How to come up with character names?

Question

I'm writing a story and I need some name suggestions. my characters include:
1. a scientist in his sixties who does research on cells and cell division but he isn't really a huge nerd. he is very wise. he is murdered in the first chapter.

2. a ( i don't know the name of the profession, but they examine murder victims and "disect them") he is in his late twenties, also not too nerdy. his wife(no name required) is filing for a divorce.

3. an attractive female detective/cop/CSI for the second person on my list to fall in love with later on in the book. she is in her mid twenties.

thanx.

riloh keen.

I understand what you are saying and i thank you for pointing it out. but i had all intentions of doing all the necessary researched required to write a story like this. but when writing stories i like to make my characters first and then alter them slightly later on once i get a better idea of what they are like and who they are. part of the reason why i mentioned not knowing what the profession is called was so that if anybody knew the name of it they could possibly tell me the name to save me a bit of research.

I also do know a bit about cell division from school (I'm 16, so take it easy on me. I'm a beginner) and i have several websites bookmarked on my computer that give me a surplus of info on the matter. there is stuff that i will be researching that i probably won't even need to use.

P.S. I have yet to see an episode of CSI that is "lame".

Answer 1

I would suggest a random name generator, like the one on Behind the Name:
http://www.behindthename.com/random/

That way you can see a lot of names and look up meanings and see how they fit together to make ones you like.


Also, I would suggest you do some research on Medical Examiners before writing the book to make it more authentic, and I would recommend you name the wife, even if you don't put her name in the book. Even if you don't use half of this research, it always helps to make your writing feel more realistic.

Answer 2

When you speak on the phone with people you haven't met, you sometimes get an idea of how they will look when you meet them. Try this technique in reverse to name your characters: imagine what the character's voice actually sounds like. Then, think of a name that goes with that voice. It's like your phone call in reverse. If a character has, say, a deep, raspy voice, then you probably wouldn't name him Kyle, if you know what I mean.

Good look on your story!

Answer 3

You obviously have a clear idea of the personality traits of your characters. Why not use the names of real life people you have met who most closely resemble your characters?

Answer 4

you know part of being a writer/author is LOOKING UP things you don't know the name for, and learning the word, right?

jesus, it already sounds like a lame episode of law & order or csi.

also, do you know anything about cell division?

you're putting the horse before the carriage here. prioritize.

Answer 5

Tom, Dick, & Harriet.
J/K.

If you wanna be sneaky, find out what the most popular baby names were for the decade your target audience was born.
Or go with unique names for all.
Like:
Colby
Pierce
Thorn.