luck.

As for fantasy names, Tolkien was a linguist (or 'philologist' as they said then), and the reason there is such a strong consistency in the names is that they are part of languages he not only spent a long time on, but applied his knowledge of real languages to them. You can tell when people have taken short cuts.

posted about 14 years ago

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micapam‭

115 reputation 1 21 18 0

I choose my names based on 3 things. Rarity: How common or uncommon the name is depending on genre and timezone of the story Meaning: What the name's personality(cause they have personalities), definition, and region/origin is. Gender: Of course I don't even have to explain this one.

posted about 8 years ago

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Sugarblob‭

15 reputation 2 1 2 0

There is a great great great resource for naming characters. It is a random name generator you can choose the influences and the origin of the name and each name has a meaning when it is generated. A real meaning. All names come from most of the cultures that inhabit our dear planet.

On the same page you can search for names according to meaning and/or sex.

Another technique for inventing names is just cutting a word you see in half, example:

I just saw the word community so I cut it to the piece I like the most like Munity or ity.

Then I take another word I see, for instance answer, and cut it, ans or wer or we.

Then I produce the name, result: Itywé you can always put an accent to make it fancy. But as everything don't abuse it.

posted about 13 years ago

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Joze‭

35 reputation 3 1 4 0

If the characters are strong, the name gets molded to the character; if they're weak, it's the other way around.

"The World According to Garp" makes a pretty big deal about Garp's name - both the word "Garp" and why Garp's mother selected that name play important roles. Nonetheless, I don't think the story would have had a significantly different impact on me if Garp had been named "John". We identify with characters based on who they are - their name becomes a convenient flag for that.

posted about 14 years ago

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Mark Eichenlaub‭

25 reputation 0 1 5 0

I liked some of the answers above, but I also want to through some ideas on the table.

If you already have build your character (profession, background, psychosynthesis, etc, etc) and don't want something like Bilbo etc, try to find a name that shows all the aspects of it's character. For example the name Alexander mean the one who defeats the other men (his enemies), the strong man and fighter till the end. Another idea would be to give names of historical/iconic persons, ex: Fidel, or Pablo, or whatever you like.

Good naming and good stories!

posted about 8 years ago

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Nikos K.‭

5 reputation 1 1 1 0

This is an interesting article about using markov chains to generate realistic sounding character names http://www.dgames.org/markov-chain-name-generator/ in this case it generates Hindu and ancient Greek names but the same principle can be applied for whatever. Also there are any number of baby name sites that I use. You can look through names of certain origins.

posted almost 13 years ago

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Chris‭

5 reputation 0 1 1 0

So Sméagol, Gandalf and Bilbo Baggins do not sound silly?

Honestly, don't care too much, if they sound silly or not. First, you can change them, second, I've read some great stories with very silly named characters.

If you want make up fantasy names and have no good idea how to start, here is what I do:

• Find out what the profession/status of this character is (Let's say, he is the elder of a village)
• Play with this profession/title. Put it in reverse: elder -> Redle - Would that be a good name?
• Play with the acronym: The elder of the village -> TEOTV -> Teotev? Totav? Teotive? Totiv? Theotrev?
• Put some accent and apostrophes in it. People love that: Téo'tev, The'òtrev
• Translate the profession/title into a different language (I prefer Latin). Play with that word accordingly.
• Well, just play :)

posted about 14 years ago

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John Smithers‭

355 reputation 0 28 71 0

I either use an existing name and change something like adding a letter or swapping two: Boris -> Borsi. Ken -> Kan.

If that fails, I pay this site a visit: http://www.fakenamegenerator.com/index.php

posted about 14 years ago

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Aaron Digulla‭

45 reputation 1 4 8 0

Another writer friend of mine went through NaNoWriMo last year, writing furiously to make her 50,000 words, without naming her characters at all.

Naming isn't easy. Sometimes a character will have a name that fits, perhaps, but often not. If you find it difficult put it off. Don't let it get in the way of your writing. Instead write. If necessary, get all the way to the end of your story. Then tackle the naming problem.

How do you tackle it? Do it with a baby name book. Use an online baby naming resource. Take a name and change it up a little in your head as if you are a parent who simply has to have a unique name for Baby X. Pick the name you always thought you were going to call your daughter until your spouse overrode it. Use the middle name of your friend who least or most resembles the character. Flip through your college yearbook and pick the kid who most looks like your character. These are just a few ideas. There are tons more. Just write. Then name.

posted about 14 years ago

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justkt‭

165 reputation 8 6 26 0

If setting your story in the real world, be careful of the social connotations of choosing foreign names. In the US, Billy Bob and Chuck carry certain connotations (southern and down-to-earth respectively). Likewise in the UK, Charles and Oliver will have social connotations. If you are an English speaker, you're probably aware of these already.

Therefore, be aware that the same is true for other countries. Eg, Jens, Pierre, Bjorn all have social connotations too. If in doubt, ask a native speaker of the language you go for.

posted almost 14 years ago

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Panda‭

40 reputation 2 2 6 0

I find much easier to first imagine the character, see it wading through the planned story-line, get emotionally involved with its (mis)adventures, then I can think a name that matches that stronger image of the character I've built.

If you don't really feel your character alive, it really doesn't call for a proper name (yet). Also it may be easier, for supporting or eventual characters to just give any name, and rename it later, when it gains truer life in your imagination.

posted about 14 years ago

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Monoman‭

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